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Send us a textEp. 291: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and Guest Andy Menechella (Part 4)In this powerful fourth installment of Andy Menechella’s journey, host Richard Acritelli guides an unflinching, heartfelt conversation about survival, resilience, and redemption. From a Queens childhood marked by hardship and abuse to the brutal realities of combat in Vietnam and the long path toward healing, Menechella shares how pain became purpose.He reflects on faith, family, fatherhood, and the courage it takes to confront the past through his forthcoming memoir, Scars and Strength. Together, the two explore how sports, camaraderie, and compassion helped rebuild a life once fractured by war and silence.Through honesty and humanity, this episode reminds us that the scars we carry can also be the source of our greatest strength.🎧 The Fog of War and Humanity — where veterans’ stories illuminate the lasting power of courage, truth, and hope.Support the show

Send us a textEp. 290: The Fog of War and Humanity with Andy Menechella (Part 3)In this deeply human third installment, Vietnam veteran Andy Menechella returns to share his journey of rebuilding a life after war — through family, sports, loss, and renewal. Host Richard Acritelli guides Andy through decades of resilience: from his work at IBM and Citibank to surviving Hurricane Sandy, caring for his late wife, and confronting PTSD he didn’t even know he had.Andy opens up about the power of therapy, the brotherhood of veterans, and the redemptive bond between soldiers and their service dogs — companions who help heal invisible wounds. His story is one of pain, perseverance, and purpose, proving that even after the darkest battles, humanity endures.🎙️ Produced by hmTv at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center.Support the show

Send us a textEp. 289: The Fog of War and Humanity with Andy Menechella (Part 2)In this gripping continuation of his story, Vietnam veteran Andy Menechella joins host Richard Acritelli to recount the brutal realities of jungle warfare — ambushes, survival under fire, and the emotional scars that linger long after the battlefield. From the chaos of “search-and-destroy” missions to the heartbreak of returning home to a divided America, Andy speaks with raw honesty about courage, trauma, and resilience.This episode of The Fog of War and Humanity offers an unflinching look at what soldiers endure — not just in combat, but in the silence that follows.🎙️ Produced by hmTv at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center.Support the show

Send us a textPodcast Description – Ep. 288: The Fog of War and Humanity with Andy Menechella (Part 1)In this moving first installment, host Richard Acritelli sits down with Andy Menechella, a Brooklyn-born ballplayer whose dreams of joining the Mets were cut short when he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. From growing up in Williamsburg and Queens to his father’s haunting experience as a World War II POW, Andy shares the path that led him from the baseball diamond to the jungles of Tigerland.Hear how this young New Yorker’s toughness, humor, and heart carried him through basic training, fear, and the chaos of deployment. Part 1 sets the stage for a gripping story of courage, brotherhood, and survival amid the fog of war.🎙️ Produced by hmTv at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center.Support the show

Send us a textEp. 287 – The Future of Leadership: Moral Courage in Education Hosts: Dr. Daniel Holtzman & Dr. Stephanie Weeks Guest: Dr. Michael Berenbaum, Holocaust scholar, author, and educator Produced by: hmTv – Leadership and Lessons from the HolocaustIn this inspiring episode of Leadership and Lessons from the Holocaust, hosts Dr. Daniel Holtzman and Dr. Stephanie Weeks sit down with renowned scholar Dr. Michael Berenbaum to explore one of the most vital — and endangered — qualities in leadership today: moral courage.Through the remarkable story of Jan Karski, the Polish underground courier who risked his life to warn the world about the Holocaust, Dr. Berenbaum illustrates how courage is not born from fearlessness but from conviction — from acting on one’s values even when trembling. He explains that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when guided by decency, empathy, and a refusal to turn away.The conversation moves from Holocaust history to modern classrooms, examining how educators can model integrity, resilience, and leadership in a time when students face cynicism, disinformation, and moral fatigue. Dr. Berenbaum reminds us that courage can be taught, modeled, and practiced — that even small acts of decency can shape a more humane generation of leaders.🎧 A masterclass in conscience and courage — reminding us that leadership begins with the moral choices we make every day.Support the show

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Send us a textEp. 285 – Influential Origins: Preserving Memory Across Generations Host: Alan Mindel Guest: Esther Finder, Generations of the Shoah International (GSI) Produced by: hmTv at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance CenterIn this powerful episode of Influential Origins, host Alan Mindel sits down with Esther Finder, a second-generation Holocaust survivor and founder of Generations of the Shoah International (GSI), to explore how memory, education, and intergenerational dialogue keep the lessons of the Holocaust alive.Finder shares the remarkable survival stories of her parents from the ghettos and camps of Poland, her father’s 12-camp journey documented by the Shoah Foundation, and her mother’s untold trauma that shaped her own path toward Holocaust education and psychology. She discusses how JSI unites survivors and descendants across the world, and how educators must now prepare 2Gs and 3Gs to carry the torch as the survivor generation fades.The conversation delves into the misuse of terms like genocide, the dangers of propaganda, and the enduring relevance of Holocaust lessons in an age of distortion and division. With candor and conviction, Finder reminds us that remembrance is not just about the past — it’s a call to recognize our common humanity and defend truth wherever it’s under attack.🎧 A deeply personal and essential episode on preserving memory, fostering empathy, and standing up for truth.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 284: Humanity in the Arts (Part 2) Hosted by Ranelle Wolf with Guest Gertrude Borchardt on hmTvIn Part 2 of Humanity in the Arts, host Ranelle Wolf continues her riveting conversation with curator and art historian Gertrude Borchardt, diving deeper into the spiritual and moral dimensions of art — from Salvador Dalí’s Aliyah: The Rebirth of Israel* to the role of abstraction in healing a post-war world.Borchardt unpacks the myths surrounding Dalí’s alleged antisemitism, revealing a far more complex and empathetic artist whose Aliyah series radiates love, redemption, and faith. Together, Ranelle and Gertrude explore how art transcends politics, why abstraction emerged from the trauma of the 20th century, and how true education begins with learning to see — not just to look.The episode culminates with a visionary discussion: what would a modern exhibition of Judeo-Christian values look like today? Borchardt imagines a spiritual, timeless show that could reawaken compassion, curiosity, and connection across generations.🎙️ A profound exploration of art as the language of humanity, recorded at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 283: Humanity in the Arts (Part 1) Hosted by Ranelle Wolf with Guest Gertrude Borchardt on hmTvIn this illuminating episode of Humanity in the Arts, host Ranelle Wolf welcomes art historian and curator Gertrude Borchardt for a conversation recorded at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center. Together, they explore the powerful story behind Salvador Dalí’s rarely seen series Aliyah: The Rebirth of Israel — a moving collection that captures themes of displacement, homecoming, and faith.Borchardt shares the behind-the-scenes journey of curating the exhibition with Dr. Charlie Riley, the research that uncovered Dalí’s biblical sequence, and the fascinating history of how the collection came to life. The discussion expands into the deeper question of how art can preserve moral and spiritual values, inspire critical thought, and restore unity in an age of division.A profound dialogue on art, faith, and humanity — reminding us that curation itself can be an act of conscience.🎙️ Recorded at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County. 📍 Part 1 of a two-part conversation.Support the show

Send us a textEp 282: “Putting the Brakes on Bullying” with Samantha Sosnik and guest Lauri ReganIn this powerful and deeply relevant episode of Putting the Brakes on Bullying on hmTv, host Samantha Sosnik sits down with Lauri Regan, Vice President and Treasurer of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, for an unflinching conversation about bullying, antisemitism, and the erosion of moral clarity in education.Together, they explore how antisemitic narratives have crept into K–12 classrooms, universities, and even teacher training programs — shaping how young people think about Israel, identity, and truth itself. Lauri shares personal stories, national case studies, and actionable ways parents, educators, and communities can stand up against bias, misinformation, and intimidation in schools.This episode also reflects on the emotional day when twenty hostages returned to Israel, offering a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit amid hatred and division.➡️ Key Topics:The rise of antisemitic bullying in K–12 and higher educationThe influence of biased curricula and radicalized teachersHow parents and communities can push back through advocacy, legal action, and truth-based educationThe connection between classroom indoctrination and global antisemitic movementsThe moral and emotional impact of October 7th and its aftermathA vital conversation for anyone who believes that education should enlighten, not divide.Support the show