hmTv at HMTC Podcasts

Send us a textIn Episode 131 of The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv, host Rich Acritelli welcomes Mike McClure, a United States Army Special Forces veteran. Mike shares compelling insights from his early life on Long Island to his entry into the Army at the end of the Vietnam War. He vividly recounts his training experiences at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Belvoir, service during the tense Cold War years in Germany, and the significant transformation of the U.S. military under President Reagan. Mike also introduces his pathway into Special Forces, detailing the rigorous airborne training at Fort Benning. Tune in to gain an authentic perspective on military life, resilience, and dedication during a critical period in American history.Support the show

Send us a textJoin Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews on Episode 130 of Many Voices One Community as she sits down with Sergeant Evelyn Kandell—a pioneering female Marine, Nassau County’s former poet laureate, celebrated art educator, and lifelong community leader. In this heartfelt conversation, Evelyn reflects on:Her unexpected journey from Westchester high school graduate to Marine Corps recruiting poster model and featured subject on a U.S. postage stampThe power of art and poetry as tools for connection, healing, and self-expression, including the moment she discovered her own poetic voice during a summer residencyLifelong lessons in resilience, humor, and service—whether in uniform, the classroom, or the chapel pewTune in for an inspiring portrait of how one woman’s ripples of creativity and courage have enriched Long Island and beyond—and how each of us can leave our own lasting imprint on community.Support the show

Send us a textIn this uplifting installment of Many Voices One Community, host Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews sits down with Father Panteleimon “Father P.” Papadopoulos of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Resurrection in Glen Cove. Together, they explore how a simple Greek festival—complete with gyros, baklava, and old-world hospitality—has become a vibrant gathering point that unites neighbors of all backgrounds.Father P. recounts his journey from a childhood calling in Connecticut to nineteen years as deacon to the Archbishop of America, meeting world leaders and traveling to historic centers of faith. Drawing on inspiring stories of courage—from Holocaust rescuers in Athens and Zakynthos to interfaith upstanders—he reveals how the belief that every person is made in the image of God compels us to treat each other with kindness, dignity, and shared purpose.Tune in to discover how watering the “grass” of community compassion can help us all grow—and why, in an age of division, our faiths and cultures offer a powerful blueprint for unity.Listen now on hmTv at HMTC, and join us in celebrating the common thread of goodness that binds us all.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 126 – “Raised by Survivors” hmTv with Dr. Bernie FurshpanHow does the child of Holocaust survivors transform inherited trauma into a life-long mission for justice? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Bernie Furshpan sits down with Dr. Suzanne Bleiberg Seperson—UN representative, activist, and proud 2G—to explore:Identity & Legacy: why Suzanne keeps both “Bleiberg” and “Seperson” to carry her father’s name forward.Parents’ Survival Stories: a daring jump from a death-train, an escape from Janovska labor camp, and the righteous gentiles who risked everything to help.Act III Activism: how retirement became her busiest chapter—chairing the Committee to End Antisemitism & Promote Peace and pushing for the UN’s first resolution condemning Jew-hatred.Intergenerational Healing: turning a childhood without grandparents into a devotion to her own six grandchildren—and to every young person who deserves a hate-free world.Call to Action: why each of us must use our unique talents “for good,” and how even symbolic victories (a pebble in a pond, a butterfly’s wing) can ripple into global change.Listen in for an inspiring reminder that memory fuels responsibility—and that raising our voices together can still turn the tide against antisemitism and all forms of hate.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 125 — The Fog of War and HumanityGuest: Jeff Brett, President & Founder, King Quality Host: Richard “Rich” Acritelli Series: hmTv OriginalsFrom the weight of 9/11 to the weight of a 50-year roof, service is the common thread.In Part 3 of Rich Acritelli’s deep-dive with Long Island entrepreneur Jeff Brett, we trace a through-line that starts with Jeff’s nephews enlisting the morning after the Twin Towers fell and ends with King Quality’s goal of operating in all 50 states while giving every customer a half-century peace-of-mind warranty. Along the way:Family & Country: How Jason and Shane Spence turned a Port Jeff football scholarship and childhood asphalt jobs into decorated Army and Marine careers—guided by a grandfather who preached duty over fear.Service-First Leadership: Jeff explains why small businesses flourish only when “How can I serve?” replaces “What’s in it for me?”—a lesson lifted straight from military culture.Scaling with Purpose: 24 states down, 26 to go. Hear the strategy behind Vertex partnerships, purple underlayment, and the vision of protecting VFW roofs for generations to come.Heroes on Repeat: Patton’s Battle of the Bulge weather speech, MacArthur’s iron nerve, and the bagpipes of post-9/11 Long Island—Rich and Jeff swap the leadership moments that keep them pushing forward.King Quality Cares: From AHRC and Angels of Long Island to Feeding Westchester, Jeff’s philanthropy blueprint proves growth and giving can—and should—happen side by side.Whether you’re a veteran, a business owner, or someone who still feels the echo of 9/11, this episode is a masterclass in turning hardship into higher purpose.🔊 Listen now on hmTv, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.Support the show

Send us a textEp 124: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and Guest Jeff Brett (Part 2) | hmTvIn Part 2 of our powerful conversation, The Fog of War and Humanity host Richard Acritelli continues his dialogue with Jeff Brett, founder and CEO of King Quality. This episode dives deeper into Jeff’s national expansion, his unwavering belief in people, and his commitment to building a business rooted in compassion, family, and purpose.Jeff shares how his experiences—from early mentorship to wartime family legacy—inspired the King Quality Cares initiative and a culture of giving back. With heartfelt reflections on community service, the importance of showing up for others, and why the best investment is in people, this episode is a masterclass in leadership with heart.Whether you're an entrepreneur, community leader, or simply someone seeking purpose, Jeff’s message will stay with you: “We’re not just putting on roofs—we’re rebuilding lives.”Support the show

Send us a textEp 123: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and Guest Jeff Brett (Part 1) | hmTvIn this inspiring episode of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli sits down with Jeff Brett, founder and CEO of King Quality, to explore a life shaped by hard work, service, and community. From his roots in Port Jefferson and his passion for wrestling to building one of the most respected home improvement companies in the country, Jeff shares how lessons from his father — a WWII Navy veteran — continue to guide his business and philanthropic mission.Jeff reflects on his early days sweeping job sites, the values instilled in him through family and athletics, and how a mindset of “the harder I work, the luckier I get” became the foundation for both personal and professional success. With heartfelt stories of giving back, supporting veterans, and honoring history, this episode is a powerful tribute to blue-collar grit, small-town values, and the American spirit.Tune in for a conversation full of wisdom, warmth, and purpose — and stay tuned for Part 2.Support the show

Send us a textPodcast Description – Ep 122: History Repeats with Liam Carballal and guest Rich AcritelliIn this powerful and eye-opening episode of History Repeats, host Liam Carballal sits down with historian and educator Richard Acritelli to explore one of the darkest and often overlooked chapters of World War II: Japan’s war crimes and the atrocities committed by Unit 731.Together, they unpack the brutal history of Japanese imperial expansion, biological warfare experimentation, the Bataan Death March, and the Rape of Nanking. Rich shares harrowing firsthand accounts from POWs like Arnold A. Boxel—survivors of unimaginable cruelty who lived just miles from today’s Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center.Through historical analysis and personal storytelling, this episode sheds light on how Japan’s descent into militarism paralleled that of Nazi Germany, and how postwar politics allowed many perpetrators to escape justice. It’s a sobering reminder of the consequences of silence, denial, and unchecked nationalism.Tune in for an unflinching conversation about how history doesn’t just repeat—it warns.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 121 – “From Hiroshima to Hope: Seth Shelden’s Fight to Ban the Bomb”How does a Brooklyn-born improv performer become the United Nations liaison for a Nobel-Prize-winning campaign to abolish nuclear weapons? In this powerful installment of Ordinary Heroes, host Bernie Furshpan sits down with Seth Shelden—law professor, activist, and General Counsel for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).In this episode you’ll hear:The high-school reading assignment (John Hersey’s Hiroshima) that rewired Seth’s worldview.A firsthand look at ICAN’s 2017 Nobel Peace Prize and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons—now backed by half of the world’s nations.Why international law often works through stigma and storytelling, not soldiers and sanctions—and how that strategy is succeeding.Seth’s blend of creativity and policy: how theater, music, and humor fuel his legal advocacy.A candid exchange on generational trauma, zero-sum thinking, and the moral imperative to choose cooperation over catastrophe.Entrepreneurial optimism meets hard-nosed disarmament strategy in a conversation that proves ordinary people really can tackle humanity’s biggest threats. Tune in for an inspiring reminder that eliminating nuclear weapons might be the easiest existential crisis we face—if we decide to act together.Support the show

Send us a textEpisode 119: Legacy Chronicles with Doron KerenIn this powerful episode of Legacy Chronicles on hmTv, host Donna Rosenblum sits down with Doron Keren, a passionate second-generation Holocaust descendant, to explore the enduring impact of memory, survival, and storytelling. Doron shares the harrowing true story of his mother, Krystyna Chiger—co-author of The Girl in the Green Sweater—who survived 14 months in the sewers of Lwów during the Holocaust. He also reveals how his father was helped by Oskar Schindler, offering rare insight into both heroism and human resilience.From the development of a major television series based on his grandfather’s memoir to his dedicated work in Holocaust education at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, Doron speaks with candor and heart about his family’s legacy and the urgent responsibility of second and third generations to carry the torch.This episode is a profound reminder that preserving Holocaust memory is not only a tribute to the past—but a vital safeguard for the future.🎧 Tune in to learn how memory becomes a mission—and why telling the truth has never been more important.Support the show