All About Change

After years of sharing stories of relentless activists and world-shapers, All About Change is taking an intentional break. Even the most dedicated movements need a moment to recharge, and we’re doing exactly that.  We want to step back to reflect, regroup, and prepare for our next chapter. In the meantime, we didn't want to leave you without a meaningful story this month.  May is Mental Health Awa...

Kenneth Cole, has been a fashion icon for decades, innovating a unique and lasting style for which he is known. But he comes to All About Change to talk about another of his great passions: mental health awareness. Kenneth won the 2025 Morton. E Ruderman Award in Inclusion, an award my foundation presents to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the inclusion of people with d...

Few things bring me joy and hope quite like young people who are already involved in making the world a better place. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with celebrity chef Eitan Bernath. The youngest individual ever to be named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Food and Drink, Eitan found success cooking on Tik Tok, and quickly moved to TV, where he has served as the Principal Culinary Contri...

In light of the ongoing crisis and the profound resilience of the Iranian people, we are revisiting this timely conversation with Princess Noor Pahlavi. Born into the Iranian royal family as the eldest child of the Crown Prince, Princess Noor heard the call to civic duty from an early age. Inspired by the legacy of her grandfather, the last Shah of Iran, and her grandmother, the Empress Farah Pahl...

Sometimes the hardest type of activism is the activism that happens inside ourselves. It’s easier for us to give others support and grace when they need it than it is for us to look in the mirror and do the same for ourselves. For recent guests Jeffrey Marsh and Jackie Goldschneider, this internal activism became a platform from which they were able to support others, and today’s guest Ari’el Stac...

Some of the biggest challenges we face follow us through generations. And when Jackie Goldschneider sat down to write her memoir, she found two of her activist causes dated back multiple generations in her family. Jackie, a writer, lawyer and cast member on Real Housewives of New Jersey, dealt all her life with anorexia that nearly killed her. She traced this unhealthy relationship to food back to...

For some people, activism is an accident. They come into this work by way of a core issue, and either become experts on that matter, or they expand, becoming experts in activism. But for some, activism is an ethos. A lifelong calling to give and care for others. Angela Williams is one of those activists. Angela is now the outgoing President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, one of America’s oldest...

There are not enough therapists in America. And even when you can find one, it is hard to schedule an appointment. This is the case despite the fact that America also has a rising mental health crisis. More people are aware of their mental health needs, and more people are coming to need mental health support. At the Ruderman Family Foundation, this is one of our tentpole issues, and we strive to...

Tom Vozzo came to Homeboy Industries in a moment when they needed his skills. Around 2012, the organization was facing a financial crunch, and Tom stepped up from Homeboy volunteer to CEO steering the company to financial stability. Working at Homeboy changed Tom as well. Writing in his book, ‘The Homeboy Way,’ Tom said that after years of working with the poor, forgotten, and demonized people of...

Kaila Yu lived many lives before she decided to write a memoir. As an actress, musician, and import model, Kaila learned firsthand about all the ways it is challenging to be Asian American, particularly as a woman. But she didn’t write about that experience until seeing her fellow Asian Americans attacked and vilified in 2020. Now a travel, food and culture writer, she has released a memoir titled...

For nearly two decades Jeffrey Marsh has been a representative and advocate for LGBTQ people of all stripes. Whether on Vine, Tik Tok or Instagram, Jeffrey has built success on simple videos helping straight and LGBTQ people attain a lasting sense of peace and self-compassion.  Jeffrey is the first non-binary person  to sign a book deal with any “Big 5” publisher worldwide, and they have since wri...

Alex Ryvchin is co-Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the author of internationally acclaimed books of history and politics, and a best-selling children’s author. Over the past twelve years he has been a fierce advocate for the Australian Jewish community and Israel. His advocacy and writing has seen him recognised as Australian of the Year for 2024 by The Austra...

"Bad Jews." It’s a label thrown around all too often, deepening divides and alienating those seeking connection. For actor, advocate, and podcaster Jonah Platt, it’s time to retire the term and focus on what actually strengthens the Jewish community: radical inclusivity. In this episode, the host of the award-winning Being Jewish with Jonah Platt podcast joins Jay to discuss his journey from the s...

There is a notion that observant Jews don’t have a chance to be professional athletes. The notion that Shabbat is an impediment and a sheer lack of role models make it hard for young athletes to find their way to elite sport. AJ Edelman is one of the trailblazing athletes working to change those conditions. Without any of the supports offered by the classic winter-olympic pipeline, he taught himse...

Abraham Hamra knows the historic plight of the Jewish diaspora better than most. At six years old he was separated from much of his family, unsure if he’d ever see his grandparents again.  He was among the last Jews left in Syria, and just a year after announcing Jews could leave Syria for the US, the Assad regime reversed course, and said the remaining Jews were stuck. Abraham and his family were...

[Episode Recorded on September 11, 2025] Lizzy Savetsky is an influencer who has been a staple of pro-Israel social media since October 7th, 2023.  Prior to October 7th, Lizzy had advocated for Israel alongside other causes, including supporting Jewish women who experienced miscarriages and sobriety, but after October 7th,  she turned her focus entirely to Israel advocacy. At first this change in...

Kerry Brodie is the founder and Executive Director of Emma’s Torch, a non-profit social enterprise that provides refugees with culinary training and employability, equity and empowerment training. Kerry came up with the idea for  Emma’s Torch while volunteering at a DC homeless shelter and made the connection between refugees looking for employment, and reports of understaffing in restaurants.  Si...

Kalina Silverman is a documentary journalist, entrepreneur, speaker, and creator of Big Talk — an award-winning viral media project that highlights meaningful conversations to foster empathy and human connection. Over the years, people worldwide have shared how Big Talk transformed their lives—from reconnecting with estranged family members and finding love to opening up at work, overcoming depres...

Tracy-Ann Oberman is a British actress. She gained prominence for her role as Chrissie Watts in the long-running British soap opera "EastEnders." Oberman has appeared in numerous television shows, including "Doctor Who," "Friday Night Dinner," and "Toast of London." Tracy-Ann is passionate about Jewish rights and uses her platform to speak about these issues and has been doing so for decades. In 2...

Mercy Kafotokoza is a Malawian nurse, midwife and public health professional with a Master’s in Public Health. She is also a mother of three and a passionate advocate for equity, compassion and the power of proximity. As a young girl, Mercy experienced the heartbreak of losing her uncle to a preventable condition. She is now the founder of Wandikweza, a community-led organization delivering health...

Gene Baur is the founder of Farm Sanctuary, a place of rescue, refuge, and adoption for hundreds of farm animals each year. Farm Sanctuary shelters enable visitors to connect with farm animals as emotional, intelligent individuals. Gene has also led campaigns to change laws about animal treatment and taken undercover photographs of farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses, documenting deplorable con...

Today, IndiJewnous activist Lani Anpo joins Jay on the show. Lani is an influential advocate for global Indigenous and Jewish communities. A multi tribal Native American Jew, Lani passionately champions the rights and stories of marginalized groups with a focus on protecting Indigenous sovereignty, promoting self-determination, and preserving history and culture. Jay and Lani unpack the centuries-...

Chama Mechtaly is the Founder of The Emma Lazarus Institute for Liberty and Tolerance, an action tank bridging media and policy gaps between the Middle-East and the Democratic West. She is a policy advisor, public speaker, artist, entrepreneur and activist working in service of conflict transformation, deradicalization and regional integration in MENA and beyond. Chama’s art has been shown across...

Tiffany Yu is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise to elevate disability pride; the Founder of the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter, a monthly micro-grant that has awarded $92.5k to 93 disability projects in 11 countries; and the author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World. As a person...

Princess Noor Pahlavi was born into the Iranian royal family as the eldest child of the Crown Prince. She heard the call to civic duty from an early age, inspired by the legacy of her grandfather, the last Shah of Iran, along with her grandmother, The Empress of Iran. But she was not content to sit on the sidelines, and decided to use her place of privilege to be a voice for progressive change for...