Chai on Life

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I'm Alex Segal and today, I'm speaking with Keshet Starr, CEO of Shalom Task Force. Keshet Starr, Esq. is an attorney, advocate, writer, and nonprofit leader dedicated to building safer, healthier Jewish communities. As CEO of Shalom Task Force—and previously CEO of the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot—Keshe...

This episode originally aired on 9/16/24 but is just as relevant today. Enjoy this replay as we get ready for Yom Kippur. -- Today, I am speaking with Yaffa Moskowitz, the Director of Education at ⁠Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya⁠ , a seminary in Jerusalem.  Here’s a little more about Yaffa: She is a native member the Far Rockaway community and was active in that community and the Five Towns for many yea...

Today, I’m speaking with Hadassah Eventsur . Hadassah is an occupational therapist, educator, transformational coach, Mishpacha Magazine contributor, speaker, and the founder and CEO of MindfullyYou, an educational and support platform dedicated to helping neurodivergent individuals better understand their brains and build lives that work with—not against—them. In her program, she helps women who...

Today, I’m speaking with Torah educator, Goldie Sion. Goldie was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and raised in Hollywood, Florida. She has worked with organizations in the past that include Olami Manhattan, Aish Aspire, Jam Israel and now works for Olami Souled. She is passionate about teaching Torah, giving shiurim, and inspiring others through creativity and connection with her Instagram: @goldiesjo...

Today, I’m speaking with Sara Eisemann. Sara is a licensed clinical therapist and educator based in Oak Park, Michigan. Sara currently serves as Co-Director of Education for Core's Mashpia Mentor Counselor (MMC) Training Program —a rigorous two-and-a-half-year initiative that equips women to provide Torah-based spiritual mentorship and emotional support within their communities. In addition to...

Today, I’m speaking with educator and author Ilana Cowland. Ilana is the perfect person to kick off our Elul series with — she has spoken around the world, bringing warmth, humor and hard-won insight into the topics of love, intimacy, authentic connection and more. She has seminars for couples that are known for being fast-moving, practical and genuinely fun. Her teaching is grounded in real life...

Today, I’m speaking with ⁠Fally Klein⁠ — a teacher, facilitator and founder of Azamra Breathwork. Her work helps participants access the wisdom of the body, breath and soul, returning to the truth already held within. Fally has an incredible story. Like the last episode, there was so much to fit in, we ended up going even longer than I usually do and I promise you it is worth the listen. Every min...

Today, I’m speaking with Matana Poupko Jacobs, the host of the Hope to Recharge podcast which is all about hope, healing and personal growth. Matana went through a profound journey through anxiety and depression, which she shares with us in the episode and now she works with others who are going through similar challenges. She meets people where they are, helping them navigate anxiety and depressi...

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast! It's summer and we all just want to feel our best this time of year and TBH, all year long. This episode is a roundup of five things that I have been doing to feel really good this summer (of course all a work in progress!) I've been thinking about this topic for awhile now and am so excited to get this solo episode...

[This episode originally aired on July 29, 2024] Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today, we are speaking with Dr. Hilla Aboody, an amazing teacher, mother, wife and mentor currently living in Eretz Yisrael who I invited to come on to speak about this heavy time on the Jewish calendar. Hilla has such a beautiful way of explaining things — it’s...

Today, I’m speaking with Aliza Tropper. Aliza is a licensed psychotherapist and the founder of Heartful Mental Health, a therapy practice based in Cedarhurst, NY.  Aliza has more than a decade of experience helping adolescents and adults navigate anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, and life transitions. She takes a holistic approach, integrating mind, body and soul, and uses evidence-based t...

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today I’m speaking with Katia Bolotin, the author of Making it Relevant: Timeless Torah Wisdom for an Ever-Changing World which came out at the end of last year. Katia is an author and speaker as well as a pianist, songwriter and composer of contemporary classical music. She is known for inspiring audience...

Welcome back to The Chai on Life Podcast! Today, I’m speaking with Guila Sandroussy, the creator of Tasty and Hasty which is an Instagram account and website filled with kosher food recipes that as the name suggests, are both fast and delicious. Since summer is finally here, I’m sure we all want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time in the sunshine and Guila is helping us with just that....

Welcome back to The Chai on Life Podcast! Today, ’m speaking with Rebbetzin Sara Yoheved Rigler. For those who do not know Rebbetzin Rigler, she is a best-selling author, speaker and teacher and this is actually her second time on The Chai on Life Podcast. She is our first second-time guest and I am so grateful for her for returning. The reason she is back is to discuss her brand new book, 8 Secon...

Today, I’m speaking with Rivky Rothenberg. Rivky is a CPA and financial coach who helps families make sense of their money and build a strong, values-based financial foundation.  She works with couples to create clear, practical systems at home so they can raise children with healthy money habits and avoid the patterns that lead to entitlement. She also guides engaged and newlywed couples through...

This episode originally aired on June 3, 2024 but is just as relevant today. Enjoy and wishing everyone a beautiful Shavuos! Today we have a really exciting episode to gear up for Shavuot with Esteemed Educator, Speaker and Kallah Teacher Nalini Ibragimov. If you know Nalini, you already know how special she is. I had the privilege of meeting her nearly 12 years ago now when she co-founded a group...

Today, I’m speaking with Rebbetzin Miriam Katz. Rebbetzin Katz is a mother of seven children, bli yin hara and lives in Jerusalem with her husband,  Rabbi Doniel Katz  who is a well known teacher on meditation and psychology through the lens of Kabbalah and Chassidus. She has a degree in elementary education, but explains she has learned the most about children by raising them. She has become a tr...

Today, I’m speaking with Esther Wein, Torah educator extraordinaire. For more than 35 years, Esther has guided students of all backgrounds in Torah learning. Along the way, she became increasingly aware that even well-educated learners were often working with over-simplified explanations or incorrect ideas about the core ideas of Judaism and the unfolding story of Am Yisrael.  Critical tools for n...

Today, I’m speaking with Anat Ishai, otherwise known as the Challah Mom on Instagram. Anat is known for her challah dance parties both in her kitchen and on tours with communities around the world. Whether you are reveling in challah again after Pesach, are looking for inspiration to get back into the mitzvah, or just are learning about it for the first time, this episode is for you. You will not...

This episode originally aired on March 24, 2025 — but it's still just as relevant today! I am so excited about today’s guest because it is Chanie Apfelbaum of Busy in Brooklyn. If you are not already familiar, Chanie is a food writer and photographer who has a really unique way of blending traditional Jewish foods with modern flavors. She started her blog, Busy in Brooklyn, in 2011 so it’s bee...

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal, and today I’m speaking with Batya Kahan, founder of Batya’s Kitchen. Batya’s Kitchen is a full scale catering business that delivers home-cooked kosher food to Jews all over the country. Started in 2007, Batya has become well known for her delicious Pesach cuisine and so many order from her whether they’re tr...

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today, I am speaking with Rebbetzin Rivky Slonim. Rivky is the Associate Director at the Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life at Binghamton University. An internationally known teacher, lecturer, and activist, she travels widely, addressing the intersection of traditional Jewish observance and contemporar...

Hi everyone, welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today, I am speaking with Gvira Milworm. Gvira is the CEO of Temech, a Jerusalem-based nonprofit dedicated to helping women from Israel’s Haredi community advance professionally while protecting and honoring Jewish values. Gvira was born in the Bronx and made aliya with her parents from Peoria, Illinois, a...

This episode originally aired on March 10, 2025 — but is just as relevant today! Hope you enjoy :) -- Hi everyone! Welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal and today, I am speaking with Rivka Lerner. Originally from Switzerland, she works as a software developer and coach as well as a kallah teacher, but her love is in teaching and discussing profound ideas with...

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another episode of The Chai on Life Podcast. I’m Alex Segal, and today I am speaking with Rebbetzin Lisa Babich all about Purim. Lisa is a Queens-raised New Yorker, full-time Rebbetzin, and licensed speech and language pathologist. She has been involved in Jewish education and outreach since the age of 19, teaching at TBY, EMETT Russian outreach, the Jewish Enrichment...