Neshamos.org Podcast: Stories of Hope and Healing

Rochel Spangenthal is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and writer from North Carolina. At a young age, Rochel’s family made the transition to a religious lifestyle, becoming Baalei Teshuva and joining the Chabad community. Rochel took her religious responsibilities seriously, determined to be the perfect daughter and student and aspired toward a relationship with a man befitting her religious stat...

As a child, Mushky York (now Rosenfeld) suffered from severe anxiety which affected her social, academic, and general wellbeing. Eventually, her anxiety got so bad that she suffered from constant nausea and couldn’t keep food down and began losing weight. Soon, Mushky began receiving compliments and comments on her body changes. While that lifted her mood, it also meant she felt better and was abl...

Schneur Lakein is a Miami-based entrepreneur who grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. At three years old, Schneur lost his mother, and his father passed away just twenty years later. As a result, Schneur struggled with feelings of abandonment, loneliness, and a desperate need to prove his strength and independence to both himself and others. As he progressed first through primary and high school an...

Growing up, Rachel (Ruchi) Lebowitz felt misunderstood and unheard. She struggled both at home and in school, secretly harming herself and, in her own words, attempting to make herself “smaller.” When Ruchi got married, she thought she’d “made it.” It quickly became apparent, however, that her husband had a serious gambling addiction. In addition to the problems his addiction inflicted on their ma...

Singer/Songwriter/Rabbi Yossi Rodal of Carlesbad, CA talks about losing his sister at the age of 12,  struggling with the feelings of loss and grief, coming to the  realization that he needed help to heal, and eventually embarking on the  road toward healing and using his music as a tool toward that end.

“Growing up, I didn’t smile much.” Chaim Gutleizer’s story starts with that—and ends with him becoming the youngest person ever to become a certified grief recovery specialist. How did Chaim make this transition? As a survivor of bullying, Chaim spent years battling feelings of loneliness and unhappiness. After experiencing bullying at the hands of a teacher, Chaim left his elementary school and s...

Meet Rabbi Velvel Lipskier. In the latest episode of the Neshamos Podcast, Velvel opens up about being diagnosed and living with Manic Depression Bipolar Type 2 Disorder and traits of Borderline and Dependence personality Disorders. Velvel has also experienced the pain of Suicidal Ideation, but thank G-d he is here today and is here to share his story and help others.

Growing up in the foster care system, Freidel Levin of Mimulo Floral & Event Design always craved a "normal" life. She spent years believing she didn't deserve the things she needed. Eventually, she learned to connect with herself, and thereby connected with G-d. Hear her tell her story in her own words.

For years, comedian Chani Lisbon used alcohol as a coping mechanism to help her survive daily living not feeling good enough and ashamed, not even knowing that she was actually a survivor of trauma, until she finally discovered a new way to appreciate and enjoy life without having to turn to the bottle.

Growing up on Shlichus in Queens, NY, Moshe Hecht found himself straddling two worlds. At home, in Queens, he was "that Lubavitcher," while in the Chabad community, he never quite fit in. A high-energy student, he often found himself penalized for acting out in class. It wasn't until he hit his thirties that he first put names to feelings and behaviors that had been plaguing him all his life: ADHD...

When Yosef Eichenblatt got married and moved on shlichus to serve as a local Rabbi in Jerusalem, things seemed to work out perfectly--except they didnt. As a teen, Yosef had started drinking socially. What had been a "fun," recreational activity quickly became a crutch that Yosef relied on to help him get through his challenging responsibilities as a Rabbi. After seeking help, he was prescribed Va...

Growing up, Herschel Stevens was your typical Chabad yeshiva boy. But behind the facade of the studious, smart yeshiva bochur lived a traumatized child who was struggling with a history of sexual abuse, severe depression, and suicidal thoughts. In this podcast, Herschel opens up about his experience, including the words that changed his life, the people and social systems that helped him fight thr...