Rise & Shine with Adrienne Gold Davis

What would it look like if your home felt genuinely peaceful, not just conflict-free, but whole?   Adrienne Gold Davis and Jessica Berkowitz explore Shalom Bayit, the Jewish value of peace in the home, and what it actually takes to build a family life shaped by wholeness and intentional relationships. Through personal stories and Jewish wisdom, they unpack why the people we love most often see our...

Making a choice can feel terrifying. But not choosing is still a choice. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Deborah Gilboa and Adrienne Gold Davis explore the science of fear and the Jewish concept of courage. From the amygdala’s instinct for safety to the idea of "Holy Chutzpah", this episode reveals how small moments of awareness can transform the way we respond to life’s challenges. A conversat...

“Why can’t they just listen?” We’ve all thought it. But what if the moment that frustrates you most… is actually an invitation to grow? Momentum's Director of Education and Evaluation, Dr. Ronit Ziv Kreger shares research on why praising effort builds braver, more resilient children and how adopting a beginner’s mindset can transform the way we parent. Instead of: “She’s so smart.” Try: “I see how...

Enjoy this encore episode - Have a Happy Purim!   Purim isn’t just for partying! It is also an opportunity to pursue peace and increase our generosity. Adrienne Gold Davis explains.    If you would like to sponsor an upcoming podcast, please email us at info@momentumunlimited.org

Adrienne welcomes back Jessica Berkowitz to explore a Jewish approach to gratitude that makes room for sadness, struggle, and unanswered questions. This episode pushes back on toxic positivity and offers a gentler, truer practice, one rooted in awareness, intention, and compassion.   If gratitude feels hard right now, you’re not doing it wrong. This conversation meets you exactly where you are. Th...

What does human dignity look like when it’s lived, not explained? In this episode of Rise and Shine with Adrienne Gold Davis, Adrienne shares a powerful experience from ADI Negev, an inclusive rehabilitation village in Israel. During a visit with Jewish educators, a six-year-old nonverbal child offered a wordless but unmistakable lesson in kevod habriyot, the Jewish value of honoring every human b...

What is the real antidote to baseless hatred?   In this episode, Adrienne Gold Davis is joined by educator and thought partner Jessica Berkowitz for a grounded, honest conversation about unity, disagreement, and what Jewish wisdom actually asks of us in divided times. Drawing on classical sources and lived experience, they explore why “baseless love” is not enough, how boundaries can be an express...

When does nostalgia strengthen us, and when does it keep us stuck? Adrienne explores the pull of memory through everyday moments and classic Jewish texts, asking when looking back builds connection and hope and when it becomes an escape from the present. A reflective invitation to choose intention over habit and to live fully in the moment while staying rooted in what matters most.   The Rise &amp...

What does it mean to remain faithful when life feels uncertain?   Adrienne Gold Davis sits down with Momentum’s Founding Director, Lori Palatnik, for a thoughtful conversation about Emunah, not as blind belief, but as lived faithfulness rooted in responsibility, courage, and presence.   In This Episode What Emunah really means beyond blind belief. Practical ways Jewish mothers can find strength an...

From creeping in the bushes to protect her child to learning the divine art of stepping back, Adrienne Gold Davis candidly shares her struggle with boundaries in parenting. Joined by Jessica Berkowitz, this deeply honest episode explores Jewish teachings on gevul (boundaries), eruv (communal space), and tzimtzum (divine contraction)—offering timeless wisdom for raising confident children with love...

What does it mean to speak about our children with honesty, love, and Jewish values? Adrienne Gold Davis and Jessica Berkowitz explore the fine line between storytelling and Lashon Hara (negative speech) as they unpack the power and purpose of our words. Together, they dive into parenting with intention, spiritual boundaries, and how to share our experiences without shame, offering Jewish wisdom t...

It’s one thing to feel judged. It’s another when the judgment comes from your own people. In this raw and real episode, Adrienne Gold Davis and Jessica Berkowitz talk about the shame that creeps in when you feel like you're not Jewish enough, or not the right kind of Jewish. So if you’ve ever been side-eyed or second-guessed... this one’s for you. This is an encore presentation from our Momentum S...

What does it truly mean to succeed as a Jewish mother, and what if the definition of success needs a spiritual makeover? In this moving and deeply personal episode, Adrienne Gold Davis sits down with Jessica Berkowitz, Senior Education Specialist at Momentum, to challenge the narrow, often toxic standards of achievement that dominate our homes, schools, and social media feeds. This is an encore pr...

In this encore episode of Rise and Shine, Adrienne Gold Davis explores a question Judaism takes seriously: How do we choose good when we’re capable of imagining both good and evil? Through a surprising story about “the sociopath test,” Adrienne unpacks how intelligence and intuition can be used to build or to harm – and why Jewish wisdom insists that what matters most is the path we choose. With t...

What happens when emotional stress shows up not just in our hearts, but in our bodies? Adrienne explores the powerful connection between emotional climate, physical tension, and spiritual resilience through a Jewish lens. Drawing from personal experience, Jewish wisdom, and contemporary insights, Adrienne reflects on how stress, grief, and inner “cold” can cause us to hunch, brace, and armor ourse...

At a gas-station pit stop in Israel, Adrienne witnessed an unexpected moment of unity and light. What begins as tension during a post-October 7 trip becomes a moving encounter between Jewish mothers and Bedouin Arab schoolgirls. A pink Dior handbag, a single compliment, and a shared desire for connection reveal a powerful lesson: light can break through even when we least expect it. This Hanukkah,...

Content Warning: This episode discusses addiction, alcoholism, mental health challenges, suicide, and generational trauma from the Holocaust. Carly's story is one of hope and recovery, but some listeners may find parts of the conversation emotionally challenging. This encore episode revisits one of our most meaningful conversations. Adrienne Gold Davis sits down with author, educator, and recovery...

In this deeply moving Rise & Shine episode, Adrienne Gold Davis sits down with Dr. Zohar Raviv, internationally recognized Jewish thought leader, educator, and Momentum’s Scholar in Residence, for a powerful exploration of Israel’s place in the Jewish story. Together, they illuminate the five landscapes through which Jews have understood Israel for thousands of years: the imagined, covenantal,...

It's a new season of Rise & Shine! In this week's podcast, Adrienne shares a compelling parable about a rooftop, blessings, and awareness. Through Jewish wisdom and Torah commentary, she explores why we often overlook the quiet gifts in our lives, especially when faced with hardship.   The Rise & Shine Podcast Series is made possible by the generous support of Bonnie Vozar of Chicago, Illi...

Adrienne shares how, with introspection and grace, we can follow the golden rule, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

Adrienne shares how we can channel our “been there, done that” feelings in positive ways.

Adrienne shares how we can focus on the beauty around us rather than on ourselves.  Discover more inspiration at momentumunlimited.org  

Adrienne shares how we can bring together our diverse family members in beautiful ways. Discover more inspiration at momentumunlimited.org  

From childhood reading to spiritual renewal, this episode explores how the Torah serves as the ultimate guide for living and rebuilding our inner worlds. Drawing on personal reflection, Jewish wisdom, and the story of Rabbi Akiva, we explore how Simchat Torah invites us to revisit our beginnings with fresh eyes. Discover how each year’s Torah cycle offers new insight into who we’ve become, and how...

What does it mean to embrace aging with grace and gratitude? Adrienne explores the beauty of impermanence, the wisdom of our tradition, and the gift of choosing our own way as Jewish women. From Botox to Viktor Frankl, from Titanic metaphors to Torah, this episode invites you to find joy, meaning, and spiritual alignment in the temporary structures of our lives.