Tales of the Unbound

Part of belonging to a lineage is the act of finding ourselves within the story, claiming a particular link in the chain of inheritance, as testimony to our merit for inclusion. And then he’d say, "Jews are responsible for each other." We all heard that phrase from him. It was the partner to his positivity. Forgive in your heart, and take your inheritance of survival, your legacy of peoplehood, se...

“ I feel like I hold and carry a lot of the stories from my grandfather. I don't always know how to share those stories. I'm sometimes afraid of telling them wrong or making mistakes.” - Neal Strauss "It’s a surreal experience to watch strangers tell your story. For others to decide they are ready for you to reclaim your stolen lives." - Miriam Terlinchamp [1] The majority of this audio was taken...

“Years later, I’ll know this feeling as a mother, hearing my baby wail from the other room, wondering, praying, hoping that she is ok. But tonight, I’m 25 in a loft apartment in Berlin, 5,000 miles from home, and it’s not a baby crying: It’s my 89-year-old grandfather, Simon, screaming.” - Miriam Terlinchamp “To choose, to actively to forgive. To find beauty in strangers paying homage to what you...

I got out of the Frankfurt train station. I took a bus to Wachenbuchen.  At this time, remember, there’s no cellphone, no Google maps, none of that. I had an address and I got there early in the day and there it was. It was like seeing something,  you know,  like seeing a picture you've seen forever, right? - Mark Vane References in this episode: [1] Here is a photograph of Shane and Simon at Shan...

We don’t know the story for a long time. And, even after we learn it, the story continues to unfold. Each generation adding new information, unlocking new mysteries, and trying it’s best to weave something whole out of a family history shredded by trauma. - Miriam Terlinchamp References in this episode: [1] Wow! That’s a lot of voices! Here is a family tree from the Strauss family to get a sense o...

Thanks for journeying with us through Season 1 of Tales of the Unbound . We’re thrilled to return with Season 2: Door to Door —a five-episode, multi-generational exploration of memory, trauma, and identity, launching July 23, 2025. For accessibility, our podcast feed will temporarily change its name to Door to Door , but you’ll still find the same heart, the same mission, and a powerful new chorus...

 Hey everyone, it's Miriam Terlinchamp.  Thank you so much for listening to Season One of Tales of the Unbound! When we first created this podcast feed we knew that we wanted to tell transformational stories around awakened becoming stories that focused on the struggle to define identity, search for meaning, and connect ourselves to the greater whole. Hearing how others have navigated life allows...

[1] We reference a definition of chevrutah as listed in Berakhot 63b:12, “Make many groups and study Torah, For the Torah is only acquired through study in a group.”  You can find the full text here . [2]  Malcolm Gladwell socialized the Tipping Point theory in his book “The Tipping Point ”. [3] We sing “Veshamru,” a Jewish liturgical prayer that celebrates the observance of the Sabbath as a peopl...

[1] “There are no words” is a poem Miriam wrote on January 6, 2021.  [2] “You are Not Alone” by Ric Hordinski; you can watch this gorgeous rendition  here. [3] Psalm 23, we used the same translation here as we did in Ari’s episode, which is the poetic and non-gendered translation by Rabbi Richard Levy.  But, Miriam was reading from the JPS translation of Psalm 23 at the time, which you can find  h...

Love the opening song? Check out Pitchu Li by Jacob Spike Kraus. [1] Miriam talks about what a Mikvah looks like in traditional communal spaces. If you haven’t yet checked out Mayyim Hayyim , we’re so excited for you to discover it. There’s a video-guided tour with details on how to prepare and where to find local places to immerse near you. You might also like ImmerseNYC or you can DIY your mikva...

In "Tales of the Unbound: Season 1, Episode 4: Do Good Time," the podcast explores the concept of "Good Time" within the context of Jewish conversion in a prison setting. Ari, the central figure in this episode, reflects on his journey from initial moral failings to embracing opportunities for self-improvement through education, religion and community engagement. Ari shares his experience of learn...

Tales of the Unbound: Episode 3- “We Go HAM” follows Josh’s spiritual journey of claiming Jewish identity, finding healing through reconciliation, and what it means to lead from a place of faith. His joy in the face of adversity is captivating as he carries his own stories and the stories of others as part of his personal evolution. This episode will reach you in the kishkas * carrying the listene...

Tales of the Unbound: Episode 2 – Yes Way! explores the role of prison chaplaincy in cultivating a sense of belonging and Jewish connection among incarcerated people. This episode specifically follows Amy, the Jewish sponsor and chaplain at Monroe Correctional. We talk about what it felt like to first enter the space, how she cultivated a thoughtful community, and where the boundaries lay around J...

Episode 1 - "Jewish Enough" follows the stories of Ari and Josh, two men pursuing Jewish conversion while incarcerated. Despite facing obstacles and judgments, they find belonging and community within Judaism. The episode explores themes of identity, conversion, and belonging, shedding light on the challenges and joys of practicing Judaism behind bars. Through their journey, listeners witness the...

In its inaugural season, Tales of the Unbound follows the Jewish journey of two incarcerated individuals, their chaplain, and the community they co-created in the most unlikely of places. It happens to be within a prison context and about Jewish conversion. Yet, it is also a case study for all of us, regardless of where we are in our lives, about how we can transcend barriers to the life we want t...