Unginspired

Rabbi Herschel Aberson is a rabbi with encyclopedic knowledge of Judaism, history, and theology, and an ability to break down complex ideas into digestible nuggets of wisdom. However, I worry that he's too smart for his own good, a phrase he's heard countless times before. He received his ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and holds an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from...

Jaden Pan is a transgender documentary and reality TV producer based in Los Angeles. For years, we were roommates, and yet, I had no idea about the depth of Jaden’s gender story. He carries the rare privilege of being able to choose how, when, and to whom he shares that part of his life. In this conversation, I finally got to ask the questions: What was his journey like? How did his understanding...

Glenn Gershan has lived with cerebral palsy since birth. He cannot speak, and instead communicates by typing messages on his phone or through his computer. But that hasn't stopped him from working, studying, and making a life of his own in Los Angeles. In this interview, Glenn chats about what his disability means to him, his relationship with his mother, losing his father, dating, what makes...

Saifennasr "Versátil" Ismail is a Capoeira Mestre, mental health counselor, polyglot, and IT professional. A true teacher, he finds lessons in every moment and movement. In this conversation, we explored his upbringing in a polygamist family in Detroit and North Africa, the effects of childhood sexual trauma, and how these experiences led him to mental health work and a lifelong dedicati...

I asked Mark Ehlert about his suicide attempt of a gunshot to the head on September 12, 2004. We talked about the circumstances and his mindset surrounding it, and we went through the physical, mental, and spiritual recovery afterward. It's fascinating to me how one builds their life back together after such an incident. Mark shows an impressive level of self-awareness and tells incredible sto...

I asked Danny about his current battle with stage 4 colon cancer, surviving testicular cancer 20 years ago, near-death experiences, ayahuasca, spirituality, his music career, and the healthcare industry, among many other things. This is a great conversation for anyone dealing with death or with a terminal disease. Here are some links to keep up with Danny's progress. Be sure to lookout for the lau...