Chai on Life

Alex Segal

Chai on Life is a podcast for passionate Jewish women. We speak about all things that go into living an observant lifestyle in a way that's real and welcoming. Come learn from so many inspiring women out there!

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November 2 · 1 hr 2 min
86. You Were Made to Create: Finding the Courage to Put Your Work Into the World with Tova Citrin
Today, I’m speaking with Tova Citrin. Tova is an author, songwriter, and AI technology executive who believes stories have the power to transform lives. Born in the United States and now living in Israel, she draws inspiration from spirituality, Jewish mysticism, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit. Her work explores the places where faith, mystery, and destiny intersect. After a serious illness in her late twenties set her on a deep personal and spiritual journey, she began writing what would become her debut novel, Ten Seconds to Midnight. The manuscript sat on a shelf for many years until she finally released it into the world in 2026. When she’s not writing fiction, Tova works in artificial intelligence and trust & safety. She also creates original music as Aviya Sage, exploring themes of healing, purpose, and transformation. My conversation with Tova just flowed. We covered sooo many things both about work and life. Speaking with Tova reminded me just how much is possible in this life we’re living and how it’s never too late to take on a dream you might have. In this episode, we speak about: -The breadth of the work she puts out into the world — both in a formal job and creatively -How a serious illness changed the entire course of her life and led her on a religious journey -What it was like living in Israel through October 7th, the war that followed and all that Israelis continue to face today -How she creates a mindful space for herself amidst all of the stress -What it was like going through a divorce in the middle of the war and losing her job simultaneously -What inspired her to finally put her book into the world and how she utilized AI to get the book to its final stages -Her advice for taking on your own passion project …and SO much more. Tova is such a light, so authentic and inspiring and I can’t wait for you to learn from her. So now, without further ado, let’s get into the episode. For more from Tova or to get in touch, visit tovacitrin.com.
October 27 · 59 min
85. Beyond the Pedestal: The Human Side of Being a Rebbetzin with Dena Schusterman
Today, I’m speaking with Rebbetzin Dena Schusterman. Dena is a Chabad Shlucha, mother of 8, preschool founder, and decades-long community builder in Atlanta. Her new memoir, Stories Carry, goes deep into the stories we inherit across generations, the ones we carry forward and the ones we quietly rewrite from the inside. It’s not about dramatic exits, just the harder, slower work of becoming yourself within something you love. This interview with Dena is real. In her book, she gives readers an inside look into a life that not many get to see. What may seem picture-perfect on the outside gets the human treatment. We hear the thoughts and feel the emotions going on throughout her life, both as a child in a Chabad family and then later, as a Rebbetzin leading a community of her own. In our conversation, we speak about: -Why she wanted to write a memoir like this -What it was like growing up as a child in a Chabad family that did so much outreach -What her relationship with Shabbos is like now and the work it took to get her there -What the thought process was behind expanding her family — if she ever felt pressure to have more kids and how she decided whether or not to keep growing -What surrender looks like and really means in her relationship with Hashem -Why she often feels different from other women in Chabad outreach -What it was like for her father to leave shluchos …and so much more. For more from Dena, visit denashusterman.com. Get her book here.
October 19 · 1 hr 1 min
84. The Key to Creating an Enduring Marriage with Relationship Expert Chana Levitan
Today, I’m speaking with Relationship Expert, Chana Levitan. Chana is an educator, speaker and marriage therapist with more than 30 years of experience. She has lectured extensively across the globe and has counseled thousands of men and women on dating and marriage. She is the best-selling author of the books That’s Why I Married You and I Only Want to Get Married Once. This episode is a long time coming. I met Chana 14 years ago when I went to learn at Neve Yerushalayim for the first time and like so many others, became glued to her advice on relationships and what creates a lasting marriage. I read her first book before meeting my husband and read her second book on marriage after. Now, she has a third book out called Are We There Yet? The Road Trip to a Great Marriage which takes her knowledge on couples and relationships to the next level. In the book, she lets the reader in on the stories of 18 real-life couples. She details the challenges they had, misunderstandings and detours they went through and then how they got back to each other — strengthening their connections, communicating more effectively and building relationships that consistently grow deeper. She talks about her number one top tip for creating a strong, loving marriage and the advice you need on how to get there. It is a must-read and a good one to keep on the shelf to keep coming back to. In our conversation, we speak about: -Why she decided to write a second book on marriage -Why more than half of a couple’s issues are actually not resolvable and what to do about it -Her number one secret to creating a loving marriage that lasts -What healthy disagreement looks like in a relationship -What enduring love looks like …and so much more! To learn more from Chana and to get in touch, you can visit chanalevitan.com.
October 12 · 1 hr 6 min
83. Building a Life that Actually Works for You with Keshet Starr, CEO of Shalom Task Force
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—Keshet has spent more than a decade addressing some of the Jewish community’s most complex and sensitive challenges, including domestic abuse and Jewish divorce denial. Known for bringing together legal expertise, communal understanding, and practical solutions, Keshet writes and speaks internationally about abuse, advocacy, Jewish law, and creating meaningful communal change. In this interview, we're peeling back the curtain on Keshet's life both in and out of the office. In our conversation, we speak about: -How she was able to become a CEO at such a young age -How she dealt with imposter syndrome and making big decisions that didn’t always work out -Her opinion on whether social media campaigns are helping the agunot cause -What we can do at home to help the agunot cause, when it’s easy to feel so helpless -How she is redefining what motherhood looks like in her life -How she is redefining what parenthood can look like in the workplace -What a day in her life looks like -Some big decisions and shifts she made at home and with her husband to create a unique dynamic that works for everyone -Her top time management tips …and so much more! This episode is such a great one to kick off the month of Cheshvan with. The holidays are behind us and now, we have routine back. This conversation will help you make the most of it.
September 16 · 1 hr 7 min
What Even Is Emunah? Emulating Hashem and Getting Back to the Basics with Educator Yaffa Moskowitz [REPLAY]
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 years. Yaffa, her husband Danny, and seven children made aliya in the summer of 2013 and now live in Mitzpe Yericho. Yaffa served as teacher and Director of Ateres Seminary for women on the Queens College Campus for 13 years and she was also involved in the Neshei Shor Yoshuv community where she gave chaburas for married women. I met Yaffa when I was a student exactly seven years ago at Midreshet Rachel and have continued to learn from her and with her since. She has such a wealth of knowledge and this conversation really turned into the perfect thing to listen to right in the middle of Elul preparing for the chagim. During this time at Midreshet Rachel, the students learn from the sefer, Tomer Devorah, which teaches us about Hashem’s 13 Attributes of Mercy. As we learn about Hashem and understand who He is more, so to speak, we learn how we can emulate Him more in our own lives, and we used that text as the jumping off point for our conversation. As we spoke, we explored: -What a “sin” actually is in Judaism (it may not be what you think) and how we can always get back on track -How to separate ourselves from the sin and retain our confidence and closeness to G-d through the process -How we can get to the core of what emunah really is on the most basic level and use these foundational concepts to connect to Hashem more deeply -The restraint Hashem has with us every day and how we can apply that concept to our own lives and actions -How to work on letting go of control -Why we should speak to ourselves with more compassion from a Torah perspective -When fear is appropriate in Judaism and what kind of fear that actually is talking about -How we can continue to grow and elevate ourselves year after year …and SO MUCH MORE! To learn more about Midreshet Rachel V'Chaya, click ⁠here⁠.
S2 · E39
September 8 · 54 min
82. Mindset (and Practical) Shifts to Make the Chagim Less Stressful this Year with Coach Hadassah Eventsur
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 feel overwhelmed by daily chores and responsibilities, those who are struggling time management and organization and others who simply want more peace, structure and confidence in their daily lives. While she targets her work toward those who struggle with executive functioning skills, there are tips and strategies both in her course and in this episode that can help anyone. This episode is like a giant deep breath. It will remind you to actually examine what you can handle and dial it back vs getting caught up in the just one more thing mindset or the feeling of needing to try every new recipe or that fancy one that looks super impressive. If you want to sign up for the Mindfully You program that is starting after Sukkos, (on Monday, October 5) you can register here. To reach out to Hadassah personally, you can email her at Hadassah.mindfullyyou@gmail.com.
S2 · E38
September 4 · 1 hr 3 min
81. Loving Yourself Into Greatness (aka Your Pre-Rosh Hashanah Shot of Emunah) with Torah Educator Goldie Sion
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: @goldiesjournal. If you want to be feel connected and are on Instagram, I highly recommend you checking it out. Goldie’s words truly enter the soul. She has a way of making a connection to Hashem feel effortless, even though she acknowledges that it takes work. Our conversation is basically like one big emunah injection which is perfect as we’re about to enter the final week of Elul leading up to Rosh Hashanah. In our conversation, Goldie speaks so eloquently about: -How she brings Hashem into her day to day life from the big moments to the mundane -How she elevates basic actions that make up her life -What to do when you’re going through a difficult time or having trouble feeling connected to Hashem -How to reframe your mindset when the answer you keep hearing is “no” -What prayer can look like when you’re completely overwhelmed -What the healthiest form of growth looks like -How prayer really changes our lives ...and so much more! If there is someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast, email me at alex@chaionlifemag.com or send me a DM @chaionlifemag. Thanks again, see you next week!
S2 · E37
August 24 · 55 min
80. Making Space for All of You: A New Way to Think About Growth with Therapist Sara Eisemann
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 her clinical work, Sara is a certified dating coach. She is a regular contributor to Family First and she hosted the MakeShift podcast. Today, Sara is speaking about the concept of “shalom,” or finding peace within all of the parts that make up who you are. In her clinical work, she’s come to see it as the thread that goes through so many different issues that come up with her clients. As we move through Elul and gear up for the chagim, it’s a transformational framework to keep in mind. In the episode she uses this mindset to speak about: -What shalom looks like within a family, community and within yourself -How this helps a recovering perfectionist move away from unrealistic standards -How we can make space for the “and” in life — the things that bring us joy and challenge at the same time, or the parts of ourselves that we both like and struggle with, for example -Letting our authentic selves come through and getting rid of the “shoulds” that come up in any scenario -How we can avoid getting caught up in the worry about what others think of us and put more emphasis on what we think of ourselves -The power of this work and how it’s designed to help you stay in the healthy headspace it creates …and so much more! While this topic may feel esoteric or lofty on the surface, it is filled with practical steps and shifts that you can make as soon as you turn off the episode. As we move through Elul and this period of self-reflection, it will help unlock that version of yourself you are striving for — or honestly, just let her come through.
S2 · E36
August 17 · 1 hr 10 min
79. Reframe Your Rosh Hashanah and Relationship with Hashem (and so much more!) with Educator Ilana Cowland
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 — she and her husband, Jamie have six children and now, grandchildren and the joys and challenges of building a family are woven into everything she shares. She is the author of the book, The Moderately Anxious Everybody and has a new book coming out which we touch on about raising children in a materialistic world. I was so excited to speak to Ilana. She has been a speaker I have respected and looked up to for years now, and have heard her name so many times on my own Jewish journey. She has so much to share and she’s really someone I could have kept talking to forever about honestly any topic related to a woman’s life. In this episode, we try to go through as much as possible to get you to and through the upcoming chagim in the most connected way. We speak about: -How she got into teaching and doing the work she’s doing today -Anxiety and how it’s plaguing so many of us— we speak about the relationship between emunah and anxiety, how to diminish anxiety, what may be causing it and more -How we can feel comfort in knowing Hashem is running the world instead of fear of what could happen as a result -How to reframe what Rosh Hashanah is really about — I love Ilana’s approach here and thinking about it will completely change how you go into the holiday -What prioritization really looks like when it comes to our relationship with Hashem, in motherhood, in marriage and more and how it changes as we move through life stages -How we can find value in who we are in a world that is constantly throwing different messages toward us -The power in slowing down …and so much more!
S2 · E35
August 3 · 1 hr 35 min
78. Come Back to Your Aliveness with Breathwork Expert Fally Klein
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 minute is so rich - I was hanging onto her every word. Fally has already lived through so many things — more than some go through in an entire lifetime. Some of which — like battling cancer — she speaks about in the episode and some of which she is preferring to keep private right now. When you listen to how eloquent she is, how much depth she brings to her journey and challenges, you will be blown away and if you’re like me, only want more from her. In the episode, we speak about: -Her battle with cancer as a teenager and what that experience taught her -Her perspective on closure in life -What real healing feels like -How she worked to figure out her career and mission throughout her challenges and how that continues to evolve today -How her connection with Hashem has deepened through her journey -The power of breath work and how our breathing mimics the spiritual realm -Two breathing techniques that can help you find more calm right now …and SO MUCH MORE. Get more from Fally on her website ⁠fallyklein.com⁠. Get her book, Miracle Ride, ⁠here⁠.
S2 · E34
July 20 · 1 hr 35 min
77. Finding Hope When Things Go Dark with Matana Poupko Jacobs
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 depression by implementing practical, personalized tools that support their unique healing journey. Drawing from her lived experience, faith and years of learning from leading experts, she shares honest conversations that inspire resilience, emotional well-being and hope. Her goal is to show that healing is possible, growth is often found in the smallest steps and no one has to walk the journey alone. This is the perfect episode to release this week, as we approach Tisha B’Av. Sometimes it’s in the pain that we find the most connection. As they say, when there are cracks, that’s where the light can come in. In Matana’s story, we’re also learning about things that could be going on behind the scenes for anyone. So much of the time, we don’t know what another person is really going through. As we work on our ahavas chinam, or love for another Jew, in an attempt to rebuild the beis Hamikdash, Matana’s story can be a reminder of that. It can be a reminder to give ourselves more compassion if we’re going through something of our own and understanding that if you feel hurt or insulted by someone else, it may not be what you think. In the episode we speak about: -The moment that anxiety entered her life in a real, overt way and how that changed the course of her life moving forward -Her journey to heal — what that looked like, what got in her way and how she overcame immense challenge -What it looks like to reach out when you need help -What it’s like going through certain aspects of a religious lifestyle when you have OCD and how she worked through that — specifically when it comes to personal challenges like going to the mikvah -How she dealt with resentment that came up toward Hashem or her religious lifestyle and how she was able to persevere through that -How she deals with her challenges as a mother and all that motherhood entails -What she’s doing now to stay mentally healthy every day …and so much more! To get more from Matana, visit hopetorecharge.com Follow her on Instagram at @matanajacobs Two meditations she listens to: Morning meditation https://youtu.be/FmczMP1gQzk?is=VfKZO0zVrPAlEKCr Gratitude meditation https://youtu.be/xfD4HaBBc0I?is=tH8VHa9Hzn79hA-Z
S2 · E33
July 13 · 33 min
76. The Five Things Helping Me Feel Better Right Now
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 out there — more of a rare occasion for me! Really hope you like it and get even one thing out of it. Here, some the other podcasts I reference in the episode: -Chai on Life Podcast with Elisheva Liss -The Liz Moody Podcast episode with Laura Vanderkam If there is someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast, email me at alex@chaionlifemag.com or send me a DM @chaionlifemag. Thanks again, see you next week!
July 6 · 1 hr 21 min
Strengthening Ourselves Through the Three Weeks, Nine Days and Tisha B'Av with Educator Dr. Hilla Aboody [REPLAY]
[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 so deep and profound yet easy to comprehend at the same time. A little background on her: She is a wife and mother of five, living in Eretz Yisrael after making Aliyah 7 years ago from Brooklyn, NY. She is a teacher and Em Bayit (house mother) at Midreshet Eshel, a Sephardic seminary for post High school students from around the world. Her educational background includes studying at Michlalah and receiving her bachelor’s degree from Bar-Ilan University and a Master’s and PhD in Jewish History from New York University. She has published her study on Eliyahu the Prophet in Talmudic literature and midrashim in her book, “Through the Prism of Wisdom”. As an educator and kallah teacher, Hilla dedicates her time in guiding students to creating a relationship with Hashem and tips and tools to thrive in their marriages and in life. In our conversation, we speak about: -What the Jewish perspective is on sadness and pain -How we can connect to Hashem during this time and in this unique way, especially if it feels daunting for you right now -Why this particular time period brings about more heaviness and actually the reason why we take more precautions -The rich energy that lies in the months of Tammuz and Av — what the letters associated with each month mean, why the sense of each month is important and what we can individually and collectively take from all of that -Why crying is actually a sign of bravery -Practical things you can do now to get through this time with more faith, in a more connected way to yourself, Hashem and those around you -How to deal with difficult emotions with your kids …and SO MUCH MORE This podcast with Hilla is basically an hour long shiur. I got chills like 17 times as I was listening to her and it’s definitely one of the most important ones I’ve done so far in terms of our spirituality. If there is someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast, email me at ⁠alex@chaionlifemag.com⁠ or send me a DM @chaionlifemag. Thanks again, see you next week!
S2 · E32
June 29 · 59 min
75. You Were Never Broken: Rethinking Healing & Living with Intention—with Therapist Aliza Tropper
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 therapies such as EMDR, CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and more. Her work combines practical tools with deep emotional insight to help people create meaningful, lasting change that is in alignment with their values. This conversation is all about a whole lot of that. I’ve been thinking so much about healing lately. In our social media focused world, healing can sometimes be contained to 1 or 2-minute sound bites or six-slide carousel posts when in reality, it’s hard to fit our lives in a box. While there is so much learning, community and validation that can come from social media, a lot can also be lost. Sometimes it feels like if we just did this one thing that this Instagram post is saying, we would be better — if we just read that one book or bought that one product, we would finally feel healed or have the lives we wanted. We need to remember to go outside the screen to have those real conversations and debrief and connect — there is never a substitute for that. As I spoke to Aliza, I realized that with all the chasing, there also has to be recognition of what is being accomplished every day, there has to be space for emotion — all of them — for the duality of what makes someone human. Becoming healed isn’t a destination that you stay at, but a vibrant journey that continues to bring us to new levels of growth. Aliza is so good about breaking down some of the big concepts we see or hear about and making them understandable and really feel doable. In the episode, we speak about: -How healing itself can become an addiction -What DBT and CBT are — the differences between them and how we can utilize them for growth -How to live more in alignment with our values -What to do when uncomfortable emotions arise -How we can work to reprogram our nervous systems to feel more calm -How to live life with more intention -How to break free of comparison culture and a consumer-based society -How to make friends as an adult and why it feels different than it may have before -How to work on building self-esteem -The power of integrating spirituality in your healing journey …and so much more! To learn more from Aliza or to work with her, visit Heartfulmentalhealth.com Find her on Instagram @alizathetherapist Email her at Aliza@heartfulmentalhealth.com
S2 · E32
June 15 · 58 min
74. Make Torah More Relevant Every Day with Author Katia Bolotin
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 audiences with teachings that are both deeply rooted in Torah as well as being contemporary. Her writing is warm, clear, and emotionally resonant — grounded in real experience rather than theory. As I moved through her book, I really felt that. Each chapter focuses on a different parsha and is relatable and easy to read. It makes the parsha approachable and offers at least one practical takeaway or exercise you can do to really bring the Torah’s teachings immediately into your life. It could be fun to learn with a friend or chavruta for that purpose as well and really motivate each other. In the episode, we speak about: -Why she decided to write a book on parsha specifically -How we can use the Torah as the greatest self-help book -Why life is more like a ladder and less like a bridge and what that ladder can teach us -How Katia grounds herself through Torah -The dangers of comparing oneself to others and how to work on that in both a physical and spiritual way -What the duality present in the Torah can teach us about the world -What masculine and feminine energy look like through a Torah lens -The best way to transmit Torah to our children ...and so much more! Get Katia’s book here. Follow Katia on Instagram here and through her website here. If there is someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast, email me at alex@chaionlifemag.com or send me a DM @chaionlifemag. Thanks again, see you next week!
S2 · E31
June 9 · 53 min
73. Feed Your Family Without Living in the Kitchen with Guila Sandroussy of Tasty and Hasty
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. She is spilling all her tips to cooking more efficiently whether it’s for Shabbat or weeknight dinners. In our conversation, we speak about: -How she got started as a food blogger -How her Moroccan background influences her cooking today, and also how it doesn’t -Where she gets the inspiration for her recipes and how you can do the same -How to plan out your weekly meals in a way that is not overwhelming and makes it feel so easy -Her Shabbat planning and cooking process broken down -Why challah has become a mitzvah she feels really connected to and how she makes time for it -She takes us behind the scenes of her content creation process from how long things take to film to the editing and even answering messages -How she brings cooking into her motherhood journey with her kids — from helping them become less picky eaters to bringing them into the kitchen with her when they’re interested in learning …and SO MUCH MORE Some of the things we discussed in the episode: Recipes from Guila with 9x13, sheet-pan ideas and freezer tips Quick-meal links: Easy 9x13 Chicken and Rice 9x13 Kids Pasta Follow on Instagram: @Tastyandhasty If there is someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast, email alex@chaionlifemag.com or send a DM @chaionlifemag.
S2 · E30
June 2 · 1 hr 6 min
72. Connect to Hashem in Just Eight Seconds with Rebbetzin Sara Yoheved Rigler
Welcome back to The Chai on Life Podcast! Today, I’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 Seconds to Connect with Hashem: Mitzvah Mindfulness for Women. The whole idea of the book is about turning everyday actions into moments of connection. With clear guidance and short intention statements, even routine tasks―like drinking water or doing laundry―can become meaningful mitzvos. I was blessed to hear about this concept from Rebbetzin Rigler on one of her classes through Jewish Workshops and after reading an early copy of the book, tried practicing it on my own. As you’ll hear more about in our interview, it’s truly a transformational idea. In a really small way, you can change your whole relationship with Hashem for the better. In our conversation, we speak about: -Why she wanted to write this book -Why this action creates so much more love for and with Hashem -How to do this when things feel tough and you’re going through challenges in life -The importance of doing a mitzvah with simcha -The two things that might get in the way of doing this practice effectively — and how to both watch out for and overcome those -Why you can apply this concept to literally anything you’re doing throughout the day — even serving Hashem with your yetzer hara …and so much more! For the most up to date information, you can go to the book’s website, 8secconnect.com. To listen to the first episode with Rebbetzin Rigler, click here. More relevant links: Order the book on Amazon Sararigler.com Hello Habit app
S2 · E29
May 26 · 1 hr
71. What Are We Teaching Our Kids About Money? With Financial Coach Rivky Rothenberg
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 the early financial decisions that shape their future, helping them get organized, communicate well, and start off on the same page. Drawing on her background in accounting and years of hands-on experience, Rivky focuses on giving families both clarity and tools—so they can feel confident in their finances and in the example they’re setting for the next generation. I loved speaking with Rivky because money is one of those things that is still a bit taboo and nice to speak about with a real professional, someone who has seen a lot and can speak from that experience. In the episode, we speak about: -How she got into financial coaching -The language we can use to speak to our kids about money even from a young age so they develop a healthy mindset around it. -How to speak to teens and older kids about money in a way that makes sense to them and teaches them the value of it -How to deal with money differences that come up in marriage, which almost always happens as each person comes in with their own money styles, backgrounds and triggers -How to develop more emunah and bitachon into your money mindset …and so much more! For more from Rivky or to work with her, visit rivkyrothenberg.com.
May 19 · 1 hr 3 min
Elevate Your Entire Shavuot Experience with Esteemed Educator and Speaker Nalini Ibragimov [REPLAY]
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 called Souled, which was a weekly class for young professional women who had been on Israel trips or other programs and wanted to continue their learning while working in New York City. She is a role model to maybe thousands of women at this point through her work on college campuses, as a kallah teacher, someone who prepares brides for their upcoming wedding, Souled and other Jewish organizations. Here’s some more formal info for those who aren’t familiar with Nailni and her work: Nalini Ibragimov attended Barnard College and Moreshet Institute and studied Jewish history in Touro’s master’s program. She lived in Israel for four years where she taught in various institutions. For the following five years, she and her husband worked at Brooklyn College for JLIC, a joint program of the OU and Hillel, where she taught and ran various programs for Jewish students on campus. Nalini taught in Ateres Naava seminary in Brooklyn for 15 years until moving to Long Island a few years ago. Additionally, Nalini has taught hundreds of kallot and is a speaker for My Gift of Mikvah. She is also part of the educational staff of Core. Today, Nalini is the director of the ⁠Olami Women's House⁠, which provides a living space for young professional women who seek to live in a nurturing, Torah immersive environment. If you want to apply to live there, click ⁠here⁠! If you're a young professional woman, you can also hear Nalini speak Wednesday nights at Safra Synagogue on the Upper East Side at 7:30 p.m. Nalini resides in Woodmere, New York with her husband and takes great pride in her six children and the families they are building. Now, let’s talk about our episode. In our conversation we speak about: -Nalini’s Jewish journey and how she got to where she is today -How she manages and balances all of the work she does with being a wife and a mother of six children -How she decides what professional responsibilities to take on -What Shavuot really means and the perspective we can have going into it -How we can manage the heaviness all around us right now and channel that pain we’re still feeling into the holiday and use it to create even more connection with Hashem -What a miracle actually looks like and how we can see more of them in our daily lives, right now -How we can use the time we have left before Shavuot to prepare for the holiday — and why the process and the preparation are key -How to connect on Shavuot when you’re home with little kids and not going to learn all night -How the holiday of Shavuot is like a wedding and a beautiful lesson that we can all infuse into our marriages and our relationship to all of klal Yisrael …and SO MUCH MORE If you have any questions for Nalini, you can reach out to her at Nalini419@gmail.com. If there's someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast or a topic you want featured, send me an email at alex@chaionlifemag.com or a DM on Instagram at ⁠@chaionlifemag⁠. Thanks so much, see you next week!
S2 · E28
May 5 · 59 min
70. Making the Invisible Visible: The Sacred Work of Motherhood with Rebbetzin Miriam Katz
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 treasure trove of wisdom and has turned her teachings into a Substack newsletter called Mother 2 Mother where she shares insights from her two decades of motherhood. It’s both practical and spiritual, relatable yet inspiring and it has been such a pleasure to be a part of her community and learn from her writings. We are approaching Mother’s Day — at least in the States — and while it may be a holiday you gloss over, it’s also a good opportunity to simply reflect on all you do as a mother. As we speak about in our interview, there’s so much invisible work when you’re a mother, keeping things running on a day-to-day basis — and it’s important to make the invisible visible whether it’s with your spouse, with your kids or without anyone else involved — just to yourself. In our conversation we speak about: -How Rebbetzin Katz found and connected to Orthodox Judaism -The crazy story of how she met her husband -How to figure out what we really need when it comes to our unique mothering journeys -How we can place more value on our role as a mother, if it’s not something that comes easily to you -What a deep connection to Hashem can look like through mothering -How to feel better about the mental load motherhood comes with and ways to reframe it -Something you can do at home to cultivate more gratitude …and so much more! To reach out to Miriam, you can email her at Miriamkatz613@gmail.com. Please leave a rating and review, share the episode with a friend, family member or coworker who you think might enjoy it as well. If there is someone you want to see on The Chai on Life Podcast, email me at alex@chaionlifemag.com or send me a DM @chaionlifemag. Thanks again, see you next week!

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