Peace Love and Bring a Bat

SEE MIRACLES IN LIFE EVERY DAY: BARRY SHORE ON JOY, PURPOSE & MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Can you live with joy even when life gives you circumstances you never would have chosen?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Barry Shore, known as the Ambassador of Joy, author, speaker, creator of the Keep Smiling movement, and a man whose life changed dramatically after sudden paralysis.

On September 17, 2004, Barry says he woke up healthy and by that evening was completely paralyzed from the neck down due to a rare illness. He spent 144 days in the hospital, two years in a hospital bed at home, and four years using a wheelchair. Today, he remains physically limited but has built his life around purpose, service, gratitude, and joy. Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Barry says joy is possible regardless of circumstances
• What SMILE means: Seeing Miracles In Life Everyday
• Why JOY means Journey Of You
• How purpose helps us MAD — Make A Difference
• Why “Choice, not chance, determines your destiny”
• How prayer, therapy, and love helped Barry move forward
• Why he kept challenging physical limitations
• How he eventually began swimming after paralysis
• Why “motion is lotion” became part of his philosophy
• How the Keep Smiling movement reached millions of people
• Barry’s practical 94-second breathing practice
• What DOGPOOP really means
• Why helping other people can change your own perspective
• How self-talk shapes the direction of your life
• Why Barry believes laughter should be a daily practice

SMILE

Barry’s philosophy starts with one word:

SMILE — Seeing Miracles In Life Everyday.

That does not mean ignoring pain or pretending everything is perfect.

It means training yourself to recognize what is still good, meaningful, beautiful, and possible.

Barry believes that when we intentionally look for good, we begin experiencing life differently. Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

CHOICE, NOT CHANCE

At 17, Barry made a decision:

“I choose to be happy.”

That choice eventually became one of his core messages:

“Choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”

We cannot control everything that happens.

But we can work on how we respond to what happens. Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

PRAYER, THERAPY & LOVE

Barry describes his recovery philosophy with three words:

Prayer. Therapy. Love.

His physical recovery was slow.

For two years, his goal was simply sitting up and putting his feet over the side of the bed.

Later, aquatic therapy helped him discover movement he had not experienced in years. Eventually, he developed a regular swimming practice despite continuing physical limitations.

His message:

Keep moving. Keep trying. Keep showing up. Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

BREATHE LIKE A BABY

Barry teaches a simple practice he calls BLAB — Breathe Like A Baby.

Take four slow, conscious breaths.

Breathe through your nose into your abdomen.

Slowly breathe out through your mouth.

He describes the exercise as a 94-second practice and emphasizes:

“Repetition creates transformation.” Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

THE POWER OF ONE PERSON

Barry loves acronyms—even unusual ones.

DOGPOOP means:

Doing Of Good — Power Of One Person.

His point is serious.

One person serving another can create a ripple.

One act of kindness can lead to another.

One person can make a difference.

And Barry believes everyone has that ability. Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

TALK TO YOURSELF WITH KINDNESS

Barry says some of the most powerful words we ever hear are the words we say to ourselves.

His definition of SELF-TALK centers on teaching ourselves love and kindness.

If you would show patience, compassion, and attention to a struggling friend, why would you deny those same things to yourself? Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Barry’s seed is wonderfully simple:

Laugh out loud.

Not eventually.

Not when everything is perfect.

Today.

Move the energy.

Smile.

Connect.

Serve somebody.

And remember:

Your life has purpose. Go MAD. Make A Difference. Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

CONNECT WITH BARRY SHORE

Website: barryshore.com

Books include The Joy of Living, Reframing: The Art of Living, and Pocketful of Acronyms. Barry Shore on Peace Love and B…

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #BarryShore #AmbassadorOfJoy #Joy #Purpose #MakeADifference #Resilience #Gratitude #PositiveMindset #SelfTalk #KeepSmiling

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UNVEIL THE BEAST: KAITIE ENTRIKIN ON BODY IMAGE, FOOD FREEDOM & BECOMING YOUR TRUE SELF

What if the goal is not becoming someone new—but uncovering who you were before the world told you who you were supposed to be?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Kaitie Entrikin, coach, creator of Beautiful Beast Within, podcast host, musician, and advocate for healing our relationships with food, exercise, body image, and ourselves.

Kaitie grew up being bullied about her weight and learned to believe her body was the problem. That led to years of restrictive eating, obsessive exercise, guilt, tracking numbers, and believing health meant constantly trying to make herself smaller. Eventually, education and experience forced her to question many of those beliefs. Kaitie Entrikin on Peace Love a…

In this episode, you will discover:

• What Kaitie means by “Unveil the Beast”
• Why the beast represents your authentic self
• How limiting beliefs become layers or “veils”
• Why eating less and exercising more is not always healthier
• How pregnancy changed Kaitie’s relationship with her body
• Why she stopped viewing food as simply “good” or “bad”
• How guilt can fuel restriction and binge patterns
• Why exercise should not be punishment for eating
• The difference between tracking information and obsessing over numbers
• Why emotional eating is not automatically bad
• How to develop other coping tools besides food
• Why noticing without judging is one of the biggest keys to change
• What “weight-neutral” coaching means
• Why health is about behaviors, not only the number on a scale
• How to vet wellness advice before trusting it
• Why becoming yourself requires questioning what the world taught you

WHAT IS THE BEAST?

Kaitie describes the “beast” as your real, authentic self.

Over time, we collect veils:

Other people’s expectations.

Body-image messages.

Rules about food.

Ideas about what success should look like.

Beliefs about who we are allowed to become.

Her work is about removing those layers one at a time. Kaitie Entrikin on Peace Love a…

GUILT DOESN’T BELONG ON YOUR PLATE

One of Kaitie’s strongest messages is that food does not determine your moral value.

Instead of labeling everything “good” or “bad,” she encourages a different perspective:

Some things may be good for your body.

Other things may be good for your soul.

A cupcake does not make you a failure.

And guilt does not belong on your plate. Kaitie Entrikin on Peace Love a…

EXERCISE IS NOT PUNISHMENT

Kaitie remembers eating until she felt physically uncomfortable and then spending an hour on an elliptical because she believed she needed to “burn it off.”

At the time, she thought that was health.

Today, she sees it differently.

Movement can be powerful—but when exercise becomes punishment for eating, the relationship with both food and movement can become unhealthy. Kaitie Entrikin on Peace Love a…

NOTICE WITHOUT JUDGING

Kaitie says one of the biggest tools in her own healing has been:

Notice without judging.

Notice what you eat.

Notice what you say.

Notice what you think about yourself.

Notice your habits.

Notice the rules you are following.

You do not have to immediately fix everything.

Awareness simply gives you the ability to choose differently. Kaitie Entrikin on Peace Love a…

HEALTH IS WHAT YOU DO

Kaitie encourages people to look beyond the scale.

Weight is one piece of information—not the entire story.

Her focus is on behaviors, habits, movement, nourishment, mental health, and the relationship you have with yourself.

As she puts it:

“Health is what you do, not what the scale says.” Kaitie Entrikin on Peace Love a…

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Kaitie’s seed is simple:

Be you.

And if you do not know who you are yet:

Go find out.

The time is going to pass anyway.

Do the work.

Remove the veils.

Question the rules.

And become the version of yourself that actually feels like you. Kaitie Entrikin on Peace Love a…

CONNECT WITH KAITIE ENTRIKIN

Website: beautifulbeastwithinstudios.com

Find her podcast, social channels, and YouTube content through the website. Kaitie Entrikin on Peace Love a…

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #KaitieEntrikin #BeautifulBeastWithin #BodyImage #FoodFreedom #IntuitiveEating #SelfAcceptance #MentalHealth #Wellness #Authenticity #PersonalGrowth

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REGAIN YOUR MO-JOY: LINDA JOY BENN ON BURNOUT, ALIGNMENT & COMING BACK TO YOURSELF

What happens when you look successful on the outside—but inside you feel exhausted, disconnected, and empty?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Linda Joy Benn, transformational coach and holistic wellness practitioner who helps high-achieving professionals and leaders reconnect with themselves, reduce burnout, and rediscover purpose.

Linda introduces her BEN Method—Balance, Energy, Nurture, and Nourish—which she describes as advanced self-care for the soul. Her work focuses on helping people examine what feels out of alignment, what is draining them, and what may be keeping them disconnected from who they believe they truly are. Linda Joy Benn on Peace Love an…

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why outward success does not always mean inner fulfillment
• Linda’s personal journey after a cancer diagnosis in 1990
• How childhood experiences can shape adult beliefs and patterns
• Why self-awareness starts with an honest life assessment
• The meaning behind the BEN Method
• How people-pleasing and overgiving can contribute to burnout
• Why boundaries matter when protecting your energy
• How Linda uses breathwork, meditation, reflection, and body awareness
• Why she encourages people to notice what expands or drains them
• How triggers can become opportunities for reflection
• Why nature, quiet time, music, creativity, and water can be forms of self-care
• How reconnecting with joy can help people feel more present and fulfilled
• Why Linda believes following your bliss is part of finding your purpose

THE BEN METHOD

Linda’s framework is built around four words:

B — Balance
Look honestly at the areas of your life that feel out of alignment.

E — Energy
Notice what strengthens you—and what consistently leaves you depleted.

N — Nurture
Create space for rest, reflection, boundaries, and self-compassion.

N — Nourish
Choose practices, relationships, and activities that help you feel more connected and alive. Linda Joy Benn on Peace Love an…

WHAT IS DRAINING YOU?

Linda says burnout is often deeper than simply having too much work.

She encourages people to look at patterns such as:

People-pleasing.

Overgiving.

Seeking approval.

Trying to keep everyone happy.

Always saying yes.

And believing you must constantly prove your worth.

Her invitation is to ask:

What in my life is expanding me—and what is contracting me? Linda Joy Benn on Peace Love an…

TRIGGERS CAN BECOME TEACHERS

When someone pushes your buttons, Linda suggests pausing before reacting.

Ask yourself:

Is there something here for me to learn?

Did they touch an insecurity or unresolved issue?

Or is this simply their anger or behavior being projected onto me?

Sometimes the lesson is self-reflection.

Sometimes the lesson is:

This is not mine to carry. Linda Joy Benn on Peace Love an…

NOURISH YOURSELF

Self-care does not have to be complicated or expensive.

Linda recommends simple ways to slow down and reconnect:

Sit quietly with a cup of tea.

Meditate.

Walk barefoot on the grass.

Spend time in nature.

Swim.

Listen to uplifting music.

Create art.

Cook.

Dance.

Exercise.

Or simply do something that brings you into the present moment.

The goal is finding what genuinely brings you joy. Linda Joy Benn on Peace Love an…

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Linda’s seed is:

“Follow your bliss.”

Do more of what brings you joy.

Nurture yourself.

Nourish yourself.

Pay attention to what makes you feel alive.

For Linda, coming back into alignment begins when you stop giving all of yourself away and start reconnecting with the person underneath the expectations, responsibilities, and noise. Linda Joy Benn on Peace Love an…

CONNECT WITH LINDA JOY BENN

Website: lindabenn.com

Linda also invites listeners to explore her Joy Connection community, free resources, energy assessment, programs, and one-to-one support. Linda Joy Benn on Peace Love an…

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #LindaJoyBenn #Burnout #SelfCare #BENMethod #PersonalGrowth #Purpose #Boundaries #MindBodySpirit #Transformation #FollowYourBliss

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OBSERVATION AT THE SPEED OF LIFE: ED DOHERTY ON LEADERSHIP, OPTIMISM & CHALLENGING YOURSELF

What happens when life moves so fast that you miss the moments that matter most?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Ed Doherty, leadership consultant, former restaurant executive, nonprofit leader, marathon finisher, mentor, and author of Observation at the Speed of Life.

At 75,Ed has led 135 restaurants, served as chief human resource officer for an 11,000-employee company, run a nonprofit, completed a marathon, and turned decades of lessons into a book. Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Ed chooses positive intent
• Why failure can teach more than success
• His philosophy: Observe. Act. Stay with it.
• Why planning creates a more interesting life
• His two-word definition of time management: Controlling events
• Why clarity generates action
• Why leading by example matters
• How effort, progress, and results change over time
• Why feedback can be a “glass ceiling buster”
• How running a marathon at 70 changed him
• Why your biggest challenge should come from inside you

OPTIMISM IS A CHOICE

Ed believes we move through life assuming either positive or negative intent.

His preference is simple: look for the positive.

For Ed, optimism is not pretending problems do not exist. It is deciding how quickly you get back up after getting knocked down. Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

OBSERVE. ACT. STAY WITH IT.

Ed says the speed of life causes us to miss small moments.

A teammate loses enthusiasm. A standard slips. Something feels off.

Sometimes leadership is simply noticing what others miss.

That led Ed to a core philosophy:

Observe. Act. Stay with it. Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

CLARITY GENERATES ACTION

While overseeing 135 restaurants, Ed wanted cleaner stores. Eventually, he made his standard unmistakable: a restaurant should be clean enough to eat off the floor.

Then he literally did it.

His lesson:

Clarity generates action.

When expectations are fuzzy, people hesitate. When they are clear, people know where the bar is. Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Ed’s number one leadership principle is:

Never ask someone to do something you have not done—or would not do yourself.

Teams respond differently when the boss is willing to do the difficult work first. Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

FEEDBACK IS A GIFT

Early in his career, a boss told Ed that the thing he did best was getting gas—and unless he improved elsewhere, he was not going to make it.

Ed listened.

Those meetings became tutorials. Eighteen months later, that same leader chose him to run San Francisco.

Ed calls accepting feedback a:

“Glass ceiling buster.” Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

THE MARATHON AT 70

Ed started walking at 60, then running, then racing.

At 70, he completed a marathon by running 47 laps around Fenway Park and raised $13,000 for the Boston Bruins Foundation.

He was not running for time.

He was running to finish.

The discipline changed how he saw himself. Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Ed’s seed is:

Challenge yourself.

Nobody walked up to him at 70 and told him to run a marathon. That challenge came from inside.

Set your own goals. Push yourself. Do not wait for someone else to define your next level.

If you want to reach new heights:

It has to come from the inside. Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

CONNECT WITH ED DOHERTY

Book: Observation at the Speed of Life
Consulting: ambroselanden.com Ed Doherty On Peace Love and Br…

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #EdDoherty #Leadership #Optimism #Resilience #TimeManagement #Feedback #Legacy #PersonalGrowth

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YOUR BRAIN HEALS EVERY DAY: SANDRA LEE ON BRAIN INJURIES, ENERGY, SOUND & THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY

What if recovery does not have to end when someone tells you, “This is as good as it gets”?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Sandra Lee, longtime massage therapist and practitioner who works with people exploring recovery after brain injuries, migraines, strokes, accidents, stress, and other challenges.

Sandra shares how decades of bodywork, craniosacral study, sound practices, visualization, and a brain-training arrow chart shaped her approach to helping clients. She describes combining these methods with the belief that physical, emotional, and mental experiences all influence how people feel and function. Sandra Lee On Peace Love and Br…

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Sandra became passionate about working with brain-injury recovery
• How an arrow-reading exercise became part of her practice
• Why she believes sound and bodywork can complement recovery work
• How she describes “energy flow” and blockages in the body
• What decades of craniosacral and massage work taught her about stress
• Why she calls chronic shoulder tension “shoulder boulders”
• How thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and physical symptoms can interact
• Why hydration and sleep are foundational habits she emphasizes
• Why even healers need outside perspective and support
• How visualization can help people reconnect with future possibilities
• Why Sandra believes the language we use about our bodies matters
• Her Spectrum of Anger framework
• Why she sees uncomfortable emotions as information rather than failure
• The message she wants people facing limitations to remember

WHEN THE BODY HOLDS THE PRESSURE

Sandra describes seeing stress show up physically in the people she works with.

One example is tension across the shoulders—the feeling of carrying the “weight of the world.”

She encourages people to notice what they are carrying emotionally instead of viewing every symptom as an isolated physical problem. Sandra Lee On Peace Love and Br…

RECOVERY CAN INCLUDE MORE THAN ONE LAYER

Sandra often works with people who have already gone through conventional medical treatment but still do not feel like themselves.

Her approach is complementary: she describes looking at physical function alongside emotions, thoughts, beliefs, sound-based practices, and other bodywork techniques.

For Sandra, the question becomes:

What else may be affecting how this person feels and functions? Sandra Lee On Peace Love and Br…

START WITH THE BASICS

Some of Sandra’s advice is remarkably simple.

Drink enough water.

Get enough sleep.

Ask for help.

She says even with decades of experience, she still needs other people to help her see what she cannot see herself.

Sometimes we need an “outside of my head perspective” to interrupt an old pattern and create a new possibility. Sandra Lee On Peace Love and Br…

SEE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

Sandra and Uncle Dave discuss the importance of visualization.

If someone believes, “This is my life now,” it can become difficult to imagine anything different.

Sandra encourages people to begin picturing the activities and experiences they want to return to.

Her message is not to deny current limitations—but to stop allowing the limitation to become the only future you can imagine. Sandra Lee On Peace Love and Br…

REFRAMING ANGER

Sandra also introduces her Spectrum of Anger project.

She believes anger, worry, fear, uncertainty, and other uncomfortable emotions are not automatically signs that something is wrong with us.

They can be information.

Instead of immediately suppressing the emotion, she asks:

What is this trying to get me to pay attention to?

For Sandra, awareness creates more freedom in how we respond. Sandra Lee On Peace Love and Br…

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Sandra’s seed is:

“Your brain heals itself every day of your life.”

Whether someone is dealing with a physical injury, a limiting belief, or a story that says they cannot become who they want to be, Sandra wants people to keep believing change is possible.

We cannot rewrite the past.

But we can keep working on how we respond, adapt, and move forward. Sandra Lee On Peace Love and Br…

CONNECT WITH SANDRA LEE

Body Symptoms Decoder:
shinewithsandra.com/body

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #SandraLee #BrainInjury #BrainHealth #Recovery #SoundHealing #MindBodyConnection #Anger #PersonalGrowth #Resilience #HealingJourney

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BOOTS ON THE GROUND: YAIR PINTO ON OCTOBER 7, RESILIENCE, TRUTH & DEFENDING ISRAEL

What happens when an ordinary holiday morning becomes the beginning of a war that changes your family, your country, and your life?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Yair Pinto, Jerusalem-born IDF officer, tank platoon commander, journalist, host of Boots on the Ground, and author of the book by the same name.

On October 7, 2023, Yair went from civilian life back into military service. He would spend months deployed near Lebanon and inside Gaza while reporting what he witnessed and documenting the personal impact of the war. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br…

In this episode, you will discover:

• What Yair remembers about the night before October 7
• How his family was celebrating Simchat Torah before the attack
• The moment sirens woke him around 6:00 AM
• Why his unit initially deployed toward Lebanon
• What it was like sleeping outside while preparing for a possible second front
• His experience serving inside Gaza for four months
• Why he began reporting daily from his phone
• How those reports grew into the TBN Israel audience
• Why Yair says the information war became almost as important as the battlefield
• How his wife protected their children while he was deployed
• The emotional toll war has taken on Israeli children
• Why his children asked where the bomb shelter was on an airplane
• The story behind his book Boots on the Ground
• How QR codes in the book connect readers to videos recorded during the events
• Why Yair believes people must investigate claims instead of repeating slogans
• Why he still believes peace is possible

OCTOBER 7 CHANGED EVERYTHING

Yair remembers October 6 as a family celebration.

His youngest child was only three months old. His family had gathered for dinner. The next morning was supposed to be relaxed.

Instead, sirens began.

Soon after, Yair received the call to return to duty.

His life shifted instantly from husband, father, and civilian back to IDF officer. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br…

FROM SOLDIER TO REPORTER

As the war unfolded, Yair believed reliable firsthand information was missing.

He had one tool with him:

His phone.

So he began reporting what he saw every day—the fear, the separation from his family, the battles, and his conviction that Israel had to defend itself.

Those reports eventually reached millions of viewers and became part of his continuing work with TBN Israel. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br…

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Yair wanted to preserve more than headlines.

His book Boots on the Ground tells the personal story behind the reporting.

Each chapter includes a QR code that connects readers to footage from the same period, allowing them to see his face, surroundings, and emotions while reading what happened.

For Yair, the project is about documenting history while the memories are still raw. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br…

THE HEROES AT HOME

Yair says some of the greatest sacrifices were made by families who stayed home.

While he was deployed, his wife cared for three children, rushed them into shelters, secured their home, and created emergency plans in case of an attack.

Yair says:

“The real heroes of this war are the mothers staying home with the kids.”

His wife even contributes a chapter to the book describing her experience. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br…

A GENERATION LIVING THROUGH TRAUMA

One of the episode’s most powerful moments comes when Yair talks about his children.

The first time they boarded a plane after October 7, they asked:

“Where is the bomb shelter on the plane?”

Later, an ice cream truck in New York made them look for shelter because they thought its sound was an alarm.

Yair says Israel is not yet dealing with post-traumatic stress.

For many families, the trauma is still ongoing. Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br…

TRUTH IS STRONGER THAN LIES

Throughout the conversation, Yair presents his perspective on Hamas, Gaza, Israel, antisemitism, and the broader conflict. He urges listeners to research claims carefully, examine firsthand evidence, and avoid allowing social media slogans to replace understanding.

Despite everything, Yair says he remains optimistic:

“I believe that the truth is stronger than all the lies.” Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br…

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Yair’s seed is:

Use your voice. Share what you know. Stand for truth—and never take freedom for granted.

Peace matters.

Love matters.

But sometimes protecting both requires the courage to stand up.

CONNECT WITH YAIR PINTO

Book: Boots on the Ground
Website: bootsonthegroundbook.com
YouTube: TBN Israel
Social Media: Search Yair Pinto Yair Pinto on Peace Love and Br…

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #YairPinto #BootsOnTheGround #Israel #October7 #Resilience #Truth #IDF #TBNIsrael #Leadership #Faith #Peace

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TURN ANGER INTO LIGHT: YEHUDA MEITAV ON JEWISH IDENTITY, MUSIC, AI & FINDING YOUR VOICE

What happens when anger, grief, identity, creativity, and faith collide—and instead of staying silent, you turn them into music?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Yehuda Meitav, Israeli artist, songwriter, author, chef, and AI-powered music creator whose work has become a voice of Jewish pride, identity, unity, and resilience.

After October 7, Yehuda returned to Israel, where much of his family lives in the south. He lost family and friends and threw himself into volunteering and advocacy. Eventually, he realized that directing his anger toward people who already hated him was accomplishing nothing. He needed another outlet.

So he wrote a song. Yehuda Meitav On Peace Love and…

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Yehuda refuses to let outsiders define Jewish identity
• What Zionism means to him personally
• How music can carry history and ideas across generations
• Why October 7 changed the direction of his creativity
• How his first Jewish-themed song exploded online overnight
• Why he uses humor instead of allowing anger to consume him
• How AI became a tool for amplifying his creative voice
• Why he sees himself as a vessel rather than simply a performer
• The meaning of Naaseh v’nishma — “We will do and we will listen”
• Why service to others creates purpose and happiness
• How forgiveness protects us from carrying someone else’s poison
• Why no voice is truly too small
• How listeners become the “megaphone” that amplifies a message
• Why Yehuda says he is promoting his people—not simply his music

DON’T TELL ME WHO I AM

Yehuda describes conversations in which people outside the Jewish community attempt to define Judaism, Zionism, and Jewish history for him.

His response is simple:

“Don’t tell me about my people.”

For Yehuda, Israel is inseparable from Jewish identity and safety. He distinguishes that connection from agreeing with every decision made by any particular government.

His music allows him to tell that story in his own voice. Yehuda Meitav On Peace Love and…

FROM ANGER TO MUSIC

After October 7, Yehuda says he carried enormous anger.

Then he made a decision:

Don’t get angry. Create something.

His song “As a Jew” began as satire aimed at ideas he strongly disagreed with.

He posted it and went to sleep.

By morning, thousands of people had discovered him.

More importantly, Jewish listeners around the world began telling him:

“You’re saying exactly what we’re thinking.”

That response showed Yehuda there was a hunger for pride, unity, humor, and a stronger voice. Yehuda Meitav On Peace Love and…

I’M JUST A CANDLE

Yehuda describes his role through an image of light.

During dark times, you may not be able to see the entire road.

Sometimes you only need enough light for the next step.

Yehuda says:

“I’m just a candle to my Jewish people’s feet.”

One step.

Then another.

Then another.

Until people find their way through the darkness together. Yehuda Meitav On Peace Love and…

DON’T DRINK THEIR POISON

Yehuda also discusses forgiveness.

For him, forgiveness does not excuse what another person did.

It prevents their anger from becoming yours.

His philosophy:

“This is your poison, not mine.”

He believes releasing that anger allows him to keep creating, serving, and moving forward instead of letting hatred control his emotional life. Yehuda Meitav On Peace Love and…

YOUR VOICE IS NEVER TOO SMALL

What do you do when you believe your voice is too small to matter?

Yehuda says the answer is finding your megaphone.

Your voice may begin quietly.

But if your words encourage one person, that person can amplify them.

Then another can amplify them again.

“Your voice is never too small.” Yehuda Meitav On Peace Love and…

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Yehuda’s seed is about light, service, and purpose.

Use what you have.

Create.

Speak.

Serve.

Lift someone else.

And when the world gives you darkness, find a way to transform it into something that reminds people who they are.

As Yehuda puts it:

“I’m not promoting my music. I’m promoting my people.” Yehuda Meitav On Peace Love and…

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #YehudaMeitav #JewishIdentity #Israel #JewishMusic #AI #Creativity #Resilience #Faith #Purpose #Unity #MusicWithMeaning #BringTheLight

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FILL YOUR OWN CUP: ASHLY BALZA ON SELF-RENEWAL, BOUNDARIES & FINDING YOUR IDENTITY

What happens when you spend so much time taking care of everyone else that you forget how to take care of yourself?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Ashly Balza, known as The Self-Renewal Coach, founder and CEO of Arise & Ascend Coaching, entrepreneur, wife, mother of seven, grandmother of two, and homeschool mom.

Ashly’s journey into self-renewal began after the birth of her sixth child, when a life-threatening septic infection landed her in the hospital. That experience forced her to confront a difficult truth:

She could not keep putting everyone else ahead of herself.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Ashly stopped chasing “balance” and started seeking harmony
• How a medical crisis completely shifted her priorities
• Why your value cannot depend on other people
• How coaching and community helped rebuild her confidence
• Why even coaches need coaches
• How to recognize when your resources are depleted
• Why boundaries protect your energy
• How giving people unlimited access creates burnout
• Why “That doesn’t work for me” can be a complete answer
• How over-explaining can weaken boundaries
• Why self-trust begins with everyday decisions
• How Ashly recognizes her physical and emotional limits
• Why self-care does not require expensive activities
• How faith, friendship, prayer, journaling, and rest help her reset
• Why breathing can interrupt stress and emotional reactions
• How knowing yourself changes how you show up for others

WHEN YOUR BODY MAKES YOU STOP

For years, Ashly put everyone else first.

Then her body forced her to listen.

After developing a severe septic infection, she found herself in the hospital confronting the possibility that she might not be there to watch her children grow up.

That changed her perspective.

Taking care of herself was no longer optional.

It was necessary.

FORGET BALANCE—FIND HARMONY

Ashly does not believe life needs to be perfectly balanced.

With family, homeschooling, businesses, relationships, and coaching, different areas will require more attention at different times.

She prefers the word:

Harmony.

The goal is not giving everything equal time.

It is creating alignment without losing yourself.

STOP GIVING EVERYONE UNLIMITED ACCESS

When you always answer immediately, always say yes, and always make yourself available, people begin expecting constant access.

Eventually, your cup runs dry.

Ashly learned that boundaries can sound as simple as:

“That doesn’t work for me.”

You do not always need an excuse.

You do not need permission.

And you do not need to explain every decision.

TRUST YOURSELF

Ashly believes self-trust develops through the small decisions we make every day.

Every time you make a healthy choice and honor it, you reinforce:

I can trust myself.

That confidence eventually carries into bigger decisions involving relationships, business, parenting, and purpose.

FILL YOUR OWN CUP

Self-care does not have to mean a spa day or an expensive vacation.

It might be:

A hot cup of coffee.

Prayer.

Worship music.

Journaling.

A walk outside.

Talking with trusted friends.

Taking a day off.

Or simply stopping long enough to breathe.

Ashly’s reminder is simple:

You can’t pour from an empty cup.

When you are depleted, everyone around you experiences that version of you too.

RESPOND INSTEAD OF REACT

Stress makes reaction easy.

Ashly recommends something incredibly simple:

Breathe.

Slow down.

Reset your nervous system.

Then decide how you want to respond.

That small pause can change an entire conversation.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Ashly Balza’s seed is:

Find who you are. Find what you enjoy doing.

What lights you up?

What could you talk about for hours?

What makes you want to serve and help others?

Those answers may be pointing toward your purpose.

Know yourself.

Trust yourself.

Renew yourself.

And fill your own cup so you can show up fully for the people who matter most.

CONNECT WITH ASHLY BALZA

Find Ashly Balza — The Self-Renewal Coach on Facebook.

Founder & CEO: Arise & Ascend Coaching

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #AshlyBalza #SelfRenewal #FillYourCup #Boundaries #Identity #Burnout #SelfCare #Faith #Purpose #Mindset #PersonalGrowth

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DON’T JUST EXIST—LIVE: SAMI STEIGMANN ON SURVIVAL, REMEMBRANCE & STANDING UP TO HATE

What does it mean to survive history—and then spend the rest of your life making sure the next generation learns from it?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Sami Steigmann, Holocaust survivor, Israeli Air Force veteran, motivational speaker, educator, and advocate against Jew hatred.

Sami was born in 1939 and, as a young child, was deported with his family to a labor camp in the former Soviet Union. He later learned that he had been subjected to medical experimentation—something he says contributed to lifelong physical pain.

But Sami is very clear:

“I am not what happened to me.”

What defines him is what he does with his life now.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Sami believes Holocaust stories must continue to be told
• The difference between concentration, labor, and death camps
• How his family survived deportation and displacement
• Why he says luck played an important role in survival
• How he learned at age 31 about medical experiments performed on him
• Why education is central to combating hate
• Why Sami prefers the phrase Jew hatred over anti-Semitism
• His EMET framework for educating young people
• Why he begins speaking to children as early as first grade
• Why young people must become upstanders instead of bystanders
• His experiences serving in the Israeli Air Force
• Why Israel became so important to him after the Holocaust
• His perspective on October 7th and defending Jewish life
• Why media and communication matter when fighting hate
• Why remembrance is about learning from the past—not living as a victim

I AM NOT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME

Sami’s guiding philosophy is:

“I am not what happened to me.”

The Holocaust.

Homelessness.

Pain.

Loss.

Those experiences are part of his story, but they are not his identity.

His identity comes from what he chooses to do now.

That mission is captured in EMET, the Hebrew word for truth:

E — Educate
M — Motivate
E — Empower
T — Tolerance

For Sami, tolerance does not mean accepting harmful behavior. It means respecting other people’s cultures and opinions while refusing to remain silent in the face of hatred.

ZACHOR — REMEMBER

Sami explains that Jewish life does not simply view the Holocaust as history.

The word Zachor means remember.

It means bringing the past into the present so future generations understand what happens when hatred grows without consequences.

His message is:

Learn what happened. Understand how it happened. Recognize the warning signs.

EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION

Sami uses a famous line about getting to Carnegie Hall:

Practice, practice, practice.

His answer to fighting ignorance is similar:

Education, education, education.

You cannot force someone to change.

But you may be able to change their perspective.

And to do that, you must know what you are talking about.

FORGIVE YOURSELF

Sami also shares how becoming homeless forced him to examine his own decisions.

He had trusted the wrong people, given them cash, and failed to put agreements in writing.

Eventually, he stopped focusing only on what others had done and asked:

“What did I do that brought me here?”

That led him to two important lessons:

Forgive yourself.

And:

Be kind to yourself.

Learn from the mistake.

Then move forward.

WORDS MATTER

Sami deliberately uses Jew hatred instead of anti-Semitism.

Why?

Because he believes the language should be direct and impossible to misunderstand.

Words shape perception.

Clear language creates clearer conversations.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Sami Steigmann’s seed is:

Don’t just exist. Live.

Talk.

Ask questions.

Educate yourself.

Stand up.

Become an upstander instead of a bystander.

Be proud of who you are.

And use your life to help create a more compassionate, loving world.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #SamiSteigmann #HolocaustSurvivor #NeverAgain #Zachor #JewishHistory #JewHatred #Israel #Education #Upstander #Tolerance #EMET #Resilience

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NEVER FORGET MEANS NEVER STOP TELLING THE STORY: GARY MARLON GERE ON 9/11, RECOVERY & RESILIENCE

What does “Never Forget” really mean 25 years after September 11, 2001?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Gary Marlon Gere, New York City playwright, actor, screenwriter, and civilian volunteer who spent seven months working at the World Trade Center site after 9/11.

Gary did not arrive as a firefighter, police officer, journalist, or photographer. Like thousands of others, he simply wanted to help. That decision placed him inside one of the most devastating chapters in American history—and ultimately changed the direction of his life.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Gary volunteered at Ground Zero
• How he learned to search and sift for human remains
• Why photography was heavily restricted at the site
• The powerful honor guard ceremonies that moved him
• What Gary discovered inside the abandoned PATH subway tunnels
• Why one collapsed subway car convinced him never to return underground
• How workers emotionally survived what they witnessed
• Gary’s experience with PTSD and the World Trade Center Health Program
• Why Reverend Myddys de Champlain became a source of strength
• How Gary’s journals eventually became the play Recovery
• Why authentic Ground Zero equipment was used in the stage production
• Gary’s frustrations with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund
• How his experiences inspired the screenplay Below Zero
• Why he believes a new generation needs these stories now more than ever

SHOWING UP

Gary says he was no different from countless people after the attacks.

Some donated supplies.

Some cooked meals.

Some supported firefighters.

Gary asked:

“How can I help?”

Through a friend in the fire department, he was eventually given the opportunity to work alongside recovery crews.

What began as volunteering became seven months of digging, searching, witnessing, listening, and learning.

FROZEN IN TIME

Months after the attacks, Gary was granted access to PATH subway tunnels beneath the site.

He describes discovering a train frozen in time from the morning of September 11—newspapers, coffee cups, personal belongings, and signs that passengers had fled suddenly.

When Gary returned one night, a train he had previously walked through had been crushed by a structural collapse.

His reaction was immediate:

“If I was on that train, I’m dead.”

That was his final underground visit.

YOU LEARN TO COEXIST WITH IT

Gary explains that surviving Ground Zero emotionally often required shutting feelings down temporarily.

Later came PTSD treatment through Columbia University and the Mount Sinai World Trade Center program.

Gary says PTSD no longer controls his life.

But it does not simply disappear.

You learn how to coexist with it.

RECOVERY

Gary kept extensive journals during his time at Ground Zero.

Those writings eventually inspired Recovery, his off-Broadway play centered on an FDNY lieutenant struggling with survivor’s guilt after losing his brother on 9/11.

The production incorporated actual clothing, helmets, and digging tools loaned by people who worked at Ground Zero.

For Gary, it was never simply theater.

It was preservation.

It was testimony.

It was memory brought back to life.

BELOW ZERO

Gary is also developing Below Zero, a feature screenplay about a journalist who enters Ground Zero searching for the story of a lifetime, becomes trapped beneath the site, and suddenly becomes the story himself.

The fictional story grew from situations Gary personally witnessed and locations he explored.

NEVER FORGET

Twenty-five years later, an entire generation knows September 11 primarily through history books, videos, and stories from others.

That makes firsthand testimony even more important.

Gary believes writers, survivors, recovery workers, families, and witnesses need to continue telling these stories.

Because Never Forget cannot simply be something we say once a year.

It requires remembering the people.

Remembering the sacrifice.

And remembering what happened.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Gary’s journey leaves us with a powerful message:

Show up. Tell the story. Keep the memory alive.

You may not consider yourself a hero.

You may simply believe you did what needed to be done.

But sometimes showing up when people need you most becomes part of history.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #GaryMarlonGere #September11 #NeverForget #911 #GroundZero #Recovery #PTSD #FirstResponders #NewYorkCity #Resilience #Storytelling

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