🎙️ NEW EPISODE ✨

This Elul, we’re going deep — back to the Beis Midrash, the Roshei Yeshiva, the Rebbeim who shaped generations… and forward into how those timeless lessons still guide us today.

🔥 From the unforgettable Elul atmosphere at Ner Yisroel

💡 To the personal guidance of Gedolim and the balance between following a Rebbe vs. becoming an independent thinker…

💬 To the lifelong question: “What would my Rebbe say…?”

We sit down for an eye-opening and heartfelt conversation packed with stories, inspiration, and practical takeaways.

Along the way:

🔹 Memories of Rav Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman zt”l and Rav Dovid Kronglass zt”l in shaping Yomim Nora’im

🔹 The sweetness of Torah under Rav Kulefsky zt”l

🔹 Rabbi Herman Neuberger’s legendary askanus — and what we can all learn from it

🔹 The powerful relationships with Roshei Yeshiva that continue to guide life decisions today

✨ It’s not just history. It’s not just inspiration. It’s the blueprint for how to live with depth, direction, and joy in 5786 and beyond.

🎧 Tune in, be inspired, and carry Elul into your year with new energy.

This podcast is a project of the Columbus Community Kollel in partnership with the Henry, Bertha and Edward Rothman Foundation Circleville, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio and Rochester, New York

Contributing Sponsor:

Michael Milch and Diamond & Denim Recruiting – If you own or operate a business in healthcare (nursing homes, drug rehab, ABA therapy, home health, urgent care), skilled trades (electric, roofing, construction), or professional services (accounting, law), then Diamond & Denim Recruiting can help you find top-tier talent at competitive rates. To get in touch, email mm@diamonddenimrecruiting.com or call 412-874-8157.

Columbus Jewish News is a media sponsor

Next Episode: Harav Uri Deutsch!! Stay tuned!!

🎙️ KOLOT Podcast – Last episode in Season 4

🚀 From the battlefield to the boardroom → Meet Dr. Stephen Markovich, CEO of OhioHealth, retired Major General, and former Commander of the Ohio Air National Guard.

🇭🇷 His family story begins in Croatia… ✈️ his journey carried him through military leadership, a bold career shift to medicine, and eventually the corner office of a $6B healthcare system leading 35,000 employees.

🔥 In this conversation, we dive into:

• 🛡️ Lessons from military leadership carried into medicine & executive life
• 🩺 The part of medicine he loves most… and what he wishes he knew better
• 😷 Becoming CEO during COVID – what that challenge looked like from the inside
• 🤖 AI in medicine – hype vs real impact
• 🤝 Healthy competition & collaboration with local healthcare networks
• 💉 Thoughts on Ozempic & the future of medicine
• 👥 Leadership at scale – managing relationships across tens of thousands

…and so much more!

🎧 Tune in for a powerful, raw, and deeply human conversation with one of Ohio’s most dynamic leaders.

👉 Available on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

From selling luxury cars to shaping national policy, Senator Bernie Moreno’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this candid conversation with Rabbi Hillel Kapenstein, Moreno shares how his immigrant upbringing fueled his drive, how building one of America’s most successful auto empires shaped his leadership, and why he left the private sector to serve the people of Ohio in the U.S. Senate.

We dive into:

• 🚀 The resilience and grit behind his American Dream story
• 💼 Lessons from the business world that translate to political leadership
• 🇮🇱 His unwavering stance on Israel and America’s global role
• 💡 Why Washington needs more problem-solvers — and how he plans to be one
• 📈 His vision for Ohio’s future and the challenges ahead

If you value strong leadership and love a great success story, this episode will inspire you to lead with purpose — no matter your arena.

🎧 KOLOT with Rabbi Hillel Kapenstein — Real conversations. Extraordinary guests. Timeless lessons.

In this special live interview recorded at the Kollel for Young Professionals, we sit down with Dr. Luan Phan, Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University, for a powerful and personal conversation about mental health, trauma, and resilience.

Dr. Phan reflects on his journey from Vietnam to the U.S., growing up as the son of a war veteran, and how those early experiences shaped his career in psychiatry. He shares how treating war veterans helped him move from distrust to trust, and how that path led him to a deep understanding of resiliency — what it really means to recover and grow through adversity.

We explore:

• The core lessons of resilience and how to build it
• What to look for in Project SOAR, and why it matters
• How to prepare our children for when — not if — adversity comes
• Helping children manage their own mental health
• Simple, daily practices to strengthen emotional well-being
• Mental health and resilience in a post-October 7th world
• A moving story of hope that will stay with you long after the episode ends

🟦 This episode is sponsored by Brad and Holly Kastan — thank you for your generous support.

🙏 Special thanks to everyone who submitted questions in advance, including:

Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Coach Jim Tressel, Michael Milch (PGH), Rabbi Yitz Frank (CLE), Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-D 1st Distric), Howard Shear, Julie Tilson-Stanley (JewishColumbus), Sivan Rahav-Meir (Israel) — and many more!

Whether you’re a parent, professional, or simply someone trying to stay grounded in turbulent times, this conversation offers clarity, inspiration, and tools for a stronger tomorrow.

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Rabbi Yoel Gold, the storyteller behind the viral videos that have touched millions across the Jewish world.

Raised in Williamsburg and known back then simply as “Yoile,” Rabbi Gold opens up about his parents’ divorce and how those early challenges unexpectedly led him to the Adelphia Yeshiva, where he formed a life-changing bond with Rabbi Dovid Trenk zt”l. That relationship set him on a path to becoming a rebbe, a leader, and eventually a visionary content creator.

He shares the moment a child’s advice pushed him to start his first video, and how that single decision snowballed into a movement of storytelling with soul. It was shortly afterwards Rabbi Gold founded Hashkifa.

We also get a sneak peek into his latest and boldest production yet — releasing this Tisha B’Av — about traveling to the Vatican in an emotional and daring effort to locate the Menorah from the Beis HaMikdash.

To wrap things up, Rabbi Gold plays along with a few rapid-fire questions for some light fun and personal insight.

Tune in for a powerful journey of resilience, vision, and emunah. To watch the trailer and purchase the video, visit www.hashkifa.com

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy—physician, mother, and wife of Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy—to explore her remarkable journey from India to the United States, and from medical student to a leading surgeon at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Ramaswamy shares how her father’s professional challenges shaped her resilience, how he redid his residency in a new country, and why she felt called to medicine in the first place. She opens up about the deeply rewarding and humbling experience of helping cancer patients rebuild both physically and emotionally, and the critical role that balance plays in recovery.

We also discuss the path she and Vivek are navigating as they aim to become Ohio’s next Governor and First Lady. Dr. Ramaswamy speaks candidly about what it means to “do it all”—as a mother, doctor, and partner supporting a bold political vision—and how she’s raising her children with the values and work ethic to achieve their own and unique American dream.

Finally, we look ahead to her vision for national unity and the contributions she hopes to bring to Ohio and the country if she becomes First Lady.

We conclude this conversation by paying tribute to Vivek's grandmother, Thankam Ammai, who passed away nearly a week after celebrating her 100th birthday. She was surrounded by her family members who all cherished her and will always carry her in their hearts - remembering the value of each other. This episode is a testament to perseverance, purpose, and the power of family.

Upcoming episodes will feature Rabbi Yoel Gold followed by Dr. Luan Phan. Stay tuned!!

We would like to thank our sponsors:

Lead Sponsor:

Roderick C. White Jr. and Radha Lachman KashiKonar

Contributing Sponsor:

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In this powerful episode, we sit down with Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, for a wide-ranging conversation that spans battlefield grit, public service, and strengthening democracy.

LaRose shares his extraordinary journey—from training with the Israeli Defense Forces and serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets), to his rise through the Ohio State Senate and ultimately becoming Secretary of State. With firsthand experience in both military discipline and civic responsibility, he offers unique insight into the intersection of national security and election integrity.

We dive into his guiding principle: making it easy to vote and hard to cheat. He walks us through Ohio’s transparent voting system, where bipartisan oversight ensures that every vote is counted fairly and every outcome is trusted—so winners know they’ve won, and losers know they’ve lost.

The Secretary also speaks passionately about America’s enduring bond with Israel, its strategic brilliance, and the shared fight against a common enemy.

We wrap up with a rapid-fire round to get to know the man behind the title—and what has him most excited about Ohio’s future.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about service, leadership, and the vital institutions that uphold our freedoms.

In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Michael Mordechai Milch shares deep insights drawn from his work in the addiction and behavioral health industry, addressing the common myths and challenges surrounding recovery—especially within the Jewish community. He reflects on the lasting impact and wisdom of Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, z'', who his family had a relationship for decades.

The discussion then turns to communal responsibility and political advocacy, emphasizing how respect for elected officials and learning from seasoned askonim (lay leaders) can elevate our voice and influence—both locally and globally. Milch offers thoughtful guidance on how to engage constructively, even across personal political divides, for the greater good for Israel and the Jewish people.

In the shadow of October 7th, Milch calls for renewed strength in Torah learning, tefillah, and achdus (unity). He shares practical advice for individuals at every level on how to make a meaningful impact—whether through action, connection, or a simple phone call.

This episode is a call for action and communal empowerment—don’t miss it.