Chosen For What?

This week, Chosen For What? host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Monica Mendel, a second-generation Holocaust survivor whose life has been profoundly shaped by her parents' wartime experiences.  Monica shares the moving story of her family's survival, the silence that often surrounded those memories, and the emotional journey of uncovering the details later in life. Together, Tommy and Monica explore how growing up with Holocaust survivor parents can influence everything from identity and values to

In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Emma Berger, the great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivor Anne and granddaughter of Heidi Berger, President of the Foundation for Genocide Education.   As the first fourth-generation guest on the podcast, Emma offers a unique and deeply personal perspective on how the memory of the Holocaust continues to shape identity, values, and family connection—even generations later. She shares how carrying her great-grandmother's

What does it really mean to inherit trauma? In this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Dr. Eva Fogelman, a renowned psychologist, author, and pioneer in the study of Holocaust trauma and its intergenerational impact. Dr. Fogelman challenges the common assumption that the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors directly inherit trauma. Instead, she explains that what is often passed down are worldviews, communication styles, and relationship patterns shaped by

Holocaust education isn’t only about teaching history; it’s about ensuring that the human stories behind that history are never forgotten.  On this episode of Chosen For What? host Tommy Schnurmacher speaks with Barbara Goldstein, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and a dedicated advocate for Holocaust education in the United States. Barbara shares her personal journey of growing up with survivor parents, each carrying profoundly different experiences of the Holocaust, and how those legacies

On this episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Agneta Hollander, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors who chose to speak openly about their experiences. Her mother was deported to Auschwitz at just 14, and her father spent four and a half years imprisoned in camps. For Agneta, growing up in a home where these stories were part of daily life profoundly shaped her understanding of identity, resilience, and responsibility. In their conversation, Agneta reflects on how

In the premiere episode of Chosen For What?, host Tommy Schnurmacher sits down with Barbara Cieply, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, to explore how her family’s history of loss, resilience, and survival has shaped her life. Through Barbara’s story, we gain an in-depth, personal understanding of why Holocaust education is so important; not just to remember the millions of Jews who were murdered, but to ensure that future generations learn from the past and stand against hate and violence in all

Chosen For What? is a powerful new podcast that dives deep into the personal stories of second and third generation Holocaust survivors.  Hosted by acclaimed broadcaster and author Tommy Schnurmacher (whose own mother survived the horrors of Auschwitz), this original series features raw, unfiltered conversations with the children,  grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of those who endured and survived the Holocaust. The first episode drops on October 9th, with new episodes every Thursday