"Chosen Links by Boaz" - Ep 13 Resilient: PTSD, Trauma and Healing After October 7th
(EDITOR NOTE – This episode was filmed on 04/02/25. During this time, Boaz Hepner was sleeping at UCLA hospital, during a 13 day hospitalization of his child. Running home to do this episode was surreal, though a welcome break)
"Resilient" is an award-winning documentary that explores the widespread PTSD in Israel following October 7th. Boaz speaks with 13 guests—including filmmaker Chava Floryn, participants of the film, and experts on trauma and resilience—to unpack its powerful message and the stories behind it.
*Correction: In this episode, it was incorrectly stated that Chava Floryn is not a filmmaker. In fact, Chava is an award-winning documentarian with over 100 short films to her name, including a TV pilot and three documentaries. Her most recent film, Resilient, has won 7 awards to date—5 for Best Picture, 1 for Best Musical Score, and 1 for Best Cinematography.
Boaz was joined by:
Soraya Deen – CEO, Muslim Women Speakers
Chava Floryn – Filmmaker, Author, Somatic Healer
Barbara Heller – Actor, Writer, Podcaster
Peter Himmelman – Musician. Author. Visual Artist
Maayan Hoffman – Executive Editor, ILTV News & Correspondent, The Media Line
Rabbi YY Jacobson – World Renowned Speaker
Rona Lalezary – Mindset Trainer and International Public Speaker
Micki Lavin-Pell – Marriage, Family, Sex and Trauma Therapist
Or Meir Ooliel – Musician and October 7 Survivor
Orli Peter – CEO, Israel Healing Initiative
Howard Rosenman – Producer
Gil Troy – Author of ''To Resist the Academic Intifada''
Tehran Von Ghasri – Comedian & Social Commentator
0:00:15 – Show Intro
0:02:46 – Guest Introductions Begin
0:17:05 – End of intros
0:18:06 – Boaz asks Chava: “Why did you go make a documentary after Oct 7?”
0:25:59 – Gil Troy gives us historical context for Israel’s resilience
0:29:46 – Rabbi YY Jacobson explains how safe it is to discuss trauma around children
0:34:13 – Gil chimes in
0:36:41 – Peter Himmelman on Jewish strength through humor and history
0:40:05 – Gil Troy leaves, and Micki Lavin-Pell on healing through helping others
0:43:48 – Peter and Dr. Orli Peter discuss: “Is empathy love, or something else?”
0:49:18 – Boaz (as a nurse): “How do you stay empathetic without burning out?”
0:50:01 – Maayan Hoffman and Chava outline IDF and government trauma programs
0:55:43 – Boaz to Or: “Do survivors like you feel seen by the system?” (Also: Chava, Maayan, Orli)
1:02:57 – Rona Lalezary chimes in
1:04:24 – Or opens up about how much therapy they need
1:06:10 – Tehran Von Ghasri chimes in
1:09:53 – Soraya Deen chimes in
1:13:50 – BREAK
1:14:47 – Boaz to Soraya: “Why did you join this Jewish-centered conversation?”
1:21:23 – Tehran chimes in with Peter
1:27:00 – Maayan talks about how close she is now with her non-Jewish allies
1:30:55 – Boaz to Barb: “How do we process all this grief without imploding?”
1:39:41 – Micki Lavin-Pell chimes in
1:41:38 – Chava reflects on a family she met who were visiting LA after their trauma
1:45:24 – Or recounts his October 7th survival story
1:56:14 – Tehran and Peter chime in
2:01:35 – Soraya chimes in
2:03:07 – Tehran speaks to Soraya about messaging of love from Muslim allies
2:07:04 – Peter tells a story about an Uber driver from India
2:09:00 – Rona speaks about Mental Health Is Real
2:14:05 – Howard Rosenman speaks
2:19:40 – Final thoughts: “What gives you hope?”
2:29:25 – Boaz final thoughts
@sorayadeen2773 @willa2468 @boazhepner @lovingwisely-mickilavin-pell @giltroy148 @BarbaraHellerArtistandEducator @ronalalezary @tehranghasri @OrliPeter @RabbiYYJacobson @Chavafloryn @SPARKLEREMAKE @orooliel @IsraelEnglishNews @IsraelHealingInitiative @AnilaAli-mq9bx