I love people and I love hearing their stories. I want to know who they are, how they got there, what didn’t go as expected, and what they did about it. That pa...
Hashem, Challenge Accepted!
Sheva and Chavie begin by discussing the value of dark humor as a coping mechanism for navigating life’s painful moments. Sheva reflects on her childhood, growing up in the desert of Tucson, Arizona, on a beautiful 10-acre property raised by her hippie parents. After being expelled from high school, she attended a school for troubled youth. At 15, she found a job and eventually left home at 16. Sheva shares with Chavie how the challenges she faced as a teenager helped her identify with her daughter, Rozie, who was born with Down syndrome. Labeled by society as "high functioning," Rozie doesn’t fit neatly into societal categories—neither fully part of the special needs community nor the "normal" world. Sheva also talks about her journey to becoming frum, finding structure while striving to maintain her individuality. In addition to her spiritual journey, Sheva shares about studying fine arts with a focus on illustration, becoming an EMT, and taking pride in raising a creative family.
Sheva Givre was born and raised in the beautiful desert of Arizona, lived in Baltimore, Maryland and recently moved to Parkland, Florida. She used to be the author and photographer of the inspiration blog, My Shtub. In recent years she changed her advocacy from blog writing to social media where she shares the joys and challenges of family, motherhood, and raising her four children including a child with special needs.
This Week's Q&A’s
I recently got married and moved across the world to a new country and it's been really hard to start from scratch without knowing anyone. Any tips?
I just lost my son in the summer and I’m having a hard time coping with lifecycle and seasonal transitions. Any advice?
What’s your ideal travel to at-home ratio where everything feels balanced?
Referenced on the Pod
“Ace’s” Trauma Evaluation Screening
Stay in touch with Sheva!
www.instagram.com/pearlyluart
Stay in touch with Chavie!
www.instagram.com/chaviebruk
www.totallyunexpected.blog
This week's episode is sponsored by East Side Kosher Deli in Denver, Colorado, a one stop kosher concierge for your vacation anywhere out West. For more information please visit www.eastsidekosherdeli.com or chat with a representative on WhatsApp at 747-243 -1683.
For sponsorship or advertising opportunities reach out to Chavie on Instagram or at [email protected].
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1:36:51
Shaina Wiess
Parenting Teens & Ourselves
Shaina and Chavie start off by reflecting on Shaina’s upbringing on Shlichus (Chabad outreach) in 1970s Los Angeles. They explore how the unique challenges of her childhood and teenage years pushed her to grow up before she had the tools to manage her emotional and mental health. As a young parent, Shaina was determined to break the cycle, so she sought help to equip herself with the skills to raise her children differently. Chavie and Shaina discuss somatic techniques for regulating conflict and challenges with children and teens, emphasizing the importance of managing our body’s responses. Shaina also highlights the need to shed shame and stigma in our communities around issues like infertility and teenage struggles while respecting boundaries and privacy.
Shaina lives in Los Angeles and is a certified parent and life coach specializing in working with and supporting parents of teens. Her journey began–like that of many parents—navigating the uncharted waters of raising children without a guidebook. She immersed herself in countless parenting resources, often second-guessing her decisions along the way. This experience inspired her to pursue professional certification, with a focus on the transformative approach of “parenting from the inside out.”
This Week's Q&A’s
Where was your dress from that you wore at the Chai Lifeline Dinner?
When does ski season start in Montana?
What does Chai Lifeline do for you in Montana?
Referenced on the Pod
Avi Fishoff, Twisted Parenting
Michal Carlebach, Shop Moddo
Stay in touch with Shaina!
www.instagram.com/parenteen_coach
www.parenteencoach.com
Stay in touch with Chavie!
www.instagram.com/chaviebruk
www.totallyunexpected.blog
For sponsorship or advertising opportunities reach out to Chavie on Instagram or at [email protected].
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1:32:41
Sheva Kastel
Faith & Fashion Aligned
In this episode, Chavie and Sheva dive into the intersection of fashion and spirituality. Sheva shares her journey from being a fashion-forward teen with limited resources to founding a spiritually-driven fashion magazine that empowers Jewish women to embrace their essence. She reflects on transforming mivtzoim, (Jewish outreach), in high school from a dreaded task into something cool and inspiring. Sheva talks about her evolution from personal shopper to stylist, adapting during the pandemic, and the lessons she’s learned about managing energy, surrendering to challenges, and stepping into an abundance mindset and her power as a Jewish woman.
Sheva grew up in Hallandale, Florida with a strong desire to empower women in being their best selves. Starting off as a personal shopper & color analyst, Sheva evolved and created the first Jewish women’s fashion and lifestyle digital magazine. She’s a wife, mother, and female entrepreneur, like many of her clients.
This Week's Q&A
How do you prepare Menny for another camp experience after the racial incident that occurred this month?
What’s the biggest advantage of living in a small Jewish community?
I love how you use “and” instead of “but.” How did that start?
Referenced on the Pod
Aligned Tishrei Issue
Zeya Comedy
Carla Mathis
Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being
Stay in touch with Sheva!
https://www.instagram.com/sheva_kastel
Stay in touch with Chavie!
www.instagram.com/chaviebruk
www.totallyunexpected.blog
This episode is sponsored by Sichos in English, the pre-eminent publisher of Chassidic thought in English where Jewish mysticism comes to life. Learn more at www.sie.org. For sponsorship or advertising opportunities, please reach out to Chavie on Instagram or at [email protected].
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2:19:24
Sarah Immerman
The Complex Emotional Lives of Our Teens
Sarah and Chavie begin by discussing how Sarah started journaling as a young child, which ignited her love for self-expression. They explore the tendency for kids to box themselves into labels and emphasize the importance of letting them know it’s okay to have fun and embrace who they are. The conversation shifts to the "Suffering Olympics" and hustle culture, where unhappiness and hardship are often rewarded and seen as virtues. Sarah shares how much she values her ability to acknowledge emotions in her profession and reflects on the breakthroughs she’s achieved in helping teens express their feelings in a healthy way. Chavie asks Sarah about her spiritual journey and the impact it has had on her identity as a singer-songwriter.
Sarah Immerman, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist originally from Cleveland and now based in Boston. She specializes in helping teens and young adults navigate emotion dysregulation using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She is currently the Director of Family Services and the Assistant Director of the Day Program. She is an NCSY advisor and was a counselor and behavior team member at Camp HASC. Sarah is also a singer-songwriter and loves to journal.
This Week's Q&A
Do you take podcast guest suggestions
If you wrote a book what topic would it be about?
What was the first book to make an impact on you?
Referenced on the Pod
Brad Reedy, The Journey of the Heroic Parent: Your Child's Struggle & The Road Home: https://a.co/d/h9Nq0Nn
Sarah Immerman's music on Sound Cloud
Stay in touch with Sarah!
Sarah's LinkeIn
Stay in touch with Chavie!
www.instagram.com/chaviebruk
www.totallyunexpected.blog
This episode is dedicated by Rabbi Moshe & Dini Scheiner and their incredible community at the Palm Beach Synagogue, www.palmbeachsynagogue.org. For sponsorship or advertising opportunities you can reach out to Chavie on Instagram or at [email protected].
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1:18:56
Moshe Weinbaum
What Is Emotion Code?
Moshe shares his journey with Chavie growing up as a shy introvert in a large family and developing a debilitating anxiety with many physical symptoms that went unexplained for years. Life took a dramatic turn when his wife had a seizure and was diagnosed with a brain tumor, propelling him into a journey of healing and self-discovery. Moshe shares how he found The Emotion Code, a method to release trapped emotions, and learned to address the deep connection between emotions and physical health. Chavie also shares her struggle with celiac disease and how Moshe helped her uncover the emotional triggers that were the underlying factors of the symptoms. Moshe and Chavie talk about the the power of attracting energy and how to know the difference between toxic positivity and trusting that everything happens for a reason.
Moshe Weinbaum grew up in London, England, and studied abroad in the US. His life’s passion has always been to help others. He has worked with youth, teenagers, and adults. When he discovered the Emotion Code and Body Code, he knew it could be an effective tool to help people become healthier. Moshe specializes in treating addiction, relationships, trauma, and other behavioral and social challenges.
This Week's Q&A
Is there good skiing in Montana?
I keep getting hives, what should I do?
Can too much therapy do more harm than good?
References & Resources
The Emotion Code, by Bradley Nelson
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
Stay in Touch with Moshe!
www.instagram.com/mosheweinbaum
www.awarenessrelease.com
Stay in Touch with Chavie!
www.instagram.com/chaviebruk
www.totallyunexpected.blog
For sponsorship or advertising opportunities reach out to Chavie on Instagram or at [email protected].
I love people and I love hearing their stories. I want to know who they are, how they got there, what didn’t go as expected, and what they did about it. That passion and curiosity led me to create “Totally Unexpected!” A podcast featuring interviews with guests who inspire me. Whether it’s the mom next door, the enlightened academic, or the maverick healer, I am here to learn about their unique contribution to our world.
I’ve had my own fair share of unexpected twists and turns; a permanent infertility diagnosis, five adopted children with varying degrees of challenges, and co-directing Chabad-Lubavitch of Montana with my husband. I embrace all these parts of who I am, as challenging as that is sometimes, and that’s how I am able to thrive through it all.
I will be releasing episodes every other Monday with a Q&A segment to address questions and topics that you guys want me to talk about. Look out for the prompt in my Insta stories and go crazy!
Sverige