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John McLaren Park

Austin Tang — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:57:01 +0000

Listen to “John McLaren Park” on Spreaker.

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Dr. David Weill, author of TELL ME I BELONG: A Journey Across Faiths and Generations (Union Square & Co.; December 9, 2025)

Austin Tang — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:29:38 +0000

Listen to “Dr. David Weill, author of TELL ME I BELONG: A Journey Across Faiths and Generations” on Spreaker.

“In this fascinating and personal book, Dr. David Weill takes us on a journey to understand his Jewish identity and heritage. It can be a guide for anyone who is searching for an elusive sense of belonging.”

—Walter Isaacson

A heartfelt memoir about the search for religion and identity

“I’m not Jewish.” For years, that’s what David Weill told anyone who asked about his religious background. Yes, his father was a Jew who had left Nazi Germany as a boy. But his mother was a Southern Baptist. Growing up in New Orleans, religion wasn’t something his family discussed, let alone practiced. As an adult, he developed a fervent zeal and profound devotion to his work as a specialist in organ transplants. Transplantation was all he needed to define and fulfill him—until a crisis shook him to the core.

As a boy, Weill’s only experience with religion was when he accompanied Deborah, the family’s domestic help and his second mother figure, to her all-Black Baptist church. As a young doctor, he fell in love with Jackie, a nurse from rural Iowa and a devout Catholic. Much to the chagrin of her parents, they were married in a Dallas hotel rather than a church. After settling in Palo Alto, close to Stanford University Medical Center where Weill headed the heart and lung transplant program, their two daughters were baptized and confirmed at a local Catholic church. When his oldest daughter, Hannah, was around ten and asked him why he never joined them at mass on Sundays, he told her, “I’m not Catholic.” She looked at him, brow furrowed, and raised a question that would prove to haunt him, “What are you then?”

TELL ME I BELONG follows David Weill’s search for the answer. In 2015, after the simultaneous unraveling of his carefully crafted career and the death of his father, Weill began to doubt everything, including his purpose in life. While grappling with emotional pain and sinking deeper into despair, he began to suffer perplexing physical symptoms. In his moment of crisis, he was seized by a strong desire to practice a formal religion. But for Weill, the real question was, Which religion? Eventually, he chose Catholicism and was baptized at age fifty. He found solace in heart-to-heart talks with a priest and his daughters’ happiness at having the whole family at church together. Everything was fine—until 2020, when he learned that his mother had converted to Judaism right before marrying his father. He was born a Jew. And in the eyes of the Jewish faith, he would always be Jewish. That realization sparked his second quest. In an interview, David can talk about:

· What drew his mother, a native of Selma, Alabama, to Judaism—partly because, to quote her, Jews “always seemed like such practical people,” and largely as a rejection of Baptists who preached love for all God’s children and practiced racism.

· His father’s complicated sense of being Jewish, which he viewed as a source of pride for its association with smart and successful people while remaining wary of being ostracized or stigmatized for the religion he was born into.

· His determination, with the help of investigators, to learn more about his grandfather’s time imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp, and the role of his famous relative, the composer Kurt Weill, in orchestrating his family’s escape to the United States.

· His heart-wrenching trip to Berlin, accompanied by his daughter Hannah, to find his father’s first home, and the inner work of defining himself.

Ultimately, David Weill made peace with who he is and where he belongs. “I am not turning away from Catholicism as much as I am embracing Judaism, because it is mine, always was,” he reflects. “It just took me a while to get there.”

DAVID WEILL, MD, is theformer Director of the Center for Advanced Lung Diseases and the Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program at Stanford University Medical Center. A sought-after advisor to various transplant programs across the country, he also serves on the Board of TransMedics, a company focused on improving availability of donor organs. Dr. Weill has also served on several non-profit boards including the Tulane Medical School, Xavier University of Louisiana, SFJAZZ, the Isidore Newman School, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) Foundation, NextGen Personal Finance, and the Bellevue Literary Review. Dr. Weill’s writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Salon, Newsweek, the Chicago Tribune, STAT, the Washington Post, The Hill, LitHub, Tablet, The Times of Israel, TODAY.com, and the Los Angeles Times. His previous books include the memoir Exhale: Hope, Healing, and Life in Transplant (2021) and a novel, All That Really Matters (2024). He lives in New Orleans. For more information, please visit davidweill.com.

Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/davidweillmd/

https://www.facebook.com/david.weill/about/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidweillmd/

TELL ME I BELONG

A Journey Across Faiths and Generations

By David Weill

Publication date: December 9, 2025

ISBN: 978-1454961833; $24.99 Hardcover

Union Square & Co.

The post Dr. David Weill, author of TELL ME I BELONG: A Journey Across Faiths and Generations (Union Square & Co.; December 9, 2025) appeared first on Good News!.

Good News Jingles created by Hara Taicher and Susan Edwards Morton are GOOD NEWS ! Here their latest song The Ho’oponopono, it is perfect for all times. Plus the song We’ve Got to End World Hunger a must.

Austin Tang — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 13:29:26 +0000

Hara and Susan are Good Samaritans who created these Jingles many years ago for Good News, big thanks with love.

Here is the latest song written and performed by Hara and Susan.

http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Hara-Taicher-Hooponopono-Song.mp3

Here are the Good News Jingles that were created by Hara and Susan.

Good News Rock Jingle

http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Good-News-Jingle-Rock.mp3

Good News Country Jingle

http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Good-News-Jingle-Country.mp3

Good News Blues Jingle

http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Good-News-Jingle-Blues.mp3

GoodNews theme song:

Vocals by Susan Edwards Martin

Lyrics by Susan Edwards Martin & Hara Taicher

Music by Susan Edwards Martin

Some Background on these wonderful caring women:

Hara Taicher

Hara is an author, speaker & music enthusiast.
I’ve always tried to integrate creativity into my holistic health and personal development coaching, mostly through music
My writing partner Susan Edward Martin have written many songs including jingles
(Good news planet)
Our song The Ho’oponopono, is quite appropriate for what’s going on in our country and the world, and is available on YouTube @ Hara Taicher.
Motivational Speaker Hara Taicher
Holistic Lifestyle Coach, Author
www.amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Thinking-Changes-Personal-Extraordinary/dp/0615341837/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Hara+Taicher&qid=1588263138&sr=8-1

1-Changing Your Thinking Changes Your Life
your personal GPS guide to extraordinary living.
2- The Change, Book #4 Personal Development Series

Susan Edwards Martin

Susan Edwards Martin, is the original “Lady Blues” in the Tony Award winning Broadway play, Torch Song Trilogy. She most recently performed her critically acclaimed cabaret show at Feinstein’s/54Below in Manhattan and Feinstein’s@Vitello’s in Los Angeles. Susan received two Eddon Awards, one for Best Cabaret/Concert in an Intimate Space for An Unpredictable Musical Evening and the other most recently for Most Memorable Holiday Concert for The Susan Edwards Martin Holiday Extravaganza! Ms. Edwards Martin is currently in production of her original musical, Unlimited! You’ll Have the Time of Her Life!

Susan and Hara Taicher have been writing jingles and songs from the heart their whole lives. Together, their desire is to make a difference in the world in a positive way, one note at a time, through their music.

When I was in New York on broadway, playing Lady Blues in Harvey Fierstein’s Tony Award Winning play Torch Song Trilogy, I wrote this song with Hara Taicher and then recorded it, to be Broadway’s answer to ending world hunger. Currently residing in Los Angeles, I am proud to be a part of the Temple Beth Hillel Community in Valley Village, California, that helps to supply the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, a coalition of synagogues and churches, providing about 5,000 meals per month to the needy. “October 16, was World Food Day and it is a special day observed by all United Nations member nations. The day is intended to bring public attention to the issue of world hunger and food security. The world produces more than enough food to meet these needs, but poverty, lack of infrastructure, and corruption prevent that food from being distributed to those in need. If you can’t feed 100 people, just feed one! Join Pope Francis’ Week of Action to end world hunger. Almost all of those suffering from malnutrition and hunger are in developing countries. A majority of those victims tend to be children. Somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000 children die each day from hunger.” By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM) We can make a difference. If not now, then when? If not me, then who? Vocals by Susan Edwards Martin Words by Hara Taicher & Susan Edwards Martin Music by Susan Edwards Martin

www.UnlimitedSusanEdwardsMartin.com

https://youtu.be/Cz2enf7CHck (music video)

https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/SusanEdwardsMartin

https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Susan-Edwards-MartinThe-Original-Lady-Blues-Of-Torch-Song-Trilogy-Is-Back-In-Town-At-Feinsteins54Below-20190227
We’ve Got to End World Hunger Video link
https://youtu.be/BQ59vB9R5sQ

The post Good News Jingles created by Hara Taicher and Susan Edwards Morton are GOOD NEWS ! Here their latest song The Ho’oponopono, it is perfect for all times. Plus the song We’ve Got to End World Hunger a must. appeared first on Good News!.

Lisa Law Speaks to us at Bethel about Woodstock 1969

admin — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 17:16:48 +0000

Lisa Law shares her background helping to feed thousands at the Woodstock 69 event, talks about the real history, the hogs, the PLEASE and much more. Go to www.flashingonthesixties.com

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CELEBRATING NEW YORK CITY’S SENIORS

admin — Fri, 06 May 2016 12:29:13 +0000

Amy Chalfy of JASA shares the Good News of JASA and concern about Elder Abuse and how they help make the lives of Seniors better all around to age in place.

Amy Chalfy of JASA shares the Good News of JASA, Good News thanks JASA for doing such important work for years. According to the latest statistics from the NYC Department for the Aging, more than 18 percent, (over 1.52 million) of New Yorkers are over the age of 60. And this number is growing daily as the Boomer generation becomes the Senior population. To commemorate this wide and varied group, and to continue providing services and activities to keep them engaged, vital and cared for, JASA, one of New York’s largest and most trusted agencies serving more than 43,000 older adults in the New York metropolitan area, will host its annual Celebrating Seniors fundraiser on Tuesday, May 10. The Cocktail Reception will take place at 583 Park Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m. and we invite you to attend.

The Emcee for the evening is Jane Marsh, internationally acclaimed soprano and Artistic Advisor of the Metropolitan Opera Guild; the special celebrity guest is NBA legend, John Starks and, leading the bidding for the third year is Christie’s auctioneer extraordinaire, Toby Usnik. Also of particular note, is guest speaker Philip C. Marshall, elder-justice advocate and grandson of Brooke Astor. Mr. Marshall is a speaker in demand, whose work is particularly relevant and aligned with JASA’s service to the city’s more vulnerable seniors.
We would be happy to arrange an interview at the event with JASA’s special guests to discuss their commitment to the organization’s work, or with a JASA representative who can speak to you about the agency’s important role in a city that’s home to a senior population with a wide range of needs.

Event details for your readers who may wish to attend:
• Location: 583 Park Avenue, (corner of East 63rd Street) New York, NY Cost: Tickets are $500 and sponsorship packages are available.
• Dress: Business attire is preferred.
• For more information and tickets: visit www.jasa.org or contact development@jasa.org or call 212.273.5320.
About JASA:
Founded in 1968, JASA is a not-for profit organization that provides a range of services to seniors of all races, religions and economic backgrounds, to help keep seniors living safely in their own homes and communities with independence, dignity, and joy.

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TRUE ANIMAL HERO Liliana Berezovshi,

admin — Wed, 28 May 2014 01:52:16 +0000

does all she can to save Poppa Goose from being bitten by some animal. Central Park, NYC a poor goose finds love in the arms of this blessed woman who shares her thoughts for the animal kingdom Soon Park employees come to help rescue this poorly battered goose. We created two parts about this Good Samaritan:

1. Part One: Liliana holding and trying to help the bitten goose until Park staff arrives.

2. Part Two: Liliana shares what she saw happen to the goose and the goose family. She also shares her background, sensitivity, and love for the animal kingdom.

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Harold Channer – Holiday Party

admin — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:35:06 +0000

Harold Hudson Channer is a talk-show host on public-access television cable TV network Manhattan Neighborhood Network, or MNN. He is the longest-running producer for the network, having done over 2,200 interviews over 40 years. He is the host of Conversations with Harold Hudson Channer.

Background and education

Harold Channer was a professor of geography at SUNY New Paltz from 1968-1971.

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