Best Chatting With Rabbi Mike Podcasts (2025)

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The Privilege of Bad Experiences with NASA astronaut Jonny Kim 26:10

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19h ago26:10

26:10

This was the most epic Zoom call we’ve ever been a part of — an incredible conversation with NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, live from the International Space Station, with sunrise on Earth as a stunningly causal site behind him as they barreled at 17,000 mph in orbit. Thanks to the amazing team at Johnson Space Center, Jonny was able to join us to share…

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Who Killed the Rabbi's Wife: a conversation with Saul Golubcow 40:10

10d ago40:10

40:10

Step into the world of mystery, memory, and meaning with author Saul Golubcow. In this compelling interview, Golubcow discusses his gripping works, The Cost of Living and Who Killed the Rabbi’s Wife?—this collection of three novellas and a novel feature Frank Wolf, a Holocaust survivor turned private investigator. Once a philosophy professor, Frank…

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The Business Case for Good Manners with etiquette coach William Hanson 54:44

22d ago54:44

54:44

Good manners aren’t just about being polite — they’re about making other people feel seen. William Hanson is one of the world’s leading etiquette coaches. He’s advised royalty, CEOs, and television personalities on how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and grace. But his mission goes far beyond fine dining or proper handshakes. In today’s fa…

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Live Like You Have 2 Years Left with dancer and cancer survivor Angela Trimbur 53:41

29d ago53:41

53:41

You have two years left to live. What would you do? That's a real question Angela Trimbur had to answer. In 2018, a breast cancer diagnosis forced her to get honest with herself. If Angela had only 2 years to live, what kind of life did she truly wish to live? Angela chose to start over. She sold everything she owned, moved to New York City, and be…

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The Quiet Power of the Empathetic Leader with Navy SEAL turned rowing coach Gordon Schmidt 1:10:02

1M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

When morale problems affect a team, some leaders choose to make a big, rousing speech. But quite often, it’s the quiet leader who leads with empathy that sees a better emotional solution. Gordon Schmidt is a retired Navy SEAL with enough combat experience to understand that empathy is an operational advantage, not a weakness. After 20 years of mili…

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Your Unhappy Brain Needs Some Assistance with happiness expert Mo Gawdat 1:32:39

1M ago1:32:39

1:32:39

Happiness is a choice. But it’s not always an easy choice to make. Mo Gawdat had to face an impossible choice. Before he was a bestselling author and podcast host, Mo worked a lucrative career as Chief Business Officer at Google X. He reached the heights of business influence and amassed a fortune by 29. And yet, he was miserable. It was only after…

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We All Get Cancelled One Day with Somebody Feed Phil’s Phil Rosenthal 1:08:17

2M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

🚨 Chomp Alert! 🚨 We saw your comments — loud and crunchy. Turns out not everyone wants front-row seats to mouth sounds. Who knew? Skip to 29:29 to dodge most of the chewing. We promise, after that it’s just a few graceful nibbles of Basque cheesecake. 🧀🍰😅 _____________________________________ We turned the studio into a restaurant for the day—becau…

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2nd grader Mike learns his way around the American Playground: a conversation with Mike Shokrian 38:24

2M ago38:24

38:24

Michel may not be the big man on campus, but he definitely rules his 2nd grade classroom in Tehran and all is well in his world. That is, until his family decides to uproot him and brother Saeed and move the family to Los Angeles. Newly minted as "Mike" he struggles to navigate a new language, new customs, new foods, and most importantly new heirar…

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The Extraordinary Magic of Ordinary People with author Brad Meltzer 52:40

2M ago52:40

52:40

Magic moments do happen in real life. If you ask Brad Meltzer, magic happens when ordinary people choose to do the extraordinary. Brad is a prolific writer and bestselling author. He’s published over 70 books in nearly every genre you can think of—thriller novels, biographies, children’s books, film and television. He’s written comic books for icon…

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This Is... A Bit of Optimism 1:14

2M ago1:14

1:14

My career is an accident. It started when I set out to rediscover my passion and reignite a spark I’d lost — and that journey led me to the work I do now.If you know me from my books or my speaking, you know I’m fascinated by why people do what they do. What makes someone find joy and meaning in their life, or pursue something far greater than them…

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Ask Yourself "What If?" with Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi 47:44

2M ago47:44

47:44

What if this podcast turned into a baking show? For Christina Tosi’s third visit to A Bit of Optimism, we decided to find out. So we headed to Milk Bar to make compost cookies from things in my own pantry and my favorite beer bread from scratch! Christina’s not just my best friend—she’s the founder of Milk Bar, host of Bake Squad on Netflix, a cook…

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Revisited: Love Is Not Enough with couples therapist Shawn McBride 47:49

2M ago47:49

47:49

We're taking some time off to bring you even more episodes of A Bit of Optimism that you're going to love! In the meantime, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes, like this one with couples counselor Shawn McBride. Relationships are hard. No matter how much we like, respect, or love someone, conflict seems inevitable. But even as we fight …

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Small Moments Made Large in Displaced Persons : a conversation with Joan Leegan 43:14

2M ago43:14

43:14

In March, Rena Citrin, chair of the Association of Jewish Libraries fiction award, told me (not quite in these words) to get my tush in gear and read Joan Leegant’s excellent short story collection, Displaced Persons. It took two months for it to percolate to the top of my “to be read” pile but I’m thrilled that it did. Her stories are full of rela…

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Revisited: The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger 45:30

3M ago45:30

45:30

We're taking some time off to bring you even more episodes of A Bit of Optimism that you're going to love! In the meantime, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes, like this one with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger. We all want to live a happy life. But what does the research say about how to achieve it? For more than 86 years, researche…

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Where Is Simon Going? with journalist Cal Fussman 50:18

3M ago50:18

50:18

Sometimes in life, we must stop and ask ourselves, “Where am I you going next?” Other times, it’s more fun to do a podcast takeover. No one has ever interviewed me quite like Cal Fussman. Cal has a gift – he pulls things out of you that you didn’t even know were there. A prolific Writer At Large for Esquire, Cal has interviewed legends like Muhamma…

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The Cure for Nihilism with professor Suzy Welch 34:37

3M ago34:37

34:37

Sometimes in life, we choose the wrong path. When we feel like we're living a lie, it's hard to know what to do next. That’s where Suzy Welch comes in. She’s obsessed with helping people create lives worth living. A professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, Suzy teaches a popular class called “Becoming You,” where she takes students down a bruta…

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Jew Talkin’ To Me? With comedian Aaron Levene! 59:04

3M ago59:04

59:04

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by comedian Aaron Levene! Subscribe to our Patreon: @JewTalkin Facebook: @JewTalkin Twitter: @JewTalkin Instagram: @JewTalkin Lots more fantastic episodes waiting to be released, so d…

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(PART 2) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards 39:47

3M ago39:47

39:47

*Please note: At 9:01, Simon and Cory have a discussion about suicide. What happens after we attain success and glory? Where do you go when there's nowhere left to run from yourself? In Part 2 of my conversation with Cory Richards, Cory explains why reaching the summit of Everest marked the beginning of a long, painful fall from grace. After his tu…

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(PART 1) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards 47:27

4M ago47:27

47:27

What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go. Cory Richards has scaled the world’s highest peaks and fallen to life’s lowest lows. An acclaimed mountain climber, photographer, and filmmaker, Cory has literally reached the top of the world. He climbed Mount Everest with no supplemental oxygen, became the first American to summit …

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Midwives' Escape: a conversation with Maggie Anton 42:40

4M ago42:40

42:40

It’s Passover! Time to slurp the soup, crunch the matzah, and make jokes about Moses never stopping to ask directions in the desert. It’s also a great time to speak with Maggie Anton about her latest book, the Midwives’ Escape. Through the eyes of the Egyptian midwives, we see what life was like for the Israelites as they learned to transition from…

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Find Your Allies Fast with philanthropist Melinda French Gates 38:35

4M ago38:35

38:35

Change happens to all of us whether we choose it or not. What’s the best way to go through transition, especially when it’s something we didn’t want? Melinda French Gates has seen her fair share of big transitions. A philanthropist, author, and champion for female empowerment, she spent decades building the Gates Foundation into one of the mighties…

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Who Are You, Really? with journalist Maria Shriver 41:41

4M ago41:41

41:41

We often define ourselves by what we do or who we are to other people. But at our core, who we are is often something much deeper, and sometimes wildly different, from the version that the world sees -- or projects onto you. Maria Shriver was born into the legendary Kennedy and Shriver families, arriving with a script already written for her—an ide…

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The Search for Self-Love with podcaster Lewis Howes 51:15

4M ago51:15

51:15

Self-love is never as easy as we think. Is it possible to fall in love with ourselves the way we fall for other people? Lewis Howes knows that learning to like yourself, let alone love yourself, can take decades. After surviving a traumatic childhood, Lewis spent years working on himself to try and understand what it takes for human beings to achie…

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Revisited: Why Awkward Is Awesome with psychologist Ty Tashiro 31:51

4M ago31:51

31:51

A Bit of Optimism is on hiatus this week, so we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations! In this episode, Simon talks with psychologist Ty Tashiro about social awkwardness and why being awkward can actually be a superpower. ***** Awkwardness gets a bad rap. But being awkward is often an indicator that someone has extraordinary. Psychologist…

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AJL Fiction Award Winners 38:27

5M ago38:27

38:27

Every year, the Association of Jewish Libraries Fiction Award committee scours the book world for books with significant Jewish content. They look for extra-ordinary writing, accurate depictions of Jewish life in all its diversity, and contributions to the field of Jewish literature. This month I am excited to speak with Rena Citrin about the laste…

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Does Gender Change How We Lead? with Retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill 40:39

5M ago40:39

40:39

Is there such a thing as female leadership? Or is gender not a factor? DeDe Halfhill would say yes and no. A retired Air Force colonel, Dede spent 20 years in the military, where she advised some of the military’s most powerful leaders during the War in Iraq. She was often the only woman in the room for weeks on end. And while DeDe found the princi…

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The Myth of the Perfect Meditator with podcaster Jay Shetty 50:25

5M ago50:25

50:25

We turn to ancient philosophies to help us cope with the stress of modern life. But what if ancient wisdom could use some help from the modern world? Jay Shetty has made it his life’s work to make wisdom, peace, and purpose available to everyone. After living as a monk for 3 years, he left his monastic lifestyle with the hope of spreading what he l…

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When Your 'Flaw' Becomes Your Edge with Comedian Hasan Minhaj 44:43

5M ago44:43

44:43

To recognize your own talent takes time and self-awareness. But to find the courage to pursue it? That often requires a spark of inspiration from someone else. For Hasan Minhaj, that spark came from an unexpected trio—a teacher, a roommate, and Napster. A former correspondent on The Daily Show, Hasan’s natural gift of gab allowed him to build a wid…

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Humble Leaders Lead Better Teams with Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink 42:07

5M ago42:07

42:07

Most people believe the only way to lead is to become the best at something. But what if great leadership means admitting you’re not the best at anything? Jocko Willink believes the secret to his greatest achievements come down to one thing – humility. A retired Navy SEAL commander, Jocko served 20 years in the U.S. military, leading one of the mos…

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A Sweet Conversation About Dying with Death Doula Alua Arthur 45:22

6M ago45:22

45:22

Death is a word we like to avoid. We dance around the subject or use vague euphemisms to not hurt anybody. But what if being open about our deaths meant we could live happier lives? That’s where Alua Arthur comes in. Alua is one of the most prominent death doulas in the country, which means it’s her job to help people die. She offers support to her…

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Sue Kelvin 55:38

6M ago55:38

55:38

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by actor and cabaret artiste, Sue Kelvin! Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkin…

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The Secret Art of Micromanagement with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky 44:06

6M ago44:06

44:06

People aren’t born great leaders. They learn to become great leaders. For Brian Chesky, the learning never stops. As the co-founder of Airbnb, he had to transition from an impassioned entrepreneur with a brilliant idea into a CEO responsible for thousands of employees. To make the hard decisions necessary for Airbnb to survive the COVID pandemic, a…

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You Are More Like Grammy-Winner Jacob Collier Than You Think 57:33

6M ago57:33

57:33

To create something truly original, do we build something new or break what came before? Perhaps the answer is both—simultaneously. Jacob Collier does exactly that. A brilliant songwriter and musician, he’s known for transforming his live audiences into massive three-part choirs, making music with the very people who attend his concerts. His album …

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Kids (And Employees) Know More Than You Think with Dr. Becky Kennedy 42:42

6M ago42:42

42:42

Parenting is the hardest job in the world—and it turns out, it’s also one of the best training grounds for leadership. Dr. Becky Kennedy, aka the “Millennial Parent Whisperer,” became an essential voice for caretakers by offering practical, actionable parenting advice that resonated with millions during the pandemic. As a clinical psychologist and …

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Jew Talkin’ To Me? With Ben Caplan 1:02:34

6M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by actor and director, Ben Caplan! Subscribe to our Patreon: @JewTalkin Facebook: @JewTalkin Twitter: @JewTalkin Instagram: @JewTalkin Lots more fantastic episodes waiting to be relea…

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Spite Is The Greatest Motivator with Watch Duty founder John Mills 39:02

7M ago39:02

39:02

When the wildfires struck Los Angeles, turmoil quickly consumed the city. People were desperate for clear, reliable information—unsure of evacuation routes or how to track the fires as they spread in a history-making wind storm. Then, we found Watch Duty. This intuitive app became our lifeline. The visionary behind the app is John Mills, a seasoned…

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Jew Talkin’ To Me? With Howard Jacobson 59:52

7M ago59:52

59:52

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by Man Booker Prize winning novelist and broadcaster, Howard Jacobson! Subscribe to our Patreon: @JewTalkin Facebook: @JewTalkin Twitter: @JewTalkin Instagram: @JewTalkin Lots more fa…

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The First Steps to Reducing Your Anxiety with author Mel Robbins 54:35

7M ago54:35

54:35

Life can feel overwhelming, especially when we're too drained to even get out of bed. So, how do we push through those days? For Mel Robbins, facing this very question turned her life around. Struggling with $800,000 in debt and at rock bottom, she became obsessed with finding practical ways to regain control. Fast-forward to today, and Mel is a be…

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The Second Journey : an adventurous blend of Jewish & Chinese folklore and wisdom / a conversation with Joel Bigman 40:09

7M ago40:09

40:09

When the Buddhist monk Xuanzang returned to China from India, bringing back precious Buddhist texts, he thought his traveling days were over. But then he finds an intriguing scrap with writing that he does not recognize. Finally connecting it with the Jewish community in Kaifeng he is implored by the community to go on another journey – this time e…

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The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy 46:39

7M ago46:39

46:39

Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. Where do we go to feel like we belong? As the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy has been a leading voice in bringing the loneliness crisis to light, stressing its devastating impact on public health. As his second term nears its end, he leaves behind a powerful reflection in his lett…

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Dangerous Golem? or Man of Her Dreams? A conversation about a Magical Meet Cute with Jean Meltzer 39:09

8M ago39:09

39:09

After her town is carpeted with antisemitic leaflets, ceramic artist Faye finds refuge in her studio and before she knows it, her hands have created the figure of a man. She enscribes all her wishes into the clay and buries it under her rose bushes. The next day she runs into a handsome stranger, knocking him unconscious and giving him amnesia. As …

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Trevor Noah Makes My Brain Hurt 56:36

8M ago56:36

56:36

It’s our last episode of 2024, so I decided to invite comedian Trevor Noah on…to get as serious as possible. Most Americans know Trevor as the former host of The Daily Show, a bestselling author, and a stand-up comedian. But his brand of humor isn’t just a barrel of laughs— it’s raw, witty, thought-provoking, and often makes you see the world in a …

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Should You Work With Your Friends? with my friend Will Guidara 49:26

8M ago49:26

49:26

They say business and pleasure don’t mix. But what about business and friends? My dear friend Will Guidara is the perfect person to dive into this question because we're actively trying to get into business together. And, let's just say, it requires a lot of effort. In addition to being someone I love, Will is a renowned restaurateur, known for own…

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The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger 45:30

8M ago45:30

45:30

We all want to live a happy life, but what does research say about how to actually achieve it? For more than 86 years, researchers at Harvard University have been trying to answer that question. In one of the longest-running and most comprehensive studies of human happiness, Harvard tracked 724 teenagers through every stage of their adult lives sin…

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The First Steps to Find Love with Matthew Hussey 48:48

8M ago48:48

48:48

Finding love is a journey. We might take some wrong turns along the way. Matthew Hussey helps people find love, and sometimes, redefine their relationship with love. Matthew is a dating coach who balances practical advice about the art of attraction with the importance of centering our own sense of self in our search for love. Starting as a teenage…

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Dr. Mark Hyman: To Live Longer You Need... 48:04

9M ago48:04

48:04

Close friends are the best thing for your health. Friendship, it turns out, is one of life’s best medicines. If you don’t believe me, believe Dr. Mark Hyman. Mark is one of the leading voices in the functional medicine movement, which is all about taking a holistic approach to our health for natural healing and preventing disease. The smallest chan…

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When all else fails ... call the Magic Maker / a conversation with Mickey Dubrow 35:16

9M ago35:16

35:16

For 100 years the Rosenfelds have been trapped in a time bubble in their tenement apartment on the lower East Side of New York. They can only catch glimpes of the outside world which has no idea that they are there. Until one day, Esther Luna, who works in the building which has now been turned into the Tenement Museum see a girl in the window who …

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Alexis Ohanian: Why I Left Reddit and Why Greed Can Inspire Good 1:04:18

9M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

In 2020, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from his own company in protest. After 15 years building Reddit into a social media juggernaut, why leave? The answer is values. Alexis is the kind of entrepreneur and investor who believes that integrity and long term profits go hand in hand. It’s the reason he started his new company 776, allowin…

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Jew Talkin' To Me? with Louisa Clein 1:00:56

9M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by the fabulous actor, Louisa Clein! Subscribe to our Patreon: @JewTalkin Facebook: @JewTalkin Twitter: @JewTalkin Instagram: @JewTalkin Lots more fantastic episodes waiting to be rel…

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What can we learn from a rural school in Kenya? with principal Carol Moraa 39:58

9M ago39:58

39:58

Kenya's Maasai Mara is rugged, beautiful, and tough. Values are everything for the people who live in this rural countryside, On a trip to Kenya, I had the opportunity to visit The Mara. The intelligence and grit of the young people there blew me away! I met incredibly driven young women determined to uplift their families from poverty. Carol Moraa…