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 survivor experiences. Together, Tommy and Dr. Fogelman explore how this legacy unfolds over time, through stages of shock, denial, mourning, and discovery, and why some descendants of survivors feel compelled to uncover their family's past while others choose distance.

The conversation also delves into the emotional complexity of survivor guilt, unconscious survival behaviors, and the ways in which many descendants have transformed pain into purpose. From creative expression to Holocaust education, from human rights activism to Jewish cultural preservation, Dr. Fogelman offers powerful insights into how inherited memory can inspire resilience and meaning for generations to come.

Chosen For What? is brought to you by the Foundation for Genocide Education, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that every student understands the history and lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. To learn more about their work, or to make a donation, please visit GenEd.org