The Upstander Ripple Effect

The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES

The Upstander Ripple Effect is a podcast featuring stories of how one act of standing up for justice can have an infinite impact. It’s where stories of courage and resilience during the Holocaust—one of the darkest chapters in human history— come alive to inspire a new generation of upstanders today. Come for a dose of motivation to activate your own unique character strengths to become an upstander right now, and stay for a fresh look at today’s headlines that will leave you feeling hopeful and empowered to start your own ripples of positive change.   The Upstander Ripple Effect – the first podcast from the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.

  1. We are interconnected - Marking both MLK Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day

    JAN 30

    We are interconnected - Marking both MLK Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day

    “It is an interesting time to think about how these two days are established to remember and honor separate histories, but in so many ways, separate histories that are so interconnected, that have so many shared themes and shared lessons.”  - Kevin Aldridge, co-host In this episode, Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge sit down with historian and civic leader Dan Hurley to talk about interconnectedness—between people, histories, and movements we’re often taught to see as separate. Recorded between MLK Day and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the episode explores how the fight against Nazi racial ideology abroad and the struggle for civil rights at home are deeply linked.  Dan shares his father’s remarkable World War II story: serving as a white officer in an all-Black Army unit that helped liberate Dachau, witnessing the extreme results of the Nazis’ racism and hate. But he also realized his troops were fighting racism at home. This episode challenges listeners to stretch their perspective, step into discomfort, and see how real change has always come from connection, courage, and action—not just good intentions.  This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity   Find us on social media:   https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/  https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/  https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity  Episode Resources  Hear more about Dan Hurley’s experiences writing his book  https://youtu.be/h7SGU1Tlazg  Buy the book Crossing Borders, Expanding Boundaries  In person at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood Commons, Cincinnati  Or online at Amazon  https://a.co/d/2FRQVWo   Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center in person in historic Union Terminal or online at  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/   Get tickets for the landmark exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.  At Cincinnati Museum Center until April, 2026  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/auschwitz-not-long-ago-not-far-away/   How the Nazis were influenced by U.S. Jim Crow laws  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/digital-program/nuremberg-laws-how-the-nazis-were-influenced-by-u-s-jim-crow-laws/   Double V campaign during WWII  https://www.nps.gov/people/james-gratz-thompson-originator-of-the-double-v-campaign.htm   Medgar Evers’ recognition for his service in WWII, in a quartermaster unit like Irwin Hurley led  https://news.va.gov/109033/veteranoftheday-army-medgar-evers/   Articles related to this episode  https://lamag.com/guest-column/cycling-through-history-on-international-holocaust-remembrance-day/   https://saportareport.com/bernice-king-mlks-work-essential-as-humanity-is-under-siege/columnists/adrianne-murchison/    https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/bernice-king-why-dr-king-233522155.html    https://atlantadailyworld.com/2026/01/10/king-holdiay-2026-mission-possible-2-building-community-uniting-a-nation-the-nonviolent-way/    https://communityjournal.net/op-ed-by-ben-jealous-we-must-finish-the-work-dr-king-died-doing/    https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/january-mlk-jr-remembrance-21291279.php Send us a text

    43 min
  2. Your Brain is Wired to Seek Out Bad News - Here's The Good News You Need Anyway with WVXU's Lucy May

    12/23/2025

    Your Brain is Wired to Seek Out Bad News - Here's The Good News You Need Anyway with WVXU's Lucy May

    “In a time that feels very dark and hopeless, they're finding hope in the humanity of others, not just what they're doing, but what they see communities doing to help.”   - Lucy May, Cincinnati journalist, on one of the stories of the year that brought her hope    “I'm thinking about the ripple effect and the fact that you know, who started this? It was one person who said, ‘Geez, you know, this is this massive issue happening on a national scale. And I can either choose to feel completely powerless, like I have no agency and lament it, or I can just say, What's one more thing I can do?’”   - Jackie Congedo, on the local person who started the program Grocery Buddies this year, to fill in the gap when SNAP benefits fall short  In a year dominated by heavy headlines, in this episode of The Upstander Ripple Effect, we made a deliberate choice to end with hope and light. Joined by longtime journalist and host of WVXU’s Cincinnati Edition, Lucy May, the hosts explore why our brains gravitate toward bad news—and why seeking out “points of light” is not naïve, but necessary.   Through powerful stories of wrongful conviction, radical forgiveness, and neighbors stepping up for neighbors, the episode makes the case that hope is an act of courage — and essential for us as upstanders to keep moving forward.    This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity  Find us on social media:  https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/  https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/  https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity  Episode Resources  Watch Lovely Jackson, the documentary about Rickey Jackson  https://www.amazon.com/Lovely-Jackson-Matt-Waldeck/dp/B0DZ28SSMC  Listen to the Cincinnati Edition episode covering Rickey’s story  https://www.wvxu.org/show/cincinnati-edition/2025-10-20/rickey-jackson-lovely-jackson-innocence-project  Find out more about the Grocery Buddies program  https://grocery-buddies.org/  Listen to WVXU coverage of the Grocery Buddies  https://www.wvxu.org/news-from-npr/2025-11-01/as-snap-benefits-run-dry-grocery-buddies-are-footing-their-neighbors-food-bills  https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2025-11-11/snap-recipients-shutdown-grocery-buddies-cincinnati  https://www.wvxu.org/show/cincinnati-edition/2025-11-26/cincinnati-community-comes-together-to-fill-gaps-in-hunger  Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center   https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/  Read Kevin’s column about Ja’Marr Chase and his handling of the rude fan who wanted an autograph  https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/2025/06/30/cincinnati-bengals-jamarr-chase-plane-tiktok-fan/84412070007/ Send us a text

    43 min
  3. When AI Meets Memory - Season 2 Episode 3

    11/07/2025

    When AI Meets Memory - Season 2 Episode 3

    As artificial intelligence of the future is applied to events of the past, how do we make sure truth and authenticity is the focus?  “We remove the human element out of it when we say, robot, go do this for me.”  - Jackie Congedo, on relying on AI to interpret history  Hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge welcome guest Steve Coppel to discuss his father, Werner’s, story—now part of the powerful Auschwitz. Not Long Ago. Not Far Away. exhibition. Later, they explore how AI-generated misinformation threatens Holocaust remembrance and other historical events. With insight from the Auschwitz Museum’s Pawel Sawicki, this episode asks how we preserve authenticity and humanity in an age when even memory can be manipulated.  This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity   Find us on social media   https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/   https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/   https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity   Episode Resources   Tickets for Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/auschwitz-not-long-ago-not-far-away/   Hear more from Pawel Sawicki on his role at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/a-conversation-with-pawel-sawicki-press-officer-for-the-auschwitz-birkenau-state-museum/   AI articles discussed  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg4xjk1g1xo  https://longreads.com/2025/09/25/ai-holocaust-survivors-memory/   https://www.d-id.com/news/the-heroes-speak-marking-80-years-for-the-warsaw-ghetto-uprising/   More to read on AI and the work of Holocaust memory  https://holocaustremembrance.com/news/does-ai-future-holocaust-memory Send us a text

    53 min
  4. Political violence and our common humanity with Sean Comer - Season 2 Episode 2

    10/10/2025

    Political violence and our common humanity with Sean Comer - Season 2 Episode 2

    When political division and violence dominate the headlines, how can we hold on to our shared humanity? Host Jackie Congedo is joined by guest Sean Comer, Vice President of the Leadership Center at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and founder of Beyond Civility: Communication for Effective Governance. Together, they explore how empathy, humility, and connection can counter polarization and strengthen the fabric of our communities.  “Talking about difficult topics, conversations where there's going to be significant disagreement - it takes practice.” – Sean Comer  Drawing lessons from the Holocaust and the words of survivors like Roma Kaltman and Al Miller, Jackie and Sean talk about the dangers of dehumanization—and the need to rebuild our “civic muscle” for dialogue across differences. Sean shares stories from more than a decade of work bringing people together—from students and public servants to business leaders—and shares his thoughts on how we got here and how we can move forward.  This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity   Find us on social media   https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/   https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/   https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity      Episode Resources     Learn more about Sean’s work  https://cincinnatichamber.com/leadership-center/     Coverage of the Eradicate Hate Summit  https://www.post-gazette.com/local/2025/09/17/eradicate-hate-summit-political-violence/stories/202509170085   https://www.wesa.fm/identity-community/2025-09-16/pittsburgh-anti-discrimination-stand-for-all-launch     Gov. Josh Shapiro’s keynote address at the Eradicate Hate Summit  https://www.pa.gov/governor/newsroom/2025-press-releases/icymi--gov-shapiro-delivers-keynote-address-on-political-violenc     Joint statement from Ohio lawmakers on political violence  https://ohiohouse.gov/news/republican/senate-president-mccolley-senate-democratic-leader-antonio-house-speaker-huffman-house-minority-leader-isaacsohn-release-statement-condemning-political-violence-137836     Former Gov. John Kasich’s op-ed  https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/2025/09/22/kirk-minnesota-killings-are-part-of-troubling-pattern-in-us-opinion/86297939007/   Read more about “red capes” and “green capes”  https://penntoday.upenn.edu/2016-01-28/latest-news/penn-professor-explores-what-it-means-be-positive    Send us a text

    34 min
  5. To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. The life of Werner Coppel

    09/18/2025

    To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. The life of Werner Coppel

    “Because it was brought here to Cincinnati, I think it also gives way to this idea that, you know, the Holocaust is, is international history, right? It's European history, global history, but it's our local history too.”   – Director of Collections & Exhibitions Cori Silbernagel on the suitcase that Holocaust survivor Werner Coppel carried from Europe to Cincinnati  Werner Coppel was just 19 when he survived a death march from Auschwitz, only to open the newspaper decades later and be faced with outright Holocaust denial in Cincinnati - the city where he had rebuilt his life and now considered home. He chose to fight back by using his voice and speaking his truth. He began telling his story and shared his personal experiences with audiences until his death in 2016. “My dad realized if he didn’t speak up, he’d be a bystander and he couldn’t do that. He had to stand up. He had to be an upstander,” said his son, Steve Coppel. This episode takes you into our archives to learn about some very important artifacts – not frequently seen publicly - that help tell Werner’s incredible story. You can learn more about Werner’s life both in the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center and in the exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. The exhibition opens in October, 2025. Link to tickets below.    The opportunity to bring this exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission and   H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee  Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee   Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee   Western & Southern Financial Group   Les and Renee Sandler  The Kanter/Knue Family   The Neil Bortz Family  Rosenthal Family Foundation   Beth and Louis Guttman     To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling.   Special thanks to Julie and John Cohen for their support of this series.     Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Presented by NEON.     Musealia https://www.musealia.net/     Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum https://www.auschwitz.org/en/    NEON https://www.neonglobal.com/en/     Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. ticket info, additional resources for both adults and students, travel itineraries and more https://www.cincymuseum.org/auschwitz/     Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/       Send us a text

    23 min
  6. To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. The lives of Henry Meyer & Bella Ouziel

    09/12/2025

    To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. The lives of Henry Meyer & Bella Ouziel

    “We hear that in a lot of survivor stories... saying you're trained as something, that you're not, in a way, to survive.” - Trinity Johnson, Director of Holocaust Programs & Museum Experiences at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center This episode of our limited podcast series accompanies the upcoming exhibition Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., opening October 2025 at Cincinnati Museum Center. We share the powerful local stories of two survivors: Henry Meyer, a violin prodigy from Dresden whose musical gift became his lifeline, and Bella Ouziel, a young woman from Salonika who endured loss but found strength in camp sisterhood and spiritual resistance. Their journeys of survival and rebuilding in Cincinnati illuminate the resilience of the human spirit.  The opportunity to bring this exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission and   H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee   Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee   Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee   Western & Southern Financial Group   Les and Renee Sandler   The Kanter/Knue Family   The Neil Bortz Family   Rosenthal Family Foundation   Beth and Louis Guttman  Interviews of Roma Kaltman, Rozalia Berke, Henry Meyer, and Bella Ouziel  are from the archive of the USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education  For more information:  http://sfi.usc.edu/    To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Special thanks to Julie and John Cohen for their support of this series. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.   Presented by NEON.   Musealia   https://www.musealia.net/   Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum   https://www.auschwitz.org/en/   NEON   https://www.neonglobal.com/en/  Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. ticket info, additional resources for both adults and students, travel itineraries and more   https://www.cincymuseum.org/auschwitz/    Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/  Send us a text

    27 min
  7. Self-Awareness - Season 2 Episode 1

    09/12/2025

    Self-Awareness - Season 2 Episode 1

    “Bias doesn’t just live in the people we don’t like. It lives in the mirrors that we look in every day in our homes.” – Kevin Aldridge  Season 2 of The Upstander Ripple Effect kicks off with a powerful conversation about self-awareness—how recognizing our own biases, blind spots, and strengths shapes how we behave in our lives and communities.   Hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge reflect on current events, the challenges of honest self-reflection, and the importance of “knowing ourselves accurately.” Later, guest Carrie McCarthy shares how Pleasant Hill Middle School in Cincinnati is embedding character strengths and upstander values into the heart of its culture, inspiring students to see themselves—and each other—as capable of creating positive change.  This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity   Find us on social media   https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity   Episode Resources  Kevin’s Op-Ed  https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/columnists/2025/08/19/cincinnati-brawl-viral-race-white-black-people-downtown/85656149007/   The Key to Critical Self-Awareness by Arthur C. Brooks (subscription required)  https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/04/know-yourself-socrates/682458/     Upstander curriculum resources  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/resources/upstander-activities/     Action Reconciliation Service for Peace  https://us.asf-ev.de/     From Nazism to Never Again by Richard Evans (subscription may be required)  https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/western-europe/2017-12-12/nazism-never-again   Send us a text

    27 min
  8. To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. A trip to Poland

    08/15/2025

    To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati. A trip to Poland

    Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. opens at Cincinnati Museum Center in October 2025. For those who have never visited the camp, it represents an unparalleled learning opportunity.  “The people are not present… but there are traces of them still in those buildings.” —Cori Silbernagel  What can Auschwitz still teach us today? A visit to Poland made by two of our staff, Cori Silbernagel, Director of Collections & Exhibitions, and Trinity Johnson, Director of Holocaust Programs & Museum Experiences, may help shed some light on that question. They share powerful moments from behind-the-scenes spaces like Block 10 and an unpreserved barrack, where the fingerprints of Soviet POWs remain in the brick mortar.  80 years after liberation, the world may think it knows most everything about the space and history of Auschwitz. Cori and Trinity’s conversation shows us that we are never really done learning, and that Auschwitz still holds lessons for us today.  Those who visit Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. will not just see the same exhibition shown around the world. They will also get in-depth local stories of Auschwitz survivors who immigrated to Cincinnati. During WWII, the historic train station where this exhibition will be shown saw millions of American servicemen come through its doors. But there was another group of travelers whose lives would be impacted by Union Terminal. More than 1,000 Jews who survived the Holocaust immigrated to Cincinnati, arriving in the very building where the public will be able to view Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.  The opportunity to bring this exhibition to Cincinnati has been generously supported by Rhonda and Larry Sheakley, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati, the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission and   H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee   Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee   Helen G., Henry F., Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee   Western & Southern Financial Group   Les and Renee Sandler   The Kanter/Knue Family   The Neil Bortz Family   Rosenthal Family Foundation   Beth and Louis Guttman  To Bear Witness: Stories from Auschwitz to Cincinnati is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Special thanks to Julie and John Cohen for their support of this series. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. was created by Musealia in cooperation with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.  Presented by NEON.   Musealia https://www.musealia.net/   Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum https://www.auschwitz.org/en/   NEON https://www.neonglobal.com/en/  Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. ticket info, additional resources for both adults and students, travel itineraries and more https://www.cincymuseum.org/auschwitz/    Visit the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/          Send us a text

    15 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Upstander Ripple Effect is a podcast featuring stories of how one act of standing up for justice can have an infinite impact. It’s where stories of courage and resilience during the Holocaust—one of the darkest chapters in human history— come alive to inspire a new generation of upstanders today. Come for a dose of motivation to activate your own unique character strengths to become an upstander right now, and stay for a fresh look at today’s headlines that will leave you feeling hopeful and empowered to start your own ripples of positive change.   The Upstander Ripple Effect – the first podcast from the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.

Information

  • Creator
    The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Upstander Ripple Effect
  • Show Website
    The Upstander Ripple Effect