Totally Unexpected!

Chavie Bruk
  • 4.9 (40)
  • JUDAISM
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
Totally Unexpected!

Hi, I’m Chavie Bruk! I love people. I want to know who they are, how they got there, what didn’t go as expected, and what they did about it. My guests are people who inspire me in some way. Whether its the mom next door, an enlightened academic, or a maverick healer, I am here to learn about their unique contribution to our world. Join me on this wonderful ride we like to call life!

  1. Lisa Schlosberg

    APR 21

    Lisa Schlosberg

    Food is Your Friend - Reframing Trauma to Heal Your Body   Chavie and Lisa begin by bonding over their shared experience as podcast hosts and reflecting on Chavie’s participation in Lisa’s program. Lisa traces her path from personal trainer to certified health coach, eventually pursuing a Master’s and Doctorate in Social Work and launching a holistic and integrative health coaching business. She shares her health journey, beginning with being sent to Weight Watchers at age nine and reaching 300 pounds by the time she was seventeen. Then, after losing 150 pounds through extreme dieting, Lisa found herself physically unwell and emotionally unraveling. She shares with Chavie how this crisis propelled her to investigate why diets fail, ultimately leading her to discover the connection between trauma and health. Chavie and Lisa explore how our societal obsession with triggers and the desire to “feel safe” at all times desensitizes us from coping with uncomfortable feelings and circumstances that aren’t actually threatening to our safety—emotional or otherwise. Lisa shares that if we learn to accept feelings we don’t like, we can rely on other tools to find comfort rather than immediately turning to food. Once we learn to do that, it becomes okay to rely on food for comfort—as long as we feel in control and aren’t dependent on it for a sense of safety.   Lisa Schlosberg is the founder of Out of the Cave, LLC, where she combines her comprehensive expertise as a licensed social worker, integrative nutrition health coach, certified personal trainer, and registered yoga teacher to guide emotional eaters toward physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and healing. Maintaining a 150-pound weight loss for more than a decade by healing her relationship with food (through emotional healing, somatic experiencing, mindset shifts, and more), Lisa discovered that her lifelong struggle with "morbid obesity" and “disordered eating” were symptoms of unprocessed trauma and emotional stress. This realization fueled her passion for helping others navigate similar challenges with a heart-centered, trauma-informed approach. Her strengths-based philosophy is rooted in the belief that using food to cope is a valid method of managing stress, and it is possible to heal from the inside out. Driven to make her work accessible to all, Lisa hosts the Out of the Cave podcast, where she shares powerful client stories and expert insights to inspire global transformation.   Referenced on the Pod Life with Kate ACE Study Dr. Vincent Felitti Interview What Happened to You? By Oprah Winfrey “You Are In Control Not Your Triggers” - Dr Gabor Mate  Elizabeth Gilbert on Fear & Emotions Out of the Cave Podcast Episode with Jeff   Stay in touch with Lisa! www.outofthecave.health Apply for The Out of the Cave Group Program Here Lisa’s Instagram Lisa’s Facebook Lisa’s YouTube Channel The Out of the Cave Podcast   Stay in touch with Chavie!www.instagram.com/chaviebrukwww.totallyunexpected.blog   Want to sponsor an episode? Reach out to Chavie on Instagram or by email at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

    1h 55m
  2. Malka Groden

    APR 7

    Malka Groden

    Motherhood of Choice: Infertility, Adoption, Race & Everything in Between   Chavie and Malka begin the conversation by reflecting on their shared experience of marrying young and expecting to have children right away. They discuss the harsh reality of infertility, the emotional toll of repeated interventions, and the pivotal decision to stop and consider new options. Together, they break down the step-by-step process of choosing adoption, challenging the notions of a homogeneous family where everyone looks alike and shares the same background. Malka shares her experience of adopting a Black child while living in Crown Heights, where the values established by the Lubavitcher Rebbe promote inclusivity, yet daily life presented painful challenges. She and Chavie explore their differing approaches to raising a family of choice, weighing the mental health implications of giving space to grief over infertility, the nuances of acknowledging differences between biological and adopted children, and the complexities of being White parents to Black children in a world that sometimes views such a decision with suspicion. They also discuss the progress in conversations around race in the Chassidic community and the hope it brings for their children.   Malka Groden is an adoptive mother of three children. Every day, she thanks G-d for her infertility, without which she would not have been blessed with her beautiful family. She oversees fundraising at a Jewish nonprofit and loves the opportunity to spend time with and learn from generous individuals.   Referenced on the Pod Adopting Our Daughters by Rabbi Chaim Bruk  PUAH Fertility Lessons in Heichaltzu The Rebbe’s Words to Mayor David Dinkins The Rebbe Didn’t Discriminate, Neither Should We Should White People Adopt Black Kids with Jada Pinkett-Smith   Stay in touch with Chavie!www.instagram.com/chaviebrukwww.totallyunexpected.blog   This episode is dedicated by Chaim Meir Hazan and his fiancé Sandra Chokron in honor of Mrs. Chavie and Rabbi Chaim Bruk.  Want to sponsor an episode? Reach out to Chavie on Instagram or by email at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

    1h 52m
  3. Linda Laverty

    MAR 24

    Linda Laverty

    Beyond the Surface: How To Heal & Restore Our Skin   Chavie begins the conversation by sharing her struggles with skincare and the transformative experience that led her to Linda, forming a deep friendship along the way. Linda reflects on what it was like to be born in Hawaii, grow up in Washington State, and move to Japan with her family for middle school. She shares how, after returning to the West Coast for college, she started out in retail, transitioned to the tech industry at Microsoft, and eventually found her way to Bozeman, where she embarked on a new career in skincare. Together, Chavie and Linda explore the connection between skin, body, and the nervous system, the power of showing up as we are, and the tension of being in the wellness industry when the products are so often driven by harmful trends.    Linda is a holistic esthetician who believes in safe, non-toxic skincare, touch-focused techniques, and non-invasive technology that supports skin health. She believes that skin health comes from understanding how our body’s systems operate and are linked. Living in the sunny and arid mountains of Montana, she puts a significant emphasis on how the environment and climate can influence skin health.   Referenced on the Pod Always consult your aesthetician, and consider your budget, lifestyle, and environment when making decisions about your skin care. Microcurrent Facials Red Light Therapy Masks & LED Face Masks LED Light Therapy Surgeon Compares Facial Tissue With & Without Fillers+Botox   Stay in touch with Linda!www.handsomefolk.beautyLinda's Instagram   Stay in touch with Chavie!www.instagram.com/chaviebrukwww.totallyunexpected.blog   Want to sponsor an episode? Reach out to Chavie on Instagram or by email at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

    2h 24m
  4. Chaim Bruk

    MAR 10

    Chaim Bruk

    Rabbi Chaim’s Story: Mentorship, Growth, & Therapy   Chavie begins the conversation by asking Chaim about his childhood, growing up under the Rebbe’s wings in Crown Heights. He shares how idyllic it was to live in the Rebbe’s presence and how it permeated every aspect of daily life. He also reflects on some of the negative influences he absorbed as a yeshiva student, particularly the “you are with us or against us” mentality. Chaim talks about how his marriage to Chavie and the personal growth that followed helped shift his perspective, allowing him to see the world in a more nuanced way. He and Chavie discuss the importance of having a mentor—an objective third party to guide couples—along with seeking more rigorous support through therapy. Chaim and Chavie share numerous personal anecdotes about how this approach has helped them navigate the often-turbulent reality of raising five adopted children in the remote Jewish outpost of Bozeman, Montana.   Rabbi Chaim Bruk is the Co-CEO and spiritual leader of Chabad Lubavitch of Montana. He moved to Montana in 2007 with his wife Chavie, where they launched a renaissance of Jewish life across the state. They are raising their five children in Big Sky Country, where they enjoy nature daily. Chaim loves teaching Torah, writing about Judaism and current events, and has an obsession with kosher sushi.   Referenced on the Pod "My Rofeh Yedid, Dr. Feldman" The Need for Mentorship "Mama’s Boy"   Stay in touch with Rabbi Chaim!www.jewishmontana.comwww.instagram.com/chabadmontana X @MontanaJewWeekly Torah Class on Youtube Montana's Jewish Voice   Stay in touch with Chavie!www.instagram.com/chaviebrukwww.totallyunexpected.blog   This week's episode is sponsored by Dr. Leorah Ross and her daughter Kochav in honor of the yahrzeit of her father, Reb Shmuel Zev OBM, and in honor of Klal Yisroel, our amazing Jewish family.  This week’s episode is also dedicated by Daniel ben Yita Feiga and Sarah Emunah bas Sarah, who are dear friends and pillars of Chabad-Lubavitch of Montana.    Want to sponsor an episode? Reach out to Chavie on Instagram or by email at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

    2h 38m
  5. Mina Richler

    FEB 24

    Mina Richler

    Nurturing Your Creative Soul    Mina and Chavie begin by reminiscing about their high school days together in Chicago. Mina reflects on how her parents nurtured creativity in each of their children, inspiring her to explore photography and writing. She then shares the earth-shattering moment when, at just eight years old, she learned her brother passed away as an infant due to a genetic condition. She and Chavie discuss Ambiguous Loss—the often-overlooked, long-term impact of unresolved grief. Mina describes how, from the moment she learned of her brother’s death, she began “looking for her brother” and committed her life to helping children with special needs. Chavie and Mina talk about the many roles women navigate throughout their lives and the importance to know, “you can do it all but not all at the same time.” Mina shares her own journey with life coaching and somatic healing, which led to her to participate in Chai Lifeline’s Tour de Simcha, a 50-mile cycling marathon with a fourteen month old baby.   Mina Richler is a proud Jewish woman and a loving mother of seven. She was born and raised with her twelve siblings in New City, New York as grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. In 2007, Mina co-founded Chabad of Gloucester County with her husband Avi and serves as Rebbetzin and Director for Women & Youth. Mina's happy place is over a hot cup of coffee and in deep discussion with just about anyone. In her spare time Mina can be found writing, road cycling, or behind a camera capturing G-d's beautiful people and life as it is.   Referenced on the Pod Dr. Edith Eger Ambiguous Loss - Dr. Pauline Boss  Chai Lifeline - Tour de Simcha  Grit by Angela Duckworth    Stay in touch with Mina!Mina’s Blog www.instagram.com/minarichler    Stay in touch with Chavie!www.instagram.com/chaviebrukwww.totallyunexpected.blog   This week's episode is dedicated by our dear friends Maxine and Ralph Milliken in loving memory of their dear son Todd Edward Wasserman, Tanchum Peretz, who spent the final few months of his life in Bozeman enjoying the great outdoors, and sadly left his world at a young age due to his struggle with asthma. He was a giver and was always there to help others in their time of need.   For dedications, sponsorships, or advertising opportunities reach out to Chavie on Instagram or at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

    2h 37m
  6. Brochie Spritzer

    FEB 10

    Brochie Spritzer

    Interior Design: It Starts from Within Brochie talks with Chavie about pausing her interior design business after having twins, which created an "empty space" for her to explore a new approach to design. She shares how she discovered Human Design, which focuses on identifying one's unique gift to share with the world and the most natural way to do so. Chavie and Brochie discuss how and if this aligns with Hassidic and Jewish values of dedicating all talents and skills to serving Hashem. Brochie then shares how she came across Designology and the Place Types method, which helped her identify her clients' unique aesthetics rather than following a rigid color palette approach. Together, Chavie and Brochie discuss their frustrations with design trends and explore which styles resonate most with them.   Brochie Spritzer is a luxury interior designer who uncovers each client’s unique style through their personality. Just as your personality influences how you dress, it also shapes your interior design style. Brochie brings the concept of "placetypes" to life, showing how different personalities translate into interiors. Instead of imposing a signature look, she designs from her clients’ perspective, creating spaces that feel personal, sophisticated, and one of a kind.   Referenced on the Pod Mellisa Wood - Tepperberg on Human Design with Jenna Zoe  Designology - Sally Augustin  Jeff Shelton, Architect  Studio McGee  Chris Loves Julia - Pottery Barn Collection   Stay in touch with Brochie!brochieinteriors@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/brochiespritzer/   Stay in touch with Chavie!www.instagram.com/chaviebrukwww.totallyunexpected.blog   This week's episode is sponsored by the Jewish Children's Library Fund, which helps establish Jewish children's libraries in communities across the United States. The goal is to create libraries in community members' homes, providing a dedicated space—beyond school or shul—where children can experience Jewish pride. The fund offers matching grants and a database to help you get started. If you or someone you know is interested in opening a library, text Reuven Rockford at 954-709-9541 and visit their website at www.jewishchildrenslibraryfund.com. For dedications, sponsorships, or advertising opportunities reach out to Chavie on Instagram or at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

    2h 10m
  7. Michal Carlebach

    JAN 27

    Michal Carlebach

    Finding Your Voice Through Fashion Chavie and Michal compare notes on growing up outside mainstream religious communities, and speaking Yiddish and Hebrew, respectively, as their first languages. Michal shares how she developed a passion for education early on and always knew she wanted to be a teacher.  Chavie and Michal then discuss how although teaching might not be the most glamorous career, it is such a powerful position and should only be pursued by those who are truly passionate and qualified. Michal shares how she realized that "what she does" is not "who she is" which helped her navigate  launching her online fashion business while also running a Chabad House and being a full-time mom. Michal and Chavie discuss the unique needs of the modest consumer, sharing tips and best practices for looking your best while shopping smart and spending wisely.   Michal was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She is a devoted mother, business owner, and educator who leads Chabad House in Toluca Lake together with her husband. After spending a decade teaching middle school in Los Angeles and running a homeschool in The Valley, Michal transitioned to entrepreneurship, creating a unique, quality-driven modest fashion brand. Her deep appreciation for fashion is matched by her lifelong passion for education. Known for curating designs from around the world, Michal caters to the modern, modest, and fashion-forward woman. She loves inspiring women to care for themselves at every stage of life, empowering them to embrace their creativity and express their individuality through clothing.    This Week's Q&A’s Was the yoga retreat you attended a Jewish program? Are your kids resentful when you travel? Did you stay at the retreat for Shabbos or at the local Chabad House? Referenced on the Pod Child Development Specialist, Dr. Siggie   Stay in touch with Michal! www.instagram.com/shopmoddo www.shopmoddo.com   Stay in touch with Chavie! www.instagram.com/chaviebruk www.totallyunexpected.blog   This week's episode is dedicated by Rabbi Shneur Zalman and Mimi Felig of Miami in loving memory of their son, Boruch Sholom Dovber ben Shenur Zalman. Also in honor of the Bruk family and the entire team at Chabad-Lubavitch of Montana, with blessings for continued success in their holy work, including this podcast, Totally Unexpected!  For dedications, sponsorships, or advertising opportunities reach out to Chavie on Instagram or at chaviebruk@gmail.com.

    1h 58m
  8. Sheva Givre

    JAN 13

    Sheva Givre

    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 chaviebruk@gmail.com.

    1h 37m
See All (18)

4.9
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Hi, I’m Chavie Bruk! I love people. I want to know who they are, how they got there, what didn’t go as expected, and what they did about it. My guests are people who inspire me in some way. Whether its the mom next door, an enlightened academic, or a maverick healer, I am here to learn about their unique contribution to our world. Join me on this wonderful ride we like to call life!

Information

  • Creator
    Chavie Bruk
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Totally Unexpected!

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