“This isn’t just a story of suffering. It’s a story of survival—and sacred persistence.”
Door to Door is a deeply personal, five-part podcast series tracing one Jewish family’s multigenerational pilgrimage from a once-lost home in Wachenbuchen, Germany, to the present-day echoes of inherited memory, trauma, and resilience.
Told through archival recordings, family reflections, and emotional returns to ancestral ground, this podcast chronicles the survival of Simon—a Holocaust survivor taken to Buchenwald Concentration Camp during Kristallnacht—and the generations that followed him. It's a story shaped by suffering, but defined by rebuilding, remembrance, and an enduring commitment to legacy.
From whispered memories to stumbling stones, from silence to storytelling, Door to Door invites listeners to witness what it means to reclaim identity from the wreckage—and to carry forward the names, the stories, and the truths nearly erased.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of inherited memory, or the pull to understand where you come from—
subscribe to Door to Door wherever you get your podcasts.
Let this be part of your story, too.
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“This isn’t just a story of suffering. It’s a story of survival—and sacred persistence.”
Door to Door is a deeply personal, five-part podcast series tracing one Jewish family’s multigenerational pilgrimage from a once-lost home in Wachenbuchen, Germany, to the present-day echoes of inherited memory, trauma, and resilience.
Told through archival recordings, family reflections, and emotional returns to ancestral ground, this podcast chronicles the survival of Simon—a Holocaust survivor taken to Buchenwald Concentration Camp during Kristallnacht—and the generations that followed him. It's a story shaped by suffering, but defined by rebuilding, remembrance, and an enduring commitment to legacy.
From whispered memories to stumbling stones, from silence to storytelling, Door to Door invites listeners to witness what it means to reclaim identity from the wreckage—and to carry forward the names, the stories, and the truths nearly erased.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of inherited memory, or the pull to understand where you come from—
subscribe to Door to Door wherever you get your podcasts.
Let this be part of your story, too.
Part of belonging to a lineage is the act of finding ourselves within the story, claiming a particular link in the chain of inheritance, as testimony to our merit for inclusion. And then he’d say, "Jews are responsible for each other." We all heard that phrase from him. It was the partner to his positivity. Forgive in your heart, and take your inheritance of survival, your legacy of peoplehood, seriously. And we did.
“ I feel like I hold and carry a lot of the stories from my grandfather. I don't always know how to share those stories. I'm sometimes afraid of telling them wrong or making mistakes.” - Neal Strauss
"It’s a surreal experience to watch strangers tell your story. For others to decide they are ready for you to reclaim your stolen lives." - Miriam Terlinchamp
“Years later, I’ll know this feeling as a mother, hearing my baby wail from the other room, wondering, praying, hoping that she is ok. But tonight, I’m 25 in a loft apartment in Berlin, 5,000 miles from home, and it’s not a baby crying: It’s my 89-year-old grandfather, Simon, screaming.” - Miriam Terlinchamp
I got out of the Frankfurt train station. I took a bus to Wachenbuchen. At this time, remember, there’s no cellphone, no Google maps, none of that. I had an address and I got there early in the day and there it was. It was like seeing something, you know, like seeing a picture you've seen forever, right? - Mark Vane
We don’t know the story for a long time. And, even after we learn it, the story continues to unfold. Each generation adding new information, unlocking new mysteries, and trying it’s best to weave something whole out of a family history shredded by trauma. - Miriam Terlinchamp
Thanks for journeying with us through Season 1 of Tales of the Unbound. We’re thrilled to return with Season 2: Door to Door—a five-episode, multi-generational exploration of memory, trauma, and identity, launching July 23, 2025. For accessibility, our podcast feed will temporarily change its name to Door to Door, but you’ll still find the same heart, the same mission, and a powerful new chorus of voices.
It is with great joy that we bring you our second season. Season Two is called Door to Door, A Multi-generational Story of Memory, Trauma, and Identity. This is a five-episode series that drops on July 23, 2025.
In "Tales of the Unbound, Episode 7: Happily Ever After?" the narrative explores the challenges and transformations within the Jewish community at Monroe Correctional. The story takes a twist, testing the community's cohesion and purpose. Despite these conflicts, Ari and Josh strive to uphold a sense of community and identity amidst uncertainty. The episode concludes with a reflection on the evolving nature of Judaism and the power of communal learning in navigating change and maintaining hope for a better future.
In episode 6 of "Tales of the Unbound," Miriam Terlinchamp reflects on her journey into the rabbinate, beginning with childhood memories and learning about holiness in unlikely places. She recalls pivotal moments that challenged her faith and understanding of Judaism's role in life's hardships. Despite initial reluctance, Miriam embraces her calling as a rabbi, drawn back to it even after attempting to avoid it. She finds purpose in connecting with individuals like Ari and Josh from Monroe Correctional, guiding them through conversions and discovering a deeper, more inclusive Judaism beyond traditional boundaries. Miriam's narrative explores themes of belonging, grief, and the evolving nature of spiritual identity.
In "Tales of the Unbound" Episode 5, we reach the apex of the storyline, talking through all the details of the “big day” of conversion. Miriam recounts the challenges of facilitating a traditional Jewish conversion ritual for Ari and Josh in prison. She navigates assembling a beit din (rabbinic court). The mikvah (ritual bath) posed logistical hurdles, eventually combining some borrowed and collected elements to make it happen. The ritual circumcision (milah) was performed privately by Ari and Josh using diabetic lancets despite our share of reservations. The ceremony concludes with Ari and Josh affirming their Jewish identity before their community, marking a profound moment of spiritual transformation and communal contribution.
Tales of the Unbound: Episode 4 - “Do Good Time” follows Ari’s spiritual journey of claiming Jewish identity. There’s an incentive process in prison sentences called meritorious time. We call it “Good Time." For Ari, Good Time has to do with the way he spends his days for the betterment of himself and the world at large. Good Time means a gratitude process, embracing shared humanity, giving to others without expectation of receiving, choosing compassion, and accountability.
Tales of the Unbound: Episode 3 - “We Go HAM” follows Josh’s spiritual journey of claiming Jewish identity, finding healing through reconciliation, and what it means to lead from a place of faith. His joy in the face of adversity is captivating as he carries his own stories and the stories of others as part of his personal evolution. This episode will reach you in the kishkas* carrying the listener as we move from tears to laughter, embracing the raw humanity of becoming yourself.
*Kishkas = Literally: intestines; Colloquially: In the guts/ where you deeply feel emotion
Episode 2 – Yes Way! explores the role of prison chaplaincy in cultivating a sense of belonging and Jewish connection among incarcerated people. This episode specifically follows Amy, the Jewish sponsor and chaplain at Monroe Correctional. We talk about what it felt like to first enter the space, how she cultivated a thoughtful community, and where the boundaries lay around Jewish identity.
This follows the stories of Ari and Josh, two men pursuing Jewish conversion while incarcerated. Despite facing obstacles and judgments, they find belonging and community within Judaism. The episode explores themes of identity, conversion, and belonging, shedding light on the challenges and joys of practicing Judaism behind bars. Through their journey, listeners witness the power of faith, resilience, and the pursuit of personal transformation. Join us on this heartfelt exploration of Judaism and the human spirit.
“This isn’t just a story of suffering. It’s a story of survival—and sacred persistence.”
Door to Door is a deeply personal, five-part podcast series tracing one Jewish family’s multigenerational pilgrimage from a once-lost home in Wachenbuchen, Germany, to the present-day echoes of inherited memory, trauma, and resilience.
Told through archival recordings, family reflections, and emotional returns to ancestral ground, this podcast chronicles the survival of Simon—a Holocaust survivor taken to Buchenwald Concentration Camp during Kristallnacht—and the generations that followed him. It's a story shaped by suffering, but defined by rebuilding, remembrance, and an enduring commitment to legacy.
From whispered memories to stumbling stones, from silence to storytelling, Door to Door invites listeners to witness what it means to reclaim identity from the wreckage—and to carry forward the names, the stories, and the truths nearly erased.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of inherited memory, or the pull to understand where you come from—
subscribe to Door to Door wherever you get your podcasts.
Let this be part of your story, too.
