Jill sits with Mary Eckstein, a Holocaust survivor who has lived through war, displacement, the loss of nearly her entire family, the death of her husband after 63 years of marriage, and the loss of her son. Mary speaks plainly about fear, hunger, survival, grief, and what it has meant to keep going without turning away from life.

This is not a conversation about inspiration or silver linings. It is a quiet, honest reflection on resilience as something practical and lived. Mary shares what it was like to be eight years old during the Holocaust, how she rebuilt a life from nothing, why she chose to keep working after loss, and how focusing on the good moments helped her move forward without denying the pain.

They talk about memory, responsibility, grief, aging, and the choice to stay present even when days are hard. A steady, thoughtful conversation about what it means to live fully, one day at a time, after experiencing unimaginable loss.

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad

Jill sits down with longtime friend Laura Reiss to talk about what it looks like to stay human in a world that feels intense and noisy. They share the real story of Kindness Matters Foundation, from an after-school club to something that’s growing into a wider movement, and why people are reaching for kindness and community right now.

They keep coming back to the present moment and the nervous system: noticing when you’re not regulated, having tools that actually work, and practicing them before life gets messy. Laura opens up about grief, purpose, and her upcoming TEDx talk, including how dyslexia became a superpower instead of a secret. The conversation lands on service, responsibility, and that simple truth about being shown the light if you look at it right.

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad

Jill Bershad sits down with John Puls, a longtime clinician in the mental health and substance use field who also carries his own lived experience of addiction and long-term sobriety. John shares what it looked like when things were spiraling early on, what finally helped him stay sober, and why he believes community and purpose matter as much as any program.

They also get real about the tricky line between staying busy and avoiding feelings. Jill reflects on grief, work, and what it means to listen to your body when you need rest, while still honoring your need for connection and forward momentum. John talks about how he’s built a life that fits his wiring through private practice, crisis work, teaching social work students, and forensic cases, all while staying grounded in what keeps him well.

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad

In this powerful and deeply grounding conversation, host Jill Bershad sits down with divorce coach, speaker, and author Jennifer Warren Medwin to explore how resilience is built one intentional choice at a time. Jennifer shares the philosophy behind her work and her lived experience of navigating divorce, grief, and major life transitions by learning to stay rooted in the present moment.

Together, they unpack how language shapes our energy, why small brave steps matter more than perfection, and how awareness of our inner dialogue can completely change the way we move through pain, fear, and uncertainty. Jennifer introduces practical tools including the GLAD technique, the “and mindset”, and the concept of brave bites forward to help listeners reconnect with their power and create momentum even when life feels overwhelming.

This episode is a compassionate reminder that growth is not linear, emotions can coexist, and you are always at a choice point. Whether you are navigating divorce, loss, career uncertainty, or simply feeling stuck, this conversation offers tangible strategies to help you listen to your inner whispers, speak your truth, and move forward with courage.

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad

In this powerful episode of The Present Moment Project, Jill Bershad sits down with her friend Brianna Greenspan, an author, speaker, and wellness pioneer who has transformed a lifetime of complex chronic illness into a mission of healing and hope.

Brianna shares what it was like growing up with confusing and painful symptoms, bullying, learning challenges, and feeling like everything was wrong with her. She opens up about a pivotal moment when she questioned whether she even wanted to keep living, and how one life changing question shifted everything

“Is there anything else out there that can help me with the way that I am suffering and if so where can I find it”

From that moment of curiosity, Brianna began exploring neuroscience based tools, mindset work, and self supportive practices that helped her walk again, release limiting beliefs, and build what she calls her resilience toolbox.

Together, Jill and Brianna talk about:

• The Book of Questions Living With Chronic Illness and how self reflective questions can change the trajectory of a day
• The core question Brianna asks herself in every hard moment
  “Despite how I am feeling in this exact moment what can I do to best support myself starting now”
• Moving from shame and hiding symptoms to self advocacy and self compassion
• Why many people with chronic illness feel like a burden and how to practice asking for and receiving help
• The spoon theory and how to protect and manage limited energy
• How small daily choices water, clothing, rest, tiny check ins can prevent symptoms from becoming “the whole day”
• Gratitude in the hardest moments and learning to see symptoms as teachers rather than punishments
• How Brianna now coaches schools and the education system on wellbeing and resilience for children and teens

This conversation is a deeply honest look at invisible illness, anxiety, grief, and the very real work of choosing empowerment over victimhood. If you live with chronic illness or love someone who does, this episode will help you feel less alone, more resourced, and more hopeful about what is possible in your present moment.

You can find The Book of Questions Living With Chronic Illness on Amazon and https://thebookofquestions.com/ for bulk and support group use, along with Brianna’s other resilience focused books for kids and teens.

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad

In this powerful episode of The Present Moment Project, host Jill Bershad sits down with her dear friend and psychotherapist Tricia Youngs to explore her book Rescued Hope for the Shattered Heart and Soul. Tricia shares her journey from childhood sexual abuse, spiritual wounding, and growing up in an alcoholic home to becoming a therapist, author, and healer of hearts.

Jill and Tricia talk honestly about trauma, generational patterns, and what it really takes to move from barely surviving to truly thriving. They discuss how flashbacks work in the brain and body, why understanding the science of trauma is so validating, and how tools like EMDR, brainspotting, somatic work, and a strong support circle can help people reclaim their lives.

You will hear why healthy boundaries are the cornerstone of mental health, how to release shame that was never yours to carry, and why living in the present moment is essential for resilience after loss and grief. Tricia also shares details about her free downloadable trauma healing workbook and how she uses every part of her story to be of service to others.

If you have lived through trauma, love someone who has, or are simply seeking a deeper, more authentic relationship with yourself and with life, this conversation will offer hope, clarity, and courage.

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad

In this heartfelt first episode of The Present Moment Project, host Jill Bershad sits down with her dear friend and fellow therapist Eric Bricker to explore the profound connections between grief, transformation, and legacy. Together, they revisit the origins of this podcast—an idea born from Jill’s late husband, Adam—and reflect on how honoring his vision became a living act of healing.

Eric opens up about his own experiences with loss, complex trauma, and the evolving definition of grief, shedding light on the concept of prolonged grief disorder and what it means to move from suffering to integration. With honesty, humor, and insight, Jill and Eric also discuss resilience, the power of reframing victimhood into personal strength, and the importance of living with integrity.

This episode is more than a conversation—it’s a full-circle moment of love, legacy, and hope.

Contact Eric Bricker: ericbrickerlmhc.com

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad

In this deeply personal and heartfelt first episode of The Present Moment Project, host Jill Bershad opens up about her journey from unimaginable loss to healing. After losing her husband Adam to suicide, Jill chooses to honor his legacy by continuing the podcast he began—carrying forward his vision of helping others live fully in the now. With honesty, vulnerability, and grace, she shares what it means to find light after darkness, to rediscover joy through grief, and to hold space for both pain and presence. This episode is a tribute to love, resilience, and the healing power of living each moment as a gift.

Contact Jill K. Bershad, LMHC, CAP

• Email: jill@jillbershad.com
• Website: jillbershad.com
• Instagram: @jillkbershad.lmhc
• Facebook: jillkbershad