In this episode...
Karen sits down with Laur Plawker for an emotional discussion about Jewish mental health, intergenerational trauma, and the beauty of finding an unexpected sense of home in Israel. Laur is a mental health professional whose own struggles with anxiety, eating disorders, and more brought her closer to her heritage after a secular upbringing – and her moving story of finding faith in recovery is a must-listen.
You’ll find out:
- How a 12-step program brought Laur closer to Judaism
- The role of resilience in mental health
- How being the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor has impacted her life – and spurred an interest in epigenetics
- All about Laur’s incredibly moving first-ever trip to Israel earlier this year
- How Laur went from rejecting the idea of Israel as the Jewish homeland to identifying as a Zionist
- The importance of always staying true to your core self
- What it means to Laur to be a Jewish woman
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Episode Guests...
Laur Plawker
Laur Plawker is a third-generation Holocaust survivor who works as a mental health and suicide prevention advisor to high schools across the United States. Laur holds degrees in neuropsychology and education, both of which inform her role as co-host of the Jewish mental health podcast, "Kvetching on the Couch," available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the Call-in app. Her professional background is in special education and equity work, and her personal background includes Jewish storytelling, fighting antisemitism, advocating for fat and body liberation, and eating disorder and addiction recovery through the lens of her personal experience.
