Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer

Today, Yosef Waslow is a Chassidish husband and father, but his story is far deeper than becoming frum. Raised by a white Jewish mother and a black Baptist father, Yosef battled with alcoholism, fitting in, searching for identity, and eventually found his way to Torah and family. Yet this conversation isn't really about addiction, race, or even becoming a baal teshuva.
✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬
► Colel Chabad: Help Families in Israel
Make daily tzedakah part of your routine with the Colel Chabad Pushka App.Yaakov here. It's of my favorite orgs. Really.
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Reach out to Sol from Wheels To Lease for honest pricing and a stress-free leasing experience.
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→ WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce
► OU Women's Initiative: Torat Imecha Nach Yomi
Join thousands of women learning one perek of Nach each day.
LEARN MORE
→ https://go.ou.org/znSkk
► Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation: Hidden
Experience this year's Worldwide Tisha B'Av Event from the original filmmakers behind the annual Tisha B'Av productions.
10% OFF with code INSPIRE10
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→ https://tishabav.global
✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬
This episode is in memory of:
• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima
• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe
• Shaindel bas Chaim Yehuda Leib
✬ LIVING LCHAIM TISHA B'AV FILM ✬
We've officially wrapped filming on Living Lchaim's biggest Tisha B'Av project yet.
Subscribers will be able to watch the full hour-long film for FREE on our website and YouTube channel this Tisha B'Av.
Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss it.
#iftn
Lchaim.

On a night Leah thought would be her last, one phone call changed everything.
In this emotional episode, Leah and Yosef Bercovice share the story of the shidduch that began in the darkest moment of Leah’s life and became the beginning of a marriage, a home, and a future filled with hope. Together, they speak openly about mental health, depression, faith, listening, healing, and the small acts of kindness that can change someone’s entire life.
Trigger warning: This episode includes conversations about mental health, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Please watch with care.
✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬
► Colel Chabad: Help Families in Israel
Make daily tzedakah part of your routine with the Colel Chabad Pushka App.
DOWNLOAD THE APP & HELP HERE
→ https://pushkapp.cc/inspo
► BF Design: Designed for Reality
From shuls and schools to homes, wedding halls, office buildings, grocery stores, and community spaces, BF Design has spent over 20 years helping the frum community build projects that actually work.
SEE HERE
→ https://bfdesign.com
► Keeping It Kosher Podcast: Go Behind the Scenes of Kosher
A fascinating OU Kosher podcast exploring the foods we eat every day, from gebrokts and fish to cheese, wine, and more.
LISTEN HERE
→ https://go.ou.org/uxr6s

► ChesedChicago Tesla Raffle: Win a Tesla or $50,000 Cash
Enter for your chance to win the Tesla of your choice, a premium EV, or $50,000 cash.
USE CODE: Lchaim
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► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car Company
Reach out to Sol from Wheels To Lease for honest pricing and a stress-free leasing experience.
→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715
→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com
→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU
→ WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce
► Feldheim: Books for the Three Weeks & Kids
Get these amazing books on sale now!
The Churban
→ https://feldheim.com/the-churban
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Tovi Baron's Kid Series (Just $10 a Book!)
→ https://feldheim.com/author/baron-tovi.html 
Comment your favorite Feldheim kids book growing up for a chance to win this month’s giveaway.
✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬
This episode is in memory of:
• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima
• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe
• Shaindel bas Chaim Yehuda Leib
✬ LIVING LCHAIM TISHA B’AV FILM ✬
Living Lchaim’s biggest project yet is coming this Tisha B’Av.
After more than 30 hours of filming and production, this year’s film will be available for FREE on our website and YouTube channel. Make sure to subscribe!
Lchaim.
#iftn

As antisemitism continues to rise around the world, many parents are asking how to help their children navigate an increasingly complex reality. In this conversation, Rabbi Doron Birnbaum shares personal experiences, practical parenting advice, and insights from years of working with students and families. He explores how social media algorithms shape young minds, why open conversations matter, and how parents can respond with compassion instead of fear. The discussion also examines the challenges facing Jewish communities, the importance of modeling pride in one's identity, and why education is essential in combating misinformation. Rather than leaving viewers discouraged, the episode offers a hopeful message of resilience, faith, and responsibility, encouraging families to remain confident in their values and to be a source of light even during difficult times.

✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬

► Colel Chabad: Help Families in Israel

For more than 230 years, Colel Chabad has helped families facing financial hardship put food on the table with dignity and care.

DOWNLOAD THE APP & HELP HERE
→ https://pushkapp.cc/inspo

► 12 Stones: Live The Best Life in Israel

In the heart of the Jerusalem Hills, merely a whisper away from the capital, nestled amidst the lush tapestry of nature and bordering a private reserve in Givat Ze'ev, a unique vision gracefully comes to life.

SEE HERE
→ https://12-stones.co.il/landing/?utm_source=livinglchaim

► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car Company

For over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery.

→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715
→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com
→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU

► BitBean: Smart Custom Software Built for You

Yaakov here. Just make the call. They can help you.

Reach Out Here
→ https://bitbean.link/MeEBlY

✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬

This episode is in memory of:
• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe
• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima
• Shaindel bas Chaim Yehuda Leib
✬ Bridging The Gap: The Parening Principles ✬
You’ve seen the podcast, now it’s time to turn that into tangible change.

Principles to learn at your luxury for a lifetime and implement them in your own lives as you see fit. Get Rabbi Doron Birnbaum's experience working with teenagers, parents and families all into one 6 part course.
→ https://bridgingthegapcourses.thinkific.com

Lchaim.

#iftn

Elianna Oken grew up celebrating Shabbat, attending Hebrew school, and proudly identifying as Jewish. Then a simple question from her sister changed everything. This episode follows her remarkable journey through an Orthodox conversion, navigating questions of halachic status, Jewish identity, community, and faith while discovering a deeper connection to Judaism than she ever imagined.

Follow Elianna here
IG: https://www.instagram.com/eliannakataev/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eliannakataev

✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬

► Colel Chabad: Help Families in Israel

For more than 230 years, Colel Chabad has helped families facing financial hardship put food on the table with dignity and care.

DOWNLOAD THE APP & HELP HERE
→ https://pushkapp.cc/inspo

► Shagririm Balev: Help Build Jewish Homes

Shagririm Balev empowers friends to help friends find meaningful shidduchim through trusted personal connections. More than 1,000 couples have already gotten married through the platform.

LEARN MORE
→ https://go.ou.org/peykx

► Simchonim: Personalized Judaica for Every Simcha

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→ https://simchonim.com

Whatsapp
→ https://wa.link/2d1tfs

► BF Design: Architecture That Gets Built

From homes and schools to shuls, commercial buildings, and large scale developments, BF Design has spent more than 20 years helping clients turn great ideas into successful projects.

LEARN MORE
→ https://bfdesign.com

► Wheels To Lease: Stress-Free Car Buying

For over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has helped customers find great deals on vehicles without the stress and uncertainty of the traditional dealership experience.

→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715
→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com
→ WEB: https://wheelstolease.com/inspire

✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬

This episode is in memory of:
• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima
• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe

#iftn Lchaim.

The topics discussed in this episode include antisemitism, extremism, hate movements, and personal transformation. Viewer discretion is advised.

How does someone go from becoming one of the internet's most notorious antisemites to sitting down in Lakewood for a respectful conversation with Orthodox Jews?

In this fascinating and often uncomfortable conversation, Lucas Gage joins Yaakov Langer and Jake Turx to share the story behind his dramatic transformation. After spending more than a decade immersed in online extremism, conspiracy theories, and antisemitic rhetoric, Lucas explains what caused him to question everything he believed and begin a journey few people thought was possible.

From radicalization and internet culture to accountability, personal growth, faith, and teshuva, Lucas opens up about the decisions, experiences, and conversations that changed the course of his life. He discusses the dangers of echo chambers, the power of honest dialogue, and why changing your mind can be one of the hardest things a person ever does.

What causes someone to embrace hatred in the first place? Can people truly change? How do you rebuild trust after years of promoting harmful ideas? And what happens when the people who once supported you become your biggest critics?

Whether you agree with Lucas or not, this conversation explores redemption, self-reflection, personal responsibility, and the courage it takes to confront uncomfortable truths. It is an honest discussion about antisemitism, extremism, identity, forgiveness, dialogue, and the possibility of change.

Lucas Gage's Links
Web: https://lucasgage.com/
X: https://x.com/lucasgagex
Substack: https://lucasgage.pub

Jake Turx's Link
X: https://x.com/JakeTurx

✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬

► Colel Chabad: Help Families in Eretz Yisrael

For more than 230 years, Colel Chabad has helped families facing financial hardship put food on the table with dignity and care.

DOWNLOAD the APP & HELP HERE
→ https://pushkapp.cc/inspo

► BitBean: Smart Custom Software Built for You

BitBean helps businesses eliminate inefficiencies by building custom software solutions designed specifically around how their organizations operate.

LEARN MORE
→ https://bitbean.com

► Wheels To Lease: Stress-Free Car Buying

For over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has helped customers find great deals on vehicles without the stress and uncertainty of the traditional dealership experience.

→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715
→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com
→ WEB: https://wheelstolease.com/inspire

► Hiring4Less: Build Your Team for Less

Hiring4Less connects businesses with talented full-time professionals from around the world, helping companies scale while dramatically reducing staffing costs.

LEARN MORE
→ https://hiring4less.com

✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬

This episode is in memory of:
• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima
• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe

Lchaim.

#iftn