The Dr. Rod Berger Channel - Stories That Meet The Moment

HeadRoom, hosted by Dr. Rod Berger.Barbra Banner spent 14 years on a women's crisis hotline and a decade or more in a hospital ER. Then she joined the Los Angeles Crisis Response Team, the people police call to a scene when a family arrives and someone they love is already gone. She was good at it. If she needed to cry, she waited for the drive home.This is HeadRoom, where we uncover the why behind the what and who impacting our lives. Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Barbra Banner, a psychic and evidential...

The Dr. Rod Berger Show is presented by Fair Observer.Before every run into the badlands of south-central Iraq, David Holdridge sat in the back of a beat-up car and rehearsed his own execution.Dr. Rod Berger sits down with David Holdridge for a second conversation, more than two years after their first. Holdridge led an infantry platoon outside Chu Lai in 1969 and came home wounded. He spent 18 months in hospitals and neuropsychiatric wards until a Hartford neurosurgeon found the nerve behind his causalgia and cut it. Then came 40 years of humanitarian work among people...

The Dr. Rod Berger Show is presented by Fair Observer.The first face-to-face meeting between Israeli and Syrian negotiators in Madrid was set for 10:30 in the morning. By Josef Olmert's account, the Syrians showed up at 10:30 at night.Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Josef Olmert, Middle East scholar, former Israeli government spokesman and member of Israel's delegation for talks with Syria. Olmert's family story runs through Russia, China, Israel and the United States. His father's family fled revolutionary Russia for Harbin, in Manchuria, where his parents, both Zionists, lived before leaving for Mandate Palestine...

The Dr. Rod Berger Show is presented by Fair Observer.At five or six, Jean-Daniel Ruch asked his mother what comes after death. She told him there is nothing, and he spent the next two decades looking for a better answer.Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Jean-Daniel Ruch, former Swiss ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, Israel and Turkey, and author of Crimes, Hate and Tremors. He grew up in the Bernese Jura during the fight over Moutier's future, a fight he remembers in tear gas, broken windows and posters that read "Moutier equals Belfast."...

Episode Title: Live from CultureCon: Build a Human Business with Glenn BostockEpisode Description:Some of the best leaders aren’t shaped by fitting in. They’re shaped by remembering exactly what it felt like not to.Live from CultureCon 2026, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Glenn Bostock, founder and CEO of SnapCab and author of “A Human Business: The People First Model for Lasting Success”. Glenn shares how struggling in school, finding confidence through craftsmanship, and learning to work with his hands ultimately influenced the culture he built as a CEO. Today, that cul...

Dr. Rod Berger talks with Dr. Stephen Zunes on activism, civil resistance, and Western Sahara storylines. This conversation explores how Dr. Stephen Zunes’ upbringing in a Christian pacifist, politically engaged household shaped his lifelong focus on human rights, international law, and nonviolent resistance. Host Dr. Rod Berger, editor at large at Fair Observer, and Zunes also discuss Western Sahara, Israel-Palestine, democracy, polarization, and why Zunes still believes large-scale civic action can change history.GuestDr. Stephen Zunes — Professor of politics and director of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of San Francisco, speaking about his backg...

Sometimes the most important leadership shift starts with changing the song in your own head. Live from CultureCon 2026, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, USA Today bestselling author of “Be Yourself at Work”, and a pioneer of people-first leadership. Claude shares how a 93-day Outward Bound experience helped her find her voice, challenge the limiting beliefs she carried for years, and ultimately recognize the kind of leader she was meant to become. From building a culture rooted in empathy to taking accountability for how we show up, Claude expl...

Show Notes In this episode of the Dr. Rod Berger Show, presented by Fair Observer, Rod sits down with sociocultural anthropologist Professor John Friedman to discuss his sudden dismissal from a university position, the broader crisis facing higher education, and why the humanities still matter more than ever. John shares the story of being let go during a shocking campus purge, what it felt like to lose a long-built academic home, and why he refused to return to the same classroom without first acknowledging the harm done. From there, the conversation expands into a wider examination of...

The Dr. Rod Berger Show is presented by Fair Observer. Understanding one's family history can provide deep insights into personal identity. The impact of historical events on family dynamics is profound. Symbolic objects, like watches, can carry significant emotional weight across generations. The stories of those who lived through wartime are invaluable and unique. Generational trauma can shape perspectives and experiences in profound ways. The importance of storytelling in preserving family legacies. Modern society often lacks the context of historical struggles. Rapid news cycles can hinder our ability to process information meaningfully. Personal connections to history can...

Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Sebastian Schäffer, who wrote a book with his mentor arguing that the Balkans belong in Europe. Not eventually. Immediately. The mentor, former Austrian Vice-Chancellor Erhard Busek, died in March 2022, weeks after Russian tanks crossed into Ukraine and the argument the two of them had spent years making became the most urgent question on the continent. Schäffer is still making it. Born in Munich, he gave his career to somebody else's neighborhood. He directs the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe in Vienna, a think tank founded in 1953 an...

Something feels off in 2026, and you already know it. Maybe you can't name it precisely, but there's a tilt to the world right now, a sense that the ground beneath familiar systems is shifting in ways that resist easy explanation. If you've caught yourself staring at headlines with a mix of dread and curiosity, wondering whether this stretch of uncertainty is just noise or something more structural, this conversation is for you. I sat down with Natasha Weber, the award-winning Australian astrologer known as Astro Tash, to explore a question that's been circling my mind for months...

In this episode, we explore how mental health, purpose, and human connection are evolving amid rapid technological and societal shifts. Jarrod Hoffman, a Memphis-based licensed professional counselor, shares insights into working with teens and families facing uncertainty, especially in the age of AI and a changing educational landscape. Key Topics Covered: The role of purpose and stability in mental health during unpredictable times The impact of AI on relationships, therapy, and youth development The metaphor of uphill and downhill riding as a reflection of life's challenges How connection, not...

Navigating Voice, Trust, and Advocacy in a Divided World In this episode, Rod Berger sits down with Jim and Tiffany Drastic—creators of The Dangerous Ones & Eleven Films—to explore the journey of finding and using their voices amid societal chaos, personal trauma, and the ongoing fight for justice. Discover how authenticity, modulation, and community-building shape their impactful work. Key topics: The role of trauma in developing a resilient voice for activism The importance of humility and admitting errors in public discourse Strategies for modulating emotional responses to sustained activism How comedy and brevity enha...

"From the Classroom to the C-Suite: Greta Jackson on Culture, Storytelling, and the Human Hum of Organizations" In this episode of the CultureCon Catalyst podcast, Dr. Rod Berger sits down with Greta Jackson, Employee Engagement and Culture Enrichment Director at Tegria, and a CultureCon Culture Catalyst. Greta's journey — from third-grade dreamer to middle school English teacher, high school AP Lit instructor, principal, recruiter, and now culture strategist — is a masterclass in following your instincts and letting storytelling lead the way. What we cover: The origin story: How Greta fought her calling to teach, found her...

The Power of Storytelling in Leadership: Insights from Dr. Marcus Conyers Discover how storytelling shapes leadership and innovation. Learn key insights from Dr. Marcus Conyers, founder of BrainSmart, on enhancing organizational effectiveness. In today’s fast-paced world, understanding the power of storytelling in leadership is crucial. How can narratives shape our leadership styles and foster innovation within organizations? In this blog post, we’ll dive into the insights shared by Dr. Marcus Conyers during his conversation with Dr. Rod Berger on "The Narrative Edge." You’ll discover how to leverage storytelling to create impactful connections and dr...

A powerful conversation with the incomparable Tom Junod brought to you by Dr. Rod Berger. In the world of memoir writing, the question of identity often looms large. How we define ourselves, the names we carry, and the stories we tell shape our experiences and the narratives we create. In this post, we dive into the profound discussions that emerged from my recent conversation with Tom Junod, a celebrated writer whose memoir, *In the Days of My Youth, I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man', uncovers the complexities of identity through the lens of...

Building a Thriving Workplace Culture: Insights from Todd Wuestenberg Learn how to cultivate a vibrant workplace culture from Todd Wuestenberg, Chief Culture Officer at Haverkamp Group. Discover strategies for fostering connection and development in organizations. Creating a thriving workplace culture is essential for any organization aiming for long-term success. In this blog post, we delve into insights shared by Todd Wuestenberg, Chief Culture Officer at Haverkamp Group, who believes that culture is not just a side project but a crucial component of any successful business strategy. Understanding Culture: The Kitchen Table Perspective <...

There's a moment Jhamal Robinson describes that stopped me in my tracks. He's on a global town hall panel at Warner Bros. Discovery, thousands of employees watching on Zoom, and someone asks him point blank: Do you feel like you have to tailor yourself when you walk into a room? His answer comes immediately. Yes. He code-switches. He adjusts. He becomes a version of himself calibrated to make others comfortable. And then, almost in the same breath, he adds the part that carries the real weight: But not when he walks into the Oprah Winfrey Network room. Not there...

Embracing Uncertainty: How to Navigate Life and Work in a Changing World Discover strategies for thriving amidst uncertainty. Learn from Matthew Caldwell's journey in HR and personal growth, and find your path to resilience. In today’s fast-paced world, many of us grapple with uncertainty—both in our personal lives and within our careers. How can we embrace this uncertainty and transform it into opportunity? In this blog post, we will explore insights from Matthew Caldwell, an organizational development director who shares his journey through personal and professional challenges. From his humble beginnings in a groc...

How to Harness the Power of Storytelling in Your Life: Insights from Dr. Darin Eich, a CultureCon Catalyst Learn how to leverage storytelling for personal growth and connection. Dr. Darin shares insights that resonate with anyone looking to enhance their narrative skills. Storytelling is not just for authors or filmmakers; it’s a powerful tool that can enhance your life and career. I sat down with Dr. Darin, a renowned expert in innovation and storytelling, to explore how we can all harness the power of narrative to foster connection and personal growth. About Dr...