Confessions of Two Reformed Friariyot

This week, Ariel and May sit down with Stacie Stufflebeam, Executive Director of the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation, for a conversation about service, sacrifice, and the people who support soldiers behind the scenes.

As both a lone soldier mother and a leader within one of the organizations making the greatest impact for lone soldiers, Stacie shares her unique perspective on what it was like watching her Lone Soldier sons serve, the challenges and emotions that come with supporting lone soldiers, and how those experiences eventually led her to a career helping thousands of soldiers far from home.

From personal stories and difficult moments to the importance of community, resilience, and finding purpose, this episode offers a side of the lone soldier experience that isn’t often discussed—the families, parents, and support systems standing behind the uniform.

https://michaellevinlonesoldier.org/ 

In this episode, we sit down with Cid Carver, an Olah Hadasha that first came to this country with only a backpack. We talk about settling in Israel, the experiences that shaped her along the way, and how her Ironman journey became a space for growth rather than pressure. The conversation goes deep into starting over as an adult, staying motivated without burning out, and learning to be kinder to yourself while chasing big goals.
It’s an honest discussion about resilience, women empowerment, and trusting that small, consistent steps can lead to something much bigger.

In this episode, we’re joined by Ron, a Modern Orthodox Jew who moved to Israel from Switzerland. Ron shares how the spectrum of Judaism is much wider here than it often feels when living abroad, and how encountering Israel’s diverse Jewish landscape has shaped the way he navigates daily life.
He also talks about building a life in Israel beyond religion, including his decision to open and invest in his production business, Ron Karger Production, and what it’s like to balance work, identity, and everyday realities.

In this episode, we sit down with Potter, a Christian who moved to Israel during the war, to talk about what it means to build a life here as a minority. Potter shares why he chose to come, the decision to stay, and how his faith and identity shape his experience of living in Israel as an adult.
It’s an honest conversation about belonging, resilience, and navigating everyday life in a country made up of many identities, with plenty of humor and unexpected funny moments along the way.

Be honest, are you healing, or just watching reels about healing?

In this episode, we dive into the fine line between real growth and over-consuming self-help content. We talk about why healing content feels so good, when it actually helps, and when it quietly replaces real action.

Also, we fully spiral trying to remember the word for being both an introvert and an extrovert (yes, it exists, no, we did not remember it in real time).

After a hiatus from the game, we decided it was time to step back into the world of basketball, and we couldn’t think of a better person to do it with.

Nitzan Aaron, co-host of the Baseline podcast, joins us to break down everything you need to know about basketball in Israel. Along the way, he opens up about life as a lone soldier, some wild reserve stories, what life looks like now, and yes, even his biggest friar moment.

We grew up thinking our 20s would be the era of “having it all figured out”: confidence, careers, relationships, life as a whole… turns out, not exactly 😅

In this episode, we talk honestly about the things we really thought would be easier by now, and the moments that caught us being a little friariyot along the way. We dive into friendships, careers, self-confidence, and those quiet moments where you realize you’re still figuring it all out.

If you’ve ever thought, “Wait… how did I end up here?” then this one’s for you

We didn’t expect nutrition to be one of the hardest parts of life after the army, especially after moving to Israel.

In this episode, we talk about superfoods, rebuilding our bodies as women after years of imbalance, and how food slowly became part of reorganising our lives, with more intention.
From missing minerals to relearning how to take care of ourselves, this conversation is about healing, balance, and choosing to start again, one meal at a time.

Hustle culture is one of the most talked-about trends today especially for women. In this episode we explore what it really means to always be busy and why we often feel both pressure to hustle and guilt for owning our ambition.

We talk about burnout balance and how to practice gratitude for what we already have without giving up on what we want next.
This conversation is about choosing kindness toward ourselves while still honoring our drive and confidence.

Because you can slow down stay grateful and still fully own your bad bitch self.

Join us as we welcome our first guests of the season – Moriyah Azulay and Ziv Yaar – the inspiring founders behind the NGO Lone Front.
Recognizing the need for women lone soldiers to be seen and heard, whether currently serving, in reserves, or navigating life after service, they set out to create a space for support, belonging, and empowerment.

Lone Front is a non-profit dedicated to amplifying the voices of female lone combat soldiers and those in meaningful service, providing both financial assistance and community connection.

Tune in to hear how this meaningful initiative came to life and where it’s headed next.