David Schnurman, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur

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Ever think of packing up and leaving? Let’s face it, many of us have. With all the crazy happening in our country, from gun violence to a lack of affordable housing and healthcare, not to mention an education system that has been sub par, many have dreamed
of packing up the kids and getting out of dodge. And that’s just what our guest did.

Meet David Schnurman, successful entrepreneur and author, “Eleven Suitcases: How Moving Abroad Changed A Family Forever,” who says moving was the best thing he and his family ever did.

Overwhelmed by the grind of raising three young kids in NY, David, the founder and CEO of Lawline, and his wife, Kelli, made a decision in 2019 while sitting at their kitchen table to pack up and move to Barcelona. What followed was a life of unplanned adventure,
from treks in Morocco to mountain escapes in Spain. However, there were multiple challenges, like the lockdown, among others.  But what unfolded changed their family forever – in unexpected ways.

Now back in the States with his family and their eleven suitcases, David talks about their experiences and how it transformed them.

Please find my full interview with #DavidSchnurman on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here!

Mimi Nichter, Author, Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience

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Mimi Nichter was 20-years-old when she was on TWA flight 741 to JFK after spending her summer on a kibbutz in Israel. But her flight was hijacked and redirected to Jordan where passengers were held captive for six days in unimaginable conditions. Most were
sent home, but Mimi, falsely accused of being an Israeli soldier, was held hostage along with 31 others. This is Mimi’s story of survival and courage as she and the others hostages navigated the uncharted waters of how to stay alive and find their way home.

#Hostage recounts Mimi’s dramatic time as a hostage, her release, and the aftermath of when she returned home. She was never the same, plagued with terrifying memories and PTSD that has haunted her for much of her life. She backpacked across Africa and Asia
trying to release the trauma, but it was only buried deep inside of her until finally, she wrote about it. “Hostage” is her gift to herself and others facing unimaginable circumstances and coming out a survivor.

Please find my full conversation with #MimiNichter on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Dr. Abraham M. George, Author & Humanitarian

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“Mountains to Cross: Finding Life’s Purpose in Service” by best-selling author Dr. Abraham M. George is a true story about lifting people up and changing the direction of someone’s life.

After a successful career as an entrepreneur in the United States, Dr. George returned to his homeland in India and created opportunities for the most disadvantaged children, providing education, healthcare, and opportunities where there were none. He established
a rural hospital for 15 villages, helped to eliminate leaded gas in much of the region, and founded a school for socially and economically distressed kids, with many of them going on to have successful lives where they are now giving back.

Dr. George has written three books and is the recipient of numerous awards for Human Rights. He has dedicated his life to service, justice, and education, and lives by his mantra, “purpose over comfort.” We’ll talk about that, because he wants to inspire others
to step out of their comfort zone and do the same.

Please find my full conversation with Dr. George on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE.

I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Heavenly Hughes, My Tribe Rise: Helping Altadena Fire Victims

Deborah Kobylt Live

Nearly 9500 homes, businesses, churches, and schools burned in the Altadena fires last year, and many in the community are facing foreclosure on their homes because there’s been little movement to recover funds to rebuild. Rents are sky high for most, and they simply can’t make ends meet. Developers are swooping in to make low ball offers to homeowners, and many are forced to settle because it’s their only choice. Residents aren’t getting much help from local, county, or state government, either, and it’s time everyone steps up.

Meet Heavenly Hughes, longtime Altadena resident and founder of My Tribe Rise, a grass roots organization that provides funding and resources for members of the community in need of housing, work, and a place to turn during this critical time. The residents of Altadena say they’re trying to remain hopeful, but time is running out. They’ve asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to step in to ensure homeowners don’t foreclose, because people still have to pay their mortgage even though there’s no home, and they’re paying rent at the same time. It’s too much. Heavenly is working every angle to get people the help they need, and it’s been a challenge. So we’re talking with her about it on our show, and I hope you’ll join our conversation and do what you can, too.

You can find my full interview with Heavenly on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Randy Gardner, LETS TALK OLYMPICS & Go Figure: The Randy Gardner Story

Deborah Kobylt Live

The Olympics are here, and one of my all-time favorite sports to watch is figure skating!!! So today, I welcome a skating legend to our show, Randy Gardner, who won the 1979 World Figure Skating Championships along with his skating partner, Tai Babilonia. Tai and Randy also won five U.S. Figure Skating Championships from 1976-1980 and qualified for the Winter Olympics in 1976 and 1980, but what happened just before their skate was truly crushing.

This year, the Olympics has some of the most brilliant skaters on the U.S. team, from quad-God Ilia Malinin to Amber Glenn, recognized for landing the rare triple axel, and teammates Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito. We’ll ask Randy to break down what to look for and what we might expect. And of course there’s the other winter sports to look forward to as well, from skiing to bobsledding. I also want to know what it feels like to walk into the arena with the possibility of bringing home the Gold. It must be amazing.

We’ve had Randy on our show previously to discuss his incredible documentary, Go Figure, The Randy Gardner Story, which is a jaw-dropping string of events starting with his conception. Let’s just say at multiple times during the documentary, I had to stop and say, “did that just happen??” So we’ll talk about that, too. And I’d like to add, despite more than a few bumps in the road, or in his case, cracks in the ice, Randy has remained positive throughout.