In this conversation, Amanda Hirsch brings together two longtime kindred spirits who’d never met: Mirit Cohen and Sara Fenske Bahat. What begins with hilarious, deeply human stories of how they each met their life partners unfolds into a deeper exploration of connection—how we create it, why we need it, and what it looks like across our personal and civic lives. Mirit shares how her journey from social psychology to food and event design has shaped her work in designing for connection, while Sara reflects on her career in civic life and her vision of an America where we bowl together instead of bowling alone. Together, they reveal how humor, intentionality, and humanity fuel lives of service and possibility. This is a conversation for anyone who believes in the power of community, storytelling, and showing up for the world—even (and especially) when it feels daunting.

Topics Discussed:

• What it means to design for connection in work and life (Mirit’s story)
• Why food is inseparable from human connection
• Sara’s work reimagining civic life and her framework of bowling together
• The decline of traditional social institutions and what comes next
• The role of humor, laughter, and possibility in sustaining hope
• Jewish wisdom on carrying the world’s grief without turning away
• Choosing humanity and presence through daily practices like watching the sunrise
• Shared reflections on family, creativity, and storytelling

Resources:

• Mighty Forces
• Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn
• Follow Amanda on Instagram

Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

In the very first episode of Mighty Forces, I sit down with two of my closest friends, Dr. Neda Frayha and Mollie Erickson. We talk about decades-long friendship, memory, anthropology, wellness, apricot jam, and what it really means to give a damn.

Topics:

• How friendship can sustain itself across decades and distance
• The quirks of memory — from motherhood brain to COVID brain
• Motivations, enneagrams, and why we all see the world through different lenses
• Bringing wellness to unexpected places: from nonprofits to hospitals
• The anthropology roots that still shape our work and purpose today
• Ritual, connection, and why beverages matter more than you think
• Parenting teens, protecting kids’ connection to self, and resisting “shoulds”
• Quiet vs. loud ways of giving a damn in the world

Resources:

• Mighty Forces
• Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn
• Follow Amanda on Instagram

Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.

Mighty Forces is the podcast for people who give a damn — about other people, about the state of our world, and about prying this one wild and precious life from the jaws of fascism, white supremacy, and automated customer service menus. We're launching this fall, be sure to subscribe today and share the podcast with other people who you know give a damn.

Resources:

• Mighty Forces
• Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn
• Follow Amanda on Instagram

Mighty Forces is produced by Amanda Hirsch and Heart Centered Podcasting. The music of Mighty Forces was written and performed by Jordan Hirsch, aka my wonderful husband.