In this special episode of If You Heard What I Heard, Carolyn Siegel sits down with Emily Kane Miller and her beloved Bubby, Holocaust survivor Yetta Kane, for a powerful conversation about survival, family, and the legacy of love and resilience. Yetta shares vivid memories of surviving the Holocaust—living hour to hour in the forests with the partisans—and the miracle of building a beautiful life in America after the war.

Emily reflects on what it means to carry her grandparents’ stories forward, and how becoming a mother deepened her understanding of their experiences. Together, they explore the importance of sharing these histories in a time of rising antisemitism, the strength they draw from Israel’s existence, and the responsibility to keep memory alive across generations. Through laughter, tears, and even treasured family recipes, this episode is a moving tribute to endurance, hope, and the unbreakable Jewish spirit.

Emily shares the story of her Grandmother, Yetta Kane. who survived the Holocaust by escaping to the forest with her family and joining a group of partisans here.

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Emily shares the story of her Grandmother, Yetta Kane, who survived the Holocaust by escaping to the forest with her family and joining a group of partisans after the Jews in her town of Miadzol, Poland were massacred by the Nazis. They survived harsh conditions from the elements, lack of food, and narrowly escaped discovery by Nazi soldiers before finally immigrating together to the U.S. where they settled and rebuilt their lives.

If you heard what Emily heard, you would never forget.

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A glossary is available for any terms mentioned in this episode that may require further context.

If you're interested in sponsoring an episode, please email us at info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com

Please visit www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com to watch more stories and support.

Shelley Silver, founder and CEO of Autumn Communications and mother of two, shares the extraordinary legacy of her grandmother Dora, a Holocaust survivor whose courage and tenacity shaped Shelley’s values and fire. Dora’s miraculous survival—scaling fences under Nazi gunfire and outwitting guards with grit and ingenuity—laid the foundation for Shelley’s fierce resilience, outspoken leadership, and deep commitment to Jewish identity.

In this emotional and unfiltered conversation, Shelley reflects on the aftermath of October 7th, the generational trauma that resurfaced, and her own stunned paralysis as the world’s response unfolded. What followed was a total shift: from quiet grief to unapologetic advocacy. Whether through raising her daughters with strong Jewish pride, supporting IDF soldiers with her husband’s hands-on volunteering, or cutting ties with longtime friends over moral lines, Shelley refuses to stay silent.

She shares how her grandmother’s strength lives in every action she takes—from standing up to antisemitism on college campuses to boldly wearing her Jewish star at trade shows. Shelley’s voice is one of love, anger, clarity, and action—pushing back against silence and calling others to speak up, show up, and never forget.

This conversation is a raw testament to inherited strength, the fight for visibility, and the unshakable power of Jewish joy in the face of rising hate. Shelley’s story is not only one of survival—but of defiance, remembrance, and enduring pride.

Support the show

A glossary is available for any terms mentioned in this episode that may require further context.

If you're interested in sponsoring an episode, please email us at info@ifyouheardwhatiheard.com

Please visit www.ifyouheardwhatiheard.com to watch more stories and support.