Episode Description
Join host Rob Herman as he speaks with Jackie Congedo, CEO of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center, about her inspiring journey from broadcast journalism to nonprofit leadership. Congedo shares insights on building bridges between communities, the unique approach of the Holocaust & Humanity Center, and how the lessons of this difficult history can inspire action in today’s world. Learn how her background in storytelling and community relations has shaped her mission to promote “upstanding” behavior in an increasingly divided society.
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Episode Summary
The episode begins with Congedo’s early career in broadcast journalism, starting in Washington DC at age 21 before moving to Lexington, Kentucky to develop her reporting skills. She discusses the challenges of building confidence as a young reporter in demanding environments and the valuable experiences that shaped her professional development. Congedo then reflects on her Jewish identity journey, explaining how her interfaith family background influenced her understanding of community and belonging, which led to her work at the Jewish Community Relations Council focusing on Jewish security through coalition-building.
The conversation explores the Holocaust & Humanity Center’s unique approach as both a Holocaust museum and humanity center at Cincinnati’s Union Terminal. Congedo emphasizes their “story forward” rather than “history forward” approach, focusing not just on tragedy but on resilience, rebuilding, and inspiring action today. She details the center’s innovative Humanity Gallery and its character strengths framework that encourages visitors to connect personally with upstander stories.
The episode concludes with a discussion of the center’s Upstander Awards, which recognize everyday people who exemplify character strengths shared with Holocaust survivors. Congedo shares a powerful story about an award recipient who discovered unexpected common ground with a survivor’s family member, illustrating how universal human themes transcend time and circumstance.
“It’s not enough not to be bad. We have to ask ourselves what good looks like, and we have to cultivate that and practice that and be aware of what in each of us makes us uniquely positioned to contribute in that way.”
Podcast Description
The SuperPerformers podcast, powered by 4100FS, offers accessible insights from successful, driven leaders across various fields. Host Rob Herman engages guests from business, medicine, law, sports, entertainment, philanthropy, and other sectors to deliver compelling stories and valuable lessons from those who have achieved excellence in their fields.