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Surviving the Survivor: A Brutally Honest Conversation about Life (& Death) with My Mom: A Holocaust Survivor, Therapist & My Podcast Co-Host
Holocaust survivor and licensed therapist Karmela Waldman shares brutally honest advice about life and death—often deploying brutally sharp wit—with her son and podcast co-host, Joel Waldman.
“Karmela’s story is moving and inspirational, and one every young person should be reminded of.” —Mitch Albom, Author of The Little Liar
Karmela Waldman is an eighty-something psychotherapist and Holocaust survivor. Her son, Joel Waldman, is a successful broadcast journalist. After a discontented Joel chooses to leave his network-news job, he gets a crazy idea for the next step in his What if he and his elderly mom did a podcast together?
The two embark on creating a show together and name it Surviving the Survivor. Things get off to a bumpy start as the lovingly dysfunctional mother-son duo struggle to figure out the art of podcasting on the fly—sometimes feuding, sometimes laughing, and finally mastering the format and watching Surviving the Survivor break out as a wildly popular true-crime hit.
Along the way, the two discover things about each other that they never knew. Joel is stunned to learn that Karmela survived World War II by hiding in a boys’ Catholic school. Karmela also sheds light on the emotional struggles she endured when Joel’s older brother, Rami, died of an incurable illness. She’s also struggling with the inevitable loss of her husband of sixty-three years, which she describes as the most difficult experience of her life.
Mastering podcasting is one thing; figuring out the meaning of life is a challenge of an entirely different order. In real time and “on air,” mother and son engage frankly and movingly with each other for the first time as adults, discussing child-rearing, aging, illness, death, and the secrets to enjoying life no matter how complicated it gets.
“Karmela’s story is moving and inspirational, and one every young person should be reminded of.” —Mitch Albom, Author of The Little Liar
Karmela Waldman is an eighty-something psychotherapist and Holocaust survivor. Her son, Joel Waldman, is a successful broadcast journalist. After a discontented Joel chooses to leave his network-news job, he gets a crazy idea for the next step in his What if he and his elderly mom did a podcast together?
The two embark on creating a show together and name it Surviving the Survivor. Things get off to a bumpy start as the lovingly dysfunctional mother-son duo struggle to figure out the art of podcasting on the fly—sometimes feuding, sometimes laughing, and finally mastering the format and watching Surviving the Survivor break out as a wildly popular true-crime hit.
Along the way, the two discover things about each other that they never knew. Joel is stunned to learn that Karmela survived World War II by hiding in a boys’ Catholic school. Karmela also sheds light on the emotional struggles she endured when Joel’s older brother, Rami, died of an incurable illness. She’s also struggling with the inevitable loss of her husband of sixty-three years, which she describes as the most difficult experience of her life.
Mastering podcasting is one thing; figuring out the meaning of life is a challenge of an entirely different order. In real time and “on air,” mother and son engage frankly and movingly with each other for the first time as adults, discussing child-rearing, aging, illness, death, and the secrets to enjoying life no matter how complicated it gets.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2024
39 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 21, 2024
Great read!
What a wonderful story of a man's love for his mother. Joel Waldman is such a talented writer. Karm is amazing, also. I am a big fan of STS Nation.
What a wonderful story of a man's love for his mother. Joel Waldman is such a talented writer. Karm is amazing, also. I am a big fan of STS Nation.
October 13, 2025
Joel did get the book done, in my opinon it should be a best-seller & it sounds like he did turn in the manuscript on-time despite his dear, sweet Mother's (Karm) loving warnings throughout this terrific book. Joel shares some select transcripts of her all-time hit voicemails which are "Keepers"!
I discovered this show on YouTube (available on many other platforms) during the Donna Adelson Court Trial in Tallahassee FL. I now faithfully watch them & joined their STS (Surviving The Survivor) online group. Sorry I'm cheap - I got the $2.99 membership.
A book about a child (Karm Krishaber Waldman) that survived the Holocaust shouldn't have you laughing so hard, but the chemistry between this 50-something award-winning journalist/news anchor (Joel Waldman) & his licensed clinician/therapist 84 year old Mother is at times hysterical. You (meaning Joel) are never too old to be scolded by Karm about pricey sunglassses, shoes or a wristwatch he admired (& likely deserves)! It was a good price for the watch btw!
I was reading on my Amazon Kindle so I was highlighting parts like the likelihood of Mrs. Bonk giving ice-skating lessons (Mrs. Bonk is long dead), Karm getting pissed off at Joel & wanting to get out on I-95 in Miami Beach where they reside, Karm telling Joel he needs a check-up from the head up & Karm basically saying she isn't a Klonopin.
I'll add a bouillabaisse of curse words are tossed in by Karm/sometimes directed at Joel to emphasis her commentary. I've been swearing since my State Trooper Dad took me to his station when I was 3 years old! NOTE - Karm ended the book saying she is trying to curse less - In the words of Georgia Cappleman..."Stay Tuned" for that.
There is great love throughout the book between Mother & Son plus the Father/Husband (Dr. Roy) who passed away recently after 63 years of marriage. Karm said during the interview, "Our Love Will Never Die". Her spirit & zest for living are admirable for any age. I felt inspired by the Hebrew word for patience - Savlanut, her words of advice for aging & life experiences & getting past being a victim! Survive it & live this very short time you have here on Earth.
Their book's closing that Hitler lost & their Family will go on for generations is a life lesson for this entire globe & much-needed.
Thank you from Edie in Parrish FL. I am a 60-something retired Paralegal & Widow of an Attorney of 40 years (who also thought he was smarter than God). I have traveled to Israel & everywhere else I wanted to see in this lifetime. I love my home best & my 2 Daughters & their Family. I get up each day & feel happy that there are individuals like the entire Waldman Family.
I think credit needs to be given to Joel's Wife, Ileana, who is also involved in all of these productions & especially the most important - their 3 Children who hold great promise. Ileana sounds like she is a juggler with all she is doing. Thank & I am sorry this review is so long.
I discovered this show on YouTube (available on many other platforms) during the Donna Adelson Court Trial in Tallahassee FL. I now faithfully watch them & joined their STS (Surviving The Survivor) online group. Sorry I'm cheap - I got the $2.99 membership.
A book about a child (Karm Krishaber Waldman) that survived the Holocaust shouldn't have you laughing so hard, but the chemistry between this 50-something award-winning journalist/news anchor (Joel Waldman) & his licensed clinician/therapist 84 year old Mother is at times hysterical. You (meaning Joel) are never too old to be scolded by Karm about pricey sunglassses, shoes or a wristwatch he admired (& likely deserves)! It was a good price for the watch btw!
I was reading on my Amazon Kindle so I was highlighting parts like the likelihood of Mrs. Bonk giving ice-skating lessons (Mrs. Bonk is long dead), Karm getting pissed off at Joel & wanting to get out on I-95 in Miami Beach where they reside, Karm telling Joel he needs a check-up from the head up & Karm basically saying she isn't a Klonopin.
I'll add a bouillabaisse of curse words are tossed in by Karm/sometimes directed at Joel to emphasis her commentary. I've been swearing since my State Trooper Dad took me to his station when I was 3 years old! NOTE - Karm ended the book saying she is trying to curse less - In the words of Georgia Cappleman..."Stay Tuned" for that.
There is great love throughout the book between Mother & Son plus the Father/Husband (Dr. Roy) who passed away recently after 63 years of marriage. Karm said during the interview, "Our Love Will Never Die". Her spirit & zest for living are admirable for any age. I felt inspired by the Hebrew word for patience - Savlanut, her words of advice for aging & life experiences & getting past being a victim! Survive it & live this very short time you have here on Earth.
Their book's closing that Hitler lost & their Family will go on for generations is a life lesson for this entire globe & much-needed.
Thank you from Edie in Parrish FL. I am a 60-something retired Paralegal & Widow of an Attorney of 40 years (who also thought he was smarter than God). I have traveled to Israel & everywhere else I wanted to see in this lifetime. I love my home best & my 2 Daughters & their Family. I get up each day & feel happy that there are individuals like the entire Waldman Family.
I think credit needs to be given to Joel's Wife, Ileana, who is also involved in all of these productions & especially the most important - their 3 Children who hold great promise. Ileana sounds like she is a juggler with all she is doing. Thank & I am sorry this review is so long.
August 9, 2024
I started listening to Joel and Karm’s podcast after the trial for Charlie Adelson and loved it immediately.
You know what the topic is going to be but you never know how it is going to go. The smart informed guests and Joel and Karm’s unique relationship on air. Oh and let’s not forget the COE, Joel’s wife who makes it all happen.
So, when Joel announced he had a book coming out and was coming to Toronto for a book signing I was close to first in line.
This book really took me by surprise. First of all I was so happy to find that Joel and his mom’s interaction in the podcast was and is authentic. The book does not disappoint in that department and you will find yourself seriously laughing out loud. I expected to shed some tears knowing that Karm is a Holocaust survivor. I did not expect to be left tearless but with a very heavy heart. Some of Karm’s experiences in life for me were beyond tears. I kept finding myself wondering if Joel knows how lucky is to have a mom like Karm. She is towering as a human.
This is a book that really will make you laugh and cry. It will also make you wish you had been the one to think of some of Karm’s comebacks to Joel.
She’s genius !
I want to be her when I grow up !
As for Joel.
He is a royal pain in the ass!
But you’ve got to love him.
He does it so well.
You know what the topic is going to be but you never know how it is going to go. The smart informed guests and Joel and Karm’s unique relationship on air. Oh and let’s not forget the COE, Joel’s wife who makes it all happen.
So, when Joel announced he had a book coming out and was coming to Toronto for a book signing I was close to first in line.
This book really took me by surprise. First of all I was so happy to find that Joel and his mom’s interaction in the podcast was and is authentic. The book does not disappoint in that department and you will find yourself seriously laughing out loud. I expected to shed some tears knowing that Karm is a Holocaust survivor. I did not expect to be left tearless but with a very heavy heart. Some of Karm’s experiences in life for me were beyond tears. I kept finding myself wondering if Joel knows how lucky is to have a mom like Karm. She is towering as a human.
This is a book that really will make you laugh and cry. It will also make you wish you had been the one to think of some of Karm’s comebacks to Joel.
She’s genius !
I want to be her when I grow up !
As for Joel.
He is a royal pain in the ass!
But you’ve got to love him.
He does it so well.
November 7, 2024
The "Karmism's" in this book were wonderful, insightful, and raw. She is one of a kind. I watch Surviving the Survivor on Youtube and enjoy the shows. When Karm is on, it's a treat. Joel's book is truly a tribute to his amazing mother and family and he is a wonderful writer and storyteller. I liked the way the book was laid out, the way he "interviewed" Karm on her viewpoints. As someone who has gone through my share of trauma in life, hearing Karm's take on how to survive it was helpful to me. Thanks for a great read!
November 21, 2024
Brilliant!!!
July 3, 2025
This book is written as a conversation between the author and his mother, a Holocaust survivor. They cohost a podcast on true crime, and the first crime the author mentions is the one recently fictionalized by Tova Mirvis! The author and his mother discuss topics including the death of his father, the loss of his older brother to a genetic disease, 10/7 and Israel, and more. The way this mother and son speak to each other is definitely unique. They argue a lot. I suppose their style is funny on their podcast. In writing, it came off as a bit cringe worthy. I imagine the book is meant to draw more people to listen to the podcast!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews