The Auschwitz Survivor Who Chose Freedom | Dr. Edith Eger

Summary

Podcast Summary: "The Auschwitz Survivor Who Chose Freedom" — Dr. Edith Eger on The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes (May 1, 2026)

---

Episode Overview

In this unforgettable and deeply moving episode, Lewis Howes honors the late Dr. Edith Eger, Holocaust survivor, renowned psychologist, and author, whose wisdom on resilience, freedom, and healing has impacted countless lives. Through stories from her survival in Auschwitz to her later work with trauma victims and her own family reflections, Dr. Eger reveals profound lessons on choosing love, forgiveness, and freedom over bitterness and victimhood. This conversation serves as both a memorial tribute and a transformative guide for anyone seeking meaning, healing, and greatness.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Eger’s Mission & Identity

• Dr. Eger’s core desire was to be known as "someone who did everything in her power to see to it that [the Holocaust] will never happen again. I'm into prevention. I don't ask 'why me?' I see 'what now.'" (02:54)
• She encourages present-focused living and cherishing what brings true joy, notably her family and embracing uniqueness: "You're one of a kind diamond. I see it in your eyes. You know, you're very precious." (04:41)

Lessons for Future Generations

• On passing wisdom to her grandchildren:
  1. Never forget the past; come to terms with it — "I call it my cherished wound." (07:13)
  2. It’s not what happens to you, but what you do with it that matters. (09:24)
  3. Creating meaning from suffering, referencing Viktor Frankl’s existential vacuum and emphasizing it’s distinct from clinical depression. (09:30, 09:42)

Healing, Grief, and Facing the Past

• Dr. Eger distinguishes between "reliving and revising" life events (11:51), advocating for revisiting trauma not to dwell but to heal: "Relive the experience and then revise your life. It’s not going back. It’s a new beginning." (11:51–11:58)
• She underscores the importance of addressing unresolved grief: "Unresolved grief… that's what therapy is. It’s all grief work. Not what happened, what didn’t happen." (13:29–13:31)
• Example: Crying over her granddaughter’s dance not because of the present joy, but the past loss of never attending such an event herself. (13:31–14:36)

Emotional Processing & Authenticity

• Anger is usually not the primary emotion, but a mask for fear, especially fear of being unlovable or not enough: "Underneath anger is fear... Fear of being found out that your true self is… not acceptable; that you’re a fake." (15:33–15:55)
• The value of acknowledging, not shaming, your feelings: "There is no right feeling or wrong feeling. There is only my feeling." (16:39–17:18)
• Techniques suggested: Write down fears, then "knock them down," understanding they are learned, not inherent. (17:26–17:36)
• Giving up the need for external approval as a crucial move towards freedom: "I developed… my inner resources that I don’t look at life from outside in. I give up my need for other people's approval." (17:42–18:09)

Letting Go, Forgiveness, and Freedom

• Dr. Eger reframes forgiveness as a self-liberating act: "Forgiveness has nothing to do with me forgiving you for what you did to me. I don’t have any godly power at all... but I do have power to look at everything that happened [as] an opportunity." (30:43–31:11)
• On self-forgiveness: "Give myself permission to let go of the pain and replace it with self-love... which is not narcissistic." (31:58–32:08)
• She candidly shares guilt over choices made in Auschwitz and the slow process of forgiving herself, ultimately realizing: "I did the best I could." (32:48–33:42)

Moving Beyond Victimhood

• Dr. Eger draws a critical distinction: "I’m not a victim. I was victimized. It’s not who I am. It’s what was done to me. Very different." (39:01–39:38)
• She warns, "Yesterday’s victims can easily become today’s victimizers." (39:38)
• The importance of channeling pain through anger, then release, instead of revenge: "Revenge gives you satisfaction momentarily... Forgiveness gives you freedom." (41:13–41:14)

Resilience, Legacy, and Contribution

• The interview delves into Dr. Eger’s family—her children, grandchildren, and recently departed sister—and the lessons she learned from those relationships, from humor to survival to generosity.
• On life's meaning: "How can I contribute to the world that makes us human beings getting together and see how we can empower each other with our differences?" (46:08–47:09)
• Her mother’s tough love and her own insatiable curiosity were essential survival tools. (44:11–45:18)

Practical Wisdom for Living

• Self-parenting and 'good parenting' to oneself are recurring themes: "Become your own good parent to you. And find your little child in you who is crying and asking for a good parent." (66:01–66:46)
• On joy, aging, and daily life:
  • "Every moment is precious. Never throw out a piece of bread. Only buy what you eat. Cook for yourself." (61:08)
  • Avoid perfectionism and procrastination—"You’re human. You’re going to make mistakes. That’s fine." (62:00)
  • Give up the need for approval of others: "No one can reject me but me." (58:46–58:52)
• Letting go as the definition of love and freedom: "My definition of love is the ability to let go." (64:00, 64:18)
• True greatness is "to show up for life." (68:29–68:32)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Cherished Wounds:
  "I call it my cherished wound. Yes. I cherish the wound that I learned in the classroom of Auschwitz."
  — Dr. Edith Eger (06:43–07:13)

• Self-Parenting:
  "Become your own good parent to you. And find your little child in you who is crying and asking for a good parent. And you show up for that child, the little boy, the little girl."
  — Dr. Edith Eger (66:01–66:46)

• Forgiveness:
  "Forgiveness gives you freedom. So I had to go back to Auschwitz, to that lion’s den, and look at the lion in her face, to reclaim my innocence, to assign the shame and guilt to the perpetrator, not on yourself. But no, no more. I'm free."
  — Dr. Edith Eger (41:13–41:51)

• Freedom is Everything:
  "[Freedom is] from the concentration camp that is in your own mind. And the key is in your pocket."
  — Dr. Edith Eger (64:41–64:50)

• On Letting Go:
  "Let go. Don’t live in the past. You cannot change the past. That’s one thing you cannot change is the past. I don’t live in the past. I call it my cherished wound. Because part of me was left in Auschwitz. But not the better part, not the bigger part."
  — Dr. Edith Eger (29:06–30:10)

• True Greatness:
  "Greatness is to show up for life."
  — Dr. Edith Eger (68:29–68:32)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:54] – Dr. Eger reflects on identity and living for prevention, not bitterness.
• [04:41] – On cherishing uniqueness and self-worth.
• [06:43] – Lessons for her descendants: never forget, cherish the wound, create meaning.
• [11:51] – "Relive and revise" past traumas.
• [15:33] – The real emotion beneath anger.
• [17:42] – On giving up the need for others’ approval, even as a teenager in Auschwitz.
• [21:13] – Parenting, authenticity, role models in the family.
• [23:08] – Emotional outlets: scream, cry, laugh like a hyena.
• [29:06] – Definition of love as letting go; "the ability to let go."
• [31:58] – Giving oneself permission to let go and embrace self-love.
• [39:01] – “I’m not a victim; I was victimized.”
• [41:13] – The liberating power of forgiveness.
• [44:11] – The power of curiosity for survival.
• [61:08] – Daily habits for a joyful, grateful life.
• [66:01] – Dr. Eger’s “Three Truths” for humanity.
• [68:29] – Her definition of greatness: "to show up for life."

---

Conclusion: The Enduring Gift of Dr. Edith Eger

Lewis Howes closes the episode by expressing heartfelt gratitude for Dr. Eger's spirit, wisdom, and continuous giving, highlighting her books The Choice and The Gift, as well as her free course on forgiveness.

Dr. Eger’s message resonates throughout: suffering, when faced and released, becomes a source of strength; love is about letting go; and true freedom is a choice available to us all, no matter the past. Her legacy inspires us to become our own "good parents," to live in the present, and to show up fully for life.

---

For More:

• The Choice and The Gift (+ her upcoming projects for teens)
• Free forgiveness course: dredithegger.com
• Follow The School of Greatness for future episodes and insights

---

“Freedom is everything. [Freedom is] from the concentration camp that is in your own mind. And the key is in your pocket.”
— Dr. Edith Eger (64:41–64:50)

Transcript

[A]

Guys, we gotta talk about your secret late night Internet searches. You know the ones. Bumpy leg rash, hair loss. Trying to figure out your body by endlessly searching for answers. We've all done it and it never works. Thankfully, there's Amazon Health AI. It can connect your symptoms with your medical history to offer personalized care 24 7. So call off the search. Amazon Health AI is here. Healthcare just got less painful. You know how people sometimes invest in something that seems incredible at first, but then it doesn't live up to the hype? Like when everyone was convinced NFTs were the future and people were buying them for thousands of dollars and now they barely have any value. Marketers know that feeling. They optimize for numbers that look great, like impressions, but then they don't see revenue. LinkedIn has a word for that. Bull spend. Instead, you can get the highest roas of major ad networks with LinkedIn ads. Cut the bull spend. Advertise on LinkedIn. Spend $250 and get a $250 credit. Go to LinkedIn. Terms apply. It's time to spring into deals at Lowe's. Freshen up your yard with stay green premium 2 cubic foot mulch. 5 bags for $10. Then head inside and save up to 35% off. Select major appliances to keep clothes, food and dishes fresh. Plus get an additional $100 off select laundry pairs. This season's best lineup is here at Lowe's. Valid through May 6, or while supplies last, selection varies by location. Mulch offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii. See associate or lowe's.com for details. Hey, everyone, it's Louis. And before we dive in, I want to take a quick moment. We are sharing this conversation as a memorial because we lost one of the most extraordinary human beings I've ever had the privilege of sitting across from Dr. Edith Egger, a Holocaust survivor, a healer, and a woman who has spent most of her time helping other people become free. She survived things that most of us cannot even imagine. And instead of carrying hatred, instead of carrying bitterness, she chose love. She chose forgiveness. And most importantly, she chose freedom. So today, we're here to honor her by sharing her words with you one more time. Or maybe for the first time. And if that's you, I want you to know that you are about to hear something that could genuinely transform your life. For me, this episode is a gift. And she is and was a gift. Dr. Edith Egger, thank you for everything you gave this world.

[B]

You will never be forgotten. Well, what would you like people to know about you and how would you want to be?

[C]

I'd like to be known as someone who did everything in her power, everything to see to it that it will never happen again. I'm into prevention. I don't ask why me? I see what now. Why is a past oriented world a problem oriented world? I like to deal with the present and think young. So when a man takes me out and is trying to figure out how old am I, I'm going to ask him to take me home. Because if he's into numbers, he's not my man.

[B]

What should he be into?

[C]

I think he would be interested in perhaps what really gives me joy. What is that joy in my heart like? I have joy knowing that I have three children. I have five grandchildren and seven great grandsons, all sons. Great grandsons, all sons, no girls. Yeah. So I think it's good to really know that. Many people ask me, write a book, write a book, write a book. And I would say automatically, I have nothing to say. I have nothing to say. I have a lot to say and so do you. And you're committed to really change the people who don't think that they matter because there never be another you. You're one of a kind diamond. I see it in your eyes. You know, you're very precious.

[B]

Thank you.

[C]

You're very, very precious. And I know many people probably have changed because they knew that what they're doing now, they are revolving, not evolving.

[B]

What does that mean?

[C]

Revolving, not evolving, Revolving that you go back and do the same thing over and over again and expect different results.

[B]

Right. Repeating the same thing, which is the definition of insanity. Someone said that said Einstein, I think, right?

[C]

Yeah, I think Einstein.

[B]

I'm curious now. You have seven grand grandsons, right? Seven grandsons, I think. Are the two twins, the two year olds, Are those the youngest grandsons you have?

[C]

The youngest, yeah.

[B]

So there's 93 years is between you and your youngest grandsons.

[C]

Exactly. And they come with their head because they know I'm going to kiss it. I love that they just come and bring their little head and I don't know other people who kiss that hate.

[B]

That's beautiful. That's great. But I do, I'm curious, what is the, you know, they, at this moment they don't know the type of life you've had. Right. Not until they're a little older will they understand the stories and hear the stories about your whole experience from what, you know, their great grandmother went through and how you overcame so many challenges and obstacles and how you became a member of society, for hope and inspiration. I'm curious, if you could share three lessons with them to set them up for their life, what would those three lessons be?

[C]

I probably would tell them that I will never forget what happened. I don't know what means to overcome. I don't think I really know exactly what that means, but I came to terms with it. I call it my cherished wound.

[B]

Cherished wound?

[C]

Yes. I cherish the wound that I learned in the classroom of Auschwitz.

[B]

How does someone learn to cherish their wounds if something is so tragic, you

[C]

don't appreciate what you have until we lose it. See, if you take me out to dinner, and you might do that, take me out to lunch. I think I'm going to eat up my food, and then I'm going to pick up your leftovers. And if I don't do that, I'll take it home. I never waste any food. I never leave food on my plate or in your plate. I do something with it and I give it away. You know?

[B]

Why do you do that?

[C]

One time, I had a party and I had a lot of leftovers, and I went out and I saw someone at the corner waiting, and I gave them the food.

[B]

Why is that something you do?

[C]

I thought, you know, they must be hungry, but they didn't want food, they wanted money, so they threw it back at me. I don't want your goddamn food. Give me money. Right, yeah.

[B]

What's another thing you'd share with your grandkids, your great grandkids?

[C]

Right now, they're too young to listen to anything, but my great grandson, 15, 12, and 10. And they're very interested in grammar, and I'm very interesting person to be with. I have a lot to say and not what happens, it's what you do with it.

[B]

Right. I think the coming to terms with the cherished wound, it's like creating meaning around what happened.

[C]

Right, exactly. The existential vacuum. Viktor Frankl used to refer to that. And it's very important to know that it's not clinical depression.

[B]

Why do people get that confused?

[C]

Yeah. Well, I had two paraplegics, both coming from Vietnam. Same symptomatologist, same diagnosis. Okay. And one of them was in a kind of a fetal position. Why me? How could anyone do this to me? Blaming God. Blaming. You name it. The country, of course. Conversely, the other one said to me, same symptomatology, same diagnosis, same prognosis. He said to me, hey, Doc, I was wearing a white coat. And it said, Dr. Eger, Department of Psychiatry. Okay. He says, hey, Doc. I'm so grateful that I sit in a wheelchair because I can reach my children much closer.

[B]

Oh, my goodness.

[C]

Can you believe it? And I can reach the flowers much closer. And I felt like the biggest imposter because I had a 16 year old in me that I ran away from. I really wasn't qualified to take them further because I have not taken myself. You know, I went to school and I went to school and, you know, I became Dr. Edith Iwaiga. But I never really did the work and really the healing work. I went back to Auschwitz.

[B]

When did you go back?

[C]

I asked my sister to come with me, probably in the 70s or 80s, and she told me I'm an idiot. And that was the end of that. My sister coming with me and I went alone. And today, the work I do to revisit the places where you've been, to relive that experience. But then you revise your life.

[B]

Relive the experience and then revise your life.

[C]

Exactly.

[B]

Rewrite the story.

[C]

It's not going back. It's a new beginning.

[B]

Oh, wow. So when you went there, what opened up for you? Did you feel a lot of sadness and pain? Or is that where you started to rewrite it?

[C]

I was angry and I didn't know what to do with anger. I ran from it, but I was angry. I was mad as hell. And I had to find a way to turn depression into expression.

[B]

What happens if we continue to run from anger in our lives?

[C]

We just build it up. It doesn't go away.

[B]

You can't run away from it.

[C]

You cannot run away. It's better to face it, not fight it or run from it. No. So I did go back to Auschwitz. And today, the work, I do that. Yes. I hold your hand and we revisit your little room, your little home, the hallway. And you're holding my hand. I'm taking you out of there.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

Because that was then and this is now. And you can find that little boy in you, the little girl in you, and buy him an ice cream cone. And because that little boy is crying,

[B]

what happens if we never revisit the little boy or girl inside of us?

[C]

Unresolved grief.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

And I think that's what therapy is. It's all grief work. Not what happened, what didn't happen. Because I remember when my granddaughter asked me to buy her a beautiful dress, which I am very good at, buying good dresses, so she could go to Bishop School, to a dance. And I come home and out of the blue I'm crying. The Word. Understand. I didn't understand what's the matter with me. I just bought little precious Lindsay a beautiful dress. I think it was a Laura Ashley original. But I realized that I'm not crying because Lindsay is going to the dance. I cried because I never went to a dance. So I think the unresolved grief is important to make peace with.

[B]

So when something like that happened for you or happens in any of our lives, what can we do to face it? And I have a photo on my phone of myself when I was younger. Right.

[C]

That little boy.

[B]

Exactly. To go back into those places that were wounded and have a conversation. And I talk to him and I

[C]

reflect and I go back and see the feeling. Rather than talk about their feeling.

[B]

Let him feel it.

[C]

What we do in America, we're hearing, but we not listening. It's very good to repeat what you hear and they tell you whether it's true or false. I think it's very important to write your book.

[B]

So you said anger is something that.

[C]

Not the primary emotion.

[B]

It's not the primary. So when someone feels anger, what is it they really feel?

[C]

Fear.

[B]

Afraid of what?

[C]

Fear of being found out that your true self is it.

[B]

Fear of being found out your true self is not lovable or not enough or you're never going to amount to anything or is never going to.

[C]

No one's going to accept you that you're a fake.

[B]

Oh, wow. Do you think everyone feels that way at some point in life?

[C]

I think it very seldom that a person never regresses anything. I think it's important to acknowledge that you say to yourself, if I knew them what I know now, I could have done things differently.

[B]

Right.

[C]

And that's it. That's the end of that.

[B]

That's it?

[C]

That's it.

[B]

But why do we hold on to the pain so long? And why do we shame ourselves and beat ourselves up emotionally? Because we didn't have the knowledge when we were 5 or 10 or 16

[C]

or 20 maybe we didn't have good role models that it's okay to feel any feelings without the fear of being judged. There is no right feeling or wrong feeling. There is only my feeling. And underneath of anger is fear. So it's very good to ride on all your fears, from the least anxiety producing to the most anxiety. And then we knock them down. Because you were not born with fear. You were born with love, joy and passion for life.

[B]

I love that you say this because I feel like I'm full of passion. You are. You're feisty.

[C]

Yes, sir.

[B]

I love this idea of writing down your fears and then knocking them down.

[C]

Knocking them down because you were not born with them. You learned it.

[B]

When did you start to knock down your fears? How old were you roughly?

[C]

I think I was 16 in Auschwitz. And I developed inside something that I cherish today. My inner resources that I don't look at like life from outside in. And I give up my need for other people's approval.

[B]

You did that when you were 16?

[C]

I did that.

[B]

Wow. You gave up your need for other people's approval then.

[C]

Exactly.

[B]

Foreign.

[A]

Mistakes I see people make is waiting for the perfect time to get serious about their finances. And I've been there myself. It can be easy to say you'll just deal with it later. But later has a way of showing up fast. And that brings us to today's sponsor, Northwestern Mutual. They'll match you with a financial professional who'll work with you to build a plan based on what's important to you. Looking out for your blind spots and finding new opportunities to help grow your wealth and protect what you've worked so hard hard for. They listen to you find out what's going on in your life today and what you have in mind for the near and long term. Personally, Northwestern Mutual has been behind my financial and emotional security as an entrepreneur most of my life. Having someone in my corner helps me make clearer decisions and stay focused on building a future I am proud of. Find a better way to [e-mail] the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. Paid testimonial by a Northwestern Mutual policy owner. Guys, we got to talk about your secret late night Internet searches. You know the ones. Bumpy leg rash, hair loss. Trying to figure out your body by endlessly searching for answers. We've all done it and it never works. Thankfully, there's Amazon Health AI. It can connect your symptoms with your medical history to offer personalized care 24. 7 so call off the search. Amazon Health AI is here. Health care just got less painful. Hiring isn't just filling seats with Indeed sponsored jobs. They'll help you match with candidates who can actually move your business forward. Target candidates by skills, certifications or location. Join the 3.3 million employers worldwide that use Indeed to connect with quality talent that fits their needs. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results. Now with Indeed Sponsored Jobs and listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help you get your job the premium status it deserves@ Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Hiring. Do it the right way with indeed.

[B]

What does that do for you when you give up the need?

[C]

Give me my true self, your authentic, expressive self, that I am my own good mommy to me. And then I ask, is this empowering me or depleting me? If I'm going to have alcohol, I'm messing with my brain.

[B]

So you're not going to do something to try to look good in front of others and try to make others

[C]

like what the neighbors think about us? Yes.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

I think very important for children, especially for the father, to be a good role model to the children. The way he treats the children's mother, his wife.

[B]

How should the father treat the mother?

[C]

Specifically, raise your voice when you're angry. In English, you start the sentence with you, you are stupid, you. When you hear you, you're gonna be dumbed on. And you say to yourself, the longer they talk, the more relaxed I become. You take the negative stimuli, turn it immediately into something positive. I think there is a Mexican psychiatrist who wrote a little book that is very valuable, and it's called the Four Agreements.

[B]

So good. Don't take anything personally.

[C]

Don't take it personally.

[B]

It's so powerful. How does someone learn to not take it personally? If someone's saying, you did this and you're stupid and you're. How do you learn to just be peaceful around.

[C]

I know better. That's what you think. And this is what I feel. And men are not taught to feel the feelings. They talk about the feeling. They analyze the feeling. They medicate the feeling rather than just feeling the feeling. A good cry, what comes out of your body will never make you ill. What stays in there does. Like posture.

[B]

Now you have to get it out, get it out.

[C]

So that's how scream it out.

[B]

Scream it out.

[C]

In the car, in a pillow, scream, cry, and then laugh like a hyena and you feel better.

[B]

Laugh like a hyena.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Get it out. Shake it out, shake it out. How should a wife be around her husband with her kids?

[C]

So what is happening? The husband comes home and the wife already knows just by looking at him that there is something going on. But she doesn't say anything because he doesn't say anything either, because he's scared. If he's going to say something, things are going to get worse.

[B]

She's scared.

[C]

She's scared. They're both scared, but they don't really sit down, which I do really, to make them really see what's really going on. But down the line. If they don't do that, they will miss passion and life for sure. I don't know what else right now to think of passion. Joy. Joy and passion for sure. So if you want joy and passion, have a fight. But pay attention how you finish a fight.

[B]

How should you finish the fight?

[C]

That's right. That you can agree to disagree that not when I'm right, you're wrong, I'm good, you're bad, none of that. We're human. We do make mistakes and we have a good talk about it and hopefully learn from it so we won't repeat it.

[B]

Right? Right. You worked with Viktor Frankl too, right? Didn't you work with him?

[C]

I worked with Viktor Frankl very much. I remember we were in Germany and we danced together.

[B]

We danced together, yes. Was he a good dancer?

[C]

And he said something. Is this the last tango? I think it was Regensburg or one of those places where we had our conference. Victor Frankl was like you, a kind of a Renaissance man. He was taking flying lessons when I met him. He was in his 70s. He died when he was 92. But he was truly my mentor.

[B]

What was your biggest lessons from him that he taught you?

[C]

The logo Therapy. Logo means finding purpose and meaning in your life. It's called the existential vacuum that most people are called clinical depression. Nuke.

[B]

Is clinical depression a thing or is there a way to get out of it without medication?

[C]

Yeah, well, we pathologize. We pathologize too much. I think it's very good to make the diagnosis that doesn't have to pathologize like, I'm sad, I'm scared, you know, to use the language that it doesn't have to go to. Diagnosis and medical medicine is important. You know, we have our blood and that needs to be hopefully valid, tended to. We have our environment. But the way you respond to the other two. I have a choice to respond or react. When you react, you don't think.

[B]

How does someone learn how to pause when there's an event, when there's a trigger?

[C]

Take a deep breath. And if that doesn't work, take another deep breath.

[B]

Keep breathing until you react.

[C]

Keep breathing because you cannot change what's outside of you.

[B]

The environment, the event, what occurs.

[C]

You really are very powerless. But you have power to be. You choose to take the negative and turn it into positive. Because suffering makes you stronger. Suffering is part of life.

[B]

Is there a way to minimize suffering in our lives?

[C]

You learn from history so you won't repeat it. Yes. That's why it's good to write a book, write a book. People told me for years, write a book, write a book. And I would say, I have nothing to say. I have nothing to say. But then Philip Zimbardo one morning calls me and says, you know, Edie, the people who survived and are famous, all men. We need a female voice. And that's my book, the choice, right? A female voice of Viktor Frank.

[B]

Wow, that's beautiful. You mentioned. I want to ask you about the fears again. Writing down a list of your fears and then knocking them down. What happens internally when we start to knock these fears down and we over

[C]

you replace it with something else. See, when you're in a car and you have to switch gears, you know, it talks to you, the car. So what you need to do is switch gears and release the clutch. What are you holding on to? My definition of love is the ability to let go. Let go. Don't live in the past. You cannot change the past. That's one thing you cannot change is the past. I don't live in the past. I don't forget it or overcome it. That's why I call it my cherished wound. Because part of me was left in Auschwitz. But not the better part, not the bigger part.

[B]

How do you reclaim that part from that?

[C]

You go back to that place and you can do it in your office with a gestalt check. Put them in that chair, tie them up and beat them up. How could you do this to me? I was only 8 years old and you get it out, scream it out and beat them up.

[B]

If we don't get that emotion out, then we're the ones that suffer, right?

[C]

Yeah. Because forgiveness has nothing to do with me forgiving you for what you did to me. I don't have any godly power at all, but I do have a power to look at everything that happened into an opportunity for an opportunity. And that was Auschwitz. The biggest classroom, the most important one I have gone to.

[B]

Wow. So do we need to forgive the person that created the pain? Do we need to forgive ourselves? What is harder?

[C]

I think we create. A time when I give myself permission. That's a very good word. Give myself permission to let go of the pain and replace it with self love, which is self care, which is not narcissistic. Love yourself is not narcissistic.

[B]

Yeah. So give yourself. Give myself permission to let go of the pain from the past.

[C]

Permission is a given.

[B]

And then replace it with self love.

[C]

You know, if I could meet Dr. Mengele now, I really wanted to meet him. And I found out where he was, but I never really ended up meeting him in person. He went to South America. Most of the Nazis went through the Roman Catholics somehow helped them to go through them. To go to South America.

[B]

Yeah. What would you have said to him if you could have met him? What would you have said to him?

[C]

I would probably tell him, I have no idea what I would have done if I would have been in your shoes. You must have felt very powerful sending my mother to the gas chamber because he asked me, is this your sister or is this your mother? I still want to cry. And now that stupidly I said, it's my mother. Because I could not forgive myself, that if I would have said my sister, she wouldn't have gone to the gas chamber. But then I had to recognize that I did what I could.

[B]

You did the best.

[C]

And I did the best I could. So forgiving yourself and not to judge yourself, you got to. You got to really, truly do the work.

[B]

Yeah. That's powerful. I'm curious.

[C]

Suffering make you stronger.

[B]

How much?

[C]

Don't ask for it.

[A]

I don't want suffering.

[C]

Please.

[B]

You don't need to ask for it.

[C]

Not a mastermind.

[A]

No.

[B]

No, no. But it makes you suffer.

[C]

When it happens, recognize that it's temporary.

[B]

Yes. Yes.

[C]

And you can survive it. So you become your own good parent.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Are you a good parent to you now?

[B]

I am. Yeah. After a lot of the healing work.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Now I'm a very good parent to myself.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I feel a lot of peace inside, and I didn't feel that for years. Yeah.

[C]

You say what you live.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

That's good.

[B]

Yeah. It's a constant journey, you know.

[C]

Congratulations.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you.

[A]

I am big on simple daily habits that support how you show up. And this is about building a routine that helps you eat, sleep, thrive, repeat. Nature's bounty is all about helping you thrive. From your head to your heels, you can support your heart, bone, nerve and muscle health with magnesium glycinate. And if you want a little extra heart support, there is vital heart rapid release soft gels made with magnesium and CoQ10. And for digestive and immune health, Probiotic 10 delivers 20 billion live probiotic cultures in a 1 pill per day formula, which makes it easy to stay consistent. And if you care about building habits that support your goals, this is one way to stay intentional with your health. Nature's bounty. It's in your nature. Learn [e-mail] these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This one's for all the TV lovers. My entertainment from DirecTV gets you over 60 channels and Disney Plus, Hulu and HBO Max all in one pack. Watch it all, but don't spoil it. Tell your friends to get my Entertainment too. For 34.99amonth. Go to directtv.com genre packs and sign up today. New customers only. Service renews monthly unless canceled. Credit card required conditions apply to apps. HBO Max Basic with ads begins after DirecTV five day trial. Learn [e-mail] restrictions apply, but a lot

[B]

of your you know, the first time I interviewed you, I was really inspired by how you shared so much wisdom about how to not take things personally and how to reinterpret when someone's saying something to you, just say, well, I actually you're saying the opposite to yourself of like how you love yourself and how you're generous and kind. So I really appreciate that.

[C]

You know, just a very simple question. Whatever you're doing now, you ask how is it working for you?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Is it empowering you or depleting you?

[B]

And I'm curious about potential. You know the potential that each one of us has as human beings.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

How much of our potential is limited or blocked or shut down if we do not learn to heal the different traumatic moments of our life? Can we still reach our potential if we don't face trauma? Or is it going to be limited?

[C]

I think we're going to be chronic victims. And every time you are a victim, you're going to find the victimizer. Or you fluctuate between victim becoming victimizer. And it's very important to think about what you're going to say before you say it. Whether it's important, whether it's necessary, and whether it's kind. If it's not kind, is it important?

[B]

Is it necessary? Is it kind?

[C]

It's kind of, yeah. If it's not kind, you're just not gonna say it.

[B]

Don't say it. How do we create a life where we don't become victims, where we are empowered? No matter what happens, even if there is something that occurs in life, an event that feels like we are a victim, how do we turn it so that we aren't a victim? Because I feel like being a victim

[C]

is disempowering, you cannot be a victim without a victimizer. If you're a victim, you're always going to find a victimizer. Or you fluctuate between victim because victims are weak and Victimizers are strong, so part of the psyche will identify with the aggressor. That's what we call a Stockholm syndrome.

[B]

Is there moments in life where we should be victims, or is it never a good time to be a victim?

[C]

I think I.

[B]

Does anything good.

[C]

Come on. I never see myself, that my identity would be being a victim. I have no room for that in my life. I'm not a victim. I was victimized. It's not who I am. It's what was done to me. Very different. Very different that I'm innocent. Because yesterday's victims can easily become today's victimizers.

[B]

That's true.

[C]

I'm sure you know a great deal about that. Tell me.

[B]

Well, I mean, I was. I don't know if you know this, but I was sexually abused when I was 5 years old by a man that I didn't know. A babysitter's son. And he was probably 16, 17. And I've talked about this many times on my show, but for 25 years, I was angry about it. I held on to the anger, the frustration, you know, and I wanted to get back at people, and I wanted to. And I always felt like there was an abuse happening to me, like people were abusing me in life. That was kind of the wound that I didn't heal. And when I started the healing journey 10 years ago, I really allowed myself to let that go and forgive myself and forgive.

[C]

Go through the rage.

[B]

All of it? Yeah. I mean, it was a process.

[C]

You cannot forgive without going through the rage.

[B]

I went through it. Yeah. And when I thought about it, I was like, okay, well, maybe this child, maybe this.

[C]

You go to therapy, ask your therapist to sit on you.

[B]

To sit on me?

[C]

Yeah. And don't let you get up. You have to fight your way up

[B]

and get them off of you.

[C]

Give it to him. Yeah. Yeah, but. Good. Get that thing.

[B]

Get it out.

[C]

There is a difference between revenge and forgiveness.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Revenge gives you a satisfaction momentarily. Very momentarily. Beautifully said. Forgiveness gives you freedom. So I had to go back to Auschwitz, to that lion's den and look at the lion in her face, to reclaim my innocence, to assign the shame and guilt to the perpetrator, not on yourself. But no, no more. I'm free.

[B]

Did you feel free from that moment forward, or did. Did you have to go back a few times and really let it out more?

[C]

I think it's a lifelong process, really. I didn't have to go back to Auschwitz? No, not. Not at all. I. One of the things I was asked by physicians, which was interesting. Have I ever saw birds in Auschwitz?

[B]

Ever saw birds?

[C]

I never saw birds in Auschwitz.

[B]

Why is that?

[C]

I guess the smell. Birds probably pick up the terrible smell.

[B]

Wow. How long were you there for again? Do you remember?

[C]

I was there from May until December.

[B]

That's a long time.

[C]

Yes. You know, my daughter called me from Auschwitz and she said, I'm wearing a fur coat, I'm wearing boots and I'm freezing. What did you do, mom?

[B]

Oh my gosh.

[C]

I didn't have any boots. I didn't have any fur coat. I had a little flimsy, little something and I did what I needed to do.

[B]

How did you keep your spirit strong enough to survive that?

[C]

It's temporary.

[B]

You told yourself this is temporary.

[C]

I don't like it. It's inconvenient and don't say but. And it's temporary because after all, it is temporary. I don't know where we're going from here. Maybe I'm gonna meet my mom and you see what I miss that I never had a mother daughter talk.

[B]

You mean after that?

[C]

Well, when you get married, you talk to your mother about sex, about money, about in laws, God knows what else.

[B]

Didn't have any of those conversations.

[C]

I didn't have those conversations. I didn't have.

[B]

What do you wish your mom would have told you?

[C]

It's just for me not to fake anything, to be my true self. You know, my mother told me that. I'm glad you have brains because you have no looks. You know that? So I became a very erudite person. I had my own book club. I read the Interpretation of Dreams by Freud when I was 14. Very different. Nowadays children are. I'm not really as curious. I was always very curious what's going to happen next, where I'm going to go from here. You're very curious. And I think the curiosity helped me to survive.

[B]

Wow. The curiosity.

[C]

The curiosity.

[B]

Well, I'm glad I'm a curious person then. You know, I'm always asking questions and very curious.

[C]

Sometimes you're Jewish, you know. You ask a question and you answer it with a question. How are you? How do you think I am?

[B]

I like that. So something happened this weekend and you were contemplating whether you wanted to come here.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And we got a message yesterday that you weren't going to come. But then you did want to come.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I'm so sorry for your loss about your sister.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

From this weekend. And. And I want to know why you wanted to come here after your sister's Passing this, this weekend

[C]

to bring you my true self, that I'm grieving and feeling and healing. My sister is with me. The spirit never dies. And I hope I'll be happy in my deadbed. And I'm not going to ask what the world has given me, but you and I are going to probably ask, how can I contribute to the world that makes us human beings getting together and see how we can empower each other with our differences. You can be you and I can be I and just empower each other. You do it your way, I do it my way.

[B]

When we think about the perspective of what will the world give me versus what can I bring to the world and to humanity, why do some people think what will the world give me? And what is the trap behind thinking that way versus how can I be of service to the world?

[C]

Well, there are givers and takers, and hopefully I am a giver and I will do less blaming and pushing myself for more and more and more. You know, I just do the best I can and that's good enough. Yeah, good enough is good enough.

[B]

Have you been blaming for a while?

[C]

I have been maybe rough on myself that I could do more than I'm doing, but I am forgiving myself that I give and do the best I can do. I do get up in the morning and I look at life as one day the morning sunshine will not come back. And I'm very comfortable at 95, hoping maybe that I do what's humanly possible and then hand it over to God.

[B]

Wow. It's beautiful. I've got a few more questions I want to ask you, but I wanted to ask the biggest lessons that your sister taught you because you both experienced a very tragic event. For many months together, you both, you know, learned to heal and you came together and you've, you know, you've had a great experience with her. What have been the. What have been the biggest lessons that she taught you? Because she was your older sister, correct?

[C]

My older sister, yeah. I was the youngest in the family.

[B]

The most charming right in the family.

[C]

I think my parents really wanted a son after two girls and I came along and that was not what they wanted, and I felt it. Magdalene. Was a very good survivor. She was full of jokes. We always talked about food. That's all we talked about, food. I think she stopped really living, and it's been now perhaps many, many months or maybe years that she gave up her piano. She gave up her piano lessons and she gave up bridge. She was a bridge player. I think she played with Omar Sharif. But I cannot guarantee you. But Magda has been extremely brilliant with numbers. So what she did in school. She did your homework, but she didn't want your money. She wants you to bring her food. A roast beef sandwich, God knows. Fried chicken, maybe something. Fried chicken was always very good. My mother bought little chickens and it was so delicious. Or Hungarian salami. Have you been to Hungary?

[B]

I haven't been. I've been to Poland and other places in Europe, but no, not Hungary. I'll have to go.

[C]

Yeah. I think the Hungarians are good survivors, as a rule.

[B]

What's the thing you'll.

[C]

There is a song in Hungary that the woman is best when she's beaten up. It's not very kind.

[B]

Yes. Wow.

[C]

Yeah. Well, Hungarian women learned how to deal with men and give them complica compliments even when they don't deserve it. So women are wise. Not smart, but wise. How to go through the man's stomach and make him the food that he likes. Like a certain rose beef that you make on Hungarian style.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

Or the chicken with a lot of paprika on it and garlic on it. I make a very good garlic chicken.

[B]

You do?

[C]

I make it.

[B]

Next time I'm in San Diego, I'm

[C]

gonna get some of that chicken and I will.

[B]

I'm there for the chicken.

[C]

I'll do the chicken.

[B]

The chicken and a dance with you.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

When you are building something great, the people around you matter from day one. And I know how easy it is to get pulled away from the work that actually moves the mission forward. That is where Just Works comes in. It's an HR platform built for small businesses that care about growth and their people. Payroll, benefits, compliance, hiring, all handled in one place so you can stay focused on what matters Most. Go to justworks.com to learn more. They do your human resources right so you can do right by your people. Justworks for your people. There's nothing that frustrates me more than when things don't move with speed. And when it comes to building a strong daily routine for your life, the tools that you rely on at home should make things run more smoothly without interruptions. And that's the thinking behind T Mobile's 5G home Internet. And big news. T Mobile now has the fastest 5G home Internet according to the experts at Ookla. Speed test setup is so quick and simple. No technician needed and you're online in 15 minutes or less. And the price comes with a five year price guarantee so you don't have to worry about unexpected price hikes down the road. And when I'm working from home, my Internet does a lot of the heavy lifting. It's prepping for the next show on the school of greatness, uploading files. I'm doing zoom calls, I'm doing meetings. All these different things are all happening, and I need them to happen. And with T mobile 5G home Internet, things move fast and stay smooth. Pages load quickly, files upload successfully, and I can stay focused without constant interruptions. It makes a big difference. Visit t mobile.com homeinternet to check availability today. Price guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply fastest based on OOKLA speed test intelligence data second half of 2025. All rights reserved.

[B]

What would you say is the thing you hold in your heart dearest about your sister, the thing you'll take with you?

[C]

Her humor.

[B]

Her humor?

[C]

Yeah, her humor.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

She had a lot of humor, A lot of humor about men and women. I didn't have at all, and I don't have that kind of sense of humor.

[B]

You've got a great sense of humor.

[C]

I do. What?

[B]

Different.

[C]

Different? Yes.

[B]

I have a question about your secret to living a long, healthy life. With experiencing pain, tragedy, trauma, loss, sadness, you continue to thrive.

[C]

You see, when you were touched inappropriately, you probably would have come to me and say, edie, I don't know how to tell you that, because you went to Auschwitz. And my answer would be, I knew the enemy. You didn't minimize it. You have the right to be angry, but not to hold on to it or live by it. You got to go through the rage, scream it out, but don't get addicted to it. Don't do anything in excess. Drinking, smoking,

[B]

raging.

[C]

Yeah, rage. Yeah, rage is fear. Yeah, fear. And the biggest fear of a child is the fear of abandonment. That is important, Especially in midlife. That is not a crisis, but a transition. You don't have your periods anymore, but, you know, who wants to have babies anyway? No problem. But I work with midlife issues a lot on a daily basis, and it's a new beginning. A new beginning. You become older and wiser, not old and sinner.

[B]

Right.

[C]

So you're gonna write another book?

[B]

Yeah, working on another book, which has a lot of teachings about healing in the book as well, so. And overcoming that, but that's part of the vision. But I'm. I'm curious for you, though. What do you feel has been one of the keys to living a long, healthy life and with challenges and trying

[C]

to lie to yourself, not to. Not to Try to please other people. Give up the need for approval of others. I think that's number one. If you like me, fine. If you don't, that's okay. It doesn't mean I was rejected. Rejection is an English word that people make up to express a feeling. When you don't get what you want, give up the drama.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

No one can reject me but me.

[B]

That's true.

[C]

Don't say I was rejected. Nobody has any power.

[B]

But you can reject yourself.

[C]

You can.

[B]

And that's the biggest betrayal. If you do it to yourself.

[C]

You better have a talk with yourself. Find that little boy who is still crying and looking for a good, loving parent.

[B]

Yes. Yes.

[C]

And be a good mommy to you.

[B]

Do you feel like you've done spinach? Do you feel like you've been a good parent to yourself over the years?

[C]

I could have been better. But there are two questions are important. Number one, when did your childhood end? If you're a child of an immigrant, you end up taking care of your parents.

[B]

You never had a childhood.

[C]

You never had a childhood. Very important. The second question is, would you like to be married to you?

[B]

Yeah. That's a good one.

[C]

Yes. You gotta reflect people to ask themselves.

[B]

What do people say? Usually?

[C]

No, no, no, no. It's up to you. Who do you attract?

[B]

That's true. That's true. Is there anything else you'd like to share today? Anything else that's opening up for you that you want to Talk about?

[C]

My 95th birthday party.

[B]

When is it?

[C]

A couple of weeks ago.

[B]

Wow.

[C]

I was. Thank you.

[B]

95.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

Feeling alive. 95.

[C]

Feeling young.

[B]

Young. Young, energetic, passionate.

[C]

That's right. Dancing, celebrating. So the question is, how can you turn life into a constant celebration?

[B]

I love that. How do you do that?

[C]

Every moment is precious. Never throw out a piece of bread. Only buy what you eat. Cook for yourself. Don't go to a restaurant so much because it has a lot of salt and a lot of sugar.

[B]

Yeah. Tastes so good, though.

[C]

Cook. Cook.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Cook for yourself and enjoy every moment in life.

[B]

That's beautiful.

[C]

Don't procrastinate. And get rid of perfectionism.

[B]

I love those.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You're human. You're gonna make mistakes. That's fine.

[B]

You've got a couple of amazing books, the Choice and the Gift, which I'm a big fan of. And I know for years you said you didn't have anything to write about, but those books are incredible. I highly recommend people getting them. Oprah loved them as well and has shared them out and talked to you about those. It's really impacted a lot of people in life. So I really appreciate and acknowledge you for how you continue to thrive, how you continue to serve and give back to so many of us in our lives. So I really appreciate and acknowledge you. Thank you, doctor, either for your service and your wisdom, your joy. I want people to get your books. We'll have it all linked up for people. But you also have a course which is really inspiring as well.

[C]

Yes, we have a wonderful course and I think we have now about 2,000 people who signed up. But I think it's very important, hopefully, for me to write a book for teenagers.

[B]

Are you going to be doing that now?

[C]

I would like to do that. I'd like to see the teenagers can become ambassadors.

[B]

That's beautiful.

[C]

Ambassadors for peace, teens of the future and goodwill. I think we need to take the children seriously and have conversations with them that is age appropriate.

[B]

Yes. Yes. I can't wait for that book. You have to let me know so we can have you back on for that book as well. The course. I know you have a free course about forgiveness as well, so I want people to get the free course. And we'll have it all linked up on your site, Dr. Edith egger.com.

[C]

and forgiveness has a great deal to do with letting go. Letting go. So my definition of love is the ability to let go.

[B]

Yeah. Whatever you're holding on to, let it

[C]

go, let it go. Not going back. A new beginning. So you're pregnant and you're gonna give birth to the you that was meant to be free. Freedom is everything.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Freedom from the concentration camp that is in your own mind. And the key is in your pocket.

[B]

Wow. That's a part of your free course that people can get right now. And then if they want even more, you've got your advanced course unlocking your potential. So I want people to get both of those. That's beautiful. Okay, I have two final questions. Do you have time for two more questions?

[C]

Sure.

[B]

Okay. I believe I asked you this last time, but I want to ask you again. And it's called the three truths question. So it's a hypothetical question. Exactly.

[C]

My truth. Your truth.

[B]

Exactly. Exactly. So I want you to imagine a hypothetical scenario. For whatever reason, you have to take all of your books and conversations and courses and work with you somewhere. We don't have access to your content and all we have access to are these three truths, these three lessons that you've learned in your life that you'd like to share with the world. What would be those three truths that you could share. If you could only share three things and we wouldn't have access to any other content you've created, what would be those three three truths?

[C]

Suffering makes me stronger. Become your own good parent to you. And find your little child in you who is crying and asking for a good parent. And you show up for that child, the little boy, the little girl. And how anything you do, ask yourself whether it's empowering you or deplete you.

[B]

These are three powerful things.

[C]

And don't say just this time nobody's going to find out. I'm going to have this drink. Just not.

[B]

Yeah. Is it empowering or depleting you? Yeah, that's beautiful.

[C]

To know whether it's really important that you become your own good parent.

[B]

Yeah, that's beautiful.

[C]

And then whether you're going to act upon it or not, positive thinking has nothing to do with anything unless it's followed by with a positive action.

[B]

That's beautiful. Well, Dr. Edith, I want to acknowledge you. I appreciate you for how you continue to show up, how you continue to serve, how you continue to give.

[C]

That's what it's all about.

[B]

Your joy, your generosity, your attention, your time and your wisdom. So I really acknowledge and appreciate you. I'm so grateful for you and I can't wait to have some chicken from you soon.

[C]

That's right.

[B]

I'm going to come and get some chicken from you.

[C]

We're going to have chicken together. But most of all we're going to be colleagues and recognize that none of the academic knowledge really does any good unless you really have the knowledge of your life's work that you choose not to be a victim or the victimizer ever.

[B]

Yeah, that's beautiful. My, my final question, what's your definition of greatness?

[C]

Is to show up for life.

[B]

There you go. Thank you so much.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

Appreciate you. Thank you.

[A]

I hope you enjoyed today's episode and it inspired you on your journey towards greatness. Make sure to check out the show notes in the description Description for a full rundown of today's episode with all the important links and if you want weekly exclusive bonus episodes with me personally as well as ad free listening, then make sure to subscribe to our greatness+channel exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Share this with a friend on social media and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts as well. Let me know what you enjoyed about this episode in that review. I really love hearing hearing feedback from you and it helps us figure out how we can support and serve you moving forward. And I want to remind you if no one has told you lately that you are loved, you are worthy and you matter. And now it's time to go out there and do something great. Royal Caribbean takes next level to another level. Go all in on the world's boldest ships. Filled with mind blowing entertainment, world class dining and the largest water parks at sea. And just when you think it couldn't get any better, you'll stop at our award winning private island. Perfect day Cococay. It's an unreal adventure for everyone in the family book [e-mail] Big time, best time, all the time. Come seek the Royal Caribbean Ships registry Bahamas.

[C]

At vrbo, we understand that even the best of plans sometimes need a little support. So we planned for the plot twists.

[A]

Every booking is automatically backed by our

[C]

VRBO Care guarantee, giving you confidence from the very start. Whenever you need help, it's ready before your stay, through the moments in between and after your trip. Because a great trip starts with peace of mind and maybe a good playlist. But we've got the peace of mind part covered.