Dr. Deborah Gilboa: The neuroscience of resilience

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Deborah Gilboa, MD, an expert in resilience and navigating change.

The Pittsburgh-based family physician and author of “From Stressed to Resilient: The Guide to Handle More and Feel It Less” begins the program by defining what is — and what is not — resilience. We learn that it can be exercised and strengthened to be employed when we are presented with unexpected choices, positive or negative.

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Gilboa, whose son served and was injured as a lone soldier in Gaza, shares how she personally found inner fortitude following his deployment in October 2023 and was able to be the mother he needed when called upon.

We also hear about Dr. G’s Squirrel Hill community and its coping mechanisms in the wake of the October 27, 2018, shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, in which 11 people were killed by a white supremacist terrorist. We learn that the community’s response to US President Donald Trump’s visit lines up with resilience tactics, including drawing boundaries and uniting through tragedy.

Finally, Gilboa gives quick tips for how listeners may hack their own resilience muscle in times of stress.

And so, this week, we ask Dr. Deborah Gilboa what matters now.

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was edited by Yitzchak Ledee.

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