Episode 51: Kristine Keese - Holocaust survivor

[julie007]

Thank you Paul for another inspiring show with a very special guest. I've gained so much strength and wisdom from listening to interviews and reading memoirs by people who survived WW2. It became a form of therapy to me. If they could survive and thrive in spite of the external insanity and darkness of their world at that time, then I can certainly survive and thrive through my internal battles with darkness, fear and that cruel belittling voice of self-hatred in my own head that threatens to take over if I give in to it.

So many people who survived that war could not bring themselves to talk about it. I hope Kristine Keese knows how valuable her story is and how much people like me appreciate her courage to share it so openly.

Here's a video about another Holocaust survivor who is now 108! Alice moves me to tears (hopeful, inspired tears!) every time I watch. I can never get enough of her and I think of this as my "Alice Therapy".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMfxU3fC ... re=related

My favorite, most inspiring WW2 memoirs:
#1 In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer - Irene Opdyke - One of the most profound books I have ever experienced. A Catholic teenager living in Poland when the war broke out, she chose repeatedly to risk her neck to help Jews hide and escape. I couldn't put the book down. Profound courage.
#2 Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I fell in love with Louis Zamperini, teenage ruffian turned Olympic runner turned WW2 bombardier turned Japanese prisoner of war. If his story had been written as fiction I would've thrown it over my shoulder in disgust thinking no one would ever survive all that in real life.
#3 All But My Life by Gerda Klein. Survivor of several death camps and a death march across Germany. She lost her whole family and watched her 3 best friends slowly die. Then an incredible love story at the end of the war beats any Hollywood ending. Another unbelievable but true story of survival and the power of perseverance and optimism in the face of hopelessness and devastation.

[SimoneSays]

Kristine's story was absolutely riveting. I've always been fascinated by the survival stories and the strength of the human spirit. I thought I heard her mention a website, but I cannot find anything. If she has a site I'd love that information. Would love to learn more. Also, does she have a book? Such an incredible story and she tells it so well.

Thanks, Paul for giving me a fresh perspective on things!

Simone

[illestskillest]

Does anyone know the name of the documentary Paul and Kristine were talking about with the unreleased footage?

[Paul Gilmartin]

Thanks for the nice comments. Kristine does not have a book out. And I can't remember the name of the documentary, but its about 50 minutes long and is footage of the Warsaw ghetto. I saw it on Netflix. If you do a search of Warsaw ghetto, I'm sure it will come up.


Paul

[tonyb]

I've been enjoying catching up on your podcast after hearing you on Marc Maron's show, but I had to register just to thank you for sharing this amazing interview. As someone who continues to learn how to cope healthily with emotions of the past and present, Kristine's pragmatism and hopefulness are truly inspirational.

Thanks for all your time and effort in producing these great podcasts.

[333ErikaE]

I believe the documentary is called A Film Unfinished. http://www.afilmunfinished.com/
I saw it on Netflix