Noshing With Karen A. Frenkel, March 27,2025

This week on "Ira’s Everything Bagel," Ira sits down with award-winning journalist, author, and documentarian Karen A. Frenkel to discuss her new book, "Family Treasures Lost & Found." In this episode, Karen takes us on an extraordinary journey—one that began with unanswered questions and a deep yearning to uncover her parents' untold survival stories from the Holocaust. Karen shares the emotional complexities of her quest: why her father refused to talk about his past, the frustration of not knowing her own family history, and the pivotal moment when she convinced her mother to record an oral history. As both a daughter and an investigative journalist, she found herself balancing personal and professional roles, trans-forming what started as a personal search into an investigative mission filled with unexpected twists, moments of luck, and remarkable discoveries. She reveals the astonishing path her father took to America—his journey spanning Cuba (where a local newspaper documented his ship’s arrival), Mexico (where he volunteered as a doctor while awaiting his visa), and Vienna (where he attended medical school). Karen also recounts her emotional visit to her grandfather’s home, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the surprises she unearthed during her research—shocking revelations she later shared with her sisters and cousins. We also explore why Karen chose to turn her findings into both a memoir and a documen-tary—initially envisioning a historical novel before pivoting to a deeply personal narrative. She reflects on the challenges of working on the film during COVID, the two game-changing discoveries made in the process, and the importance of sharing these stories with the world. This is more than a conversation—it’s an invitation to witness a powerful, personal jour-ney of resilience, discovery, and the enduring importance of remembering the past. Tune in to hear Karen’s unforgettable story and why she hopes Family Treasures Lost & Found will resonate with people from all walks of life. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)