TL;DR: Phyllis Zimbler Miller shares her journey in Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism from publishing survivor stories as a journalist to co-hosting the Never Again Is Now podcast. She discusses her work in theater, documentaries, and a book in progress, while calling for collaboration through recommendations for agents, publishers, and organizations to help expand Holocaust awareness.

I joined Global Jewry after my Never Again Is Now podcast co-host, Evelyn Markus, and I had the opportunity to interview Sandy Cardin (watch here). Sandy’s philosophy of connecting people to amplify their effectiveness resonated deeply with my own approach. Through my various writing and podcasting projects, I strive to share valuable information and foster meaningful connections.

My journey into Holocaust and antisemitism projects began, unknowingly, when my husband, U.S. Army officer Mitchell R. Miller, and I were stationed in Munich, Germany, from September 1970 to May 1972. This experience profoundly shaped our identities as Jews and transformed our lives forever.

Upon returning to the U.S., I worked as a reporter and editor at the Jewish Exponent of Philadelphia. As editor of Friday Forum, the Exponent’s monthly literary supplement, I published firsthand accounts from Holocaust survivors and those who risked their lives to save others.

In 1978, I left the Exponent to pursue an M.B.A. at Wharton, and in 1980, my husband and I relocated to Los Angeles.

Fast forward to a few years ago, I confided in a friend I felt regretful that those powerful Holocaust stories were published before the internet era. Her advice was simple but profound: “Write a play.” And I did. After many rewrites and her insightful feedback, my efforts culminated in the creation of a nonfiction Holocaust theater project for students, Thin Edge of the Wedge, which opened doors to several documentary film projects.

In the summer of 2021, I woke up one day with a clear resolution: “I can no longer hear news of antisemitism without taking action.” Shortly after, I met with Evelyn Markus, whose story was featured in the documentary Never Again Is Now. Over coffee, I pitched the idea of co-hosting a podcast on global antisemitism. Today, as I write this, we are preparing for our 173rd interview with guests from around the world.

Following the events of October 7th, I launched a second YouTube channel, Miller Mosaic LLC, which hosts a dedicated podcast playlist, “Israel at War,” followed by “Jews and the World.” Most recently, I added a new podcast playlist, “Things You Didn’t Know About the Holocaust,”, to complement the book I am writing for a general audience. This book delves into the often-overlooked historical lead-up to World War II and the Holocaust—a context that is more relevant than ever today.

Now, as Sandy might say, here’s my “ask”:

1 Email me recommendations for book agents and/or publishers for my book project, Things You Didn’t Know About the Holocaust.

2 Organizations: consider displaying the link to the podcast playlist—“Things You Didn’t Know About the Holocaust”—on your websites to help share this critical historical information.

Shabbat Shalom and may we see a peaceful and cooperative ceasefire that brings home all of the remaining hostages,

Phyllis Zimbler Miller

Beverly Hills, CA