Episode 313: Unveiling the Truth: IDF Soldier Recounts Straightforward Events of October 7th

Imagine going from the best day of your life…to the worst. In just a matter of hours. 

That’s the reality of this week’s Habits & Hustle guest, Yadin Gellman. 

Yadin is an actor who serves as a reservist in the Israeli military. He knows the painful reality of the Israel-Palestine conflict better than most, being on the front lines of October 7 and fighting for his life after being shot by Hamas fighters near the Gaza Strip. 

His is a tale of two starkly different worlds. From the deafening silence of the battlefield to the wild applause of an audience.

Yadin shares the deep impact his experiences in the Israeli Defense Forces have on his approach to acting. How he balances the gruelling demands of special forces training with his life in the limelight. As well as the harsh truths of his encounters with radical ideologies and how he maintains his hope for peace. 

TRIGGER WARNING: Graphic detail of violence and injury.

What we discuss:

(00:01) - Military service and acting in Israel

(19:44) - Going from soldier to actor

(37:55) - Concerns of military negligence

(43:33) - War and an analysis of the Israeli government

(58:26) - Driving through an Israeli war zone

(01:10:38) - Fighting and Clearing Houses

(01:24:21) - A heroic rescue and survival story 

(01:32:59) - Surviving trauma and exposing lies

(01:44:10) - Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Media Bias

(01:52:52) - The desensitisation to violence and radical Islam

(02:05:04) - Hamas and the possibility of peace 

(02:10:25) - How the experience of war has impacted his acting plans

Find more from Jen: 

Website: https://www.jennifercohen.com/

Instagram: @therealjencohen 

Books: https://www.jennifercohen.com/books

Speaking: https://www.jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagement

Find more from Yadin: 

Instagram: @yadingellman