Today marks the first yahrzeit of my grandmother, Suri Lichtschein z"l, aka Babi Yaya.

In this special episode, my brother Elie and I look back on Babi's extraordinary 99 years of life — from surviving Auschwitz and rebuilding her life after the Holocaust to becoming the beloved matriarch of our family.

We share childhood memories, funny stories, and reflections on her remarkable sense of humor, unwavering emunah, and the legacy she left behind.

Originally recorded last year for our podcast An Excuse to Talk to My Brother, I'm republishing this conversation here on Depends on the Context in honor of her first yahrzeit.

May her neshamah have an aliyah.

My kids never asked me to buy them 340+ Peppa Pig toys.

I did it anyway.

It started with two Afikoman presents. Six months later, I had made 201 separate purchases and spent $1,377.90 on Peppa Pig.

Along the way, Peppa became part of bath time, Shabbos, learning Navi- and somehow I ended up drawing faces on actual potatoes from the bodega.

This is the story of how something genuinely good got completely out of hand and what my kids understood about it before I did.

Ami Kozak is well known today as a comedian, impressionist, podcaster and increasingly serious public voice. But before TikTok, viral impressions and public debates, Ami spent years building a creative career through music, advertising, commercial jingles and his band, Distant Cousins.

I’ve known Ami since we were teenagers, and we traced that entire journey- from Battle of the Bands and pursuing music, to becoming known not only for his humor, but also for his thoughtful engagement with serious issues.

Ami and I also discuss the realities of building a career online: consistently producing content, resisting audience capture, balancing comedy with conviction and staying present with your family when your livelihood lives on your phone.Show Notes* September 27 performance in Monsey - Tickets* October 1 performance at The Cheese Store - Tickets* “Happiness Is Calling” - San Diego commercialBe sure to check out Ami's podcast, Ami’s House!