Two Bridge

Today I join the multitude of thoughtful people on LinkedIn departing from "business only" content to mourn the loss of the lives of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas z'l*, and Oded Lifshitz z'l. (See update in my comment.) The images and footage of Shiri clutching her two young children on October 7, 2023 while surrounded by armed terrorists is seared into the mind of every loving parent. Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were ushered onto the back of a pick-up truck and taken hostage into Gaza, where they would disappear for 503 days. The thought of what it must have been like for Shiri to have to witness the inhumane and unforgivable treatment of her children until the tragic end of their lives is unfathomable. Shiri's husband and Ariel and Kfir's father Yarden was released from Hamas captivity on February 1 after nearly 500 days as a hostage. He and the entire Israeli nation wherever they may be have hoped against hope that by some miracle Yarden's family would come out alive. But it was not to be. Shiri was 32 at the time of her abduction, Ariel 4, and Kfir just 9 months old. Oded Lifshitz was 83 years old when he and his wife Yocheved were dragged from their home by terrorists on October 7, unconscious with a bullet wound to his hand. Yocheved was released in October 2023. A hostage who was held with Oded after October 7 has shared that, "[o]n the 20th day, he felt unwell, and they dragged him out of the room. Since then, his whereabouts have been unknown, and we know nothing about him.” Oded was murdered by the Islamic Jihad while in captivity. He was a peace activist and volunteer with the Road to Recovery organization, which transported Palestinian children to hospitals in Israel for treatment. Sadly, even in their death, these victims of unimaginable barbarity were dehumanized in a Hamas handover "ceremony" today complete with music, cheering spectators, and a stage with props of rockets and anti-Israel posters featuring coffins. The International Committee of the Red Cross representative initially refused to conduct the document signing on the Hamas stage, but Hamas threatened to cancel the release if this demand was not met. Organizations such as the ICRC and the UN, and governments around the world have rightly and roundly condemned this inhumane display of uncivilized treatment of the dead. May the memories of Shiri, Ariel, Kfir, Oded, and all of the other victims of October 7 and its aftermath be a blessing. May all of the remaining hostages and remains of those murdered in captivity come home soon. ??? My parting request: Hug your family today. _________ * Note: "z'l" represents the 7th and 12th letters of the Israeli alphabet, Zayin and Lamed. Prounounced "zal", it is an acronym for the Hebrew phrase meaning "may his/her/their memory be blessed." The use of the term is traditional after mentioning the name of a deceased person.) For an explanation on the use of the color orange in this context, please see https://lnkd.in/emgFy_G5

Still feeling the impact of our emotional screening in NYC, and we’re so grateful that the incredible Seth Rudetsky invited Two Bridge and Harris Schwartzberg onto Seth Speaks on SiriusXM to dive deeper into the importance of mental health and the future of Common Denominator. It means so much to have this conversation on a platform that reaches so many. Mark your calendars to listen live on SXM On Broadway (ch. 69): ?? Today at 7 PM EST ?? Sunday at 11 PM EST ?? Tuesday at 7 AM EST ?? Wednesday at 12 PM EST Missed it live? SiriusXM subscribers can stream it anytime on demand! Huge thanks to Seth Rudetsky, SiriusXM on Broadway, and SiriusXM for amplifying this important conversation. #TwoBridge #MentalHealth #TwoBridgeSupport

On the day of Gavin’s memorial, we partnered with OUTFRONT Media to create a special tribute in Times Square—a billboard honoring his remarkable legacy in the heart of the city he loved. Gavin touched countless lives with his artistry, authenticity, and warmth, and this tribute stands as a powerful reminder of the impact he made on the world. We’ve been working on a deeply meaningful project, Common Denominator, a series dedicated to exploring mental health through authentic conversations and art. Gavin was featured in our pilot episode, where his warmth, vulnerability, and incredible talent were beautifully captured. As we continue to honor Gavin’s legacy, we’re grateful to share these moments with the world. Footage from this special episode will soon be released on our YouTube channel, and we hope it resonates with and inspires others as much as it did us. It’s an honor to celebrate Gavin’s life and share his light with others. We miss you, Gavin. Subscribe for more: https://lnkd.in/gr7DMkvg

With my global work in mental health and wellness, I’ve realized that a key challenge is delivering the message in compelling, engaging, and impactful ways. At Two Bridge, we’ve been dedicated to building a platform that blends high-quality mental health content with evidence-based psychological first-aid training, and we’re thrilled to finally share the results of 18 months of work. We are so proud to introduce Common Denominator, a high-quality entertaining series that combines art, music, and honest discussion about mental wellness that allow the viewers to see that they are not alone.? As many of you may know, our first guest, the incomparable Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning actor Gavin Creel, recently passed away. We want to honor him with an early release of our pilot episode filmed in New York City. Subscribe to Two Bridge on YouTube for updates and exclusive clips from this series. Follow along on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eS4eHSMX

Many of you have joined Jim Yong Kim?and?our team at Two Bridge for our mental health events created to convene and discuss issues that impact many of us. Since its inception, Two Bridge has researched over a hundred mental health companies, built healthcare businesses,?and?spent hundreds of hours with mental health founders?and?leaders.?? ? As many promising mental health companies advance, we need to address the expanding mental health problem at a faster, more fundamental level.?Two Bridge feels that combining high-quality, entertaining content with evidence-based psychological first-aid training is the most effective way to impact the most significant number of people globally.??We are very proud to introduce Two Bridge Studios: Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/e5ytn_fd. ? Over the past 12 months, we have been working with an incredible team of artists to create content to show that we are not alone in the feelings that we’re battling.?Our first show, Common Denominator, was to be aired in the summer of ’25.?Tragically, our pilot guest?and?dear friend, Gavin Creel, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.?In his honor, we will release the pilot episode after a NYC screening for his fans in early '25.? ? Our host, Maurice DuBois, goes on a journey with Gavin about navigating love and loss and the deep connections of friendship and family. Reflecting on the profound impact of music and art and "Walk on Through" Gavin’s story highlights the power of creativity in building connection and healing. We are excited to celebrate Gavin through his own words. A special thanks to WCBS | CBS New York, Playbill, Cognitive & Behavioral Consultants, MCC Theater and The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Introducing Common Denominator, a series close to our hearts from Two Bridge. The pilot episode features our dear friend, Tony Award-winner Gavin Creel, who opens up about his journey of coming out, navigating love and loss, and the deep connections of friendship and family. Reflecting on the profound impact of music and art, Gavin’s story highlights the power of creativity in building connection and healing. This episode is a celebration of Gavin’s light and legacy. Coming soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for updates about Common Denominator and more special moments with Gavin Creel. Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gr7DMkvg

This past week, Two Bridge hosted our third "Changing the World" event, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. Our panel, featuring Peiman Raf, Chelsea Cutler , and Nate Checketts, led by moderator Maurice DuBois, shared raw, vulnerable insights into the intersection of mental health and music—conversations that resonated deeply with everyone present. We were also honored to hear from Jim Yong Kim and Aaron Lazar, whose powerful insights and personal stories deeply moved and inspired everyone in the room. The work we’re doing at Two Bridge is only just beginning. Our world is calling for change, and we’re committed to leading that charge. If you're passionate about supporting mental health, there’s no better moment to get involved. Together, we can create the change we all need. Thank you Playbill and CBS for featuring our event and the incredible work of our friend Aaron Lazar! And special thanks to our friends at University of Michigan - School of Music, Theatre & Dance for introducing us to such an amazing group of performers who made the night so special!

We are thankful to partner with such amazing mental health partners as Maurice DuBois, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Dr. Alec Miller, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul to help spread awareness and advocate for mental health. #TwoBridge #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness

At Two Bridge, we’re driven to make a lasting impact on mental health by supporting projects that resonate deeply with people. What started with healthcare investment and consulting has grown into building communities and creating media that sparks meaningful conversations. We’re excited to share mental health content and programs designed to connect with audiences everywhere, offering thoughtful, evidence-based insights into this critical issue.