Who we are

Jeanne is an attorney, podcaster, writer and activist who speaks to students, parents and organizations; sharing her inspiring story and encouraging others to practice intentional kindness and as a cautionary tale to beware the dangers of online meetups and extremism. In 2018, her son Blaze Bernstein was a 19 year old student at the University of Pennsylvania when he was murdered by an extremist neo-Nazi that he met when they both were students at the Orange County School of the Arts in 2014 (when Blaze started high school). Blaze’s killing elevate his killer’s status within the ranks of a hate group he found online. The hate group targeted gay and Jewish people, among others.

The platform her family created for gathering information during their son Blaze’s disappearance was later referred to as the #BlazeItForward movement and morphed into a public group on Facebook. That group with over 34,000 members celebrates intentional acts of kindness, diversity and community service. Since Blaze’s death, Jeanne and her husband Gideon Bernstein have called for acceptance of marginalized people, community activism and intentional acts of kindness to empower communities to fight against hatred and injustice and to envision a kinder more caring world. They are dedicated to creating a legacy for Blaze that will make his life’s mission to repair the world a reality.

Jeanne now uses the PeppTalks podcast to dive deep with extraordinarily giving people on a wide range of topics related to why and how they choose to help others inline with inspiring others to join the #BlazeItForward movement. From thought-provoking interviews with everyday superheroes to captivating storytelling sessions and reveals, each episode promises insightful discussions on what we can all do to make the world a better place. This engaging content will leave you feeling enriched and inspired. Tune in to discover a world of endless possibilities when we give kindness and “Blaze it Forward” a chance.

Jeanne Pepper

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Eli Joel Moskowitz

Eli Joel Moskowitz is the accomplished Producer and Technical Director for the PeppTalks podcast, responsible for translating the show's mission-driven interviews into high-quality, impactful audio experiences. With deep expertise in audio engineering and narrative sound design, Eli manages all technical aspects of production, from initial remote recording setup and complex sound mixing to final mastering and distribution. His role is critical in ensuring the authentic delivery of challenging topics, meticulously crafting the post-production flow to enhance clarity and emotional resonance for the listener. Beyond the technical board, Eli is a key contributor to content strategy and guest preparation, focusing on how each episode contributes to the show’s overall goal of fostering advocacy and sharing powerful, personal stories of social justice and community impact. He has generously volunteered his time and skills to PeppTalks since 2023.

Moskowitz is a second-generation sound professional and a proud member of IATSE, bringing well over a decade of deep expertise from the highly competitive world of television production sound. His extensive resume includes work on major hit shows such as Anger Management (with Charlie Sheen), The Conners, and Bob Hearts Abishola. Currently, he is focused on his roles for two highly-rated series, working on the second production seasons of Netflix's #1 show Leanne and CBS's Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage. As a technical innovator, Eli was also instrumental in the testing of the XO-Boom product made by Cinema Devices, highlighting his commitment to advancing the tools of the trade.

The Facebook Public Group: #BlazeitForward

#BlazeItForward is a movement created by Jeanne Pepper and her husband, Gideon Bernstein after the death of their son Blaze. They created the concept of #BlazeitForward to encourage people to perform acts of kindness to honor Blaze’s memory and continue his legacy of repairing the world. The movement's goal is to inspire people to make the world a better place through intentional acts of kindness. A brief video of the Bernsteins.

Help us remember Blaze Bernstein and honor his memory.

For more information go to:

www.blazebernstein.org

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