The Greatest Love of All

Episode Summary

Dr. Debbie Akerman sits down with her longtime friend Mindy, whom she describes as "the most interesting person I have ever met." Mindy shares her remarkable life story—from growing up in Borough Park in a religiously conflicted household, to biking 16 miles daily while pursuing her MBA, to becoming a kidney donor and surrogate mother. This conversation reveals a woman who consistently chooses to help others in extraordinary ways, guided by her mother's core teaching: "do the right thing always."

Key Takeaways

• Religious journey and identity crisis – Mindy traces her path from modern kashrut upbringing in Borough Park through philosophical questioning at 17, to finding her footing in seminary in Israel and ultimately embracing modern Orthodox Judaism.

• Epic commuting dedication – While pursuing her MBA and working multiple jobs (including at Lowe's and driving for Uber), Mindy biked 16 miles daily in Memphis—including 10 miles with two young children in a cargo bike—in all weather conditions because they couldn't afford a car.

• Life-saving kidney donation – Inspired by a childhood memory of seeing an ad for someone needing a kidney, Mindy donated to a stranger named Zach Conn at age 28-29, describing the recovery as more painful than childbirth but ultimately deeply meaningful.

• Groundbreaking surrogacy journey – After extensive research into Jewish law regarding surrogacy, Mindy became a surrogate for a Jewish couple, navigating complex religious questions about motherhood, genetic vs. birth mothers, and the ethics of married Orthodox women serving as surrogates.

• Natural birth philosophy – Despite the unique circumstances, Mindy maintained her preference for natural childbirth, delivering the surrogate baby in a birthing center bathtub with both intended parents present, describing it as "actually a better labor than with my kids."

Notable Quotes

"My mother raised me like do the right thing always... That was like her number one thing is do the right thing and this was the right thing."

"Someone needs it. And I can save someone's life... your fear is not worth more than someone's life."

"In my head while I was giving birth I was like this is tzar ba'alei chayim [causing pain to animals], this is torture."