Growing Up With Boarding School Parents | Neglect, Abandonment, Addictions AEM #105 Gabriel Hershman

An Evolving Man Podcast

Gabriel Hershman is an author who also publishes under the name of Daniel Kupfermann. He has written 5 books, so far. Four were film biographies and written under the name of Gabriel Hershman. He has also written a memoir called, Don't Be So Sensitive.

“I decided to write the memoir under a pseudonym as a demarkation from my other work but also to shield the work from other living family members.

I grew up in London and then moved to Portugal and then Bulgaria. Writing a memoir is always a work in progress and it was only when I'd finished the book that I realised I'd been dealing with 4 family members who had attended boarding school and the strange effects on their psyche."

Questions for Gabriel:

1. I would love for you to share how you got into writing. What drew you to write your autobiography?
2. What was it like growing up? Could you please share some of your journey growing up?
3. What was it like being a day pupil at a school where there were boarders? What did you make of boarding at that age?
4. Could you please talk about highly sensitive people (HSP)? What is it? P.7
5. Your step-father Gerard's experience of boarding school: He was “sent away” “despatched” “being kicked in the teeth.” P.24 “he'd been through a tough time at boarding school” P.83
6. The physical, mental and emotional treatment you received from Gerard. What was it like growing up with an ex-boarder? P58 – “Gerard criticised me...” and would then.. P.59 “lose his temper.”
7. Even though Gerard had had a tough time at boarding school (your mother saying that he'd had “an emotional hysterectomy”) why did he want to send you away to one? P.83
8. As I was reading the book I could see many of Gerard's traits as symptoms of trauma/ boarding school syndrome: only interested in beautiful women/ weathy people, trying to curry favour with people. He had to win everytime. Very critical of you.
9. Leaving you for most of the winter age 10 with your alcoholic half-brother age 20. How was that for you? P.88 (Your mother leaving the same age her mother died age 10 – P.94)
10. Having no one to validate your feelings and left alone (P.134) How was that for you?
11. The experiences of your half-brothers and your mother's at boarding school (P.144)
12. Your experiences of Dulwich - “Dulwich was remarkably sink or swim.” P.151 Bullying P.160
13. What other aspects are there to these single-sex 'elite' schools that are detrimental to development?
14. Four members of your family went to boarding school and all became problem drinker. Could you please talk to that?
15. Your debilitating speech problem. Where do you think that arose from?
16. How do people find out more about your work and books

To purchase his memoir: https://amzn.eu/d/gR05hc9

To purchase his books on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/eTOwAHN

To connect with him on LinkedIn please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-hershman-24955619/?originalSubdomain=bg

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Piers is an author and a men's transformational coach and therapist who works mainly with trauma, boarding school issues, addictions and relationship problems.

He also runs online men's groups for ex-boarders, retreats and a podcast called An Evolving Man.

He is also the author of How to Survive and Thrive in Challenging Times. To purchase Piers first book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Survive-Thrive-Challenging-Times/dp/B088T5L251/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=piers+cross&qid=1609869608&sr=8-1

For more videos please visit: http://youtube.com/pierscross

For FB: https://www.facebook.com/pierscrosspublic

For Piers' website and a free training How To Find Peace In Everyday Life: https://www.piers-cross.com/community

Many blessings,
Piers Cross
http://piers-cross.com/