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*Trigger Warning - This episode mentions a suicide. 

 (Jewish Stories of Philadelphia)

Episode 11: Gabe and Herbie. I have a talk with Gabriel Nathan who runs a unique suicide prevention out of an 60 year old Herbie VW. We talk about the dream the had as a young child, that he has now achieved, and came from seeing "The Love Bug" (on VHS) with his Aunt. And how the hell he bought his first Herbie car at age 14. This is a tough, but uplifting story, with a happy ending.  

About Gabe and Herbie 

Enter Gabriel Nathan, a mental health and suicide awareness advocate from the Philadelphia suburbs who drives a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle daily. Why is this car so important, you may ask? It’s because this specific Beetle is a replica of Herbie the Love Bug, the charming little car from the 1969 film “The Love Bug.” Nathan, who is a self-described “Herbie freak,” uses Herbie to attract attention to the these issues that plague humanity through the use of a rear window graphic, which reads “Drive out suicide, Stop suicide now,” as well as lists both the website www.DriveOutSuicide.org and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Many people may not know this, but Herbie the Love Bug is the only car to ever attempt suicide in motion picture history. By knowing this, Nathan knew he had to use Herbie, a car that many people recognize and love, to draw attention to suicide awareness. 

Article About Gabe   

https://www.inquirer.com/life/herbie-the-love-bug-suicide-prevention-awareness-gabe-nathan-20191204.html

Short Film about Gabe and Herbie 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlQz0KDJJGg

This film and road-trip is being generously supported by:

Bud Clayman, OC87 Recovery Diaries, The Community Foundation of New Jersey, Dr. Frank Campbell of Campbell & Associates LOSSteam Postvention Workshops & Training, and the Reel Mind Film Festival.

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Interviewed and edited by Richie Wexler