How do you break generational patterns when you had no healthy models to follow? In this episode of "Every Soul Has a Story," Dara Levan welcomes Cari Fund, an advocate for women's empowerment and healing from generational trauma. Cari doesn't hold back. From recognizing toxic patterns at just 14 years old to her current work with her Surviving Roots podcast, she shares her journey with narcissistic parents and the difficult decision to establish boundaries. "I took back the f@#$ing pen," she de...
Apr 15, 2025•42 min
What happens when the preventative surgery you chose to avoid cancer reveals you already have it? In this episode of "Every Soul Has a Story," Dara Levan welcomes author Gila Pfeffer, whose memoir "Nearly Departed" chronicles her journey through losing both parents to cancer at a young age and her own battle with breast cancer. With refreshing candor and signature wit, Gila shares how her Orthodox Jewish identity shaped her experiences and how becoming a mother to four children galvanized her co...
Apr 08, 2025•40 min
What if your greatest challenges were actually your most profound teachers? In this soul-stirring conversation, educator and writer Daphne Gregory-Thomas weaves together the threads of loss, resilience, and transformation through her journey as an innovative educator, cancer survivor, and storyteller. Her narrative illuminates how life's greatest challenges often become our most profound teachers, from early maternal loss to creating groundbreaking educational programs for students with learning...
Feb 12, 2025•27 min
In what ways did author Sheila Athens transform her personal grief into a powerful source of resilience and creativity, leading to the release of her third novel? In this episode of "Every Soul Has a Story," host Dara Levan welcomes novelist Sheila Athens to share her inspiring journey from a corporate HR executive to a successful author. Sheila recounts her early passion for writing, which was reignited in her 40s after a serendipitous NPR ad and the support of her husband. Sheila's HR backgrou...
Jan 15, 2025•27 min
Why is the fight against book banning so crucial for maintaining diverse viewpoints, and how can literature empower us to embrace empathy and understanding? In this episode of "Every Soul Has a Story," host Dara Levan welcomes bestselling author Emily Bleeker. This episode is a must-listen for writers and book enthusiasts as it delves into the art of weaving historical truths into fiction, a technique brilliantly showcased in Bleeker's latest novel, "Once We Were Enemies," inspired by her grandm...
Dec 17, 2024•26 min
How did author and writing teacher Sarahlyn Bruck’s journey through unexpected twists and turns in the publishing world lead to her ultimate success as an author? Today host Dara Levan welcomes Sarahlyn Bruck to discuss the intricate paths of the publishing world. Sarahlyn’s setbacks, and ultimate success, reveal her belief in the power of perseverance and the crucial role of timing in the industry. Sarahlyn candidly shares her experiences with various publishing houses and the significance of p...
Dec 09, 2024•29 min
We all live with the possibility that we won’t wake up one day, but not everyone is consciously aware of that fact. Today’s guest lives with a daily reminder of her mortality. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Andra Watkins, a New York Times bestselling author known for her captivating writing and soul-stirring speeches. Andra, who has navigated the waves of adversity with unwavering resilience and turned her life into an adventurous journey, offered us an enlightening conversation about life...
Oct 16, 2024•30 min
Bringing my first book to life felt like an emotional adventure akin to childbirth—filled with excitement, challenges, and profound self-discovery. In this heartfelt solo episode of "Every Soul Has a Story", I share about the intense journey of editing, revising, and ultimately letting go of my "book baby". With poignant advice from a dear friend guiding me, I reflect on the incredible personal and professional growth I’ve experienced over the past six months. A highlight I cherish deeply is the...
Sep 25, 2024•12 min
What does it mean to receive an autism diagnosis in your 40s? Today’s guest, Katie Rose Guest Pryal, J.D., Ph.D., shares her unique journey of navigating life with a late autism diagnosis—an experience surprisingly common, particularly among women. Katie is an accomplished author, mental health advocate, professor, and mother who brings a rich blend of personal and professional expertise to the conversation. Diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and autism, she has become a powerful voice in the ...
Sep 11, 2024•39 min
The journey of “Every Soul Has a Story” began with an unexpected Instagram Live session during the early COVID-19 lockdown. These impromptu conversations, born out of a need for connection, have grown into a sanctuary for authentic dialogues. This season opener is a heartfelt recounting of my personal challenges, including an unexpected surgery and the profound loss of loved ones. It’s a testament to the power of embracing life's raw and imperfect moments, which have become the cornerstone of th...
Sep 03, 2024•10 min
Today’s guest is author, poet, editor, and writing teacher Michelle Cameron. Michelle is also a director of The Writers Circle, which offers creative writing instruction to adults and kids. She recently published her fourth novel, Babylon: a novel of Jewish Captivit y, which is published by Wicked Son Books . In this episode, Michelle joins the conversation to share how she learned that we can't always predict our paths for ourselves or our children. She talks about her experiences with four dif...
Oct 23, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Today’s guest is author Elizabeth Sumner Wafler. She recently published her fourth novel, A Cleft in the World. In this episode, Elizabeth shares how she learned that her grandfather was Jewish when she was 50 years old. Elizabeth talks about her childhood, sharing she grew up in “an insular world and provincial community” in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She talked about how her family in the ‘60s swept controversial or topics perceived as embarrassing under the rug. We laughed as we bantered about o...
Sep 18, 2023•23 min•Season 3Ep. 39
It’s not every day you get to chat with someone who has experienced life in two vastly different environments. Today’s guest is @jennifer.anglade.dahlberg, who recently published her fourth novel, A Norn In Bloom. A New York native and former executive recruiter, Jennifer experienced a significant turning point after falling in love and moving to Sweden. Learn how Jennifer adjusted to a new country, language, and culture. Jennifer talks about her career shift, her publishing journey, and being t...
Sep 12, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Jennifer Vido is the author of the Piper O'Donnell Social Lite Mystery series, a mystery and romance author with a love for all things cozy. When a twist of fate landed Jennifer at the "Reading with Ripa” roundtable discussion with Kelly Ripa and Meg Cabot, her entrée into the publishing world officially began. As an avid book lover, she blogs about bestselling book releases and writes the Jen’s Jewels author interview column for FreshFiction.com . She also is a certified copy editor. A longtime...
Jul 20, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 37
What an honest, heartfelt, and profound conversation. Loved chatting with @May Cobb May is the author of MY SUMMER DARLINGS, THE HUNTING WIVES and BIG WOODS. Originally from East Texas, May moved to San Francisco where she studied Victorian Literature; then she lived in Los Angeles for a few years working for filmmaker/writer Ron Shelton and his wife, the actress Lolita Davidovich. She resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband and son where she says, “I enjoy napping, staring into space, making...
Jul 13, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 36
What a lively, heartwarming conversation with Rob Schwartz! We chatted about Rob’s late father, Morrie, his childhood memories, and the indelible impact of Morrie’s wisdom on his family and the world. The book Tuesdays With Morrie touched my heart in the 1990s and has stayed there ever since. Rob Schwartz is a writer, producer, and entrepreneur. His work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Interview and Melody Maker, among many others. He was a script editor at NHK W...
Jun 17, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Corie Adjmi is the author of the short story collection Life and Other Shortcomings, which won an International Book Award, an IBPA Benjamin Franklin award, and an American Fiction Award. Her prize-winning essays and short stories have appeared in dozens of journals and magazines, including HuffPost, North American Review, Indiana Review, Medium, Motherwell and Kveller. She’s been featured in Travel and Leisure, New York Magazine, The Hollywood Times, Parade and BuzzFeed. Her novel, The Marriage...
Jun 08, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Loved chatting with Jennifer Rosner is the author of the novels ONCE WE WERE HOME and THE YELLOW BIRD SINGS, a National Jewish Book Award finalist in debut fiction and book club and a Massachusetts Fiction Honors Book. She is also author of the memoir IF A TREE FALLS: A FAMILY'S QUEST TO HEAR AND BE HEARD, and the children's book, THE MITTEN STRING, a Sydney Taylor Book Award Notable. Jennifer's books have been translated into a dozen languages. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Th...
Jun 01, 2023•26 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Many mothers can relate to juggling kids and careers, and Julie Chavez is no exception. An elementary school librarian, mother, and writer, Julie experienced her first panic attack at the age of thirty-eight. She had a happy life, a solid marriage, and a fulfilling job. What could possibly be the matter? Julie’s upcoming memoir, Everyone But Myself, explores this difficult time period and her journey back to a healthier, balanced life. Julie “writes to explore the joys and impossibilities of mot...
May 18, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 32
I loved connecting with guest Joanna Rakoff on today's Every Soul Has a Story episode. Joanna is the author of the international bestselling memoir My Salinger Year and the bestselling novel A Fortunate Age, winner of the Goldberg Prize for Fiction and the Elle Readers’ Prize. Rakoff’s books have been translated into twenty languages, and the film adaptation of My Salinger Year opened in theaters worldwide in 2021 and is now streaming. She has been the recipient of fellowships and residencies fr...
May 12, 2023•57 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Allison Hong Merrill is a self-professed loveaholic. We discussed living, loving, and letting go. And how the choices we make to find joy come from within. A Taiwanese immigrant, she is an award-winning & bestselling author who shares her Chinese culture with strong storytelling skills to create empowering memoirs, to build understanding and love. Allison has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and writes in both Chinese and English, both fiction and nonfiction. Her work appears in The ...
Mar 23, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 30
We will chat about how we find joy even in grief and loss. Jessica is a fellow writer and podcaster. Her daughter Dalia was diagnosed with an ultra-rare disease, MERRF Syndrome. At 9, Dalia lost her ability to walk, talk, eat, and breathe without the assistance of a ventilator. Jessica had to figure out how to navigate day-to-day life with a severely ill child while attempting to retain some sense of normalcy for her three children, a happy marriage, and job as vice president of a billion-dollar...
Mar 17, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 29
USA Today Bestselling author Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. What an insightful, honest conversation. Sariah shared about her incredible publishing journey, parenting four kids, and much more.
Mar 17, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Tune in for our conversation about self love, mental health, and the healing power of vulnerability. We talked about thriving after childhood trauma, living authentically, self love, feeling all the feels, finding the right therapist, and not giving up.
Mar 17, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 27
A Utah-based author, Lauri is an inspiring speaker and frequent guest with writing groups, podcasts, and business, talking about art, embracing fears, and learning to love yourself after abuse. She’s the owner of Inner Enlightenment and is a child abuse advocate. Her business helps people connect with their inner light and child within. We talked about thriving after childhood abuse, living authentically, breaking the cycle, finding and using your voice, self love, and much more!...
Mar 17, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 26
An Emmy-nominated songwriter, performer, and impact artist, Alexander merges music with social impact. Based in South Florida, he’s done Super Bowl campaigns and United Nations collaborations to primetime TV and international features! Through strategic partnerships with other impactors, Star has performed in 10+ countries and has even helped 500+ teens in foster care write & record original music via his proprietary “Impact Songwriting” workshops.
Mar 17, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Every Soul Has A Story® with guest @swetavikram. Sweta is an international speaker, bestselling author, and Ayurveda-based Health & Mindset Coach in New York City who is committed to helping people thrive on their own terms. She has a background in eastern and western nutrition/wellness is an award-winning wellness changemaker who graduated from Columbia University and studied with Dr. Vasant Lad (the man credited for bringing Ayurveda to the US). Voted “One of the Most Influential Asians of...
Dec 23, 2022•40 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Every Soul Has A Story® with guest Lieutenant Tina Guiler. What began as a Facebook group, Triple F has grown to 7,000 members in 56 countries. Triple F stands for Fierce Female First Responders, The Triple F Foundation was founded in 2020 by its president, Miami-Dade Lieutenant Tina Guiler. In 2018, while serving as a firefighter/paramedic, Tina learned the devastating effects of occupational cancer first hand. Determined to lighten the load of others in similar circumstances she decided to for...
Dec 17, 2022•30 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Every Soul Has A Story® LIVE with guest Barri Grant @thememorycircle. Barri, chief grief officer ®, has combined her background as a yoga and meditation teacher with a personal mission to heal and help the bereaved. We had an honest, evocative conversation about all types of grief, showing up for loved ones, and we shared our own personal experiences. Barri offered suggestions for coping with loss, the spectrum of emotions that arise, especially during the holiday season, and much more. Barri fo...
Dec 17, 2022•41 min•Season 3Ep. 22
What a fun, lively, and connective conversation! In case you missed today’s Every Soul Has A Story® LIVE, watch it HERE! (We missed you @lizfenton1 ) but Lisa @lisaandliz shared your publishing and friendship journey. 💜 Liz and Lisa have been best friends for over three decades and survived high school and college together. They’ve co-authored seven novels, including the Amazon Charts bestseller, The Good Widow. Their forthcoming book, Forever Hold Your Peace, will be published on July 11, 2023...
Dec 17, 2022•45 min•Season 3Ep. 21
