Every Soul Has A Story

Dara Levan
  • 4.8 (17)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Biweekly

Every Soul Has A Story Hosted By Dara Levan

  1. 20h ago

    The Book That Survived 9/11 and COVID | Lois Cahall

    What if the most iconic death in Hollywood history was a lie? In this captivating episode, Dara Levan talks with journalist, novelist, and founder of the Palm Beach and Cape Cod Book Festivals, Lois Cahall. Cahall reveals the incredible 26-year journey of her new novel, Maybe Marilyn, a story born from a screenplay and resurrected with a push from literary giant James Patterson.        This episode is a must-listen for aspiring writers and avid readers, offering a raw and honest look at the modern publishing industry. Hear firsthand the challenges of self-promotion, the struggle to balance art with business, and the shocking, real-life autopsy details that fuel Cahall's fascinating "happy conspiracy." Discover why real readers will always find real writers and how to keep your creative spark alive.  TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:26 - Why Marilyn and why now? 5:11 - James Patterson's pivotal role 7:42 - The path to Simon & Schuster 9:03 - The myth of "just writing a book" 13:33 - The all-consuming reality of promotion 16:27 - How she feels when not writing 17:41 - The unspoken truth among authors 19:42 - What writing Marilyn taught her 20:30 - The suspicious details of Marilyn's death 23:40 - The people who saw her dead 26:29 - Where to find Lois online 27:26 - Outro RESOURCES:https://loiscahall.com/@lois.cahall Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story: https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/Website: daralevan.com

  2. Sep 8

    Finding Joy: A Memoir of Love, Healing, and Second Chances | Kara Kavensky

    What happens when a 90-year-old World War II veteran confesses his deepest regret and sends you on a journey to find the love of his life? In this powerful episode, host Dara Levan sits down with communication consultant and author Kara Kavensky to discuss her transformative memoir, Tell Me About Joy. Kara shares how interviewing veteran Bob Albright led her on an unexpected path to healing from her own narcissistic marriage, discovering the power of energy healing, and ultimately finding her own joy. This conversation explores how trauma can be transformed through storytelling, the importance of accessible healing modalities like tapping and meditation, and what it means to truly heal. If you've ever wondered how to break free from toxic patterns or find hope after heartbreak, Kara's journey will inspire you. Keywords: memoir, healing journey, narcissistic abuse recovery, WWII veteran love story, energy healing, tapping EFT, trauma recovery, storytelling, finding joy, divorce recovery, emotional healing, book memoir, Tell Me About Joy, Kara Kavensky, Dara Levan, Every Soul Has a Story podcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:29 - Kara's gratitude for the conversation 2:14 - Kara's IU athlete children & hats 2:29 - Kara's childhood & grandmother the librarian 6:08 - Meeting Bob & the journey begins 7:04 - Transformative power of Bob's story 10:15 - Grandma's dementia & family humor 12:16 - Quote on narcissism 13:16 - Energy healing & trauma recovery 22:39 - How Kara met Bob Albright 24:44 - When the book idea formed 25:42 - Relief & terror of publishing 31:27 - What healed most in writing 36:52 - Hope for readers 40:29 - Outro RESOURCES: karakavensky.com @karakavensky Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story: https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/ Website: daralevan.com

  3. Aug 26

    Be Movable So You Can Be Moved | Tara Stiles

    In this raw and radiant episode, host Dara Levan sits down with yoga teacher, author, and Strala Yoga founder Tara Stiles. Tara opens up about being sexually assaulted at her dance school, how she never reported it, and how yoga became her blueprint for healing. She shares why she stopped dancing professionally at 22, the pushback she received for not using Sanskrit and for putting yoga on YouTube, and the Harvard Business School case study that compared her approach to Bikram. You’ll learn three key takeaways: why “softness is not weakness” and how mobilization builds real strength, how to avoid burnout by not taking credit for others’ transformations, and the simple practice of “never suffer a bad position.” Tara also reveals the somatic symptoms Dara experienced while writing her first novel, the back-to-back exercise that changes everything, and why her upcoming book Living Softly took six years to complete. This is a conversation about presence, protection, and the power of being movable. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 11:28 - Sexual assault disclosure at dance school 15:24 - Drawn to yoga for healing 18:33 - Don’t take credit for transformations 22:42 - Be movable so you can be moved 27:15 - Somatic symptoms while writing 29:45 - Never suffer a bad position 33:39 - Good enough vs perfectionism 40:50 - Pushback from traditional yoga 48:56 - Softness connects diverse people 52:07 - Softness is not weakness 54:57 - Outro RESOURCES: •    Tara Stiles Website: tarastiles.com •    Tara Stiles on Instagram: @tarastiles •    Tara Stiles on Substack: Tara Stiles Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story: •    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/ •    Website: daralevan.com

  4. Aug 12

    Finding Radiance in the Messy Middle of Life | Susan Kleinman

    Why do we save our favorite things for “someday” that never comes? In this episode, host Dara Levan sits down with author and former magazine editor Susan Kleinman to explore how we can stop playing it safe and start building a life filled with everyday joy. From the decision to paint her home office purple to the deeper lesson learned from her mother-in-law’s unworn sweaters, Susan shares her philosophy on choosing color, authenticity, and presence over the dull safety of “beige.”Susan also discusses her debut novel, All Afternoon, and its themes of self-deception and the price of staying stagnant. Together, they tackle the messy realities of midlife, finding gratitude during times of war, and why being honest with yourself is the key to a truly authentic life. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut, this conversation is the wake-up call you need to start wearing the good jewelry today. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Painting walls purple for joy 3:44 - Dara’s red bathroom story 4:40 - Susan’s collection of 35 glasses 6:18 - The lesson of saved sweaters 9:40 - The story of MJ Rose & jewelry 12:07 - Susan’s father’s Parkinson’s gratitude 17:22 - Life is all the things at once 25:24 - The origin of “All Afternoon” 29:18 - The price of growth vs. stagnation 33:53 - Being honest with yourself 40:35 - The truth about motherhood 45:42 - Where to find Susan Kleinman 46:09 - Outro RESOURCES: Susan's Website: SusanKleinman.comSusan on Instagram: @susan_kleinmanSusan on Facebook: Susan Kleinman (look for the banner with her book) Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story: •    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/ •    Website: daralevan.com

  5. Aug 5

    Why Obstacles Are Stepping Stones for Growth| Annie Cathryn

    What if physical symptoms and gut feelings can guide you on your life's path? In this episode, host Dara Levan sits down with multi-published author Annie Cathryn to discuss her upcoming novel Now Eat the Cake, why she started her own indie press Moon Ray Books at 50, and how eczema disappeared the moment she made an aligned decision. Annie shares her marketing secrets for authors who hate self-promotion, why a cat is called a "familiar," and how writing grief helped her heal. You’ll learn three key takeaways: how to differentiate growth-oriented obstacles from energetic blocks, why turning 50 is a privilege to be celebrated, and mindset shifts. Tune in for an unfiltered conversation about midlife breakthroughs, intuition, and eating the cake. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 0:52 - Annie’s excitement for the episode 1:03 - Early read of *Now Eat the Cake* 2:30 - Husbands who don’t read fiction 3:45 - Letting go of book babies 4:19 - Turning 50 and starting an imprint 5:22 - Eczema disappears after aligned decision 7:19 - Obstacles vs. energetic blocks 9:28 - Why turning 50 is a privilege 11:38 - Writing grief from real loss 13:51 - Healing through writing friendship breakup 14:21 - Dogs as healers in fiction 16:11 - Cats as “familiars” 18:06 - Indie publishing vs. traditional 19:18 - Marketing background and social media tips 23:51 - Promoting without feeling gross 25:24 - Impact of publishing on parenting 28:26 - Focusing on one book at a time 31:25 - Listening when it “doesn’t feel right” 32:33 - Where to find Annie Cathryn 32:54 - Outro RESOURCES: https://www.instagram.com/msanniecathryn https://anniecathryn.com/ Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story: •    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/ •    Website: daralevan.com

  6. May 18

    Matchmaker Secrets: Finding Love When You Least Expect It | Jaydi Samuels Kuba

    What happens when a Hollywood matchmaker’s own love story begins with her client? In this episode, host Dara Levan sits down with Jaydi Samuels Kuba, a matchmaker, dating coach, and author of Your Last First Date. Jaydi shares the surprising story of how she met her husband—after setting him up with other women—and why throwing away the superficial checklist was key to their success. She pulls back the curtain on the high-end matchmaking industry, revealing why expensive guarantees often come with hidden risks. Jaydi also opens up about her personal journey through IVF, the vital statistics that changed her course, and how that experience deepened her empathy as a coach. If you’re tired of swiping and ready for a real connection, this conversation about wants versus needs is for you. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 1:09 - Meeting her husband (a former client) 5:40 - Deal breakers vs. preferences 9:10 - Starting the business & early days 17:45 - Affordable matchmaking & industry ethics 22:25 - Vetting clients & confidentiality 25:44 - Men, women & superficial wants 29:42 - Connecting matchmaking with infertility 32:38 - The CDC data that changed her IVF journey 38:32 - How IVF informed her matchmaking 40:09 - Age ranges & diverse client demographics 43:14 - The link between writing and matchmaking 46:30 - Where to find Jaydi 47:07 - Outro RESOURCES: Website: ljmatchmaking.com Book: Your Last First Date: Secrets from a Hollywood Matchmaker Podcast: Match Made in Hollywood (with her husband) Social Media: @MatchMadeInHollywood Fertility Resource: SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) – Website to check clinic success rates. Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story: •    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/ •    Website: daralevan.com

  7. Apr 24

    From True Crime Family Murder to Fiction Writing with Debbie Levison

    What happens when you discover a wooden crate containing human remains under your family's lake house—and your brother becomes the primary murder suspect? In this powerful episode, author Debbie Levison shares her shocking true crime story "The Crate," which intertwines her Holocaust survivor parents' history with a present-day murder investigation. Debbie opens up about why she pivoted to fiction with her latest novel "A Novel Crime," how she copes with trauma through dark humor, and why writing fiction gives her control over chaos that real life doesn't offer. Key takeaways: the vulnerability of nonfiction writing, how Holocaust survivors reclaimed their sanctuary after violence, and why comparing yourself to other authors is universal. Perfect for true crime lovers, aspiring writers, and anyone navigating family trauma.  0:00 - Intro 14:47 - Discovering the crate under lake house 19:02 - Family trauma & Holocaust survivor parents 24:23 - Why fiction beats nonfiction 24:49 - Writing process & failed plotting 25:06 - Statistics & speech pathology detour 29:08 - Rascal House nostalgia 29:40 - Concert pianist past 29:42 - Debbie's concert pianist background 31:13 - Outro RESOURCES: Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story: •    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/ •    Website: daralevan.com •    https://debbielevison.com/

  8. Apr 10

    Using Humor to Tackle Race, Religion, and Privilege | Asha Youmans & Alli Frank

    What happens when a white Jewish woman asks a black Christian woman to “get together and talk about race”? For authors Asha Youmans and Alli Frank, it was the beginning of a bestselling writing partnership. In this episode of Every Soul Has a Story, host Dara Levan sits down with this dynamic duo to discuss their fifth book, Run for Your Life, Callie Kingman, and their mission to tackle hard topics—like race, religion, and privilege—through humor and joy. They reveal the surprising pushback they’ve faced from publishers who feared their partnership was “exploitative,” the hilarious rejection of a controversial book title, and how their decades in education gave them the thick skin needed to navigate the publishing industry. Listeners will learn about their unique writing process, how they navigate disagreements, and why they believe everyone is just trying to do their best. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - How they decide what’s funny 2:30 - David Sedaris quote: “Everything is funny eventually” 4:09 - How Asha and Alli first met 6:43 - The coffee date to “talk about race” 8:45 - The mission: using humor and joy 13:45 - Learning through laughter 15:50 - The one-star review about veganism 17:30 - Dealing with feedback from cultural readers 20:14 - How they handle disagreements 21:26 - Parsing out personal reactions from the scene 24:08 - The common thread: everyone is doing their best 28:59 - Who gets to write which characters? 34:55 - The truth about trigger warnings in publishing 39:40 - Publishers’ concerns about exploitation 44:08 - Their tight editing process 52:09 - Their creative process: Ally Lane and the green light RESOURCES: https://alliandasha.com/ Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story: •    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/ •    Website: daralevan.com

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4.8
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Every Soul Has A Story Hosted By Dara Levan

Information

  • Creator
    Dara Levan
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dara Levan
  • Show Website
    Every Soul Has A Story

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