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

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

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.com
• Susan on Instagram: @susan_kleinman
• Susan 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

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

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

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/

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

What if the red flags in your life were literally invisible? Award-winning author, speaker, and travel host Lisa Niver joins Dara Levan to share her incredible story of reinvention after a traumatic divorce and a late-in-life diagnosis of a lazy eye that reshaped her understanding of her past. Discover how Lisa’s journey through vision therapy, extensive world travel, and writing her memoir "Brave-ish" helped her piece together a pattern of abuse she once mistook for a "parade." In this raw conversation, you'll learn the power of post-traumatic growth, the importance of asking "what now?" instead of "what if?", and practical tips for reclaiming your life and joy. If you've ever felt stuck, unseen, or are seeking inspiration to break free, this episode is for you.

0:00 - Intro
1:01 - Lisa Niver’s Book and Award
3:37 - Jewish Summer Camp Inspiration
5:26 - What is an Ulpan?
7:48 - Adult Lazy Eye Diagnosis
11:53 - The End of a Marriage
15:29 - Connecting Vision and Relationship Patterns
18:54 - The Vulnerability of Writing
22:06 - The Book’s Unexpected Audience
25:14 - Replacing Self-Judgment with Compassion
27:58 - The Forward-Looking Question
31:35 - The Challenge of Outlining
37:40 - A Somatic Writing Ritual
39:19 - What Brings Lisa Joy
42:52 - Outro

RESOURCES:
https://www.lisaniver.com/
https://wesaidgotravel.com/

What happens when a breast radiologist decides to write gripping medical novels? Join host Dara Levan for a conversation with physician and author Heather Frimmer, whose third book, Always Hope, explores the devastating impact of a malpractice lawsuit from all sides. Discover how Heather’s medical career fuels her writing, why empathy is her superpower in both radiology and fiction, and how she crafts authentic yet dramatic page-turners. In this episode, you’ll learn the surprising inspiration behind her novels, her top tips for aspiring authors, and her unique perspective on balancing a demanding career with a creative life. Get ready for an inspiring discussion on storytelling, resilience, and finding hope.

0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Heather’s Life as a Radiologist and Author
2:57 - The Shift to Breast Imaging
5:50 - The Inspiration for Better to Trust
7:24 - How Writing Impacts Medical Empathy
9:26 - The Empathetic Side of Radiology
11:22 - On Identifying as a Writer
13:10 - Heather’s Publishing Journey
15:53 - How Each Book Changed Heather
18:10 - Writing Through Personal Challenges
20:04 - The Next Writing Project
22:49 - The Importance of Research and Readers
28:47 - Where to Find Heather Frimmer
29:07 - Outro

RESOURCES: https://www.heatherfrimmer.com/ @heatherfrimmer   

How does an optimist write about her husband's suicide and find purpose in the pain? Author, developmental editor, and former dance critic Kathryn Craft joins Dara Levan for a profound conversation on transforming personal tragedy into powerful fiction. Discover how Kathryn's journey through loss led to her novels The Art of Falling and The Far End of Happy, learn why she waited eight years to tell her most difficult story, and explore her unique concept of "story as energy" from her new craft book. This episode offers key takeaways on resilience, the subjectivity of artistic reception, and setting healthy family boundaries. If you're interested in writing craft, mental health narratives, or finding the silver lining in life's darkest moments, this story is for you.

0:00 - Intro
1:36 - Writing about a husband's suicide
3:41 - The call from a literary agent
7:35 - Why her first novel came first
10:44 - Titling The Far End of Happy
15:39 - Changing agents and integrity
18:31 - Remaining an optimist through tragedy
22:46 - The subjectivity of rejection
27:06 - Writing from three points of view
31:36 - New craft book: Story as Energy
35:33 - Finding voice through dance
44:12 - The power of unanswered questions
47:55 - Where to find Kathryn Craft
49:05 - Outro

RESOURCES:

Kathryn Craft:
•    Instagram: @kathryncraft
•    Website: kathryncraft.com

Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story:
•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com