In this inspiring episode of Every Soul Has a Story, host Dara Levan sits down with Wendy Spencer—a Renaissance woman who has dedicated her life to service. Currently President and CEO of Leadership Florida, Wendy previously served as the Chief Service Officer for the nation, leading AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and VISTA under President Obama. Despite being a Republican, she received unanimous Senate confirmation and worked closely with the Obama administration, including Vice President Joe Biden.

Wendy shares her remarkable journey from small-town Georgia to the highest role in national service, the rigorous White House vetting process, and her experiences working with multiple presidents. She also offers powerful insights on COVID-19 disaster response, the importance of mental health, and how volunteerism and connection are more vital than ever.

This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, bipartisanship, and the transformative power of service.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro with Dara Levan
1:47 - Working under Republican governors in Florida
4:00 - Chair of America's State Service Commissions
5:27 - The White House phone call
8:35 - Rigorous vetting and Senate confirmation
11:37 - Working with President Obama and Joe Biden
13:31 - Service events with the First Family
16:05 - Growing up in small-town Thomasville, Georgia
18:33 - The importance of connection and listening
20:40 - COVID-19 disaster response planning
24:01 - Mental health during quarantine
27:01 - Family connections during COVID
30:47 - Volunteering online during the pandemic
35:16 - Humor and connection in leadership
36:03 - Inducting AmeriCorps from space story
41:15 - Closing gratitude and wrap-up32:24 - Outro  

RESOURCES:

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

QUOTES:

I think when you approach someone, you show an interest in them and you start asking questions about them. And people really like that. And they, then they start getting interested in you as well.
 – Wendy Spencer

I always think about legacy, and what am I doing? How can I impact my world, my zip code, my community, my county, my country? You never know if what you're doing is really going to change the life of someone else.
– Dara Levan

In this heartfelt episode of Every Soul Has a Story, host Dara Levan sits down with international jewelry designer Julie Miles—a stage 4 appendiceal cancer survivor and scleroderma warrior who turned her health crisis into a thriving creative empire. Julie shares how she discovered that doing what she loved every day was essential to survival, leading her to create her now-famous pearl jewelry collections.

Three key takeaways:

1.    Why making yourself "number one" is essential to showing up for others
2.    How stress and adrenaline contributed to Julie's cancer diagnosis
3.    The importance of being present and embracing imperfection

Join us for this inspiring conversation about resilience, self-care, and finding your soul's purpose through creativity and connection.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro  
0:22 - Julie’s accidental author origin  
1:17 - Why she stopped writing  
2:45 - Midlife crisis awakening  
3:45 - Montana writer’s retreat  
4:24 - Crafting memoir for readers  
7:44 - Memoir cover symbolism  
8:48 - People Magazine accolade  
11:00 - Universal reader resonance  
19:48 - Platform-building struggles  
22:00 - Arrival fallacy revelation  
26:13 - Family permission to publish  
31:32 - Julie’s gratitude to Dara  
32:24 - Outro  

RESOURCES:

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


QUOTES:

"When you're creating, it's something that, you know, it's hard to put down. It's like a good book or a good movie. You know, you don't want it to be over."
– Julie Miles

"When we find our passion and our path and our purpose. It's my belief that it isn't difficult. It is easy because it lights your soul on fire."
– Dara Levan

What happens when a graffiti-obsessed teenager from Queens walks into a gallery with a painting under his arm and walks out with a contract that changes everything?

Legendary artist and Def Jam creative director Cey Adams shares his remarkable journey from drawing comics in his bedroom to designing album covers for the biggest names in music. Cey reflects on the 1980s downtown art scene alongside Basquiat, Haring, and Warhol, the lessons he learned about patience and presence, and how his iconic LOVE murals have touched countless lives—including a four-year-old boy who painted a single yellow brick.

With wisdom gleaned from decades in the creative trenches, Cey reveals why he never chases success, how he learned to appreciate wherever he is, and why art is meant to connect hearts. From meeting Glenn Frey in a bathroom to reuniting an artist with a lost masterpiece, this conversation is a masterclass in living with intention, creativity, and love. Perfect for artists, creatives, and anyone seeking inspiration in uncertain times.


Target Keywords: Cey Adams, Def Jam, graffiti artist, album cover designer, love mural, Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, downtown art scene, Keith Haring, Basquiat, Andy Warhol, art and connection, mindfulness, creativity, COVID-19 impact on artists, book project, Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey, Go-Go's, Kathy Valentine, art storytelling, Wynwood, Art Basel

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro & "I'm just an artist"
1:22 - Growing up in Queens, New York
7:35 - Graffiti artist beginnings in the 1970s
9:31 - Def Jam & designing album covers
11:16 - Downtown art scene: Basquiat, Haring, Warhol
17:19 - No regrets: everything led somewhere
22:11 - Therapy, patience & appreciating where you are
26:49 - COVID, creativity & itching to get busy
30:53 - Impact on exhibitions & book projects
36:41 - Book uncertainty & staying grounded
42:51 - Music influences & meeting Jackson Browne
58:05 - The heartwarming art restoration story
1:07:40 - Outro & final gratitude

RESOURCES:

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

QUOTES:

"You can't be in two places at once. And it doesn't make sense for your body to be in one place and your mind to be wishing you were somewhere else."
– Cey Adams

"I don't believe in coincidence. There's no accidents in life. That's how I live!"
– Dara Levan

What happens when a high school feminist meets an unsupportive teacher—and decides to speak her truth anyway?

College admissions expert and co-founder of Expert Admissions, Dr. Bari Norman, shares her journey from a misunderstood Miami teen to a leading college counselor who's helped countless students find their perfect fit. Dr. Bari Norman reveals how an independent counselor changed her life trajectory, why she chose Barnard against all her original criteria, and how her parents' unconditional love shaped her philosophy of zero judgment. With COVID-19 upending the college admissions process, Bari offers timely advice on deferrals, campus life, and making decisions without enough information.

She discusses the importance of asking students what they don't like about schools, why great college essays come from thoughtful reflection, and how this historic moment could actually create stronger bonds among incoming first-year classes. Perfect for parents, high school students, and anyone navigating uncertainty.


Target Keywords: Dr. Bari Norman, Expert Admissions, college counselor, college admissions, COVID-19 college impact, Barnard College, college essays, college fit, independent college counselor, high school students, college applications, deferrals, parenting, unconditional love, COVID-19 and education

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro & New York quarantine experience
2:40 - Parenting through COVID-19
3:53 - Growing up in Miami & wanting to leave
6:45 - Beth Wald: The counselor who changed her life
9:56 - Barnard: Finding her perfect fit
13:09 - Struggling freshman year & transfer applications
19:41 - Growth through challenge & accountability
22:41 - Parents' unconditional love & no judgment
26:31 - Mother's contentment & father's self-judgment
30:20 - The D in math & "did you try?"
34:43 - Using personal experiences to counsel students
39:08 - Handling overachieving parents & students
42:59 - Integrity in choosing clients
46:14 - COVID impact on college admissions
50:50 - Range of students & learning differences
54:25 - No judgments & honoring student differences
57:28 - Admissions panel insights on COVID-19
1:01:09 - Historical parallels: 9/11, Katrina & resilience
1:04:41 - Great college essays from thoughtful reflection
1:06:04 - Acceptance & making decisions without full information
1:09:03 - Patience & leaning into uncertainty
1:10:21 - Outro & closing

QUOTES:

"I always say to people that you have to think about the fall, right? When nobody gives a sh*t about where you are and they're focused on themselves, it will not matter what the name is on the gate."
-    Dr. Bari Norman

"Relationships don't die, people do, but connections don't."
–  Dara Levan

Are you stress eating your way through quarantine?

Registered dietitian and nutritionist Ronni Litz Julien understands—she's been there herself. In this intimate conversation, Ronni shares her personal journey from a family history of weight struggles to becoming a trusted nutrition expert, all while managing her own diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. She reveals why food cravings are never truly biological, how to create structure when the world feels chaotic, and why sitting has become "the new smoking." Ronni offers practical advice on immune-boosting foods, the importance of strength training as we age, and how to be compassionate with yourself during these unprecedented times.

From Swedish fish confessions to the power of Zumba, this episode is packed with wisdom for anyone struggling with emotional eating, seeking better nutrition, or simply trying to stay sane at home. Plus, learn why fish might just be the most important food on Earth!


Target Keywords: Ronni Litz Julien, registered dietitian, nutritionist, emotional eating, stress eating, quarantine weight gain, immune system, anti-inflammatory foods, ulcerative colitis, food addiction, mindfulness, structure, self-compassion, carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, Zumba, strength training, eating disorders, telehealth nutrition

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro & Quarantine reflections
1:42 - Feeling fulfilled, not stuck
2:21 - Caterpillar to butterfly metaphor
3:13 - Personal weight struggles & emotional eating
4:36 - Finding nutrition as a career
8:40 - Mindfulness & impulse control
10:40 - Swedish fish confession
12:08 - Balance, compassion & coping skills
13:23 - Eating disorders & team approach
16:42 - Creating structure & routine
22:48 - Immune-boosting foods & nutrients
25:33 - Carbohydrates: Not the enemy
28:39 - Personal ulcerative colitis journey
32:36 - Exercise: Sitting is the new smoking
36:51 - Final wisdom & self-compassion
38:46 - Outro & closing

QUOTES:

"It is 50 percent how you eat and what you put in your body. And it is 50 percent exercise. There is not one without the other."
-    Ronni Litz Julien

"Without the suffering, and the challenges, we don't grow."
–  Dara Levan

What happens when your body, trained for Ironman competitions, suddenly betrays you? Randi Schwartz, a health and wellness coach with a master's in physical therapy, shares her extraordinary journey from endurance athlete to multiple myeloma warrior.

After months of dismissing subtle fatigue as overtraining, Randi discovered she had a blood cancer that would require a stem cell transplant and complete isolation. In this raw and inspiring conversation, she reveals how her athletic background prepared her for cancer treatment, why vulnerability creates deeper connections, and how she's learned to find gifts in life's most challenging moments.

From dancing on her IV pole to running the Boston Marathon after transplant, Randi's story proves that what seems impossible is truly possible. She shares powerful lessons about building community, listening to your inner voice, and embracing life's unexpected detours. Perfect for anyone facing health challenges, seeking inspiration, or learning to navigate uncertainty.

Keywords: Randi Schwartz, multiple myeloma, cancer survivor, stem cell transplant, Ironman athlete, endurance sports, health coach, physical therapy, vulnerability, community, resilience, butterfly symbolism, Boston Marathon, cancer advocacy

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro & Randi's background
0:48 - Multiple myeloma & immune system
2:34 - Isolation & "bubble girl" experience
4:20 - Gifts from slowing down
7:19 - Listening to your body
8:32 - Athletic background & triathlon
12:50 - Subtle fatigue & gut feelings
16:38 - ER visit & kidney failure diagnosis
24:38 - Sports helped her know her body
26:57 - Endurance lessons applied to cancer
28:46 - Connection during isolation
31:54 - Grieving & sitting with feelings
39:43 - Butterfly symbolism & final wisdom
43:38 - Dancing through cancer & closing

QUOTES:

What seems impossible initially and overwhelming and insurmountable, as you kind of chip away at it and have a plan and stay with it, you realize what seems impossible is really possible.
-    Randi Schwartz

You have to sit with those uncomfortable feelings before you jump to the silver lining. That in between, that's where the work is.
–  Dara Levan

What happens when your dream career collides with a child's life-threatening medical crisis? In this powerful episode, Emmy Award-winning news anchor Shannon Cogan opens up about her journey from aspiring network correspondent to finding peace in local news, all while navigating her son Colt's open-heart surgery and cardiac arrest. Shannon shares how her son's 20-minute near-death experience transformed her perspective on work, faith, and what truly matters. Listen as she discusses the realities of journalism today, the challenges of parenting a child with special needs, and why being kind to yourself is the most important lesson of all. This conversation explores resilience, faith, and the beautiful mess of balancing career and family. Perfect for working parents, journalism enthusiasts, and anyone seeking inspiration to embrace life's unexpected turns.
Keywords: Shannon Cogan, Emmy Award winner, news anchor, motherhood, special needs parenting, cardiac arrest survivor, work-life balance, journalism, faith, resilience, self-compassion, coronavirus reporting, cryotherapy, Louisville news

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro & Indiana University memories
4:56 - Meeting husband & career beginnings
6:02 - Work-life balance & sleep schedule
8:05 - Son Colt's heart defect & cardiac arrest
10:35 - Parenting twins with special needs
12:28 - From print to broadcast journalism
14:11 - Changing media landscape & social media
19:11 - The day of Colt's cardiac arrest
23:22 - Faith, grief & showing up for friends
30:35 - Covering lethal injection & JFK Jr. moment
36:21 - Self-care, Peloton & cryotherapy
42:14 - Final advice & closing remarks

RESOURCES:

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


QUOTES:

I think the biggest thing that I would tell your listeners is to be kind to yourself, allow yourself to make mistakes and be your biggest cheerleader.
 – Shannon Cogan

"I believe from a very deep space that children pick their parents and I believe strongly they come to teach us if, and if is the operative word, we're willing to learn." 
– Dara Levan

A 50-cent bet on an elevator, a World Series game she knew nothing about, and a fast-talking radio executive—that's how Joe and Winnie's 63-year love story began. Joe, a WWII Navy veteran turned radio station owner, and Winnie, the advertising agency employee who wouldn't give him the time of day, join Dara Levan to share their secrets to a lasting marriage: a sense of humor, mutual respect, and not hearing everything. Joe reveals how he built a radio empire across the country, the integrity that guided every business decision, and the moment he told a partner "never mention my family again." Winnie shares how she followed Joe through five children born in five different cities, and the faith that carried them through. Their legacy? Seven grandchildren, a life well lived, and a simple motto: to be what you appear to be. Keywords: Joe Winnie, 63-year marriage, love story, WWII veteran, radio station owner, integrity, family, legacy, humor.


0:00 - Intro & love story begin
0:40 - Meeting on an elevator
5:06 - 50-cent bet & first date
7:47 - Joe's WWII service & Navy
8:17 - Radio career begins
9:07 - First radio station purchase
11:09 - Integrity & walking away
12:49 - Moving to Fort Lauderdale
16:33 - 15 radio stations across US
18:57 - 25-year partnership
20:03 - Raising 5 children
21:49 - Indoor pool in Indianapolis
23:16 - Faith & optimism
25:03 - Integrity & reputation
32:41 - Children's careers
33:43 - School motto: to be what you appear
34:37 - Biggest challenges & lessons
38:21 – Outro


•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3



QUOTES:

"At the end of the day, I don't care if you're operating a multi-million dollar company or you're in a solo business—you have to be able to look yourself in the mirror." 
– Dara Levan
"I feel the word integrity has come up a lot in our conversation today. And that's ironic—that's one of the greatest purposes I feel of sharing your stories with others."
 – Dara Levan