A 10-year-old boy popped the hood of a broken-down car in the Israeli desert, fiddled with the engine, and said, "Try it, Dad." The car started. Rob Schwartz—son of the beloved Morrie Schwartz of Tuesdays with Morrie fame, former Billboard bureau chief in Tokyo, and record label founder—joins Dara Levan to share his father's extraordinary legacy and his own global journey. Rob reveals how he discovered his father's completed manuscript, The Wisdom of Morrie, in a desk drawer 14 years after his passing, and the five-year journey of editing it while keeping his father's unique voice intact. He opens up about living in Japan for 30 years, the myths about Japanese culture and business, his work at NHK and Billboard, and his experiences in Indonesia. Above all, Rob shares his father's timeless message: human connection is what gives life meaning, and it's never too late to forge new friendships, forgive old wounds, and live vibrantly. Keywords: Rob Schwartz, Morrie Schwartz, Tuesdays with Morrie, The Wisdom of Morrie, human connection, aging, grief, Japan, Billboard, NHK, memoir.

0:04 - Intro
1:17 - Tuesdays with Morrie explained
4:15 - Discovering the manuscript
8:31 - Grieving & editing process
9:37 - Giving while dying
11:10 - Stories connect us
13:21 - Morrie as a father
16:02 - Rob's career in Japan
18:29 - Why Japan?
20:08 - Japanese myths & fax machines
25:59 - Japanese music industry & CDs
31:27 - Indonesia & fourth largest country
34:58 - Editing father's manuscript
37:48 - Father's message on connection
40:00 – Outro



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


QUOTES:


"What's really going to bring you fulfillment and love and happiness in your life is your human connections."
 – Dara Levan

"Japanese companies still use fax machines. They cling on to the way things are very strongly. In some ways, that's great—they keep their traditions alive. In some ways, it's hard for them to move into the future."
 – Rob Schwartz

A second-grade report card called her a flirt. Her fifth-grade teachers praised her for not getting angry at boys. Corie Adjmi—author of Life and Other Shortcomings and the forthcoming novel The Marriage Box—joins Dara Levan to share her remarkable journey from reform Judaism in New Orleans to the Syrian Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn. At 16, her parents moved the family back to their roots, and the rules changed overnight—from college aspirations to marriage expectations by 18. Corie met her husband on a blind date at 16 and married him a year and a half later—and 40 years later, they're still together. She opens up about the "marriage box," a real beachside gathering spot where teenage girls were paraded for dates, navigating different levels of religious observance within her marriage, and why writing fiction gave her the distance to tell her story. Her message? Start with yourself, stay curious, and hope love spreads. Keywords: Corie Adjmi, The Marriage Box, Life and Other Shortcomings, Syrian Jewish, Orthodox Judaism, Sephardic, women's voices, fiction, marriage, She Writes Press.


0:04 - Intro
1:57 - Teaching & after-publication conversations
4:32 - Writing about women & patriarchy
5:29 - New Orleans upbringing & report cards
7:32 - Moving to Brooklyn at 16
8:47 - Blind date & marriage at 18
10:17 - The premise of The Marriage Box
14:14 - Syrian Jewish community differences
16:35 - Feedback from readers
16:53 - Different observance levels in marriage
19:17 - The "marriage box" explained
21:46 - Othering within Jewish community
23:51 - Writing journey & 20-year process
30:09 - Publishing with She Writes Press
35:21 - Where to find Corie
35:36 - Outro


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


QUOTES:


"There's such joy in creating. I hope our world doesn't lose that, because we get so hung up on followers."
 – Dara Levan

"At what price do you follow community or cultural expectations? And what does that mean to one's individuality?"
 – Corie Adjmi

At seven hours old, her daughter was diagnosed deaf—and Jennifer Rosner began journaling for the first time. Now a critically acclaimed author of The Yellow Bird Sings and Once We Were Home, Jennifer joins Dara Levan to share her extraordinary journey from philosophy professor to novelist. When her first daughter was born deaf, Jennifer's journaling became a lifeline—and eventually her memoir. She opens up about raising two deaf daughters in a hearing-speaking world, navigating the fractious debate between signing and speaking, and how a discovery about her deaf ancestors—who tied strings from their wrists to their babies at night to feel them stir—became the "string in the darkness" that weaves through all her work. Jennifer reveals how interviewing Holocaust survivors shaped her novels, why she's drawn to themes of silence and connection, and how raising deaf children made her a more sensory, attentive writer. Her message: beauty and connection can be found even in the darkest places. Keywords: Jennifer Rosner, The Yellow Bird Sings, Once We Were Home, deafness, memoir, Holocaust, connection, parenting, philosophy, novelist.


0:04 - Intro
1:52 - Philosophy professor to writer
4:48 - Deaf ancestors & string in darkness
5:24 - Red string & Jewish tradition
6:24 - Raising deaf daughters
8:20 - Intimacy vs. deaf community
9:42 - Second daughter's profound deafness
12:33 - Sensory awareness & writing
13:37 - The Yellow Bird Sings inspiration
17:20 - Holocaust survivors & connection
18:56 - Present-day parallels
20:18 - Memoir vs. novel writing
23:15 - New novel & where to find Jennifer
25:52 – Outro



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


QUOTES:


"The best actors and actresses are drawing on their life experiences to portray a character. You can't fake that."
 – Dara Levan

"Noticing beauty was a key to survival. In terrible times, they might stumble upon something of beauty—usually in nature, or even a poem in their mind."
 – Jennifer Rosner

At 38, a panic attack forced her to stop—and start listening to her body. Julie Chavez—librarian, mother of two, and author of the forthcoming memoir Everyone But Myself—joins Dara Levan to share her powerful journey through anxiety, depression, and the radical act of putting herself on her own to-do list. After spending years caring for everyone else while running on empty, Julie experienced her first panic attack. She opens up about the warning signs she ignored, the shame she didn't feel (but could have), and the hard-won tools she now uses daily to stay grounded—including hydration, movement, therapy, and simply paying attention to her own escalation. Julie reveals how she learned to reframe her mindset from "everyone but myself" to "everyone and myself," and how she teaches her boys that "don't fail alone" is a family value. Her message is clear: the thing you're not dealing with is dealing with you, and the only way out is through. Keywords: Julie Chavez, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, memoir, self-care, motherhood, librarian, mental health, Everyone But Myself, burnout.


0:04 - Intro
2:15 - First panic attack at 38
4:46 - Book & the shift to self-care
6:13 - Immunotherapy reaction & fear
8:47 - Body whispers then screams
9:22 - Everyone but myself to everyone and myself
10:44 - Shame, hiding & therapy
14:00 - Career path & library work
17:30 - Grounding practices & tools
18:07 - Hydration, exercise & therapy
22:46 - Grounding & being in body
24:42 - Feeding the anxiety beast
26:17 - Teaching boys "don't fail alone"
30:36 - Where to find Julie
31:14 – Outro



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


QUOTES:


"Showing up for ourselves as mothers, as women—that's a key thing we forget to talk about."
 – Dara Levan

"I was insanely productive during that time. It's amazing what you can do when you just don't care for yourself. But then that came back to bite me."
 – Julie Chavez

At age 11, she pointed to a photo in her father's den and asked a question that changed everything. Joanna Rakoff—international bestselling author of My Salinger Year (made into a 2021 film starring Sigourney Weaver)—joins Dara Levan to share her extraordinary personal story. Growing up believing she had only one sister, Joanna discovered at 11 that she actually had two siblings—Anita and Mark—who died in a devastating car accident just months before she was born. Her parents, who lost two children and a close family friend, never spoke of them. Joanna reveals how she spent her childhood as a "girl detective" piecing together fragments of conversations, why she was bullied relentlessly in school, and how her mother's insistence on perfection kept her from telling anyone. She opens up about her new memoir, The Fifth Passenger, her complicated relationship with being a "replacement child," and the haunting dream that finally unlocked the story. This conversation is a masterclass in resilience, family secrets, and the power of writing to heal. Keywords: Joanna Rakoff, My Salinger Year, memoir, family secrets, siblings, car accident, replacement child, bullying, author, The Fifth Passenger.

0:04 - Intro
2:06 - Second grade teacher who saw a writer
4:52 - Father's theater background & dentistry
8:00 - Childhood bullying & fear
12:00 - Mother's refusal to see the truth
14:02 - Ballet class trauma & dismissal
17:17 - The photo in father's den
34:18 - Discovering Anita & Mark's death
39:22 - Book tour revelations & resemblance
40:54 - Mother's Alzheimer's & silence
47:02 - Replacement child concept
50:57 - Giving birth to Izzy & the dream
53:21 - Memoir vs. novel & writing career
56:43 – Outro

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Rakoff


QUOTES:

"Sometimes you can love someone and also from afar. Love someone, but that doesn't mean you have to allow that behavior or that person in." 
– Dara Levan

"If my parents hadn't suffered this horrible, horrible trauma, then I wouldn't be here. How do I reconcile these two things?"
 – Joanna Rakoff

A week before Thanksgiving, she was left with nothing—no husband, no money, no voice. Allison Hong Merrill—award-winning author of 99 Fire Hoops, immigrant, and self-proclaimed "loveaholic"—joins Dara Levan to share her extraordinary journey from traditional Taiwan to finding her voice in America. Raised in a culture where girls were taught the "three obediences"—to obey father, husband, and sons—Allison felt unloved until age 13, when missionaries introduced her to a God who called her a princess. Her father disowned her at 21 for leaving college to serve a mission. After a 16-month marriage, her husband abandoned her one week before Thanksgiving, emptying their apartment and bank account. Alone on the streets, Allison made a powerful choice: to celebrate herself. She shares how choosing happiness daily, loving from afar when necessary, and writing her memoir to help her children understand their roots transformed her life. Her message? You have control over your mind, and love is always the answer. Keywords: Allison Hong Merrill, 99 Fire Hoops, immigration, memoir, Taiwan, power of choice, self-worth, love, faith, disowned, abandoned, parenting, cultural identity.

0:00 - Intro
2:15 - Traditional Taiwanese upbringing & Confucius
5:42 - Finding faith at 13 & self-worth
9:47 - Father disowns her at 21
13:24 - Mission in Taiwan & moving to Texas
15:27 - Abandoned by husband week before Thanksgiving
17:27 - Searching payphones for forgotten coins
19:00 - Choosing to celebrate herself
23:36 - Power of choice & mindset
26:00 - Toxic family & loving from afar
30:25 - Self-care & prayer as meditation
35:04 - 99 Fire Hoops & writing for her children
39:25 - Where to find Allison
40:10 – Outro

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


QUOTES:

"You can choose to have a great day at the beginning of the day. You wake up and say—I'm going to have a fantastic day today." 
–  Allison Hong Merrill

"Sometimes you can love someone and also from afar. Love someone, but that doesn't mean you have to allow that behavior or that person in."
 – Dara Levan

The laughter of her three children stopped her from stepping off the edge—but that was only the beginning of her story. Jessica Fein—writer, podcaster, and relentless optimist—joins Dara Levan to share her extraordinary journey through unimaginable loss and profound joy. At 27, Jessica lost her sister and best friend. Over the following decades, she lost both parents and another sister. After 25 failed fertility procedures, she and her husband adopted three children from Guatemala. Then their middle child, Dahlia, was diagnosed with a rare mitochondrial disease called MURF syndrome. Jessica shares the brutal reality of caregiving: Dahlia became ventilator-dependent, unable to walk, talk, or eat, requiring 24/7 care for eight years until her passing in March 2022. Jessica opens up about ambiguous grief—grieving someone still alive—and how she learned to sit with sadness rather than solve it. She reveals the pivotal moment she discovered her "strong face" was harming her other children and why joy and suffering are deeply intertwined.

Keywords: Jessica Fein, grief, loss, mitochondrial disease, ambiguous grief, caregiving, adoption, special needs parenting, podcast, I Don't Know How You Do It, Dahlia, MURF syndrome.


0:00 - Intro
2:07 - Losing sister at 27 & family of origin
3:16 - 25 fertility procedures & adoption
6:20 - Dahlia's hearing loss diagnosis
9:18 - Degenerative disease & ICU
15:03 - 24/7 caregiving reality
19:27 - Dahlia passes away
20:44 - Learning to sit with sadness
22:55 - Don't "should" people in grief
25:53 - Different losses in same family
30:13 - Understanding ambiguous grief
35:19 - Six people in the world
37:44 - Giving each other a night off
43:09 - The "strong face" mistake
48:24 - Where to find Jessica
49:46 – Outro


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


QUOTES:


"It's such a gift to know when you're going through it that it's an actual thing. When there's a name for something, it takes its power away."
– Jessica Fein


"I think it's important to de-stigmatize grief. Let's make it more comfortable to discuss."
 – Dara Levan

A reporter standing at her door asked one question that changed everything. Sariah Wilson—multiple-time bestselling romance author—joins Dara Levan to share her extraordinary publishing journey that began when her son was diagnosed with autism. Desperate to raise $10,000 for his therapy, she prayed for guidance and received an unexpected answer: write a book. After ignoring the message, a reporter showed up at her door asking if she was a writer because her press release was so well-crafted—and Sariah finally listened. She shares how she entered Amazon's Kindle Scout program, became one of the first 10 winners, and landed a two-book contract with Montlake (Amazon's romance publishing house)—without ever having an agent. Sariah also opens up about her 27-year marriage, her unconventional 30-day writing method, why she doesn't use beta readers, and how she handles one-star reviews. Her advice to aspiring authors? Look for opportunities others dismiss, be prepared when luck shows up, and remember that writing is subjective—you want readers to either love you or hate you.

Keywords: Sariah Wilson, romance author, Kindle Scout, Montlake, publishing journey, autism, indie publishing, Amazon publishing, romance novels, writing advice.

0:00 - Intro
1:46 - 27-year marriage & soulmates
3:36 - Childhood reading & first romance
5:51 - Son's autism diagnosis
6:50 - Garage sale & divine writing sign
10:58 - Kindle Scout & first 10 winners
12:26 - Montlake contract without agent
14:27 - Advice for aspiring authors
17:52 - Indie publishing explained
20:43 - Two books per year schedule
24:53 - Editing process & reviews
29:53 - No beta readers, trusting voice
35:47 - Where to find Sariah Wilson
36:16 – Outro

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


QUOTES:

"You don't want lukewarm readers. You want to be that person where people either love you or hate you. That means you've found your voice." 
– Sariah Wilson    

"Love is why we're here. Connection is why we're here. That's why I started this podcast."
 – Dara Levan

At age 12, she lost her father and stuffed every feeling away for decades. Jen Salk—mom, entrepreneur, and fellow Floridian—joins Dara Levan to share her powerful healing journey from childhood trauma to self-love. Growing up in Highland Park, Illinois, Jen experienced the traumatic illness and death of her father when she was just 12, along with her mother's health struggles. She spent years trying to find the right therapist—at least 10 attempts—before finally connecting with someone who could help her do the real work at age 47. Jen opens up about her abandonment wound, her journey from people pleaser to self-advocate, and the sensory toolbox she built to manage anxiety and overwhelming feelings. She shares practical tools including pink post-it notes with affirmations, self-talk, sensory items, playlists, and even bubbles for deep breathing. Her message? Healing is not linear—it's a roller coaster—but it's worth every uncomfortable moment.


Keywords: Jen Salk, healing, childhood trauma, therapy, self-love, abandonment wound, anxiety, people pleaser, sensory tools, affirmations, grief, father loss.

0:00 - Intro
3:33 - Father's illness & passing at age 12
6:22 - Therapy struggles & not giving up
8:37 - Finding right therapist at 47
9:49 - Real work happens between sessions
13:52 - Stop thinking, start feeling
15:55 - People pleasing & abandonment wound
18:43 - Self-talk & affirmations
20:43 - Sensory toolbox for anxiety
21:43 - Fear of being forgotten
22:40 - Spouse support & therapy
24:59 - Healing is a roller coaster
25:53 - Where to find Jen Salk
26:15 – Outro

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

QUOTES:
"Healing is not like that—it's like this. It's definitely a roller coaster. Something could trigger you and set you back, but don't give up. It's so worth it." – Jen Salk

"The feelings in themselves can be so scary to just even experience, but yet if you don't experience them, they're going to just sit there dormant and then you're going to grow something in your body."
 – Dara Levan

The laughter of her three children stopped her from taking the next step. Lauri Schoenfeld—author, host of The Enlightenment Show, and radiant beam of light—joins Dara Levan to share her profound journey from childhood abuse and codependency to self-love and healing. Growing up in the LDS Mormon Church in Utah, Lauri learned early to be what everyone else needed while never connecting to herself. At 30, sitting in her bathroom consumed by depression, her children's laughter reminded her of the cycle she was determined to break. She shares how writing became her safe space, how she forgave herself for the moments she didn't choose herself, and why throwing plates in a parking lot became part of her healing practice. Now an author of the psychological thriller Little Owl and the forthcoming YA novel Voiceless, Lauri reveals how she mothers her own inner child, navigates estrangement from her parents, and teaches her children to love themselves by example. This conversation is a masterclass in breaking generational trauma and choosing yourself.

Keywords: Lauri Schoenfeld, codependency, childhood abuse, healing, self-love, inner child, forgiveness, Little Owl, Voiceless, The Enlightenment Show, psychological thriller, PTSD, generational trauma.

0:00 - Intro
3:00 - Bathroom moment & children's laughter
5:30 - Childhood abuse & LDS upbringing
6:58 - Codependency & parentification
10:27 - Defining codependency
13:08 - Inner child work
15:56 - Writing as healing
18:55 - Voiceless YA novel
20:04 - Singing & performing background
23:04 - Sharing stories to help others
27:22 - Self-forgiveness journey
31:00 - Marriage & healing evolution
36:52 - Healthy anger expression
43:32 - Where to find Lauri
44:15 – Outro

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

QUOTES:
"Writing has always been my space where I felt safe with putting my voice on paper, which I haven't always at times felt safe sharing my voice." 
– Lauri Schoenfeld

"I don't believe any of our experiences, especially our bad ones, there are reasons behind them if we choose to really water our own gardens and bloom."
 – Dara Levan