Alexander Star—Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter, changemaker, and self-proclaimed "impact artist"—joins Dara Levan to share his extraordinary journey from Martin, Tennessee to the spotlight. Growing up biracial, Jewish, and vegetarian in a town with no synagogue and 300 miles from the nearest mall, Alexander learned early that self-confidence is the key to belonging everywhere and nowhere. He explains what it means to be an "impact artist"—creating music that's both commercially appealing and lyrically substantive without being preachy. From working with foster teens at Handy to going head-to-head with label executives who wanted him to add ignorance to his lyrics, Alexander proves that authenticity and integrity aren't just buzzwords—they're his religion. He reveals why your vibe attracts your tribe, how to find your creative voice by getting alone with yourself, and why the tiniest light destroys the darkest room.

Keywords: Alexander Star, impact artist, authenticity, self-confidence, biracial identity, foster care, music industry, Handy, singer-songwriter, Emmy-nominated.

0:00 - Intro
1:01 - Growing up in Martin, Tennessee
3:51 - Family background & Jewish heritage
4:55 - Being biracial, Jewish & vegetarian
5:43 - Grandma Jenny & Hanukkah prayer
8:06 - Finding self-confidence as "the other"
10:20 - Defining "impact artist"
14:32 - Work with Handy & foster youth
19:03 - Pandemic album project
20:24 - Father's classical piano background
24:04 - Parenting & letting kids find their path
26:53 - Authenticity & creating art for yourself
33:53 - Dealing with people who dim your light
39:59 - Rocking the boat & staying true
41:14 - Where to find Alexander Star
43:27 – Outro

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

QUOTES:

"Your vibe attracts your tribe, and the frequency that you resonate, the people who are meant to feel it are going to feel it." 
– Alexander Star

"Authenticity and integrity are how I exist in the world—not just in my writing, but in my personal life, too."
 – Dara Levan

Sweta Vikram—whose name means "goddess of dance" in Sanskrit—has written 13 books and built a career bridging Eastern and Western approaches to health and well-being. In this soulful conversation with host Dara Levan, Sweta shares her journey from a corporate career to becoming a sought-after mindfulness coach, the sudden loss of her mother that sent her searching for answers, and why "recovering perfectionist" is her favorite title. They explore the difference between practicing yoga on the mat versus living it off the mat, how to silence the inner critic, the importance of boundaries during the holidays, and why approaching life with an abundance mindset transforms everything from creativity to holiday gatherings. Whether you're navigating grief, family triggers, or simply trying to find balance during the busy season, this episode offers practical wisdom for showing up as your most authentic self.

Keywords: mindfulness, Ayurveda, holiday stress, self-compassion, Sweta Vikram, yoga, inner critic, boundaries, abundance mindset.

0:00    - Intro & welcome
1:43    - Meaning of Sweta's name
3:19    - White connection: Levan & Sweta
4:06    - Starting the wellness journey
6:33    - Mother's sudden passing
8:02    - Yoga on vs. off the mat
9:41    - Parenting, pop tarts & wellness
12:00   - Hinduism as a way of life
15:31   - Being a recovering perfectionist
17:51   - Pandemic lessons & writing
20:58   - Emotions & the physical body
22:30   - Self-care & writer stereotypes
25:21   - How Sweta takes care of herself
30:22   - Rigidity vs. flexibility in routine
34:18   - Holiday tips & boundaries
38:46   - Where to find Sweta
40:01   - Outro

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

QUOTES:

"Unless people learn to love themselves for all of everything, it's hard to make the world a kind of place. But how can you love others if you don't love yourself?" 
– Sweta Vikram

"To be Jewish is to live and exist in the world with kindness and goodness."
 – Dara Levan

Female firefighters make up just four to six percent of all firefighters in the United States—and Tina Guiler is on a mission to change that. A 23-year veteran with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Tina started the Triple F (Fierce Female Firefighters) group that now connects over 7,000 women firefighters across 58 countries. After surviving breast cancer in 2018, she launched the Triple F Foundation to support firefighters battling cancer and on-the-job injuries. And then she created something the world had never seen: authentic female firefighter plush dolls named Ember and Molly—the latter honoring Molly Williams, the first known female firefighter in U.S. history from 1815. In this powerful conversation with host Dara Levan, Tina shares her journey from tomboy to firefighter, the mental and physical toll of the job, delivering three babies on the job, and why her motto "together we are stronger" is more than words—it's a lifeline.

Keywords: female firefighters, Triple F, firefighter dolls, breast cancer survivor, women in fire service, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, firefighter foundation, PTSD in firefighters.

0:00    - Intro & welcome
2:09    - What is Triple F?
5:47    - Breast cancer diagnosis & foundation
6:59    - Women's issues in the fire service
9:31    - How Tina became a firefighter
11:12   - Why women firefighters are still rare
13:01   - Introducing Ember & Molly dolls
15:14   - "If they can see it, they can be it"
17:39   - Where to buy the dolls
19:22   - Female firefighter calendar
20:05   - Delivering three babies on the job
20:51   - EMT vs. Paramedic explained
22:06   - Surfside building collapse & PTSD
25:21   - Navigating holidays as a firefighter
28:03   - Message to her 5-year-old self
29:41   - Outro

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-guiler-triplef

QUOTES:

"A lot of firefighters, pretty much every firefighter has somewhat of PTSD because we see things that people normally don't ever see."
– Tina Guiler


"If you impact one person, that's huge because then hopefully it's like you put the stone in the water and those ripples go out."
 – Dara Levan

Barri Leiner Grant—founder of The Memory Circle, Certified Grief Coach, and self-proclaimed Chief Grief Officer™—knows this terrain intimately. After losing her mother Ellen suddenly at age 50 in 1993, Barri spent years without the tools or language to process her grief. Today, she helps others navigate loss of all kinds—death, divorce, estrangement, miscarriage—especially during the holidays when external messages of joy clash with internal pain. In this raw conversation with host Dara Levan, Barri shares her personal journey, practical tips for supporting grieving friends, how to ask for signs from loved ones who've passed, and why giving yourself permission to pivot, leave early, or say no is not selfish—it's survival. Whether you're grieving or supporting someone who is, this episode offers warmth, wisdom, and real talk for the holiday season.

Keywords: holiday grief, grief support, sudden loss, The Memory Circle, grief during holidays, coping with loss, Barri Leiner Grant.

0:00    - Intro & welcome
2:37    - Barri's personal grief journey begins
4:23    - Losing her mother Ellen in 1993
7:16    - Dara shares her own sudden loss story
9:57    - The "tucking in" before a loved one passes
13:08   - The day Ellen died
14:52   - Dark humor as a coping mechanism
16:13   - Signs from the other side: ladybugs & rainbows
20:17   - Asking for specific signs
23:41   - The power of pivoting
24:49   - When friends don't show up
27:57   - Meeting people where they're strongest
29:45   - Processing trauma before grief
32:53   - Supporting those with non-death losses
37:59   - Where to find Barri & The Memory Circle
40:36   - Outro & closing thoughts

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

QUOTES:

"The messages on the outside that are coming at us are like joy and happy and holiday carols... And on the inside, we may be feeling so differently." 
– Barri Leiner Grant

"One of the universal things that we share as human beings is grief and loss, we can't avoid it."
 – Dara Levan

Best friends for over 30 years, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have published seven books together—and their eighth, Forever Hold Your Peace, arrives this summer. Lisa Steinke flies solo for this live conversation (Liz was stranded with a flat tire, listening from her car) and reveals the wild ride behind their co‑authoring career: five years to get published, a roller coaster of rejection, parting ways with Amazon, and landing at Alcove Press with distribution by Penguin Random House. She explains why they don't outline, how they learned to write together without killing each other, and why "leaning into the suck" is the only way to grow. From Simon & Schuster to Lake Union to independent publishing, this is the real‑talk, no‑filter story of a friendship that survived—and thrived—in the creative trenches.


0:00 - Intro
1:34 - Liz has a flat tire, Lisa flies solo
2:55 - Real talk in real time
3:48 - Embracing social media as authors
7:03 - 30+ years of friendship
8:38 - Learning to write books together
9:53 - Five-year journey to publication
11:18 - Rejection podcast series
13:58 - Leaning into the suck
18:24 - Publishing across Simon & Schuster, Amazon, Alcove
22:52 - No regrets philosophy
25:50 - Writing process without an outline
30:55 - Traveling and friendship balance
33:02 - Mike Fenton: the unofficial third member
41:56 - Holiday traditions
43:06 - Where to find Liz & Lisa
44:18 - Outro

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


QUOTES:

"Change can be good, and a lot of us are resistant to change for obvious reasons. But it's been really good for us." 
– Lisa Steinke

"I think it's important to go to the right people for feedback—someone who will challenge me, but not put their own fear on me."
 – Dara Levan

What happens when you stop pleasing everyone around you? Barbara Linn Probst—award-winning author, former therapist, and global nomad who traded New York City for Argentina—joins Dara Levan for a raw conversation about boundaries, narcissism, and the courage to ask yourself one question: What do I want? Barbara shares how she and her husband sold everything, told almost no one, and moved to another country—a decision that required setting boundaries before anyone even knew there was a boundary to set.

Together, they explore the difference between feedback, opinion, and criticism; why silent boundaries can be just as powerful as spoken ones; and how to navigate family dynamics during the holidays without losing yourself. With wisdom from Ingrid Clayton's Believing Me and Lindsay Gibson's Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, this episode is a masterclass in self-awareness, people-pleasing recovery, and the art of protecting your peace—even when others aren't pleased with your choices. Tune in for real talk on narcissistic dynamics, writing feedback, and the freedom that comes from knowing what you truly want.

0:00 - Intro
1:19 - Barbara joins from Argentina
2:00 - Why they left New York
4:22 - Learning flexibility as a nomad
6:55 - Control is an illusion
9:38 - Choosing "selfish" as her word of the year
11:54 - People-pleasing and knowing what you want
15:45 - Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
18:06 - When you stop pleasing people, they're not pleased
19:50 - Owning your choices and silent boundaries
23:25 - Selling everything and telling nobody
27:29 - Feedback vs. opinion vs. criticism
35:55 - Meeting people where they are
39:55 - Where to find Barbara
41:17 - Outro

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07VQQ6RCD

QUOTES:


"When you tell somebody your plans, you have a 65% chance of completing them. When you check in with somebody regularly, you have a 95% chance." 
– Barbara Linn Probst


"We have so much less control of our lives than we think we do, which we keep learning as we get older."
 – Dara Levan

When the pressure of New York parenting became too much—$20,000 preschool applications, psychological evaluations for toddlers, and a life that felt like it was suffocating her—Leigh Shulman sold everything and left. The author, mentor, and founder of The Workshop writing community joins Every Soul Has a Story from Argentina to discuss boundaries, narcissism, and the liberating power of knowing what you want. Leigh opens up about choosing "selfish" as her word of the year—not because she wanted to be selfish, but to explore what happens when you stop people-pleasing. She shares why boundaries aren't about controlling others but about deciding what you're willing to accept, how feedback differs from opinion, and the powerful reminder that "when you stop pleasing people, people will not be pleased." From navigating family dynamics to giving better writing feedback, this conversation is a masterclass in protecting your peace while staying connected to the people who truly matter.

0:00 - Intro and welcome
1:37 - Moving to Argentina
3:42 - New York pressure and leaving
4:22 - Learning to be flexible
6:29 - All feelings are temporary
8:48 - Twitter and toxicity
9:38 - Choosing "selfish" as word of year
11:54 - People-pleasing and knowing what you want
15:36 - Boundaries within boundaries
16:45 - Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
18:00 - When you stop pleasing people, people won't be pleased
19:50 - Silent boundaries and relationships
24:19 - Not telling anyone about moving
24:55 - Feedback vs. criticism vs. opinion
31:53 - Feedback exercise
35:28 - Calling people out with kindness
37:22 - Accepting people as they are
39:55 - Where to find Leigh

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

QUOTES:

"Feedback is always about the other person's reaction. Then you strip it of the emotional content to serve your needs." 
– Leigh Shulman

"All feelings are temporary—you don't know when the moment will change."
 – Dara Levan

For 25 years, Cindy Muchnick and her husband have been navigating marriage, parenting, and geography—from California to Chicago to Florida and back again, all while raising four wildly different kids. The author of The Parent Compass joins Every Soul Has a Story for an honest conversation about what it really takes to parent authentically. Cindy opens up about learning to cry in front of her kids, modeling vulnerability, and the importance of asking "What do you need from me right now?" instead of jumping in to fix everything. She also shares her husband's hilarious observation about "macro vs. micro economics" in marriage, the "4-for-4" concept of rare equilibrium when all four kids are thriving at once, and the surprising role geography has played in her relationship.

Packed with wisdom, humor, and real talk, this episode reminds us that parenting is less about having all the answers and more about showing up, listening, and giving yourself grace.

0:00 - Intro and welcome
1:51 - Four kids, 24, 21, almost 18, and 16
2:33 - What you put in is what you get out
4:13 - Crying in front of kids
5:44 - Modeling vulnerability
8:52 - Apologizing to kids
10:21 - Learning to listen
11:34 - Asking what people need
14:35 - Geography and marriage story
20:56 - Modeling resilience through moves
21:33 - Four for four concept
24:42 - Marriage strengths and macro/micro economics
28:44 - 80% negative thoughts stat
31:48 - Where to find Cindy
33:20 - Final farewell

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

QUOTES:

"The way you communicate can be so different from your partner, yet you can be happy that each other is happy." 
– Cindy Muchnick

"Authenticity is loaded—I thought I was authentic until I realized I wasn't crying in front of my kids."
 – Dara Levan

At 45, Julianna Miner discovered she had ADHD—not through a doctor's diagnosis, but while a psychologist was explaining her child's symptoms. For years, she'd thought the chaos in her head was just "how brains work." The author of Raising a Screen-Smart Kid joins Every Soul Has a Story for a hilarious and honest conversation about late-in-life diagnoses, parenting teenagers while navigating perimenopause (a "design flaw" she'd like to return), and the love/hate relationship she has with social media.

A writer who's been managing social media accounts since 2009, Julianna shares why she stopped using it personally, how she sets phone limits that literally cut her off mid-conversation, and why the best thing you can do for your kids is help them find their own process—not manage it for them. From ADHD masking to social media tipping points, this is a masterclass in keeping it real while raising humans in a digital world.

0:00 - Intro and tech bloopers
2:29 - Perimenopause and the design flaw
4:12 - Being mothered by Julianna
5:29 - Moms as the hub with no autonomy
8:01 - ADHD diagnosis at 45
10:21 - Eighth grade asshole story
12:36 - Self-compassion and ADHD
14:42 - Procrastination as ADHD strategy
17:23 - ADHD drives anxiety symptoms
20:36 - Getting a diagnosis is expensive
23:40 - Helping kids find their process
26:08 - Social media boundaries and limits
29:49 - Managing social media professionally
33:06 - Creating community for bad days
34:11 - Phone limits in action
38:27 - Meeting through Zibby's group
39:02 - Identifying social media tipping points
42:26 - Only use social media professionally
43:10 - Where to find Julianna

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2150907/julianna-miner/

QUOTES:

"For a neurotypical person, procrastination as a strategy makes no sense. For someone with ADHD, it makes total sense." 
– Julianna Miner

"I want meaning—that is the way I live my personal and professional life."
 – Dara Levan

She had just sold three book deals in three months—but celebrating herself felt impossible. For author and CEO Rea Frey, the joy of career success was tangled with a deep discomfort around being the center of attention, a feeling rooted in childhood experiences of being made fun of for her accomplishments. In this conversation, Rea opens up about the burnout that forced her to take the entire summer off, the healing modalities—including primal screaming and cold plunges—that helped reset her nervous system, and why she deleted most social media and unfollowed over a thousand people to reclaim meaningful connection.

The author of numerous books, ghostwriter, and founder of Write Way (where she's helped nearly 100 debut authors land agents and book deals), Rea shares her philosophy on working in cycles, the power of saying no, and why writing should be fueled by joy—not obligation. If you've ever struggled with burnout or wondered if there's a better way to work, this is for you.

0:00 - Intro and Hurricane Ian gratitude
2:07 - Three book deals in three months
3:08 - Why celebrating yourself is hard
5:40 - The happy medium in celebration
6:46 - From burnout to book deals
9:20 - Taking the summer off
10:42 - What a break looks like
12:29 - Social media and boundaries
16:30 - Kids, phones, and meaningful relationships
19:23 - Boundaries and saying no
20:55 - Group texts and meaningful connection
22:24 - Writing process and binge writing
24:45 - Thrillers vs. women's fiction
27:47 - Daily grounding rituals
30:51 - Healing modalities and primal screaming
34:15 - Flow and creating space
38:57 - Social media for authors
40:15 - Marketing without burnout
42:03 - Where to find Rea

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

QUOTES:

"Figure out what you actually enjoy, something you'll be consistent with. Put your efforts there. It doesn't have to be this big shiny thing." 
– Rea Frey

"We have to keep filling up that well because there will be times when you don't know what storm—literally or figuratively—is going to cross your path."
 – Dara Levan