Every Soul Has A Story

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

Paralegal by day, romance novelist by night—Meredith Schorr has mastered the art of balancing a full-time job with writing joyful romantic comedies that readers devour. The author of Seen on TV joins Every Soul Has a Story to discuss her latest book, a story about a woman who romanticizes small-town life based on Hallmark movies and Gilmore Girls, only to discover reality doesn't always match the fantasy. Meredith opens up about dating in New York City (and the anonymity that makes ghosting all too easy), her love of 80s nostalgia, and why she writes characters who are flawed and relatable—because no one has it all together.

She also shares her writing process (timers, sprints, and no internet), how she reads three books at once while blow-drying her hair, and why writing has made her more patient and thick-skinned. If you've ever wondered what goes into crafting a charming rom-com with just the right amount of heat, this conversation is for you.

0:00 - Intro and fall vibes
1:55 - Seen on TV setting and inspiration
3:22 - Small town vs. Hallmark fantasy
6:48 - Truth in fiction and Easter eggs
7:40 - From actress dreams to author
9:57 - Flawed characters are relatable
10:27 - TV obsessions and 80s nostalgia
11:33 - The premise of Seen on TV
13:30 - Dating in New York City
17:34 - Inspiration from television
19:45 - Write what brings you joy
22:07 - Reading ARCs and giving up
25:48 - Finding freedom at 48
27:45 - Balancing it all: writing, reading, working
32:55 - Writing sprints and time-based goals
34:11 - Linear writing and planning
36:28 - How writing changed her
37:42 - Final thoughts

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

QUOTES:

"Writing has made me more patient. You can't force 80,000 words to come out. They just don't. They take time." 
– Meredith Schorr

"You can feel the author's passion and authenticity within their work. It's hard to fake that."
 – Dara Levan

She had won an Emmy by 24 and was creative director of a TV production company—but she was utterly unhappy. For Jean Meltzer, success on paper meant nothing until a Rosh Hashanah sermon asked her "Ayecha—where are you?" and she realized she'd been living for goals instead of values. She quit her job, moved to Israel to study Judaism, and then spent years bedbound with chronic fatigue syndrome, barely able to leave her home. But in those four walls, she made a decision: no matter what, she would hold onto her joy.

Today, Jean is the bestselling author of The Matzah Ball and the upcoming Mr. Perfect on Paper (out August 9th), writing Jewish romance novels that give voice to invisible illness, generalized anxiety, and the beautiful complexity of identity. In this raw conversation, she shares why vulnerability doesn't scare her anymore, how her books healed her, and why we should never comment on someone's body—because you never know what battle they're fighting.

0:00 - Intro and first-time connection
3:40 - Emmy-winning TV producer at 24
4:40 - Rabbi's sermon: "Ayecha, where are you?"
6:40 - Moving to Israel to study Judaism
7:20 - Chronic illness and becoming bedbound
8:13 - Holding onto joy in four walls
9:15 - Vulnerability doesn't scare her anymore
11:45 - All identities coming together in The Matzah Ball
12:22 - Chronic illness, joy, and authenticity
14:19 - Chronic fatigue syndrome and invisible illness
16:35 - Photos showing invisible illness
19:01 - Mr. Perfect on Paper and generalized anxiety
22:30 - Being right about the pandemic
24:05 - Everyone is going through a battle
25:23 - Where to find Jean
26:37 - Final farewell

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

QUOTES:

"Chronic illness brings you to your lowest places. And I made a decision that no matter what, even if my life never moved anywhere from four walls, that I was going to hold onto my joy." 
– Jean Melzter

"We all have something. You're not living authentically if you say your life is perfect on paper."
 – Dara Levan

In her head, it's a black screen—no pictures, no movies, no mental images of what characters look like or where scenes take place. For debut author Maggie Giles, this is aphantasia, and she had no idea it wasn't normal until a conversation with a graphic designer revealed that most people actually see things in their minds. The author of The Things We Lost (a women's fiction thriller about a woman sent back to her 20s to live an alternate past) shares how she writes vivid novels despite not visualizing anything, why dialogue is her superpower, and how she adds setting and description only in later drafts.

She also opens up about taking a leap of faith with a brand-new indie publisher, Rising Action Publishing, after a gut feeling told her to ignore everything she'd been taught about publishing. From social media authenticity to the ever-evolving definition of women's fiction, this conversation is a fascinating look at how our brains all work differently—and how that makes our stories richer.

0:00 - Intro and welcome
2:13 - Aphantasia: the black screen explained
3:33 - Writing without visualizing
4:29 - Dialogue as strength, description added later
6:41 - Different levels of aphantasia
9:51 - Indie publishing and rising action
13:32 - Women's fiction defined
15:20 - Women's fiction genre classification
18:43 - Finding an editor who loves your book
21:45 - Social media and authenticity
23:45 - Privacy and posting boundaries
25:34 - Taking social media breaks
27:23 - You get out what you put in
30:29 - Where to find Maggie and her book
31:13 - Final farewell

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


QUOTES:
"I love authors that have this amazing gift for subtle description—it's something I envy so much. 
– Maggie Giles

"If you don't have thick skin and you're not okay with being dynamic and flexible, this is probably not the field for you."
 – Dara Levan

Is it possible to be too good at setting boundaries? Friendship expert and podcast host Nina Badzin says yes—and in this candid conversation, she challenges the Instagram-culture mantra of "protect your energy at all costs," arguing that a little generosity can go a long way. The author of the advice column and podcast Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship shares the most common themes she sees from readers—from friends who never initiate contact to the pain of social media likes (or lack thereof).

She offers a refreshing perspective on why we shouldn't take it personally when friends don't engage with our posts, how to confront friends with kindness instead of silence, and why we need to allow people to change without judgment. Along the way, she and Dara explore the difference between coming from a place of abundance versus scarcity, the power of a simple voice memo, and the importance of modeling healthy friendship behaviors for our kids.

0:00 - Intro and reconnection
1:32 - Boundaries vs. generosity
2:54 - Giving too much vs. protecting time
4:18 - Social media likes and friendship
6:28 - Algorithm and showing up
9:18 - Social media fears and oversharing
10:59 - Abundance vs. hoarding resources
15:23 - Confronting friends with kindness
17:36 - Demoting friendships
19:21 - Deposit and withdrawal concept
22:04 - Setting boundaries with kids
25:00 - Friends never initiate contact
33:16 - Where to find Nina
34:21 - Final thoughts

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

QUOTES:

"Friendships aren't just about a girlfriend—it could be a friendship between your spouse, between your children, the way you engage with the world." 
– Nina Badzin

"Sometimes pushing past a boundary isn't 'I'm not taking care of myself'—it's maybe someone else really could use a little time."
 – Dara Levan

What does it feel like when your father says "I love you" and saying it back makes you feel like you're giving away a piece of yourself? For writer Darcey Gohring, that hollow exchange was the painful reality of a relationship with an alcoholic, abusive parent—and the reason she cut ties with him at 19, calling it the first truly brave thing she ever did for herself. In this raw, honest conversation, Darcey shares how her father went from hero to monster in one night when she was nine, the years of verbal and physical abuse that followed, and the moment she realized she had to step away to survive.

After publishing her story in HuffPost, she faced judgment from strangers who questioned whether it "was really that bad" and from her father's friends who called her cruel—proving how hard it is for people to understand family estrangement. Now, with children of her own, Darcey reflects on breaking generational cycles and the powerful reminder that "they didn't protect you, you don't have to protect them."

0:01 - Intro and welcome
3:16 - The HuffPost essay about estrangement
4:45 - Father's alcoholism and abuse
7:42 - The bravery of a 19-year-old
8:09 - Testifying against her father
10:28 - Why people judge family estrangement
11:22 - Responding to critical comments
13:01 - Father had 18 years to change
14:37 - Finding old letters in the basement
16:05 - Pressure from his friends and family
17:11 - Standing firm during his final illness
21:10 - "They didn't protect you, you don't have to protect them"
22:52 - Final thoughts

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

QUOTES:

"Nobody is all good or all bad. You can have a really good experience with someone, but that doesn't mean they're a good parent." 
– Darcey Gohring

"You can't change a dynamic if that person's not willing to do the work."
 – Dara Levan

What happens when you're a licensed mental health counselor with a full-time caseload and a burning desire to publish novels? For C. D'Angelo, it meant learning to self-publish, setting firm boundaries, and discovering that her best ideas come during her morning commute.

The author of The Difference and her brand-new release The Visitor joins Every Soul Has a Story to discuss her journey from a small press to self-publishing after eight years of incubating her debut, how she balances two full-time careers, and why release—not letting go—is the secret to managing creative energy. With settings as rich as her characters—New York for The Difference and New Orleans for The Visitor—C. weaves her Italian heritage, love of music, and observations from her therapy practice into stories that explore connection, ancestry, and community. She also shares why Sundays are her writing days, how music fuels her creativity, and why putting down the phone at 8 p.m. is non-negotiable self-care.

0:00 - Intro and evening podcast
2:55 - Self-publishing journey and parting with publisher
4:44 - The eight-year incubation
5:50 - Licensed mental health counselor by day
6:37 - Boundaries, self-care, and saying no
8:32 - Creative ideas come in the car
10:46 - Sundays are writing days
12:16 - Observations from therapy in fiction
13:28 - The Difference plot and Italian heritage
15:09 - Discovering Italian relatives in Florida
18:45 - The Visitor set in New Orleans
20:43 - Book titles from music and movement
22:46 - Self-care tips and the power of release
25:53 - Final thoughts and farewell

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

QUOTES:

"Letting go to me as a type A person would be 'how do I do that?' But release sounds so much easier."
– C. D'Angelo

"That's how you know you're following your passion and purpose—when it's itching and knocking at you."
 – Dara Levan