At 11 years old, Robin Farmer stood in a Catholic school classroom and told her nun that Thomas Jefferson was a hypocrite for owning slaves while signing the Declaration of Independence. The nun slammed her ruler, pointed to the door, and screamed: "Get back in the boat, go back to Africa.

We never needed you people in the first place." That moment of racism and religion colliding became the turning point that inspired her debut novel, Malcolm and Me. In this powerful conversation, Robin—a former journalist, screenwriter, and now award-winning author—shares how she turned trauma into art, why she chose fiction over memoir, and how forgiveness became the key to healing.

She reveals why her book was moved up seven months early in 2020, how Malcolm X's autobiography guided her protagonist, and what she wants young readers to understand about truth-telling, empathy, and critical thinking. This is a story about finding your voice, standing up to power, and using your pain to help others.

0:00 - Intro & Technical Difficulties
1:30 - Robin's Debut Novel Introduction
3:15 - Learning to Read at Age 4
5:45 - The Nun Incident That Changed Everything
9:20 - Why the Book Was Moved Up Early
12:10 - Fiction vs. Memoir Decision
15:30 - Journalism Background & Screenwriting
19:00 - The University of Michigan Fellowship
22:15 - Defining Forgiveness
25:40 - Gratitude as a Healing Tool
28:10 - Lessons for Young Readers
30:40 - Outro & Book Birthday Plans

•    https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
•    Website: daralevan.com3
•    Robin Farmer - Debut novel Malcolm and Me

QUOTES:

"I was seven years old, I went to Catholic school, and my nun taught us how to do cursive writing. I came home and said, Mommy, I'm a writer. I wasn't quite understanding what writer meant, but because I could cursive write, I thought I was a writer."
– Robin Farmer

"There's a storyteller, and there's an awesome writer, and I don't feel everyone is good at both. What a blessing if you're amazing at both."
– Dara Levan

Jaqueline Friedland never planned to become a novelist—she was on track to be an English professor, then a lawyer, then a mom of four. But somewhere between labor stories, epidural mishaps, and her kids heading off to kindergarten, she started writing. Now she's celebrating the release of her third book—a novel about surrogacy that hit #1 new release in LGBTQ and family life fiction.

In this raw, unfiltered conversation with Dara Levan, Jaqueline opens up about: the cover design drama that almost derailed her book, why she writes to bagpipes (yes, really), how she channels personal heartbreak into fiction, and the uncomfortable truth about asking friends for reviews. She also shares why she believes fiction builds empathy—and how her mom's career as a professor shaped her own definition of making a difference.

Keywords: Jaqueline Friedland author, surrogacy fiction, historical fiction writer, mother of four author, writing process, book cover design, Every Soul Has a Story podcast, former attorney turned author

0:00   - Intro & Technical Difficulties
2:23   - Welcoming Jaqueline Friedland
3:28   - Childbirth Stories & Epidural Mishaps
6:23   - Practicing Law While Raising Kids
8:27   - Book Cover Design Drama
13:00  - Writing Schedule with 4 Kids
14:57  - Research Rabbit Holes
17:46  - Outlining vs. Pantsing
20:28  - Writing Through Pain
22:20  - From Law to Literature
25:54  - The Reality of Author Marketing
28:30  - Personal Details in Fiction
30:11  - Why Fiction Builds Empathy
33:07  - Outro

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

QUOTES:

"When it hurts me to write something, there's like a part of me that likes that. It means I'm doing it right."
–  Jaqueline Friedland

"I feel like our world… we’re so connected and high tech, and, yet, I feel like so many people are more disconnected than ever."
– Dara Levan

For 19 years, Melissa Face carried grief she was afraid to feel. After losing her younger sister, she chose anger over sadness—because anger felt productive, and sadness felt like drowning. Then came a health crisis, bilateral pulmonary emboli, and another wake-up call to embrace every moment. Now a teacher of gifted students, a mother of two, and author of "I Love You More Than Coffee," Melissa shares how loss shaped her parenting, why she celebrates everything, and what she learned about vulnerability during the pandemic. This conversation explores teaching gifted children, the importance of communication, and the quiet power of letting yourself feel. Melissa also reveals her coffee obsession, her love for Vermont, and why she refuses to apologize for being a present, celebrating mom.

Keywords: Melissa Face, I Love You More Than Coffee, parenting, grief, gifted education, teacher, author, pandemic parenting, resilience, coffee, loss, every soul has a story


0:00 - Intro & Welcome
1:55 - Melissa joins the call
3:00 - Teaching gifted students
5:30 - Pandemic teaching challenges
7:45 - Kids and remote learning
9:15 - Skeletor the skeleton student
11:00 - Melissa's writing journey
13:30 - Grief, loss, and parenting
17:45 - Health crisis: pulmonary emboli
20:30 - Pandemic reflections
23:00 - Social media and control
25:15 - Coffee obsession
28:00 - Vermont, writing, and sanctuary
32:30 - Wine, chocolate, and life's pleasures
35:00 - Closing reflections
39:53 - Outro

Book: I Love You More Than Coffee by Melissa FaceDara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story:
• https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
• Website: daralevan.com
https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-More-Than-Coffee/dp/1645430863


QUOTES:

"It was easier for me to be angry than to be sad. That was my defense mechanism. Anger is also more productive than sadness."

– Melissa Face


"Anger is like a fiery emotion, right? There's like this fuel, almost like a rocket ship. Sadness, it's like a wet horse blanket."

– Dara Levan

Those stars twinkling above? Some of them burned out long ago—and the same is true for the facades we carry. In this soul-stirring episode, host Dara Levan welcomes Grace Sammon, entrepreneur, educator, speaker, and author of the award-winning novel The Eves. Grace shares her extraordinary journey from educational consulting to fiction writing, the childhood trauma that propelled her life's work, and why she believes women are stronger together than they will ever be alone.

She reveals the surprising truth about ISBN numbers, the difference between self-publishing and indie publishing, and why she writes to start conversations rather than chase bestseller status. From turning scars into stars to the power of apology and self-compassion, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and leaving your mark on the world.

Keywords: Grace Sammon, The Eves novel, women empowering women, trauma healing, indie publishing vs self-publishing, author journey, multi-generational fiction, turning scars into stars, legacy and reinvention, book publishing tips


0:02 - Intro and welcome
2:29 - Grace joins with funky red glasses
5:19 - Women empowering women
7:41 - Stronger together than alone
9:28 - Teaching kids compassion in tough times
12:48 - Lessons from Orthodox Jewish community
14:05 - Carl Jung and writing flawed characters
17:40 - Childhood sexual abuse and not being heard
20:11 - Turning scars into stars
24:09 - Self-compassion and putting yourself on the calendar
28:49 - Learning from children and grandparenting
30:38 - The non-writing work of being an author
35:58 - Fiction vs nonfiction writing
39:52 - ISBN numbers and indie publishing explained
42:00 - Self-publishing vs indie publishing
45:29 - Why authors need to know their "why"
48:09 - Self-doubt as the biggest challenge
49:10 - Writing to start conversations
52:52 - Outro and thank you

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


QUOTES:

"I love that we as women, so many of us, realize that we are stronger together than we will ever be if we are trying to cut each other down."

– Grace Sammon


"We have our shadow side and our light side. And isn't that life in general, if we're receptive and we're open to learning and open to growing, then we do."

– Dara Levan

Imagine discovering at age 50 that you survived a stroke at birth—and that your mother knew all along. In this deeply moving episode, host Dara Levan welcomes author Leslie Hooton, who shares her extraordinary journey of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of storytelling. Leslie reveals how she learned at 50 that a tiny spot on her brain—caused by lack of oxygen at birth—had shaped her entire life.

Her mother, whom she affectionately calls "Sarge," refused to institutionalize her and instead taught her to never let her challenges define her. Leslie discusses her novel "Before Anyone Else," how writing saved her life during divorce and her mother's dementia, and why she believes trauma can coexist with joy. A powerful conversation about mother-daughter relationships, finding purpose, and the healing power of writing. 

Keywords: stroke survivor story, Leslie Hooton author, Before Anyone Else, stroke awareness month, mother-daughter relationship, trauma and resilience, dementia and grief, writing through trauma, brain injury recovery, inspirational memoir

0:00 - Intro and welcome
4:01 - Born a month early and stroke discovery
8:44 - Doctor recommended institutionalization
12:49 - Finding the brain spot at 50
15:05 - Stroke Awareness Month synchronicity
17:54 - Living openly after discovering the truth
20:39 - The virus that brought her closer to her brother
24:17 - Mother's dementia revealed her love
29:12 - Wrestling with death and purpose
32:56 - Dementia as a gift
35:33 - Creating "Before Anyone Else"
40:57 - Women empowerment and the kitchen
42:18 - "We rescue ourselves"
43:20 - Mother's Day wishes and closing

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

QUOTES:
"We can let trauma be the sole thing in our backpack, or we can add joy and gratitude and all the other things. And it insulates that trauma just a little bit."
– Leslie Hooton

"Sometimes as little as things can hurt the most. So it's not about size, it's about impact."
– Dara Levan