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Every Soul Has A Story

Every Soul Has A Story

By: Dara Levan
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 Every Soul Has A Story Hosted By Dara LevanDara Levan Social Sciences
Episodes
  • From True Crime Family Murder to Fiction Writing with Debbie Levison

    From True Crime Family Murder to Fiction Writing with Debbie Levison
    Apr 24 2026
    What happens when you discover a wooden crate containing human remains under your family's lake house—and your brother becomes the primary murder suspect? In this powerful episode, author Debbie Levison shares her shocking true crime story "The Crate," which intertwines her Holocaust survivor parents' history with a present-day murder investigation. Debbie opens up about why she pivoted to fiction with her latest novel "A Novel Crime," how she copes with trauma through dark humor, and why writing fiction gives her control over chaos that real life doesn't offer. Key takeaways: the vulnerability of nonfiction writing, how Holocaust survivors reclaimed their sanctuary after violence, and why comparing yourself to other authors is universal. Perfect for true crime lovers, aspiring writers, and anyone navigating family trauma.


    0:00 - Intro
    14:47 - Discovering the crate under lake house
    19:02 - Family trauma & Holocaust survivor parents
    24:23 - Why fiction beats nonfiction
    24:49 - Writing process & failed plotting
    25:06 - Statistics & speech pathology detour
    29:08 - Rascal House nostalgia
    29:40 - Concert pianist past
    29:42 - Debbie's concert pianist background
    31:13 - Outro

    RESOURCES:

    Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
    • Website: daralevan.com
    • https://debbielevison.com/
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    31 mins
  • Using Humor to Tackle Race, Religion, and Privilege | Asha Youmans & Alli Frank

    Using Humor to Tackle Race, Religion, and Privilege | Asha Youmans & Alli Frank
    Apr 10 2026
    What happens when a white Jewish woman asks a black Christian woman to “get together and talk about race”? For authors Asha Youmans and Alli Frank, it was the beginning of a bestselling writing partnership. In this episode of Every Soul Has a Story, host Dara Levan sits down with this dynamic duo to discuss their fifth book, Run for Your Life, Callie Kingman, and their mission to tackle hard topics—like race, religion, and privilege—through humor and joy. They reveal the surprising pushback they’ve faced from publishers who feared their partnership was “exploitative,” the hilarious rejection of a controversial book title, and how their decades in education gave them the thick skin needed to navigate the publishing industry. Listeners will learn about their unique writing process, how they navigate disagreements, and why they believe everyone is just trying to do their best.

    TIMESTAMPS:
    0:00 - Intro
    0:53 - How they decide what’s funny
    2:30 - David Sedaris quote: “Everything is funny eventually”
    4:09 - How Asha and Alli first met
    6:43 - The coffee date to “talk about race”
    8:45 - The mission: using humor and joy
    13:45 - Learning through laughter
    15:50 - The one-star review about veganism
    17:30 - Dealing with feedback from cultural readers
    20:14 - How they handle disagreements
    21:26 - Parsing out personal reactions from the scene
    24:08 - The common thread: everyone is doing their best
    28:59 - Who gets to write which characters?
    34:55 - The truth about trigger warnings in publishing
    39:40 - Publishers’ concerns about exploitation
    44:08 - Their tight editing process
    52:09 - Their creative process: Ally Lane and the green light


    RESOURCES:

    https://alliandasha.com/
    Dara Levan / Every Soul Has a Story:
    • https://www.instagram.com/dara.levan/
    • Website: daralevan.com
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Reinventing Yourself After Divorce | Lisa Niver

    Reinventing Yourself After Divorce | Lisa Niver
    Jan 28 2026
    What if the red flags in your life were literally invisible? Award-winning author, speaker, and travel host Lisa Niver joins Dara Levan to share her incredible story of reinvention after a traumatic divorce and a late-in-life diagnosis of a lazy eye that reshaped her understanding of her past. Discover how Lisa’s journey through vision therapy, extensive world travel, and writing her memoir "Brave-ish" helped her piece together a pattern of abuse she once mistook for a "parade." In this raw conversation, you'll learn the power of post-traumatic growth, the importance of asking "what now?" instead of "what if?", and practical tips for reclaiming your life and joy. If you've ever felt stuck, unseen, or are seeking inspiration to break free, this episode is for you.

    0:00 - Intro
    1:01 - Lisa Niver’s Book and Award
    3:37 - Jewish Summer Camp Inspiration
    5:26 - What is an Ulpan?
    7:48 - Adult Lazy Eye Diagnosis
    11:53 - The End of a Marriage
    15:29 - Connecting Vision and Relationship Patterns
    18:54 - The Vulnerability of Writing
    22:06 - The Book’s Unexpected Audience
    25:14 - Replacing Self-Judgment with Compassion
    27:58 - The Forward-Looking Question
    31:35 - The Challenge of Outlining
    37:40 - A Somatic Writing Ritual
    39:19 - What Brings Lisa Joy
    42:52 - Outro

    RESOURCES:
    https://www.lisaniver.com/
    https://wesaidgotravel.com/
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
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