Record Scratch with Kara

Kara talks with writer and narrative alchemist Robin Finn, MPH, MA, the author of HEART. SOUL. PEN.® She is also the creator of HeartiFacts,® a writing mentorship community. Robin opens up about her unconventional path to becoming a writer, how spiritual psychology shaped her creative purpose, and why she believes women have “magic” in their words. The conversation dives into the power of communit...

David L. Robbins is the best-selling author of The War of the Rats, The Last Citadel, and Liberation Road—all focused on WWII events. Both of David’s parents were WWII Veterans. His mother was a WAC and his father survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. David is also the creator of The Mighty Pen Project, an intensive writing program for military veterans and their families, in partnership with the V...

Dheepa R. Maturi is an Indian-American writer who explores ecology, culture, identity, and how they intersect. Her essays, poetry, and fiction have appeared in a variety of literary journals and anthologies, including Literary Hub, PANK, The Fourth River, Writer’s Digest, Sequestrum, Tiferet, and How to Write a Form Poem. Her work has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize, and she is the aut...

On November 28, 2016, Michael Reed lost his wife and both of his daughters in the wildfire that consumed Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As he stumbled and crawled down this unstable, broken road of grief, he’s learned many lessons along the way. Michael is the author of THE MILLION STAGES OF GRIEF: A GUIDE TO FINDING PURPOSE FOR YOUR PAIN. Michael believes there is a purpose for our pain, and his purpose...

STAND author Kathryn Bertine returns to the podcast to share how she responded to the Record Scratch moment of losing her dad and the inspiration for her new book. Kathryn is an author, athlete, activist, and documentary filmmaker. She finished what she and her father started: climbing the highest points in each state. Before highpointing, Kathryn played an instrumental role in getting women into...

Licensed therapist and author Gina Moffa joins Kara Kavensky to talk about grief, trauma, and the modern landscape of healing. From how trauma lives in the body to practical ways to show up for others in pain, this episode unpacks the myths of “getting over it” and instead invites listeners to build compassion, safety, and self-understanding through loss. Topics include: •  The differenc...

Stephanie Sarazin never imagined she would work in “the grief space” until a devastating loss flipped her world inside out. Stephanie found her way through the pain and became a writer, an accidental grief researcher, a TEDx curator, and ultimately, an experiential expert in ambiguous grief. Her book, SOULBROKEN, A Guidebook for Your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief, is a Nautilus Book Awards winne...

Author of 68 books, former lawyer-turned-legal thriller novelist, William Bernhardt had a rough road to publishing. Resilience serves him well, as he never gave up and achieved his dream of becoming a writer. Bill’s latest book is an accurate nonfiction account of Jerry Siegel, the creator of Superman, who spent decades fighting to get credit for his beloved, iconic character. Bill is also the fou...

*Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide.* Mesa Fama is a writer whose lovely words are found in the New York Times, The Mighty, and Medium. She is a reader, keeper of secrets, scars, and stars. Mesa is a hope dealer and suicide survivor and is currently writing a memoir. MESA FAMA Substack: @mesa - Let the Words Fall Out Instagram: @mesa.fama KARA KAVENSKY Website: Kara Kaven...

Ariel Curry is an author, book coach, and editor with Sourcebooks. She co-authored HUNGRY AUTHORS, and after reading the intro, I knew the book had to have been written for me — and all other memoirists who are guided to put their work out into the world. However, it’s her personal journey that truly drew me in. Ariel, like many women, struggled with fertility issues. She and her husband have been...

Literary Agent extraordinaire Katharine Sands of the Sarah Jane Freymann Agency joins me to discuss the job of an agent in today’s ever-changing publishing industry. Note: Katharine is my lit agent. She is also the author of MAKING THE PERFECT PITCH: HOW TO CATCH A LITERARY AGENT’S EYE. +++++++++++++ KATHARINE SANDS Katharine Sands, Literary Agent Sarah Jane Freymann Agency Here’s where I found Ka...

Welcome to Season 3 of Record Scratch with Kara! A lot has transpired since we wrapped up Season 2, and we are excited to share the updates in this introduction. Every episode this season is about a healing journey. Episodes drop on Thursdays. Thank you for listening. KARA KAVENSKY Website: Kara Kavensky @karakavensky on Substack, FB, IG, LinkedIn and Threads Receive updates on Kara's new memoir r...

Tamara Winfrey-Harris is a nationally renowned writer, author, and speaker, focusing on issues of race and gender and their intersection with politics, popular culture, and current events. Her books include: THE SISTERS ARE ALRIGHT: CHANGING THE BROKEN NARRATIVE OF BLACK WOMEN IN AMERICA (Berrett-Koehler 2015), DEAR BLACK GIRL: LETTERS FROM YOUR SISTERS ON STEPPING INTO YOUR POWER (Berrett-Koehler...

This episode is a special one. Everyone needs positive role models in their lives — perhaps now more than ever. One of my role models is my dear friend, Ruth Graves. We discuss grief, loss, and how we move forward. If you or someone you love is grieving, please seek others so you do not feel alone — and if you know someone who is grieving the death of someone — please reach out to them. Compassion...

When life handed Jessica Waite a riveting, horrifying, and surprisingly beautiful story, she transformed herself into a writer. Her debut memoir, THE WIDOW’S GUIDE TO DEAD BASTARDS, became an instant bestseller and was listed as a notable book by The Washington Post, Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, GoodReads, AARP, and many others. Jessica lives with her teenage son on Treaty 7 territory in the city...

There's a lot going on in the world, and who better to help us cut through the noise than Iva Nasr, author of FROM RIFLES TO ROSES: MEMORIES AND MIRACLES. Iva's words and wisdom are a gift. Her voice is a meditation. IVA NASR Mentor, Speaker, Author Website - https://www.ivanasr.com/ KARA KAVENSKY Website - https://karakavensky.com/ @karakavensky on Substack | FB | IG | X | LinkedIn | Threads | Ti...

There's a lot going on in the world, and who better to help us cut through the noise than Iva Nasr, author of FROM RIFLES TO ROSES: MEMORIES AND MIRACLES. Iva's words and wisdom are a gift. Her voice is a meditation. IVA NASR Mentor, Speaker, Author Website - https://www.ivanasr.com/ KARA KAVENSKY Website - https://karakavensky.com/ @karakavensky on Substack | FB | IG | X | LinkedIn | Threads | Ti...

Author Jessica Doyle Mekkes' gift to the Universe is I'M SPEAKING: EVERY WOMAN'S GUIDE TO FINDING YOUR VOICE AND USING IT FEARLESSLY. Jessica shares the down & dirty of why women fight an uphill battle to be heard, and what we can do to be effective speakers. Jessica's book offers tips and tricks to help you speak your truth in a voice that is strong, stable, and sustainable — and she's funny, too...

Jessica "Jessie" Fein's book, BREATH TAKING: A MEMOIR OF FAMILY, DREAMS, AND BROKEN GENES, is being praised everywhere, as it should. My favorite, and most accurate synopsis, is: "A masterclass on how to be a person." — Joanna Rakoff, bestselling author of MY SALINGER YEAR. The hardest thing to experience is the loss of a child. Jessie shares her and her husband's fertility journey, adoption, and...

Former journalist and speech therapist, Dara Levan adds "author" to her growing list of creative outlets. She is a journalist, blogger, author, and podcaster — among other things — including wife and mother, and loves the summers she spent during her youth at Interlochen. A graduate of Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!), writing a novel is the last thing Dara ever thought she'd do. IT COULD BE WORS...

Both of Dr. Alex Kor's parents are Holocaust survivors. His mother, Eva Mozes Kor, along with her twin sister, are survivors of Dr. Mengele at Auschwitz. Eva's story is well-documented and she founded CANDLES Holocaust Museum, in Terre Haute, Indiana.  But it was Alex's father, Michael "Mickey" Kor's story that Alex felt strongly about sharing, so he did - with the help of co-author Graham Honaker...

Welcome to Season 2 of Record Scratch with Kara! I am excited to share my guests, all of whom are authors of impactful stories. Episodes will drop on Thursdays, beginning on the 19th of September 2024. Thank you for listening. KARA KAVENSKY Website @karakavensky on Substack, FB, IG, X, LinkedIn, Threads, and TikTok Receive updates on Kara's new memoir release, FINDING JOY, here . PRODUCTION Sponso...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN ORGASM, WRITE ON, and CHASING TEMPLES are a few of the books that my guest, Betsy B. Murphy, has written. Each is profound and deeply moving, but perhaps nothing matches the writing she shares in GRIEF GLIMMERS GRACE, a book she never wanted to write. Betsy wrote her latest book in the midst of unimaginable grief after the death of her son, Charlie.  Betsy B. Murphy is an autho...

Aimee Kandrac is best described as a "sommelier of thoughtfulness." She has an uncanny ability to share a list of amazing ways to support someone (loved one, neighbor, friend) under any circumstance. Aimee Kandrac, founder of WhatFriendsDo, joins me to explore how we can best support loved ones — especially during the holidays. Aimee is an expert on all things caregiving.  AIMEE KANDRAC @WhatFrien...

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