Podcast
Record Scratch with Kara
Hosted by Kara Kavensky · EN
When something unexpected happens in our lives, just like in the movies, everyone and everything seems to freeze, and the soundtrack playing in the background stops abruptly with the sound of a needle across vinyl.
A record scratch.
These big, disruptive moments require resiliency to move forward with our lives, for we are never the same.
It’s how we decide to respond to these events that shapes us. In these interviews, there’s no competition and no judgment as we speak about varying topics including generational trauma, grief, PTSD, and what we can do to heal our wounds and be better humans.
Please visit KaraKavensky.com and sign up for updates.
Thank you!
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Mother Loss & Mother’s Day - Ep. 1 with Kathryn Bertine
4w ago00:23:16Tap to summarizeMother Loss, Memory, and Meaning with Kathryn BertineKathryn shares the complexity of grief—from the unexpected moments of humor to the profound sense of peace that can accompany loss.This episode is a powerful reminder that grief is not linear, not uniform—and never something to navigate alone.Kathryn Bertine is an author of several books, a former professional athlete, an activist, and a documentary filmmaker. Kathryn played an instrumental role in getting women into the Tour de France. Today’s eight-day Tour de France Femmes stems from her activism and you can read or listen to the wild, true story of what really happens when we fight for change in her book, STAND.KATHRYN BERTINEWebsite: https://www.kathrynbertine.comInstagram: @kathryn_bertineKARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:10] Introduction: Kathryn Bertine[03:27] Tell me her name[04:57] Shared athleticism[06:23] Smoking and a benevolent white lie[12:05] Caring for aging parents[14:15] Coping with loss[18:15] A very special keepsake[19:49] Kathryn's advice
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 2 with Will Calhoun
4w ago00:19:14Tap to summarizeNow an author, the Living Colour drummer speaks about his mother, Annie Mae Baker CalhounWill Calhoun’s artistry spans more than three decades as one of the world’s best drummers—and he credits his mom’s heartbeat (his earliest memory) for introducing him to life’s cadence.From Harry Belafonte to Living Colour, Will’s music career is one of diversity, curiosity, and exploration. A full interview with Will is part of Season 4 of “Record Scratch with Kara” and will air later this summer.WILL CALHOUNWebsite - WillCalhoun.comInstagram - @willcalhoundrumFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/willcalhounmusic/#KARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:10] Introduction: Will Calhoun[02:28] Education, self-reliance, and spirituality[04:44] Helping others[06:08] An open and honest relationship[08:25] Annie Mae Calhoun Way[10:08] The center of the neighborhood[12:19] It's not your time[14:11] Harry Belafonte and The Grammy Awards[15:48] Honoring Mom
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 3 with Mesa Fama
4w ago00:16:32Tap to summarizeLet the Words Fall Out: A Story of Trauma, Survival, and Grace*Content Warning* Domestic violence is discussed.Mesa Fama shares the complicated, often painful terrain of motherhood—both as a daughter and as a mother herself.Mesa shares her earliest memories of her mother, shaped by domestic violence and instability, and the profound impact those experiences had on her life. Through honesty and vulnerability, she reflects on cycles of trauma, addiction, and abuse—and the moment she chose to break free.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 FAMAWebsite – mesafama.comSubstack: @mesafama Let The Words Fall OutInstagram: @mesa.famaKARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:21] Introduction: Mesa Fama[02:52] Instilling a love of reading and writing[03:54] Breaking the cycle of abuse and addiction[04:57] Seeing her own worth[07:29] I'm sorry. Thank you.[09:20] The past and parenting[11:03] Forgiveness and grace[13:51] Mother's Day
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 4 with Jessica Fein
4w ago00:13:25Tap to summarizeGrief, Identity, and Ongoing Connection with Jessica FeinJessica shares her experience navigating the unimaginable reality of being both a motherless daughter and a daughterless mother—a dual loss that reshaped her understanding of identity, grief, and love.Jessica reflects on her mother, Zelda, the loss of her daughter Dahlia, and the ways she continues to maintain connection with those she has lost—offering a reframe of grief not as an ending, but as an evolving relationship.Jessica Fein's book, BREATH TAKING: A MEMOIR OF FAMILY, DREAMS, AND BROKEN GENES, is a love letter to her daughter, Dahlia. My favorite, and most accurate synopsis, is: "A masterclass on how to be a person." — Joanna Rakoff, bestselling author of MY SALINGER YEAR.BREATH TAKING is a MUST read!JESSICA FEINWebsite - JessicaFeinstories.comInstagram - @feinjessicaSubstack - https://feinbyme.substack.com/KARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:09] Introduction: Jessica Fein[02:38] Zelda[03:54] Naming Theo[05:37] Singing around the piano[06:39] Celebrating Mom[08:55] Connecting with people we've lost[11:00] Jessie's advice
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 5 with Robin Finn
4w ago00:21:40Tap to summarizeThe Cheerleader, The Caregiver, The Guilt: Remembering Vicki Kara welcomes back Robin Finn for a deeply human conversation about losing her mother, Vicki.Robin shares what it meant to be both a devoted daughter and primary caregiver—and how the unexpected timing of COVID-19 complicated her mother’s final months, leaving behind layers of grief, love, and unresolved questions.Writer and narrative alchemist, Robin Finn, is the creator of the Heart. Soul. Pen.® program and the HeartiFacts Mentorship.ROBIN FINNWebsite - RobinFinn.comInstagram and Facebook - @robinfinnauthorKARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:09] Introduction: Robin Finn[03:17] Mom's end of life story[06:08] Guilt on top of grief[07:23] Regrets[08:34] Grief therapy[11:41] The gift of iconic individuality[14:46] Rituals and reflection[16:48] Unexpected loneliness[18:20] Robin's advice
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 6 with Barri Leiner Grant
4w ago00:18:19Tap to summarizeCarrying Them Forward: Grief, Ritual, and the Enduring Bond of LoveIn this deeply moving Mother’s Day episode, Kara sits down with grief advocate Barry Leiner Grant to explore what it means to carry someone forward after loss.After losing her mother, Barri has transformed her personal grief into a life’s work—helping others navigate loss with honesty, ritual, and connection.This conversation moves beyond grief as an ending and reframes it as an ongoing relationship—one that evolves, deepens, and continues to shape who we are.Barri Leiner Grant is the Chief Grief Officer™ of The Memory Circle. Grant has studied with the leading names in the grief space, including grief certification with Claire Bidwell Smith, Hope Edelman, David Kessler, and Dora Carpenter.BARRI LEINER GRANTSubstack - Permission GrantedInstagram - @thememorycircleKARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:10] Introduction: Barri Leiner Grant[02:13] Losing her mom[04:20] Despising Mother's Day[05:42] Tell me your mom's name[07:36] Advice from a grief coach[14:24] Camp Wicosuta
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 7 with Melanie Nichols & Marcie Moller
4w ago00:27:28Tap to summarizeA Double Blessing: Adoption, Reunion, and Motherhood Across ContinentsTwin sisters Melanie Nichols and Marcie Moller share their extraordinary story of adoption, identity, and reunion.Born in Taiwan and adopted by American parents, Melanie and Marcie grew up with a loving, idyllic upbringing in the United States—yet always carried the unanswered questions of their origin story.Years later, a determined search led to a powerful reunion with their birth family, revealing a truth far more complex—and more loving—than they had ever imagined.This episode explores what it means to be a daughter, a sister, a mother, and part of a family that spans cultures, languages, and lifetimes.KARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:09] Introduction: Melanie Nichols and Marcie Moller[03:40] The truth about their adoption in Taiwan[05:29] Protecting against rejection[06:47] Determined to find birth family[09:05] Mama never stopped looking[13:06] Mother's Day Celebration 2010[15:16] Meeting Mama for the first time[18:41] We'd like to take you to the bra store[22:20] Making up for lost time[23:38] Love and connection [25:04] A deep, shared understanding
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 8 with Cynthia Occelli
4w ago00:18:52Tap to summarizeMotherhood, Grief, and the Moment We Grow Each Other UpMother’s Day isn’t always simple—and for many women, it isn’t soft or sentimental. It’s layered. It’s complicated. It’s evolving.Cynthia unpacks what it means to grieve a mother, become a mother, a grandmother, and—at times—redefine both roles in real time.A full interview with Cynthia is part of Season 4 of “Record Scratch with Kara” and will air later this summer.Strategy Coach for High Achieving Women, Cynthia Occelli is the author of RESURRECTING VENUS (Hay House)CYNTHIA OCCELLIWebsite - CynthiaOccelli.comKARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:10] Introduction: Cynthia Occelli[02:21] An evolving relationship[04:49] Transitioning to mother/grandmother[08:03] You'll figure it out[09:53] The challenges of Mother's Day[12:39] Dealing with complex relationships[14:00] Life is bigger than this
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 9 with David L. Robbins
4w ago00:24:40Tap to summarizeThe Stories That Shape Us: A Son Reflects on Love, Loss, and a Larger-Than-Life MotherThrough vivid memories, family lore, and reflections shaped by time and loss, David paints a portrait of a woman who lived in imagination, defied convention, and used storytelling as both shield and superpower.This episode is a masterclass in how the people who raise us—flawed, brilliant, human—leave lasting imprints on who we become.David L. Robbins is the best-selling author of THE WAR OF THE RATS, 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.The creator of The Mighty Pen Project, an intensive writing program for Virginia's military veterans and their families, in partnership with the Virginia War Memorial.KARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:10] Introduction: David L. Robbins[03:04] Inherited traits[04:17] Earliest memory[05:25] Unbridled creativity[06:53] The dark side[09:03] Finding love at Pearl Harbor[11:46] Go talk to them[14:16] A love of children[15:34] ... and gambling[18:08] Sayings on sticky notes[19:46] Bus trips to Atlantic City[21:48] Courage in another's trouble
Transcribe →Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 10 with Stephanie Weaver
4w ago00:13:43Tap to summarizeBitter, Sweet: Forgiveness, Distance, and Understanding a Complicated Mother*CONTENT WARNING* Stephanie Weaver’s memoir deals with child sexual abuse and incest.Author Stephanie Weaver explores the deeply layered experience of loving—and losing—a complicated mother.Drawing from her memoir BITTER, SWEET, Stephanie shares the story of her relationship with her mother, a woman shaped by generational trauma, emotional distance, and unspoken pain. Despite years of estrangement and unresolved conflict, Stephanie was surprised by the depth of her grief when her mother passed.A full interview with Stephanie is part of Season 4 of “Record Scratch with Kara” and will air later this summer.Stephanie Weaver helps individuals and organizations unlock their most powerful narratives. Her work bridges personal healing, professional development, and social advocacy. Stephanie stepped into the memoir space with her release of BITTER, SWEET.Learn more about ho'oponopono.STEPHANIE WEAVERWebsite - StephanieWeaver.comInstagram - @sweavermphKARA KAVENSKYWebsite: Kara KavenskyVisit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY.Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design and Remain Relevant, a corporate storytelling masterclassProduced by Marilou MaroszOriginal music written and performed by Adam W. GibsonTIMESTAMPS[01:24] Introduction: Stephanie Weaver[02:51] Reluctant to discuss the past[05:21] The role of victim[07:10] A four-dollar yogurt[08:11] Healing from exposure to narcissism[10:00] An ancient practice: ho'oponopono[11:30] Imagining what could have been
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