From TV News Dreams to Soulful Storytelling | Julie Chan

What happens when you've spent your entire life drowning out your own voice to please others?

In this powerful episode of Every Soul Has a Story, host Dara Levan sits down with Julie Chan—a former TV news anchor, school board member, and author event host—who bravely shares her journey from childhood enmeshment and narcissistic abuse to finding her authentic self. Julie opens up about walking away from her mother, leaving her TV news career to prioritize her daughters' mental health, and the hypnotherapy and inner child work that helped her transform from a "pleaser" to a woman who finally hears her own heart.

This conversation explores breaking generational cycles, the courage to set boundaries with toxic family members, and the importance of following your soul's passion—even when it means disappointing others. If you've ever struggled with people-pleasing, codependency, or feeling like you've lost yourself in relationships, Julie's story will inspire you to reclaim your voice.

Keywords: narcissistic abuse recovery, healing from toxic parents, people-pleasing, codependency, inner child healing, hypnotherapy, breaking generational cycles, TV news career, every soul has a story, finding your authentic self, Julie Chan, Dara Levan

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:31 - Julie's introduction
1:44 - Instant soul connection
3:20 - Childhood enmeshment
5:15 - Royal wedding party
6:45 - TV career begins
8:23 - Moving across country
16:45 - Leaving news for daughters
17:29 - Therapy & breakthrough workshop
20:19 - Narcissistic mother dynamic
27:11 - Hypnotherapy journey
33:18 - Learning to play
35:07 - Stopping contact with mother
44:04 - School board & legacy
46:20 – Outro

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

QUOTES:
"If you and I didn't have these sorts of hardships or have to learn life in this way, we might not be as passionate to share other people's stories.’’
– Julie Chan

"The most important thing in the world to me is that my children know they were loved unconditionally because that is not material. That's forever."
– Dara Levan