How Trauma Shapes Great Storytelling | Leslie Hooton

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