What You'll Learn:
How to find courage when breaking silence feels dangerous — Sahar's journey from keeping family secrets to international author
Building community to sustain difficult creative work — Why you cannot do brave things alone and how to create support systems
Processing the trauma of writing about trauma — What happens after you tell the stories you weren't supposed to tell
Giving yourself permission to tell your story — Answering "who am I?" when doubt and fear show up
Honoring difficult emotions without pushing through them — How being honest with your feelings builds sustainable courage
Creating space for rest without guilt — Why breaks aren't procrastination but essential preparation for your next brave step
Reframing your role in storytelling — Shifting from "getting it perfect" to becoming a bridge that connects important stories to people who need them
Key Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
2:15 - The story behind "Children of the Jacaranda Tree"
9:30 - Growing up with secrets: Being born in prison and learning not to tell
14:00 - The courage to write the first book
24:00 - The trauma of writing about trauma—discovering what you did after the book was published
30:00 - Building community to sustain difficult work
34:30 - Honoring all your feelings, even the difficult ones
36:45 - Connecting to purpose when doubt shows up
Key Takeaways:
For women considering creative second acts: Your past experiences—even the painful ones—aren't obstacles to your creative work; they're often the foundation for the most meaningful stories you'll tell.
For midlife women finding their voice: The question isn't "who am I to tell this story?" but rather "who else has this story to tell, and what happens if no one tells it?"
For anyone doing brave work after 40: Community isn't optional when doing difficult things—surround yourself with people who remind you why your work matters when you forget.
Featured Quote:
"I always think like my parents were the ones who did such courageous things. Like they were out there, they went to prison for their ideals, and I was safe, I was safe in my room writing those stories. So it's, it's like interesting to think about courage in that way." — Sahar Delijani
Resources & Links:
Sahar's first novel: "Children of the Jacaranda Tree" (available wherever books are sold)
Sahar's second novel: "For Every Person You Kill" (forthcoming spring 2027)
About Sahar Delijani:
Sahar Delijani is an award-winning novelist, essayist, and professor. Her debut novel, "Children of the Jacaranda Tree," was awarded a Silver Medal by the International Latino Book Awards for Best First Book of Fiction in 2023. Her work has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, TIME, Gagosian Quarterly, The Washington Post, USA TODAY, The Kenyon Review, Aster(ix) and Kweli Journal. She has been supported through awards, fellowships and artist residencies by the Vermont Studio Center, PEN America, Hermitage Artist Retreat, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, among others. She teaches fiction at Barnard College of Columbia University and Montclair State University.
About Your Host:
Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts.
Connect with Aransas:
Instagram: @aransas_savas
Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast
TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast
Facebook: Aransas Savas
Website: theuplifterspodcast.com
YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast
LinkedIn: Aransas Savas
