75. Darlene Campos ~ How Ecuador Became a Holocaust Safe Harbor

What if the key to surviving the Holocaust lay at the geographic center of the world?

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning Ecuadorian-American author Darlene Campos to discuss her historical fiction novel, The Center of the Earth. Based on incredible true survivor accounts, the book follows twelve-year-old Dahlia, the spunky daughter of an Ecuadorian diplomat, and her best friend Werner, a Jewish boy fleeing the terrifying rise of Nazi Germany.

We dive deep into a lesser-known chapter of WWII history and how Ecuador served as a vital, hidden sanctuary for Jewish refugees. Darlene shares what it was like balancing the heavy realities of war and survivor’s guilt with the lighthearted banter, humor, and pure chutzpah of youth. Whether you are a historical fiction fan or love a powerful story about identity and found family, this conversation will completely reshape how you look at history.