In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, Makayla sits down to reflect on what she’s learned so far during her time at SPARK. Through this intimate discussion, Makayla shares her understanding of thought through personal experiences and a story that puts into perspective how one thought can shift your entire experience. 

In this episode, the entire SPARK team sits down together to reflect on 2024 and uncover what they are hopeful for in 2025.

The rarity in which the team gets to be together in person is not lost on us during this episode as the laughs exchanged and genuine happiness in experiencing togetherness blossoms through the reflective conversation had. 

2024 brought many highs and many lows while truly proving to all of us at SPARK that the universe has a plan that’s greater than our own. We’re optimistic for 2025 to bring with it exactly what we need as a team and what we need for The SPARK Initiative as a whole. 

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, Jena reflects on her less-than-ideal start to 2025. Through her reflection, she shares a story about her son who recently tried out for the track team and despite making the team, had a lot of insecure thinking about his first meet. As the episode unfolds, Jena gives some advice to her son that she later discovers she can apply to her own mindset.

At the conclusion of the episode, Jena poses the question, “Have you ever missed out on an opportunity or an experience because you let your thinking get in the way?”

Looking at life from a perspective of opportunity rather than worry opens new doors and presents experiences you may have missed out on otherwise.

In this episode, Stephanie has the pleasure of speaking with our long-term partner in Norway, Elin Henriksen. Elin is a 4th grade teacher, coach, Certified SPARK Facilitator, and all around wonderful human being. In this conversation, she reflects upon a recent insight into trusting our inner wisdom, our SPARK. Through a range of metaphors including surfing, ski-lifts, and Indiana Jones, Elin’s presence and storytelling provide Stephanie with the perfect reminder that such trust is not misplaced. Tune in to explore how you can rely more upon your own SPARK.

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, Chad speaks about the fascinating concept of quantum leaping and how it connects to your intuition—also known as your SPARK. Learn how trusting your gut feeling can lead to bold changes and big opportunities in your life. If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure of your next move, this episode will inspire you to take that leap and trust your inner guide.

In this week's episode of the Find Your SPARK podcast, Mari discusses her experience working with at-risk and institutionalized young people, including the need for positive and consistent relationships, the joy and importance of serving this population, and a special thank you the Foundation of Caring for selecting The SPARK Initiative as a grant recipient to serve juveniles in our local detention facilities throughout 2025.

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, Nicole reflects on her return to the middle school classrooms this year and discusses the importance of providing students at this age with a program like SPARK. She shares personal stories from her own classes, highlighting the impact it has on her students. Nicole also explains why she believes having access to such a program during her own middle school years would have been life changing.

This episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast falls on Giving Tuesday - A day that follows the Thanksgiving holiday and the madness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with the focus of giving.

In this episode, Ashley highlights the level of appreciation organizations like ours have for the donations we receive. As a non-profit, we rely on these donations to continue implementing the programs that have changed the lives of so many. We truly believe that everyone has a SPARK inside of them and want nothing more than to spread this message. In order to do this, we are humbly asking for your help this Giving Tuesday.

To learn more about The Spark Initiative, visit: https://www.thesparkinitiative.com/

To make a donation, visit: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1435804

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, Makayla is joined by special guest, Gabriella Reece.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and the season of thankfulness, Makayla and Gabriella discuss all of the things they are thankful for within their own lives. 

The pair also dive into the tendency we have to spiral into a state of mind where thankfulness seems out of reach.

Listen as their conversation unfolds into a beautiful realization that even the worst of times often hold something to be grateful for – even if we don’t see it right away.

Happy Thanksgiving!

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, listen as Ashley is joined by special guests, the Rebels for Peace. 

Rebels for Peace is a youth-led initiative committed to improving mental health, uncovering resilience, and providing credible and sustainable Social Emotional Learning skills to the next generation. 

The Rebels made a trip from Chicago to Florida following the postponement of the National Wellbeing & Resilience Conference. During their time in Tampa Bay, the Rebels were able to equip themselves with new tools and insights through 3-days of training with Ashley and the SPARK team.

Listen to hear their reflections from their week in Florida experiencing their SPARK. 

To learn more about Rebels for Peace, visit: https://www.rebelsforpeace.org/ 

Join host Brooke Wheeldon-Reece and guest Lynne Robertson in this special episode of the Find Your Spark podcast as they reflect on the unexpected challenges brought by Hurricane Milton. In a year marked by unprecedented planning, the SPARK team faced the heart-wrenching decision to postpone their biggest events in a decade.

In this episode, Brooke and Lynne share valuable lessons learned from navigating the storm, highlighting resilience, adaptability, and the power of accepting “what is”. They discuss the importance of prioritizing safety, reimagining event strategies, and finding hope in uncertain times. Tune in and discover how to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth!