Spark Something New

Send us Fan Mail This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if being kind makes you soft (spoiler: it doesn’t). In this soul-stretching, sass-laced convo, Katie sat down with the wise, radiant, and slightly magical Deb Crowe — coach, educator, yoga teacher, and bestselling author — to talk about a leadership philosophy that flips the script on old-school power games. ✨ What You’ll Learn (Whil...

Send us Fan Mail On this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Katie introduces listeners to the concept of toxic perseverance , a term coined by Dr. Michael Scarano.  Toxic perseverance is defined as the conscious or subconscious mindset that prevents a person from attaining inner peace, contentment, and joy —even while appearing outwardly successful. Michael explains that while perseverance...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie sites down with the remarkable Rahwa Teklai—SVP and Market Leader at Key Private Bank. She's a certified financial planner, ultra-endurance athlete, and radiant force of optimism. Rahwa shares her powerful life story, starting with her early years in East Africa and her family’s immigration journey from Eritrea to the U.S., emphasizing how resilience, m...

Send us Fan Mail In this heart-opening episode, I sit down Jim "JR" Rinere, an entrepreneur, c-suite executive, professional speaker, and author of There’s Coffee in the Fridge , to explore the courage it takes to stay, heal, and to find joy again.  It's an honest and powerful conversation about the pervasiveness and impact of mental health on our boys, young men, and adult men in t...

Send us Fan Mail She’s baaaack. On this week's episode, Dr. E returns to drop truth bombs, bust myths, and lovingly drag us all into better health. If you’ve been gaslit by your doctor, living off caffeine and good vibes, or Googling “is brain fog normal?” — this episode is your wake-up call. And spoiler: no, it’s not normal. We’re talking health optimization — not in the “buy this overpriced...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're diving into the power of social emotional leadership with the brilliant and joyful Future Cain—CEO of Future of SEL and a nationally recognized expert in social emotional intelligence and workplace wellness. We explore what it really means to lead from a place of self-awareness, emotional regulation, and positive relationships—whether you’re managing a...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt and thoughtful conversation, Katie explores the concept of connection with psychologist, executive coach, speaker, podcast host, and author, Dr. Adam Dorsay, whose new book Super Psyched dives deep into how connection shapes fulfillment, happiness, and resilience. Against the backdrop of rising loneliness, exhaustion, and societal disconnection, they explore how...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we're diving deep into the power of creativity, storytelling, and personal agency with the incredible Ophelia Chambliss —fine artist, visual communicator, and community change agent. Ophelia shares her journey as a self-taught artist, her passion for realistic cubism , and how she uses art as a tool for storytelling and empowerment. She also opens up about turning...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Spark Something New podcast, Katie chats with Dr. Pedro Rivera, the President of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and former Pennsylvania State Secretary of Education.  They discuss Dr. Rivera's journey as a lifelong learner, his passion for equitable education, and his five-step process for intentional learning. The conversation also delves into...

Send us Fan Mail This episode kicks off Women's History Month with the incredible, Dr. Amber Sessoms, a professional speaker, facilitator, consultant, and school psychologist. We discuss the principles of living authentically, the importance of knowing oneself, and the steps needed to unlearn harmful narratives.  Amber shares her insights on the need for curiosity, finding supportive communit...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie chats with Dr. Elizabeth Tisdell, also known as Libby, a distinguished professor emerita in lifelong learning and adult education. Libby shares her vast knowledge on embodied learning, a concept that emphasizes the importance of learning and experiencing life through our bodies.  She talks about her journey, from being a massage therapist and a campus minist...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie dives deep with the incredible Dr. E (Efrat Lamandre, PhD, FNP-C), a medical disruptor known for her work against medical gaslighting. Dr. E shares her journey into functional and integrative medicine. They unpack into why medical gaslighting predominantly impacts women and minority groups and how we can advocate for ourselves within the healthcare system. D...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie chats the kind and thoughtful Mark Maynard. He's a consultant, leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author who transitioned from decades in the hospitality industry to the entrepreneurial world.  Their conversation dives deep into leading with love and living with purpose. Mark shares his profound belief in combining purpose, strategy, and action in b...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie chats with Carrie Johnson, an entrepreneur and thought leader with 30 years of experience in business and organizational strategy, founder of Girls on the Run of Lancaster-Lebanon, and an inspiring community leader.  They dive deep into what it means to discover and be your truest self in a world obsessed with perfection. Carrie shares her wisdom on finding...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie chats with the super cool Dr. A.J. Merlino, Executive Director of Learning Innovation & Workforce Solutions at Thinking Through AI. A.J.'s got an impressive background in professional music, endurance athletics, and higher education.  They dive deep into getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Need a blueprint? A.J.'s got you covered: ref...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie dives dive deep into why 2025 has been HARD for so many of us. It's been "brutiful" (both brutal and beautiful) in many ways. She explores the different types of hard and why THIS hard is different, yet essential to living a meaningful and fulfilling life. She also touches upon the concept of "grateful yearning" and why this calls us...

Send us Fan Mail Join Katie for a rich conversation with Jonathan Fields, a world-renowned thought leader and creator of the 'Good Life Project' and SPARKED body of work. Together, they explore profound themes such as the pursuit of a meaningful life, overcoming societal work norms, the importance of self-discovery, and finding joy through family and nature.  Jonathan shares personal sto...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie chats with the fabulous Dr. Liz Krider, a PhD chemist, speaker, and founder of KSA Catalyst. Liz is on a mission to help students discover their purpose through experiential learning, projects, and internships. They dive into how embracing life's uncertainties can lead to discovering your purpose. Liz shares her journey of how her "experimental&quo...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie welcomes Francine Apy, an adoptive mother and former HR executive. Francine shares her journey of adoption, her advocacy work, and the founding of her organization, SoulFilling, which supports adoptive families in reframing their stories.  The discussion delves into the power of reclaiming and reframing your story and how that leads you to healing, connectio...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie chats with Kristin Popp, Executive Vice President of Woodman's Food Market and President of the Women's Grocers of America. They dive deep into the concept of "kokorozashi", a Japanese term for personal mission, and explore how living with purpose can transform both your personal and professional life. Kristin shares her journey of discov...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie chats with Alex Langan, Chief Investment Officer at Langan Financial Group. Alex dishes on crucial money matters affecting everyone – from staggering statistics on how finances impact mental health to the fact that a majority of Americans lack adequate savings. He emphasizes seeing money as a tool rather than the end goal, destigmatizing financial struggles,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Katie chats with Haley Kunert, who shares her journey in finding purpose and how that transformed the way she views work and life. She also shares insights on how to SPARK young professionals (YPs) in the workplace. They discuss the Sparketype Assessment as a tool that helps identify the type of work that lights people up. It's a fun, informative discussion o...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Katie invites you to explore the importance of loving something even if you're not exceptional at it, silencing the inner critic, letting go of comparisons, and embracing the journey. She discusses the joy of noticing small acts of kindness, pushing beyond your comfort zone, and the value of authentic relationships. Join me as we explore how to live a fulfill...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode, I chat with my dear friend and incredible professional, Melissa Wisniewski, Dean of Enrollment at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. We dive into her pivotal "meatball" moment and how it shaped her career path and views on leadership. Melissa shares how losing a friend and an unsupportive boss led her to prioritize meaning in her work. We talk about...

Send us Fan Mail Join me as we take a deep breath and navigate through the pressures of shorter days, the election, holidays, and year-end goals. In this episode, I'll introduce you to 'Yutori,' a Japanese concept meaning 'space in my mind,' which we all need mentally and emotionally right now. I'll share tips to create this space, whether through walking, meditation,...