A Spark with Briana Hansen: Real stories. Ridiculous moments. Relatable lessons.

A delay on a flight inevitably leads to moaning, groaning, and frustrations. In this case, they were justified since the delay was happening as a direct result of one angry passenger who had a vendetta against one (likely expensive) Disneyland balloon. Luckily for these people - and the rest of us on the flight, we had an incredibly intuitive flight attendant. Their thoughtful response taught me a...

This was supposed to be a fun day of kayaking and whale watching in paradise. Instead, it became one of my weirdest stories: gale force winds, a questionable tour guide, pods of dolphin possibly warning us, an unexpected flip over what turned out to be a very deep section of the ocean and a known shark nursery, and, finally, a reluctant Coast Guard rescue. Oh, and the local news was there, too. In...

She was scared at the top of the slide. Until a group of girls quietly held space and waited. That patience changed everything. In this short and sweet episode of A Spark , Briana Hansen shares a real story from a kid’s birthday party that became a lesson in courage, kindness, and the quiet power of support. It’s only about 5 minutes. And it’s a reminder we all need: sometimes the most powerful th...

Ever picked up a shotgun and realized your eyes don’t work the way you thought they did? Just me? Cool. In this episode of A Spark with Briana Hansen , I tell the true story of going skeet shooting in rural Oklahoma—and discovering I’m left-eye dominant. Turns out, that tiny revelation carried a big lesson: your body knows more than you think . And just because people tell you something about how...

Before I ever told a joke on stage, I had to trick myself into it. This episode is all about the stand-up persona I created—complete with cartoonish glasses and bold red lips—that gave me permission to start . She was ridiculous, brave, and just the buffer I needed to get over my fear. Eventually, I didn’t need her anymore... but I never could’ve begun without her. If you’ve ever been paralyzed by...

I was tired. I was jet-lagged. I was wide-eyed in Rome on my first-ever trip to Europe… and I accidentally handed a scammy driver way too much cash for a short ride. But plot twist: he gave half of it back. This episode is about how sometimes — even in a city full of history, chaos, and shady taxi hustles — people surprise you. A true story of trust, travel, and unexpected decency. More stories, f...

Before I ever picked up a mic for a podcast, I picked up a wand—because I used to be a full-blown party princess. In this episode of A Spark with Briana Hansen , I spill the glittery (and not-so-glamorous) truth about performing as a dress-up character at events. From awkward face painting gigs (despite zero skills) to dealing with entitled kids and underwhelming pay, this job taught me more than...

It took me losing my front tooth two weeks before my wedding to finally empower myself to make decisions about my own body. And to decide that I deserve to have nice things as much as anyone else. I hope by sharing this you can learn this lesson sooner (and without spending as much cash as I had to...) Listen to the full episode for the whole story. More at brianahansen.com

Just two weeks before my wedding, after years of dental work, a front tooth literally fell out of my mouth. It wasn’t just a cosmetic disaster—it was the final straw in a much longer story about not listening to my own needs. In this episode, I share how a wedding-week tooth catastrophe turned into one of the most important personal lessons I’ve ever had: how to stop shrinking, start speaking up,...

Do you know what I know? I don't know. But in knowing that I don't know, at least I can be open to the fact that someday I may know. It's in the I don't know where you really know. Because the not knowing is really the knowing, you know? Check out the full episode for the story behind how I became Cincinnati radio morning show joke. And why (at least now) I'm grateful for the e...

Ever been so tired you answered the phone like a confused cave troll — and then that sound got played on loop to the entire city of Cincinnati ? Cool cool… me too. In this week’s episode of A Spark , I share a real, ridiculous, slightly mortifying moment from my past — and what it reminded me about being ready when opportunity calls and, more importantly, asking for what I need. 🎧 New episodes ev...

In this short and slightly unhinged kickoff episode, Briana Hansen shares a real-life road rage story that started with a scream and ended with a lightbulb moment about burnout, boundaries, and why being "the bigger person" isn’t always the best move. It’s funny. It’s fast. It’ll make you feel justified if you've ever lost your cool in a low moment. If you’ve ever snapped at a stranger or swallowe...

Welcome to a podcast about the little moments that teach us big things. Hosted by speaker and storyteller Briana Hansen, this show is full of short, true stories pulled from real life — the funny, the awkward, the emotional, and the totally mundane — all with a light takeaway and a little humor. If you like smart storytelling, unexpected lessons, and laughing your way through personal growth, hit...