Find Your Spark

Whether you're angry, sad, happy or glad there are ways to "feel your feels" and be OK! Tune in and listen to Jena, Nicole and A.J. as they share their different experiences of anxiety, depression and allowing yourself to just BE in the feeling without reacting.

The SPARK Team takes a look back at 2023, what we've learned and what we look forward to in 2024.

In this special episode for Giving Tuesday, Jena and Mari speak with Jordan Brimlow of Operation Barnabas about the impact that SPARK's local community programs have had on his life. Jordan offers wonderful insights as he shares about his life as a father, business owner, and community leader, while reflecting on his past experiences with addiction and incarceration. As an Insight to Well-Being gr...

We are so happy to announce that our "Find Your SPARK" podcast is now going to be featured on our new YouTube page as well as hosted on our website. Look for more interaction with our subscribers hosting a variety of mentoring related topics and guests.  Check out the first one  here  and subscribe for updates on future podcasts.

In this episode, Chad and Mari explore the world of Autism with Sam Mitchell. Living with Autism himself, Sam has a thriving podcast that consistently takes us on a journey of his daily struggles, life-improving advice, and Self Empowering lessons. Join us as we embrace the empowering message of Sam.

In this episode, our host Nicole chats with "SPARKing Change" Intern, Angie about her experiences with our Leadership Program here. Through the internship, Angie is able to find things out about herself including her ability to be creative and learning about how people have different outlooks and perspectives, although we all live in the "center of our own mind". She also shares ideas for her "pas...

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK podcast, Chad and Ashley are joined by a very special guest, Michelle Chambers. Michelle was a participant in our Insight to Well-being program that SPARK runs in our local jail. Michelle was recently released and wanted to share her story on our podcast. Listen as Michelle shares the profound insights she feels made a difference in her journey. If you would...

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK podcast, Chad sheds light on his upbringing, from living in Jamaica to finding his true self. Chad also discusses his love for helping and giving to others. Tune in as Chad shares groundbreaking thoughts and impactful stories about his life and experiences and why he chose SPARK.

In this episode, Mari tells Jena about the experiences that led her down the path to SPARK. Having come to Tampa from Chicago, she recalls the changes she's made to her perspective in order to accomplish her goals. Mari discusses how she discovered her passion to help people by seeing her mother's compassion toward others and the strength of her grandparents' love for each other and the family the...

One Year After the Attack, Gabriella Speaks One year ago, a sweet 12-year-old girl in 7th grade was violently attacked at her Middle School by her classmates. Sadly, this story line could apply to countless incidents of bullying across the county. Our podcast this week is a follow-up to the attack on Brooke's daughter, Gabriella. Brooke spoke about this incident previously, and if you haven't done...

In this episode of Find Your SPARK, Ashley and Brooke are joined by a LIVE audience at the Boost Conference in Palm Springs, CA. Because we had a brand-new audience, this was the perfect chance to tell SPARK’s story. Brooke and Ashley share how SPARK started, and then all the things that unfolded to get to where SPARK is today. Listen to hear about the very humble beginnings, and all the changes a...

In this episode, Jena shares her personal journey of how she got to SPARK! From growing up in Florida, joining the Air Force and traveling all over, to returning to Florida and finding her path. Jena talks about the knowing inside that has guided her along the way and the importance of connection. Listen as Jena shares about the moments in her life that she just knew what the next best steps were....

In this episode, Nicole shares the key life events that led her to SPARK and how her seven-year journey with our organization has allowed her to finally be her true self. Like many of us, she describes how her younger self felt shy, insecure, and never enough. Even in the midst of that, she was able to follow life's little nudges and begin to peel back the layers of insecurity. While she wishes sh...

In this episode, Stephanie describes the key events and insights that led her to join SPARK. Born and raised in a small farming town in Minnesota, she describes how college opened her eyes to the wider world and the suffering that existed. Inspired by working with children and adults who had experienced profound tragedy, she has dedicated her career to ending human suffering. Her own personal low...

Inspired by one of our favorite podcasters, we thought it would be fun and (hopefully!) interesting to record a series highlighting our team's 'origin stories,' or what led us to SPARK. Through this series, we hope to give you a better sense of who we truly are. In this episode, Ashley shares with Stephanie her own personal journey of where she came from and all the paths that led her to now. List...

In this episode, Ashley and Nicole speak about differences they have seen in being internally motivated. Nicole shares how she went from, " I could NEVER go back to college", to now being in school, with a daughter and a full-time job! She shares how her internal motivation showed up for her and took her much further than any person on the outside telling her "you can do it" . Ashley then shares t...

In this episode, Mari reflects on the impact of an affirmation she's been utilizing for a few months. She discusses how she's been able to reframe her perspective during times that feel difficult or when old habitual thoughts make their way back into her mind. Tune in to hear how a simple statement has helped shift Mari's perspective during those moments that can feel hard to overcome.

In this week’s podcast, Stephanie shares the story of how she went from a lifetime of loathing running to all of the sudden not only doing it, but actually enjoying it. With no effort, one day her legs just took off in a group exercise class. This shocking phenomenon occurred when she listened to a quiet little voice inside that nudged her to run. This podcast is an invitation for you to get curio...

In this episode of the Find Your Spark podcast, Jena and Ashley are joined by a special guest, Anamarie Patch. Anamarie was in the Insight to Wellbeing program that SPARK runs at our local jail. She has since been released and called to update Jena and Ashley on how she has been. We invited her on the podcast to share her recovery experience since being released from jail, and now celebrating 1 ye...

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK podcast, Brooke and Ashley share a VERY exciting announcement!  After Brooke and Ashley learned about this fantastic news, many fears and doubts started to bubble up. However, it was right at that moment they both heard EXACTLY what they needed to hear, in a very unlikely place...TikTok!   Listen as they share their insights and the moment their fears and dou...

In a small tribute to the life and teachings of MLK Jr., Stephanie recalls the profound experience she had while visiting the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis last summer. Many visitors have commented that it’s difficult to put the experience into words. Stephanie concurs. However, she tries to describe what it was like to be physically, mentally, and spiritually transported to the times be...

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK podcast, Brooke, Ashley, Nicole, Jena, Stephanie, and Mari all reflect on the past year and share what they learned in 2022. They share some of their lows, and highs, while also reflecting on the amazing way that each person went through things. The SPARK staff also share their hopes for 2023 and are all so excited to point in a direction of growth and lean i...

This week’s episode is extra special, as we have four amazing guest speakers from the Rebels for Peace. Rebels For Peace is a youth-led organization that wants to spread its message of bringing hope and faith back to the community of Chicago and the world. They believe understanding the mind as the source of everything we see in society is crucial to making any change. Instead of looking to outsid...

In this episode of the #FindYourSPARK podcast, Brooke is joined by one of her very best friends and colleagues from Scotland, Lynne Robertson to discuss what they have learned from the simple phrase "There is no Solution to a Feeling". Listen as Brooke and Lynne walk down the memory lane of their friendship and talk about how the work they both do has led them on the path of continuous "seeing and...

In this episode, Mari reflects on living in Tampa, Florida for a full year and the life changes that occurred during that time. Having been born and raised in Illinois, Mari remembers how leaving the state felt like an impossible option for most of her life simply because she was so focused on fitting into the same lifestyle as those around her, yet struggling to feel fulfilled in the spaces she w...