Spark Changemakers

In this final episode of Season 3, Nikki Giant is joined by Rosina Dorelli, founder of Da Vinci Life Skills CIC and BE Hubs Cambridge, a Biophilic Education (BE) home education learning hub, which offers the Da Vinci curriculum. Rosina shares her inspiring journey from artist to educational innovator, leading a movement toward biophilic education – a new pedagogy that weaves together creativity, s...

In this soulful and practical conversation, Nikki sits down with Deepa Iyer — author of Social Change Now , host of the Solidarity Is This podcast, and Senior Director at the Building Movement Project — to explore how real change happens when we see our work as an ecosystem of interdependent roles. We unpack the 10 roles from Deepa’s framework (Visionaries, Builders, Disruptors, Caregivers, Experi...

In this uplifting episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , Nikki sits down with Ricardo Erasmus — transformational life coach, motivational speaker, youth mentor, TEDx speaker, and founder of Paradigm Shift Academy. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, and now based in Wales, Ricardo shares his remarkable journey from the Cape Flats — a community scarred by apartheid — to becoming a global...

In this heart-opening episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , Nikki sits down with Neil Denton - mediator, professor, and co-lead of The Relationships Project - to explore why relationships are not “soft extras,” but the very foundation of healthier, happier, more resilient communities. Neil shares t he vision behind The Relationships Project: embedding relationship-centred practice across sch...

In this inspiring conversation, 21-year-old changemaker Sash Jayasinghe shares how a wake-up moment in Sri Lanka sparked a year of intentional action: founding 4Lanka , a social-impact venture to help South Asian young people discover purpose, build confidence, and turn ideas into reality. Sash recalls bringing Simon Squibb’s Dream Machine to the first comprehensive school in Wales — and watching...

In this inspiring conversation, Nikki speaks with Ceri Reed, founder of Parents Voices in Wales, a not‑for‑profit organisation championing the voices of parents, carers and young people with lived experience of neurodiversity and/or poor mental health. Ceri shares her deeply personal journey into advocacy, the importance of early intervention, and why centring relationships and co‑production is th...

In the latest episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , Nikki speaks with Joanne Baldock, founder of Heol Chwarae Rôl – Role Play Lane, a vibrant community hub in South Wales using imaginative play to support children, families, and young people with additional needs. From her roots in teaching to creating an inclusive, joyful space where learning happens through real-world role play , Joanne sh...

In this powerful episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , Nikki sits down with Shannon McDougall, the principal of Tokoiti School in South Otago, New Zealand — a small rural school with a mighty vision. Shannon shares how he's turned his lifelong passion for equity, wellbeing and creativity into a living, breathing culture of authenticity and connection. From making education completely free fo...

In this deeply reflective episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , Nikki Giant is joined by Gary Lougher, founder of 2nd Ascent Coaching and the creator of Heroic Kids - a storytelling-based mentorship program helping children and their families reconnect with emotional intelligence, resilience, and their true nature. From his own corporate burnout, to his journey into working with children and...

In this heartfelt and deeply inspiring episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast, Nikki sits down with her sister, Claire Watson - educator, spiritual guide, and founder of Zen Clubs. Claire shares her powerful journey from burnout and breast cancer to personal transformation and soul purpose. With warmth, wisdom and humour, she talks about the challenges of teaching, the impact of toxic stress, a...

In this moving and eye-opening episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , Nikki Giant sits down with Ryan Wood and Julie Jones from Invisible Walls , a not-for-profit organisation in Wales working with children and families when a parent is in prison. Ryan and Julie share how Invisible Walls was born from a desire to keep families connected, and why something as simple as a school report shared a...

In this deeply moving episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , Nikki Giant is joined by spoken word poet, author, hip-hop artist, and creative practitioner Duke Al . Known for his raw, honest storytelling and lyrical brilliance, Duke opens up about how poetry became his lifeline while navigating OCD, intrusive thoughts, and later, a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Together, they explore the trans...

Calling all changemakers! We’re back with season 3 of the Spark Changemakers Podcast, the show for people who want to change the world, leading with passion and purpose. Hosted by Nikki Giant, founder of The Spark Movement, our third season brings a whole host of changemakers from across the globe to inspire you to find your Spark. If you feel a call to do something meaningful in life, and you wan...

In this powerful episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , host Nikki Giant sits down with the inspiring Jo Berry, founder of Building Bridges for Peace . Jo’s life was forever changed when her father, Sir Anthony Berry, was killed in the IRA bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton in 1984. Rather than succumbing to hatred, she made the remarkable decision to seek understanding , eventually meeti...

In this episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , host Nikki Giant sits down with Clayton Planter, founder of Street2Boardroom , an innovative organisation transforming street hustle into legitimate business skills. Clayton shares his journey growing up in a disadvantaged community, recognising the untapped entrepreneurial talent in street culture , and creating opportunities for people to trans...

In this powerful episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , host Nikki Giant speaks with Dan Newman, founder of Baldilocks, an inspiring movement helping people reclaim their confidence and sense of self after experiencing hair loss. Dan shares his deeply personal journey — from navigating alopecia after trauma to creating a supportive community that transforms hair loss into empowerment. Through...

Content warning: Molly shares her experiences with mental health challenges, specifically an eating disorder, in this episode. In this inspiring episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , host Nikki Giant sits down with Molly Leonard, the founder of Craft With Me . At just 26 years old, Molly has transformed her passion for crafting into a powerful tool for mindfulness, healing, and community con...

In this deeply moving episode of Spark Changemakers , host Nikki Giant sits down with Stefan Wissenbach — bestselling author, keynote speaker, and founder of the Magic Future Foundation. Stefan shares his powerful journey of turning personal tragedy into a global mission to build 100 schools in the world’s poorest communities. After the sudden loss of his son, Oli, Stefan and his family channelled...

In this episode of the Spark Changemakers Podcast, Nikki Giant is joined by Tom Bowman, an advisor, speaker, and author of What If Solving the Climate Crisis Is Simple? Tom shares his journey from designing museum exhibits to becoming a leading voice in climate action , revealing how a pivotal moment in his career ignited a passion for change. Discover how Tom simplifies complex problems, reframin...

Trigger warning: This episode focuses on domestic and gender-based violence In this inspiring episode of the Spark Changemakers Podcast , host Nikki Giant sits down with Brian Gardner, Lead Advisor at the Ministry of Social Development in New Zealand, to discuss his ground breaking work in family violence prevention and promoting healthy masculinity . With over 30 years of experience in the field,...

In this episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast, host Nikki Giant sits down with Stephanie Lill (known as Lilly), founder of Mindful Sparks, to explore how mindfulness can transform the lives of educators and students alike. Lilly shares her journey from self-discovery to founding Mindful Sparks, a platform that equips teachers with mindfulness practices to strengthen resilience, cultivate self-...

In this inspiring episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast, host Nikki Giant is joined by Syd Dennis, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a lifelong advocate for community wellbeing . Syd shares her extraordinary journey—from growing up in the Far East as part of a military family to navigating public service in Wales, where she’s been transforming lives for over 50 years. Syd’s stories...

Welcome to the Spark Changemakers Podcast - we're back for season two with more incredible changemakers who are putting their Spark into action. Hosted by Nikki Giant, this podcast is dedicated to helping people discover their inner spark – the passion, joy, and purpose that drives them to make a difference in the world. Whether you’re already a changemaker or just starting to explore how you can...

In this episode of the Spark Changemakers Podcast , Nikki Giant sits down with Alex Barker, co-leader of the global movement Be More Pirate , which empowers individuals and organisations to break the rules with purpose. Alex shares the fascinating history behind the Golden Age of Pirates and how their forgotten principles of equality, democracy, and fair pay are more relevant than ever. Learn how...

In this inspiring episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast , host Nikki Giant is joined by Sharon Benning-Prince, a force of change in supply chain transparency, anti-slavery advocacy, and gender equality. Sharon shares her personal journey, shaped by her family’s strength and resilience, to become a tireless advocate for justice, human rights, and women’s safety. Trigger Warning: Please note, Sh...