Sparks Journal

Stephen Schiff — Pulitzer finalist, former Vanity Fair and New Yorker writer, and Golden Globe–winning, Emmy-nominated screenwriter — joins  The Sparks Journal  to explore why  storytelling is the connective tissue between belief and value . In this conversation, we move beyond “marketing” to examine storytelling as a core leadership skill — one that shapes trust with  investors , loyalty with  cu...

Many leaders and creatives feel run down, disconnected, or unsure how to sustain their energy and purpose over the long term. Others may appear highly successful from a distance, yet find themselves quietly asking, Is this really all there is? In this special Podcasters CoLab, I sit down with Mark Bilton - internationally renowned CEO, Independent Chair, and Strategist, the host of 'Lead Well,...

Paizley Laura is the founder of the rapidly growing lifestyle brand Peach Honey, a champion of self care rituals and ‘getting gooey’, and one of the most compelling voices in the new wave of social first founder-led brands. Paizley joins the The Sparks Journal for a raw, expansive and deeply honest conversation about self-trust, autonomy, ambition, and what it really takes to create and build a pu...

Samantha Wills - creative entrepreneur, bestselling author of  Of Gold and Dust , designer behind her iconic jewellery brand, and creator of the  Marigold  children’s series - joins The Sparks Journal for a powerful conversation about creativity, intuition, imposter syndrome and building a life that feels true. From selling handmade jewellery behind the bike sheds in Port Macquarie to becoming one...

Laura Day — bestselling author, world-renowned intuitive and creator of  The Prism  — joins The Sparks Journal for an intimate exploration of intuition, healing and human possibility. In this conversation, Laura shares how intuition works not as mysticism but as  data , how trauma shapes the ego, and why healing must begin with action in the present moment — not analysis of the past. We explore: •...

Chef, author,  My Kitchen Rules  alum and  Good Farm Shop  co-founder  Scott Gooding  is one of those rare people who has done the deep inner work to turn a difficult start into a life of meaning, discipline and love. Scott spent his childhood living in English pubs - surrounded by drunk adults, chaos and the ever-present possibility of violence. It forged a tough exterior, a readiness to fight an...

The Met Gala, from the man who curates it. Andrew Bolton—Curator in Charge of The Met’s Costume Institute and Anna Wintour’s long-time collaborator—explains how the red carpet functions as a moving gallery and an extension of the exhibition itself. We explore  Savage Beauty ,  Camp , and  Heavenly Bodies ; the interplay of meaning and marketing; how younger designers build community before scale;...

Matt Kaness has quietly helped shape the modern playbook for purpose-driven retail — where creativity and commercial discipline amplify each other. At URBN (Anthropologie, Free People, Urban Outfitters), he helped triple revenue and grow e-commerce from ~10% to ~40% of the business. As CEO of ModCloth, he defined the mission “ModCloth is pioneering inclusive fashion,” a clarity that galvanised its...

From $40,000 and a garage to a global fragrance phenomenon —  Raquel Bouris , founder of  Who Is Elijah , has built one of Australia’s fastest-growing beauty brands by doing things differently. In this candid, empowering, and hilarious conversation, Raquel opens up about the creative chaos, the brand strategy, and the personal evolution behind her rise. We dive deep into  how she hacked the attent...

Building one global cult brand is rare. Doing it twice - Mambo  and  Deus Ex Machina - is almost unheard of. In this inspiring conversation,  Dare Jennings  reveals the playbook behind both: lead with art and humour that challenge the mainstream, fuse the unrestrained creativity of subcultures - “surf, motorcycles, music… it’s all the same juice” - and build worlds where rebellion feels playful, n...

Jon Rose has lived a life that reads like myth: a pro surfing prodigy at 17, then the founder of Waves For Water, a guerrilla-style humanitarian organisation that’s delivered clean water to millions in disaster and conflict zones. To the world, he was fearless — the man who ran toward hurricanes, earthquakes, and war. But beneath that outward courage was a lifelong drive born not from purpose alon...

From film to farm,  Matilda Brown  shares how she found a deeper creative purpose, one rooted in the soil beneath her feet.  This is a story about  the power of the pivot : regenerative agriculture, saying no to gatekeepers, and growing a mission-led meals brand while raising a family. We explore  when to persist versus when to pivot  — “sometimes you must let go of one dream for the next to appea...

Sydney beaches. A MasterChef stage. New York ambition.   The inspiring, irrepressible Dan Churchill shows what’s possible when conviction meets clarity — and purpose meets performance. Guided by a clear North Star (“change the world through food”) and a deep commitment to helping everyone achieve true health and vitality, he has evolved from creator to strategic advisor, investor, and co-founder,...

Episode 1 of The Sparks Journal podcast is with legendary luxury fashion designer, Thom Browne.  Thom is widely considered to be one of the most influential designers of the last century, merging a unique creative vision that has earned enormous cultural cache, with significant commercial success. But it wasn't always that way. Thom offers a raw, honest and vulnerable accounting of what it rea...

The Sparks Journal explores the intersection of purpose, creativity, and cultural impact. Hosted by Joshua Sparks, it features world-class creators, founders, and thinkers who are reshaping the future. Subscribe for deep conversations, insights, and stories to help you align vision with purpose and create with impact.