Sparky Life

Send us Fan Mail Are you a parent struggling to teach your children important life skills? Do you feel like traditional education systems are not enough to prepare your child for the real world? In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with Billy Ivanova, host of the Unlock Your Child's Potential podcast, about the importance of teaching life skills to children and t...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever considered building your own tiny house? In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, Lia Lamela speaks with Megan Pogoda, a tiny house builder and creator of Build it Betties, who shares her journey in the trades and the importance of having more women in the industry. Megan's winding path through different careers led her to build her own tiny house and start B...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a charter boat captain? In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, I speak with Captain Maria Gay, a charter boat captain with 17 years of experience. Captain Maria Gay shares her daily routine, the challenges she faced as a female captain in a male-dominated industry, and the rewards of providing customers with a unique and memora...

Send us Fan Mail Lindsay was introduced to the construction industry while studying Civil Engineering at the University of Waterloo, where she landed a co-op assignment with a local soil testing company. When she first stepped on to a construction site, she instantly felt at home. Upon earning her degree, Lindsay quickly established a career in Construction Management at PCL Construction, where sh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela speaks with Aaron Huey, a carpenter with two decades of experience and a coach for tradesmen. They discuss the mental health challenges faced by tradesmen, particularly in Australia, and the importance of changing the "she'll be right" mentality. They also touch on the role of women in the trades, the need...

Send us Fan Mail The Sparky Life podcast features host Lia Lamela and guest Steph Mannering, a level three certified marine craft construction boat builder from Australia. They discuss Steph's day-to-day work, how she got into the trade, and the importance of attitude in the workplace. Steph shares her journey of becoming a boat builder. They also discuss the importance of training and proper...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, host Lia Lamela interviews Brenda Tackaberry, a gender bias specialist and podcast host of Busting Gender Bias. Brenda shares her experience growing up with a father in the trades, studying engineering, and working in male-dominated industries. The conversation sheds light on the importance of addressing gender bias in the workplace and...

Send us Fan Mail This Sparky Life podcast episode focuses on the importance of math skills in construction careers and introduces Mathnasium as a resource for improving mathematical competency. Lia Lamela shares her personal experience with Mathnasium and interviews Jing Sims, a center director at Mathnasium in Purcellville, Virginia, about the program and her approach to teaching math. Jing expla...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast episode features a conversation between Lia, the host, and Linsday Kearns, a red seal electrician, who works for the BC Center for Women in the Trades in British Columbia, Canada. Lindsay shares her experience as an electrician and the challenges she faced during her apprenticeship, including sexism, racism, and homophobia. She also talks about her specialization in b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life podcast, Lia Lamela shares the story of the Willow Island disaster, where 51 workers fell to their deaths while constructing cooling towers in West Virginia in 1978. She emphasizes the importance of safety in trade careers and the responsibility of contractor companies to protect their workers. Lia describes the construction of the cooling towers...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sparky Life, host Lia Lamela speaks with licensed psychologist Dr. Kate Kelly about the benefits of trade careers, particularly in the construction industry, for mental health. They discuss the importance of soft skills, emotional intelligence, and empathy in the workplace, as well as the link between the body and mind in somatic-based therapies for trauma r...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Zoe Kearney, an ambitious, intelligent former astrophysics student and physics student who has paved her own road to success in a male-dominated masters program. Zoe has inspired me to “reach for the stars”, and I’m sure she will for you too. In this episode we provide support and guidance in pursuing non-traditional career paths, especially for women in male-dominated fields...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode, we sit down with Brooke, who’s life trajectory has shown that you can experience the wonders of many trades, careers, and more! Brooke went from being a welder, to a business owner and podcaster, to a plumber, all the while raising three little ones at home. She shares with us the joys and hardships of each of these chapters of her life, as well as some cri...

Send us Fan Mail Start Your Engines with This Corvette Girl, Auto Technician - Doris Bennally Today we sit down with Doris Benally, an auto mechanic living in sunny San Antonio, Texas. Doris gives us the low down on what it's like as an auto mechanic, shares about her favorite cars, and has plenty of advice to give to women entering the trades. Start your engines, as we accelerate into Doris’...

Send us Fan Mail Our guest today is Coralee Beatty, a coach for women in the trades, and author of the book Hiring Secrets for Trades and Construction, The Ultimate Guide to Find, Hire and Retain Top Talent . Coralee also offers fractional COO services, helping construction companies from the inside. A talented speaker and trainer, Coralee is brimming with passion and expertise in hopes to encoura...

Send us Fan Mail Today we meet with the amazing Carmyn Stanko, a one-of-a-kind woman pioneer, who organized a union from her home in Vermont. Her journey isn’t only empowering; it’s electrifying! Hear what it takes to organize a trades union from a fellow sparky. University of Vermont https://www.uvm.edu Connect with us : @sparkylifeoflia Music by https://www.purple-planet.com Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In the trades, there are essentially two paths you can take: union or non-union. Choose your destiny. But not without some help! Today’s episode, I explain some of the core differences of these two styles of work in the trades, as well as some of the pros and cons of both. Connect with us : @sparkylifeoflia Music by https://www.purple-planet.com Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue our conversation with Chris Heskett, host of Wild Nutrition Podcast and full-time health and fitness coach, to discuss the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, especially for people entering the trades. Connect with our guest Chris, Owner of PEAK Wellness Coaching Wild Nutrition Secrets for Women Facebook Group PEAK Wellness Coaching https://l...

Send us Fan Mail Today we speak with Chris Heskett, host of Wild Nutrition Podcast and full-time health and fitness coach, to discuss the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, especially for people entering the trades. Connect with our guest Chris, Owner of PEAK Wellness Coaching Wild Nutrition Secrets for Women Facebook Group PEAK Wellness Coaching https://linktr.ee/chrisheskett18 Connect...

Send us Fan Mail How important is physical strength in a construction career? Today I share about my own journey in building up physical and mental strength and as I prepare my full dive into a lifestyle geared for success in the trades.  Connect with us: @sparkylifeoflia https://linktr.ee/sparkylife Sparky Life recommends book : The Power of One More by Ed Mylett Music by https://www.purple-plane...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode the Master Electrician, Dustin Stelzer, enlightens the apprentice on construction culture and gender in the electrical industry. Electrician U was founded by Dustin Stelzer, a Master Electrician, in Austin, Texas. He created  Electrician U in 2016 by making training videos for electrical work on YouTube and Instagram, so that anyone out there who sought a deeper kn...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we speak with Jennifer Crane, a pipefitter living in Ohio. Jennifer gives us the ins and outs of working as a pipefitter. This homeowner at the age of 21 gives us the breakdown and build up of big benefits in the pipefitter trade. Dive in and see what parts of your story “fit” in with Jennifer’s, as she shares with us about what lights her up! Connect with us: @spa...

Send us Fan Mail Could you actually manifest a career in the trades?? This mother of 3, Stacy Abbott claims that she did. How did buying a picture from a thrift shop lead to this mother of three becoming a heavy equipment operator? Join us as we learn from this incredible woman and her inspiring story. Connect with us : @sparkylifeoflia Sparky Life Supports: Raya Kenney's Foundation Women Who...

Send us Fan Mail Today we speak with Louise Azzopardi, a skilled heavy vehicle mechanic who coaches tradeswomen to overcome obstacles and excel in their careers.  She has 7 years of experience in her field. Louise fills a great need in the trades community. Connect with us : @sparkylifeoflia Sparky Life Supports: Raya Kenney's Foundation Women Who Worked on the Home Front Memorial Be a part o...

Send us Fan Mail Listen in close as we learn from Nancy Wisner, a hilarious, empowering, go-getter woman who reminds us of the necessity to reach outside of our comfort zone. Connect with us : @sparkylifeoflia Sparky Life Supports: Raya Kenney's Foundation Women Who Worked on the Home Front Memorial Be a part of history! National Memorial to the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation H...