Find Your Spark

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...

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, Nicole Wilson shares her experience of saying goodbye to 30 and hello to 31 with many emotions that followed. She expresses how her birthday started with crying lots of tears while feeling bitter about closing the 30th chapter of her life, to then having a shift of mind and insight about turning 31 and age in general. As she allowed herself to feel a...

In this episode of the Find Your Spark podcast, Chad takes us on his journey of how he managed to tackle his anxiety and find peace throughout his life. He also shares the obstacles he faced during the dark sides of anxiety and how he was able to navigate his true self through awareness, Self-love, and Self-care. Chad also touches on the importance of allowing our thoughts to be processed and the...

In this episode, with Nicole Wilson and Selah Freedom's Assessment Coordinator, Angelea Valenti, they explore the partnership that SPARK and Selah have shared for over 7 years together. Angelea shares the impact of SPARK and her personal story being a Selah graduate and going through the SPARK program years ago when we first started our partnership. Nicole shares some of her experiences leading th...

In this episode, Nicole, Emily and Macy share some upcoming event details about the SPARKING Change Youth Leadership FUNdraiser! Macy and Emily share the importance of this program and what was their biggest take away. Nicole shares why its impactful for our community's young people to have this opportunity to see their SPARK inside and create the change they want to see. Nicole also shares some u...

In this episode of the Find your SPARK podcast, Jena shares about her recent challenges and how she has navigated through them with a new lens. Jena talks about all the changes that have been taking place and how she has been in a stressful state of mind, but when a new challenge arrives, it completely shifts everything! Tune in to hear Jena reflect on tearing her Achilles tendon, how it made her...

In this episode, Nicole Wilson and guest speaker, Jay Spires, speak to the importance of having awareness of the mind and how that alone can create change around suicide. Jay shares his story with suicide and how he was able to overcome the fight with his thoughts. Nicole then shares why being aware of this understanding of how the mind works and seeing your natural resilience is the solution that...

On this episode of the Find Your Spark podcast, Ashley and Jena discuss the many emotions they’ve experienced as their kids have returned to school. This year, both Jena and Ashley had their “babies” start middle school. And as if that wasn’t enough of an emotional milestone, Ashley’s oldest entered high school. Ashley and Jena both share how they have been handling things as fear, anxiety, and sa...

In this episode we welcome our newest team member, Tara Phillips! Tara joins SPARK after 16 years teaching elementary school in Texas, Florida, and Abu Dhabi. Her love for her kids and passion for bringing out the best in them is infectious and what drew us together. Tara shares her perspective on educating the whole child, her reasons for changing careers, why she chose SPARK, and what parents an...

In this episode Brooke and Ashley discuss the first chapters of Michael Singer's New York Times bestseller, The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself. Focusing on the way Singer describes the part of our mind that is constantly having its own conversation-with or without the REAL us participating. Brooke found insight because she realized just how easy it is for us to get swept up in the ba...

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, Nicole and Mari talk about their experiences working with the young child program at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers and sharing the differences between working with the population of 5-8 year old’s and working with the teens and adults. They both notice how young children are so in tune with their SPARK inside that this comes very natur...

In this episode, Stephanie is fresh off a relaxing vacation and excited to share reflections on a profound book she was given. The Art Spirit, written by Robert Henri in 1923, describes his philosophy on life and art. He beautifully articulates many of the same principles that resonate both personally and professionally with Stephanie and Spark. Among these, is that master works of art are created...

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK Podcast, Stephanie and SPARK Intern, Andres Medina, discuss the most impactful parts of recent SPARK facilitator training and reflect on their most meaningful moments. Andres hopes to use his time with the SPARK Initiative to gain experience mentoring individuals through the curriculum and become an influential leader. While sharing their passion for criminal...

This week’s episode of the Find your Spark podcast is more like an open letter to those close to the SPARK family and those who are challenged to do the work of creating a better place for all of humanity. With humility and vulnerability, Brooke opens up about a recent heartbreaking incident involving her daughter that brought her family to their knees and ended up in the national spotlight for a...