In this episode, Ashley introduces a new team member, Marketing and Events Coordinator, Makayla Wheeldon. Makayla, a former elementary school teacher, is now learning and embracing the beautiful insight that every human has a Spark inside of them that can't be broken. Join Ashley and Makayla as they shine light on Mental Health Awareness Month, specifically teacher mental health. In a profession that burnout is experienced often, and teachers are exiting the classroom in large numbers, Makayla s...
May 28, 2024•24 min•Ep. 187
This week on the Find Your Spark podcast, Brooke is joined by colleague turned personal mentor and coach Monica Corota. Monica Carota is a top-tier coach who’s redefining how we understand and embody high-performance. Her work uses precision and depth to polish away any barriers to the remarkable power that already lies at the core of who you are. She believes that peak performance is the result of bringing the fullest expression of your incredible humanity online and making an impact from your ...
May 21, 2024•44 min•Ep. 186
Your hosts, Brooke and Ashley, work with youth in rehabilitation centers, jails, trafficking survivor safe houses, and other alternative settings with one objective - to teach an understanding of how the mind works so they can tap into their potential and thrive. This episode will explore how a simple understanding of how the mind works leads to young people becoming more resilient and less reactive - even amid the most trigger-worthy circumstances.
May 14, 2024•37 min•Ep. 185
This week on the Find Your SPARK podcast, Brooke shares a story about how she recently navigated an argument between her parents who have been married for over 60 years. To her it was both entertaining and insightful to see two people, who have so much love for each other, get lost in the details of their own crazy state of minds and lose sight of things most obvious to those around them. Listen as Brooke shares how it was both eye opening and relieving to witness that even her parents, who have...
May 07, 2024•28 min•Ep. 184
The SPARK Initiative recently participated in Week of Caring, a week-long collaboration by United Way Suncoast and partner organizations to enhance our community through volunteer efforts while learning about other like-minded organizations in our area. Nicole, Jena, Chad, and Mari discuss the importance of volunteerism and the amazing opportunities offered at MacDonald Training Center in Tampa.
Apr 30, 2024•10 min•Ep. 183
In this episode of #FindYourSpark podcast, Stephanie and Denzel discuss "Learn Fresh" and the active learning Denzel promotes by using sports as a method of teaching math. As a former educator himself, Denzel speaks passionately about a child's innate ability to learn, but believes that learning comes easier when it involves things that they love. Stephanie and Denzel discuss the #SPARK inside of every learner, and the mutual belief that learning comes from within. Please visit https://learnfres...
Apr 23, 2024•15 min
In this episode of the Find your Spark podcast, Nicole and Ashley share their personal stories of recent stress and the implications they have recently experienced in their work and their home life. Listen as they highlight how a simple conversation helped provide a key to unlocking the chaos in their mind and allowed them to step outside of the "stress storm."
Apr 16, 2024•15 min
In this episode, Nicole and Mari discuss one of SPARKs values, “we’re all in this together” and what that means to them. Listen as they share how this has impacted them and how it can relate to others in the world.
Apr 09, 2024•19 min
In this episode, Stephanie has the pleasure of interviewing Elexa Reece, a 16-year-old, who has been described as ‘wise beyond her years.’ Elexa talks about the importance of having a mentor and some of the key insights she’s had about herself and the human experience. She shares about learning to embrace her humanness, developing a true connection with herself, and not focusing on things beyond her control, like other people’s opinions. Tune in for these and other inspiring words from Elexa! Pl...
Apr 02, 2024•22 min
In this episode, Chad talks about the importance of access and how there is beauty in how we choose to navigate it throughout our experiences. Join us as we discover how impactful life can get when we choose ourselves, minds, souls, and energy based on the access we decide to give or not to give!
Mar 26, 2024•28 min
In this episode, Brooke and Ashley discuss what it means to truly “be you”. They recently listened to a podcast from Michael Neill, and gained some insight around what they see to be true about their “true” selves. Listen as they share stories of when they have gotten caught up and tried to be the version of themselves they "think" they should be, and other times when they just are being, without trying. The podcast episode Brooke and Ashley referred to in this episode can be found here: Caffein...
Mar 12, 2024•18 min
In this episode, Ashley and Stephanie explore a value at the core of our organization – our belief that no one is broken. While labels such as “broken” can be well-intentioned to describe the hurt, pain, and suffering that someone is enduring, we believe that at our core, humans are still whole. There is an untouchable, unbreakable essence to us – our SPARK. We discuss how we’ve seen this to be true working with vulnerable populations over the last 10 years, including a recent training in Little...
Mar 05, 2024•23 min
In this episode, Nicole, Mari, and Jena discuss SPARK's approach to self-esteem and confidence for International Boost Self-Esteem Month. Listen as they share different experiences where they thought self-esteem and confidence sounded like a lot of work, when in fact, it's something that's always there and you can rely on and trust at any given moment.
Feb 23, 2024•24 min
In this episode, Brooke and Stephanie kick off a new podcast series discussing our eight values. These values act as our compass, guiding both business and personal decisions. In honor of the month of Valentine’s Day, this episode explores why we believe that Love Wins. For us, this value points to a state of mind characterized by clarity, ease, compassion, and understanding. When you come from a place of Love (your SPARK), you tend to ‘win’ at whatever you are trying to do. Difficult conversati...
Feb 16, 2024•18 min
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.
Jan 23, 2024•32 min
The SPARK Team takes a look back at 2023, what we've learned and what we look forward to in 2024.
Dec 18, 2023•50 min
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 graduate, Jordan is able to connect his commitment to change to the awareness of his mind that he gain...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr
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.
Oct 03, 2023•18 min
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.
Aug 25, 2023
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 "passion project" and why suicide prevention is the direction she wants to go.
Aug 11, 2023
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 like to donate to our local programs, you can find all the ways to donate here: https://thesparkinit...
Aug 03, 2023•28 min
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.
Jun 22, 2023•12 min
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 they created. Listen as Mari recognizes moments her SPARK showed up to bring her to this very moment....
Jun 08, 2023•28 min
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 so already, please listen to this episode first for the context. This special episode was recorded ...
May 18, 2023•15 min
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 and growth made along the way!
May 03, 2023•47 min
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 her words…when you know, you just know!
Apr 20, 2023•33 min
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 she could have had her current confidence as a teenager, she can also now see how those so-called mist...
Apr 13, 2023•33 min
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 led her to explore what she was missing in her efforts. Through this exploration, she met Brooke and...
Apr 06, 2023•33 min
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. Listen to learn things you'd never guess about Ashley and how her SPARK helped her discover who she real...
Mar 23, 2023•31 min
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 that she has been lacking motivation to get active for quite some time now, continually looking to ou...
Mar 16, 2023•20 min
