Episodes

What if you could ditch the outdated model of top-down leadership and instead create an environment where anyone can catalyze a collective vision? Where every voice is empowered to contribute their unique brilliance towards extraordinary outcomes? Today, we're rethinking what it truly means to lead in the modern age. My guest today, Keith Ferrazzi, is on a mission to initiate a profound shift - from rigid hierarchies to an inclusive new paradigm he calls "teamship." Keith Ferrazzi is a ren...

In today's episode we're revisiting a listener question posed to Jonathan Fields and one of our rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust. SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author. LISTENER: Heidi - Sparketype: Advocate/Warrior | Anti Maker QUESTION: Listener...

So much of our lives is governed by the desire to feel safe. I get it. The world can feel like an unstable, scary place. Feeling physically and psychologically safe matters. To our mental and physical health. But, does that come a point where playing it too safe actually causes us harm? Makes our worlds, our relationships, experiences and lives smaller. Less good? Feeling like, deep down, you know there’s more to life than merely existing within the confines of a box that, sure, might feel sa...

What if you could approach your path with greater intentionality? Thoughtfully designing how you want to move through both work and life, leveraging your unique gifts to create maximum positive impact? In today's powerful discussion, we'll explore a whole-being framework for leading and living with profound meaning. One that begins by getting anchored in your core purpose as the guiding light. Our guest today is Laysha Ward, accomplished C-suite executive with over 32 years of senior leade...

How do you get through each day, let alone build a meaningful, connected and rewarding career when rapid-fire, constant change, groundlessness, unrelenting pace, overwhelm, and even workplace toxicity have become the norm? That’s where we’re headed with my guest today, Gabriella Rosen Kellerman. An author, entrepreneur, start-up executive, and Harvard-trained physician with expertise in behavioral and organizational change, digital health, well-being, and AI, Gabriella began her career in psy...

Imagine having the psychological fitness to embrace multiple contradictory perspectives. To navigate uncertainty without anxiety. To hold the tension of opposites and find innovative syntheses. That's exactly what we'll explore in this fascinating discussion - how to develop the "complexity fitness" to dance with the increasing complexities we all face rather than contracting from them. Today we’re joined by Jennifer Garvey Berger, author of four highly acclaimed books, including Unleash Your...

Today you’ll meet Kim Fabian. Despite her early success and drive in the nonprofit sector, Kim found herself drained by the relentless demands of her role. Driven by a desire to escape the intense pressure and sense of misalignment she experienced, she made the decision to leave her role and embark on a journey of self-discovery, realigning her work with what lit her up, and let her reclaim a sense of ease and wellbeing along the way. And if you’d like to share your career transformation s...

In today's episode of SPARKED, I'm joined by Shelley Adelle Bliss, one of our fabulous Spark Endeavors team members. Together we're diving into this often-overlooked catalyst for unshackling your zest for work and life. Because you deserve more than just clock-punching - you deserve work that lets you play and thrive. We'll explore the core elements of playful work cultures and why courting more fun matters so much. You'll learn playful strategies to spark creativity, strengthen teams, and ke...

Today's career transformation story features, Navid Ladha, who is now a thriving nonprofit consultant and career coach. As a Primary Sparketype, Advisor with an Essentialist shadow, Navid was drawn to roles allowing him to guide others through personal growth while creating systems that added clarity to his and his client’s pursuits. And if you’d like to share your career transformation story on the Sparked podcast, to inspire others who may be feeling stuck or unsure about their own caree...

Have you ever felt like you were drifting through life, unsure if the path you’re on is truly aligned with who you are and what you want? Even for someone like me, who has dedicated his life to exploring meaning, purpose, and how to craft a life you truly love, I recently found myself at a crossroads wondering – is the way I’m feeling today, especially about my work, really how I want to feel for the next 20 years of my life? I know, it sounds crazy. After all, I’ve done extensive work to unc...

Today's career transformation story is an inspiring example of how to courageously pivot when the work you once loved no longer aligns with your deepest drives. Kayla Archer's journey began with an all-consuming obsession for competitive ballroom dancing. But the intense singular focus and lack of boundaries eventually led to a challenging environment that neglected her innate curiosities and zest for personal growth and, more or less, obliterated boundaries. Her renaissance journey overcame ...

In today's career transformation story, you’ll meet Gabriela Pereira, who transitioned from her dream job as a toy designer to founding DIY MFA, an educational company for writers, after leaving her initial career due to health concerns, ultimately realizing she could fulfill her maker passion in a new field. Gabriela Pereira, is the founder of DIY MFA - an online education platform empowering writers to hone their craft outside the traditional MFA system. But Gabriela's journey began with an...

Ever feel like the rug got pulled out from under you at work? A project imploded, a promotion evaporated, or your role did a 180 you never saw coming? If those punches to the gut sound familiar, you know how quickly setbacks can shake your confidence and derail your drive. But what if you could bounce back stronger from those inevitable career curveballs? That's the power of resilience - the ability to adapt, grow, and thrive through adversity. With resilience, you don't just survive challeng...

"How do you finish more of the projects that you start or do you need to complete everything?" This week on the SPARKED podcast, we invited a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust. In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Prod...

Today, we're exploring one woman's journey from being a lawyer to a personal finance consultant. My guest today is Hannah Bell, who stepped off the conventional law career track despite external pressures to stay the course. While practicing law, a profound internal shift occurred listening to personal finance podcasts during long commutes. It was a wake-up call that reconnected her to a deep interest. Hannah realized she could help others align money with their deepest values. Rather than...

Have you ever felt like you were following a predetermined path in your career, only to realize it was leading you somewhere you didn't want to go? That relentless pull toward something deeper, something more purposeful, became impossible to ignore? If so, then this installment in our career transformation stories series will resonate. It's the story of one woman's profound journey of self-discovery - ditching the corporate treadmill to unearth work that truly sparks her alive. My guest today...

Is the way we work slowly killing us? Brigid Schulte, author of "Overwhelmed: How to Work Less, Accomplish More, and Finally Start Living," peels back the toxic hustle culture corroding our health and relationships. In this candid discussion, Schulte shares eye-opening research on the work stressors driving burnout epidemics and offers a path to reclaim meaningful work-life balance. Discover actionable tips to redesign your workday, push back against unrealistic expectations, and cultivate the c...

Unlock the secret to turning every connection into a meaningful relationship that grows your business. In this insightful episode, Mo Bunnell, author of "Give to Grow: How Givers Get Ahead," reveals counterintuitive strategies to build genuine rapport by focusing on others' needs first. Discover how to "fall in love with their problem, not your solution" and provide value before ever expecting anything in return. Master the mindset shift that top entrepreneurs and influencers use to turn casual ...

Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions day after day, constantly busy but not really making progress on what truly matters most to you? Like at the end of the day, you’ve checked all these boxes, done a million things, but not much of what really mattered to you got done? And all the typical productivity advice feels great for someone else living in some utopian universe, but you’re a real live human, with all the things spinning around, and it just really doesn’t work for...

Meet Barbara Ellen Leicht, a former classroom educator who listened to those inner whispers telling her it was time for a pivot. Despite initial self-doubt from straying from her expected path, Barbara persevered, cultivating a deeper understanding of her core strengths. Today, she wears multiple hats as a career coach empowering others to confidently navigate their professional journeys and a higher education professional supporting students at SUNY Empire State University.But Barbara's tran...

In today’s episode, we’re digging into a story of listening to that nagging sense that you were meant for something more - following that deeper calling tugging at you to forge a path that truly aligns with your values and allows your unique gifts to shine. My guest today is Dr. Sabba Quidwai, an educator, entrepreneur and leading voice on cultivating the human skills essential for an AI-driven world. From her childhood dreams of designing video games to feeling friction as a high school teac...

My guest today is Philippe Lazaro, communications manager and storyteller at the non-profit Plant With Purpose. Despite initially taking on a traditional marketing role, Philippe found ways to interweave his creative passions as a filmmaker, illustrator, and performer into his work. Rather than forcing himself into a ill-fitting mold, Philippe gently reshaped his position over 8 years to better align with his Sparketype profile which uncovered his Primary Sparketype® as Performer, the Shadow ...

Career Transformation Story with Monica Rivera

Listener Marie asks, "When looking for niche job roles that match your criteria, how do you have patience in the process?" Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust. In today’s episode we’re in conversation with: SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strateg...