Episodes

*Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. Next Training starts March 2024. Why do we feel so bad when we say no to people? Even to complete strangers who request our time, advice or even money out of the blue? What’s going on there? What is the deeper psychology of our inability to comfortably and shamelessly just say no? Even to people and things that sound genuinely interesting, but are not landing at a moment when we have the capaci...

Many of us have felt the call to create our own professional path and start our own business. The call is especially strong when your why is deeply personal and mission driven. And, sometimes, that even means walking away from something else that, from the outside looking in, is everything you’d ever want. How do you handle these moments, make good decisions, and find the courage to step into the unknown? In today’s episode, we tackle questions that can arise when making decisions about what ...

Ever feel like you spend way too much time in the tactical details and lose sight of the bigger picture? Especially when you don’t have to be doing much of the detailed work, but you somehow can’t stop yourself from it? You're not alone. We've all felt the temptation to retreat into the comfort zone of tackling familiar tactical tasks instead of venturing into unknown strategic domains. But what drives this tendency? How much of it is practical necessity versus psychological coping mechanism ...

Overwhelm has become the post-pandemic pandemic. And it’s showing up in all parts of life - personal, professional, social, health and beyond. So many feel like they’re one seemingly small thing away from completely shutting down. That your work, task and emotional load has hit a saturation point, leaving you unsure how to move forward. And terrified of the one more thing that gets piled on and ends up taking you down. All too often, the response is not to get proactive, and there’s no judgme...

What story will your audience notice and act on? How do you cut through noise to connect? And why does it seem so difficult for people and organizations to communicate clearly? In today’s SPARKED hot take episode, messaging expert Ben Guttmann joins me to explore simplifying communication to ensure it resonates. Together, we tackle why most messages fail and how to design ones that compel action. Ben reveals the gap between hyper-distracted modern brains and Stone Age instincts. And why must ...

Imagine feeling like no matter how hard you work, how much you contribute, you just can't seem to get the recognition or advancement or even feedback you deserve. It's frustrating. Especially that last part. Can you remember a time when a vague performance review left you unsure what to actually change? Or when subtle biases infected feedback, limiting your growth? I’m sure a lot of us can. So how can we craft a more growth-oriented, collaborative feedback process? Together we question, wh...

How do we transcend “us vs them” thinking? In turbulent times how do we build bonds instead of walls? In today’s episode, Talia Fox joins me to explore the skills that shape conscious connection. Talia reveals the nightmare of disconnection plaguing our teams and work culture and shares frameworks to transform noise and vitriol into understanding and connection. In today’s episode we’re digging into: How do we move beyond an "us vs them" mentality to create unity and understanding? Wha...

What truly ignites your inner spark? Does the work you’re doing fuel your fire or is it time to rewrite stale stories of “success”? How do you know when logic alone can no longer guide your path? Karen offers insights on protecting space for what matters, even within traditional careers. Because radical change may not be required to reclaim meaning. Subtler shifts can get you closer to the feeling you seek. In today’s episode we’re digging into: How do you know when it's time to make a ca...

*Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training, Next Training starts March 2024 * When is it time to walk away from work? How do you know when that creative spark has faded? Have you ever felt torn between loyalty to a job, cause or team, and honoring your own well-being? In this conversation, we address those pivotal questions that arise when it feels like time for a change. We explore a set of inquiries and prompts to think about when dec...

Why do we stay silent when we know things aren’t right? How can leaders spark truth-telling in turbulent times? And how can we foster environments that make it feel safer and worthwhile for people to voice opinions or issues? Together we tackle why people don’t speak up more, the often devastating impact of staying quiet, both on ourselves and on others, and what we can do to change that. Shed explains why psychological safety alone isn’t enough. We also need courage, and to know our vo...

How do we build a future of work that moves fast, makes amazing things happen, yet is more humane? One where care, wellbeing, and innovation coexist? In today’s episode, we dive into the often brutal state of workplace culture, how it celebrates pace and drive, but often at the cost of humanity and sustainability, and we talk about how we can continue to move fast and do big things, but also do it in a way that respects the person along the way. Anne offers insights on driving urgency whil...

Have you ever struggled to find the right words when tensions run high? Wanted to stand up for what you believe in but risked fueling the fire? In divided times, how do we speak out thoughtfully, with intelligence, heart and nuance? Today we’re exploring moving through polarizing moments with intention, in this episode we ask, What if there was a way to stand up for what you believe in, while still seeing the humanity in those you disagree with and also stepping into the conversation in a mor...

Have you ever had a lightning bolt of inspiration, only to second-guess yourself when it's time to execute? I'm sure you can relate to staring at a blank page, realizing your brilliant idea feels muddled and unclear. In today's episode of Sparked, we explore why it's so hard to distill multidimensional concepts into singular big ideas. In today’s episode we’re digging into: Why do we resist narrowing down our visions? Is it an unrealistic attachment to complexity or fear that simplicity w...

What if just 15 minutes could make or break your day? We all have habits and routines that seem to last only minutes, yet end up influencing how our entire day unfolds. Those small, seemingly innocuous things we do that unwittingly either prime us for productivity, happiness, and success - or leave us uncentered, unproductive, and adrift. Things like mindless scrolling or other unfulfilling habits first thing in the morning. What if deleting those 15 minutes of distraction allowed you to s...

When was the last time life threw you a major curveball that upended your plans? Can you picture a time when you found yourself blindsided by disruptive events that derailed your goals and left you scrambling to adapt? If so, how did you handle it? Looking back, you wish you’d had the skills to approach it differently? It’s an inevitable part of life, as we’ve been reminded in the past few years. We all face unexpected twists and turns that can leave us feeling anxious, angry, and adrift. ...

We all want to work in places where everyone feels included, valued, embraced, and maybe even celebrated. But, what if good intentions aren't enough to build a truly inclusive culture? We know equity and belonging matter, but systems and people, all too often, seem stuck in paradigms that exclude and, often, cause harm. So how do we implement real change? This episode tackles some of the big inclusion myths that prevent real change - and reveals what it takes to progress. And, today, we’re...

We’ve all seen it and maybe even experienced it, the high pressure workload of starting your own business. The long hours, extreme stress and rollercoaster of highs and lows. Enduring these realities is almost celebrated in the entrepreneurial world and rarely questioned, when in any other setting they would be cause for alarm. So why do entrepreneurs feel such pressure to hide their struggles and not be open about the challenges they are facing? In contrast, what if being a successful entrep...

Morning routines. There is just soooo much mythology around them. Some of it’s true and valuable. But a whole lot of it is also just plain wrong. And, it can lead us to think we have to adopt a certain approach to starting our days that is universally helpful for every person. Life just doesn’t work that way. So, today we’re taking on the topic of morning routines, and there are going to be some big surprises, provocative ideas, and a healthy dose of mythbusting. And, then, we’ll be sharing a...

How do you know if you’re genuinely no longer interested in the work you’re doing and it’s time to do some reimagining, or if you’re actually just burned out and, literally, nothing you do will excite you until you step into a place of renewal? So many of us have felt it - completely depleted, disconnected from work we once loved. The cynicism creeps in, passion fades. You're just going through the motions. Everyday you dread facing responsibilities that used to bring joy. It's painfully c...

Have you ever wanted to express your needs but held back for fear of rocking the boat? Only to finally explode and regret the fallout? How do you stand up for yourself without compromising important relationships, values, or commitments? Navigating the messiness of holding people and systems accountable without damaging relationships can feel impossible.Which is why it’s so important to have tools that empower you to speak up for yourself in a way that strengthens relationships instead of sev...

with Gretchen Rubin

Ever feel like you’ve just outgrown your surroundings, and your environment is actually limiting your growth? Like the desk, room, studio, space that got you here just isn’t working for you any more? Maybe, it’s even working against you? Our workspace has a profound effect on us, our work, and even our wellbeing, relationships, and interactions. It impacts our ability to show up as our best selves, and do our best work. Yet, we rarely ever get genuinely intentional about it. If your surrou...

Have you ever felt like your team could do so much more if you just worked better together? We’ve all been there – stuck in dysfunctional team dynamics, unproductive meetings, and confusion around decision-making. The doubts start to creep in: “Are we even capable of working smoothly together?” “Why does collaboration feel so hard?” When was the last time you joined a new team only to encounter friction, lack of alignment, and difficulties coordinating? Did you start to wonder if you were mea...

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. We've all been there - mired in a project, job or pursuit and wondering "when will this get easier?" The doubts start to creep in: "Am I cut out for this level of effort? Is this pain just part of the process, or a sign it's not right for me? Why does this feel so hard?" When was the last time you embarked on a new project, pursuit or passion only to hit a wall of doubts and difficulties along the way? Did you start to wonder...