Episodes

Listen to part one here. Change is in the air, and it’s making many of us recoil. But, why? And, what can we do to change how we respond to change? To turn it from something we fear into something we embrace, maybe even seek out. Because the other side holds so much potential and possibility, once we’ve learned how to move through it with so much more grace and ease. That’s the conversation we began in last week’s Part 1 of this powerful conversation about change with the author of FLUX, and ...

Change. Just the word makes so many people anxious. But why? Why do so many of us experience change, and even the thought of it, as something negative to be feared and resisted, rather than something positive to be met with hope and excitement, and embraced? That’s the question we’re diving into today with author of the fascinating new book, FLUX, April Rinne. April has studied how cultures worldwide approach change for decades now, and she's found we're all grappling with the same questions ...

Have you ever looked at someone else, someone you admire, who’s maybe accomplished a lot, and just assumed they must be wildly confident and always winning at everything? You’re not alone. But, the truth, it turns out, is much more complex. So many of those luminaries are not, in fact wildly, or even remotely confident. And if they are, they go through cycles of profound change, self-doubt, struggle and, when they learn to harness these experiences, revelation and even reinvention. In toda...

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. Have you ever felt burned out in work that, at least on paper, seemed so well aligned with your values, passions, interests, skills and Sparketype that, in your mind, you just “shouldn’t” feel this way? Even though you care deeply about what you do, if like so many, you’re feeling so depleted in your work that quitting seems like the only option, you’re not alone. In today’s Sparked episode, our advice seeker, Danielle, a phy...

So, what if the single-minded pursuit of a career that made you feel everything important to you wasn't actually the key to feeling fulfilled? What if, in fact, we sometimes put too many good life eggs into the work basket, ignoring the amazing possibilities available to us to find what we need and feel how we want to feel not just from work, but from a whole host of other experiences, interactions and relationships? In this week’s SPARKED Hot Take episode, we take on the assumption that work...

Have you ever felt yourself spiraling into a sea of unending tasks, where even the simplest work feels like climbing Mount Everest and your once cherished projects now leave you numb? You may wonder if you've lost the spark that drove you or simply lost your way. The truth is, you could be experiencing a state that plagues so many of us today: burnout. I know the crushing weight of burnout all too well. There have been days where I've found myself trapped in a cycle of responsibilities wit...

How might you rethink the bargain you've made with work in light of life's recent shifts? As the ground continues to shift beneath our feet, are you wondering if the meaning you once found in your work still holds true? That’s where we’re headed in today’s Sparked podcast, with our guest, bestselling author Bruce Feiler. In today’s conversation, Bruce reveals how mining our personal narratives can uncover clues about the work stories we're longing to tell. He invites us to question what we've b...

Is it only me, or do you feel like your work and life are pretty strongly affected by seasonal changes? Sometimes in a good way that lets you go deep and get focused, creative and productive. But, sometimes, it’s the exact opposite. Everything slows down and feels like a heavier lift. Well, what if, instead of fighting these natural and biological rhythms, we learned to roll with, and maybe even harness them instead? Have you ever wondered why periods of reduced productivity feel so frustrating...

There are some people you click with instantly at work—your collaboration is effortless, productive and enjoyable. But with others, it seems impossible; misunderstandings and friction mar every interaction. What if there was a way to work with almost anyone—easily, effortlessly and in a way that brings out the very best in both of you - even those you’ve struggled with in the past? My guest today, Michael Bungay Stanier believes we can. In this episode, I speak with Michael about his power...

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. How do you know when it’s time to stop exploring, commit to one or two things, narrow your focus and build? Is that the right path for everyone? And, more importantly, whose voice is in your head when you are making the call? These are some of the key topics we dive into today, as we explore a story and question submitted by SPARKED listener, Angie, a young entrepreneur struggling to find her ideal career. Angie left her nonp...

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. So, how do you handle the dance between wanting lead with your creative or artistic side, and earning a grown-up worthy living? In the past few years, we’ve all been through a lot of upheaval. At the same time, this moment has reawakened a burning desire to pursue creative passions. It’s a recipe for big life transition and potentially transformation. And that is certainly the case for our advice seeker today, Helen, who asks ...

Are you struggling to find work that nourishes your soul - yet still provides stability? Do you feel like you’re dancing between security and soulfulness in your day to day responsibilities? You're not alone. In fact that is the question presented to us today by listener, Elena. Elena, has been a senior office manager for years, and is facing this challenge as she longs for more meaningful work aligned with her performer and maven sparketypes. Yet she also needs the financial security of her cu...

We’ve all heard the phrase, “don’t escalate things.” Especially, in the context of work. But, what if there were moments when escalation, done in the right way and with the right intention, was actually the right move? Are there situations when staying silent, or refusing to push an issue further, actually makes a difficult work circumstance worse? That’s where we’re headed in today’s SPARKED Hot Take episode, where we look at hot topics in conversation with expert guides from the SPARKED Brai...

Have you ever struggled with a problem or decision where the solution seemed impossible to see, yet obvious once someone pointed it out? You start kicking yourself for not seeing something that now appears so simple and clear. You're not alone. Nearly everyone has moments where we get stuck, limit our solutions and can't "read the label from inside the jar." How do we gain clarity on our own situations and start making better decisions? In today’s episode, Charlie and I discuss the unconscious ...

We’re often told, the only way to succeed in work - and, in no small part - in life, is to pick one or two things, focus intensively, go all in, and say no to anything that distracts you from that path. But, is it true? Is that really the only way to be both happy and successful? Or, is there a place for a multi-passionate, diversified “portfolio of pursuits” approach to career-building that can lead not just to never having FOMO, but also to joy, meaning, and success? Turns out, the answer to...

You’ve heard about it everywhere - AI, ChatGPT. But what does AI have to do, if anything, with how you live and work and play? With the choices you get to make, and the choices that might be taken from you? With the ability to do more of what you love and less of everything else? Especially in the context of work? These are just some of the big questions and ideas I’m exploring with none other than truly visionary thinker, Kevin Kelly. Kevin has played a pivotal role in shaping the discourse ar...

Do you feel like you're constantly sacrificing your own well-being for the sake of your patients or clients? Do you struggle with burnout and feel like you have to leave your job to take care of yourself? Do you feel isolated and guilty when you try to advocate for your own well-being? You’re not alone, and as Yvonne proposes, there is another way. A deep irony about those in caring and helping professions is that often they care so much about their clients, patients and mission, the person t...

There’s this myth in the world of business that, if you’re tough enough, practiced enough, and motivated enough, you can push hard, 24-7, for months, quarters, years even and endure all manner of obstacles, stressors, adversity, circumstances and cycles without the need to ease off, step back, recover and refuel along the way. That capacity, we’re told, is somewhere between the expectation and the aspiration. It’s where the magic happens, the big triumphs, the legendary careers. Except, it’s no...

Have you ever felt like you're on a hamster wheel, constantly running, but not getting anywhere? It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of life and business, losing sight of the bigger picture. But what if you could hit pause and take a moment to reflect on the past year and plan for the future? In this Sparked Hot Take episode, Sparked Braintrust mentor, Jadah Sellner, and I explore a powerful practice, built around an annual family retreat that integrates personal and business go...

Ever notice how, the moment you step into a new level of accomplishment and visioning, it’s amazing, but it almost always comes along with a success-sized helping of struggle, fear and uncertainty that leads to suffering? Our guest today, Laura Gassner Otting calls this, "wonderhell,” that moment where you’re both celebrating and simultaneously grappling with the burden of your potential to do more, be more, achieve more. It’s both wonderful, and it’s hell. According to Laura, "Wonderhell" is a...

Are you unknowingly harnessing the power of anxiety to drive your success? In today's fast-paced, high-pressure world, it's no secret that anxiety is on the rise. But what if we told you that anxiety could be the key to unlocking your true potential? Welcome to our podcast, where we dive into the world of anxious achievers, and explore how mental health plays a crucial role in the success of leaders everywhere. In this riveting episode, we will uncover the fascinating relationship between anxie...

Are you tired of the 9-to-5 grind? Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a fulfilling and sustainable portfolio career? In today's SPARKED Hot Take episode, we’re back with Joy Batra for part two of our fascinating conversation on community building as a freelancer and how to approach a portfolio or freelance career as a whole. If you missed the first part of our conversation with Joy, I encourage you to scroll back and listen as she shares a concept she calls ‘portfolios of community’ ...

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. Have you ever found yourself stuck in the endless cycle of indecision, unable to make a choice, and constantly seeking input from others? What if we told you that the key to making better decisions lies within you, and that decision by committee may not be the best approach? In this episode of SPARKED, we dive deep into the art of decision-making and explore the different types of decision-makers out there. From "mavens" who se...

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here. Question - when it comes to work, do you really care about being more productive, or is the real goal to get all the important stuff done, but in a way that actually gives you back more free time to do the things, in both work and life, that you’re genuinely passionate about and excited to do? Because, they’re not the same. Sometimes, we talk about productivity as if it’s the end-goal. It’s not. The real goal is what it gives...