Find Your Spark

By The SPARK Initiative

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Episodes: 268

Description

“FIND YOUR SPARK” is a podcast that uncovers real-life stories about discovering and embracing your SPARK—even in the middle of a busy, messy life. Hosted weekly by Brooke Wheeldon-Reece, President & CEO of The SPARK Initiative, and Chad Hudson, this show brings a fresh and authentic perspective on life, growth, and impact. Each episode features heartfelt conversations as Brooke and Chad explore topics like family, mental health, personal development, running a nonprofit, and the transformative work of The SPARK Initiative. With a mix of honesty, humor, and deep insight, they create a space for meaningful dialogue—capturing the raw, unfiltered experience of being human while navigating life’s challenges and striving to make the world a better place.

Episode Date
268: State of Mind Part 7 - The Voice Behind the Statement
May 19, 2026
267: State of Mind Part 6 - A Moment to Moment Self-Care Mission
May 12, 2026
266: State of Mind Part 5 - It’s a Moment to Moment Shift
May 05, 2026
265: State of Mind Part 4 – What's Love Got to Do With It?
Apr 28, 2026
264: State of Mind Part 3 - State of Mind is EVERYTHING
Apr 21, 2026
263: State of Mind Part 2 - You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup
Apr 14, 2026
262: State of Mind Part 1 - My State of Mind is the MOST Important Thing to ME
Apr 07, 2026
261: Back in Sync - Thought Spirals, Six Seven, and What We’re Leaving Behind
Mar 31, 2026
260: Beyond the Noise - Overcoming Fear and Anxiety
Mar 24, 2026
259: National Red Cross Month
Mar 17, 2026
258: 12 Years In - Lessons in Leadership
Mar 10, 2026
257: When the “What If?” Works Out
Mar 03, 2026
256: Igniting Hope with the Next Generation through their Own Wellbeing & Resilience
Feb 17, 2026
255: Finding Peace from the Inside Out - A Conversation with Prince Jimmar
Feb 10, 2026
254: Resilience Without the Struggle: A Conversation with Rob Cook
Feb 03, 2026
253: The Simple Truth About Wellbeing & Resilience: Are We Overthinking It?
Jan 27, 2026
252: Around the Table - Our Hope for 2026
Jan 20, 2026
251: Your Guide to the National Wellbeing & Resilience Summit
Jan 13, 2026
Episode 250: A Passion for Learning: Education, Resilience, and the New Year
Jan 06, 2026
249: An End-of-Year Farewell to Mari
Dec 16, 2025
248: A Decade at SPARK - Ashley's Impact Story
Dec 09, 2025
247: From Giving to Growing - The Heart Behind SPARK's Work Right Now
Dec 02, 2025
246: Reflections & Gratitude - What Dreamforce Inspired in Us
Nov 18, 2025
245: Role Models
Nov 11, 2025
244: The Heart of Adoption, Love, Choice & Connection
Nov 04, 2025
243: Igniting Purpose - Nonprofit Work Matters
Oct 28, 2025
242: Brooke Turns the Mic on Chad
Oct 21, 2025
241: Chad Turns the Mic on Brooke
Oct 14, 2025
240: The Next Chapter - Find Your SPARK with Brooke & Chad
Oct 07, 2025
239: Celebrating 9 Years at SPARK
Sep 30, 2025
238: Recovery’s Quiet Light - Returning to Who You Are
Sep 23, 2025
237: Anxiety & Codependency
Sep 16, 2025
236: Suicide - What Awareness has to do with Prevention
Sep 09, 2025
235: Remembering What We're Born With
Aug 12, 2025
234: Awareness Uncovered - Training Reflections
Aug 05, 2025
233: Curious Sneeze?!
Jul 22, 2025
232: The SPARK Within - How Intuition Helped Me Quit Drinking
Jul 15, 2025
231: Should I Text First?
Jul 08, 2025
230: The Big Impact of Small Insights
Jul 01, 2025
229: Living in the Moment
Jun 24, 2025
228: You Don't Have to Feel Ready to Begin
Jun 17, 2025
227: A Stroke of Insight - Stephanie’s Story of Unexpected Change and Resilience
Jun 10, 2025
226: What We Focus On Grows
May 27, 2025
225: When Healing Finds You
May 20, 2025
224: Just Ask - The Power of One Question
May 13, 2025
223: The Grocery Store Breakdown
May 06, 2025
222: The Power of Being Open
Apr 22, 2025
221: Stepping Out of Reaction and Into Awareness - Navigating a Low State of Mind
Apr 15, 2025
220: April is Second Chance Month
Apr 08, 2025
219: Reflections on One Year at SPARK
Apr 01, 2025
218: Navigating Separate Realities
Mar 25, 2025
217: Reflections on Human Capabilities in an AI World
Mar 11, 2025
216: Your SPARK is Speaking - The Hidden Messages in Everyday Moments
Mar 04, 2025
215: Recognizing Your Role
Feb 25, 2025
214: It's Just Thought
Feb 04, 2025
213: The Best is Yet to Come in 2025
Jan 28, 2025
212: Every Experience is an Opportunity
Jan 21, 2025
211: The Fear, Exhilaration and Wonder in Trusting your SPARK
Jan 14, 2025
210: Leap into Your SPARK!
Jan 07, 2025
209: Serving Institutionalized Youth
Dec 17, 2024
208: In the Midst of Middle Schools
Dec 10, 2024
207: What 'Giving Tuesday' is All About
Dec 03, 2024
206: All of the Things to be Thankful for
Nov 26, 2024
205: Rebels for Peace – Experiencing their SPARK
Nov 12, 2024
204: In the Eye of the Hurricane - Lessons Milton Left Behind
Nov 05, 2024
203: How our Creativity can Shine
Sep 24, 2024
202: Every Exchange is an Opportunity to Change the World
Sep 10, 2024
201: Oh but Darling, What if you Fly?
Sep 03, 2024
200: Celebrating 200 Episodes!
Aug 27, 2024
199: Breaking the Mold - Embracing Your True Self Beyond Societal Expectations
Aug 20, 2024
198: What If It All Works Out?
Aug 13, 2024
197: "Mom, You are Gonna get Cooked!"
Aug 06, 2024
196: Supporting Public Education
Jul 30, 2024
195: Possibilities are Infinite
Jul 23, 2024
194: Breaking the Thought Chain in Caesars Palace
Jul 16, 2024
193: The Power of Free Thought - Unlocking Freedom of Mind
Jul 09, 2024
192: The Power of "No"
Jul 02, 2024
191: The MEN-tors of our Future – Honoring Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month
Jun 25, 2024
190: Combating the Stigma Surrounding Men's Mental Health
Jun 18, 2024
189: Creating a Ripple Effect of Hope - The Spark Initiative Announces it's Inaugural Wellbeing & Resilience Conference
Jun 11, 2024
188: Athlete Identity and Beyond!
Jun 04, 2024
187: The Tools Every Teacher Needs - A Guide Beyond the Classroom
May 28, 2024
186: What the Body Tells You When the Mind is Too Busy to Notice
May 21, 2024
185: SPARKING Resilience and Restoring Hope
May 14, 2024
Just Because You Say It, Doesn't Mean It's True
May 07, 2024
183: Celebrating National Volunteer Month During United Way's Week of Caring
Apr 30, 2024
182: Math & Sports - The Untold Chemistry
Apr 23, 2024
181: Awareness: The Hidden Key to Settling Stress
Apr 16, 2024
180: ‘We’re All In This Together’
Apr 09, 2024
179: ‘I’ve Never Been Happier’: Reflections from a Teenager
Apr 02, 2024
178 :The Beauty of Access
Mar 26, 2024
177: What it Means to Just Be You
Mar 12, 2024
176: Exploring Our Values: No One Is Broken
Mar 05, 2024
175:Sharing the Secret of Self-Esteem and Confidence
Feb 23, 2024
#174: Exploring Our Values: Love Wins
Feb 16, 2024
#173: Feeling The Feels With Jena, Nicole and A.J.
Jan 23, 2024
#172 Year End Reflections From The SPARK Team
Dec 18, 2023
#171 Insight To Well Being with Jordan Brimlow, Jena Travise and Mari Latham
Dec 05, 2023
#170 Find Your SPARK...LIVE!
Oct 03, 2023
169 Autism Rocks & Rolls with Sam Mitchell
Aug 25, 2023
#168 SPARKING Change With Intern Angie
Aug 11, 2023
167: Michelle's Insights to Well-being During and After Jail
Aug 03, 2023
166: Chad's Story - All the Paths that Led to SPARK
Jun 22, 2023
165: Mari's Story - All the Paths that Led to SPARK
Jun 08, 2023
164: One Year After the Attack, Gabriella Speaks
May 18, 2023
163: SPARK's Story - All the Paths that Led to What SPARK is Today
May 03, 2023
#162: Jena's Story - All the Paths that Led to SPARK
Apr 20, 2023
161: Nicole's Story - All the Paths that Led to SPARK
Apr 13, 2023
160: Stephanie's Story - All the Paths that Led to SPARK
Apr 06, 2023
159: Ashley's Story- All the paths that led to SPARK
Mar 23, 2023
158: Sparking Internal Motivation
Mar 16, 2023
Strength in Solitude
Mar 09, 2023
The Day I Became a Gazelle
Mar 03, 2023
155: Recovery and Beyond
Feb 10, 2023
154: In 2023: It All Works Out for Me!
Jan 27, 2023
153: Feeling MLK: Stephanie Reflects on her Visit to the National Civil Rights Museum
Jan 20, 2023
152: Reflecting on 2022
Dec 30, 2022
151: Rebels for Peace: Giving Hope for Our Youth
Dec 15, 2022
150: No Solution to a Feeling
Dec 07, 2022
149: Learning to Listen to Myself: What Tampa Taught Me This Year
Nov 30, 2022
148:It's My Party & I’ll Cry if I Want to! 
Nov 15, 2022
147:  Forget the Elephant, Anxiety is in the Room! 
Nov 02, 2022
146: Igniting the SPARK with Selah Freedom Survivors
Oct 14, 2022
145: SPARKING Change Experiences & How You Can Help
Oct 05, 2022
144: New Challenges, New Thinking
Sep 22, 2022
143:Speaking to the Truth of the Mind around Suicide
Sep 08, 2022
142: Kids Back to School: Riding the Waves of Emotions
Aug 31, 2022
141:Welcome, Tara Phillips, Educator Extraordinaire! 
Aug 25, 2022
140: Eavesdropping on the Internal Dialogue: Who is Actually Talking? 
Aug 11, 2022
139: Catching a Glimpse of our Youthful SPARK
Jul 21, 2022
138: Exploring The Art Spirit by Robert Henri
Jul 07, 2022
137: New SPARK Intern Andres Medina Dropping Truth Bombs
Jun 16, 2022
136: Brookes Broken Heart Breaks Silence
Jun 02, 2022
135:Welcoming SPARK's Newest Team Members!
May 24, 2022
Remembering Our Own Mental Health
May 12, 2022
133:What if there's Cake?
May 05, 2022
132: What If Everything Wasn't Personal?
Apr 28, 2022
131: When Our Imagination Takes Us for a Crazy Ride!
Apr 21, 2022
130: Inmate Insights to Well-Being
Apr 05, 2022
129: Remembering Everyone has a SPARK
Mar 31, 2022
128: Changing the World by Changing the Room You're In
Mar 21, 2022
127: Finding a Nurturing SPACE Within
Mar 15, 2022
126: Finding Comfort in Uncomfortable Situations
Mar 09, 2022
125: Mental Health Matters for Adults Too!
Mar 03, 2022
124: Filling Your Cup with Yellow Skittles!
Feb 17, 2022
123:Celebrating Black History Month and Beyond!
Feb 10, 2022
122: Momentum - Reflections on Getting the Train to Leave the Station
Feb 03, 2022
121:We are Never Alone in Our Feelings
Jan 27, 2022
120: Reflecting on 2021
Jan 07, 2022
119:The Motivation Trap
Nov 18, 2021
118: Your SPARK Shines When Serving Others
Nov 10, 2021
117: When Thought Settles Down, So Do You!
Nov 04, 2021
116: No Such Thing as "Not Creative"
Oct 27, 2021
115: You Attract More Bees With Honey
Oct 21, 2021
114: The Power of Thought – Facing your Fears
Oct 14, 2021
113:Peaceful Chaos
Oct 07, 2021
112: Speaking to the Health Inside the Hurt
Oct 01, 2021
111: Seeing the Innocence in Suicide
Sep 23, 2021
110: SPARKING Light around Suicide Awareness
Sep 09, 2021
109: My Son Betrayed Me... and That's Okay
Sep 01, 2021
108: SPARKING Insights to Well-Being
Aug 25, 2021
107: Nothing is as Bad as the Mind Can Make It -Lessons Learned at 12,000 Feet
Aug 19, 2021
106: The Healing Power of Presence
Aug 12, 2021
105: SPARKING Change through IGNITE
Aug 05, 2021
104: From Pressure to Flexibility, My Timeline of Life
Jul 29, 2021
103: Dealing with Conflict - The Importance of Speaking One’s Truth
Jul 22, 2021
103: Dealing with Conflict - The Importance of Speaking One’s Truth
Jul 22, 2021
102: The Power of Hope & Unseen Forces
Jul 14, 2021
101: Invisible, Limiting Thoughts
Jul 01, 2021
100: Insights from the Land Down Under: A SPARK teacher in Australia shares her experience
Jun 24, 2021
99: Alzheimer’s, Love and Being Fully Human
Jun 16, 2021
98: Navigating Through Anxiety - A Teen's Perspective
Jun 10, 2021
94: Disrupting Education with Love and Connection
Jun 04, 2021
97: Taking the Disorder Out of PTSD
Jun 03, 2021
96: Being You is all You Need
May 27, 2021
95: Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month
May 13, 2021
93: Taking the Judgement out of being a Judge
Apr 29, 2021
92:Insights form the Inside: Working with Youth in Detention Centers
Apr 22, 2021
91: Help! I’m Embarrassed by my Quarantine Body!
Apr 08, 2021
90: Fun and Play in Work and Life
Apr 01, 2021
89: Making Sour Soup
Mar 25, 2021
88: Joining Forces with Aligning Missions
Mar 18, 2021
87:Igniting The SPARK Within
Mar 11, 2021
86: Confidence Uncovered
Mar 04, 2021
85: Join Us for SEL Day and Help Us Reach Millions of Kids!
Feb 18, 2021
84: Getting Some Distance From Our Fears
Feb 11, 2021
83: When your SPARK and your Responsibilities collide
Feb 04, 2021
82:Seeing Habits in a Different Way
Jan 28, 2021
Uncover Resilience, Change the World
Jan 13, 2021
80: Our Hopes for 2021
Jan 07, 2021
79: Meaning Behind the Disney Pixar Movie Soul: Find Your SPARK
Dec 30, 2020
78: Reflecting on 2020
Dec 10, 2020
77: Stephanie has a mouse in her house! Will she have to move? – Part 1
Dec 03, 2020
76: SPARK Community - Now vs. Then
Nov 19, 2020
75: Lighting Sparks with the Boys and Girls Club
Nov 12, 2020
74: Stephanie’s Letter to her “Unwell” Self
Nov 05, 2020
73: Michael Neill's "Might Help, Can’t Hurt!" Ep28 - Educating Hearts and Minds
Oct 15, 2020
72: Where Happiness Truly Comes From
Oct 08, 2020
71: How You Know When You are Living From Your Spark
Oct 01, 2020
70: The Real Reason Kids are Always Asking WHY - and why we should be answering them.
Sep 24, 2020
69: Finding Peace with my Inner Critic
Sep 17, 2020
68: Insight from the Unexpected! - A Training Experience with the Rebels for Peace Members
Sep 10, 2020
67: Sharing the SPARK with Sex Trafficking Survivors
Sep 03, 2020
66:The Difference Between Looking At The World Divided & Looking At The World Inside You
Aug 27, 2020
65: Appreciating What We Know Now As Parents
Aug 20, 2020
65: Appreciating What We Know Now As Parents
Aug 20, 2020
64: Discovering the Motivation Inside You!
Aug 13, 2020
63:Sending your Kids Back to School During COVID? Who is Right and Who is Wrong?
Aug 06, 2020
62: So Simple, So Helpful!
Jul 30, 2020
61: Feeling Left Out
Jul 22, 2020
60:The Obstacle of Thought
Jul 14, 2020
59: The Relief of Recognizing Resentment
Jul 09, 2020
58: Appreciating the Diversity Among Us
Jun 18, 2020
57: Insights & Connecting from Around the World
Jun 11, 2020
56: Why Connection, Understanding & Love is Always the Answer
Jun 05, 2020
55: Adapting to a New Type of Normal
May 29, 2020
54: What Does Coronavirus Mean for Children Going Back to School?
May 22, 2020
53: A Curious Announcement
May 14, 2020
52: The Curious Evolution
May 07, 2020
51: Coronavirus: The Expectation Tunnel of Doom
Apr 30, 2020
50: Parenting Series: Part Four with Rohini Ross and Jayda Reece
Apr 09, 2020
49: Parenting Series Part Three: Parenting During COVID-19
Mar 26, 2020
48: Parenting Series Part Two with Cathy Casey and Jayda Reece
Mar 13, 2020
47: Parenting Series Part One: Dicken Bettinger & Jayda Reece
Mar 06, 2020
45: Mom Guilt
Feb 20, 2020
44: Respecting and Understanding Difference in Cultures
Feb 13, 2020
43: Why it's Never Your Job to Save Others
Feb 06, 2020
42: Insights from Inside Jail
Dec 13, 2019
41: Calling All People Pleasers and Control Freaks
Oct 17, 2019
40: Parenting Through a New Lens: Part One with Jayda & Dicken Bettinger
Sep 05, 2019
39: The Angst of a New School Year
Aug 15, 2019
38: Looking Past Guilt to Find the Answer
Aug 09, 2019
37: Can it Really be that Simple?
Jul 18, 2019
36: It's Not Broken so Stop Trying to Fix It!
Jul 05, 2019
35: When You Realize Who YOU Truly Are: A healing conversation between a mother & daughter
Jun 21, 2019
34: The TRUE Value of a Dollar
Jun 14, 2019
33: School's Out for Summer! Reflection & Research Findings with Jena Travise
Jun 07, 2019
32: Growing Up Knowing You Have a SPARK from a Teen's Perspective with Jayda Reece
May 31, 2019
31: Finding the SPARK Beyond Trauma Part Two
May 23, 2019
30: Finding the SPARK Beyond Trauma: Part One
May 10, 2019
29: What Twelve Weeks in Jail Taught Us
Apr 26, 2019
What it Really Means to See the SPARK in Others
Apr 19, 2019
27:The Power of Remaining Neutral
Apr 12, 2019
26: When Anxiety and Testing Collide
Apr 05, 2019
25: Updates and Insights from our SPARK Classes
Mar 22, 2019
24: Why There is Always a Place for Neutrality in Conflict
Mar 15, 2019
23: Understanding Moods
Mar 08, 2019
22: Taking the Weight out of Weight Loss
Feb 15, 2019
21: Looking for the SPARK within Youth
Feb 08, 2019
20: What a Homeless Man on a Park Bench in Central Park Taught Me
Jan 25, 2019
19:Recovery from Within
Jan 18, 2019
Episode 18: Does Time Really Heal All?
Jan 11, 2019
17: Importance of Connection and State of Mind from a Teacher's Perspective
Jan 04, 2019
15: What Our Student Taught Us in 2018 with Nicole Wilson and Jena Travise
Dec 21, 2018
14: Trusting Your SPARK while Parenting with John El-Mokadem
Dec 14, 2018
13: Helping Your Kids Succeed in School with Ivana Culham
Dec 06, 2018
12: Why Less is More
Nov 15, 2018
11: Whats the Answer when Social Media & Bullying Collide (a sneak peek into one of our staff meetings)
Nov 08, 2018
10: A Lesson in Trusting Yourself with Jena Travise
Oct 25, 2018
09: Stop, Collaborate and Listen!
Oct 19, 2018
08: Seeing Innate Resilience with Your Children with Karen Dimarco
Oct 11, 2018
07: What Has Seeing your SPARK Done for you with Jena Travise
Oct 04, 2018
06: How Depression Transformed Our Relationship with Will Reece Part 2
Sep 27, 2018
05: How Depression Transformed Our Relationship-with Will Reece
Sep 21, 2018
04: When Laundry Goes from Enemy to Frenemy with Nicole Wilson
Sep 13, 2018
03: Decisions...One Step at a Time
Sep 06, 2018
02: When Your SPARK Seems Hard to Find
Aug 29, 2018
01: Welcome to Find Your Spark - The Podcast from Brooke & Ashley
Aug 29, 2018