エピソード

  • 284: Architects of Peace - A Conversation for International Day of Peace

    284: Architects of Peace - A Conversation for International Day of Peace
    2026/09/22
    In honor of the International Day of Peace, Stephanie Fox sits down with longtime friend and colleague Mara Gleason Olson for a conversation about what peace actually requires, starting from the inside out. Mara is the co-founder of One Solution, where Stephanie served as Middle East Director, and together their teams worked with young people in Gaza and, through Rebels for Peace, on Chicago's South Side, showing that inner peace isn't a luxury for the comfortable, but a survival skill for anyone living amid violence and uncertainty. They share stories from the ground in Gaza, talk about teens choosing de-escalation over self-defense in life-or-death moments, and explore this year's theme, "Everyday Architects of Peace," the idea that lasting change doesn't start at a negotiating table, but in the quiet, internal shift that happens when one person decides to build from a place of peace instead of fear. It's an honest, hopeful conversation about grief, resilience, and why the world may be closer to a tipping point than it feels.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    40 分
  • 283: Moving Through The Lows With Grace - Suicide Awareness & Prevention Month

    283: Moving Through The Lows With Grace - Suicide Awareness & Prevention Month
    2026/09/15
    In this episode of Find Your SPARK, Brooke & Nicole sit down for a conversation in honor of the loved ones they've each lost to suicide. Recorded in their memory, this episode shares the message Nicole and Brooke bring to the people SPARK serves every day: understanding the nature of thought can change how we move through our lowest moments. Sometimes we think of a low mood as a trap with no way out. But if our minds can shift from a good mood to a low one, that same capacity for change works in reverse. When we recognize the feeling we're in for what it is, simply a passing state of mind rather than the truth of our circumstances, we open the door to a new experience. That understanding does not erase pain, but it does offer something people may not feel they have in a low moment: options. Giving ourselves grace starts feeling like a choice we are free to make. This conversation is for anyone who has struggled, anyone who has lost someone, and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of how the mind works when things feel hardest. Our hope is that it offers a measure of comfort, and a reminder that things can look different in any moment. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text, 24/7.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    33 分
  • 282: World Suicide Prevention Day

    282: World Suicide Prevention Day
    2026/09/08
    This week, in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th) and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Chad joins us for an honest, unfiltered conversation about mental health and stigma. Together we explore how stigma keeps people from asking for help, what it really means to check in on someone, and how each of us can help uncover a sense of hope and wellbeing in the people around us. This episode is a reminder that these conversations save lives, and that starting them takes courage, not certainty. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone, and help is available: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741 You matter. Your story matters. And this conversation is for you.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    15 分
  • 281: Let's Talk Burnout

    281: Let's Talk Burnout
    2026/09/01
    Burnout awareness is having a moment, with schools and organizations across the country finally giving it the attention it deserves. In this episode, Chad sits down with Makayla Wheeldon to unpack what burnout really means, where it comes from, and why it shows up in so many forms, mentally, physically, and emotionally. The conversation turns to the helping professions closest to SPARK's work, especially education. Chad and Makayla talk about the fast-paced world we live in, the expectations placed on us, and how clearly that pressure shows up for educators and social workers. These are roles where people take their work home with them, and the toll adds up. Burnout is real, it deserves recognition, and sometimes the most important thing we can do is slow down.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    24 分
  • 280: The Value of Mentorship

    280: The Value of Mentorship
    2026/08/25
    In this episode, hosts Brooke and Chad sit down to talk about what mentorship really means to them and why it matters so much, both in life and in their work with SPARK. They dig into the different forms a mentor can take: a teacher, a boss, an older sibling, or someone who never fits neatly into any of those categories at all. Sometimes the most influential mentors show up in the most unlikely places. Brooke and Chad share who their own biggest mentors have been and how those relationships shaped the people they are today. They talk about how mentors move in and out of our lives at different stages, showing up exactly when we need guidance and stepping back once we've found our footing. A good mentor doesn't hand you the answers. Instead, they point you in the right direction and help you realize the confidence and strength that was already inside you. The conversation also turns local, with Brooke and Chad reflecting on SPARK Mentoring Programs and what it looks like to be a mentor in this community every day. At the heart of it all is presence: showing up, staying connected, and letting someone know they're not navigating things alone. Tune in for an honest, heartfelt conversation about the people who guide us, and how each of us has the power to do the same for someone else.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    25 分
  • 279: Celebrating the Leo Season!

    279: Celebrating the Leo Season!
    2026/08/18
    This week, we're doing something a little different and a lot more personal. Brooke and Nicole are celebrating their August birthdays in true Leo fashion. In this episode, the two co-hosts reflect on what it means to be born in the sign of the lion: natural leaders, fiercely loyal, endlessly passionate about the people they serve and an almost stubborn refusal to give up on those they believe in. But no birthday is complete without a little reflection. This conversation goes somewhere real - Brooke and Nicole open up about how much they've each grown professionally and personally since starting at SPARK in their younger years. They each share something they would share with their younger selves - the advice they needed before they had the words for it, and the kind of love that comes from living it. Whether you're a fellow Leo, a late-summer birthday twin, or just someone who loves watching people grow into who they were always meant to be - this one's for you.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    43 分
  • 278: National Non-Profit Day

    278: National Non-Profit Day
    2026/08/11
    In honor of National Non-Profit Day on August 17, Chad sits down with special guest Nicole Wilson, SPARK's Special Initiatives Manager, for a conversation about the heart behind nonprofit work. Nicole has been with SPARK for a decade, spending those years leading community initiatives and gaining a firsthand understanding of what it takes to serve others well. Together, Chad and Nicole dig into why nonprofit work deserves recognition, from the everyday dedication behind the scenes to the lasting impact felt by the communities SPARK serves. It's a heartfelt look at what keeps people committed to this work year after year, and why days like this one matter. Whether you're part of the nonprofit world yourself or simply curious about what drives it, this episode offers a genuine, insider perspective worth hearing. Want to be part of the impact? Support The SPARK Initiative today: https://www.thesparkinitiative.com/ways-to-give
    続きを読む 一部表示
    23 分
  • 277: International Youth Day

    277: International Youth Day
    2026/08/04
    In this episode, Shawn hands over the mic for a rapid-fire Q&A with Carter Reece, one of Brooke's kiddos, age 14. Rather than the usual format, Shawn lets Carter take the floor, asking him about the issues he sees today, the struggles young people face, and opinions he doesn't often get asked to share. It's a rare chance to hear directly from a young voice on topics that shape his generation. Educators, social workers, program directors, community advocates, and those working in systems of care will come away with a fresh, honest look at how a young man is thinking through the world around him.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    9 分