Ever feel like you’re supposed to “stay in your lane”? Tara Wilson never gotthe memo.

From corporate consulting to running a unionized mechanicalbusiness in a male-dominated industry, to buying (and rebranding) a women’s fashion and home store just before the pandemic — Tara proves that your second act (and third!) can be as bold as you dare to make it.

In this conversation, Tara shares what it means to trustyour gut, build respect where none is freely given, and embrace opportunity, even when the timing makes no sense on paper.

If you’ve ever felt restless, boxed in, or scared to start again, this episode is your reminder: you can change lanes and still stay on course.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• How to earn respect in male-dominated spaces without losing your authenticity
• Why being the only woman in the room can be your superpower
• The myth of “having it all” — and what balance really looks like
• How to make bold pivots without abandoning stability
• The power of trusting your gut and following what lights you up

Resources & Mentions:

Helen’s Collective — Tara’s women’s fashion and home boutique located in Kingston, Pa.Power Engineering Corporation — The family-run mechanical contracting business Tara helps leadLean In by Sheryl Sandberg — insights for women navigating leadership and visibility

• “You can have it all. Just not all at once.” — Oprah Winfrey
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• Join the Spark Me Community:

  If Tara’s story lit a spark in you, share this episode witha friend who’s craving a new chapter. Follow @sparkmepodcast on Instagram and join our community of women embracing reinvention, gratitude, and courage intheir second act.

  Because your next act might just be your best one.

What if the key to getting more out of life isn’t doing more — it’s slowing down?

In this inspiring episode of Spark Me, Michele and Liz sit down with Kris Holmes, a woman whose life has been defined by love, resilience, and gratitude. From becoming a mom at 18 to building a thriving career and rediscovering herself through yoga and sound healing, Kris shares what happens when you stop saying yes to everything and start saying yes to yourself.

Kris reminds us that even the busiest women can learn to tune out the noise and tune in to themselves. Her story of young love, lifelong partnership, community, and spiritual grounding will leave you exhaling with both gratitude and hope.

If you’ve been running on empty, this episode will remind you how to exhale, recalibrate, and find joy again — without changing a single external thing.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• How slowing down can actually make you more effective, peaceful, and fulfilled
• Why saying yes less — especially in volunteering and community roles — can lead to greater impact and deeper connection
• Why gratitude is a form of power — not passivity
• The power of community: how gathering, giving, and supporting others can spark joy and purpose in every stage of life
• How Kris transformed burnout into balance (and found a new calling in the process)
• Simple mindset shifts to help you reclaim your time and energy
• The secret to sustaining love, career, and self without losing yourself in the process
  

Resources & Mentions:

• Book: Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach — a beautiful daily guide to cultivating gratitude and joy in everyday life.
• Practice: Yoga and sound bowl therapy — the tools Kris uses to help others (and herself) reconnect to calm and clarity.
• Organization: St. Joseph’s Center — a local nonprofit close to Kris’s heart, serving children and adults with developmental needs.
• Inspiration: The Science of Sound Healing — explore how sound frequencies can reduce stress and promote well-being.
• Quote to Live By: “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” — Melody Beattie

Join the Spark Me Community:

If this episode lit something in you, share it with a friend who needs a reminder to slow down and breathe. Follow @sparkmepodcast on Instagram and join our community of women rediscovering joy, purpose, and connection — one spark at a time.

This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele turn the spotlight inward to share the story behind the podcast itself. What began as recurring dinner-table conversations with girlfriends—about kids leaving the nest, shifting careers, caring for aging parents, and craving something more—has become a platform for women in their middle chapters to connect, learn, and grow together.

From balancing family and work to navigating loss and rediscovering creativity, Liz and Michele reveal why they felt called to create a space for honest conversations, practical resources, and community that extends beyond the microphone. Whether you’re reimagining your purpose, seeking inspiration, or simply wanting to know you’re not alone, this episode is your invitation to join the Spark Me community.

• How dinner with girlfriends sparked the idea for the podcast.

• Why midlife is both a season of challenges and opportunities.

• Balancing kids, careers, and caring for aging parents in the “sandwich years.”

• The gift of agency in your 40s, 50s, and beyond.

• Why women are natural networkers—and how community changes everything.

• The show’s vision: honest stories, expert voices, and in-person connections.

• A fresh perspective on the “middle chapters” of life.

• Why now is the perfect time to explore new dreams and possibilities.

• How to lean on friendships and networks as real resources.

• Why regret is wasted energy—and how to live forward instead.

• An invitation to help shape a community built by and for women.

The Spark Me journey started with a simple truth: women’s stories, challenges, and dreams deserve a bigger stage. This episode lays the foundation for what’s ahead—conversations, community, and inspiration designed to help you spark the next chapter with courage, laughter, and possibility.

🌐 Visit sparkmepodcast.com to subscribe for exclusive content and Spark Guides.
📲 Follow us on Instagram @sparkmepodcast to keep the conversation going.

Together, let’s keep sparking joy, curiosity, and connection.