I’m joined by Laura Gassner Otting. As an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who helped innovate AmeriCorps in the Clinton White House, she's intimately familiar with the psychological terrain one must navigate when shedding an old identity to birth the next evolution. Her new book "Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life" provides a roadmap for this journey.

***

And before we dive in, a quick note on the state of the show. 

So we have been in a season of reimagining here at Spark HQ, taking a look at what we're doing and why, how we're serving, and how best to keep serving you in the future. And as we do that, we've decided to take some time and place the show on hiatus while we deepen into new ideas and formats and ways to keep sharing the awakened work-life love. So this will be the final episode as we head into a quieter season of incubation and reimagining. We appreciate you coming along for the ride with us, and really look forward to being back with new ways to share new ideas. 

***

Find: Laura Gassner Otting  Website | Books

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast & the Sparketype® Assessment

Read Jonathan’s Awake at the Wheel Newsletter

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Today, we're cracking open the door to a more joyful, fulfilling work experience. One where you can bring your whole, vibrant self without compromise. Where creativity and camaraderie flourish. And the very notion of "work" gets reimagined as a soulful pursuit to be savored.

My guest today is Bree Groff, a trailblazing advisor pioneering new ways of working at the intersection of leadership and life. Bree has partnered with industry titans to transform organizational cultures.

In her book "Today Was Fun: An Antidote to Humdrum Work Days," Bree maps out 7 liberating rules to reclaim the joy and magic of work. Drawing from years of consulting mastery and hard-won personal insights, she'll illuminate a path to more harmonious, human-centered workplaces and lives.

Find: Bree Groff  Website | Book

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Today, we're turning our attention to the concept of sustainable ambition. We'll explore a fresh perspective that liberates ambition from its narrow professional confines and redefines it as a fluid force that ebbs and flows across all domains of life. Get ready to shed the toxic notion that ambition requires endless striving and embrace a more balanced "middle way."

My guest today is Kathy Oneto, an executive and life-work coach, speaker, facilitator and strategy executive whose mission is to help organizations and individuals live and work differently for greater success and satisfaction. She is the founder of Sustainable Ambition®, host of the Sustainable Ambition podcast, and author of the forthcoming book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work.

Find: Kathy Oneto | Website | LinkedIn | Book

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Imagine a world where you can thrive without feeling endlessly drained, where purpose and joy intertwine in beautiful harmony. Today, we're embarking on a profound exploration of burnout - its insidious roots, its soul-sapping consequences, and most importantly, how to reclaim your fire.

My guest is Daisy Auger-Domínguez, a trailblazing executive dedicated to building vibrant, supportive cultures. With decades driving transformation at powerhouses like Google and Disney, Daisy is known for innovative solutions to burnout, uncertainty, and fostering high-trust teams.

In her book "Burnt Out to Lit Up," Daisy maps the path from depletion to aliveness. Through storytelling and hard-won wisdom, she'll illuminate your journey from burnout's ashes to a life and career that sets your soul ablaze.

Find: Daisy Auger-Domínguez | Website

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Today, we're going to explore a more forgiving approach - one that allows you to experiment and gather critical data before going all-in.

Imagine if you could "date" a potential pursuit, getting to know it intimately, before deciding whether to take that next step. What if the weight of having to definitively choose was lifted, allowing a sense of playfulness and curiosity to guide your exploration?

My partner in conversation today is Charlie Gilkey, a strategic advisor, executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing and Team Habits. Charlie brings a wealth of wisdom for trying on new identities through low-risk projects and experiments.

Find Charlie Gilkey | Website

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

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Imagine a world where you can effortlessly align your workflow with your brain’s natural rhythms, optimizing focus, creativity, and overall performance. Dr. Storoni exposes the flaws of the traditional 9-5 workday, shedding light on how our industrial-era approach to work actively undermines our cognitive abilities.

But fear not, for she offers a transformative framework to redesign your workday around your brain’s unique needs. Discover how to “find your flame” – the work that ignites your intrinsic motivation, “get in gear” by aligning tasks with your optimal cognitive states, and “run in rhythm” by respecting your brain’s neurocycles.

You can find Mithu at: Website | LinkedIn | Book

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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But what if there was a way to cultivate profound emotional fitness - the ability to embrace the full range of your feelings while navigating life with resilience, empathy and playfulness?

My guest today is Dr. Emily Anhalt, a clinical psychologist whose new book "Flex Your Feelings" outlines a pioneering framework for developing this vital emotional agility. Through decades of research and therapeutic work, she has identified seven core traits of emotionally fit individuals and how to strengthen them.

Guest: Dr. Emily Anhalt is a psychologist, international speaker, and the CoFounder and Chief Clinical Officer of Coa, the gym for mental health.

Find Emily: Book 

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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In this conversation, Mitch outlines his "PACE" framework for strategically integrating AI into your creative process. Imagine if you could use these tools not just to accelerate execution, but to actively expand your creative palette, deepen your sense of agency, and elevate your skills to new heights through constant iteration and growth.

Guest: Mitch Joel is currently an investor, media personality, podcaster, journalist and Co-Founder of ThinkersOne 

Find Anne: Website | Six Pixels | ThinkersOne 

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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My guest today is Christian Röpke, who spent over a decade rising through AI leadership roles like Head of AI and Chief Technology Officer at startups in Berlin's white-hot tech scene. Despite the prestigious positions, an insistent voice stirred inside longing for more ownership and creative freedom.

With the Primary Sparketype® Sage and Maven as his Shadow, Christian felt an innate drive to enlighten others through deep insight and perspective-shifting wisdom. Yet his corporate roles, however elite, inevitably boxed in that expression.

So Christian took a leap into the uncertainty of solopreneurship, now guiding businesses on their AI journeys while finally honoring his soul's work as a catalyst for "aha" moments.

~~~

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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A few months ago, I introduced my personal 2×20 Project™ – taking two years to intentionally design my ideal life for the next twenty. If you missed that powerful first discussion, you’ll want to start there.

Now, I’m back with an unfiltered update. What if you could take two years to actively craft a path centered around your deepest values like health, passion, and connection? No more drifting on autopilot for me.

In this profound follow-up, I pull back the curtain further on my bold life experiments across vitality, relationships, and creative contribution. Some sparked breakthroughs unlocking new simplicity and joy for me. Others faced epic failure…but provided priceless wisdom.

You’ll hear the raw journey – the identity shifts I experienced, the long-avoided fears I confronted, and the radical decisions emerging from revisiting my priorities. It’s all uncensored and straight from my heart.

Whether you’re feeling restless or craving more intentionality in your own life, this exploration offers an invitation: What could your version of a 2×20 Project™ unveil? A more vibrantly alive life may await after some courageous experiments.

Learn more about working with Jonathan to craft your 2×20 Project™.

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

My New Writing Project: Awake at the Wheel

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Drawing from her own journey – from prestigious tech career to startup founder to neuroscience researcher – and insights from her new book “Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World,” Le Cunff reveals how breaking free from prescribed life scripts opened the door to genuine curiosity and fulfillment.

Whether you’re questioning your career path, relationships, or daily habits, this conversation offers a refreshing alternative to traditional goal-setting. Le Cunff’s research-backed approach helps you embrace uncertainty while staying grounded in what matters most – your own experience of what brings genuine joy and meaning.

Guest: Anne-Laure Le Cunff, author of new book “Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World,” 

Find Anne: Website | Book 

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Joining me is Madeline Mann, a human resources leader and career strategist who turns job seekers into what she calls "job shoppers." Through her award-winning coaching empire and the insights gained from years as a corporate recruiter, she has reached millions with a radically fresh mindset, which she shares in her new book 'Reverse the Search: How to Turn Job Seeking into Job Shopping.'

Guest: Madeline Mann, author of Reverse the Search - How to turn Job seeking into job shopping’

Website | Book 

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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My guest today is Kat Thackray, founder of a cutting-edge consultancy, People Equals Purpose, focused on transforming team dynamics and organizational culture. 

Kat Thackray’s Sparketypes: Primary Sparketype® is Maven, Shadow is Scientist, and ANTI Sparketype® is Nurturer.

For Kat, hitting the director level at a top design consultancy should have been a dream. But something was missing. As the relentless climb drained her passion and even began manifesting physical symptoms of stress, Kat realized a deeper transformation was required.

***

And if you’d like to share your career transformation story on the Sparked podcast, to inspire others who may be feeling stuck or unsure about their own career paths, we encourage you to apply to be a guest and check out the form in the show notes. Because we believe that everyone deserves to find fulfillment and purpose in their work.

To apply, please check out this form. We can't wait to hear from you!

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Seth Godin is renowned for his pioneering work in marketing, leadership, and changing the status quo. He has written 21 bestsellers, including classics like “The Dip,” “Linchpin,” and “Tribes.” Seth has also founded several groundbreaking companies and inspired millions through his teachings on everything from effective promotion to the spread of world-changing ideas.

Photo credit: Darius Bashar and Archangel

Guest: Seth Godin, author of This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans

Website | Instagram | Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website

Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author, including her new book, ‘She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life’, now available here.

LISTENER: Sarah - Sparketype: Sage (Primary), Scientist (Shadow), Advocate (Anti)

QUESTION: Today’s listener, Sarah, shares her experience of supporting multi-billion dollar retail businesses, as the head of change management and helping people and businesses work through transformations. She has been the right hand to many high level execs and spearheaded big results and impact but like so many of us, done so at her own expense and with a lot of burnout. It brings her to her main question - can your past experiences, especially challenging or traumatic ones, distort your view of yourself and therefore affect your Sparketype results? Can social conditioning and external feedback interfere with finding work and expression that is more aligned for us - and if so, how do we reduce its impact or even eliminate it altogether?

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Which aligns perfectly with her Primary Sparketype® as Advisor, Shadow as Scientist, and ANTI Sparketype® as Performer.

Learn more about Lea here: Instagram

***

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Today’s guest, Jenn Romolini, shares her deeply personal journey, rising to the top of the New York media world, then untangling from that toxic drive and letting go of an ambition that didn’t align with her core values and aspirations. Jenn is the author of the raw and emotional memoir Ambition Monster about her reckoning with the workaholism and obsession with work that stemmed from her childhood experiences.

First a rising star in the New York publishing world, Jenn appeared to have it all – the coveted career, money, status. But beneath that picture-perfect exterior, the relentless ambition was disconnecting her from her truest self and what truly mattered most. It took a health crisis to forcibly hit pause and have Jenn reassess everything.

In this intimate conversation, Jenn shares how losing her voice, literally, became the wake-up call that allowed her to find it again. From realizing her workaholism was a trauma response, to grappling with external measures of success, to finally breaking free and realigning with her core creative calling as a writer.

Guest: Jenn Romolini, author of Ambition Monster 

Learn more:  Substack | Instagram 

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Differentiate yourself as a certified professional with a powerful command of the Sparketype® body of knowledge, professional-level tools, processes, engagement formats, and strategies, while equipping yourself to guide individuals, groups and teams through change with confidence and clarity. Learn more & apply to the Certified Sparketype ® Advisor Training and Certification today.

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website

Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive.

LISTENER: Trisha - Sparketype: Maven/Sage, Anti: Scientist

QUESTION: Listener Trisha shares a moment of transition after taking a much needed break from the workforce, which so many of us have done in our lives. Especially after discovering more about yourself, this becomes a hugely relevant question - in this instance, discovering her Sparketype profile, and wanting to find work that aligns more closely with your primary impulse and is less likely to end in burnout. Trisha is curious to know if there are specific professions that are particularly suited to her Sparketype?

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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My guest today is Adam Kolozetti, co-founder of Enta Solutions - a consultancy fusing team building, process improvement, and video storytelling. But Adam's path was far from linear.

Listen in to hear the experience that unveiled Adam's true purpose - helping companies maintain an entrepreneurial spirit as they scale. Which aligns perfectly with his Primary Sparketype® as Maker, Shadow as Maven, and ANTI Sparketype® as Advocate.

***

And if you’d like to share your career transformation story on the Sparked podcast, to inspire others who may be feeling stuck or unsure about their own career paths, we encourage you to apply to be a guest and check out the form in the show notes. Because we believe that everyone deserves to find fulfillment and purpose in their work.

To apply, please check out this form. We can't wait to hear from you!

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If so, you’re not alone. The chaotic world of remote and hybrid work can leave our heads spinning. But what if I told you there are secrets to virtual communication mastery that can bring clarity to the disorder?

My guest today has spent years studying the science of how we can all become better virtual communicators. 

Andrew Brodsky is an award-winning professor at the University of Texas at Austin and CEO of Ping Group. He's an expert on workplace technology, communication, and productivity. Andrew's new book, PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication, provides a roadmap for navigating our digitally-infused lives.

Guest: Andrew Brodsky, author of PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication

Learn more: Book

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Built around seven key principles (down from eight last year), Success Scaffolding provides the structure and support needed to accomplish meaningful goals.

Today we’ll focus on choosing and achieving one transformative goal for 2025. I’ll guide you through creating your personalized scaffolding, showing you how to align your goal with one of the three good life buckets: vitality, connection, or contribution.

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Through profound life experiences like a near-death encounter, Monica summoned the courage to start listening to her heart's callings. This led her on an uncharted journey of self-discovery - one that revealed her Primary Sparketype® as Advisor, Shadow as Maven, and Anti as Advocate.

You'll hear the crucial role these revelations played in Monica's radical pivot from leading people and developing people in a corporate setting to combining her natural mentoring gifts with the KonMari organizing philosophy. In her current path, she's able to directly witness profound growth as clients purge possessions that no longer "spark joy."

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 950,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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My guest today, Corey Keyes, has devoted his life's work to understanding and overcoming this experience. Keyes' latest book, "Languishing: How To Feel Alive Again In A World That Wears Us Down," provides an insightful roadmap for recognizing when we've drifted into languishing and practical steps to reignite that spark of aliveness within us.

In this conversation, Keyes shares wisdom from decades of research, exploring the societal factors contributing to widespread languishing and the crucial role of warm relationships, play, purpose and transcendence in our journey back to flourishing.

Guest: Corey Keyes, author of Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down

Learn more: Book

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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If so, you're not alone. And my guest today, Dr. Sunita Sah, has spent decades studying this very phenomenon - the struggle between compliance and defiance. 

Dr. Sah is an award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organizational psychology. She leads groundbreaking research on influence, authority, compliance and defiance. A trained physician, she has worked in medicine, consulting and now teaches executives and leaders.

Dr. Sah's trailblazing work, including her latest book 'Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes', provides a revolutionary roadmap for staying true to yourself in any situation - whether at work, in relationships, or amongst societal expectations.

Guest: Dr. Sunita Sah, author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes

Learn more: Website & Book

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Today, we're rethinking what it truly means to lead in the modern age. My guest today, Keith Ferrazzi, is on a mission to initiate a profound shift - from rigid hierarchies to an inclusive new paradigm he calls "teamship."

Keith Ferrazzi is a renowned executive team coach, keynote speaker, influential thought leader, founder of Ferrazzi Greenlight, and author.

His latest book, Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship, draws on two decades of research and field work to provide a revolutionary roadmap for the future of collaborative work.

Guest: Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship

Learn more: Website & LinkedIn

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website

Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author.

LISTENER: Heidi - Sparketype: Advocate/Warrior | Anti Maker

QUESTION: Listener Heidi, poses a big question that is very pertinent to this moment in time. She shares her devotion to advocacy particularly around climate activism and asks how do you harness your skillset to show up in work and life and make a meaningful difference? Heidi is hopeful that a lot of us are also asking the same question when it comes to the climate crisis and asks how do you know where to focus your energy to have the biggest impact?

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website

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Feeling like, deep down, you know there’s more to life than merely existing within the confines of a box that, sure, might feel safe, but also keeps you and your life so much more narrow and limited than it could otherwise be? And, all too often, the confines of that box, that alleged safety, have been drawn by someone else’s expectations. 

Our guest today is Chase Jarvis, and his new book “Never Play It Safe: A Practical Guide to Freedom, Creativity, and a Life You Love” serves as an inspiring clarion call to challenge the notion of safety as an excuse for complacency. An award-winning artist, serial entrepreneur, and one of the most influential photographers of the past decade, Chase has created campaigns for iconic brands like Apple, Nike, and Red Bull. He’s also the co-founder and former CEO of CreativeLive, an online education platform that’s helped over 50 million students unlock their creative potential.

You can find Chase at: Website | Instagram 

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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In today's powerful discussion, we'll explore a whole-being framework for leading and living with profound meaning. One that begins by getting anchored in your core purpose as the guiding light.

Our guest today is Laysha Ward, accomplished C-suite executive with over 32 years of senior leadership experience at Target.

Laysha is a purpose-driven leader with a nationally recognized track record delivering for the consumer brand. An insightful strategist, spokesperson, and author of the new book "Lead Like You Mean It: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose from the C-Suite."

Cover photo credit: John Haynes

Guest: Laysha Ward, author of the new book "Lead Like You Mean It: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose from the C-Suite."

Learn more: Website & LinkedIn

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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That’s where we’re headed with my guest today, Gabriella Rosen Kellerman. An author, entrepreneur, start-up executive, and Harvard-trained physician with expertise in behavioral and organizational change, digital health, well-being, and AI, Gabriella began her career in psychiatry and fMRI research. She is the founding CEO of the healthcare technology company LifeLink, and Gabriella has served as Chief Product Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at BetterUp, a transformation platform for global professionals, and as Head of BetterUp Labs. 

Her new book, Tomorrowmind: Thriving at Work—Now and in an Uncertain Future which was co-authored with renowned psychologist Martin Seligman, also known as the father of positive psychology, offers critical insights for facing a wildly fluctuating, seemingly perpetually unstable future of work. And in our conversation today, we explore a bit of Gabriella’s background and her own trajectory in her career before diving into five science-backed strategies or workplace superpowers that can help us all thrive at work. From resilience to building rapid rapport at work, there’s a lot of great insight to learn here.

You can find Gabriella at: Website | LinkedIn

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Today we’re joined by Jennifer Garvey Berger, author of four highly acclaimed books, including Unleash Your Complexity Genius (co-authored with Carolyn Coughlin), co-founder and CEO of Cultivating leadership.

Jennifer believes that leadership is one of the most vital renewable resources in the world. In this topsy-turvy time, when uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity are raging, we need a new form of leadership for a new era. To that end, Jennifer designs and teaches leadership programs, coaches senior leaders and their teams, and supports new ways of thinking about strategy and people. 

Guest: Jennifer Garvey Berger, author of the book Unleash Your Complexity Genius

Learn more: Website & LinkedIn

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And if you’d like to share your career transformation story on the Sparked podcast, to inspire others who may be feeling stuck or unsure about their own career paths, we encourage you to apply to be a guest and share your story. To apply, please check out this form. We can't wait to hear from you!

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. 

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We'll explore the core elements of playful work cultures and why courting more fun matters so much. You'll learn playful strategies to spark creativity, strengthen teams, and keep motivation soaring. We'll troubleshoot the barriers to bringing more levity into your work, so you can greenlight more smiles and laughter.

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. 

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As a Primary Sparketype, Advisor with an Essentialist shadow, Navid was drawn to roles allowing him to guide others through personal growth while creating systems that added clarity to his and his client’s pursuits.

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I know, it sounds crazy. After all, I’ve done extensive work to uncover my core values, the “Sparketype” that makes me come alive, and the missions that ignite my passion. And for the most part, I spend my days doing work that matters, surrounded by people and cultures I care deeply about. Yet that inner voice kept whispering – is this really it? Is there another level, another blend of simplicity, significance and joy that I’m being called to explore?

That persistent questioning led me to secretly launch what I’ve dubbed my “two by 20” project. For the last 9 months, I’ve been on an intensive journey of learning, doing, and building – running a series of intentional experiments across my work, relationships, health and creativity. All with the goal of figuring out what adjustments I may want to make to set myself up for a truly enlivened next 20 years of contribution and self-expression.

So if you’ve ever hit a milestone and thought “What’s next?”, even if your life is good, I invite you to join me on this adventure. Stay tuned as I reveal the backstory, guidelines and early experiments that may just inspire you to craft your own “two by 20” and step into your most vibrant work and life yet.

Episode Transcript

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Kayla Archer's journey began with an all-consuming obsession for competitive ballroom dancing. But the intense singular focus and lack of boundaries eventually led to a challenging environment that neglected her innate curiosities and zest for personal growth and, more or less, obliterated boundaries. Her renaissance journey overcame self-doubts from early academic struggles to ultimately find fulfillment as a learning and talent development leader.  

And if you’d like to share your career transformation story on the Sparked podcast, to inspire others who may be feeling stuck or unsure about their own career paths, we encourage you to apply to be a guest and share your story. To apply, please check out this form. We can't wait to hear from you!

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. 

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Gabriela Pereira, is the founder of DIY MFA - an online education platform empowering writers to hone their craft outside the traditional MFA system. But Gabriela's journey began with an unexpected detour.

After achieving her childhood dream of becoming a toy designer, a personal health crisis forced Gabriela to pivot from the corporate world. Through deep introspection, she realized her true callings were creating new offerings while constantly acquiring knowledge - the essence of her Primary Maker and Shadow Maven Sparketypes. 

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. 

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That's the power of resilience - the ability to adapt, grow, and thrive through adversity. With resilience, you don't just survive challenges, you use them as fuel to soar higher.

In today’s episode of SPARKED, I’m joined by Shelly Adele Bliss, one of our fabulous Spark Endeavors team members. Together we unpack the essence of career resilience. We'll explore the core mindsets and habits that allow you to stay grounded yet flexible when things go sideways.

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the SPARKED podcast, we invited a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust. 

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website

Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing.

LISTENER:  Jade - Sparketype: Maker/Maven

QUESTION: Listener Jade poses a question that I’m sure a lot of our Makers and creators have also wondered, what can you do to see more ideas through to completion. Jade shares her experience of feeling tied down in the ‘busy-work’ of her daily job while being called to diversify her income and embrace a ‘side hustle’. So the essence of the question is how do you make the most of the small amount of time you have in the ‘in-between’ moments and how do you follow through more often to generate the outcomes and feelings that you really want to have. And underneath that is the question, do we need to in the first place do any of this or is there magic in the mess of the maker and not centering some of these impulses as the fundamental way we earn our living.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 950,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. 

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website

Please note this episode originally aired in 2022 which accounts for some of the timeline references.

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My guest today is Hannah Bell, who stepped off the conventional law career track despite external pressures to stay the course. While practicing law, a profound internal shift occurred listening to personal finance podcasts during long commutes. It was a wake-up call that reconnected her to a deep interest. Hannah realized she could help others align money with their deepest values.

Rather than staying stuck, Hannah leaned into her Sparketype profile - her Primary, the Sage, sparked to illuminate insights, her Shadow, the Advisor, guiding growth of others, and her Anti, the Performer, which accounts for the sense of ‘energy drain’ in the courtroom. 

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Coaches & Leaders: Tap a Game-Changing Credential - The Certified Sparketype® Advisor Training. 

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My guest today is Theresa White. Theresa is a career coach, entrepreneur and founder who helps professionals gain clarity on finding fulfilling work. But it wasn't so long ago that she found herself trapped in a draining 8-year corporate stint, searching for an exit ramp.

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Guest: Brigid Schulte, author of bestselling books, Overwhelmed and Over Work,

Learn more: newamerica.org/better-life-lab

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment,

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Guest: Mo Bunnell, author of the book "Give to Grow: How Givers Get Ahead." Learn more: Website & LinkedIn

Host: Jonathan Fields, creator of Good Life Project podcast and the Sparketype® Assessment

More on Sparketypes:  Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Imagine if you could find a way to consistently operate at your highest level – accomplishing your most important goals while feeling energized, motivated, and in complete alignment with your core values. A path to get more of the right things done without sacrificing your wellbeing or personal life in the process. 

My guest today is Laura Mae Martin, the Executive Productivity Advisor at Google, where she has spent 13 years coaching top executives on optimizing their time and energy. She sends out a wildly popular weekly productivity newsletter read by over 50,000 Google employees. And in her new book Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing, she shares a refreshingly balanced approach to achieving this.

What you’re about to hear is a whole lot of mythbusting, practical insights and tips to integrate productive output with space for creative thinking, rejuvenation and realigning your daily actions with your most meaningful intentions, and actually owning the complicated, messy reality of your life. This isn’t about cramming more into each day through brute force. It’s a far more sustainable path of working with your natural cycles, minimizing distractions, and using routines to create an integrated lifestyle where you show up feeling energized and purposeful across all areas of your life. 

You can find Laura at: Website | LinkedIn | Episode Transcript

PS. This episode originally aired on Good Life Project, listen to the full conversation here.

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 950,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Today, she wears multiple hats as a career coach empowering others to confidently navigate their professional journeys and a higher education professional supporting students at SUNY Empire State University.But Barbara's transition was no simple task. She'll share the challenges she faced leaving her passion for teaching behind due to personal circumstances requiring comprehensive health benefits. Her evolution is a powerful reminder that our callings can change, and growth arises when we embrace those pivotal moments.

And if you’d like to share your career transformation story on the Sparked podcast, to inspire others who may be feeling stuck or unsure about their own career paths, we encourage you to apply to be a guest and check out the form in the show notes. Because we believe that everyone deserves to find fulfillment and purpose in their work.

To apply, please check out this form. We can't wait to hear from you!

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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My guest today is Dr. Sabba Quidwai, an educator, entrepreneur and leading voice on cultivating the human skills essential for an AI-driven world. From her childhood dreams of designing video games to feeling friction as a high school teacher, it was a book by Seth Godin that inspired her to fully own her career, and Sabba landed education technology roles at USC and Apple. 

But her biggest career transformation came when Sabba discovered her Sparketype profile which revealed her Primary Sparketype® is Scientist, Shadow is Sage, and ANTI Sparketype® is Performer and she took the leap to leave her role at Apple, deepen her doctoral research on human-AI dynamics and start her now thriving consultancy business on AI in Education.

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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Rather than forcing himself into a ill-fitting mold, Philippe gently reshaped his position over 8 years to better align with his Sparketype profile which uncovered his Primary Sparketype® as Performer, the Shadow as Advocate, and ANTI Sparketype® as Essentialist.

You'll hear his journey of trial-and-error, building buy-in, and ultimately crafting a role that lets him animate an important cause through powerful storytelling.

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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In this Career Transformation Story, I’m joined by Monica Rivera. Monica is currently a podcaster, speaker, consultant, and brand expert who found herself at a fateful crossroads. Despite skyrocketing success in the marketing in a large company, and at a remarkably young age, an itch for something more stirred within.    

Through a series of experiments like launching her very first passion podcast, Monica began peeling back layers of limiting beliefs. She uncovered her resonant path - constantly learning, sharing wisdom, and helping others confidently tell their personal stories. Which makes perfect sense, because her Primary Sparketype® is Sage, Shadow is Maven, and ANTI Sparketype® is Essentialist.

On this candid journey, Monica had to navigate both inner obstacles of doubt, and outer pressures to conform. You’ll hear how her experiences shaped an early drive for financial security that couldn't be ignored, yet also forged the courage to start truly listening to her heart's callings.

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every week on the SPARKED podcast, we invite a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust. 

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website

Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now. 

LISTENER: Marie, Sparketype: Essentialist/Maven, Anti: Nurturer

QUESTION: Listener, Marie, shares a story of her job scouting that is aiming to strike the ideal balance between role & organization fit, skillset match and desirable location.

She expresses her frustration with the apparent lack of appealing options and asks is there a way to reframe her situation? Marie puts forward the query, how do you find niche industry roles that match your search criteria and is there a way to look outside the box if you’re feeling discouraged with the search process?

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 950,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website

Please note: This episode originally aired in August 2022 which will reflect any time based references.

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If those experiences resonate, pay attention. Because work culture shapes our daily experience, motivation and growth as human beings in powerful ways. Get it right, and you unlock incredible fulfillment. Get it wrong, and every day can grind you down.

In today’s episode of SPARKED, I’m joined by Shelly Adele Bliss, one of our fabulous Spark Endeavors team members. Together we’re exploring this often-overlooked catalyst for growth or grumpiness. Because you deserve more than just punching a clock - you deserve a culture that lets you flourish.

We dive into the core elements of culture, why it matters to much, how culture affects you, what to look for, and run from, and how to choose or craft a work culture that supports your ability to come alive, not just in work, but in life.

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 950,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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If these experiences resonate, you're definitely not alone. Question is, what can you do about it? That’s what we’re diving into today with my guest, Dr. Jessica Kriegel.

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED GUEST: Dr. Jessica Kriegel | Website 

Dr. Jessica Kriegel is driven by data and defined by results. She transforms corporate culture for success. Jessica is a household name for all workplace, labor, leadership, women in the workplace, and job markets. Her renowned “Culture Equation” was acquired by Culture Partners in 2021, where she is currently Chief Scientist of Workplace Culture.

Her groundbreaking research is detailed in her debut book “Unfairly Labeled,” a manifesto for equality and transformation in the modern workplace and disrupting the narrative that Baby Boomers and Gen Z are misaligned in the workplace. It is her mission to dispel the stereotype that unfairly labels workers today. She is also host of the show Culture Leaders: uncovering the magic behind the masters of movements, a show about how change catches fire for real transformation.

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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If you've been there, you know that awkward, powerless feeling all too well. But what if you had the tools to deftly disarm those moments - to respond in a way that honors your humanity while creating an opportunity for change?

My guest today is Kim Scott, author of the groundbreaking books "Radical Candor" and her latest "Radical Respect." Kim's work is paving a courageous new path towards the kind of workplaces we all deserve - cultures steeped in collaboration, where individuality is fiercely celebrated.

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED GUEST: Kim Scott | Website | Book

Kim Scott is the author of Radical Respect and Radical Candor and co-host of the Radical Candor podcast. Kim was a CEO coach at Dropbox, Qualtrics, Twitter, and other tech companies. She was a faculty member at Apple University and before that led AdSense, YouTube, and DoubleClick teams at Google.

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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I'm talking about flow - that magical feeling when you're so immersed in an activity that the rest of the world seems to melt away. For some of us, slipping into a flow state brings a rush of energy and laser-like focus. We can get more done in less time. New ideas and insights emerge effortlessly. And we feel lit up from the inside out.

But here's the thing: flow doesn't just happen randomly. With the right strategies, you can actually cultivate flow purposefully.

Joining me into today’s SPARKED episode, is our fabulous team here at Spark Endeavors is Shelly Adele Bliss. Together, we'll unpack the science behind flow. What specific states trigger this remarkable state? How, exactly, does it benefit you, both in your work, and also in your life? Most importantly, we explore how you can create the conditions for flow in your own life. 

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

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In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jadah Sellner | Website

Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author.

LISTENER: Quentin - Sparketype: Primary: Nurturer, Shadow: Advisor, Anti: Performer

QUESTION: Listener Quentin asks a very interesting question, can your interests and therefore your Sparketype, change over time? Or is it a matter of understanding what your primary impulses are and how they are best expressed in different seasons of life, and shifting around them? Quentin puts forward a query we often get at Sparketype HQ - can you do your Sparketype assessment more than once and will it change over the course of your life? But there are some bigger, deeper questions embedded once we dive into what’s really going on here.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

This episode was originally published in June 2022 and shares context relevant to that time period.

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In this chat, Jessica and I explore the tension between what she calls "quiet culture" traits like listening more than speaking, keeping your head down to work, and avoiding conflict - and the contrasting "loud culture" traits that are often expected and rewarded in many workplaces. We unpack strategies for how those from quieter backgrounds can get noticed and make an impact without compromising who they truly are.

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED GUEST: Jessica Chen | Website | Book

Jessica Chen is an Emmy-Award winner, author, speaker, and CEO of the global business communication company, Soulcast Media.

Jessica is an internationally recognized communication expert and has taught over 2 million people how to improve their communication skills at work. She has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Her course on developing executive presence was ranked #1 most watched by global business leaders.

Prior to Soulcast Media, Jessica was an award-winning broadcast television journalist at ABC, NBC and NY1.

Jessica’s upcoming book, “Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons” releases July 2024 by top publishing company, Penguin Random House, and was just named a “Next Big Idea Book Club Must Read 2024.”

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, we challenge this myth of "making it" and explore why it may be causing more harm than good, especially for women. My guest today is Samhita Mukhopadhyay, former executive editor of Teen Vogue and Feministing, and author of the book "The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning." 

We'll discuss the toll that unrealistic work-life expectations take on women's well-being, the challenges of advocating for change, and how we can start crafting more meaningful, sustainable lives and careers. If you've ever felt alone in your struggles to balance it all, this episode will remind you that you're not the only one questioning the status quo. 

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED GUEST: Samhita Mukhopadhyay | Book

Samhita Mukhopadhyay is the former executive editor of Teen Vogue and the former executive editor at Feministing. Her writing has appeared in New York magazine, The Cut, Vanity Fair, Vogue, The Atlantic, and The Nation. Born in New York City, Mukhopadhyay lives between Putnam County and Brooklyn.

 YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In chasing status and wealth above all else, are we sacrificing our humanity along the way? How can we redefine success to prioritize significance over promotion and real human connection over control?  

My guest today, James Rhee, proposes a radically more holistic vision of business and life in his new book Red Helicopter: Lead Change with Kindness. James argues that when leaders stay grounded in kindness and intrinsic motivation, they unlock the potential for companies to become true forces for good. 

His story reveals how embracing empathy over ego and leading with compassion enabled him to turn around the fashion retailer Ashley Stewart. Now he's on a mission to inspire more leaders to follow his lead. 

Together, James and I explore questions like: What will it take to integrate work and life instead of balancing them? How can we regain a sense of agency and demand accountability from those in power? And what will it take to prepare young people to bring their whole selves as they navigate the future of work?

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED GUEST: James Rhee | Website | Book

James Rhee is a high school teacher turned private equity investor and CEO. James’ leadership story first grabbed global attention during his unlikely seven-year tenure as Chairman and first-time CEO at fashion retailer Ashley Stewart. After his radical approach fueled a transcendent comeback story for the company, James concretized his leadership philosophy—kindness plus a little math—in the form of red helicopter, his media-education platform. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he is now a Senior Lecturer at Duke Law School and MIT Sloan School of Management and the Johnson Chair of Entrepreneurship at Howard University—the first joint appointment of its kind in history. His TED Talk and Dare to Lead interview with Brené Brown have captured the imagination of millions. He is the author of Red Helicopter (HarperOne; April 9, 2024).

 YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website

Jenny is the bestselling author of Life After College, her groundbreaking books PIVOT, and Free Time, and also an incredible career and business strategist.

LISTENER: Megan - Sparketype: Maven/Maker

QUESTION: How do you know when the best time to make a jump is, especially when you’re clear on exactly what you’re jumping into and, in fact, have already started building it on the side? 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if you've been searching for purpose, passion, joy and energy in all the wrong places? Or, if you’re limiting yourself to “having” to find only in the thing you get paid to do.

In today's SPARKED Hot Take, we challenge the notion that meaning at work only comes from your job. Sure, when you can find it in your job, that’s amazing. And we’ve created lots of tools to help you do that. But, we’ve also uncovered a bunch of other ways you come alive that have nothing to do with a paycheck. 

Joining me from our fabulous team here at Spark Endeavors is Shelly Adele Bliss. Together, we open your eyes to the sparks of fulfillment hiding in plain sight in what we call the 4 domains of work. Beyond the confines of your paid work lives a world of possibility where you can come alive. Once you know what to look for.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.

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Today’s guest, sociologist, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley, and Co-Director of the Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion, Carolyn Chen, has a lot to say about this silent, yet deeply impactful, phenomenon. She spent years studying workplace culture, with a focus on the near-religious cultures of Silicon Valley. As home to startups, major tech companies, and some of the world’s most innovative and, arguably, faithful entrepreneurs and professionals, she noticed the lines between doing meaningful work and religion have not only been blurred, but work has, in many ways, squeezed out and even become employees’ religion. Problem is – the goal is not personal and societal betterment, but rather in service of one central purpose: working harder and smarter, and generating innovation and profit.

In our conversation, we explore big questions like why are so many people leaving traditional religion? How do religion and spirituality meet our needs in the first place, and what are the ways big tech or corporations are filling those gaps? What does it look like for us to choose what we want to worship and find meaning and belonging in healthy, nontraditional spaces? And, is this conversion of work into faith, actually a societally destructive phenomenon, even while organizations benefit from it? 

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED GUEST: Carolyn Chen | Website | Instagram

Carolyn is the author of Getting Saved in America: Taiwanese Immigration and Religious Experience and co-editor of Sustaining Faith Traditions: Religion, Race and Ethnicity among the Latino and Asian American Second Generation. Her latest book, Work Pray Code: When Work Becomes Religion in Silicon Valley, is an account and exploration of her time spent interviewing the best and the brightest in the tech world to unfold how tech giants are reshaping spirituality to serve their religion of peak productivity. 

 YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

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In our conversation, Bonnie stresses the difference between common platitudes and what actually moves the needle. Together we dig into the importance of having truth tellers who give "tough love" and challenge you rather than just affirm you and discuss, why she believes "faking it til you make it" is terrible advice, and so much more.

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED GUEST: Bonnie Hammer | Book

Bonnie Hammer is Vice Chair of NBCUniversal, where she’s spent decades transforming every facet of the television business. Under her leadership, the company’s cable group and studios achieved record-setting profits, garnered 167 Emmy nominations, and launched hit series including Suits, Psych, The Sinner, Battlestar Galactica, Mr. Robot, and hundreds more. She’s occupied virtually every industry position from production assistant to studio head—often being tapped for cutting edge roles.

Bonnie is also the author of the new book 15 Lies: How Women are Taught to Fail and the Truth That Sets Them Free.  

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all want to feel more alive in work, and also in life. But, how? Where do we even begin.

I'm sure you've noticed there are certain activities that light you up at work. When you're doing them, you lose track of time, enter a state of flow, and feel deeply energized, like you’re fueled by purpose, meaning and joy.. But there are also tasks that drain you, no matter how motivated you are. 

Turns out, we all have a set of impulses that are unique to us, and they inform what kind of work fills us up, and what empties us out. We call these your Sparketypes, and we’ve been leading research on the Sparketypes since 2018, building on input from nearly 900,000 people, generating a database of more than 45-million data-points. We’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to come alive at work, and figured it was time to start sharing a lot more of that with you here on the SPARKED podcast.

Joining me from our fabulous team here at Spark Endeavors is Shelly Adele Bliss and together, we take a deep dive into our Sparketype framework and today, we’re starting out with a simple question. What ARE the Sparketypes, and why should you discover yours?

ABOUT YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 850,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.

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Have you ever wondered what your coworkers, friends, or even kids really think but don’t say? I’m sure you’ve experienced those rare moments when someone finally opened up and offered a perspective that shifted your whole view. But what about all the times they stayed silent? How much wisdom have you missed out on along the way?

In today’s SPARKED Hot Take episode, we’re joined by Jeff Wetzler, to explore the invisible blockers causing people to withhold their truth from us. What deep-seated human dynamics lead us to hold back ideas and struggles from the very people who could help?

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED GUEST: Jeff Wetzler | Website

Jeff Wetzler, author of forthcoming book, ‘Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life’  has been on a quarter-century quest to transform learning opportunities. Blending a unique set of leadership experiences in the fields of business and education, he’s pursued this quest as a management consultant to the world’s top corporations, as a learning facilitator for leaders around the world, as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, and most recently, as co-CEO of Transcend, a nationally recognized innovation organization. He lives in New York with his wife, two children, and their puppy.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jenny Blake | Website

Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now. 

LISTENER: Paula - Sparketype: Essentialist/Maven, Anti: Performer

QUESTION: Listener Paula shares a powerful story about a season of devotion to her family and her family business, and her emerging passion to shift focus to something new, and how that brings up all sorts of questions about everything from familial responsibility to purpose, passion and the freedom to choose your next move. Paula wrote in to share her story with us, so we’ve asked Shelley from our team to “read it into the conversation,” for us.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if our biggest regrets secretly held the keys to unlocking our greatest potential in work and life? What if it was the path to self-improvement, clarified priorities, and more courageous living?

That's what we’re exploring in this episode of Sparked, with my guest, bestselling author Daniel Pink. This conversation originally aired as a LinkedIn Live so after we teased out the topic, we were able to take some listener questions live and answer in real-time.

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Daniel Pink | Website

Dan is the author of several influential books on business, work, and human behavior, including Drive, A Whole New Mind, and To Sell is Human. His latest work, The Power of Regret, offers a fascinating look at the psychology and potential benefits of one of life’s most common yet overlooked emotions.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What my guest today, Ari Weinzwieg, didn’t realize, when starting Zingerman’s Deli with a $20,000 loan from the bank, and a degree in Russian History from the University of Michigan, was that he was seeding a revolution. Actually, in hindsight, maybe he did. Now 17 companies later and sitting as the CEO and co-founding partner of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, Ari sees commerce as an engine of impact, expression and service that changes people’s lives. 

Ari and his ideas have set off a global ripple of compassion, dignity, imagination, and aliveness in the world of business, inviting people to reimagine a profoundly different, radically expansive and inclusive way of defining success. 

Named by Inc Magazine as one of “The World’s 10 Top CEOs,” he’s forging a new way in business that rejects the norm and is grounded in purposeful vision, passion, and anarchy theory. He’s written extensively about the values and beliefs that have kept the now iconic Zingerman’s Delicatessen, his first business venture, afloat and successful for over 40 years in weekly newsletters and the numerous books he’s authored, such as A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to the Power of Beliefs and A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to Managing Ourselves. 

You can find Ari at: Website | Instagram

HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Please note this episode originally aired in December 2022 which will be relevant to some references about world news.

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This week SPARKED podcast, we invited a listener to share what’s going on in their work & life, then pose a specific question to Jonathan Fields and a rotating lineup of wise and kind mentors - the SPARKED Braintrust. 

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Deborah Owens | Website

After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive.

LISTENER: Liana - Sparketype: Nurturer/Maven

QUESTION: In today’s episode, listener Liana shares a conundrum that many of us have pondered. Do you stay in the well-paying job and build up your savings or do you go part-time in order to do more of what lights you up and as Liana puts it ‘live your best life sooner.’ The question being, what do you value more money or your time? And is that even a real dichotomy?

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

PLEASE NOTE: This episode of SPARKED originally aired in May of 2022.

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In my experience, we often feel alone when stressed, as if we're the only ones struggling. The truth is stress touches us all. As Aditi shares, stress is a natural and healthy human response, but in modern life it can become overactivated, leaving us burnt out and fatigued. The good news? There are simple, daily mindset shifts we can make to reboot our brains and bodies - no expensive spas or months in Bali required.

Rather than preaching toxic resilience, she provides real-world solutions tailored to the realities of modern life - from the myth of multitasking to the vital role of social connections. She prescribes time-efficient, cost-free techniques accessible to anyone, helping us change our relationship with stress and find balance once more.

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Dr. Aditi Nerurkar | Website

Dr. Aditi Nerurkar is a nationally sought-after speaker, television correspondent, and author of the new book The Five Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience. With over two decades of clinical experience, she offers a reimagined approach to overcoming stress and burnout using five science-backed mindset shifts.

HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s tempting but playing it safe is no way to build a career that allows you to grow into your best self.

In today’s conversation, Grace helps you grab the wheel and chart a course aligned with your true aspirations. 

We’ll explore how to move past the myth of “work-life balance” and integrate your personal and professional lives in an intentional way. Grace shares how to define your unique “cardinal direction,” take control of your career GPS, and build “professional equity” as you move ahead.

She also reveals how to course-correct when you veer off track so you can leave a legacy you’re proud of.

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Grace Puma | Book

Grace Puma is the former executive vice president and COO of PepsiCo, and before that held senior positions with United Airlines, Kraft Foods, Motorola, and Gillette. A board member of both Organon & Co and Target, she has been ranked on the “Most Powerful Latina” list by Fortune magazine and recognized as the “Executive of the Year” by Latina Style magazine. Puma holds a BA in business administration and economics from Illinois Benedictine University. She lives in Tampa, Florida.

HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Total bunk. Creativity lives inside all of us—and uncovering it could unlock meaning and joy in every aspect of your life?

In this conversation, Cynthia and I explore the myths holding us back from full creative living. She reveals three brutally hard truths of innovation, and why the creative life isn't about chasing comfort. We discuss how to awaken your senses, see with new eyes, and understand your unique blend of creativity.

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• How do you know when you are being creative? What are the signs or feelings that indicate you have tapped into your own creativity?
• Where does the "muse" or creative inspiration come from - is it something within us or does it come from outside of us? 
• How can we challenge what we think we know and let ourselves be surprised in order to expand creativity in our work and relationships?
• How can we cultivate and tune our senses to see familiar things in new ways and spark creativity?

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Cynthia Morris | Website

Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach.

HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all have big dreams inside us - of launching that business, asking for the promotion, or finally working up the courage to leave the unfulfilling job. But so often, we shy away from fully pursuing those dreams because we worry about stability, acceptance from others, or our own self-doubt.

We’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Deborah Owens | Website

After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The question is: what do you do when you find yourself at this crossroads? Do you rigidly cling to outdated plans and force failure? Or do you have the courage to tear up the blueprint and start again aligned with your new reality?

My guest today, Charlie Gilkey, is intimately familiar with this entrepreneurial rite of passage. In our conversation, Charlie shares his wisdom on what to do when you realize it’s time to reconsider your goals. With insight gained from years of experience, he reveals how to take stock of where you actually are right now, not where you hoped to be, and create an updated plan aligned with that reality.

With Charlie’s guidance, you’ll learn how to rework your plans while honoring the past and creating space for the emergence of new possibilities.

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website

Charlie Gilkey has advised hundreds of teams, from Fortune 100 companies to tiny nonprofits, through Productive Flourishing, the coaching and training company he founded. Charlie is the author of the critically acclaimed Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done. His latest book is Team Habits: How Small Actions Lead to Extraordinary Results.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m willing to bet that at some point you’ve felt confused, overwhelmed, or just plain frustrated when it comes to personal finance. It’s not easy to navigate, especially when so many supposed “experts” seem to be speaking a different language. But what if you had a guide, a mentor who could decode it all for you in simple, practical steps? Someone to help you adopt a realistic, yet affluence-friendly mindset and stop just getting by paycheck-to-paycheck?

In our conversation, we dive into the assumptions, misinformation and missteps that so often become the dominant tropes in personal finance. Then, Vivian shares specific insights, strategies and tips designed to help equip you with tools and knowledge to understand finances and build your own generation-changing wealth strategy, no matter where you are in life. We explore ways to maximize earnings, how to negotiate your true worth at work, overcome investing fears, adopting simple, effective habits to grow wealth, and then tap this resource not just for your own security and wellbeing, but also to make the world a better place.

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Vivian Tu | Website | Book

Vivian Tu, is a former Wall Street trader turned personal finance phenom, educator, and now author of the new book, Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life. After burning out in the toxic environment of high finance, Vivian found a new purpose: making financial literacy accessible – after she realized there was a huge unmet need for judgment-free financial advice. Especially for people who’ve traditionally been excluded from a level of financial intel that can be lifechanging. She started creating viral TikTok videos packed with no-BS money advice. Now, with millions of loyal followers, she’s become a leading voice empowering everyday people to get smart about money and achieve financial freedom.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 capacity to say yes?

This dilemma shows up at work all the time, and also in every other part of life and personal relationships. We worry about disappointing others, missing out on something better, or even jeopardizing work relationships. But what if reclaiming the lost art of "no" opened up space for what matters most?

If you struggle to decline without guilt, tune in for permission to reframe "no" as an act of self-care. 

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• What are some of the reasons people feel compelled to perpetually say yes and have difficulty saying no?
• What motivations compel chronic people-pleasers to overcommit? 
• How can systems eliminate the need for repeated no's? 
• What decision filters discern a clear yes from an energy-draining maybe? 

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Jenny Blake | Website

Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 path to take, such as how do you avoid the sunk cost fallacy and know when to walk away? And if flooded with ideas or directions, how do you stay focused and committed to one project or path?

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Raina Kumra | LinkedIn | Website  

Start-up founder, advisor, and food activist Raina Kumra. As the Founder of Spicewell, CEO of Juggernaut and partner at The Fund LA, Raina Kumra is on a mission to help people have greater access to nutrient-dense food and better health at scale. After 25 years of working in the tech industry, Raina realized that Big Food requires as much work as Big Tech and Big Pharma when she helped heal her family using Ayurvedic practices mid- pandemic.

Named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, she’s mastered new territory in each chapter of her storied career. After a decade in digital advertising working with brands like Nike and Coke, Raina knew she could create a greater impact on the world.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 or a fear-based response to the unknown? 

In today’s episode we ask, why do leaders often get stuck spending too much time on tactical details and "in the weeds" instead of thinking more strategically?

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Karen Wright | Website

Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover Your Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All too often, the response is not to get proactive, and there’s no judgment here, it’s hard to act when you feel like you don’t have the capacity to. So, we end up numbing out, in myriad ways. Which is, by the way, different from run-of-the-mill burnout. Question is, what’s really going on here, and what can we do about it?

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• How is the feeling of being "blown" or "numb" different from regular stress or burnout? 
• Why does shame and a sense of "not enoughness" often accompany these feelings of numbness or system overload? 
• If lowering expectations temporarily could help, how do you navigate when your workplace won't allow that reprieve?  
• What are practical ways to "turn down the volume" on inputs overwhelming your capacity and ability to cope?
• How can you add supportive, energizing elements back into your life to increase resilience against this numbness and stress saturation?

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Yvonne Ator | Website

Yvonne is the Founder of Thriving Physicians and Thriving Idealist, where she coaches heart-centered, mission-driven Physicians and other helping professionals who seek to make a positive impact in the world. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 we meet audiences where they are? He also offers interesting insights on how to use constraints to spark creative breakthroughs.

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• How do we simplify messaging and communicate complex ideas effectively?
• How can we better understand our target audience and what motivates them?
• What principles and techniques make messages more salient, focused, and empathetic?
• How can we minimize friction and guide audiences smoothly to where we want them to go?

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Ben Guttmann | Website | Book

Ben Guttmann is a marketing entrepreneur and educator, and is the author of Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win — and How to Design Them. Ben is the former co-founder and managing partner at Digital Natives Group, an award-winning agency that worked with the NFL, I Love NY, Comcast NBCUniversal, Hachette Book Group, The Nature Conservancy, and other major clients. Currently, Ben teaches digital marketing at Baruch College in New York City and consults with a range of thought leaders, venture-backed startups, and other brands. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, what are the common pitfalls that undermine performance reviews and inhibit collaborative communication? 

And, how can we reframe performance management as a partnership, not an adversarial process? Deborah reveals research showing marginalized groups often receive far less actionable feedback, impeding their advancement. 

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• What constitutes vague, non-actionable feedback versus concrete, constructive feedback?
• How can unconscious biases negatively impact performance reviews, especially for marginalized groups? 
• Why do managers sometimes fail to give direct feedback due to "protective hesitation"?
• What strategies can employees use to obtain clear, helpful feedback for growth?
• How can both managers and employees reframe performance conversations as collaborative rather than adversarial?

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Deborah Owens | Website

After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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?
• What skills can help us deeply listen, observe, and connect across divides? 
• How do we speak our truth while also elevating collective humanity?
• What gets in the way of conscious communication and connection?
• How can we lead with curiosity instead of certainty to bridge differences?

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Talia Fox | Book

Talia is the CEO of KUSI Global, is a Harvard Fellow with a Masters in Education from Howard. With over 20 years of experience, she helps major organizations maximize human potential. In her forthcoming book, The Power of Conscious Connection, Talia shares her methodology for helping individuals and organizations foster connected cultures. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 career change based on passion versus just building your resume?
• How do you expand your vision beyond job titles to purposeful pursuits that energize you? 
• When is it time to make a change based on joy rather than advancement? 
• What are some tools we can use to reawaken creativity suppressed by corporate culture?
• When changing paths, how do you get support from loved ones affected by your choice?

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Karen Wright | Website

Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 deciding if a job, creative endeavor or passion project has run its course. 

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• How do you know when it's time to quit something you once loved? 
• What are the signs your mind and body send when it's time for change?
• How do you walk away with integrity and care for the community you built?
• What are the hidden costs of staying somewhere that your spark has faded?
• How can you reinvigorate stagnant projects before deciding to quit?

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Jenny Blake | Website

Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 voice matters. He offers insights on changing culture, and reducing fear just enough, while raising the stakes, so people take the risk to contribute. 

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• We dig into questions like, how do leaders reward truth-telling, even when it’s hard to hear?
• Why must inclusion of diverse views be centered?
• We discuss the behaviors that encourage participation at all levels. And how to have constructive dialogue, not just top-down criticism.
• Imagine work cultures where speaking up is welcomed, not just tolerated. Where complex issues are explored from all sides, with open-minded curiosity, not closed-minded certainty. 

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Stephen ‘Shed’ Shedletzky | Website | Book

Speaker and author of “Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up”, Stephen Shedletzky. Stephen, or Shed, as most folks call him, is a leadership coach and advisor who helps leaders make it safe and worth it for people to speak up. Over the years, he’s taken on roles like Chief of Staff, Lead Igniter & Head of Brand Experience, Training & Development. He’s led a global team of speakers and facilitators, as well as hundreds of his own keynotes, workshops and team and leadership development programs. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 while avoiding collateral damage to people.

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• How can we innovate rapidly while avoiding collateral damage?
• What needs rebuilding to restore trust between employers and employees? 
• How can inclusion and diversity become true competitive edge?
• What makes storytelling essential when guiding teams through change?
• Why is recovery so crucial for organizations - just as for individuals?

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Anne Morriss | Podcast | Book

Anne has spent 20 years building mission-driven enterprises and worked with organizations globally on leadership, culture, and change. She serves on nonprofit boards, co-hosts the Fixable podcast from the TED Audio Collective, and is the author of Move Fast and Fix Things: The Trusted Leader's Guide to Solving Hard Problems.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 more intentional and responsive way, rather than reactive, misguided or harmful way? 

When circumstances lead to strong disagreement, mixed with deep emotion, and a sense of urgency, people often feel an expectation to speak or act with immediacy, yet taking a stance, let alone a public stance, comes with certain very real risks and responsibilities. How do you determine the right course aligned with your values? 

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• When is it right to speak out or stay silent amid turmoil? 
• How do you move forward thoughtfully when tensions run high?
• What’s the cost of reactionary and divisive actions?
• How do we maintain empathy and humanity in dehumanizing times?
• How do we speak our truths, advocate for a point-of-view, which also honors complexity, nuance, and humanity along the way?

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Yvonne Ator | Website

Yvonne is the Founder of Thriving Physicians and Thriving Idealist, where she coaches heart-centered, mission-driven Physicians and other helping professionals who seek to make a positive impact in the world. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 will dilute impact?  
• Do we lack the essential skills for effective distillation? If so, how can we cultivate them?
• How can we avoid recoiling from the meticulous work of shaping abstract ideas into concrete expressions? Are there mindset shifts that make the process feel more inviting?
• When is sticking to your original intricate vision important? And when is restraint and selectivity crucial to resonate with your audience? 
• How do we balance creative freedom with serving others when bringing ideas to life?

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Cynthia Morris | Website

Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach.

AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 show up more present and positive for the rest of the day? On the flipside, what if intentionally choosing how you spend your 15-minutes gave you the mental Reset you needed to tackle work at your best for hours after? 

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• What are the small daily habits or practices that have an outsized impact on our productivity and wellbeing?
• How can we identify the 15-20 minutes each day that make or break how we feel and function?
• Should we focus on adding positive habits and routines or eliminating negative ones that sabotage us?
• How do our daily habits prime us emotionally and psychologically for the rest of the day?
• With remote work, what have we lost from the transition away from commuting time and how can we substitute new rituals?

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website

Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing and his fantastic new book Team Habits, which is available now.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find a Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. But what if these curveballs also present opportunities to grow and evolve in powerful ways? 

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• How do we prepare for unexpected disruptions and curveballs in life when we can't anticipate everything that might happen?
• When faced with an unforeseen challenge, how do we acknowledge and accept what's happening rather than wishing it away? 
• What mindset and practices allow us to adapt and respond flexibly when things don't go as planned?
• How can we manage difficult emotions that arise from disrupted expectations while still taking constructive action?
• What daily habits and skills, like mindfulness, build our "adaptability muscle" so we can navigate change and uncertainty?

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Karen Wright | Website

Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Mita Mallick | Reimagine Inclusion: Book

Mita is a corporate change-maker with a track record of transforming businesses and cultures. She is the Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta. Mallick is a regular contributor for Entrepreneur, and her writing has been published in Harvard Business Review, The New York Post, Cosmopolitan, and Business Insider, among others. She’s a co-host of the Brown Table Talks podcast and author of her new book, Reimagine Inclusion, which debunks 13 myths that hold us back from transforming our workplaces. She delivers powerful storytelling combined with practical and hands-on ways for us to be more inclusive leaders. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 entrepreneur didn't mean suffering in silence?  

In today’s episode of Sparked, we’re joined by special guest, Yael Benjamin, for a raw look at powerful new research around the mental health struggles plaguing the business founder community. 

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• Questioning the assumptions about startup life having to be a nonstop, lonely thrill ride
• Asking if a culture shift within the venture capital and business world create more space for founders to be human? 
• Are there lessons from the self-care regimens of pro athletes that could build resilience for entrepreneurs?
• What would it take to transform entrepreneurial stress into strength? 
• How can we reconnect founders to purpose and possibility, despite the emotional rollercoaster of uncertainty?
• The reality and humanity behind heady business metrics and million-dollar valuations

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Yael Benjamin | Website

Yael is the founder of Startup Snapshot, a data-sharing platform for the startup ecosystem. She is passionate about leveraging data to generate transparency in the venture industry, providing founders with the insights, benchmarks and data points they need to accelerate their ventures forward. Over the past 6 months, Yael has focused on researching the toll of entrepreneurship on the founder’s mental health and well-being, working to normalize this long taboo topic. The research has been featured in Forbes, Crunchbase, Inc and other leading news publications.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 more well-rounded, inviting “anyone can do this” approach. And, it even starts with a challenge - how about we stop calling these morning routines? Why? Well, we dive into that and so many other valuable and actionable tips about how best to start your day in today’s SPARKED Hot Take episode. 

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website

Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing and his fantastic new book Team Habits, which is available now.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 common, yet seldom discussed and certainly not in a constructive way. We often suffer in silence, unsure what to do next. Should you walk away? Have you lost your spark for good? Is it time to the turn the page on a new opportunity, or is burnout at the heart of what you’re feeling? And, if so, what can we do about it?

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• Noticing burnout's physical and emotional depletion 
• Detachment and cynicism as lesser known burnout signals
• Seeking temporary leave to recover from burnout
• Utilizing a changing in environment to combat burnout 
• How racism and bias compound burnout 

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Deborah Owens | Website

After a long career in leadership in some of the biggest companies in the world, Deborah founded her own consulting firm, Corporate Alley Cat, where she advises and coaches People of Color in all aspects of career visioning and development. She has this incredible ability to see what’s happening under the surface in any given situation, and ask questions that get to the heart of the matter and reveal possibilities that feel both empowering and expansive.

AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 severing them.

We’re asking the question, how can we speak up for our needs and boundaries without severing ties or burning bridges? And at the same time, maintain awareness of unsafe situations that we need to remove ourselves from completely.

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• Expressing needs and boundaries without damaging relationships 
• Speaking up against violations/holding people accountable with integrity 
• The importance of self-care and inner authority before holding others accountable 
• Removing yourself from harmful situations 
• Critiquing behaviors rather than identity to allow for change

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Yvonne Ator | Website

Yvonne is the Founder of Thriving Physicians and Thriving Idealist, where she coaches heart-centered, mission-driven Physicians and other helping professionals who seek to make a positive impact in the world. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your 5 senses secretly controlled everything from your mood to your creativity, intelligence, memory, or even your ability to succeed in work and life? 

We all tend to take our senses for granted, using them automatically without much thought. But what if curating sensory experiences was a hidden gateway to so much of what we want out of work and life?

Today’s episode of SPARKED is a HOT TAKE but with a twist, this conversation originally aired as a LinkedIn Live so after we teased out the topic, we were able to take some listener questions live and answer in real-time.

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Gretchen Rubin | Website

Gretchen is one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. She’s the author of many bestselling books, such as The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, and The Four Tendencies, which have sold millions of copies in more than thirty languages. Her most recent book is Life in Five Senses. She’s also host of the popular podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and founder of award-winning Happier app, which helps people track their happiness-boosting habits. And she’s been a good friend for more than a decade now.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 surroundings have started to limit your growth, you’re not alone. Question is, how do we recognize these moments? And, more important, once we do, what can we do about it?

In today’s episode we’re digging into:

• Reimagining physical spaces for creativity and growth  
• Creating intentional work environments that support wellbeing
• Outgrowing previous spaces due to personal evolution
• Designing multi-use spaces for flexibility and collaboration 
• Leaders rethinking office spaces to bridge remote work divide

And we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Jadah Sellner | Website

Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author, including her new book, ‘She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life’, order a copy here.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

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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 meant to work together? 

That’s where we’re heading in today’s HOT TAKE episode of the Sparked Podcast, unpacking the common pitfalls teams face and how to transform habits to excel together.

If you want to become a better leader, manager, or team member, this episode is essential listening. Join Charlie and I for an inspiring dose of teamwork wisdom.

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website

Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing and his fantastic new book Team Habits, which is available now.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an Certified Sparketype Advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 if it was supposed to be this challenging? Or, trying to assess whether the difficulty you’re feeling is because it’s right and you just need to find a way through it and grow, or it's wrong and it's time to pack it in and move on?

That’s where we’re heading in today's episode of Sparked, unpacking the challenges we all face when creating something new from nothing. Along the way, adversity, doubt and discomfort are sure to arise. But how do you know when to push through versus pivot away? Is the hard work indicative that you're on the wrong path, or simply part of any generative process?

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Cynthia Morris | Website

Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach.

AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 strategist April Rinne. If you haven’t listened to part 1 last week, go back and listen. It’s a critical setup for today’s jam. We explored a different way to approach the change we don’t invite or want, which April calls flux.

Then, April shared a number of her 8 Flux Superpowers. And, today, we’re bringing the conversation home as we dive into the remaining superpowers, so you can feel amazingly well equipped to handle almost any kind of change that comes your way, in work or life.

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH GUEST: April Rinne | Website

April Rinne is a change navigator: she helps individuals and organizations rethink and reshape their relationships with change, uncertainty, and a world in flux. She’s a trusted advisor, speaker, investor, lawyer, global development executive, adventurer (100+ countries) and insatiable handstander. She is ranked one of the 50 leading female futurists in the word and author of the international bestseller Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Find an advisor: CSA Directory

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 - it's just the tools our societies give us that differ.

Through her research, April has identified 8 powerful skills or reframes that she calls Flux superpowers, because they help anyone navigate change with so much more grace and ease. So much less fear, and so much more possibility and energy.

This conversation was so actionable and valuable, we went deep into all 8 superpowers. Today, we’re sharing part one of this conversation. And, you’re going to want to be sure to not just take notes, but hit that follow button wherever your listening, so you don’t miss part 2, which will be coming up next week. 

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH GUEST: April Rinne | Website

April Rinne is a change navigator: she helps individuals and organizations rethink and reshape their relationships with change, uncertainty, and a world in flux. She’s a trusted advisor, speaker, investor, lawyer, global development executive, adventurer (100+ countries) and insatiable handstander. She is ranked one of the 50 leading female futurists in the word and author of the international bestseller Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 today's episode, Jenny shares a deeply personal and timely example of her own journey through seasons of confidence, struggle, and renewal.

And in an unexpected, yet deeply powerful moment, Jenny shares a ‘Sparked Exclusive’ revealing that she began, almost covertly, creating something ‘from the mess’ in hopes of helping others feel less alone in their struggles. She wonders: Can sharing our human flaws and uncertainties actually complement our expertise and advice, providing value in its own way? 

Find out more about Jenny’s vulnerable reveal here: http://itsfreetime.com/secret

Watch ‘Save Me’ on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxFNprPOdss

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Jenny Blake | Website

Jenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 physician for years, finds herself in that place. She had hoped that pursuing a caring profession would fulfill her Nurturer Sparketype - but in practice, found herself miserable, overextended, and ready to quit. Can reconnecting with her own needs and values show her a better path forward?    

Together we explore the topic of burnout, especially in the context of a job that, at least according to its description, should be deeply fulfilling and energy. We tease out how to distinguish what’s being asked of you “on paper,” and the reality of your lived, day-to-day experience. We dive into how we might rekindle meaning and joy in our work, and reclaim energy, and a sense of boundaries and agency.       

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

LISTENER: Danielle - Sparketype: Nurturer/Advisor, Anti - Essentialist

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Yvonne Ator | Website

Yvonne is the Founder of Thriving Physicians and Thriving Idealist, where she coaches heart-centered, mission-driven Physicians and other helping professionals who seek to make a positive impact in the world. 

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s SPARKED Hot Take episode, we take on the assumption that work is the only path to purpose, meaning, passion, and happiness. And that everything we dream of has to come from it, sharing stories and experiences from clients who had staked their entire identities on ambitious career goals, only to feel lost once achieved.    

We explore a broader definition of "work" that includes any sustained effort that brings meaning - from relationships to hobbies, while dispelling common myths that limit our visions of success, and reveal how rediscovering joy in all aspects of life can infuse even our work with renewed purpose and vitality. 

SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Karen Wright | Website

Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. 

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 with no escape in sight, wondering if I'd truly lost my enthusiasm and efficacy.

But I've also discovered there are unconventional ways to reclaim that zest for living and working that burnout has stolen, if we have the courage to experiment with fresh strategies and perspectives.

In this episode, I dive deep into:

• The phenomenon of burnout
• Challenging conventional remedies
• Experiments for fun & potent techniques to reawaken the spark inside you
• How to reignite that beautiful, joyful spirit that wants nothing more than to express your creative best self

Discover the Work That Makes You Come Alive | Take the Assessment

If you LOVED this episode:

• 7 Days to Unlock Your Best Sleep | Dr. Aric Prather
• Nedra Glover Tawwab | Better Boundaries, Better Life
• Terri Cole | Let’s Talk About Boundaries

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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 been taught about success and reimagine work in ways that reflect our true selves. We ponder questions like: What new definition of success might truly satisfy your soul? What personal stories hold clues to the work you were made for? How might shifting our focus from numbers to meaning unlock more creativity and joy? Tune in for a creative collision of ideas to spark your own rethinking of work.

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Bruce Feiler | Website

BRUCE is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including LIFE IS IN THE TRANSITIONS, and COUNCIL OF DADS. His TED Talks have been viewed more than four million times, and his latest book, THE SEARCH: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World offers a new take on finding meaning and purpose at work, based on insights drawn from hundreds of life stories of all vocations and backgrounds.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. 

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.

Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered why periods of reduced productivity feel so frustrating? You know in your gut that ebbs and flows are normal, yet you still feel you should be doing better.   

In this episode, Charlie joins me to discuss how embracing seasons of less can uncover unexpected openings. When motivation wanes and energy flags, fighting it tends to backfire, as you well know Charlie. Instead, we discuss yielding to our inner rhythms, reassessing priorities and pacing ourselves with grace.   

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | Website

Charlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing. His forthcoming book, Team Habits, is set to be published in August 2023.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. 

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.

Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 powerful yet practical new book, How to Work with Almost Anyone.

Michael reveals a key insight: before diving into the what of any work— the tasks, projects and deliverables—you must first have a critical conversation, centered around 5 critical questions.

If you've ever found yourself idling in an unproductive working dynamic that feels stuck in neutral, unwilling or unable to shift gears, listen in as Michael reveals the simple yet transformative formula for how to work well with almost anyone. I believe you'll walk away with renewed hope that even the most challenging colleagues, clients and co-workers have the potential to become powerful collaborators—if only we can summon the courage to have the right kind of conversation.

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Michael Bungay Stanier | Website

Michael helps people know they’re awesome and they’re doing great. He’s best known for The Coaching Habit, the best-selling coaching book of the century and recognized as a classic. His most recent book, How to Work with (Almost) Anyone, shows how to build the Best Possible Relationship with the key people at work.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. 

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.

Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 nonprofit job a year ago to pursue freelancing. She has been experimenting with different freelance projects like copywriting, curriculum design, and social media management to see what she enjoys.

Angie says she loves the time and creative freedom of freelancing but feels she's "not living up to her potential." Which is something that a lot of us have felt over the course of our careers or during times of transition.

LISTENER: Angie - Sparketype: Performer/Maven

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Karen Wright | Website

Karen is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.

Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 how can she make a meaningful living from her art and writing, pursue further studies and honor her value around financial security?

After recently ending a long marriage and spending the past few years working to make ends meet, Helen has rediscovered her passion for writing. After spending two decades studying human behavior and helping others through her work, Helen is now ready for a change—if she can figure out a way forward that satisfies both her soul and her practical needs.

In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:

LISTENER: Helen - Sparketype: Maker/Maven

SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris | Website

Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers, she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach.

YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.

So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. 

More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.