Find Your Spark

In this special episode, Brooke is joined by Ashley Hunt, Makayla Wheeldon, and Jena Travise to reflect on their incredible experience traveling to San Francisco for Dreamforce. Together, they share moments of gratitude for the opportunity to represent a small nonprofit like SPARK at one of the world’s biggest innovation conferences — and the inspiration that came from it.

The conversation dives into key takeaways around the future of AI and automation, exploring how these tools can help SPARK expand its reach, streamline operations, and deepen human connection in the work we do. From awe-inspiring sessions to late-night brainstorms, the team reflects on how Dreamforce reminded them to stay curious, courageous, and thankful for every opportunity to grow.

Tune in as we celebrate a season of gratitude, innovation, and the dreams that continue to fuel SPARK’s mission.

In honor of Veterans Day, Brooke and Chad take a moment to reflect on the powerful influence of role models — both those who have served and those who embody the same spirit of courage, sacrifice, and leadership. Veterans remind us daily of what it means to give selflessly for a greater purpose, and this episode explores how that same strength shows up in our own lives and communities.

As SPARK mentors, we’re often viewed as role models ourselves, guiding others toward recognizing their own potential and innate resilience. This conversation holds special meaning for us at SPARK, as we also work closely with veterans in our local jail — witnessing firsthand their growth, wisdom, and the strength it takes to rebuild.

Join Brooke and Chad as they unpack the connection between veterans, role models, and the deeper understanding of human potential that unites them all.

In this episode, Brooke shares her deeply personal journey of adopting her three children, offering an honest and heartfelt look at the joys, challenges, and profound connections that come with building an adoptive family. She reflects on how her adoption story has inspired much of the work we do at SPARK, fostering programs and approaches that focus on human potential, resilience, and connection. Brooke also shares how her experiences at SPARK influenced her decision to adopt, creating a beautiful intersection between personal choice and professional passion.

With November being National Adoption Month, this episode emphasizes the importance of raising awareness around adoption, the foster care system, and the many steps involved in creating a family through adoption. Listeners will gain insight into both the emotional and practical aspects of adoption, and how love, choice, and intentional connection shape families in transformative ways. Tune in for a moving conversation that celebrates the courage, compassion, and commitment behind adoption.

As Brooke and Chad settle into their new roles as co-hosts, they take time to share important updates from The SPARK Initiative and dive into the heart of nonprofit work. This episode explores what it really means to be a not-for-profit organization, why this work matters, and how donations directly fuel life-changing impact in schools, communities, and beyond. With honesty and gratitude, Brooke and Chad highlight the ripple effect of generosity—reminding us how much of a difference support makes for those who benefit from SPARK programs.

Now it’s Brooke’s turn to ask the questions—and this time, co-host Chad Hudson is in the spotlight. As Operations Coordinator and mentor at The SPARK Initiative, Chad shares openly about his journey, the work that drives him, and the experiences that shaped who he is today. Just like Brooke, he didn’t know what was coming, so expect a mix of lighthearted fun and meaningful insights. Get to know Chad in a whole new way as he brings his story, humor, and heart to the conversation.

In this episode, Chad flips the script and puts co-host Brooke Wheeldon-Reece in the hot seat! Without knowing the questions ahead of time, Brooke, President & CEO of The SPARK Initiative, fields a mix of fun, lighthearted questions and deeper, work-related ones. From laughter and personal stories to thoughtful reflections on leadership and impact, listeners get an inside look at Brooke beyond her role as host. Tune in for a candid, engaging conversation that helps you get to know the person behind the mic.

We’re kicking off a new chapter of the Find Your SPARK podcast! In this episode, hosts Brooke Wheeldon-Reece and Chad Hudson sit down to reintroduce themselves and share what you can expect from this revamped format. From their personal journeys with SPARK to their vision for where this podcast is headed, Brooke and Chad give you a behind-the-scenes look at why they’re excited to bring you weekly conversations that highlight resilience, mental wellbeing, and the potential within us all.

The original four founding team members of The SPARK Initiative are back together to celebrate Jena’s 9-year workiversary! In this special episode of the Find Your SPARK podcast, Brooke, Ashley, and Nicole ask Jena a mix of fun, personal, and work-related questions, highlighting her incredible growth and contributions over the past nine years. Tune in for laughs, stories, and a true celebration of dedication and impact!

Plus: Don’t miss next week’s episode, where we’re launching a whole new structure for the Find Your SPARK podcast—new hosts, fresh stories, and even more ways to unleash your potential!

In recognition of National Recovery Month, Stephanie explores the different dimensions of what “recovery” can mean. Drawing on her own experience of stepping away from alcohol, she reflects on how different definitions—from Oxford’s “return to a normal state of health” to SAMHSA’s process-oriented approach—shape our understanding. Stephanie shares why the idea of recovery resonates as a return to the innate health we all already possess, rather than something that must be earned through effort or external steps. Through personal stories and insights, she highlights how our bodies and minds are constantly guiding us back toward balance, resilience, and well-being. Listeners are invited to see recovery not as a rigid process, but as a natural rediscovery of inner health and potential that is always available.

In this week’s episode, Brooke opens up about a deeply personal moment while moving her oldest daughter into her new apartment for her junior year of college. What started as a late night argument over planning turned into something much more, a real time lesson in awareness, anxiety, and breaking habitual cycles.

Brooke shares how the emotional umbilical cord she and her daughter have wrestled with throughout their relationship often fuels codependency and tension. In this moment, she caught herself, shifted the pattern, and experienced firsthand how awareness can interrupt anxiety driven behaviors.

This episode is an honest reflection on the way our habits, fears, and love intertwine, and how seeing them clearly can spark freedom, connection, and growth.