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Discernment - it can feel like a Catholic buzzword sometimes, with it's increasingly casual use in day-to-day life. But what does discernment really mean and why does it matter?

For musicians, especially those forms that require the explicit telling of stories, discernment is a critical part of incorporating their faith into their profession. Art can be very subjective, so how do musicians go about this critical discernment process?

Tara shares her thoughts on all this and more on today's episode! Give a listen to this truly fascinating and insightful conversation on discerning roles, and let us know your thoughts!

What we're listening to:
Tara- Gaudete Shreds
Cecilia- A Little Christmas Music, The King's Singers

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We have a very special guest on this week's episode - Cecilia's mom, Olivia Leskowicz! Sharing her personal story of growing up in a musical family, and balancing a budding career and a young family, this episode is dripping with wisdom and insights.

Can you really "have it all"? How do you go about discerning God's Will for your career and family? We're tackling these questions and more on this week's Little Sparks Podcast!

What we're listening to:
Cecilia- Halo App, Emmanuel Playlist
Olivia- O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Tara- The Color of Your Eyes

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Theology of the Body was one of the most widely known works of Pope Saint John Paul II, and its message has broken barriers in teaching us about our own humanity and the Divine Character of God as understood through His beautiful creation of human bodies and human sexuality.

When we think of Theology of the Body, we usually think of marriage and human sexuality - and for good reason. But how does this document inform our work as musicians? What does it mean for achieving bodily freedom in our performing? What about our teaching?

On today's episode, we're giving a brief overview of the history and significance of Theology of the Body, before diving into just a few of its implications for our music making. Come join us!

What we're listening to:
Cecilia: Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 - II. Adagio sostenuto
Tara: The Muppet's Theme Song

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Following last week's episode, Cecilia addresses an important and easily overlooked form of mistreatment: emotional abuse. Broaching this difficult topic, Cecilia shares candidly from her own personal experience and healing journey. 

If you or someone you know is suffering from emotional abuse, please check out the resources at the link below-
https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/emotional-abuse-resources-n1260929

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Power imbalance is an unfortunately common problem in the music industry. It can be personally and professionally devastating to be on the receiving end of unfair treatment or inappropriate behavior of any kind.

In today's candid episode, Tara shares her own experience with harassment and inappropriate behavior from a colleague, and how this experience changed her understanding of the industry, herself as an artist, and what it means to forgive.

TW: sexual harassment and assault are discussed in this episode.

Click here to watch Sister Miriam James and Fr. John Burns- "Seeking Healing Through Forgiveness".

If you are experiencing any kind of inappropriate behavior from a colleague, friend, family member, or anybody else in your life, please keep yourself safe, and speak to someone who you trust. Below are some resources that may help you-
CatholicTherapists.com
Rainn.org
JoyfulHeartFoundation.org

What we're listening to:
Cecilia: She Moved Through the Fair
Tara: Flight

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You may have heard of St. Alphonsus Liguori, but how much do you really know about his life?

St. Alphonsus was a moral theologian, extraordinary musician, intelligent lawyer and much more. He suffered with chronic pain, experienced a total life 180° turn, and founded a respected global religious order. So what can we, as Catholic musicians, learn from the Faith and life of this exceptional saint?

Join us for this fascinating conversation about St. Alphonsus Liguori!
 
What we're listening to:
Tara: In the Bleak Midwinter
Cecilia: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

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If you've ever experienced a performance-impacting injury or illness, you'll know well the feeling of desperation to find healing. For many musicians, this becomes a gateway to new-age practices, which can be encouraged by teachers, coaches or even doctors as a means of seeking physical or mental healing.

But how do we deal with this as Catholics? What's the problem with these practices, and are there feasible alternatives we can seek?

We're diving into this controversial topic on today's episode of the Little Sparks Podcast - and, spoiler alert, we're barely scratching the surface! What are your thoughts on this topic? We'd love to hear from you!

What we're listening to:
Tara: Cormacus Scripsit
Cecilia: Autumn playlist

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After a deep-dive into the Cardinal virtues last week, we're back discussing the Theological virtues! Everyone knows these terms - Faith, Hope and Charity, but what do they mean, why are they important, and how do they apply to our lives as Catholic musicians?

These virtues are gifts from God, and there's PLENTY of wisdom and insight to share about Faith, Hope and Charity!

What we're listening to:
Tara: Ave Generosa
Cecilia: Cody Fry's The Sound of Silence

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When you think of the word virtue, what comes to mind? If your answer is somewhere along the lines of "dry," "old-fashioned," or "prudish," you need to listen to this episode! The virtues are actually good habits – which we all need to cultivate in order to have a well-ordered life!

Today, we're talking about the Cardinal Virtues: four virtues the ancient world recognized and the Catholic Church see as necessary for the moral life. Prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance aren't just the names of Puritan-era girls. They're the backbone for a good life.

We had a thoroughly great conversation on what these four virtues are and how they can show up in the life of a musician. We hope you enjoy!

What we're listening to:
Tara: The Sound of Music
Cecilia: Rhapsody in Blue

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Join us for our first episode of season 5! Today we're chatting about moral theology, what it's all about, and why it's relevant for us today.

A book we love on this topic: Made by God, Made for God: Catholic Morality Explained, by Matthew K. Minerd.