SPARK the Podcast

On this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Cassi Claire shares about seasons of change.  Cassi takes us through the recent launch of her online clothing boutique, Love, Odette, and how it grew from the dream stage into a reality!  She talks through the pressures of trying to run the business on her own strength, and shares the rest and peace that came from inviting God into her business, letting Him lead the way.  Thank you again for being so open and honest Cassi.  We are so grateful!

Connect with Cassi Claire

Love Odette: 

Website- https://www.loveodette.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/shop.loveodette

Cassi Claire Photography:

Website- https://www.cassiclaire.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/cassiclaire

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Today we are so excited to have Alexandra Kaval of Grace Space Christian Coaching on SPARK the Podcast!  Alexandra is a professional certified master life coach for purpose driven women who are feeling scattered & overwhelmed and want to live a more prioritized, intentional, and Christ centered life. She personally knows what it feels like for life to look great on the outside and to have all the boxes checked, but still not feel fulfilled and like something is missing on the inside. After lots of deep transformation and courageously leaving her corporate job to pursue her side hustle full time, she loves empowering her clients to take bold leaps of their very own. Her mission (and joy!) is to help you go further faster by living life focusing on what matters most. 

Alexandra is a mama to two sweet girls (almost two and almost six months!). She knows what it's like to have a LOT on your hands and needing to use your time, energy, and resources that you do have well, so that you feel fulfilled instead of defeated at the end of the day. In addition to multiple coaching certifications, Alexandra also holds a Masters in HR Development and Bachelors in Psychology (both from Villanova University) as well ten years of experience in HR leadership & talent development. Alexandra is PC certified by the International Coaching Federation.  Thank you again for sharing Alexandra!

Connect with Alexandra:

Website- https://www.gracespacechristiancoaching.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/gracespacechristiancoaching

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

The main question I get asked is "HOW?" How did your mother get through it? How was she able to wake up each day and go to doctors?  On this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Darlene Shotmeyer shares how her faith in God and trust in Him helped her live with hope in a season where two of her children returned home from college, one battling cancer, and the other with an unexpected brain injury.  Listen in on this heartfelt wisdom and advice from a mother's heart today.  

Darlene is a graduate of Hope College in Holland, MI where she got her BA in Communications. She is a lifelong resident of NJ and has worked tirelessly raising support and reaching fundraising goals for many Republican candidates throughout the state. She is a member of the Women’s National Republican Club, Saddle River chapter of the DAR, Women for a Stronger NJ, Bergen County Republican Organization, Bergen County Women’s Republican Club and the Franklin Lakes Republican Club.

Connect with Darlene Shotmeyer:

Website- https://www.jshotmeyer.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/njdarlene

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Welcome to our first "Coffee Talk" on SPARK the Podcast!  On this episode, Amy and Jenna chat about recent events in their lives where they have seen God answer prayers.  Amy shares a story about obedience and God's faithfulness in watching over her and her family during a difficult situation when overseas, and Jenna shares what God is teaching her now through Nehemiah.  Grab a cup of coffee and listen in.

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Today we are so excited to have Kindle Smyth on SPARK the Podcast!  Kindle is a lifelong learner and educator. A few years ago she was months from a milestone birthday and feeling like she hadn’t experienced all God has designed her for. This led to a year of trust, risk and adventure traveling the world.

She's taken the lessons she learned on that journey and put them into her first book, Follow Your Fernweh, in the hopes the rest of us can find some inspiration and practical steps to pursue our dreams too.

Connect with Kindle Smyth:

Website- https://www.followyourfernweh.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/followingmyfernweh

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Mary Cayten Brakefield is the cofounder of Brakefields, a universally designed clothing label that focuses on fashion and function. She, along with her cofounder/mom, work to design vibrant pieces that solve the problems created by traditional fashion. Whether due to disability, motherhood, a demanding job, or an on the go lifestyle, we all need clothing that is more functional and comfortable without sacrificing style. Mary Cayten’s work at Brakefields aims to provide exactly that! Mary Cayten was a student athlete at the University of Tennessee and is now pursing a masters in Marketing at Vanderbilt University. Between getting to work with disabled athletes in college and experiencing changes in her own ability level soon after, she became passionate about accessible, universally designed products in the fashion world and beyond!

Connect with Mary Cayten Brakefield:

Brakefields- https://shopbrakefields.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/marycayten

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Holly Silva is a singer and song writer of pop country and contemporary Christian music. She loves expressing herself in her writing by pulling from life experiences. Her most recent song, Jesus Eyes, was written about the passing of her beloved mother, Marianne Silva, who entered Heaven August 7th, 2021. Through her hardships, specifically the loss of her mom, her faith took on a whole new meaning to her. Now her goal is to write music that people can relate to, find comfort in, and ultimately bring glory and point people to Christ.  We are so grateful to have Holly share her story and her song Jesus Eyes on SPARK the Podcast today.

Connect with Holly Silva:

Jesus Eyes- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNe17DKIrIU

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hollyannesilva

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Today on SPARK the Podcast, Deanna shares her testimony!  Deanna is the founder of ‘Resilience is Beautiful’. A platform dedicated to sharing her journey with a rare neuromuscular disease and the importance of Medical Service Dogs. Her speaking events include motivation speaking, relationship building and communication in the wake of trials, awareness of rare diseases, service dogs and patient advocacy. Recently, Deanna was a guest panelist at the World EPA Congress, Europe's largest congress in market access, pricing and evidence; where she spoke on patient and provider Emotional Intelligence. Deanna has done several local commercials, speaking events and award presentations at colleges. Thank you again Deanna for sharing with us today!

Connect with Deanna- https://www.instagram.com/resilience.is.beautiful

Book- Ollie the True Owl

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

Watercolorist Michele E. Struss was born with a form of dwarfism, causing short stature and orthopedic complications. Despite the challenges and setbacks, her physical disability is what God has used to shape her faith and perspective on life. Michele is confident in who God is and who He has made her to be. Despite the many challenges and limitations she lives with, God has enabled Michele to go on the heights in her faith, life and art all to unveil His glory and power. Her story and paintings motivate others, from young to old, to look beyond what the eyes see…to what is unseen and limitless.

Michele’s work has traveled the world, hanging in the humblest homes in developing countries as well as in the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, TX along with works by Michelangelo, Andy Warhol, Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent. Regardless of where her paintings call home, her realistic style draws the viewer into her work as if they themselves are standing before the subject which demands a response.  We are so grateful to have Michele Struss share her story on SPARK the Podcast today.

Connect with Michele Struss:

Website- https://www.hispaintbrush.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hispaintbrush_michele

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.

On this episode of SPARK the Podcast, Megan Faulkner shares her testimony!  Originally from Delaware, Megan Faulkner is a motivated relational change agent with proven expertise in leadership and programmatic development.  She is a passionate communicator committed to processes and ideas that result in transformation for ministries, organizations, and future leaders. 

She is currently serving as the Pastoral Director of Anchored Student Ministries in Ocean Grove, NJ where she has been for fourteen years. Her enthusiasm for ministry to teenagers and their families, the marginalized and orphans, have collided into a singular passion for seeing people encounter the love of Jesus and leave radically changed.  

Megan’s blog, Joy in the Journey, depicts ridiculous tales of living a life filled with Jesus and His grace. Her podcast, Wife Me Up, is not what you think it’s about and streams weekly on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Aside from reading, studying, and teaching God’s Word, her passions in life include Haitian orphans, sunshine, people, and coffee - in that exact order. 

Thank you so much Megan for sharing your story on SPARK the Podcast!  We are so grateful and invite you all to listen into our conversation today.

Connect with Megan:

Website- http://www.meganefaulkner.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/meganefaulk

Connect with the Hosts:

Jenna Shotmeyer- https://www.instagram.com/jennashots

Mekina Saylor- https://www.instagram.com/mekinasaylor

Amy Rizzuto- https://www.instagram.com/amyrizzutophotography

Learn more about NJ SPARK at www.njspark.co or follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/njsparkco.