Have you ever felt like the very identity that defined you was becoming a straightjacket? That the career path, role, or persona you'd so carefully crafted suddenly felt constraining rather than purposeful? If so, you've likely experienced the disorienting - yet potentially catalyzing - transition I'm exploring with my guest today.

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.

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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. 

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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

Presented by LinkedIn.

Have you ever found yourself dreading Monday, counting down the hours until Friday? And wondering, when did work get so devoid of joy and fun? When did we start sacrificing playfulness and authentic connection at the altar of professionalism? And is that really giving anyone, including your employer, what they want and need?

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

Presented by LinkedIn.

Have you ever felt like your ambition was unsustainable? That drive to achieve and succeed was slowly draining you, leaving you unfulfilled despite your accomplishments? What if there was a way to align your ambitions with your deepest motivations and capacity for a lifetime of thriving?

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

Presented by LinkedIn.

Ever felt the crushing weight of burnout slowly snuffing out your spark? That bone-deep exhaustion that leaves you questioning if this is really the path for you? 

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

Presented by LinkedIn.

Have you ever felt stuck pursuing a path that didn't truly resonate with you? A career, creative endeavor or major life change that you committed to fully, told the world it’s what you were doing, and who you were now…only to realize it wasn't what you really wanted? 

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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Are you tired of feeling drained and unfocused at work? Do you wish you could harness your brain’s full creative potential without sacrificing productivity? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Mithu Storoni, a neuroscience researcher and ophthalmic surgeon, reveals revolutionary insights from her book Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work.

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

Presented by LinkedIn.

Ever felt like your emotions were running the show? One moment you're mindfully present, the next hijacked by anxiety over the future or paralyzed by regrets of the past. If this resonates, you're not alone.

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

Presented by LinkedIn.

My guest today is Mitch Joel, a marketing visionary who has been at the forefront of exploring how generative AI can enhance rather than replace human creativity. When brands like Google, Starbucks, and GE want to leverage technology to connect with consumers, they call Mitch. He's the Co-Founder of ThinkersOne, and his books like "Six Pixels of Separation" and "CTRL ALT Delete" have established him as a leading voice on the intersection of technology and human experience.

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

Presented by LinkedIn.

Today’s Career Transformation Story features a trailblazer's journey from the apex of the corporate tech world to embracing the path of the solopreneur coach. It's a tale of reclaiming autonomy and giving voice to one's innermost callings.

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.

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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

Presented by LinkedIn.

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

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

Presented by LinkedIn.