The Spark With Stephanie James

How do you define trauma? It isn’t just car crashes, natural disasters, or unexpected loss of a loved one. Actually, trauma can be experienced when we are bullied, go through divorce, or have an embarrassing moment in our childhoods. The beliefs we hold onto around these traumas can affect us years later, and in some cases, a lifetime if we allow them to.There is hope and healing in EMDR, a therapeutic and empirically researched treatment that helps re-wire your brain and change your negative beliefs and your body’s physiological response to the memories of the trauma.Join me for an enlightening and important interview with trauma specialists Flo Holt and Janet Wright as we delve into the dark places that can define us to the liberating light that can be illuminated through the experience of rewiring trauma in the brain and reclaiming our lives.***Listen to us on the RadioPublic app: https://www.thesparkpod.com/pod/radiopublicThe Spark is supported by its listeners, and by Audible.com. With over 180,000 titles to choose from, Audible.com allows you to listen to an immense library of books for every taste on your iPhone, Android, Kindle, tablet, or computer, including Resilient by Rick Hanson and Molly's Game by Molly Bloom.Audible.com has a special offer for listeners of The Spark which includes a free audiobook of your choice and a 30-day free trial.Learn more and get your free audiobook now at thesparkpod.com/audible.

Did you know that resiliency is something you can actually grow? There are certain ingredients that go into planting and cultivating a thriving garden. We must tend to it, make sure it gets adequate water and sunlight, and must pull the weeds if we want it to flourish.Growing resilience within our minds and ourselves is no different. We can learn how to tend to our own inner garden and pull the weeds of negative thoughts and plant the flowers of positive feelings as we learn to focus on and install our own day-to-day positive experiences.Rick Hanson, Ph.D., neuropsychologist and New York Times bestselling author of the new book, Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness, takes us on a journey into the mind's workings and teaches us how we can tend to this inner garden and how we can cultivate the inner calm, strength, and happiness that will allow our inner and outer lives to flourish and bloom.***Listen to us on the RadioPublic app: https://www.thesparkpod.com/pod/radiopublicThe Spark is supported by its listeners, and by Audible.com. With over 180,000 titles to choose from, Audible.com allows you to listen to an immense library of books for every taste on your iPhone, Android, Kindle, tablet, or computer, including Resilient by our guest, Rick Hanson.Audible.com has a special offer for listeners of The Spark which includes a free audiobook of your choice and a 30-day free trial.Learn more and get your free audiobook now at thesparkpod.com/audible.

You never know who's smiling at you from across the counter. Chris Hammes works at Mugs coffee shop in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado. Most mornings when I arrive at Mugs for my daily coffee ritual, I am greeted by his warm smile and kind demeanor -- always engaging, he inquires genuinely about how I'm doing. Who knew that behind that smile -- and those kind, blue eyes -- hid the dedication and spirit of a true champion. At only 26 years of age, Chris is an ultra-marathon runner. Not only has he run several 50-mile and 100-mile races, but more than once he's crossed the finish line in first place.I met Susan Singley years ago when she worked at The Food Coop here in Fort Collins. Upon first meeting Susan, her easy laugh, infectious smile, and warm spirit immediately engage you. A few years ago, Susan decided to pursue her dreams and move to San Luis Obispo, California, where she was surrounded by the dual beauty of the mountains and the ocean. Life was an adventure, but who knew how the winds of fate would take her to her greatest adventure yet.***The Spark is supported by its listeners, and by Audible.com. With over 180,000 titles to choose from, Audible.com allows you to listen to an immense library of books for every taste on your iPhone, Android, Kindle, tablet, or computer, including titles that have been featured on this program such as Molly's Game by Molly Bloom and The Abundance Effect by Justin Morales.Audible.com has a special offer for listeners of The Spark which includes a free audiobook of your choice and a 30-day free trial.Learn more and get your free audiobook now at thesparkpod.com/audible.

What do you think of when you think of the term "serial entrepreneur?" Wealth? Power? Jet setting around the globe? Justin Morales, serial entrepreneur answers that question and more when we discuss his new book, The Abundance Effect - How to Shift From a Life of Scarcity to a Life of Abundance.We discuss what creates real abundance in our lives, how to lean into and overcome our fears, and how to create a mindset that not only brings you more success, but creates more happiness and deep life fulfillment.More about Justin's book can be found at abundanceeffect.com

Purchase The Abundance Effect at Amazon.com

We get perspectives from both sides of the mental illness spectrum. First, we talk with Dr. James Kagan, MD, a psychaitrist with over 40 years of experience. Dr. Kagan is also co-author, with Dr. Rick Delaney, Ph.D., of A 3-D View of Foster, Kinship, and Adopted Children. Dr. Kagan gives us a run down of mental illness from a clinical standpoint and talks about his new mental health screening process, called ADAPT.We also talk with John Poehler, who writes for The Bipolar Battle, a blog which seeks to help empower those afflicted with bipolar disorder live the life they deserve. John opens up about living with bipolar disorder, his diagnosis, breaking the stigma associated with the disease, and his life with his family.

We get perspectives from both sides of the mental illness spectrum. First, we talk with Dr. James Kagan, MD, a psychaitrist with over 40 years of experience. Dr. Kagan is also co-author, with Dr. Rick Delaney, Ph.D., of A 3-D View of Foster, Kinship, and Adopted Children. Dr. Kagan gives us a run down of mental illness from a clinical standpoint and talks about his new mental health screening process, called ADAPT.

We also talk with John Poehler, who writes for The Bipolar Battle, a blog which seeks to help empower those afflicted with bipolar disorder live the life they deserve. John opens up about living with bipolar disorder, his diagnosis, breaking the stigma associated with the disease, and his life with his family.

We talk with C.J. Ortiz, The Metal Motivator. C.J. takes an unconventional, edgy approach to motivation, which is that "whatever you do in life, don't suck." As The Metal Motivator, C.J. produces hundreds of videos and podcasts that serve as daily inspiration and heavy metal-inspired personal growth and lasting change.More information about C.J. can be found at metalmotivation.com.

We talk with C.J. Ortiz, The Metal Motivator. C.J. takes an unconventional, edgy approach to motivation, which is that "whatever you do in life, don't suck." As The Metal Motivator, C.J. produces hundreds of videos and podcasts that serve as daily inspiration and heavy metal-inspired personal growth and lasting change.

More information about C.J. can be found at metalmotivation.com.

Alexa Johnson was just 19 years old when she was driving on the interstate late at night and had a tragic accident. Alexa was not wearing her seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, where she died instantly. On this episode, we talk with Alexa's parents, Tad and Jona, who have used their grief to fuel a nonprofit organization in her name called Alexa's Hugs, devoted to seat belt safety and teen traffic education.

Alexa Johnson was just 19 years old when she was driving on the interstate late at night and had a tragic accident. Alexa was not wearing her seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, where she died instantly. On this episode, we talk with Alexa's parents, Tad and Jona, who have used their grief to fuel a nonprofit organization in her name called Alexa's Hugs, devoted to seat belt safety and teen traffic education.