Listen in close as we learn from Nancy Wisner, a hilarious, empowering, go-getter woman who reminds us of the necessity to reach outside of our comfort zone. 
Connect with us: @sparkylifeoflia

Sparky Life Supports: Raya Kenney's Foundation Women Who Worked on the Home Front Memorial
Be a part of history!
National Memorial to the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation

Here's Raya and a little about her memorial
Congress approves Women Who Worked on the Home Front Memorial

Here's the link to donate. 
https://marnie-kenney-sfg2.squarespace.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=63d1d506217f9e44111ecfea

Apply for Skilled Trades the Mike Rowe Scholarship:
https://www.mikeroweworks.org/scholarship/

"We recognize a good education doesn’t always require a four-year degree.”

We support financial advancement for the skilled trades community.  You can reach out to Jennifer Markwell at Platinum Wealth email [email protected] 

website www.PlatinumWealth.net

Music by https://www.purple-planet.com

Bonus Episode!
Hilary was so kind as to give us a sneak peak into her book, Thick Skin: Field Notes from a Sister in the Brotherhood.
Connect with us: @sparkylifeoflia

Music by https://www.purple-planet.com

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we pull back the curtain on Hollywood’s electrical madness and separate movie magic from real-world electrical truths.

Can you actually get launched across a room by touching a fence?

Would an arc welder melt a burglar?

Can a hairdryer in the tub really kill someone?

We’re breaking it ALL down.

💥 In this myth-busting episode, Lia dissects famous electrical scenes from:

• Home Alone 2 – Arc welding burglar traps
• Taken – Liam Neeson, mains voltage, and terrifying interrogation
• What Lies Beneath – Death by beauty tool?
• Jurassic Park – The electric fence shock scene

You’ll learn:

• What’s actually possible and what’s pure Hollywood fiction
• The shocking truth about electric currents, voltage, and how death really happens
• How circuit breakers, GFCIs, and electric fences really work
• Why high voltage doesn’t always mean high danger — and what actually does

This is a fun, nerdy, fiery episode for the Sparky community that loves facts, physics, and movies that get it hilariously wrong.

⸻

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome to Sparky Life

00:28 – Movie Myths: Arc Welding in Home Alone 2

02:50 – What Is a Dead Short?

05:00 – Taken: The Mains Voltage Torture Scene

08:35 – Current vs Voltage: What Really Kills You

10:00 – What Lies Beneath: Hairdryer in the Tub

12:44 – GFCIs, Water Conductivity & Bathtub Myths

14:40 – Jurassic Park: The Electric Fence Myth

17:45 – Circuit Breakers vs Hollywood “Priming”

20:01 – What Electric Fences Actually Do

22:05 – Final Thoughts: Truth vs Movie Magic

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on SPOTIFY

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on APPLE

👇 WATCH the episodes on YOUTUBE!

SPARKY LIFE on YOUTUBE

⸻

📲 Stay Connected:

Instagram: @sparkylifeoflia

TikTok: @sparkylifeoflia

⸻

🛠 Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse

Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m

Use code SH5 for 5% off!

In this episode, we speak with Stephanie Schaefer, a laborer located in NY with local 79. Stephanie divulges what it's like to be a laborer. Get the info and laugh with us!
Mentioned in the episode: Holt construction https://holtcc.comCheck out local 79
Nontraditional Employment for Women (program for women interested in getting into the trades) https://www.new-nyc.org
Connect with us: @sparkylifeofliaSparky Life recommends book: Grit by Angela Duckworth
Music by https://www.purple-planet.com

Support the show

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we dive into the systems that protect lives — until they fail. Today’s episode is a wake-up call about fire alarms, real-world disasters, and the life-saving tech driving modern fire protection.

What happens when fire alarms don’t work? People die.

From London’s Grenfell Tower fire to Rhode Island’s Station Nightclub tragedy, Lia breaks down the harrowing events, the technology behind them, and the fire safety codes born from catastrophe.

💥 Inside this episode:

• What actually caused the Grenfell Tower blaze to explode up 24 stories
• The outdated fire alarm failures that cost 72 lives
• Why “Stay Put” policies can turn deadly
• How a nightclub pyrotechnics show turned into a Final Destination-style nightmare
• The fire codes and building safety laws that emerged from these events
• How AI, smart sensors, and VESDA tech are reshaping the future of fire alarms
• Why Lia swears by Siemens and other top-tier systems in the field
• How nuisance alarms lead to complacency — and why accuracy matters

This one is technical, personal, and full of moments that will make you rethink every fire alarm you’ve ever ignored. If you care about life safety, building tech, or just a wild true story — you need to hear this.

⸻

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome to Sparky Life

02:40 – Intro to Fire Alarm Disasters

04:38 – Grenfell Tower Fire Breakdown

07:58 – Fire Alarm Failures and Policy Gaps

09:28 – Smoke Inhalation: The Real Killer

13:30 – Lia’s Personal Fire Story

16:20 – The Aftermath: UK Building Safety Act

18:35 – The Station Nightclub Fire: What Went Wrong

22:40 – Fire Code Updates Post-Tragedy

24:18 – AI & Smart Detection Tech Explained

28:52 – How Fire Systems Now Work with First Responders

29:48 – Why AI Isn’t a Threat — It’s a Tool

30:36 – Final Thoughts: Prevention Over Regret

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on SPOTIFY

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on APPLE

👇 WATCH the episodes on YOUTUBE!

SPARKY LIFE on YOUTUBE

Welcome to the Sparky Life Podcast, where we celebrate careers in skilled trades with your host, Lia Lamela. 
The Sparky Life Podcast is proudly sponsored by SupplyHouse.com. SupplyHouse.com offers electricians the Trade Masters program, providing benefits like free shipping and order discounts. Visit supplyhouse.com/tm to join the program today.

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Calvin Holston, a former business professional who transitioned into the nuclear industry and became a Senior Reactor Operator. Calvin’s journey is a compelling story of embracing new challenges, from changing careers to launching his own company, Smeeple, a company that connects experts and consumers through video conferencing. Today, Smeeple offers solutions, from HVAC troubleshooting to gymnastics coaching, making expert advice more accessible to everyone.

Quotes

• "I grew up in an environment where smart people went to college and dumb people didn't go to college. That was genuinely my thought." – Calvin Holston
• "Being authentic is so trusting. You don't have to apologize for being you, and it's recognized immediately when you are." – Calvin Holston

Follow Lia Lamela:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-lamela-820a33155/ 
• Website: https://sparkylifesolutionsllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkylifeoflia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesparkylifepodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqPJrIaE7fL1uXgfdIcBYlw

Follow Calvin Holston

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-holston-b0a2857/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smeepleapp/?hl=en

Support the show

With your favorite host on Doing Girly Things, Megan speaks with Ana master plumber to give the play by play on what it takes to be a Plumber.

Different Construction Podcast Shows all about construction careers and the construction industry! Learn how dirty jobs are done.

Every skilled professional needs the right tools to succeed → Get the right tool for YOU at SUPPLY HOUSE — Use code SH5 for 5% off!

🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we spotlight the fearless innovators who shaped the trades — and the world.

What if we told you one deaf engineer made skyscrapers possible?

Today, we’re diving into the wild, dramatic story of Elisha Otis — the man who invented the safety elevator and literally changed the shape of cities forever.

💥 Join Lia as she unpacks:

• The chaotic, dangerous world of elevators before Otis
• Why skyscrapers were impossible until one invention changed everything
• Otis’s crazy live demo that went viral before the internet existed
• What it takes to turn an idea into a life-saving, world-changing product
• Why elevator mechanics deserve more respect (hint: it’s not all button-pushing)
• How one man’s guts and grit gave rise to New York’s skyline

This episode has it all — invention, danger, history, and a healthy dose of Sparky sass. If you’ve ever been in an elevator (spoiler: you have), you owe this man a thank-you.

⸻

⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:03:16 – Welcome to Sparky Life

00:03:39 – Meet Elijah Otis: Elevator Game-Changer

00:04:43 – Elevators Before Otis: Actual Death Traps

00:05:51 – The Invention That Changed Everything

00:07:03 – Otis’s Safety Brake Explained

00:09:02 – The 1854 Elevator Stunt That Shook NYC

00:11:29 – How Otis Elevators Took Over the World

00:12:55 – Legacy of an Inventor Who Stared Down Gravity

00:14:09 – The Trades That Keep the World Moving

👇 Follow for more blue collar badassery every Thursday!

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on SPOTIFY

SPARKY LIFE Podcast on APPLE

👇 WATCH the episodes on YOUTUBE!

SPARKY LIFE on YOUTUBE

⸻

📲 Stay Connected:

Instagram: @sparkylifeoflia

TikTok: @sparkylifeoflia

⸻

🛠 Huge thanks to our sponsor: SupplyHouse

Get the best tools & supplies → supplyhouse.com/t-m

Use code SH5 for 5% off!

Support the show

🚐💥 Discover the Skilled Trade That Pays $100K+ — No College Degree Needed!
In this episode of Sparky Life, Lia Lamela (Queen of Construction 👷‍♀⚡) interviews Curtis Hemmeler, a leading voice in the RV service world, to reveal why becoming an RV Technician might be the most underrated career path in the skilled trades.

Whether you're a student, career changer, or just trade-curious, this episode unpacks:
✅ What an RV Technician really does
✅ How to get trained (even with zero experience)
✅ Why this trade offers mobility, freedom, and six-figure earning potential
✅ Scholarships and opportunities for women and second-chance trainees
✅ Why RV techs are in HUGE demand right now

🎓 No degree? No problem.
💪 Hands-on work, people-first impact, and job security await.

Want to break free from the desk and build a career that travels with you?
👉 Hit play. This might be your sign.

🔗 Subscribe to Sparky Life for more stories from the trades!
https://www.youtube.com/@sparkylifeoflia

🎙 Listen to the podcast on the go: [insert podcast link]

📸 Follow us for daily trade tales:
Instagram – @sparkylifeoflia
TikTok – @sparkylifeoflia

#RVTechnician #SkilledTrades #CareerChange #WomenInTrades #SparkyLifePodcast #TradesJobs #BlueCollarBoom #RVLife #RVTechCareer

💬 Pinned Comment (First Comment to Spark Engagement)

🚨 RV Techs are in MASSIVE demand!
What part of this career surprised you the most —
💰 Six-figure potential?
🛠 No experience required?
🚐 The freedom to travel?

👇 Drop your thoughts or questions for Curtis below!
🎧 And don’t forget to subscribe for more real stories from the trades.