Find Your Spark

Hosted by The SPARK Initiative

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Episodes

270

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

“FIND YOUR SPARK” is a podcast that uncovers real-life stories about discovering and embracing your SPARK—even in the middle of a busy, messy life. Hosted weekly by Brooke Wheeldon-Reece, President & CEO of The SPARK Initiative, and Chad Hudson, this show brings a fresh and authentic perspective on life, growth, and impact. Each episode features heartfelt conversations as Brooke and Chad explore topics like family, mental health, personal development, running a nonprofit, and the transformative work of The SPARK Initiative. With a mix of honesty, humor, and deep insight, they create a space for meaningful dialogue—capturing the raw, unfiltered experience of being human while navigating life’s challenges and striving to make the world a better place.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 2718 min

271: Observing Juneteenth with Intention

History gives us perspective. It reminds us that change is possible, that progress takes courage, and that the work is never truly finished. In this episode, Chad reflects on what Juneteenth means beyond the holiday itself. Freedom is at the heart of this day, but freedom looks different depending on who you are and where you come from. What does freedom mean to you? What does opportunity look like in your life right now? What does equality still need to look like? Juneteenth invites us to sit with those questions honestly. To honor the lessons left by those who came before us. To look at how other people's experiences differ from our own. And to ask ourselves what we are doing, right now, to create opportunities for the generations that come after us. This is not just a day to celebrate. It is a day to reflect, to learn, and to look forward with intention.

June 2, 2026Episode 27016 min

270: A New Voice Joins the Team

In this episode, Chad sits down with SPARK's newest team member, Shawn Adkins, for a fun and candid conversation about all things Shawn. With a background in case management and a lifelong heart for working with youth, it's no surprise that SPARK felt like home from day one. Shawn shares what brought him to SPARK, what his role looks like, and the impact he's already witnessed from the curriculum — even in his short time here. The two also get into life beyond the office, balancing work and home, and yes…the role Red Bulls play in it all.

May 26, 2026Episode 2697 min

269: No Filter - Real Talk on Mental Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but if we're being honest, mental health deserves our attention every month of the year. In this episode, Chad sits down for a candid, heartfelt conversation about the realities of mental health: the stigma that keeps too many people silent, the way our mental wellbeing shapes everything we do, and the quiet power of choosing to understand rather than judge, starting with ourselves. Because grace isn't just something we give others in their hardest moments. It's something we all need to practice, every day. Join Chad for this important conversation. It just might be the one you needed to hear.

May 19, 2026Episode 26958 min

268: State of Mind Part 7 - The Voice Behind the Statement

In our final episode of the series, Brooke and Chad sit down with the woman whose words started it all: Mavis Karn. You may not have known her name, but chances are you've felt the truth in her words: "My state of mind is the most important thing to me." That simple statement became the heartbeat of this entire series. And now, Mavis is here to tell us what she really meant. She starts with a story almost every woman has lived: the quiet, relentless habit of making sure everyone else is okay before even thinking about yourself. It's woven into how many of us were raised, how we love, how we show up. Then, Mavis takes us somewhere unexpected: an airplane. We've all heard it. "Adjust your own oxygen mask before assisting your child." Mavis heard it too, and as a mother, her first instinct was the same as yours probably would be; however, then came the line that stopped her cold: "If you're unconscious, you cannot help your child." It sounds simple. It is simple. And yet it changes everything. Because what's true at 30,000 feet is true everywhere. If your state of mind is depleted, if *you* are running on empty, if your own wellbeing keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list, how can you truly show up for the people who need you most? This is the conversation we've been building toward this series. Don't miss it.

May 12, 2026Episode 26737 min

267: State of Mind Part 6 - A Moment to Moment Self-Care Mission

Some words stop you in your tracks. And when you're lucky, someone else in the room felt it too. In this episode, Brooke is joined by Stephanie Fox, one of the only other people present the day Mavis Karn said the words that changed everything: "My state of mind is the most important thing to me." Both women heard it, and both were moved in remarkably similar ways. In the weeks that followed, they each carried those words home and sat with what they really meant. Together, they reflect on that shared moment and the ripple effect it sent through their lives, unpacking why something so simple landed so deeply, and what it continued to reveal the longer they thought about it. The conversation also moves into territory that's easy to misread: self-care. Not the face masks and bubble baths version the internet has sold us, but something quieter and more honest. The practice of actually tending to your state of mind. Brooke and Stephanie explore why the word has been flattened into a trend, why that matters, and what it looks like to take your inner world seriously as a daily priority, not as a luxury, but as a foundation. This one is for anyone who has heard something, felt it somewhere deep, and needed time to understand why.

May 5, 2026Episode 26621 min

266: State of Mind Part 5 - It’s a Moment to Moment Shift

What if the key to showing up as your best self wasn't a practice you had to perfect, but simply an awareness you could come back to, moment to moment? In this episode of the State of Mind series, Chad sits down with Jena Travise for a conversation that is as honest as it is eye-opening. Jena shares her understanding that state of mind isn't fixed. It's fluid, shifting from one moment to the next. And the real power lies not in always being in a great state of mind, but in noticing when you're not. Jena opens up about a recent trip with her son, recalling a moment where she caught herself slipping, responding in ways that didn't feel like her, acting out of character in ways that, on reflection, she could only explain as a shift in her state of mind. That moment of recognition changed everything. Awareness is the turning point. When you can see that your state of mind has shifted, you have the ability to adjust, to pause, reset, and show up differently. This episode is a reminder that taking care of your state of mind isn't a one-time decision. It's a moment to moment choice to pay attention, and the simple but profound power that comes with that.

April 28, 2026Episode 26432 min

265: State of Mind Part 4 – What's Love Got to Do With It?

What if your first reaction to "my state of mind is the most important thing to me" was... that's a little selfish? That's exactly where Makayla started. In this episode, Brooke sits down with Makayla Wheeldon for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about navigating a demanding career, the realities of wedding planning, and what it actually takes to show up fully in a relationship. As they dig deeper, a new perspective begins to take shape — that being aware of your state of mind isn't selfish at all. It's a form of self-love. And when you love yourself enough to tend to your own mind, you show up differently for the people who matter most. Makayla begins to see that state of mind is the starting place for effective communication, deeper connection, and the kind of love that actually lasts.

April 21, 2026Episode 26421 min

264: State of Mind Part 3 - State of Mind is EVERYTHING

In this third installment of the State of Mind series, Chad sits down with Nicole Wilson to explore one of the most foundational truths we can embrace: that state of mind is everything. Together they unpack how your state of mind isn't just how you're feeling in a given moment — it's the root of everything you respond and react to, and the filter you're looking at life through. Nicole shares why she holds the statement "my state of mind is the most important thing to me" so close, and how she's come to see state of mind not as a mood or mindset hack, but as the very foundation of how we walk through life. If you've ever wondered why two people can face the same situation and come away with completely different experiences, this conversation is for you.

April 14, 2026Episode 26333 min

263: State of Mind Part 2 - You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup

In this episode, Brooke is joined by SPARK team member Ashley Hunt for an honest and heartfelt conversation about what it really means to prioritize your state of mind. When Ashley first encountered the idea that your state of mind is the most important thing to you, she was stopped in her tracks because for as long as she can remember, she's been the person who puts everyone else first. In this episode, she opens up about that realization and what it stirred in her. Together, Brooke and Ashley explore the invisible nature of state of mind and why it's so easy to overlook something you can't see or touch, and why that's exactly what makes it so important. This isn't about bubble baths and to-do lists. It's about tending to the unseen layer of yourself, so that when you show up for the people you love, you're truly there.

April 7, 2026Episode 26245 min

262: State of Mind Part 1 - My State of Mind is the MOST Important Thing to ME

Have you ever heard something that completely shifted the way you see yourself and the world around you? "My state of mind is the most important thing to me." These words sparked something powerful, and in this brand new 7-part series, Find Your SPARK hosts Brooke & Chad are diving deep into what that really means. In this first episode, Brooke & Chad introduce the State of Mind series and Brooke opens up about the profound personal impact this statement had on her and why it stopped her in her tracks. Because the truth is, your state of mind isn't just a feeling. It's the foundation for everything. When you prioritize it, you show up better — for yourself, for the people you love, and for every area of your life. This series is an honest, heartfelt exploration of what it truly means to take care of yourself from the inside out. Because you can't pour from an empty cup. Get ready — this one is going to stay with you.