Welcome! Our new podcast invites you to listen in as we chat about what we’ve dedicated most of our careers to: helping others discover and own their unique sparks. In our first season, we’re sharing what we’ve learned about various facets of authenticity. We offer our perspectives not so you’ll do things our way, but because sometimes when you hear someone else describe what works for them, you learn what works best for you. We hope you’ll join us as we riff on the topic of authenticity—and laugh a little along the way.
–Flame and Jeanne, The Spark Sisters
Here, have some pixie dust.
S2, E3: Grief and authenticity
What happens when a season of personal hardships collides with a grief-inducing event—and is it possible to hold onto authenticity during such “perfect storms?” In this impromptu discussion, which may be the most raw Spark Sisters’ most raw episode yet, Jeanne shares how a recent grief has impacted her. Together, she and Flame discuss the value of remaining authentic even when times are tough.Related resource: Jeanne mentions The Live Your Values Deck by Lisa Congdon and Andreea Niculescu.This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S2, E2: Rugged individualism and authenticity
Rugged individuality is often characterized as a hallmark of the American way of life, but is it authentic? How are they the same? How are they different? In this episode, Jeanne and Flame explore these questions. They also discuss a vision for society that builds on the best of all of it.
This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S2, E1: Authentic productivity
The Spark Sisters kick off their second season by discussing the "quiet quitting" phenomenon and how it relates to productivity and authenticity.Related reading: Jeanne mentions a thought-provoking Twitter thread by Anne Helen Petersen, the co-author of the book Out of Office.
This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S1, E7: Jeanne’s authenticity journey
Jeanne shares how she began identifying and trusting her authentic self—and how that process involved a dark reckoning.* She and Flame also discuss the value of courage, clarity, community and play, as well as the role that systems have in people’s capacity to be their authentic selves.* This included an incident of near-suicidal thoughts. If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call 800-273-8255 or chat with a counselor online.This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S1, E6: Flame’s authenticity journey
Hear what Flame's path of authenticity looks like. In her search for happiness, she found her own path, guided by the events of her seemingly random life. Ultimately, her core values and quest to be unconditional love became the foundation for her authentic life.This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S1, E5: Empowering authenticity
Authenticity is an inside job, but in this episode Jeanne and Flame discuss how people can support those around them to be more authentic--especially managers. Through polarity management, curiosity, psychological safety and a partnership view, authenticity becomes usable and a real contribution to our environments. It also makes life easier.This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S1, E4: How to be more authentic
One of the greatest challenges we face as human beings is how to be more authentic in our day to day lives. In this episode, Flame and Jeanne explore why it's such a challenge and how to truly "show up" anyway and thereby become more confident, joyous and successful so that you can make the unique contribution you are here on the planet to make.This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S1, E3: Authenticity and relationships
What does it look and feel like to be authentic in our personal relationships? The Spark Sisters examine the distinction between transactions and actual relationships. Then, Jeanne and Flame explore the overall purpose of relationships and how authenticity empowers an “upward spiral” in them that can catalyze personal growth.This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S1, E2: Authenticity at work
Jeanne and Flame discuss why authenticity matters in the workplace. They connect the concepts of genius, intuition and creativity with authenticity.Related reading: Flame quotes Marianne Williamson, specifically “A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of ‘A Course in Miracles’.”This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Here, have some pixie dust.
S1, E1: What is authenticity (and why does it matter)?
In this first episode, the Spark Sisters, Flame and Jeanne, explore what living from your authentic spark means today and why it matters to the human race. They consider how wholeness and integrity contrast with the vulnerability and suffering of the human condition. They also share a few ideas to help you discover and keep returning to your authentic self.Related reading: Flame mentions Joseph Campbell who was a comparative religion and mythology professor. Campbell’s whose seminal work, “The Hero With a Thousand Faces,” helped define aspects of the universal human experience.This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
TRAILER
Listen in as we provide a little backstory of our new show, and give you a glimpse into what’s coming up in the first season.This is a spacer. Live long and prosper.
Not long after we met in 2014, we began discovering that we had kindred and complementary ideas about work, life and above all, authenticity. In our personal conversations, we also learned that we naturally riffed on each other’s thoughts—creating ideas that were more vibrant and empowering than those we had on our own. And these chats often created just the right spark each of us needed to light our individual paths.When we finally decided to let others in on these discussions, we quickly determined the best way to describe who we are together: The Spark Sisters.For a glimpse at who we are individually, check out the links below.About Flame. // About Jeanne.
I light up when I see people changing for the better. I can’t help it. It is the best. thing. ever. I am a sucker for a transformation story (alà “Beauty and the Beast”... well-read, adventurous brunette changes the world with her capacity for unconditional love? Yes, please!) Why transformation? Because transformation is the portal to authenticity and self-actualization.
My personal journey hasn’t been so much about learning to do more, reach higher goals and keep clearing the bar—that was my natural state when I was younger. Instead, it’s been about learning to know my true self, let the brilliance of others shape me, and accept the universal nature—the suffering and limitations—of being a human. In short, I am a “recovering perfectionist.” (I’m a Type One on the Enneagram, if you know what I mean.) While the quality of my work is excellent, my goal is to achieve that without exacting a harsh price on my well-being or anyone else’s.In 2018, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) chose me as the first-ever North American Young Coach Leader for my leadership in the field of coaching. Supporting the growing community of professional coaches in Nebraska and the entire U.S. midwest is another one of those things that lights me up! I’m kind of a coach’s coach, which is what drew me to mentor coaching and supervision.Two years later, I earned my Master Certified Coach credential from ICF. There are only about 3,500 of us on the entire planet, because it’s rigorous and transformational (surprise!) to master this way of being in the world.I’ve been featured in several publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review and Fast Company; I’ve coached in organizations as large as PayPal and TD Ameritrade; and I’ve hosted a variety of workshops, including some on the Enneagram, which I’ve studied for more than 25 years. But my first love really is individual coaching. A conversation with me could literally change your life!I live in Bellevue, Nebraska with my two brilliant children. And, yes, that is my real name. Find out more at my website: Coach Flame.
One of the things that’s been the most fulfilling in my professional life (and probably my life as a whole) is being what I call a “purveyor of pixie dust.” As a mentor or manager, I’ve enjoyed providing the support and extra bit of oomph that helps creatives and communicators OWN their unique talents and skills. I avoid guiding others to do things as I would. Instead, I like to observe them, get curious about them, and then offer some perspectives to help them work in alignment with their strengths and values.
Recently, I realized that my own life needed an infusion of pixie dust, too. So after 25 years of being a communicator, creative director and facilitator as an employee in various companies—ranging from an award-winning boutique ad agency to a Fortune 50 technology company—I launched my own creative consultancy, IvyMagic. It exists to help ideas, strategies and content take flight, while motivating creatives and communicators to shine brighter. I deliver on that purpose through fractional or spot creative direction, as well as creativity workshops.The shift to working independently also gave me the boost of energy I needed to explore painting and collage. In the process, I discovered abilities I never knew I had, and found a new facet of who I am: an artist. (If you’d like to check out the art I’ve been working on, mosey on over to Instagram).A few other things: I’m an Oregonian, a devoted honorary aunt, and a Gen Xer who often relates more to Xennials (or even Gen Z). You can find other various and sundry facts about me here and there.
Have questions or topic suggestions for us? Send us a note. Thank you!