Shows
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesA Prince of a Boy (Pt.2) - Brian McNaughtThis is part two of a two part episode. If you haven't listened to part 1, go back and listen to that one first.When Brian McNaught was in eighth grade, Sister Claire Marie, IHM, a nun at his school in Birmingham, Michigan, pulled his mother aside and proclaimed, “Your son is a prince of a boy.” ‘Did Sister Claire Marie say that because I was well behaved? Nice? Funny? Or did she see in me a vibration as the empathetic soul I aspired and imagined myself to be.” writes McNaught in his new memoir, A Prince of...2025-02-2832 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesA Prince of a Boy (Pt. 1) - Brian McNaughtWhen Brian McNaught was in eighth grade, Sister Claire Marie, IHM, a nun at his school in Birmingham, Michigan, pulled his mother aside and proclaimed, “Your son is a prince of a boy.” ‘Did Sister Claire Marie say that because I was well behaved? Nice? Funny? Or did she see in me a vibration as the empathetic soul I aspired and imagined myself to be.” writes McNaught in his new memoir, A Prince of a Boy.It was that vibration that led Brian McNaught towards a life of service, a renowned speaker, educator and leader in the fi...2025-02-2750 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesLife Reimagined on the Road to Sobriety - Anthony Taylor"Trust your heart, because in addiction, we lose faith in our own judgement and what we see as right or wrong," says “Taylor”, the name he gave himself after he embraced sobriety After years of struggling to leave addiction behind, he works to help others find their way to a sober life. "Have faith in yourself,” he says. “Believe in yourself because that's the only way that you're going to get sober and stay sober." Born in Sedalia, Missouri in a segregated community, his early years were marked with the traumas inherent in racism. At 10 he witnessed an event t...2025-02-2052 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesA Passionate Steward: Brian Muegge"We think we're so different across our communities. We may come from a different country. We might work in different jobs. We might work the land, or work in tech, but we're not all that different —we're human,” says Brian Muegge of the divisions so prevalent in society today. “There really needs to be a better way to connect across the urban-rural continuum. I hope it's through food. and I hope it can be around natural resource conservation." Ikigai is a Japanese word that means "a reason for being". It's a concept that refers to something that gives a p...2025-02-1357 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging Timesthe goodness game - Bryan Driscoll“…Give without remembering,” encourages Bryan Driscoll, the creator of the goodness game who prefers to give out of the spotlight. “It’s not about me, “ he says, humbly. Driscoll suggests several “rules” for playing the goodness game. “One way is to be the only one who knows what you’re doing… helping from afar. [The] second is where only you and the recipient knows what you’re doing. There’s no bragging. No posting on social media. The only way you can let anyone else know is if you engage their help.” — the goodness game rulesTwenty five years ago Bryan Driscoll fo...2025-02-0650 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Voices of Honoring Our Experience - Liliana TaleroThis is part 9 of a special series focusing on the community of Honoring Our Experience, a program of San Francisco’s Shanti Project, and their work with long-term survivors of the HIV/AIDS virus.“I think that's the purpose of volunteer work," says Lilian Talero of her work with the HIV/AIDS immigrant community. "We think, ‘I'm going to give my time for free. I'm going to do this for [other] people,’ but all I'm doing is healing. Through the time that I'm giving. Through the work with others. I'm not giving anything. Honestly, we're getting so much."...2025-01-3046 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesRays of Hope: Mikayla Henning, Jennifer Rea and Lee Stumbaugh“Just getting to hear her life story was so incredible, the difficult things she’s been through in her life —it really puts it into perspective… it makes me just want to ask any senior I talk to, ‘What is your story?’ because everyone has a story.” - Lee StumbaughAs we begin the spring semester of From Sparks to Light, I have a special treat for you. I’m joined today by a few of my students, Jenn, Mikayla and Lee, who were a part of my fall semester Careers in Psychology class. One of the assignment...2025-01-2357 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Sticky Note - Matt Eicheldinger“Hi, My name is Matt and I’m a teacher. Today I’m going to tell you a story about a sticky note.”Perhaps, like me, you’re one of the more than 345K followers who tune in to Instagram or Tik Tok to hear one of Mr. Eich’s wildly popular stories about his students. Matt Eicheldinger is an author and sixth grade language arts teacher who has amassed a treasure trove of stories, lessons that help him, and us, learn what it means to be fully human. Stories are, as he quotes author Jason Reynolds, baked-in empa...2024-11-1456 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Voices of Honoring Our Experience - Vince CrisostomoThis is part 8 of a special series focusing on the community of Honoring Our Experience, and their work with long-term survivors of the HIV/AIDS virus.“I was a reluctant activist,” says Vince Crisostomo of the humble beginnings of his advocacy for LGBTQ communities. He’d done his share of sitting by the bedsides of friends and community members as they succumbed to the deadly virus, but it would be a few more years until he would step into a role he has now occupied for more than 30 years.An invitation to return to his native...2024-10-3158 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Search for Connection - Rabbi Irwin Keller“There’s a longing that runs through our species. People are so hungry for belonging and recognition.”Irwin Keller was in third grade when he knew he wanted to be a rabbi, but it would be many years before he would heed his calling. Along the way he became a lawyer and gay rights advocate and a marginally famous singing drag queen for 21 years with America's Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet, the Kinsey Sicks.With war raging in the middle east and a fractured world around us, we talk about the de...2024-10-241h 10
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesMeant For More - Karen OlsonIt was just a ham sandwich.Karen Olson walked that route hundreds of times. Heading home after a long day of work in New York City at pharmaceutical company Warner Lambert, she noticed a woman sitting in front of Grand Central Station who appeared to be homeless. Instead of walking past as she’d done so many times before, she ran across the street and bought the woman a sandwich and a bottle of orange juice. “Thank you,” the woman said. It was the first time she had eaten since the day before. As she sat bes...2024-09-2651 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesHer Story Untold - Traei TsaiTraei Tsai was 6 years old when her family emigrated from Taipei, Taiwan to make a new start in Vancouver, Canada. New to a country and community where they didn’t speak the language, Traei began school where, for the first time in her life, she began to recognize that she was different. Some othe the children teased her, and to manage the discomfort she found solace in books. She began learning English through reading, even though her grasp of the language was still tenuous. In books she found the power of sharing a story, a way to open oneself to...2024-09-1948 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Power of Women - Manizha WafeqAt the age of 19, Manizha Wafeq traveled to Oklahoma City with 13 women to participate in Peace Through Business, a program to support women from her native Afghanistan to become entrepreneurs. No sooner had they arrived in the United States when it became clear that three of the women did not speak enough English to follow the lectures. Manizha volunteered to serve as an interpreter. She taught them to type in Farsi on their laptops, creating an alternate keyboard to the English one they had. Sitting beside them, she assisted them in writing their business plans, all the while working...2024-09-121h 11
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesSeason 4 TrailerDo you know someone who has a story to tell? Someone who is giving back to their community? Working to make our world a better place? Send an email to suzanne@suzannemaggio.com. Nominate them for a future episode of From Sparks to Light.To learn more about Robert Maggio, the composer of "Where Love is Love," our theme music, please check out his website.To learn more about Suzanne, visit her website. To learn more about the inspiration for this podcast, please check out Suzanne's memoir, Estrellas - Moments of Illumination Along...2024-09-0502 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesSummer Series - Ideas to Inspire with Koen van Rompay - One Small Step (ep. 57)This summer we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes from season 3, episodes that offer inspirational ideas to help you get involved in making a difference in your community. This week we’re revisiting an episode with Koen van Rompay, an infectious diseases researcher and the founder of Sahaya International. In this powerful episode, Koen reminds us that action begins with one small step.For the full show notes, please refer to episode 57.Do you know someone who has a story to tell? Someone who is giving back to their community? Working to make...2024-08-011h 00
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesSummer Series: Ideas to Inspire with Wendy Voet - Keep Moving Forward (ep. 53)This summer we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes from season 3, episodes that offer inspirational ideas to help you get involved in making a difference in your community. This week we’re revisiting an episode with non-profit administrator and public health professional Wendy Voet. She began her career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, and in this impactful episode, she reminds us that when the going gets tough, "Keep Moving Forward."For the full show notes, please refer to episode 53.Do you know someone who has a story to tell? Someone who i...2024-07-2653 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesSummer Series: Ideas to Inspire with Dan Glass - Beautiful Trouble (ep. 52)This summer we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes from season 3, episodes that offer inspirational ideas to help you get involved in making a difference in your community. This week we’re revisiting an episode with author and activist Dan Glass, whose advice is simple —sometimes you have to get into Beautiful Trouble.For the full show notes, please refer to episode 52.Do you know someone who has a story to tell? Someone who is giving back to their community? Working to make our world a better place? Send an email to suzanne...2024-07-1852 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesSummer Series: Ideas to Inspire with Joey Garcia - Say Yes (ep. 56)This summer we're replaying some of our top episodes from season 3, episodes that offer inspirational ideas to help you get involved in making a difference in your community. This week we're revisiting an episode with Joey Garcia, who has worked to expand literary opportunities to her native Belize. Her advice is simple - Say Yes!For the full show notes, please refer to episode 50.Do you know someone who has a story to tell? Someone who is giving back to their community? Working to make our world a better place? Send an email t...2024-07-1354 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Voices of Honoring Our Experience - Martina ClarkThis is part 8 of a special series focusing on the community of Honoring Our Experience, and their work with long-term survivors of the HIV/AIDS virus.Today on the podcast we're revisiting a conversation from Season 2, with Martina Clark. Author, Activist, and HIV survivor.Imagine being 28 years old, arguably at the beginning of your life, and told you have 5 years to live. With a sense of nothing to lose, Martina Clark, writer, teacher, and activist, dove into an activism that led her to becoming the first openly HIV-positive person to work for UNAIDS in 1996. 2024-06-271h 00
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Voices of Honoring Our Experience - Greg CasillasThis is part 7 of a special series focusing on the community of Honoring Our Experience, and their work with long-term survivors of the HIV/AIDS virus.“I am an educator, listener, advocate, supporter and challenger,” reads Greg Casillas from his version of the George Ella Lyon poem, I Am From. “I am from the belief that it’s never as bad as it is good. I am from a brother that said the only thing that we are given is a chance.” Greg Casillas knows the power of story. The gift of showing up and listening. O...2024-05-301h 01
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesProject: Music Heals Us - Molly Carr and Dana Martin“I felt as empty as a drum,” says Molly Carr, a Juilliard-trained, world class violist. It was a career she had worked her whole young life for. She travelled the world and performed on some of music’s most iconic stages. From Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center, Molly has shared the stage with some of the world’s greatest musicians and yet, “the constant focus on career and the fear that it could all go away,” sucked the joy from the instrument and the music that she had loved since she was a little girl. When a shattered glass bowl ma...2024-05-021h 09
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Voices of Honoring Our Experience - Hulda Brown"No matter who other people are, when you peel back the skin, we're all the same," says Hulda Brown of her struggle to find her place in a world that hasn't always been welcoming.The daughter of a single mom, she had a difficult childhood. She was taught that she was not worthy of love. That she had no value. That her voice should not be heard. But despite those early messages and painful experiences, Hulda Brown would not be silent.In 1991 she was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, contracted, she believes, from a needle stick w...2024-04-2542 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesGiving Joy - Joy Kolin“I’m not Melinda Gates,” says Joy Kolin, the founder of Giving Joy, an organization that encourages and strengthens women entrepreneurship world wide through micro grants and mentorship. “But you don’t need to be. What we’ve learned is that you can do a lot with a little. We can all make a difference —and we should.A self described Tex-Israeli, Joy Kolin was born in Texas but spent most of her formative years in Israel. It was those international beginnings that led her to a love of travel. Of a curiosity for exploration that would pave the way for...2024-04-1848 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesA Pioneer of Change - Mariana Incarnato“I wanted to work in something that could better the lives of my community,” says Mariana Incarnato, an Ashoka Fellow and the Founder of Doncel, an agency in Buenos Aires Argentina that focuses on changing the way youth who leave residential care are supported as they find their way into adulthood. A clinical psychologist, she worked in Spain for a few years before returning home to her native Argentina. “My sense of belonging was very deep,” she says of her desire to return home. “And my sense of working for social justice was very deep as well.”That injustic...2024-04-1150 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Adoptee’s Voice: La Voz del Hijo - Florencia LalorFlorencia Lalor’s adopted family always spoke openly of her adoption. “It was one of the things they did right,” she says. And if she ever wanted to search for her birth mother, she always knew she would have their support. That moment came in 2004, when curious about the mother that gave her up, she grabbed the phone book and began making calls. What she discovered set her on a path that would change her personal and professional worlds.Florencia Lalor has spent her life working to understand the experience of adoption. An adoptee herself, she has spoken...2024-04-041h 09
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Voices of Honoring Our Experience - Harry BreauxThis is part 5 of a special series focusing on the community of Honoring Our Experience, and their work with long-term survivors of the HIV/AIDS virus.Harry Breaux never thought he’d live past 30. His father died of a heart attack at 50. His mother passed away when she was 51. Now, at 79, he’s outlived them both. Being diagnosed with HIV did not come as a surprise. “You can’t play in the water and not expect to get wet,” he says. When he finally grew sick in his early 50s, he battled three simultaneous infections that threatened...2024-03-2856 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesLook for the Helpers - Cleveland Harvey“I knew I wanted to look at things differently,” says Cleveland Harvey, a social worker who works in palliative care with people who are struggling with serious illnesses. “When I interact with people I want to either help or understand them better.” Cleveland Harvey’s journey to social work is rooted in his early experience as a child in South Central Los Angeles during the mid-eighties when the area was steeped in the gang and crack epidemics. As the only black child in the neighborhood, he struggled to find direction. A chance meeting at a local hospital led him to...2024-03-2153 min
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesEpisode Rewind: An Advocate for Children - Gary MallonHi folks,March is national social work month. Social work is one of many professional helping careers, but it’s also an identity. I am a social worker, I tell my students with pride. It’s not my career, its my calling. A calling to serve others. A calling to raise up the disadvantaged, the voiceless and the marginalized. To walk beside the people who often walk alone.Today I’m sharing an episode from season 2 with my friend and fellow social worker Gary Mallon who reminds us that being seen for who you truly are is one...2024-03-141h 02
From Sparks to Light - Inspiring Stories for Challenging TimesThe Write Place - Paula Sheil“I’m very much a proponent of chop wood, carry water. Just do,” says Paula Sheil, an educator, writer, poet and the founder and president of Tuleburg Press. “My sock drawer is incredibly organized.”It’s an old Zen proverb. Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. When it feels like things are tough, we can still wash the dishes. Weed the garden. Clean out our sock drawer.Paula Sheil is a dynamo. As an elementary school teacher she filled her classroom with student created cardboard missions so that they cou...2024-03-0754 min