April 29, 2026

Bombs, Boardrooms, and Building Community: Liz Graham’s Spark Me Origin Story

Bombs, Boardrooms, and Building Community: Liz Graham’s Spark Me Origin Story
Season 1

he was 12 years old when terrorists bombed her father’s military headquarters — and for a day, she thought he was dead.

In this deeply personal episode, Michele sits down with someone listeners have come to know and love on the other side of the mic — Spark Me co‑host Liz Graham. For the first time, Liz shares her own origin story: growing up as an Air Force brat, moving every two years across the globe from Korea to Germany to Turkey, and a childhood shaped by service, adaptability, and a family unit that was “home” no matter the geography.

She opens up about the terrifying day a terrorist bombing shook her family, the moment her mother drew a line after 28 years of military life, and how her father turned down a promotion to general to honor his wife’s sacrifice. From there, Liz traces the thread that’s run through her entire life — empowering women. From helping to create Women Business Leaders in Healthcare (WBL) in Washington, D.C., to founding Circle 200 in Northeastern Pennsylvania, to building a financial advisory practice centered on guiding women through life’s biggest transitions, Liz has spent decades building community and putting women on boards, in rooms, and in positions of power.

She also shares the story behind her father’s Vietnam memoir— written together — and why, surprisingly, women have been its most passionate readers.

This is the episode that shows you why Spark Me exists — and the remarkable woman who helped bring it to life. Whether you’ve been listening since episode one or this is your first time, you’ll walk away understanding the heart behind this podcast.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

  • How growing up as a military brat shaped Liz’s leadership style, global perspective, and ability to build community anywhere she goes.
  • The harrowing story of the early‑1980s Baader‑Meinhof terrorist bombing at USAFE headquarters and how it changed her family’s trajectory forever.
  • Why Liz’s father turned down a promotion to general — and what that choice taught her about partnership, values, and sacrifice.
  • How the sudden loss of a close friend in a helicopter accident forced Liz to reevaluate what she wanted from her one wild and precious life.
  • The origin story of Women Business Leaders in Healthcare (WBL) and how one sentence in a strategic planning meeting became a movement to put more women on healthcare boards.
  • How Circle 200 was born, and why executive women’s networks matter just as much — if not more — in smaller communities.
  • What Liz does as a financial advisor at Riggs Asset Management, specifically focused on women navigating transitions like divorce, loss, retirement, and business exits.
  • The story behind her father’s Vietnam memoir and why it resonates so strongly with women readers.
  • How Spark Me was born from a knocked‑on window, a lunch, and two women listening to the same pull from the universe.
  • Why Liz believes AI is the most democratizing technology of our lifetime — and what that means for the next generation of women leaders and entrepreneurs.

Resources From This Episode

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If this conversation resonated with you:

  • Follow Spark Me wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode.
  • Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear a powerful story about resilience, service, and building something meaningful.
  • Leave a rating or review — it helps other women discover stories like Liz's.
  • Tag us when you’re listening and tell us: What’s the thread that’s been running through your life?