Episodes

What if addiction isn’t the problem — but the solution to something deeper? In this Spark Short, Liz and Michele revisit their powerful conversation with Brenda Zane of the Hope Stream community and unpack one of the most eye-opening reframes of the episode: substance use isn’t usually the root issue — it’s often a coping mechanism for underlying mental health struggles. They explore the “tip of the iceberg” analogy that resonated so deeply with listeners — how drugs and alcohol may be visibl...

There are conversations parents whisper about or avoid altogether because the fear and judgment feel unbearable. This is one of them. In this deeply personal and powerful episode of Spark Me, Michele and Liz sit down with Brenda Zane, parent advocate, certified coach, and founder of HopeStream Community — a nonprofit created to support parents navigating a child’s substance use and mental health challenges. After her own son’s near-fatal fentanyl overdoses, Brenda turned six years of chaos...

What does it really take to turn a spark of an idea into something tangible, impactful, and lasting? In this episode of Spark Me, Liz and Michele dig into the power of execution — how following through on a vision can change communities, careers, and even the reputation of an entire city. Liz shares the origin stories of Circle 200 and Women Business Leaders in Healthcare, two peer-to-peer networks she helped found to answer a deceptively simple question: Who mentors the mentor? These groups ...

What if the most powerful thing you could do this week took just ten seconds? This Spark Me episode is a reflective conversation inspired by last week’s powerful discussion with Stacey Fritz — and by a week that, as Michele puts it, “was a week.” Liz and Michele unpack the idea that life’s challenges come in waves, and while we can’t stop them from coming, we can choose how we meet them. At the center of this conversation is the power of the pause — both literal and metaphorical. From breathw...

Why so many women stay stuck in fight-or-flight and how to learn to pause and exhale Many women are managing careers, families, aging parents, partnerships, and their own expectations, often in a constant state of inhale (fight or flight), never taking a pause or remembering to exhale. In this episode of Spark Me, we sit down with Stacy Fritz, speaker, wellness strategist, and inventor, to talk about breath and self-regulation not as soft ideas, but as practical tools for staying well over ti...

What if the thing we reach for to relax is actually exhausting us—and quietly reshaping our kids’ brains along the way? Social media is woven into nearly every part of modern life, but in this candid Spark Me conversation, Liz Graham and Michele Dempsey take a hard look at the unintended consequences of constant scrolling—for adults and kids. From dopamine hits and “bed rotting” to comparison culture and lost creativity, this episode pulls back the curtain on why so many of us feel worse the mor...

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do in your second act is walk away from a life you thought you were “supposed” to live. This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele sit down with Rachel Olszewski Conrad, founder of Fear Less Publicity, for a deeply honest conversation about reinvention, resilience, and trusting yourself when life takes an unexpected turn. Rachel shares her journey from growing up in Chicago to building a life in Northeastern Pennsylvania — a path shaped by love, loss, and coura...

What happens when a story refuses to be forgotten? In this Spark Short, we talk about a book that took decades to become real — not because it was being written, but because it was being lived. What started as cassette tapes mailed back and forth between a father and daughter slowly became a memoir spanning war, reinvention, service, and legacy. From fighter pilot missions in Vietnam to starting a brand-new business at 56 — and publishing a book at nearly 90 — this is a reminder that reinv...

What if grief wasn’t something to “get over,” but something we learn how to carry — together? This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele open up about a chapter of life many of us enter quietly and unprepared: losing our parents. Over the past year, both have navigated profound loss while continuing to show up for work, family, friendships, and this very podcast. They talk honestly about what grief actually looks like in real life — not just in the immediate aftermath, but in the months that foll...

What if the “future of AI” wasn’t just about technology, but about what kind of humans we become while we build it? This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele sit down for a Spark Short that’s… not actually all that short. They dive into the wild, complicated, and very real ways artificial intelligence is already reshaping our energy use, our jobs, our politics, and even how we show up for our kids’ futures. Liz shares her perspective as an investor in AI-related companies, unpacking why AI isn’t...

What if life feels fuller when we notice just how much there is to be grateful for in every part of it? In this heartfelt Spark Short, Liz and Michele share how this holiday season is bringing surprising joy, deeper connection, and fresh starts—even in the middle of big life changes. From a relaxed, sun‑soaked Thanksgiving at a North Carolina beach house to a bustling family gathering back home with all the classic recipes, they show how traditions can evolve and still feel just as rich and ...

What happens when you keep choosing the unconventional path because that’s what feels true to you? This week on “Spark Me,” Liz turns the mic inward and interviews her co-host, Michele Dempsey—architect, mom, community advocate, and lifelong challenger of the status quo. In this intimate origin story, Michele shares how she built a life that followed her own blueprint. From forging her way as a business owner in a male-dominated field, to becoming a single mother through international adop...

What if the greatest heartbreak in your life could become the turning point for the most courageous chapter yet? This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele sit down with Angela Buchter to explore an extraordinary journey through loss, resilience, and unexpected renewal. Angela built a thriving career in science, rising from the night shift to Director at a major vaccine facility. But in 2019, her world shattered with the sudden loss of her husband. Overnight, she became a single mother of three, ...

What if the key to a longer, happier life isn’t what you eat or how much you exercise, but who you call your friend? This week on Spark Me Shorts, Liz and Michele explore the power of friendship in the second act of life and why meaningful connection may be the ultimate secret to happiness and longevity. Drawing on Aristotle’s timeless philosophy and decades of modern research, they unpack how different types of friendships shape our lives, from social circles that fade to those rare, endu...

What if life's unexpected pivots were actually leading to your purpose? This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele sit down with Katrina Bowers, founder of Guided Giving, to explore how a life of pivots — from early marriage and career changes to personal loss — led her to a powerful second act centered on generosity and purpose. Katrina shares how she built a 30-year career in philanthropy, why true giving is about impact, not money, and how faith and friendship carried her through her hardes...

Ever fallen head-over-boots for a voice that feels like home? Meet Laurel Wright, one half of Nashville duo The Young Fables, whose crystal-clear vocals and soul-first songwriting chart a path through grief, grit, and gorgeous melody. From singing in East Tennessee churches at age three to American Idol and USA’s Real Country, Laurel opens up about loss, mental health, thick skin in a male-dominated genre, and why success is something you define for yourself. In this conversation, we spin 30-...

Ever had that moment when logic says one thing, but your gut says another? In this Spark Short, hosts Michele Dempsey and Liz Graham dive into the art (and challenge) of trusting your gut. Michele shares a raw, real-life story about a moment when her intuition told her to pause even though logic said, “Go.” It’s a story about slowing down, listening to your inner wisdom, and realizing that sometimes your gut knows before your brain does. Liz reflects on her own early-career moment of cour...

Ever feel like you’re supposed to “stay in your lane?” Tara Mugford Wilson never got the memo. From corporate consulting to running a unionized mechanical business in a male-dominated industry, to buying (and rebranding) a women’s fashion and home store just before the pandemic — Tara proves that your second act (and third!) can be as bold as you dare to make it. In this conversation, Tara shares what it means to trust your gut, build respect where none is freely given, and embrace opportu...

What if the key to getting more out of life isn’t doing more — it’s slowing down? In this inspiring episode of Spark Me, Michele and Liz sit down with Kris Holmes, a woman whose life has been defined by love, resilience, and gratitude. From becoming a mom at 18 to building a thriving career and rediscovering herself through yoga and sound healing, Kris shares what happens when you stop saying yes to everything and start saying yes to yourself. Kris reminds us that even the busiest women ca...

This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele turn the spotlight inward to share the story behind the podcast itself. What began as recurring dinner-table conversations with girlfriends—about kids leaving the nest, shifting careers, caring for aging parents, and craving something more—has become a platform for women in their middle chapters to connect, learn, and grow together. From balancing family and work to navigating loss and rediscovering creativity, Liz and Michele reveal why they felt called...

This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele welcome the inspiring Dr. Karen Murphy—a trailblazer in healthcare transformation whose extraordinary journey proves that life’s twists and turns can lead to incredible destinations. From teenage mom and nurse to CEO, Secretary of Health, and a leader in healthcare innovation, Karen’s story is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of community. Before diving into Karen’s remarkable path, Liz and Michele reflect on the importance of purpos...

This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele sit down with the brilliant and inspiring Beth Twohy—a strategic leader whose career journey spans from predictive analytics at Procter & Gamble to transforming education in Baltimore public schools. Before diving into Beth’s story, Liz and Michele share personal reflections on community, personal loss, and the power of connection. From navigating grief after losing parents and honoring family traditions to how one small invitation saved a life, their co...

In this deeply inspiring conversation, we sit down with Dr. Christine Kiesinger—executive coach, meditation guide, and expert in relational communication—to explore what it really means to transform your life, relationships, and leadership. Christine shares her journey from a 30-year career in academia to leaving tenure behind and stepping into a new book—not just a new chapter—of her life. She opens up about how meditation, intuition, and the courage to listen to her inner voice guided her t...

In this deeply moving conversation, we sit down with ⁠Tracey Selingo⁠—founder of Fork Over Love—to explore how one woman’s vision during the pandemic became a powerful movement of community, nourishment, and hope. When COVID-19 shuttered restaurants and left thousands of families struggling with food insecurity, Tracey saw an opportunity to bring both challenges together into a beautiful solution: paying local restaurants to prepare meals and sharing them with neighbors in need. What began as...