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Tim Sohn is a two-time best-selling author of the Perspectives on Cancer book series, a heartfelt collection that assures cancer patients, survivors, and supporters they are not alone in their journey. Through these books, he inspires individuals to share their cancer experiences when they feel ready. Tim is also the visionary behind the global, weekly livestream show Showing Up: Perspectives on Cancer and the annual in-person events of the same name. Both platforms foster connection, support, and understanding within the cancer community

In this episode, Timothy shares the power of sharing stories from Perspective on Invisible Illness: Living and Thriving Beyond What Can’t Be Seen. We discuss the fear of judgment that often keeps people from opening up about unseen illnesses and how finding supportive communities can foster healing and connection.

Timothy shares how resilience, gratitude, and embracing life’s small joys can transform even the darkest moments. He reflects on mantras like finding solace in nature and leaning on loved ones. We also hear inspiring stories, and how these experiences remind us that we’re not alone.

No matter your journey, this episode encourages you to show up for yourself, embrace love, and celebrate life’s small victories.

Chapter:
00:00 - Introduction
03:42 - Tim's Book: "Perspective on Invisible Illness"
07:37 - Timothy's Journey as a Cancer Warrior
10:35 - How He Began Sharing His Story 17 Years Ago
14:35 - Why People Hesitate to Open Up About Unseen Illnesses
17:45 - The Power of Community
20:50 - Stories of Overcoming Challenges from the Book
25:40 - Key Lessons That Strengthened Him Along the Way
30:24 - Finding Hope, Joy, and Gratitude Near Life's End
33:23 - Lee's Story: The Greatest 12 Years of His Life
33:55 - Mantras and Rituals for Coping with Challenges
38:06 - How Therapy Transformed His Perspective
42:14 - Randy’s Message: You Are Not Alone
44:33 - One Key Challenge: Showing Up for Yourself

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Nathan Osmond is a multifaceted professional, balancing his roles as an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, podcaster, and life coach with his involvement in the family legacy of pop culture. Nathan George Osmond, one of 39 grandchildren in the renowned Osmond family, is the second oldest of Alan and Suzanne Osmond's (née Pinegar) eight sons. This makes him a nephew to the original Osmond lineup, including Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie, and Jimmy Osmond.

In this episode, we talk about counting blessings, embracing the kindness of others, and the importance of words—both those we speak and those we think. He shares the value of real connections, believing in ourselves, and making the most of life’s small moments. Remember, every person has the power to make a difference. Let’s find strength in grace, mercy, and forgiveness, and keep our focus on all the good that surrounds us.

Chapter:
00:00 - Intro
09:26 - Life Lesson from Mike the Wallpaper Guy
10:43 - Traumatic Experience of His Son
14:24 - The Power of Words
17:12 - How Charlie Brown Shaped His Life
22:13 - The Story Behind the "Perfect 911"
25:53 - His Father as the Ultimate Coach
28:30 - A Lesson from a Good Friend
29:30 - Struggles in His Marriage
32:45 - His Father's Battle with Multiple Sclerosis
36:53 - The Man Who Thinks He Can by Walter De Wintle
38:08 - Lessons from George Washington
40:10 - Reflections on His Wife
49:43 - His Safe Person: John Gossett and own a Life's Worth Living Foundation
50:58 - Gratitude for Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness
52:22 - His Podcast "Achieving Awesomeness Now"
1:00:00 - Reading The Touch of the Master’s Hand
1:02:17 - One Word That’ll Change Your Life

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Randy McNeely, a former cybersecurity professional, is now a passionate advocate for kindness. With over 20 years of experience in both private and public sectors, he helps entrepreneurs and organizations overcome toxic cultures through his 4-Stage Kindness Habit Framework and 5-Step Kindness Givers' Formula. Randy’s warm-hearted approach empowers businesses to thrive by fostering kindness-driven behaviors, creating stronger relationships, and achieving outstanding results.

In this episode, kindness is shown as the gateway to gratitude and a catalyst for positive change. Randy McNeely emphasizes that small acts of kindness, when written in a Kindness Journal, help us relive and remember those moments, offering comfort during tough times.

Kindness is described as love in action—a force that fuels happiness, joy, and success. Through love, we feel valued and appreciated, and every kind act strengthens that connection.

With a simple 5-step guide, listeners are encouraged to start each day with purpose, seek opportunities to be kind, and reflect on the impact they've made. The message is clear: Kindness begins with us, and even the smallest actions can change lives.

Chapter:
00:00 - Intro
01:56 - Story of Why He is Wearing a Red Cape
04:23 - The Kindness Givers' Formula 2.0
08:17 - Struggles with His Father and How It Shaped Him
10:37 - The Value of Noticing and Reflecting on Acts of Kindness
13:54 - How His Friends Helped Him Feel
15:57 - The Importance of Love and How It Drives Kindness
19:33 - The Meaning of "Tada" | 5-Step Guide to Inspiring Change Through Love
26:09 - Talks on Honey Bees
35:52 - Being Kind to Ourselves
38:20 - Talks about Naval Gazing Syndrome/Tunnel Syndrome

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Website: https://www.sparksofgratitude.com

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Dr. Andreea Vanacker is an entrepreneur, international speaker, and 4x author focused on promoting joy and human-centric leadership. Her work has been featured in major outlets like Forbes, Fast Company, and National Post. With a Ph.D. in Economics and vast experience managing global teams across 50+ countries, Andreea inspires leaders to build thriving, people-first organizations.

Christophe is the Founder and Chief Business Humanizer at Innate Motion, dedicated to bringing human sense to business. A South African born during Apartheid, Christophe's mission to challenge institutional barriers led him to create a company that helps global brands grow with purpose, fostering genuine human connections.

In this episode, Andreea and Christophe explore how embracing change is essential for growth and well-being. They discuss how resisting change can leave us stuck in fear and negativity, disconnected from our true nature. By welcoming change with gratitude, we open the door to personal and emotional growth, fostering resilience, generosity, and appreciation.

The conversation highlights how shifting our perspective to one of curiosity and excitement allows us to navigate challenges with gratitude. By cultivating self-love, connection with others, and a deeper relationship with nature, embracing change becomes a powerful tool for thriving in all areas of life.

Chapter:
00:00 - Intro
02:58 - Christophe explains what it means to be a "welcome change practitioner."
04:05 - Overview of Christophe's company, Innate Motion.
07:11 - Christophe shares insights on the role of change in growth.
09:19 - How Andreea and Christophe became connected.
13:10 - Andreea shares her experience with two brain surgeries and the nine hours spent in sleep during them.
18:30 - Christophe reflects on challenging moments he's experienced.
25:22 - Andreea introduces the 4 R’s related to the Human Growth Code.
27:00 - Andreea explains why gratitude is so important to her.
29:30 - Christophe shares his perspective on the importance of gratitude.
36:27 - Christophe discusses the idea that self-sufficiency is a myth.
41:37 - Andreea talks about her mission, "1 Million Years of Joy."

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Website: https://www.sparksofgratitude.com

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Through her story of overcoming challenges and finding gratitude in difficult times, Gina shares how courage and growth often arise from fear and pain. This episode is a powerful reminder that learning fuels resilience and transformation in every aspect of life.

Gina is the CEO of Luma Brighter Learning, an award-winning company specializing in instructional design and adult learning. She focuses on developing measurable, science-based methods to help businesses improve safety and compliance. Gina is the author of Teaching Without a Teaching Degree: Luma Learning Lessons and holds advanced degrees in education and instructional technology from Indiana University and the University of Dayton.

In this episode, Gina shares the power of lifelong learning, emphasizing that education doesn’t stop with a degree—it continues as a journey of growth and self-discovery. She breaks down the 5 components of learner connection—engagement between learners, self, coaching, instruction, and technology—highlighting how true learning goes beyond content.

Chapter:
00:00 - Intro
02:51 - Importance of These Conversations to Gina | What Energizes Her
04:00 - Where Gina Studied and How She Learned
06:32 - Gina’s Learning Experience for Truck Drivers
08:35 - What Truck Drivers Want to Learn
15:26 - 5 Components of Learner Connection
18:58 - Realizations About Gratitude and What’s Meaningful to Her | "Building a Mind of a Champion" and "Perspective on Invisible Illnesses" Articles
23:04 - How Gina Overcame Her Darkest Moments
29:56 - Lessons Learned in Life and Personal Growth
33:22 - Tim Sorn’s Upcoming Book "Perspective on Invisible Illnesses"
35:00 - Impactful Stories from Gina’s Work

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Website: https://www.sparksofgratitude.com

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Kevin's journey with gratitude began in childhood with simple lessons in politeness, but it wasn’t until later in life, during a battle with depression, that he truly discovered its transformative power. In 2019, he launched a 10-Day Gratitude Challenge, which quickly grew to thousands of participants worldwide. This success led him to create more opportunities for others to explore gratitude, including The Gratitude Challenge Card Deck and a 30-day app-based journey. As a speaker, coach, and host of The Extraordinary Life Podcast, Kevin continues to inspire others to embrace gratitude as a way of life.

In this episode, we explore how "Hope Grows in Gratitude" by delving into the transformative power of gratitude and hope. He discuss how hope is not just a strategy, but a skill, and how optimism differs from true hope. The conversation touches on the impact of expectations, the beauty in small moments, and the power of changing our perspective. We also reflect on the significance of expressing simple, sincere, and specific gratitude. Join us to discover how gratitude can brighten your day and deepen your sense of hope.

Chapter:
00:00 - Intro
02:44 - Kevin's Journey to Becoming the "Gratitude Guy"
05:53 - Launching the 13-Week, 90-Day Journey: The Extraordinary Experiment
15:36 - Key Lessons and Impactful Moments in Kevin's Gratitude Journey
19:47 - Using Mentimeter: A Powerful Tool for Engagement
25:16 - Gratitude from Friends: Kevin's Reflections
29:00 - “Hope is Cultivated in the Soil of Gratitude” - Danielle Strickland
30:48 - The Power of Invitation in Fostering Gratitude
33:22 - Exploring the Difference Between Hope and Expectation
36:07 - A Personal Story of Disappointment and Resilience
39:34 - Distinguishing Between Hope and Optimism
42:05 - Finding Gratitude Through Grief: Kevin's Experience
43:21 - Insights from "Human Kind" by Brad Aronson
48:40 - “Life’s Not All Strawberries and Cream, But There Are Wonderful Moments” - Pat Blackstaffe
49:20 - Perspectives: “We Don’t See the World as It Is, We See It as We Are” - Anaïs Nin
50:28 - An Invitation: How to Increase Gratitude and Hope Today
51:45 - The Power of Significant Gratitude

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Website: https://www.sparksofgratitude.com

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Your Voice Holds The Key To Emotional Intelligence - Kristi Holt

Kristi Holt is the founder and CEO of Vibeonix, quantifying wellness using voice analysis AI to observe, predict, and influence behavior.

In this episode of the Sparks of Gratitude Podcast, Kristi shares how our emotions and emotional intelligence shape the outcomes in our lives—from the choices we make to the way we think and feel. By understanding the underlying drivers of our emotions, we can consciously create the results we desire. Her Vibeonix aims to increase self-awareness of the emotional energy we carry, emphasizing that emotions are messengers meant to guide us, not be suppressed. She discusses the importance of letting emotions flow, recognizing their intensity, and how gratitude can shift and alchemize emotional patterns, aligning us with our core values.

Learn more about Kristi Holt and Vibeonix:
https://vibeonix.com/index.html

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-holt-%F0%9F%92%A1-a91158121?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Chapter:
00:00 - Intro
03:57 - Introducing Vibeonix: The Power of Voice Analysis AI
08:31 - Embracing Emotions: A Path to Guidance and Awareness
09:58 - Understanding, Not Suppressing, Our Emotions
16:38 - Kristi’s Awakening: Mastering AI with Vibeonix
26:12 - How Vibeonix helps people
35:28 - The Life-Altering Event: Went from Suppressed to Empowered
40:32 - Kristi Holt on Gratitude: Her Practices and Insights

Also Mentioned in this Episode:

Curtis Morley: https://youtu.be/1IxLw__ReKI

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Website: https://www.sparksofgratitude.com

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Follow Sparks of Gratitude:
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitude
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Website: https://www.sparksofgratitude.com

Do you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:
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