The Spark

Most of us would never think of leaving a thriving six figure career...but what if we found out that our true happiness and bigger calling had nothing to do with money at all? Join me for an inspirational interview with author, podcaster, and wellness ...

"Give yourself permission to be joyful and heart-centered."

You don't have to settle. Don't let that be your four-letter word.

This one is for lovers.

A journey from betrayal to awakening, and finally, to justice.

What if you found yourself embroiled in a sinister cult that bound itself to your life?

Cultivating a deeper happiness, calm, and resiliency.

Live your life with passion and joy.

It's 2020 so we're doing it live!

Learning how to stay focused in an increasingly chaotic world

What happens when your own flesh-and-blood becomes afflicted with an incurable mental illness?

"I don't need to have A to Z planned. How I get between those points is fun and flexible."

Transformation from within

A simple accident can change everything

An extraordinary adventure in healing and transformation

Live large, choose courageously, and love without limits.

What if death isn't the end?

"Everything starts with hope, and a belief that yes, we can make a difference."

PhD biochemist turned transformational life coach Bill Epperly shares how to create more peace, passion, and well-being in your life.

Exploring the areas of diversity, sustainability, climate change, and reform justice.

How can we navigate these uncertain times? There is actually an amazing tool we can access in the book, "The Gift of Maybe." Author, business consultant and business/life coach Allison Carmen joins us on this episode to share with you powerful ways you...

What if you could find the golden threads throughout your life that would help you find your life's true purpose?

Comedy superstar Dan Cummins and his Queen, Lynze, join us this week for an amazing conversation!

We can thrive at our life in any age but did you know that we can find a place of greater peace, fulfillment and empowerment as we enter midlife? Join me this week when my guest is Amasuya Basil, nutritionist, author, craniosacral and acupressure thera...

"You CANNOT properly address health issues — like gut, immune system or brain disorders — without optimizing vagus nerve function."

How do you build healthy relationships especially during a pandemic?

How do we find peace despite the chaos in our world today?

We're celebrating 100 episodes of The Spark with a special two-hour episode!

Want more peace, clarity, joy and connection in your life?

Find out what makes a good relationship great, how to make love grow, and how to create the love life of your dreams!

How do we take good care of ourselves through life's challenges and maintain a sense of balance and well-being each day?

How do we transform the world? Perhaps it begins in many ways with one of those being through a new paradigm of how we envision education for our children and our children's children.

When we think of Hollywood, we don't necessarily think of consciousness, connection, and calm, but John Raatz, the founder and CEO of the Visioneering Group and the vital force behind the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (G.A.T.E.) wi...

We can each help put an end to sexual abuse as we work on healing ourselves.

During this time which is so difficult for so many, quantum physicist Amit Goswami, Ph.D. offers us a way to find the calm in our minds and peace for our souls. How do you create peace and happiness amidst a pandemic? What can you do to generate well-b...

This episode is intended for mature audiences. Listener discretion is advised.Want to make your sex life even better? Join us for this episode with sex, family, and couples therapist Helen Hillix for a revealing discussion on what creat...

Growing up in an orphanage in Tanzania, Maria Nhambu shares with us her powerful, deeply moving and sometimes painful story of how she cultivated resiliency amongst a life backdrop of complex race issues, abuse, and incredibly harsh experiences. In thi...

Want the tools to create more happiness, harmony and well-being in your life? Then listen to this week's episode with psychotherapist Robert Strock and learn how to cultivate an awareness that heals. During an almost five-decade practice as a teac...

The strength in family, hard times, and how to hold onto your dreams and create an incredible life.

Find out how to transform confusion into clarity and pain into peace on this episode of The Spark with community leader and best selling author Heather Ash Amara. In her new book, The Warrior Heart Practice, Heathe...

There is so much division in our world today. Our political climate, our earth's climate, and the climate between races and religions can seem at times they are in crisis. What if we could build a bridge and foster what Carol Smaldino calls The Hu...

On tonight's episode, we celebrate our second anniversary with a look back on some of our favorite conversations over the last year. Curated by Stephanie, you'll hear stories to light you up, heal your heart, and s...

You can create a richer, deeper, more fulfilling life when you enter The Portal.

What if our struggles actually serve as a segue for true transformation? In this episode of The Spark, psychologist and author Frank Pasciuti explains how our difficulties can actually be our greatest gifts leading...

We all want to be successful. Having a success mindset is the key to achieving our goals and dreams, but how do we develop it?

Some of us are aware of our life's purpose and some of us are still searching. Often times, pointers to this purpose show up in synchronicity, dreams, and other "divine nudging" along the way. Join us this week for...

A personal journey through pain and how light therapy can truly enhance and transform our lives.

Paula Lenz had an extraordinary experience driving home after her brother's funeral; one so powerful that she hesitated to tell people about it for 30 years.

Regressive Hypnotherapy. What is it and how can it benefit our healing? Author, ordained minister, and hypnotherapist Stephen Poplin joins us on the spark to talk about reincarnation, karma, and the importance of p...

Writer, producer, and transformational storyteller Leah Lamb is creating a new frontier. She is helping others to bring meaning to their lives through using storytelling as a transformational tool. Her workshops he...

Free healthcare, free college, and no income tax. What would America be like if those things were true?

What if there was a direct way you could change your negative emotions and behaviors and develop a sense of calm and well-being instead? In this episode of The Spark, H.H. Bhavna Shinde teaches us about the powerful practices that can influence our...

What the Bleep Do We Know? In 2004, it was the movie that introduced the mainstream to quantum physics and expanded our view of reality. Our guest on this episode of The Spark is Dr. Amit Goswami, one of the scientists in that film and the author of...

Sometimes some of the greatest tragedies we face, become our biggest lessons and change us in amazing and beautiful ways we never imagined possible. Author, promoter, and business woman Donna Visocky went through a ten year journey of grief and...

The Fountain of Youth. Many people have searched for it and our media has perpetuated it as the holy grail to happiness. But what if the real secret to ageless living and a deeply meaningful life was already right here, inside of us. Join me this...

Free Trip to Egypt. This is what creator and producer Tarek Mounib offered to hundreds of Americans across the country.  What resulted was an amazing journey into the unknown, and a  film about the transformational power of human connection. This...

There is an amazing way to take care of yourself and recharge your batteries that you may not have heard of. Yin yoga is an awesome and gentle way to find your center, improve your health, and bring calm to your life.  Author, teacher, and holistic...

Living full out. How many of us can say we really live life this way and what does it really mean? Our guest this week is speaker, coach and radio show host Nancy Solari, and she joins us to talk about how we can develop an empowered, positive...

Change your prayer, change your life. That's the clear and powerful message from author, speaker, and successful entrepreneur, Sam Beasley in his new book with BJ Gallagher, Your Life is Your Prayer. Filled with inspirational wisdom, in this...

In today's political race of mudslinging and defamation, it is hard to imagine any other way a candidate might campaign. We are used to seeing the slander and the lies and the "savior complex" many of these candidates exude. But what if there was a...

What is The Honeymoon Effect? Many of us know that initial phase in relationships where it can feel like heaven on earth. But what if that "phase" was sustainable, and not actually a phase at all? Join us for part two in our special series with Dr....

We have the power to change our lives... and the surprising news is that the key to make this change is not outside of us, but between our own two ears. Did you know that 95% of our thoughts and beliefs that we are acting from are subconscious? Dr....

There are many examples of how to live our best lives. The Bhagvad Gita provides one of these paths discussing some of the most profound issues from violence, to morality, to learning that true happiness comes from within. A beautiful Hindu text...

From her Cherokee upbringing and Japanese and Irish roots comes the beautiful and important voice of Madi Sato. 15 years as a professional singer and recording artist, Madi’s passion for communing with nature, celebrating the earth, and teaching us...

You have more healing power in your body than you cam imagine. What if rituals were one of the keys to unlocking our ability to heal ourselves?  Barbara Dossey, internationally-recognized pioneer in holistic nursing and nurse coaching will show us...

There is a distinct rhythm to our soul and a powerful thing happening when we connect with other people and find a collective beat that allows us to make beautiful music together. Join me for this energizing interview with entrepreneur and rhythmic...

Let’s talk about sex: the good, the bad, and the ugly – and how we can experience more intimacy and more fulfilling sex in our lives. This week on #TheSpark, Stephanie is joined by bestselling author and sexuality teacher Sheri Winston as we dive...

Want to change your life and add more positivity to your day? Author, consultant, and facilitator Gabriela Masala offers a fast track to an embodied life of gratitude, creativity, presence, and joy.  Join us as we talk with this amazing woman and...

Making his mark in the podcast world, Jared Easley is a true entrepreneur who created a podcast event platform that attracts podcasters from around the globe.  Podcast Movement is a special event to encourage, educate, and inspire it's participants....

This week on The Spark, as part of our celebration of welcoming new sister show Feminist Hotdog to the NoCo FM family, Stephanie chats with show host and creator Adrienne van der Valk about the inspiration behind the show, her career in social work,...

So, you want to change the world? Stephan A. Schwartz, a social change agent and internationally known researcher in the field of extraordinary human functioning, will show you how to do just that. As a scientist, author, and researcher,Stephan has...

Music can transport us to amazing places... It soothes our souls, lifts our spirits, and can speak to us in ways when sometimes mere words fall short. This week, singer-songwriter and musician Brian Johanson shares with us his journey through hard...

What if you could unlock the doors to self healing and open up a pathway to more happiness, health, and well-being? Author, speaker and healing coach Misa Hopkins helps guide our way to the place where we can access healing and reduce our chronic...

The smell of good coffee, friendly conversation, and the sense of community: these are all elements that went into McCabe Callahan's vision for Mugs Coffee Lounge in Fort Collins, Colorado. On this episode, McCabe explores with us the importance of...

In the river of life we face many obstacles and challenges. Irene O'Garden's wilderness raft adventure actually put her face-to-face with real-life danger and difficulties that she not only had to overcome, but in working with her family to navigate...

There is something amazing happening in our world right now. It is the combined wisdom of science, psychology, and spirituality which are all intertwining to create a new paradigm of what it means to be interconnected on this planet. Join us for...

Loving yourself isn't an easy task, and choosing ourselves first can seem even more counter-intuitive. This week on The Spark, Forbes contributing writer Joresa Blount will be giving us the lowdown on how to pick ourselves up, put ourselves first,...

The journey to empowerment often takes us on unexpected paths. Veronica Monet's story is one most of us can't even imagine. Born to a religious cult, dealing with incest, rape, addiction, and later becoming a high-end escort for 14 years, Veronica...

We have all heard the term, "Children are our future," but what kind of future are we providing for them? Phillip Moore, former director of the Upland Hills School, shares a new educational paradigm with us this week. He helps us explore the...

Just a spoon full of humor makes our anxiety go down.  Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies and triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Simply put, we all...

We started NoCo FM with one original show: The Spark With Stephanie James. From that, we've grown into a full network with seven original shows and more on the way. This week, we're celebrating one year of our flagship program with a look back on...

Creating a life with more joy, personal power, and a deep sense of purpose.  These are the elements that my guest Becca Lynn Johnson has combined in her Rooted in Reason program and she shares her philosophy and her wisdom with us this week on The...

Turn on the news. Full of fear mongering, the disaster of the day, or what is wrong in our world, it can leave even the most grounded of us, grasping for some stability. We can all get caught in searching for things externally that can bring us some...

In our current state of the world, we all need support, connection, and understanding more than ever. As women, when we show up for each other in this way, something amazing happens. We begin to heal and grow and become better able to share our own...

Longevity and accessing the fountain of youth. How many of us are wanting to discover the keys that unlock the doors to these states? Join us as we talk to a pioneer in integrative medicine, Dr. Elson Haas, who guides us on our paths towards...

As we reflect on the new year, we often search for what brings meaning to our lives. Emily Rapp Black, New York Times bestselling author of "The Still Point of the Turning World" and "Poster Child: A Memoir", shares her personal memoirs and what has...

As we approach the winter solstice, it signifies more light coming into the world. In my interview with Dr. Jacob Israel Liberman, he teaches us how we can increase the light in our own lives. An internationally-respected public speaker, author,...

Yoga has long been considered a healing art, but when interwoven with the twelve steps of recovery, it can truly become a transformational process which evokes healing at the deepest levels. Author and yoga teacher Kyczy Hawk has been teaching...

Ever have a dream come true? Something that you truly wished for, that when it came to fruition felt like a miracle? Cindy Sarai has been helping people make their fondest dreams of creating a family and adopting a child come true for over a quarter...

It has been said that dogs are man's best friend, but how deep does that connection go? In a thought provoking interview with Elena Mannes, we go deep into realms of exploring how we are truly bonded to our furry friends. Elena Mannes is a...

What if you could think out of the box and take your life to whole new level?  Many of us settle for an average, "normal" life inside of our comfort zone.  True adventure, excitement, and deeper fulfillment lie just outside of that zone, but often...

It's not often in life that we get to meet our heroes. David Burns has professionally been one of mine and during his career, he has helped thousands of people to change their thoughts and improve their lives, literally taking them from good to...

In a world where the #MeToo movement has made such a huge impact, more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of embracing the feminine in our world. Join me this week as I talk with author Hallie Iglehart Austen about the myths, and...

We all want to shoot for our dreams and live purpose-filled lives. But what limits us? Is it our physical limitations, environmental circumstances, or our limited beliefs? We all have challenges that can either become the barriers that defeat us or...

When we are deep in the rabbit hole it is hard to see the light of day. The same is true for depression.  It can feel like it is taking us under and the climb to the light can seem like a very steep and slippery slope. Join us for an inspiring...

A new era in our world is evolving. What will usher in this new era is an emerging belief system that combines science and spirituality in a way that heightens our awareness of our interconnections with each other, the earth, and for the physical...

A warm embrace, a knowing glance, and intentionally spoken kind words... These are the simple, but often forgotten ingredients of creating lasting love. This week our guest is Dr. Ellen Wachtel. Ellen has a Ph.D in clinical psychology from New York...

Transformation. We all have times in our lives where we seek the ability to make the changes necessary to lead a happier, more fulfilling life.  Often times this change can take months, and even years, as we try to transform ourselves for the...

It's back-to-school season, so in the spirit of this time of renewal, we invite you to learn about the host, the woman, the healer, as we go Behind The Spark. This week, producer Chris Lanphear interviews Stephanie James about how she got into...

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. This one happens to come in size XXXL with a heart to match. Join us as we talk to professional athlete, coach, and mentor Jim Opperman as he talks to us about not just how he has survived in life, how he has...

We all have stress in our lives. Often times we try to seek relief from our stress through outside means which aren't necessarily healthy for us.  What if the tool for transformation was actually within us the whole time just waiting to be utilized?...

On this episode, we look back on one of our favorite early episodes in our conversation with Dr. Mark Benn, Psy.D. Dr. Benn is a licensed psychologist and recently retired adjunct professor at Colorado State University, diversity trainer, mediator,...

Chase your dream. Discover your potential. Transform your life. These are the inspirational words that grace the cover of Amy Charity's book, "The Wrong Side of Comfortable." - Amy Charity is a professional speaker, author, and former U.S. women's...

We all want to experience greater happiness, peace, and well-being in our lives and we all want to find deeper meaning and purpose for our lives. What if the answers were already there inside of you and you merely needed to “turn on the light” of...

How do we say “I’m sorry?” A true apology goes beyond words and includes our behavior, and our ability to express empathy and connect with one another. - There actually is an art to apology; a way we can own our own behavior and express our...

How can we be our best selves and harness our best potential? How do we focus on what's right with us instead of what's wrong? - Lynn M. Owens, Ph.D. is a passionate educator who empowers others to care for themselves and others, to harness the...

What if you could dramatically change the way you feel and have a life changing breakthrough in only two hours or less? - Dr. David Burns' new T.E.A.M. therapy proves this kind of change from devastation to liberation is possible. With new relapse...

Molly Bloom is an exceptional woman who grew up in an extrordinary family in Loveland, Colorado. Her parents both had successful professional careers; one of her brothers is a two-time Olympian and entrpreneur while the other is a surgeon. Molly,...

The road we set out on in not always the one that will lead us to our greatest destiny. - Travel along with us as we talk to nationally nominated school counselor of the year, Cassie Poncelow about her passion for creating programs that help promote...

Rewiring our brains for more peace, happiness, and satisfaction. Sounds like the stuff of a great science fiction novel. The truth is this is all very doable and we can learn to enhance our life experience by learning the tools that help us go...

How we take care of ourselves will determine our health, our longevity and the quality of our lives.  What if you could tap into the fountain of youth and vitality merely by what you eat? - Join us as we talk with Dr. Ryan Johnson about his journey...

“Relationships are difficult,” begins Dr. Stan Tatkin in his 2016 TED Talk. However, as you will see… they are not impossible; in fact, being in a relationship with another human being and becoming on expert on each other, is actually one of the...

We have amazing power within us.  We actually have the power to change our thoughts, and in doing so, can change our feelings, our actions, and eventually our lives. - This episode is an inspirational way to start taking control of your automatic...

Sometimes you can't fit all of the stories that you'd like to include within the constraints of a one hour radio show. So now we're introducing Spark Extra, a feature where we spotlight interesting stories and bits that for one reason or another, we...

Think about spending 13 years in prison. Most of us can't even imagine 13 minutes there. On this episode of The Spark, I speak with Weldon Long, who went through an amazing journey from convicted felon, to total transformation and amazing success in...

Warm, Giving, and Kind. Are these the terms that come to mind when you think of a serial entrepreneur? They definitely are for me after my interview with founder and chairman of OtterBox, Curt Richardson. - During this interview, Curt gives the...

Too often our sexuality has been kept under the covers and in the dark. We are all sexual beings and having a healthy sense of our own sexuality is an essential part of embracing who we truly are. - Join us as we journey into this tantalizing topic...

Music moves us mind body and soul. But did you know music can actually change our brains and enhance our lives? Resent research with children has shown that there is a direct correlation between listening to classical music, learning how to play an...

How do you define trauma? It isn’t just car crashes, natural disasters, or unexpected loss of a loved one. Actually, trauma can be experienced when we are bullied, go through divorce, or have an embarrassing moment in our childhoods. The beliefs we...

Did you know that resiliency is something you can actually grow? There are certain ingredients that go into planting and cultivating a thriving garden. We must tend to it, make sure it gets adequate water and sunlight, and must pull the weeds if we...

You never know who's smiling at you from across the counter. Chris Hammes works at Mugs coffee shop in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado. Most mornings when I arrive at Mugs for my daily coffee ritual, I am greeted by his warm smile and kind demeanor...

What do you think of when you think of the term "serial entrepreneur?" Wealth? Power? Jet setting around the globe? Justin Morales, serial entrepreneur answers that question and more when we discuss his new book, The Abundance Effect - How to Shift...

We get perspectives from both sides of the mental illness spectrum. First, we talk with Dr. James Kagan, MD, a psychaitrist with over 40 years of experience. Dr. Kagan is also co-author, with Dr. Rick Delaney, Ph.D., of A 3-D View of Foster,...

We talk with C.J. Ortiz, The Metal Motivator. C.J. takes an unconventional, edgy approach to motivation, which is that "whatever you do in life, don't suck." As The Metal Motivator, C.J. produces hundreds of videos and podcasts that serve as daily...

Alexa Johnson was just 19 years old when she was driving on the interstate late at night and had a tragic accident. Alexa was not wearing her seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, where she died instantly. On this episode, we talk with Alexa's...

On this episode, we talk with Dr. Mark Benn, Psy.D. Dr. Benn is a licensed psychologist and recently retired adjunct professor at Colorado State University, diversity trainer, mediator, conference keynote presenter, and author of the book Stories...

For this debut edition of The Spark, host Stephanie James is joined in studio by Dr. Larry Bloom, a clinical psychologist, professor emeritus at Colorado State University. While at CSU, Larry was the director of the Psychological Service Center and...