Sparks of Gratitude

Scott Porter, a lifelong entrepreneur and founder of San Diablo Artisan Churros, shares his infectious passion for tacos and the joy of shared experiences. He dives into how Mexican culture and cuisine have transformed his life, highlighting moments of warmth and connection. Scott discusses embracing adversity, like the impact of his father's passing, and finding purpose in gratitude. He emphasizes the need for meaningful experiences over material possessions, illustrating this with charming anecdotes about churro-making gatherings and vibrant Lucha Libre adventures.

Send us a textChester Elton is our guest today. He along with his partner Adrian Gostick have been called the “Apostles of Appreciation,” the "Deacons of Danke Schön," the "Ministers of Motivation," the "High Priests of Praise," the "Guru of Gratitude" and the "Dalai Lamas of Workplace Traumas." Their works in business leadership and culture have impacted millions of people over the past two decades. In his provocative, inspiring, and always-entertaining speeches, the #1 bestselling leadership author provides real solutions to leaders looking to manage change, drive innovation, and lead a multi-generational workforce. Elton’s work is supported by research with more than 1 million working adults, revealing the proven secrets behind high-performance cultures and teams.Chester shares the power of gratitude in transforming lives. The importance of kindness and forgiveness, and the impact of small acts of kindness—because everyone is fighting their own battle. Discover how to incorporate gratitude rituals into your life, from movement and meditation to daily reflections, and see how these practices can lift you out of loneliness and negativity. Whether you're seeking ways to heal your anxiety, manage your mental health, or simply improve your relationships, this podcast offers practical advice and heartfelt stories to inspire you. Remember, your voice matters, and by embracing gratitude, you can change your life for the better. 🔔 Subscribe for more great content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFYJpy3OfFBfxi8pA4Dg5nwFollow Chester's Elton:https://chesterelton.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chesterelton/https://thecultureworks.com/https://litvideobooks.com/anxiety-at-workAlso Mentioned:https://thepowerofkind.org/Listen to this episode on the go:🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparks-of-gratitude/id1725414927🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ddtJyRwhdAxj2Eh2oj4NAChapter:00:00 - Intro01:50 - One Kind Act a Day06:44 - Kindness makes Gratitude Actionable 08:13 - Chester's Nicknames 09:14 - Adrian Gostick - Business Partner and Best Friend 14:08 - “The Gratitude Habit" - a 90-day journal to a more grateful life 16:23 - Benefits of a Gratitude Journal 22:54 - Two Letters Exercise: Letter of Gratitude to Past Self and to Future Self 24:22 - Who inspires Chester Elton  30:42 - "Leading with Gratitude" - Does Gratitude Belong in Workplace? 35:43 - “A Thousand Ways to Recognize Your Employees” 37:58 - You're rarely a hero in your own town 43:36 - “Anxiety at Work”Follow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com

Send us a textExecutive Coach, author, father, friend, and amazing human. Nathan Tanner recently published "The Unconquerable Leader" and shares personal experiences gained from years of experience working for Door Dash, Neighbor, LinkedIN, and more, as well as being a husband and father. He works with exceptional leaders and love helping them lead effectively and live intentionally. He's also the author of "Not Your Parents’ Workplace", and regularly writes for Forbes, Inc., and Fast Company and on LinkedIN.Nathan shares the power of a positive mindset and clear vision. It emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people and distancing from toxic influences to foster authentic growth. He shares that change is acknowledged as difficult but necessary for personal development. By letting go of old versions of ourselves and embracing personal accountability, we can move away from resentment and selfishness towards a more fulfilling and purposeful life. Follow Nathan's Tanner:https://nathantanner.net/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathantanner?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_appBuy The Book: The Unconquerable Leader: Mastering the Internal and External Game https://a.co/d/1lFq0DSChapter:00:00 - Intro02:12 - Book “The Unconquerable Leader” 02:43 - Panic Attack, A Wake Up Call to Change 07:24 - How Nathan showed differently,  Internally and Externally 09:19 - The power of the stories that we tell ourselves 12:43 - Daily Reminders - Create Your Identity  17:47 - Importance of setting a vision (and a confession from Randy) 23:58 - Who to surround yourself with. And removing toxic people25:42 - Toxic Authenticity and Authentic Growth27:10 - Ownership and Personal Responsibility 33:02 - Counting your blessings: 30-day gratitude challenge39:37 - Meaningful Connection 40:52 - Effective Communication - Radical Candor Framework by Kim ScottFollow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com

Send us a textDr. Scott Noorda, D.O. is an osteopathic physician, Founder & CEO of Resolve Medical, Creator of the Brainlift Neuroprotective Program, and Co-Author of Power Couple Habits. He specializes in longevity and living a long healthy life and preventing cognitive decline. His father died of Alzheimer’s disease and from that experience Dr. Noorda has dedicated himself to finding a better way to treat patients using a wholistic approach.Dr. Noorda shares that every small change counts in our journey of care and healing. Understanding and listening to patients creates a profound impact and allows him to know what each individual patient needs, rather than a systematized approach of prescribing a pill for every ill. With his wife Amy, Dr. Noorda studied habit science and various ways to allow the body to heal itself beyond traditional medicine, they wrote a book called “Power Couple Habits” to help people life longer, live healthier, and help each ither to donit. Healing doesn't always require medication; gratitude and positivity are powerful remedies. Starting and ending each day with gratitude uplifts the spirit. A smile brightens our brain's interpretation of positivity. 🔔 Subscribe for more great content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFYJpy3OfFBfxi8pA4Dg5nwFollow Dr. Noorda:https://www.instagram.com/dr.scottnoorda?igsh=MTY2ZXRvd292Y2Ixcg==https://resolveutah.com/Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/seNfHJGAvGw?si=fjOmwMe7pcCaSYqwChapter:00:00 - Intro01:50 - Who is Dr. Scott Noorda?06:54 - “The End of Alzheimer's” Dr. Del Bredison12:47 - Amy and Scott Noorda working together to encourage each other 15:13 - “Power Couple Habits” and about the Brainlift Neuroprotective Program21:43 - What is patient experience with Resolve Medical and Dr. Noorda  Comprehensive evaluations26:45 - Fealing heard, “The greatest medical visit she ever had”28:46 - Functional medicine vs Traditional medicine33:25 - Wholistic medicine, Mind, Body, Spirit.  37:09 - Benefits of a daily gratitude practice. Change neural connections in brain.39:21 - The Brain Lift starts with Mindset (gratitude and positivity)42:00 - Top 3 habits: Improve telationship with Food, Exercise, and People Follow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com

Send us a textAl Switzler has an amazing life story. In his own words he is “the illegitimate son of a teenage orphan named Jones who has no living relatives.” With every excuse to not amount to anything he defied it all and shares his gratitude for the wonderful people who helped him learn and believe in possibilities. He has impacted millions of people with his company and books including the New York Times best seller “Crucial Conversations” which he wrote with his partners Joseph Grenny and Ron McMillan. Al shares the power of acknowledging the blessings in our lives, from the smallest pennies to the grandest gestures. Through journaling and reflection, we uncover the abundance that surrounds us, realizing that what we seek is often what we already possess. Discover how expressing gratitude through action enriches our lives and guards against the thief of comparison.Follow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com

Send us a textOur guest today is a creativity coach, artist, musician, and strategist, she is Lauren Spangler. She nearly lost a child and learned how precious every moment, every heartbeat, and every breath really is. She discovered how creativity expresses gratitude and helped her unlock the power within herself to overcome anxieties of loss. Now Lauren helps aspiring artists build a fulfilling creative life without giving up financial stability. It's all about finding that sweet spot where artists can build wealth and their creative portfolio at the same time. She's a painter, writer, and musician who enjoys creative consistency, financial abundance, and lasting fulfillment.Lauren shares art can create message that is provocative and in many different ways. She shares also the strategies and techniques to help people embrace their artistic identity and make time for creative pursuits in balance with the rest of life.Follow Lauren Spangler:https://www.laurenspangler.com/https://www.instagram.com/laurenspangler?igsh=aWEzZWx3eTdqbXJuChapter:00:00 - Intro03:47 - Passion for art stifled, then reignited 08:15 - “Artist are professionals noticers” Austin Cleon10:20 - Scary side of parenthood13:26 - The moment of relief - gratitude unparalleled 15:08 - Postpartum anxiety 17:41 - How infound strength with child in NICU  22:28 - Episode 1: Dr. Paul Jenkins: https://youtu.be/ddD2033jm2c24:23 - “A bird does not worry whether the branch will break because he trusts his wings” 27:22 - Creativity coachingin a corporate setting 31:54 - Tips and strategies  What’sypur relationship with creativity?36:27 - Start in a place of pain39:03 - The coaching process: (1) Where you are, (2) Set the vision, (3) Bridge that gap, (4) Roadmap Follow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com

Send us a textSteven Nyman is famous for speed and resilience. World Cup four time Olympian ski racer is a downhill specialist. Steven talks about being raised at Sundance Utah, winning the 2002 World Junior Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, and raced on the US Ski Team into his 40s. Steven talks about determination, mental resilience and gratitude through the hard days of competitive skiing and through injury and rehabilitation. If it weren't for some of his injuries, he wouldn't have met some of the people who helped him hone his mental toughness and find longevity. He also shares every turn on the slopes is a testament to hard work and appreciation for the mountain's embrace.Outside of skiing, Steven is a husband and a father and works on a project called Fantasy Ski Racer, which aims to connect fans to the skiing world. He has also become a host for the Birds of Prey race in Beaver Creek and the U.S. Alpine Championships at Winter Park.Chapter:00:00 - Intro03:03 - Sundance Ski Resort in Utah is a Special Place 07:32 - Competing in World Juniors15:27 - Downhill Racer - Portrays the life of a professional ski racer18:30 - Exploring towns fueled mental and physical resilience and gratitude22:32 - American Downhiller Denim Vest Motivated Team 24:37 - What it's like in a World Cup Downhill Course30:09 - Injuries, Recovery, Resilience, Lessons Learned, 33:34 - “The best luck comes from preparation”35:15 - Craig Manning "The Fearless Mind"36:33 - How his parents influenced in different and impactful ways40:01 - Life after Downhill - Husband, Father43:02 - What does gratitude mean to Steven Nyman?Follow Steven Nyman:https://www.instagram.com/steven_nyman/?hl=enFollow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com

Send us a textMatt Clayton is an innovator in childhood education. He runs an  independent school in Provo, Utah, and former Chief Operating Officer of Acton Academy, hailed by the US Education Secretary as a leading example of education innovation. Matt's background blends creative and technical fields, in music, economics, and finance. He studied internationally as a teenager, graduating as valedictorian of the American School of Buenos Aires. While in college, he was a researcher and author at Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen’s think tank.Matt is fueled by creating the power of technology to unlock human potential. He founded Slope School and believes that it is the most nurturing, deep-learning, student-centered learning environment in the world, and thrilled to share it with intentional families in the community. Isomg he framework of the Hero’s Journey, as describedby Joseph Campbell, the school helps students realize that they are the hero of their own journey and that they are capable.  Chapter:00:00 - Intro01:30 - How Matt Found a Career in Childhood Education08:06 - Students are called Heroes08:44 - The Hero’s Journey Framework to find identity and purpose in the world - Everyone has a unique contribution 14:23 - Designing a school that facilitates love of learning, character growth, and personal identity in students  19:31 - How Socratic Discussion teaches young students to think  26:32 - Students can learn, do hard things, and figure things out28:16 - Constant upward spiral, reinventing yourself, becoming greater31:05 - Young people’s ability for introspection on progress33:18 - Character Call-outs and 35:49 - Peace Talks. Framework for confronting a conflict, honesty and accountabilityFollow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com

Send us a textOur guest today is the Executive Director of One Kind Act a Day - a nonprofit organization changing the world one kind act at a time. Curtis shares that small acts of kindness, when done by many, can lead to significant change. At the heart of this vision is the idea that kindness has the power to change our lives and literally the world for the better. Against the odds, Curtis rose above a challenging life. His father left his family, left them destitute, and his is family had a history of depression. With so much seemingly working against him, Curtis had two things working in his favor: 1. Kind people gifing him opportunities and mentoring him even as a child, and 2. A mindset of determination that he would choose to be happy.Take the Kindness Pledge:https://thepowerofkind.org/Chapter:00:00 - Intro02:02 - Every day I get to spread kindness04:20 - Creation of “One Kind Act a Day” by Khosrow Semnani 08:34 - People are starving for kindness09:12 - Benefits of a kindness initiative - Predictable Results10:16 - Tailor made kindness initiative for your organization 14:37 - Matilda: We are revolting children - Revolt against bad with good15:56 - Successes of One Kind Act a Day initiatives - 41,000 acts of kindness in 22 days20:10 - How Curtis Bennet joined One Kind Act a Day23:41 - Defying the odds From father leaving family to kind people lifting him up. 26:57 - “I will never do to my child what my father did to me”29:50 - First job at the age of 9 - Started paying rent at age 1234:08 - "Idealize the real, and realize the ideal" 36:45 - Check the Lee Brower Podcast: https://youtu.be/Tc1fOQrH6j038:13 - "I'm not a perfect father, but I'm perfectly committed to being a father"40:45 - Check the Dr. Paul Jenkins Podcast: https://youtu.be/ddD2033jm2c42:47 - How can we spread kindness?47:14 - What does gratitude mean to Curtis BennettFollow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com

Send us a textOur guest today is David R. York, the inspiring speaker and author of “The Gift of Lift: Harnessing the Power of Stewardship to Elevate the World.” David R. York shares how stewards know who they are, what they value, and what they believe. Stewards live a life ALL IN for something transcendent that is bigger than themselves. David is co-author of “Entrusted: Building A Legacy That Lasts” and “Riveted: 44 Values that Change the World”, which after its release was the #1 Business Ethics book on Amazon.David is also an estate planning attorney and CPA with more than 20 years of experience, David R. York. He has worked with over 7,000 clients, including billionaires and business owners, celebrities and sports figures, and entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes.Resources MentionedGET A FREE COPY OF “THE GIFT OF LIFT” (Signed by the author)https://sparksofgratitude.com/giftoflift/David York’s website:https://www.davidryork.com/David Mentioned our Episode with Lee Brower: https://youtu.be/Tc1fOQrH6j0?si=kgCWP9x1QDtOzyoOListen to this episode on the go:🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sparks-of-gratitude/id1725414927🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ddtJyRwhdAxj2Eh2oj4NAChapter:00:00 - Intro1:41 - “The Gift of Lift” by David York5:20 - Gail Miller didnt own the Utah Jazz . She was a Steward.7:00 - What does it mean to be a steward?10:57 - Understanding stewardship with examples that are not stewardship - Consumers, Dreamers, and Owners18:59 - Freedom vs. Responsibility  19:45 - Story about Statue of Responsibility  20:51 - Mindset of Steward: They know what they value and use “because therefore” not “if then” 28:43 - Values: Data and information Inform, Questions and stories transform31:57 - David York’s core values - Experience, generosity, connection, gratitude34:31 - What gratitude means to David YorkFollow Sparks of Gratitude:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparksofgratitude/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sparksofgratitudeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparksofgratitudeWebsite: https://www.sparksofgratitude.comDo you know someone who we should have on the show? Email us:info@sparksofgratitude.com