Spark Something New

Dr. Katie Sandoe
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

What would it look like to be in love with your life? What would it take to live as you to show up as your full and authentic self? What would you need in order to find rest? It would take a spark of something new! Something to help you think differently, act differently, build relationships differently, and lead differently. You'll find that spark here, on the Spark Something New Podcast!

  1. Episode 71: Unmasking Yourself | Shame, Identity, and the First Step Toward Being Fully Seen with John Patrick Henry

    3D AGO

    Episode 71: Unmasking Yourself | Shame, Identity, and the First Step Toward Being Fully Seen with John Patrick Henry

    Episode Snapshot: We all wear masks—some to belong, some to protect, and some to survive. On this episode, Dr. Katie and John Patrick Henry explore what it means to take off the masks and learn to remove shame, find safety, and be fully seen. Summary: This episode explores how the "masks we live in” represent curated versions of ourselves that we wear to fit in, stay safe, earn approval, or avoid what we feel inside. John reflects on how his earliest masks showed up as a child and later evolved into other unhealthy coping mechanisms. Over time, he realized the mask wasn’t a problem (it was his solution to deeper fear) until it became a prison.  Together, Katie and John unpack how masks can be subtle and socially normalized (“I’m fine!”) or more intense (addiction, spending, status, performance), but the common thread is the same: masking is often fear-based protection from emotional pain, disconnection, and shame. They discuss when masks may be appropriate (temporary privacy, professionalism, protecting children during chaos), and how to tell when a mask becomes a cage, like when it costs you peace, relationships, or integrity.  John shares practical pathways for unmasking that aren’t about ripping everything off, but about building community over isolation, accountability over secrecy, rest over escape, and truth over performance. John shares a powerful first step for anyone who knows they’re hiding: you don’t have to unmask publicly—you just have to stop wearing it alone. Key Learnings: A mask is often a protection against shame—not deception. John describes unmasking as the removal of shame and the fear of being seen.The mask isn’t always the problem—it can start as a solution. Many masks are fear-based coping strategies that become harmful only when they turn into a prison.Mask vs. identity: A mask is what you numb with. An identity is what you value. Identity connects to legacy—who you want to be and how you want to live.Unmasking is a practice, not a moment. You may take one mask off and put another on—growth is learning to notice sooner and choose differently.The first step is safety: “You don’t have to rip the mask off in public. You just have to stop wearing it alone.”Resources: John's LinktreeJohn's FacebookGuest Info: John Patrick Henry is a speaker and advocate whose work centers on honesty, healing, and what it means to live without hiding. Now more than 17 years sober, John shares his lived experience with addiction recovery, mental health, and personal growth—especially the ongoing process of removing shame and rebuilding inner safety. His message is grounded and practical: unmasking doesn’t require perfection, just truth, support, and the courage to be seen. He reminds listeners that recovery and wholeness are possible—one step, one day, one choice at a time.  Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.

    41 min
  2. Episode 70: What Else Could Be True? | How the Stories We Tell Ourselves Shape Our Lives and Leadership with Barbara Boselli

    FEB 23

    Episode 70: What Else Could Be True? | How the Stories We Tell Ourselves Shape Our Lives and Leadership with Barbara Boselli

    Episode Snapshot: What if the “truth” you’re living is actually just a story you learned to believe? In this episode, leadership coach Barbara Boselli helps us separate fact from story—so we can lead, relate, and respond with more clarity, curiosity, and choice.  Summary: Dr. Katie sits down with Barbara Boselli—leadership coach, facilitator, and former senior leader in corporate environments including Google—to explore how the narratives we inherit and repeat shape who we become as leaders, partners, parents, and humans.  Barbara shares how she first realized her “truth” wasn’t universal through a powerful childhood example: she grew up believing disagreement equals disrespect, only to witness a family where disagreement was a form of connection and engagement. That moment sparked a lifelong awareness: we don’t only react to what happens—we react to the meaning we assign to what happens. Together, Katie and Barbara unpack the difference between facts (observable events) and stories (assumptions, judgments, absolutes like “always” and “never”). Barbara introduces her practical ASK framework—Access awareness, Sort fact from story, Kindle curiosity—as a way to interrupt reactive patterns and widen perspective. The conversation applies this lens to real-life leadership moments like missed deadlines and feedback conversations, showing how quickly we can confuse behavior with intent, label people, and create self-fulfilling outcomes. The episode closes with a deeply empowering reminder: a thought can be another thought—and the choice to shift our thinking can shift our entire experience. Key Learnings: Facts are what happened. Stories are the meaning we attach. If you couldn't put it on a calendar, it’s probably a story.Your emotional “yuck” is often a signal that a story is running the show—especially when you feel defensive, judgmental, disconnected, or stuck.Use the ASK framework: Access awareness (pause, name what you feel), Sort fact from story, Kindle curiosity (“What else could be true?”).In leadership, assumptions damage trust fast. Curiosity builds connection—and helps you coach the real issue instead of reacting to a false one.Language matters: “What/How happened?” invites dialogue; “Why?” can trigger defensiveness and shutdown.Resources: Barbara's WebsiteBarbara's LinkedInGuest Bio: Barbara Boselli is a leadership coach and facilitator with 15+ years of experience in corporate America, including senior leadership work in high-performing environments. Her work helps individuals and teams identify the narratives driving their behavior—so they can lead with greater clarity, empathy, and effectiveness. Through her keynote, “Fact or Story: How the Narratives We Believe Shape the Leader We Become,” Barbara invites people to challenge limiting assumptions and choose more empowering ways to interpret what’s happening around them. Her approach blends practical leadership tools with deep inner awareness to create lasting change.  Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.

    50 min
  3. Episode 69: You’ve Been Educated Out of Creativity | Rebuild Your Creative Muscle with Dr. Steve Diasio

    FEB 16

    Episode 69: You’ve Been Educated Out of Creativity | Rebuild Your Creative Muscle with Dr. Steve Diasio

    Episode Snapshot:  Creativity isn’t an artistic identity — it’s a human capacity that helps you make meaning, solve problems, and build a life that fits. In this episode, Dr. Steve Diasio breaks down creativity as a muscle you can train — and shows how to use it as a compass for clarity and alignment.  Summary: Dr. Katie sits down with Dr. Steve Diasio — creative strategist, facilitator, coach, and founder of the School of Creativity and Innovation — to dismantle the myths that keep people from claiming creativity as their own. Steve challenges the outdated belief that creativity belongs only to “creatives” or the arts, and reframes it as a learnable process that strengthens through practice. He shares how many of us have been “educated out of creativity,” conditioned to prioritize efficiency, performance, and fast solutions instead of imagination, experimentation, and possibility. Together, Katie and Steve explore how creativity shows up everywhere: navigating relationship dynamics, resolving team conflict, parenting through uncertainty, and making decisions in life transitions. Steve introduces a simple, practical creative problem-solving framework (inspired by the “double diamond”) that moves from diverging into many ideas to converging on what matters, then testing and iterating with low-risk experiments. He also walks listeners through his “creativity audit” — evaluating the creative self, environment, process, and the tools/products that shape outcomes — proving that creativity isn’t magic. It’s method. And it’s deeply human. Key Learnings:  Creativity is a process, not a personality type. You don’t need to be “a creative” to think creatively — you need practice and permission.Constraints can boost creativity. The goal isn’t unlimited freedom; it’s learning how to work creatively within real-world limits.Creative problem-solving isn’t rushing to answers. Diverge to generate possibilities, converge to prioritize, then test small experiments to learn and iterate.Your environment shapes your creativity. Light, color, tools, clutter, and setup can either support or suffocate your creative capacity.In an AI-driven world, creativity becomes more valuable. Steve argues the “human element” — meaning-making, originality, and process — is what will differentiate us going forward.Resources: Steve's website: https://www.stevediasio.com/Steve's LinkedInGuest Info: Dr. Steve Diasio is a creative strategist, facilitator, and coach, and the founder of the School of Creativity and Innovation. His work helps individuals and organizations use creativity as a practical tool for clarity, problem-solving, and alignment — far beyond the arts. Steve teaches creativity as a skill you can build through proven exercises, frameworks, and intentional practice. He’s passionate about helping people reclaim creativity as a deeply human capacity for making meaning and progress.  Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.

    50 min
  4. Episode 68: Humor in Hard Times | Staying Human When Everything Feels Heavy with Kathy Klotz-Guest

    FEB 9

    Episode 68: Humor in Hard Times | Staying Human When Everything Feels Heavy with Kathy Klotz-Guest

    Episode Snapshot: Humor isn’t a punchline — it’s a human skill for making meaning, relieving tension, and creating connection. In this conversation, Kathy Klotz-Guest reframes humor as playfulness + truth-telling that builds trust, unlocks creativity, and makes hard moments easier to navigate. Summary: Dr. Katie and humor strategist/comedian Kathy Klotz-Guest unpack the myth that humor is only for “funny people.” Kathy distinguishes being funny (performing for laughs) from humor (sense-making with levity). Humor, she argues, is how we rewrite a healthier story about the hard stuff — the messy, awkward, unchosen parts of life and work — without minimizing them. They explore why humor works: it lowers perceived threat, releases pressure, and helps people access clearer thinking and creativity. In teams, humor becomes a fast track to trust and psychological safety — when it’s healthy. Kathy breaks down the difference between affiliative humor (laughing with, building together) and aggressive humor (punching down, “steamrolling,” weaponizing laughter). They also discuss how humor can be a cultural signal: the presence (and quality) of laughter often reveals whether people truly feel safe. Finally, Kathy shares practical ways to apply humor in high-stakes environments: hosting a “funeral” or “roast” for a failed project (with guardrails), naming awkwardness out loud, and using playfulness to surface truth without blame. The closing invitation: if you can laugh, you have access to humor — the work is less “learning” and more unlearning terminal seriousness and giving yourself permission to be fully, authentically you. Key Learnings: Humor ≠ being funny. Humor is sense-making and reframing with lightness; jokes are only one small category.Humor lowers the threat level. Healthy laughter helps people shift out of stress mode and back into creative, connected thinking.Trust moves at the speed of self-awareness. When leaders can laugh at their own mistakes, it signals safety and accountability.Not all humor is healthy. Affiliative humor builds morale and connection; aggressive humor punches down and destroys trust.Laughter is a culture signal. Organic, inclusive laughter often indicates psychological safety; forced laughter (or mean laughter) is a red flag.Humor is a leadership muscle. Most people “have it,” but they need permission and practice.Use humor to process failure without blame. “Roast the project, not the people” can surface truth, reveal themes, and move teams forward.Resources: Kathy's website: Keeping It HumanKathy's book: Stop Boring MeKathy's Podcast: Seriously FunnyGuest Info: Kathy Klotz-Guest is a speaker, author, and humor strategist — and a standup comedian with a background in tech. She helps leaders and organizations keep work human in high-pressure environments by using humor to build trust, psychological safety, and connection. Her work focuses on making humor accessible as a learnable leadership skill, not a personality trait. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.

    49 min
  5. Episode 67: “Embrace the Suck” Is Bad Advice | Mindfulness, Discomfort & Personal Growth

    FEB 2

    Episode 67: “Embrace the Suck” Is Bad Advice | Mindfulness, Discomfort & Personal Growth

    Episode Snapshot: What if discomfort isn’t something to fix or escape—but something to notice? In this episode, Dr. Katie shares a powerful realization from a long treadmill run that reshaped how she understands growth, discomfort, and presence. Through story, science, and simple practices, she invites listeners to rethink how quickly we label sensations as “bad”—and how that judgment quietly fuels suffering.  Summary: Discomfort shows up everywhere—in our bodies, emotions, relationships, work, and growth journeys. And almost instantly, we judge it. We label it as bad, uncomfortable, miserable, or something that needs to stop. Without realizing it, that judgment gives discomfort power. In this episode, Katie walks listeners through a real-time epiphany she had during a long treadmill run: many of the sensations she was experiencing weren’t painful or dangerous—they were simply sensations. It wasn’t the discomfort that made the experience hard; it was the story she was telling about it. Blending lived experience with mindfulness research, neuroscience, and somatic awareness, Katie explores how labeling sensations triggers our nervous system into control mode—driving us to fix, numb, escape, or resist. She introduces the concept of interoception (our awareness of internal bodily sensations), explains the difference between discomfort and suffering, and shows how mindfulness helps us stay present without judgment. Listeners are guided through a short, practical exercise to “feel without fixing” and are invited to reframe discomfort not as a signal of danger—but as a natural and often necessary part of growth. Key Learnings: We judge sensations—physical, emotional, relational—far more quickly than we realizeLabeling discomfort as “bad” activates urgency, control, and resistance in the nervous systemDiscomfort and suffering are not the same: suffering is the story + resistance layered onto sensationInteroception (awareness of internal sensations) supports emotional regulation when paired with mindfulnessGrowth always involves sensations—and discomfort doesn’t mean something is wrongCuriosity and presence create agency; judgment gives sensations powerPractices Shared in This Episode: Name sensations without judgment (e.g., “tight,” “warm,” “intense” instead of “awful”)Stay with discomfort one breath longer before reacting or escapingUse curiosity as a regulation tool by asking: What is this sensation asking me to notice?Reflection Question: What sensations in your life are you labeling as “bad” that might simply be part of your growth—or just part of being human? Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.

    32 min
  6. Episode 66: Doing Less Is the New High Performance | Nell Derick on Strategic Subtraction

    JAN 26

    Episode 66: Doing Less Is the New High Performance | Nell Derick on Strategic Subtraction

    Episode Snapshot:  What if “doing less” isn’t quitting? What if it's the most strategic way to reclaim clarity, energy, and real impact? In this episode, Nell Derick teaches us how to stop living on the hamster wheel of gold-star achievement and start making space for what actually matters. Summary: Dr. Katie sits down with keynote speaker, leadership advisor, and author Nell Derick to unpack her countercultural framework: systematic subtraction. Together they name the tension so many high performers live inside—craving simplicity while stacking more habits, commitments, and “shoulds” in the name of becoming healthier, better, and more successful. Nell calls out the system behind our “more” addiction: modern incentives, social conditioning, and the gold-star mentality that trained us early in life to equate worth with output. Nell introduces a practical three-step process—Stop, Drop, Roll—to help people gather honest data about what’s working, experiment with subtracting what drains them, and then “roll” forward through systems thinking: making one action serve multiple values instead of adding more tasks. From parenting overload and workplace meetings to nonprofit board roles and leadership identity, the conversation lands on a powerful truth: we can have more impact without doing more—especially when we subtract noise, false urgency, and outdated expectations so we can show up more fully human. Key Learnings: Doing less is hard because the system rewards doing more. We’ve been trained—socially and economically—to chase gold stars, streaks, promotions, and productivity as proof of worth.Systematic subtraction starts with honest data. The first step is “Stop”—pause long enough to ask, How is this really working? without self-gaslighting or shame.Subtraction works best as an experiment, not a forever decision. “Drop” means trying a change (one season without a sport, one week skipping a meeting) to see what improves in your life and nervous system.“Roll” is the shift from doing to being. Instead of piling on more tasks, connect actions to multiple outcomes—health, values, relationships, and impact—so life feels integrated instead of stacked.High performance is changing. Nell argues that today’s real edge isn’t obsessive busywork—it’s presence, humanity, discernment, and the relational skills no technology can replace.Resources: Nell Derick: Nell3D (website + work)Nell's FREE 1-Page "Subtract to Succeed" frameworkNell's Substack + 100-Day Subtraction PracticeGuest Info: Nell Derick is a keynote speaker, leadership advisor, and author who helps high-performing, purpose-driven leaders subtract what drains them so they can lead and live with greater clarity, alignment, and impact. Her work blends systems thinking with deeply human insight, offering practical tools that create more space without sacrificing ambition or contribution. Nell’s approach is both compassionate and sharp, challenging the myth that more effort always equals more impact. She teaches leaders how to become fully present, more effective, and more alive—without burning out. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.

    53 min
  7. Episode 65: You’re Not Your Thoughts — And That Changes Everything with Amy Kemp

    JAN 19

    Episode 65: You’re Not Your Thoughts — And That Changes Everything with Amy Kemp

    Episode Snapshot: What if “reality” isn’t reality… but a well-worn habit of thinking that once protected you and is now quietly running your life? In this episode, Amy Kemp helps us name those subconscious patterns so we can stop living on autopilot and start making millimeter-shifts toward a life we actually love. Summary: Dr. Katie and Amy unpack how ~80% of our thoughts happen below conscious awareness, meaning we’re often reacting from old mental grooves that were built for survival—not fulfillment. Amy explains that the brain creates automatic thought patterns to conserve energy and keep us safe, but those same patterns can become limiting once the season that required them has passed. A major theme: you’re not your thoughts but you are the one who can notice them. Through vivid stories (like launching a book and instantly sliding from “this will be amazing” to “this is a disaster”), Amy shows how quickly the brain can jump into catastrophic thinking. The turning point isn’t “fixing yourself”—it’s building awareness + language so you can slow down in high-risk moments and choose a different response. The conversation also explores why change feels terrifying even when we want it: your subconscious may interpret slowing down, earning more, or setting boundaries as danger because it threatens old survival rules, identity, or belonging. The path forward is not a five-step hack—it’s compassionate, incremental rewiring. Key Learnings: Most of your thinking is subconscious. You’re living the top of the iceberg, while deeper mental grooves shape your reactions, choices, and relationships.Survival patterns can outlive their usefulness. What helped you “get the plane off the ground” (hustle, over-functioning, hypervigilance) can become the very thing that crashes you later.Naming creates agency. When you can label what’s happening (“I’m catastrophizing,” “I’m in fight-or-flight,” “I’m attached to this idea”), you create a pause—and the pause is power.The Habit Finder is about risk, not personality. It highlights where you’re most likely to slide into old grooves—so you can slow down, bring support, and build new pathways.Millimeter shifts beat dramatic overhauls. Deep, lasting change happens incrementally—especially in a culture addicted to speed, convenience, and constant stimulation.Resources: Amy's book: "I See You"The Habit Finder assessment (behavioral “risk” tool Amy uses and offers via her website)The “superhighway” metaphor for neuroplasticity (Katie references The Confidence Code)Guest Info: Amy Kemp is the owner and CEO of Amy Kemp, Inc., an author, and a coach who helps leaders and business professionals understand how subconscious habits of thinking shape performance, relationships, and fulfillment. Her work centers on building awareness of the mental “grooves” that once protected us but may now be limiting us. Using tools like the Habit Finder assessment, Amy helps clients identify thinking risks, slow down in pivotal moments, and create sustainable change through incremental practice. Her approach is deeply compassionate, practical, and grounded in how the brain is wired for survival. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.

    53 min
  8. Episode 64: Own Your Voice in a “Look at Me” World with Neelu Kaur

    JAN 12

    Episode 64: Own Your Voice in a “Look at Me” World with Neelu Kaur

    Episode Snapshot: What if being “your own cheerleader” isn’t self-promotion… but self-respect in motion? In this episode, Dr. Katie chats with organizational psychologist, Neelu Kaur, who reframes self-advocacy as a generous act—one that helps you and leaves a trail for others to follow. Summary: In this conversation, Katie and Neelu explore the tension so many of us feel: we’re told to share our voice and value—yet we’re also conditioned not to “brag,” “show off,” or “rock the boat.” Neelu introduces a powerful reframe: move from a “look at me” mindset (which can feel hollow or icky) to a “listen to me” mindset rooted in contribution, clarity, and meaningful impact. Neelu shares how repeated downsizing and being escorted out of a job became the catalyst for her own self-advocacy journey. Together, she and Katie unpack the cultural roots of self-silencing (collectivism vs. individualism, family conditioning, small-town and military norms, neurodivergence, introversion) and why “doing great work” is rarely enough in modern workplaces—especially large, matrixed organizations. The conversation gets practical: Neelu offers micro-practices to build the self-advocacy muscle in low-stakes situations (think: dinner plans, choosing the restaurant, speaking up in a line at CVS), and a “dial” approach to communication—adjusting the “I” and “we” depending on context without betraying your authenticity. The episode closes with a reminder that self-advocacy isn’t just about career advancement—it’s a life skill that can help you set boundaries, leave unhealthy dynamics, and claim space in any room you enter. Key Learnings: Reframe the goal: self-advocacy doesn’t have to be “look at me”—it can be “listen to me,” grounded in value and service.It’s cultural, not just personal: our comfort with self-promotion is shaped by upbringing, microculture, collectivist norms, personality, and identity.Use the “dial” method: turn up I (performance reviews, promotions, wins) and turn up we (team settings)—without losing who you are.Build the muscle with micro-moments: practice in low-stakes spaces so you can show up in high-stakes ones.Self-advocacy is generous: when you advocate for yourself, you model what’s possible and create a path for others—especially those who’ve been socialized to stay small.Resources: Neelu Kaur — Be Your Own Cheerleader (book)Explore Neelu's work: https://www.neelukaur.com/Concepts discussed: collectivism vs. individualism, microaggressions, representation, internal branding, relationship-building in matrixed organizationsKatie’s practical tool from the episode: ask others, “What are you working on that you’re excited about?” then share your own answer naturally.Guest Info: Neelu Kaur is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, coach, and author of Be Your Own Cheerleader. She champions self-advocacy—especially for those who have been conditioned by culture, identity, or workplace dynamics to stay quiet and “let their work speak for itself.” Through her work, Neelu helps people build confident, authentic communication skills that elevate their voice, visibility, and impact. Her approach blends psychology, leadership development, and practical tools that make self-advocacy feel doable—not performative. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com.

    41 min
See All (72)

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

What would it look like to be in love with your life? What would it take to live as you to show up as your full and authentic self? What would you need in order to find rest? It would take a spark of something new! Something to help you think differently, act differently, build relationships differently, and lead differently. You'll find that spark here, on the Spark Something New Podcast!

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Katie Sandoe
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Spark Something New
  • Show Website
    Spark Something New