The Spark Konnect

Kassy LaBorie

Welcome to The Spark Konnect Podcast, hosted by Kassy LaBorie — The Trainer’s Trainer and Original Virtual Training Hero. This is the place where we explore the many sparks that ignite powerful facilitation — creativity, performance, leadership, play, and beyond. Each series dives into a new lens on facilitation, revealing the unique ways people connect, inspire, and lead. From artistry to athletics (and everything in between), we uncover how different passions and disciplines fuel unforgettable learning experiences. Because facilitation isn’t just a profession — it’s a human art.

  1. Nov 4

    Ep. 054 | Borrow a Different Role w/ Robyn Hatcher

    Summary Former soap-opera writer and communication strategist Robyn Hatcher knows a thing or two about drama and she sees plenty of it at work. She connects the writers’ room, the script, and the cliffhanger to everyday workplace dynamics, explaining why teams can feel like they’re improvising their way through a plot twist. Robyn also introduces her “actor types,” from the hero to the superhero, and shows how borrowing another style can help you communicate with more confidence. Plus, she shares how acting helped a once-shy kid find her voice, and why your creative side deserves a starring role. Robyn’s Links: Website: https://www.robynhatcher.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynhatcher Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robyn_speaketc/?hl=en Kassy’s Links: Website: https://kassylaborie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/ Chapters 00:00 — Meet Robyn Hatcher 01:21 — Acting, TV roles, and the New York Times commercial 04:19 — How writing a monologue led to soap operas 05:17 — Behind the scenes: soap-opera outlines and scripts 08:29 — Soap operas didn’t disappear—they were rebranded 09:58 — The workplace as a writers’ room 12:23 — Why creative skills are often undervalued 16:28 — Bringing the artist out in everyone 19:25 — “Own it while you hone it” and the personal show Bible 22:05 — How Robyn developed her actor types 27:17 — Borrowing another communication style 29:13 — Robyn’s own actor type—and the style that challenges her 31:34 — A speaking exercise to stretch beyond your default style 34:32 — Practicing directness, with a very dramatic example 36:49 — Where to find Robyn and take the actor-type quiz Takeaways Your natural communication style is a type that can be owned and refined. Soap operas are a modern rebranding of the classic storytelling structure that keeps audiences hooked. Understanding actor types helps leaders borrow qualities to adapt to different situations. Using speeches and monologues can reprogram your mindset and boost confidence. Leadership is about owning your style while being flexible enough to borrow from others. communication, leadership, soap operas, actor types, workplace dynamics, storytelling, personal development

  2. Oct 28

    Ep. 053 | Finding Your Melody w/ Carole Mahoney

    Summary Carole Mahoney is here to make sales less “used-car-salesman” and more “actually being a decent human.” She shares how listening, curiosity, and putting the buyer first helped her turn sales into a life skill—and even improved her relationship with her husband (who, fair warning, became her practice client). Then she brings music into the mix, from belting out “9 to 5” with a room full of women to treating every great talk like a song with a beat, a melody, and a chorus that gets the audience singing along. You’ll leave rethinking sales, public speaking, and possibly your karaoke set list. Carole’s Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolemahoney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolemahoney/ Kassy’s Links: Website: https://kassylaborie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/ Chapters 00:00 — Introduction to Carole Mahoney and her work in sales and artistry 02:37 — Addressing negative perceptions of sales and redefining it as service 04:02 — Carole’s roots in Maine and her community’s values 06:59 — Overcoming stage fright through singing and public speaking 09:51 — Choosing walk-up songs for speeches and their significance 11:45 — Songwriting, musical creativity, and unexpected covers 15:08 — Engaging audiences with music and vulnerability in presentations 17:29 — Music as a team-building and mood-shifting tool 19:17 — Using AI to explore singing and musical skills 20:29 — The importance of sales skills as life skills 24:43 — The potential for a better world through empathetic conversations 29:23 — The connection between music, storytelling, and emotional flow 32:21 — Practical tips for making speeches flow like a song 34:37 — Shared musical moments and the memories they create 35:32 — Where to find Carole’s resources and learn about her work 36:06 — Closing thoughts and Carole’s passion for music Takeaways Music can help people shift their mood, feel connected, and participate together The same skills you use to build trust with buyers can strengthen everyday relationships A good memorable speech has a clear throughline, like the melody in a song sales skills, human connection, service, music, personal growth, relationship building, sales perception, authentic selling, leadership, emotional intelligence

  3. Oct 21

    Ep. 052 | Funny, But Not Born That Way w/ Andrew Tarvin

    Summary Andrew Tarvin went from introverted computer geek and IT project manager to the “world’s first humor engineer” - and he says humor is a skill anyone can build. In this episode, he shares how improv helped him strengthen his communication skills and bring more connection into the workplace. Andrew breaks down approachable techniques like the comic triple, “yes, and,” and turning everyday observations into funny, memorable stories. He also shows how small moments of humor can help people lean in, build rapport, and feel safer at work. You don’t have to be a comedian to make work a little more human—and Andrew offers practical ways to start. Andrew’s Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theandrewtarvin/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theandrewtarvin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theandrewtarvin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theandrewtarvin Instagram: https://instagram.com/theandrewtarvin Kassy’s Links: Website: https://kassylaborie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/ Chapters 00:00 — Welcome and introducing Andrew Tarvin 00:14 — What a humor engineer does 01:43 — Andrew’s journey from “not naturally funny” 03:09 — From computer science to Procter & Gamble 04:49 — How improv helped at work 07:33 — Improv as playful, structured practice 10:21 — Trying the “Clap, Snap, Stomp” exercise 12:10 — Humor is broader than comedy 13:31 — The “yes, and” mindset 15:31 — Turning an everyday cat walk into a story 16:32 — Building humor intelligence 19:16 — Creating humor from everyday details 20:07 — The comic triple 21:25 — “If this is true, what else is true?” 22:56 — Setups, punchlines, and tags 24:31 — Developing a story through observation and practice 26:26 — Using humor to build connection at work 27:23 — Andrew’s message for people who don’t think they’re funny 29:22 — Testing humorous introductions 30:47 — Humorinims and playful word choices 31:36 — Adding personality to email sign-offs 32:25 — Keeping workplace humor small and intentional 34:05 — Where to find Andrew’s work 34:59 — Closing challenge: help people lean in Takeaways Humor is a skill you can practice Improv builds useful workplace skills Everyday observations can become engaging stories Small touches of humor can make work feel more human humor, humor in the workplace, improv, humor engineering, Andrew Tarvin, humor techniques, professional development, humor app, storytelling, humor science

  4. Oct 14

    Ep. 051 | Make It Crappy w/ Melissa Dinwiddie

    Summary Melissa Dinwiddie helps leaders turn innovation from a poster on the wall into a practice teams can actually use. She shares how psychological safety and tiny “micro-experiments” can help people get past perfectionism and feel more creative. A lifelong artist and performer, Melissa brings lessons from calligraphy, music, dance, and improv to her work with teams. She also offers a simple creativity exercise: give yourself 10 minutes to make a deliberately crappy first draft and just start. Melissa’s Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadinwiddie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_creative_life Kassy’s Links: Website: https://kassylaborie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Melissa Dinwiddie and her artistic journey 02:00 The concept of micro experiments for fostering innovation 03:55 Melissa's journey from classical music to jazz and improv 07:08 Balancing structured planning with improvisation 10:08 Overcoming perfectionism and imposter syndrome 13:00 The importance of lowering expectations to unlock creativity 16:02 Melissa's book: 52 micro experiments for teams 22:04 The mindset of improvisation and being in the moment 28:51 Practical advice: Just start and make it crappy 32:55 Closing thoughts and connecting with Melissa Takeaways Lowering expectations can unlock creativity. Micro experiments help flex creative muscles. Planning and improvising can coexist effectively. Embrace making a 'crappy' first draft to overcome blocks. Improv training can build confidence and presence. Creativity is accessible to everyone with the right mindset. creativity, innovation, micro experiments, improvisation, artistic journey, creative confidence, team building, leadership, creative practices, Melissa Dinwiddie

  5. Sep 30

    Ep. 050 | Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Wrong w/ Roger Reitzel

    Summary Roger Reitzel has been a lounge singer, stand-up comic, real estate trainer, sitcom writer, commercial actor, and professional hamburger catcher - which is somehow all part of the same career. In today’s episode, he explains how comedy made him a better trainer, why knowing your audience is everything, and how seven colorful tuxedos helped launch his creative journey. Roger also shares why mentors matter, why you should bring your whole self to work, and why anything worth doing is worth doing wrong. Plus: the professional secret to rehearsing until you can’t get it wrong. Roger’s Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-reitzel-830a972 Kassy’s Links: Website: https://kassylaborie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/ Chapters 00:00 — Meet Roger Reitzel 02:35 — From comedy to real estate 03:05 — Becoming a trainer by accident 04:12 — Making training funny 04:41 — The book deal that changed everything 05:40 — Taking real estate training national 06:08 — How to answer the phone—for three hours 10:45 — The secret to making audiences laugh 11:42 — Performing for sober people 12:35 — Know your audience 14:13 — You can’t learn performance in private 15:17 — The emotional cost of bombing 19:18 — Learning by doing what you can’t do 20:15 — The mentors who pay it forward 24:44 — When producers join the performance 26:41 — Bring your whole self to work 32:24 — Why anything worth doing is worth doing wrong 32:47 — Find Roger Takeaways All careers are interconnected through core skills and passions. Practice makes perfect, and over-practicing leads to mastery. Mentorship is invaluable for growth in any field. Authenticity and self-awareness boost performance. Failure is a necessary part of learning and mastery. creativity, mastery, public speaking, training, comedy, real estate, entertainment, personal development

  6. Sep 30

    Ep. 049 | Leadership Needs a Dance Floor w/ Eryc Eyl

    Summary Eryc Eyl is a professional speaker, leadership expert, workplace culture champion, and longtime DJ - because apparently one career wasn’t enough. In this episode, he explains how he stopped delivering beige “lectures” and created the keynote dance party, blending music, movement, and leadership lessons. Eryc shares how DJing helps audiences learn, reconnect after breakouts, and leave energized instead of spiritually trapped in a hotel ballroom. Kassy and Eryc also explore staying human at work, embracing your weirdness, and turning your seemingly unrelated talents into something only you can do. Tune in! Eric’s Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/eryceyl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eryceyl TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eryceyl Kassy’s Links: Website: https://kassylaborie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/ Chapters 00:00 — Introduction 00:51 — Meet Eryc Eyl: Artist, Speaker, and DJ 01:18 — Eryc’s Background and Artistic Journey 07:16 — From Lecture to Keynote Dance Party 10:55 — Turning Music Into Learning 17:38 — Life as a Mashup 22:31 — Human Dignity in the Workplace 25:08 — Communication, Complexity, and AI 27:52 — Leadership Lessons from DJing 33:20 — The Evolution of Personal Identity 34:39 — Closing and Eryc’s Origin Story  Takeaways Art and music can be powerful tools for leadership development. Performance techniques like dance parties can energize and engage audiences. Legal considerations for music should be planned in advance, but can be managed. Metaphors like mashups and dance parties help internalize learning. Authenticity and artistic expression differentiate speakers and leaders. Leadership, Workplace Culture, DJing, Art in Business, Public Speaking, Innovation, Performance, Employee Engagement, Personal Branding

  7. Sep 23

    Ep. 048 | Let People Enjoy Things w/ Abbey Cooke

    Summary What do improv, musical theater, and surviving a disastrous teachback have in common? They all teach you to listen, pivot, commit, and stop waiting for the perfect thing to say. Abbey Cooke (aka Ms. Lizard Brain) joins Kassy to unpack “yes, and,” relationship bids, the wrong-name game, and why the first idea is often better than the most overthought one. They also discuss making your partner look good, embracing awkwardness, and using performance skills to become a more present trainer, leader, and human. Plus, there’s bird hand, puppet choreography, and a heroic attempt to make a puppet perform “Thriller.” In short: say the first thing, support the bit, and when everything goes sideways, keep going anyway. Abbey’s Links: Websites: www.abbeycooke.com & www.lizardbrainlearning.com Kassy’s Links: Website: https://kassylaborie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Abbey Cooke and Ms. Lizard Brain 02:50 Improv Is More Than Comedy 03:31 The “Yes, And” Toy Phone Test 05:12 The Relationship Bids That Matter 07:23 Let People Enjoy Things 07:53 How Improv Builds Mental Agility 10:46 The Wrong Name Game 12:44 Improv Skills for Better Facilitation 13:59 The “What Are You Doing?” Game 14:45 Willingness Beats Perfect Form 16:17 Make Your Partner Look Good 17:22 When the Teachback Goes Terribly 19:40 Puppets Attempt the Thriller Dance 21:42 Musical Theater and Body Awareness 24:49 Bird Hands and Big Gestures 26:33 Performing Even When You’re Tired 27:17 The Two Core Improv Exercises 29:51 Find Abbey as Ms. Lizard  Takeaways Improv is less about being funny and more about listening, accepting what’s offered, and building from there. Strong relationships grow when we acknowledge each other’s bids for connection, even when we don’t care about the same things. When perfectionism makes you freeze, choose the first thought instead of waiting for the best one. improvisation, learning agility, leadership, communication, mental models, TikTok, Abby Cook, adaptability, yes and, decision making

  8. Sep 16

    Ep. 047 | AI: A Performance, Not a Movie w/ Josh Penzell

    Summary Join Kassy this week as Josh Penzell brings theater, leadership, creativity, and AI together in one lively conversation about why work should feel more like a live performance than a perfectly edited film. He explains how rehearsal, flexibility, and a little messiness can help people collaborate, learn, and adapt when technology refuses to follow the script. Along the way, we explore artistic intelligence, psychological safety, and why even the best five-step framework sometimes needs a dramatic rewrite. Expect big ideas, useful metaphors, and plenty of reminders that the magic often happens when things don’t go exactly as planned. Josh’s Links: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/josh-penzell.com Websites: www.joshpenzell.com Kassy’s Links: Website: https://kassylaborie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassylaborie/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassylaborie/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Josh Penzell and His Journey 02:48 The Intersection of Theater and Leadership 05:29 The Role of AI in Creativity and Performance 08:27 Shifting from Film to Theater in Business 11:05 Creating a Rehearsal Room for Learning and Development 14:04 The Importance of Psychological Safety in Teams 16:43 Artistic Intelligence: Embracing Creativity in the Workplace 22:55 The Intersection of Theater and AI 27:56 Observable Behaviors in Presentation 33:23 Metaphors and Creative Thinking 41:55 Navigating Change and Finding Hope Takeaways Theatre metaphors help enhance leadership communication skills Artistic over artificial intelligence Developing strategies to foster psychological safety and creativity is paramount theater metaphors, leadership, AI, communication, artistic intelligence, rehearsal, performance, creativity, learning and development

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5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Spark Konnect Podcast, hosted by Kassy LaBorie — The Trainer’s Trainer and Original Virtual Training Hero. This is the place where we explore the many sparks that ignite powerful facilitation — creativity, performance, leadership, play, and beyond. Each series dives into a new lens on facilitation, revealing the unique ways people connect, inspire, and lead. From artistry to athletics (and everything in between), we uncover how different passions and disciplines fuel unforgettable learning experiences. Because facilitation isn’t just a profession — it’s a human art.

Information

  • Creator
    Kassy LaBorie
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kassy LaBorie
  • Show Website
    The Spark Konnect

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