Inner Spark

Casey Taton
  • 4.8 (22)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semimonthly

Inner Spark is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories of transformation and personal growth. Each episode looks into pivotal moments in the lives of my guests, where they experienced a significant shift or awakening that moved them towards new ways of living.From career changes to spiritual awakenings, from overcoming adversity to finding unexpected passions, my guests share the moments that sparked their journey towards a more fulfilling and authentic life. Through honest and inspiring conversations, listeners will gain insight into the power of self-discovery and the courage it takes to embrace change.Join me as I explore the transformative  moments that have ignited the spark of change, and discover how these experiences can lead to shifts in perspective, purpose, and direction. If you're seeking inspiration to embark on your own journey of growth and transformation, this podcast is for you. Tune in and let the sparks fly!

  1. 3d ago

    Grief Didn't Get the Last Word with Glenn Gum: Grief Series Ep.6

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I'm sitting down with someone I don't usually get to interview — my grandfather, Glenn Gum. He was married to my grandmother, Sheila, for 69 years before she passed. We recorded this conversation at Table Rock Lake, where our family has vacationed together for over 50 years — so this isn't a studio interview. It's just us, talking the way we always have. My Grandpa agreed to share this because he wants it to help someone else walking through the same thing. He talks about what grief has actually felt like for him — not the version people expect, but the real one: isolation, the pull to stay in bed, the guilt of still being here. He talks about the friends who chose to stay in that isolation, and the sister-in-law who told him plainly: if you sit in your house and do nothing, the devil wins. And he talks about what it took to choose differently — staying active, staying connected, and deciding, one morning at a time, to be the guy who says good morning instead of the guy who doesn't. This one is personal. My grandpa didn't just answer questions for this episode — he gave us 69 years of love, and what he's learned about living after loss. In this episode: What grief has actually felt like for him, in his own wordsThe role isolation plays in grief, and how it compoundsThe moment his sister-in-law's words changed his mindsetWhy "positive" has to be a practice, not just a feelingHow he's rebuilt a life, health, and community after 69 years with one partnerYou can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

  2. Jul 25

    No One Gets to Drive This But You with Terri Brown: Grief Series Ep. 5

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Inner Spark Grief Series, I sit down with Terri Brown, an LSCSW psychotherapist with 39 years of experience in death and dying, critical incident response, and grief counseling — including work with Kroger's critical incident teams and 12 years serving soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with the Department of Defense. Terri has personally walked alongside me through my own journey, and in this conversation we get into why grief is so rarely talked about — and why that silence leaves so many people feeling alone in it. We talk about: Terri's beach metaphor for grief — the waves that lap gently at your feet, and the ones that swamp you without warningWhy "I'm so sorry for your loss" isn't the comfort we think it is, and what to say insteadThe "grief grocery bag" — a simple, tangible way to show up for someone grievingWhy there's no timeline, no order, and no wrong way to grieve — even 20 years laterWhat happens after the casseroles stop and everyone goes homeHow to actually mean it when you say "I'm here for you"Why grief and joy aren't opposites — and how humor becomes part of healingTerri's own story about her dad, and the moment they still laugh about todayA line worth sitting with: "This is your process. This is your journey, and it's your timeline. No one gets to drive this but you." If this episode brought something up for you, please know — grief doesn't need to be earned, explained, or timed. You're allowed to be exactly where you are. If you found something that sparked you, share it with a friend who needs to hear it today. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

  3. Jul 18

    Deep Grief Means Deep Love with Carmen Walsh: Grief Series Ep.4

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Grief Series, I sit down with Carmen Walsh — writer, speaker, and fierce advocate for women over 40 claiming their freedom and joy — for one of the most vulnerable conversations the series has featured yet. Carmen opens up about losing her older brother to epilepsy when she was just 15, and how she spent the next three decades shutting her grief down to protect the people around her. She shares the exact moment she decided to stop expressing her feelings — a story involving a piano, a boyfriend, and the words "it's been over a year" — and how that moment shaped her relationships for years to come. The conversation shifts when Carmen shares her father's death in 2019, and how being present for his passing gave her a completely different, healing experience of grief — one that helped her finally understand what she'd missed for 30 years. Together, Carmen & I explore why grief has no hierarchy, why we're never taught how to feel our feelings, and why avoiding what feels hard also means denying ourselves what feels delicious. This episode is a permission slip — to feel, to grieve loudly or quietly, and to know there's no wrong way to carry loss. What You'll Hear In This Episode Why grief means you had deep love — and why that reframe changes everythingCarmen's story of losing her brother at 15, and the moment she decided to stop sharing her feelingsHow her father's death in 2019 gave her a completely different, healing experience of griefWhy grief has no hierarchy — pet, parent, job, or illness, it's all the same weightWhat Carmen would tell a grieving child — and a grieving adultSimple tools for processing grief without a "safe person" nearby (writing, vocalizing, screaming into a pillow)Connect with Carmen Walsh: https://www.instagram.com/carmen_livelovesavorlife/ Featured Quote "Deep grief means you felt deep love." — Carmen WalshYou can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

  4. Jul 4

    Who Am I to Talk About Grief? Grief Series Ep.3

    Send us Fan Mail  In this Shower Sprinkle, I'm sharing the heart behind the Grief Series, why I believe grief deserves a place in our everyday conversations, and why you don't have to be fully healed to make a difference in someone else's life. If you've ever questioned your story, your purpose, or whether you're "qualified" enough, this episode is for you. In this episode, we'll talk about: Why I almost didn't start this seriesThe many forms grief can takeWhy grief and joy can exist togetherThe power of sharing your storyWhy no one should have to grieve aloneMy hope is that this series helps you feel seen, understood, and reminds you that whatever you're grieving—you don't have to carry it alone. 💛 If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with someone who may need it today. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

  5. Jun 27

    Getting Good at Grief with Pam Sandrock: What a Cancer Diagnosis Taught Her About Rising Again Grief Series Ep.2

    Send us Fan Mail You can only hold a ball underwater for so long before it pops back up. Grief works the same way — and in this episode of the Inner Spark Podcast Grief Series, I sit down with Pam Sandrock, founder of No Knockouts Life Coaching and host of the No Knockouts Podcast, to talk about what really happens when we stop pushing our grief down. Pam was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. What followed wasn't just a medical battle — it was a grief process. She grieved the person she was before the diagnosis, and the person she thought she was going to be after. In this raw and real conversation, Pam shares what a decade of silence taught her, why grief is a skill we all need to get good at, and how she finally found joy on the other side of her hardest chapter. In this episode we talk about: Why grief is something we have to get good at, not get overWhat it really means to grieve your identity after a life-changing diagnosisHow to support someone who is grieving without saying the wrong thingWhy stuffing grief down never works — and what to do insteadHow joy and grief can exist in the same momentConnect with Pam Sandrock: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noknockouts/ Website: https://noknockouts.com Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-knockouts-with-pam-sandrock-trailer/id1811892908?i=1000705766515 You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

  6. Jun 20

    How to Hold Grief & Joy at the Same time: Grief Series EP. 1

    Send us Fan Mail Can you celebrate and grieve at the same time? For a long time, I didn't think I could. In this first episode of the Grief Series, I'm sharing a deeply personal story about the loss of my grandmother, launching my podcast the very next day, and the unexpected journey of learning how to hold grief and joy at the same time. Two years ago, my grandmother passed away just 30 minutes before my birthday. The next day, I released my podcast trailer. Looking back, the day I found my voice was also the day I felt like I lost it. For years, I struggled with the question: Is it okay to celebrate while grieving someone you love? This year, I finally found my answer. In this episode, we're talking about grief, love, loss, healing, and the realization that we don't have to choose between remembering someone and continuing to live our lives. This episode also kicks off a brand-new series where we'll explore different forms of grief through honest conversations and powerful stories. Because grief isn't just about losing a loved one. It's about friendships, health, relationships, dreams, identities, and the versions of ourselves we've had to let go of along the way. In This Episode: ✨ Why my birthday carries a deeper meaning ✨ The connection between losing my grandmother and launching my podcast ✨ Why grief can feel so lonely ✨ Learning that grief is a form of love ✨ Holding joy and sadness at the same time ✨ Why there is no "right way" to grieve ✨ An introduction to the Grief Series and what's coming next Remember: You don't have to choose between grief and joy. You can miss someone and still laugh. You can carry sadness and still celebrate. You can remember and move forward. Both things can be true. If this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear your story. Reach out, share this episode with a friend, and join us as we begin this important conversation together. Until next time, keep finding your spark. ✨ You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

  7. Jun 13

    Becoming the Best Version of Yourself (Without the Hustle)

    Send us Fan Mail What if becoming the best version of yourself isn't about working harder, pushing more, or hustling your way there? In this Shower Sprinkle episode, I'm sharing a personal realization that stopped me in my tracks: I thought I had slowed down, but really, I had just gotten better at disguising my hustle. After spending time grieving an old version of myself, I found myself sitting in the stillness—something that didn't come naturally to me. But in that space, something unexpected happened. The moment I stopped trying to force everything and started trusting, doors began opening in ways I couldn't have planned. From meaningful new connections and unexpected opportunities to a major milestone in my healing journey, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the breakthroughs we're searching for arrive when we finally make room for them. If you've been feeling stuck, exhausted, or wondering what's next, this conversation is an invitation to pause, listen, and trust the process. In This Episode: ✨ The hidden hustle I didn't realize I was still carrying ✨ Why slowing down felt harder than staying busy ✨ What happened when I stopped trying to control every outcome ✨ A celebration in my healing journey after frozen shoulder and ulnar neuropathy ✨ How trusting yourself creates space for new opportunities ✨ Letting go of an old identity and stepping into a new chapter Reflection Questions: • What am I still trying to force? • Where can I create more space in my life? • What version of myself am I ready to let go of? • What would trusting myself look like right now? Friend, your next chapter doesn't require more hustle. It may simply require more trust. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

  8. Jun 6

    The Grief of Growth: Growing Into Your New Self

    Send us Fan Mail What if feeling unlike yourself isn't a sign that something is wrong—but a sign that you're growing? In this heartfelt Shower Sprinkle, I share a raw look at what transformation really feels like behind the scenes. While growth is often celebrated for the breakthroughs and victories it brings, we rarely talk about the grief that comes with letting go of an old version of ourselves. This week, a series of unexpected moments—from a computer crash to an ice-cold shower—became powerful reminders about trust, gratitude, and the importance of slowing down. As I reflect on the hustle, the pressure to keep pushing, and the mirror I was forced to hold up to myself, I uncover a truth many of us need to hear: Growth isn't always exciting. Sometimes it feels like grief. In this episode, you'll hear: ✨ Why personal growth can feel uncomfortable and emotional ✨ The hidden grief of outgrowing old habits and identities ✨ How hustle culture can disconnect us from the people we love most ✨ The power of choosing gratitude over frustration ✨ Learning to trust yourself and the process during seasons of change ✨ Why "I haven't felt like myself lately" might actually be a beautiful sign If you've been feeling stuck between who you were and who you're becoming, this episode is your reminder that transformation isn't always easy—but it is worth it. You are not falling apart. You are making space for something new. So take a deep breath, trust the process, and remember: You're not broken. You're growing. You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/cataton/ https://www.facebook.com/casey.taton/ You can find what sparks me at: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1AgeRtyojY/ https://www.instagram.com/lmbdcelebrations/ Music by: Jason and Ashley Scheufler Artwork by:  https://www.instagram.com/graphx_ink/

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Trailer

4.8
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Inner Spark is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories of transformation and personal growth. Each episode looks into pivotal moments in the lives of my guests, where they experienced a significant shift or awakening that moved them towards new ways of living.From career changes to spiritual awakenings, from overcoming adversity to finding unexpected passions, my guests share the moments that sparked their journey towards a more fulfilling and authentic life. Through honest and inspiring conversations, listeners will gain insight into the power of self-discovery and the courage it takes to embrace change.Join me as I explore the transformative  moments that have ignited the spark of change, and discover how these experiences can lead to shifts in perspective, purpose, and direction. If you're seeking inspiration to embark on your own journey of growth and transformation, this podcast is for you. Tune in and let the sparks fly!

Information

  • Creator
    Casey Taton
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Inner Spark
  • Show Website
    Inner Spark

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