Spark Me

The Questions You'll Wish You Asked Your Parents

She was standing in front of a hot dog cart in midtown Manhattan when an 18-wheeler knocked her off her feet — and knocked her onto a completely different life path. In this episode, Michele and Liz sit down with writer, author, and personal historian Nora Isaacs — Michele's dear friend from college and the founder of Backstory, a company that helps people capture their family histories and life stories in books they can pass down to future generations. Nora's path has been anything but linear: from Columbia Journalism School to the New York magazine world, a hot dog cart accident, a $3,000 settlement that took her to San Francisco, the dot-com boom, Yoga Journal, a book about women in overdrive, and eventually the realization — after losing both of her parents — that the most important stories are the ones we almost never think to save. Nora shares why storytelling isn't just sentimental — it's backed by research as a tool for resilience, health, and grounding families in shared values. She talks about what happens when you give someone permission to tell their story, why the process of creating a legacy book is often as transformative as the book itself, and the universal themes she keeps hearing no matter how different her clients' backgrounds are: family, belonging, love, and safety. She also opens up about singing at the bedsides of hospice patients, why gathering with women is one of the most restorative things you can do, and the one question she wishes she'd asked her own mother. Whether you've been putting off recording your parents' stories or you're wondering what your own legacy will look like, this conversation will make you pick up the phone and call someone you love. In This Episode You'll Learn: * Why Nora believes writing is the number one way to be your own therapist — and the morning practice she recommends to anyone feeling overwhelmed * How a hot dog cart accident in midtown Manhattan became the catalyst for a complete life pivot * What Backstory is and how it works — from the initial conversation to a finished legacy book, no technology required from the client * Why the process of telling your story is often as transformative as the final book itself * The research behind why family stories build resilience, improve health, and pass down values across generations — including the concept of "vicarious memories" * What the Threshold Choir is and how singing at the bedside of hospice patients and NICU babies has become one of Nora's most meaningful forms of service * Why you should start capturing your family's stories now — not later — and practical tips for doing it with just a notebook and your phone's voice memo app * The Stanford Letter Project: a free resource for writing a legacy letter to your loved ones * The one question Nora wishes she'd asked her mother — and why the details matter more than you think * Why Nora believes gathering with women is one of the most restorative and powerful things you can do at this stage of life Resources From This Episode: * Backstory — whatsyourbackstory.com [http://www.whatsyourbackstory.com] * Women in Overdrive by Nora Isaacs [https://www.amazon.com/Women-Overdrive-Balance-Overcome-Burnout/dp/1580051618] * The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron [https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252](morning pages practice) * The Stanford Letter Project [https://med.stanford.edu/letter.html] (free legacy letter template) * The Threshold Choir — thresholdchoir.org [http://www.thresholdchoir.org] * The Prose Doctors [https://www.prosedoctors.com/the-art-craft-and-cost-of-editing/#:~:text=The%20Prose%20Doctors%20are%20all,%2C%20in%20newspapers%2C%20and%20online.](editorial collective) Keep Sparking If this conversation resonated with you: * Follow Spark Me wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a Spark Short * Share this episode with someone who's been meaning to sit down with a parent or grandparent and ask them their story * Leave a rating or review — it helps other women in their second act discover the show * Tag us when you're listening and tell us: What's one story from your family you're glad someone saved — or one you wish they had?

We Lived It. Here's What Cameron's Episode Hit Home For Us.

Even the most prepared families miss something. In Liz's case, it was a document sitting in a file cabinet that nobody remembered to upload to the hospital portal. This Spark Short is a real, unfiltered conversation between Michele and Liz about what's been hitting home since their episode with Cameron Huddleston — author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk. Liz opens up about her dad's recent health crisis, what went sideways even with everything in place, and what she's learned navigating the healthcare system firsthand. Michele reflects on her own family's experience, the sibling dynamics that almost every family faces, and what she's realizing she needs to do for herself — right now. This one is less about advice and more about two women living the very thing they've been podcasting about. And it turns out, knowing what to do and actually doing it are very different things. In This Episode You'll Hear: * Why Liz's dad's recent hospitalization proved that even the most financially prepared families can miss a critical step — and what it was * The honest conversation about why it almost always falls on the daughter, even when she's the youngest or the furthest away * How Liz handled a sibling who wanted to be part of decisions without being present — and the one sentence that resolved it * Why Liz compares the American healthcare system to a construction site with no general contractor — and why that matters for your family * The case for building a personal network inside the healthcare world before you need it * Why giving money during your lifetime may serve your kids better than leaving it as an inheritance * The cemetery tour story — and why it's actually the smartest thing a friend of Liz's has ever done * Why both Michele and Liz are leaving this episode thinking about their own affairs — not just their parents' Resources Mentioned: * Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk by Cameron Huddleston — CameronHuddleston.com [http://CameronHuddleston.com] * Believe Big – A nonprofit supporting individuals and families navigating cancer through integrative and conventional care - https://believebig.org [https://believebig.org/] * Aging Life Care Association [https://www.aginglifecare.org/] Keep Sparking If this conversation resonated with you: * Follow Spark Me wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a Spark Short * Share this episode with a sibling — you know the one * Leave a rating or review — it helps other women in their second act discover the show * Tag us and tell us: What's the one conversation your family keeps putting off?

She thought she had more time. Then her mom got Alzheimer’s

She was 35 with three little kids when her mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's — and she had no plan in place. You're home for the holidays. Your dad's lost weight. Your mom tells the same story three times. You go to help with a bill and realize you have no idea where anything is — no will, no account numbers, no idea who their doctor is. And the conversation you've been meaning to have? It still hasn't happened. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning personal finance journalist and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk, which the Washington Post called an excellent step-by-step guide to one of the hardest conversations families face. But Cameron didn't write this book from a newsroom — she wrote it from the trenches. At 35, while raising three young children, she watched her mother receive an Alzheimer's diagnosis with no financial plan in place. She had to figure out power of attorney, estate documents, long-term care, and caregiving decisions in real time — all while her life was already full. In this episode, Cameron walks us through exactly what documents your parents need (and you need), how to start the conversation without putting them on the defensive, how to navigate sibling dynamics when not everyone is on the same page, and the real cost of long-term care that most families aren't prepared for. She also shares the one thing she wishes she'd done differently — and the human element most people forget entirely. In This Episode You'll Learn: * The three essential estate planning documents every parent needs — and why they must be signed while your parent is still mentally competent * How to start the conversation without making your parents feel like they're losing independence — including using stories, third parties, and positive framing * What happens when you don't have power of attorney in place (hint: it involves court, $10,000, and nine months of waiting) * How to navigate sibling dynamics when caregiving responsibilities aren't equally shared — and how to set boundaries when siblings criticize but won't help * Why talking about scams can be the perfect low-pressure entry point into bigger financial conversations * The real cost of long-term care — Cameron spent over half a million dollars on her mother's memory care over eight years, and says that was cheap * When to look into long-term care insurance and why your early 50s is the ideal window * Why Cameron's number one piece of advice is to get professional help — and not try to do it all alone * The one thing most families forget: getting your parents' stories before it's too late Resources From This Episode: * Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk by Cameron Huddleston [https://a.co/d/03iukeK9] * CameronHuddleston.com [http://CameronHuddleston.com] (includes free scam red flags list) * Aging Life Care Association [https://www.aginglifecare.org/] (formerly geriatric care managers) * Fee-only financial planners [https://www.feeonlynetwork.com/] (fiduciary advisors) Keep Sparking If this conversation resonated with you: * Follow Spark Me wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a Spark Short * Share this episode with a sibling — seriously, forward it right now and say "we need to talk about mom and dad" * Leave a rating or review — it helps other women in their second act discover the show * Tag us when you're listening and tell us: Have you had "the talk" with your parents yet?

Bombs, Boardrooms, and Building Community: Liz Graham’s Spark Me Origin Story

he was 12 years old when terrorists bombed her father’s military headquarters — and for a day, she thought he was dead. In this deeply personal episode, Michele sits down with someone listeners have come to know and love on the other side of the mic — Spark Me co‑host Liz Graham. For the first time, Liz shares her own origin story: growing up as an Air Force brat, moving every two years across the globe from Korea to Germany to Turkey, and a childhood shaped by service, adaptability, and a family unit that was “home” no matter the geography.   She opens up about the terrifying day a terrorist bombing shook her family, the moment her mother drew a line after 28 years of military life, and how her father turned down a promotion to general to honor his wife’s sacrifice. From there, Liz traces the thread that’s run through her entire life — empowering women. From helping to create Women Business Leaders in Healthcare (WBL) in Washington, D.C., to founding Circle 200 in Northeastern Pennsylvania, to building a financial advisory practice centered on guiding women through life’s biggest transitions, Liz has spent decades building community and putting women on boards, in rooms, and in positions of power.   She also shares the story behind her father’s Vietnam memoir— written together — and why, surprisingly, women have been its most passionate readers.   This is the episode that shows you why Spark Me exists — and the remarkable woman who helped bring it to life. Whether you’ve been listening since episode one or this is your first time, you’ll walk away understanding the heart behind this podcast. In This Episode You’ll Learn * How growing up as a military brat shaped Liz’s leadership style, global perspective, and ability to build community anywhere she goes. * The harrowing story of the early‑1980s Baader‑Meinhof terrorist bombing at USAFE headquarters and how it changed her family’s trajectory forever. * Why Liz’s father turned down a promotion to general — and what that choice taught her about partnership, values, and sacrifice. * How the sudden loss of a close friend in a helicopter accident forced Liz to reevaluate what she wanted from her one wild and precious life. * The origin story of Women Business Leaders in Healthcare (WBL) and how one sentence in a strategic planning meeting became a movement to put more women on healthcare boards. * How Circle 200 was born, and why executive women’s networks matter just as much — if not more — in smaller communities. * What Liz does as a financial advisor at Riggs Asset Management, specifically focused on women navigating transitions like divorce, loss, retirement, and business exits. * The story behind her father’s Vietnam memoir and why it resonates so strongly with women readers. * How Spark Me was born from a knocked‑on window, a lunch, and two women listening to the same pull from the universe. * Why Liz believes AI is the most democratizing technology of our lifetime — and what that means for the next generation of women leaders and entrepreneurs. Resources From This Episode * Riggs Asset Management - www.riggsadvisors.com [http://www.riggsadvisors.com/] * Circle 200 * Women Business Leaders in Healthcare (WBL) www.wbl.org [www.wbl.org] * One of the Few: A True Account of Courage and Stepping into the Fight by Col. Robert J. Graham, USAF, Retired - https://www.amazon.com/One-Few-Account-Courage-Stepping/dp/B0DWYRT8YR [https://www.amazon.com/One-Few-Account-Courage-Stepping/dp/B0DWYRT8YR] Keep Sparking If this conversation resonated with you: * Follow Spark Me wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. * Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear a powerful story about resilience, service, and building something meaningful. * Leave a rating or review — it helps other women discover stories like Liz's * Tag us when you’re listening and tell us: What’s the thread that’s been running through your life?

Ripple Effects: How One Family's Idea Changed a Country

What if one small idea — born from a family vacation — could change the trajectory of an entire community, an entire country, and your own family forever? This week on Spark Me, Liz and Michele reflect on one of the most moving stories they've covered: Barb Cox, a mom who turned a trip to visit her kids' former au pair in South Africa into a years-long mission that introduced lacrosse to an entire nation. What started with her sons asking, "Can they play lacrosse?" grew into organized camps, a 501(c)(3), partnerships with U.S. Lacrosse, equipment donations from British Airways, and — most powerfully — scholarships that sent kids to high school and college who otherwise couldn't afford the $50 annual tuition. Liz and Michele unpack the layers of Barb's story: the opening ceremony where South African children showed up in their Sunday best to greet the American visitors. The moment Barb's kids realized the real need wasn't sports — it was education. The way Barb taught herself to build a nonprofit from scratch. The three children she informally adopted and supported through college. And how her two sons, who started this as teenagers, carried the mission well into adulthood — building skills in leadership, public speaking, and problem-solving that shaped their careers. The conversation also turns personal. Michele shares her own lesson in overcoming excuses through the Landmark Forum, when a simple phone call she'd been avoiding unlocked an entire project. Liz opens up about her dad's recent health scare and the resilience he's shown at 90 — a reminder that the ability to get back up matters at every age. Together, they explore why the people with the most extraordinary stories are often the ones sitting right next to you — not on a stage, but in your neighborhood, your community, your circle. This is an episode about starting before you're ready, refusing to let obstacles become excuses, and trusting that when you put a big idea into the world, the solutions have a way of finding you. In This Episode You'll Learn * How a family vacation to South Africa turned into a nonprofit that introduced lacrosse to an entire country  * Why Barb's kids saw beyond the sport and identified education as the deeper need • How Barb built a 501(c)(3) from scratch — managing fundraising, travel logistics, equipment, and scholarships * The unintended ripple effects: English language programming, college scholarships, and lifelong bonds across continents  * Why the people with the most extraordinary stories are often ordinary people in your own community • Michele's Landmark Forum experience and what it taught her about excuses vs. real barriers * The ICANN framework for turning ideas into action: Idea, Conversations, Action, Never give up  * The starfish parable and why impact doesn't need to be massive to be meaningful * Why resilience is a skill you need at every stage of life — and why it starts with simply getting back up Resources From This Episode Barb Cox's Full Spark Me Episode - (https://www.sparkmepodcast.com/from-one-trip-to-a-movement-how-lacrosse-and-135-sticks-changed-lives-in-south-africa/) Landmark Forum - https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/ [https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/] Steve Jobs Biography by Walter Isaacson - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Steve-Jobs/Walter-Isaacson/9781451648539 [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Steve-Jobs/Walter-Isaacson/9781451648539] Keep Sparking If this conversation resonated with you: * Follow Spark Me wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode  * Share this episode with someone who has a big idea they've been sitting on — this might be the nudge they need? * Leave a rating or review — it helps other women in their second act discover the show *  Tag us when you're listening and tell us: What's one idea you've been holding back on? What would it take to just start?