Spark Sessions
A bold, inspiring series spotlighting women who are blazing trails in business, leadership, and life. Hosted by Sonya Locke, each conversation fans the flames of ambition, resilience, and impact - proving that all it takes is a spark to light a movement.
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The Inner Spark: Dr. Kirsten Guest on Reclaiming Joy, Boundaries & the Whole Self
12/29/2025
The Inner Spark: Dr. Kirsten Guest on Reclaiming Joy, Boundaries & the Whole Self
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya sits down with Dr. Kirsten Guest, a clinical holistic psychotherapist, resilience advocate, author, and founder of a boutique wellness practice devoted to helping high-achieving women reconnect with joy, boundaries, and their whole selves. After spending 23 years as a stay-at-home mother, Kirsten answered a quiet but undeniable call to begin her third act. She returned to graduate school, launched a private practice in New York City, and began blending traditional psychotherapy with integrative modalities including EMDR, mindfulness, yoga, Reiki, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Drawing from her own experiences with burnout, people-pleasing, anxiety, and reinvention, Kirsten shares how healing begins not with fixing what is broken, but with remembering what is already whole. Together, Sonya and Kirsten explore why so many high-achieving women suffer in silence, the myths surrounding boundaries, and what becomes possible when women stop performing and start listening inward. They also dive into Kirsten’s work as author of Building Up Boundaries, her leadership at the iRest Institute, and her belief that joy is not a reward. It is a right. This episode is a reminder that it is never too late to reclaim your spark. Healing does not come from striving harder. It comes from coming home to yourself.
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Power. Pleasure. Presence: Sarrah Rose on Reclaiming the Fire Within
12/15/2025
Power. Pleasure. Presence: Sarrah Rose on Reclaiming the Fire Within
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya sits down with Sarrah Rose, a Tantra coach, intimacy expert, and founder and CEO of CEO on Fire, whose work is challenging women to reclaim power not through performance, but through presence. Raised in a deeply conservative environment that taught her to be quiet, contained, and compliant, Sarrah shares the path that led her from early marriage and spiritual suppression to embodiment, healing, and self-trust. Through yoga, Tantra, and formal training in India, she began to rebuild her relationship with her body and redefine what leadership, love, and liberation could look like. Together, Sonya and Sarrah explore the resistance women face when they lead with both power and pleasure, the nervous system patterns that shape how we work and relate, and why so many high-achieving women still feel disconnected from themselves. Sarrah also shares how she’s bringing this work into the future through Elixr, an AI-powered coaching platform designed to help the next generation build healthier, more conscious relationships. This episode is a reminder that real power isn’t something a woman earns. It’s something she remembers.
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Power in Every Step: Dr. Krista Archer on Walking Boldly
12/01/2025
Power in Every Step: Dr. Krista Archer on Walking Boldly
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya sits down with Dr. Krista Archer, a board-certified podiatric surgeon, lifelong athlete, and founder of ARCH by Dr. Krista Archer, whose work is redefining what it means for women to move through the world with comfort, confidence, and power. From NCAA lacrosse captain to one of New York’s most sought-after foot and ankle surgeons, Dr. Archer has built a career at the intersection of precision medicine and aesthetic care. She shares how injury shaped her perspective, why foot health is far more than vanity, and how restoring mobility can transform a woman’s self-esteem, posture, and presence. Together, Sonya and Dr. Archer explore the pressures women face around aging, beauty, and performance, the grit behind launching a boutique surgical practice, and the freedom that comes from honoring your body at every stage of life. This episode is a reminder that confidence does not start at the top. It starts at the foundation, one bold step at a time.
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The Fairy Godsister of Founders: Chevy Arnold on Championing Women, Building Ecosystems, and Rewriting Access
11/17/2025
The Fairy Godsister of Founders: Chevy Arnold on Championing Women, Building Ecosystems, and Rewriting Access
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya sits down with Cheveryn “Chevy” Arnold, Managing Director of Private Equity and Entrepreneur Strategy at EY and a true champion for women founders. Known as the “Fairy Godsister” of entrepreneurship, Chevy has built a career creating access, opening doors, and ensuring women have the visibility, networks, and support they deserve. From investment banking to launching her own advisory firm to leading programs like Entrepreneur Of The Year and Winning Women, Chevy’s journey is rooted in purpose, grit, and a deep belief in the power of community. She shares the moments that shaped her rise, the fires she’s walked through as a mother and leader, and why empowerment must go beyond mentorship to real opportunity. This episode is a testament to what happens when women advocate boldly for one another and a reminder that lifting others isn’t just Chevy’s work, it’s her legacy.
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The Power of Connection: Meg Williams on Breaking Barriers and Building Inclusive Growth
11/03/2025
The Power of Connection: Meg Williams on Breaking Barriers and Building Inclusive Growth
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya sits down with Meg Williams, Executive Director of ACG Atlanta, one of the most dynamic chapters in a global network of middle-market leaders, to explore how connection, inclusion, and courage are reshaping finance. From church halls to boardrooms, Meg’s journey is one of reinvention and resilience. She shares how a background in ministry and hospitality became her superpower in the world of mergers and acquisitions, leading billion-dollar deal forums and building bridges in a field where women hold just 10% of senior private equity roles. Together, Sonya and Meg dive into what it takes to lead through community, balance motherhood and ambition, and create cultures where everyone belongs. This episode is a testament to the power of connection and a reminder that true leadership isn’t about numbers, it’s about people.
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Log Off to Lead: Emma Lembke on Gen Z’s Fight for a Safer Digital Future
10/20/2025
Log Off to Lead: Emma Lembke on Gen Z’s Fight for a Safer Digital Future
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya sits down with Emma Lembke in New York City, founder of LOG OFF, Director of GenZ Advocacy of the Sustainable Media Center, and co-founder of Design It For Us, to talk about Gen Z’s fight for a safer, more intentional digital world. At just 23, Emma has testified before the U.S. Senate and earned a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30 for her work in digital advocacy. She shares how turning her own struggles with social media into purpose sparked a movement toward balance, boundaries, and awareness. This episode is a powerful reminder to log off, look within, and lead with intention.
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Resilience in Motion: Marian Giacoman on Reinvention, Identity, and the Power of Style
10/06/2025
Resilience in Motion: Marian Giacoman on Reinvention, Identity, and the Power of Style
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya sits down with Marian Giacoman, stylist, content creator, and entrepreneur whose minimalist aesthetic is anchored in a deeper story of reinvention. From architecture studies and a Bolivia-inspired fashion line to fleeing political unrest and starting over in the U.S., Marian shares how she rebuilt without a blueprint, a network, or a guarantee and grew a community of women drawn to confidence, elegance, and intention. Sonya and Marian explore the spark that shaped her: parents who modeled grit and entrepreneurship, the discipline behind her clean lines, and the choice to guard privacy in an online world that rewards oversharing. Marian talks candidly about comparison, saying no to misaligned brand deals, and creating a platform that quiets the noise while lifting others up. This episode is about more than style. It is a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, motherhood, and faith, about choosing what to carry forward, giving yourself grace while you grow, and passing the torch to women ready to reinvent on their own terms.
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The Voice of the Unheard: Jessica Velazquez on Building Equity in Cannabis
09/22/2025
The Voice of the Unheard: Jessica Velazquez on Building Equity in Cannabis
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya sits down with Jessica Velazquez, CPA, CFE, Principal at BeachFleischman and founder of Indiva Advisors, the first Latina-led CPA firm dedicated to cannabis. From Big Four boardrooms to cannabis policy tables, Jessica has built a career at the intersection of finance, advocacy, and equity. She shares the spark that drew her into a taboo industry, the burn of proving herself in rooms not built for her, and the mission that fuels her fight for communities left behind. This is a story of courage, conviction, and creating pathways where none existed before.
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Guardian of the Game: Erin Hanson on Revolutionizing the Future of Football
09/08/2025
Guardian of the Game: Erin Hanson on Revolutionizing the Future of Football
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya welcomes Erin Hanson, Co-Founder and CEO of Guardian Sports, the family-run company behind the Guardian Cap. What started as a mother’s mission to protect her son on the football field is now mandated across the NFL, trusted by more than half a million athletes, and credited with reducing concussions in practice by nearly half. Sonya and Erin dive into the spark that launched Guardian, the resilience it took to face rejection and ridicule, and the conviction that kept her moving through years of uncertainty. Erin shares how faith, family, and grit shaped her leadership, what it means to win recognition after long seasons of doubt, and why saving even one brain is worth the fight. This episode is about more than sports equipment. It’s about courage, conviction, and changing the culture of the game.
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Confidence Without Compromise: Tisha Thompson on Loving Yourself and Redefining the Beauty Industry
08/25/2025
Confidence Without Compromise: Tisha Thompson on Loving Yourself and Redefining the Beauty Industry
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya welcomes Tisha Thompson, the founder and CEO of LYS Beauty, the first Black owned clean cosmetics brand to launch at Sephora. With “Love Yourself” as its name and “Confidence Without Compromise” as its mission, LYS has become one of the fastest growing brands in Sephora’s ecosystem and a powerful reminder that beauty belongs to everyone. Together, Sonya and Tisha explore the spark that set her journey in motion, the courage it took to walk away from certainty to pursue her passion, and the resilience required to build in an industry that was never designed with women like her in mind. They talk about what it means to turn grief into purpose, to carry the weight of representation, and to bet on yourself when the stakes are high. Tisha opens up about the lessons that shaped her leadership, the moments that nearly broke her, and the rituals that keep her grounded as both a CEO and a mother. She also shares her vision for redefining what beauty looks like, who it is for, and why inclusivity will always be at the center of the movement she is building. This episode is about more than cosmetics. It is a powerful conversation about confidence, authenticity, and creating a legacy that refuses to compromise.
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Capital, Courage & Calling: How Karen Robinson Cope Is Redefining Power
08/16/2025
Capital, Courage & Calling: How Karen Robinson Cope Is Redefining Power
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya welcomes Karen Robinson Cope, a powerhouse entrepreneur and impact investor who has raised over $100 million in venture capital, built and sold multiple companies, and mentored hundreds of founders along the way. As the first-ever Woman of the Year in Technology in Georgia, Karen has spent her career proving that you don’t have to choose between success and service. You can build a legacy that does both. From closing nine-figure deals to helping lift more than 20 million people out of poverty through microfinance, Karen’s journey spans boardrooms, humanitarian mission fields, and more than 70 countries. She opens up about being one of the only women raising serious venture capital in the Southeast decades before DEI was part of the conversation, the resilience it took to lead through high-stakes pivots, and the conviction that drove her to launch ventures like Mara6 with missions as bold as their business models. Together, Sonya and Karen explore what it really takes to balance power with purpose, scale with soul, and lead with a heart that refuses to compromise. They dive into conscious capitalism, the future of global entrepreneurship, and the importance of making the table longer for the next generation of women leaders. This episode is about using your influence to open doors, change lives, and leave a legacy that outlasts you.
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Fit to Lead, Sculpting Success: Katherine Mason on Building a Bold Brand
07/28/2025
Fit to Lead, Sculpting Success: Katherine Mason on Building a Bold Brand
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya is joined by Katherine Mason, the powerhouse founder and CEO of SculptHouse; a boutique fitness and fashion brand redefining what it means to move with purpose. From her early days as a Wilhelmina fitness model in New York City to launching her flagship studio in Atlanta at just 25, Katherine has built a brand that fuses high-performance workouts with high-style retail and empowers women every step of the way. Together, Sonya and Katherine explore the spark that lit her entrepreneurial fire, the resilience it took to scale a business with no outside funding, and the bold pivots that kept her vision alive through the pandemic and beyond. They dive into the challenges of building as a millennial founder in an industry still dominated by male ownership and what it means to lead visibly, unapologetically, and without shrinking to fit the mold. Katherine opens up about motherhood, instinct-driven leadership, and the emotional toll of carrying a brand that breaks barriers. From her non-negotiable rituals to her dreams for national expansion, she reveals the inner fuel behind her success and the legacy she’s shaping for the next generation of women founders. This episode is about more than fitness. It’s about building boldly, trusting your gut, and redefining what strength looks like in business, in motherhood, and in yourself.
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Reclaiming Radiance: The Power of Aging Out Loud
07/14/2025
Reclaiming Radiance: The Power of Aging Out Loud
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya welcomes Linda McIver, a visionary in women’s health and longevity who is boldly redefining what it means to age with purpose, vitality, and power. As a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and the founder of ÂgeBlu and 2UMedical, Linda brings nearly 30 years of experience bridging traditional medicine with cutting-edge functional care. Together, Sonya and Linda trace the spark that started it all from Linda’s early days in critical care to building a concierge wellness model focused on healing the whole person. They explore how personal loss, motherhood, and a global pandemic helped shape her radical vision of aging not as a decline, but as a vibrant new chapter. They also dive into the stigma that still surrounds aging, especially for women, and the cultural shift Linda is championing. Through science, soul, and a refusal to shrink with time, she is showing women how to reclaim their energy, their voice, and their radiance. This episode is about more than longevity. It is a powerful conversation about choice, confidence, and the freedom to age out loud.
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Serving in Silence, Sparking a Revolution: Building America's Backbone
06/30/2025
Serving in Silence, Sparking a Revolution: Building America's Backbone
In this episode of Spark Sessions, Sonya Locke is joined by Liza Rodewald and Erica McMannes, the visionary cofounders of Instant Teams. What began with a single Facebook message grew into a revolutionary remote workforce company that has returned more than 70 million dollars in wages to military families across the country. Liza and Erica share how their contrasting backgrounds, one in technology and entrepreneurship and the other in military family advocacy, came together to solve a national crisis hiding in plain sight. From navigating deployments and motherhood to raising venture capital and building a business rooted in community, their story is one of grit, purpose, and innovation. Together, they discuss the challenges military spouses face, the policy changes that are still needed, and why empowering this often overlooked workforce is essential to both economic opportunity and national readiness. This episode is about more than creating jobs. It is about restoring dignity, fostering belonging, and building the foundation of America’s workforce, one remote career at a time.
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The Southern Spark: Leading Boldly & Balancing Gracefully
06/16/2025
The Southern Spark: Leading Boldly & Balancing Gracefully
In this powerful episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, we welcome Jennifer Bodner, the trailblazing Founder and CEO of Babbit Bodner Public Relations. Known for her signature blend of bold leadership and Southern warmth, Jennifer has built one of Atlanta’s most respected PR agencies while raising three children and redefining what modern executive presence can look like. Jennifer opens up about the spark that ignited her journey. From writing her first book in college to leading global campaigns at Edelman, and eventually taking the leap into entrepreneurship, she shares how Babbit Bodner became not just a powerhouse agency, but a values-driven platform that uplifts women, builds brands with heart, and embraces kindness as a strategy. Together, Sonya and Jennifer explore the often unseen challenges of being a working mom in high-stakes leadership: the invisible mental load, burnout, imposter syndrome, and the myth of balance. They also dive into the power of leading with authenticity and how Jennifer’s Southern roots shaped her bold yet gracious leadership style. With wisdom, wit, and warmth, she reflects on the legacy she’s building, not just for her business, but for her children and the next generation of women in leadership.
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Wearing Many Crowns: Leading with Grace in Pageants and Practice
06/02/2025
Wearing Many Crowns: Leading with Grace in Pageants and Practice
In this episode of Spark Sessions, host Sonya Locke sits down with the remarkable Emmaline Farmer, Miss Georgia USA 2024 and a freshly minted Family Nurse Practitioner graduate from Emory University. From stethoscopes to sashes, Emmaline is rewriting the narrative of what it means to lead with both strength and softness, intelligence and elegance. Together, Sonya and Emmaline dive into the roots that shaped her from growing up in small-town Georgia to discovering her calling in both service and self-expression and navigating the pressures of dual identities in healthcare and pageantry. They explore the stereotypes she’s breaking, the purpose she’s embodying, and the fire that fuels her daily. From battling imposter syndrome to advocating for real legislative change, Emmaline opens up about the trials, the triumphs, and the moments that revealed her true power. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to choose between passion and profession, and that the most powerful leaders wear more than one crown.
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Building Crowns & Legacies: The Woman Behind Positive Pageantry
05/19/2025
Building Crowns & Legacies: The Woman Behind Positive Pageantry
In this episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya welcomes Jackie Watson, the founder and CEO of USA National Miss, for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation. Jackie is a woman who did not inherit a legacy. She built one. What began as a mother’s love for her daughter turned into a national platform now known as Positive Pageantry, which has helped thousands of young women step into their confidence, purpose, and leadership. Sonya and Jackie discuss the early spark that ignited Jackie’s mission to transform the pageant world, and the bold steps she took to launch a new kind of pageant system. One rooted in mentorship, service, and sisterhood. Jackie shares the risks she faced, the resistance she encountered, and the resilience it took to lead with heart through every season. Together, they explore the evolving role of pageantry in today’s culture, especially at a time when young women are facing increasing pressures around self-image and confidence. Jackie offers powerful insights into how USA National Miss is challenging stereotypes, celebrating diversity, and preparing its titleholders to lead far beyond the stage. From her leadership philosophy to the stories that have stayed with her, Jackie reflects on what it means to build a legacy that lifts others. She also opens up about what fuels her fire, how she stays grounded, and what she hopes every girl knows about her worth and her voice. This is a conversation about more than crowns. It's about courage, calling, and creating space for the next generation to rise.
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The Power Behind the Spotlight: Building Legacy Through Vision, Talent & Intuition
05/05/2025
The Power Behind the Spotlight: Building Legacy Through Vision, Talent & Intuition
In this insightful episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, Sonya is joined by Keela Starr, a visionary entrepreneur who turned a bold leap of faith into a legacy. Keela shares the moment she walked away from corporate life, offered to intern for free, and began building what would become KStarr Management and The Nova Center. Their conversation dives into the early sparks that shaped Keela’s journey, the challenges that refined her, and the healing practices that now guide how she leads. From discovering global fashion talent to integrating Reiki and energy work into her business model and life, Keela offers a fresh, intuitive approach to leadership that’s deeply personal and profoundly effective. This episode is a testament to trusting your inner voice, embracing the unknown, and building a legacy that’s as intentional as it is impactful.
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Breaking the Barrier: A Woman’s Ascent in Aerospace & Beyond
04/21/2025
Breaking the Barrier: A Woman’s Ascent in Aerospace & Beyond
In this inspiring episode of Spark Sessions, Sonya Locke sits down with Ruth Garcia, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at AllClear Aerospace & Defense and Vice President of the Women in Defense Greater Los Angeles Chapter, for a raw and remarkable conversation on breaking barriers. From her beginnings as a first-generation American in Saginaw, Michigan, to leading global communications for a major aerospace company, Ruth’s story is fueled by determination, resilience, and purpose. Together, they explore Ruth’s unconventional path to executive leadership, how she carved space for herself in a male dominated industry, the bold decisions that defined her career, and the power of mentorship and showing up as your full self in rooms where you’re the only one who looks like you. Ruth also opens up about choosing ambition over societal expectations, finishing her degree in her 40s, and how representation can reshape an entire industry. She shares her work with Women in Defense, advocating for greater inclusion and inspiring the next generation of leaders through mentorship and visibility. Ruth’s journey is proof that growth doesn’t expire. It evolves. If you’ve ever felt underestimated, overlooked, or outnumbered, this one’s for you.
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Three Generations, One Fire: Women Leading with Purpose
04/07/2025
Three Generations, One Fire: Women Leading with Purpose
In this powerful debut episode of Spark Sessions with Sonya Locke, we’re turning up the heat with a full panel of women who are shaping the future of leadership, each from a different generation, but united by one shared fire. Join Sonya Locke as she sits down with Alba Andrade (Corporate Regional Recruiting Manager), Griselda Botello (Director of Talent Acquisition), and Gabriela Rader (Human Resources Director) for a candid, deeply human conversation about what it means to lead, grow, and thrive across generations. From the firestarter moments that launched their careers to the evolving motivations that keep them going, these women reflect on purpose, pressure, and personal power. Together, they explore the beauty and friction of working across generational lines: how age shapes leadership style, how women fuel one another, and why legacy and innovation aren’t opposites, but partners. Whether you’re just getting started or carrying the torch forward, this episode will inspire you to own your spark, embrace your voice, and lead with purpose no matter where you are in your journey.
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