I Spark Change Podcast

Are you ready to join us in creating a better world? Awesome! Because you’re in the right place. The I Spark Change Podcast is about those who spread positive change across the globe. They are doing acts or work that have a positive impact on humanity. The guests on our show are what we call Social Impact Heroes. These are everyday people like you and me. They make a difference, whether through their actions or their impact on others. Their impact may be big or small. In all instances, it's a beacon of light for everyone they encounter. Each week we feature inspiring stories and messages of struggle, courage, and hope to help spread positive change and create a better world for all of us.

Ep#171: How Faith, Resilience, and Purpose Build a Life of Impact w/ Sean Meyers

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Sean Meyers, host of the Level Up and Live Podcast, entrepreneur, coach, and faith-driven leader dedicated to helping others reach their full potential in life and business. Sean shares his remarkable journey from corporate burnout to spiritual awakening, revealing how vulnerability, self-awareness, and faith transformed his leadership, his marriage, and his mission. Today, through his Level Up and Live Mastermind and Podcast, he empowers others...

10-22
44:48

Ep#170: I Spark Change Through Voices of Impact

In this episode, Rick shares an exciting announcement about Voices of Impact: Stories from Social Impact Heroes — the new book born from the heart of the I Spark Change Podcast. He reflects on the journey of I Spark Change, from its beginnings in 2020 with his first book 12 Hours of Heaven: Lessons for a Better World, to nearly 170 inspiring podcast episodes featuring extraordinary changemakers who are reshaping the world through kindness, courage, and purpose. This episode is a celebration ...

10-08
06:07

Ep#169: The Use of Social Enterprise to Empower Foster Care Youth w/ Logan Altman

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Logan Altman, Chief Impact Officer at Doing Good Works—a certified social enterprise turning branded merchandise and event activations into life-changing outcomes for people with lived experience in foster care. He discusses building a “world-class transaction → tangible transformation” model, the rise of Doing Good Works from startup to 2× Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Business, and why he believes doing good is good for business. Logan—named to Gr...

09-24
43:07

Ep#168: Patient-Centered Medicine w/ Dr. Neli Augustson

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Dr. Neli Augustson, physician, healer, and founder of a direct primary care practice that puts patients before systems. She shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Gabon to experiencing compassionate care in the U.S. for the first time, which fueled her passion for medicine. Neli opens up about leaving the traditional healthcare system to create a practice built on prevention, accessibility, and personalized attention—where every patient...

09-10
28:44

Ep#167: Stem Cell Breakthroughs w/ Christian Drapeau

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Christian Drapeau, scientist, author, medicinal plant expert, and pioneer in stem cell research. Christian has spent over 30 years in medical research, including two decades focused on stem cells, and pioneered the understanding that stem cells are the body’s natural healing and repair system. He has written five books, including the best-seller Cracking the Stem Cell Code, published dozens of scientific papers, and lectured in over 50 countries...

08-27
41:10

Ep#166: I Spark Change Through Family

In this episode, Rick shares a heartfelt story about how he and his wife, Tonya, recently traveled to California to care for her mother after a serious injury. What began as a planned week-long trip turned into nearly two weeks of round-the-clock caregiving, balancing work responsibilities, and finding moments of rest and gratitude. This episode is a MUST-LISTEN! 🎙🚀 We will discuss the following: ⭐️ Family support can be a powerful way to spark positive change. ⭐️ Acts of service str...

08-13
07:53

Ep#165: Success Meets Significance w/ Eric Newman

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Eric Newman, founder and Chief Play Officer of the Roc Solid Foundation and host of the Success and Significance podcast. Eric shares his powerful journey from childhood cancer survivor to social impact visionary, detailing how personal pain became the driving force behind a movement that has served over 4,500 families fighting pediatric cancer. With heart, grit, and vision, Eric talks about building purpose through play, scaling nonprofits like...

07-30
33:25

Ep#164: When Pain Becomes Purpose w/ Tonya Shellnutt

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Tonya Shellnutt, author, speaker, podcast host, and advocate for trauma recovery and pro-family policy. She shares her raw and redemptive story of surviving childhood sexual abuse, overcoming addiction, and breaking free from generational pain. With deep faith and a heart for others, Tonya has dedicated her life to protecting the vulnerable, challenging cultural silence, and helping others find healing through courageous conversation. Her work s...

07-16
37:45

EP#163: Disability Advocates Speak Out w/ Kelly Berger & Avery Roberts

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Kelly Berger and Avery Roberts, community engagement leaders and fierce disability advocates at Cure CMD, a nonprofit advancing research and awareness for congenital muscular dystrophies. Kelly and Avery open up about their deeply personal journeys through misdiagnosis, medical adversity, and social exclusion—and how they transformed these challenges into platforms for empowerment, education, and visibility. Their story of connection, purpose, a...

07-02
38:34

Ep#162: From Grief to Global Impact w/ Rick Ornelas

In this episode, Rick shares his powerful conversation with Sean Meyers—executive coach, speaker, and host of the Level Up + Live Mastermind & Podcast. What begins as a reflection on personal loss quickly unfolds into a transformative story of purpose and resilience. Rick opens up about the heartbreaking moment that changed everything: the passing of his sister. From that pain emerged a mission to spread hope, connection, and positive change through I Spark Change. This episode is an invi...

06-18
46:17

Ep#161: The Power of Your Voice w/ Ehmandah Ramsey

In this episode, Rick interviews Ehmandah Ramsey, transformational speaker, worship leader, and founder of She Stories. As a survivor of domestic violence and a single mom, Ehmandah turned her personal pain into a powerful mission to help others heal through storytelling, music, and community. She shares her courageous journey of overcoming trauma, the pivotal moment that freed her to share her truth, and how faith and purpose now guide her to empower women to reclaim their voices. From...

06-04
33:30

Ep#160: The Business of Giving w/ Ben Erwin

In this episode, Rick interviews Ben Erwin, CEO of Charitybuzz. Ben shares how he's helped raise over $500 million for more than 5,000 charities—by transforming how people give. With a unique model that merges profit with purpose, Ben’s work unlocks creative, sustainable ways to fundraise while making generosity accessible and exciting. From celebrity dinners to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Charitybuzz helps redefine philanthropy for the modern world. Ben dives deep into why the nonprofit ...

05-21
40:03

Ep#159: Define and Design Success on Your Terms w/ Jennifer Soenen

In this episode of the I Spark Change Podcast, Rick interviews productivity and time management coach Jennifer Soan. Jennifer shares her powerful journey from people-pleasing and burnout to becoming a mindful leader who helps high achievers align their values with their calendars. Through boundary setting, energy awareness, and intentional living, she teaches how to transform chaos into clarity. If you've ever struggled with overwhelm, decision fatigue, or feeling like there’s never enough ti...

05-07
31:51

Ep#158: I Spark Change Through Reading

In this episode, Rick reflects on how reading—and writing—can be powerful catalysts for personal transformation. He opens up about the impact of writing his unpublished book 365 Ways I Love You, a deeply personal gift for his wife that taught him profound lessons in love, gratitude, and presence. Rick also shares how reading books like The Compound Effect and Limitless continues to shape his mindset, habits, and purpose. Whether it’s a sentence in a book or a journal entry of your own, words ...

04-23
09:34

Ep#157: From Small Acts to Big Impact w/ Masami Sato

In this episode, Rick interviews Masami Sato, founder and CEO of B1G1 (Buy1Give1), an award-winning global giving initiative that empowers businesses to create meaningful, everyday impact. A two-time TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and social entrepreneur, Masami shares her inspiring journey from a shy, world-traveling backpacker to a visionary leader transforming the way businesses give back. She opens up about how a simple idea—linking everyday business transactions to high-impact global ...

04-09
36:38

Ep#156: Reclaiming Time, Rewriting Success w/ Carina Groombridge

In this episode, Rick interviews Carina Groombridge, a business and mindset coach helping women break free from people-pleasing patterns, elevate their income, and reclaim time with their families. Carina shares how she went from earning $30K a year to consistent $10K+ months, all while raising three kids and leaving a stable engineering career to follow her purpose. With a deep belief in creating businesses that support both profit and peace, she empowers others to build success on their ter...

03-26
26:25

Ep#155: Building Confidence and Resilience w/ Geeta Sidhu Robb

In this episode, Rick interviews Geeta Sidhu-Robb, the founder of GSR Coaching and CEO of Nosh Detox, a transformational leader dedicated to empowering individuals, especially women, to build thriving businesses and successful personal lives. Geeta shares her extraordinary journey from overcoming homelessness as a single mother to becoming a five-time Entrepreneur and Businesswoman of the Year and a trusted coach to high-level executives, celebrities, and Fortune 500 leaders. She discusses th...

03-12
21:16

Ep#154: I Spark Change Through Travel

In this episode of the podcast, Rick explores how travel can be a powerful catalyst for positive change. Reflecting on a recent trip to Sofia, Bulgaria, and London, UK, he shares how engaging with diverse cultures, embracing new experiences, and connecting with people on a human level can foster understanding, appreciation, and transformation. Through personal stories and meaningful takeaways, this episode encourages listeners to see every interaction as an opportunity to uplift others and cr...

02-26
06:52

Ep#153: Debunking Homelessness Myths w/ Lyndia Downie

In this powerful episode, Rick interviews Lyndia Downie, the President and Executive Director of Pine Street Inn, New England’s leading organization dedicated to ending homelessness. With nearly 40 years of experience, Lyndia has been at the forefront of innovative housing solutions, policy advocacy, and community-driven initiatives that transform lives. Through this discussion, Lyndia shares her journey—from a six-month temporary job at Pine Street to spearheading programs that have housed t...

02-12
43:42

Ep#152: Maximizing Impact Through Technology w/ Christa Stelzmuller

In this impactful episode, Rick interviews Christa Stelzmuller, a passionate leader and changemaker at Charity Water. Christa shares her journey of leveraging technology, data, and leadership to address one of the world's most pressing issues: clean water access. Through her work, she has pioneered strategies to foster empathy, build connections, and create scalable solutions that impact communities worldwide. With a mission to reduce the global water crisis, Christa sheds light on how every ...

01-29
39:00

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