Spark Podcast

For this episode, we invited Teela Cunningham, the founder of Every Tuesday. Teela grew up in Upstate NY, studied at SCAD in Savannah, GA and completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design in 2008. She worked as a designer at a startup children’s gaming company, a boutique home furnishings business and a design studio in Atlanta, GA. While at the studio, she had the pleasure of working on many large projects with Coca-Cola, Visa, the winter and summer Olympic Games and many wonderful small businesses. She started a youtube channel in January of 2014 and shared a lot of her knowledge on design softwares and hand lettering. The kind responses she got were overwhelming, so she started doing more frequent tutorials. From there, she began teaching online courses. Teela’s husband Spencer is a self taught web developer and is the driving force behind the web design and development of Every-Tuesday. In 2015, they decided to pursue Every-Tuesday together full time and haven’t let up since! In December 2018, she welcomed the newest member to our family: our daughter, Tuesday. They also have a lovely dog Nuna Petunia, who has been with Teela since March of 2009. Wondering how Teela built her empire of Every Tuesday by posting a Youtube video every Tuesday? Want to learn Teela's journey from a designer to an entrepreneur? Let's tune in and see what Teela has to share!

Amanda’s business - Amanda Creation started with her own interests on planning parties. She loved (and still does) to throw themed parties. But couldn’t find the right supplies. That’s why Amanda started her special invitation and party supply company. She explored the Etsy store before she sold it on Amazon. She found her way on Amazon and she shares her lessons she learned by making printable products.  “Amanda has been married to her husband, David, for 14 years. They live in the suburbs of Chicago and have 3 sons: Zachary, Joshua, and Benjamin. Her family is the reason she celebrates as often as she can. It’s also the reason why she started her design business.  Wondering how she navigated her way from a non-design background to creating a design business? Want to know what it is like selling on Amazon using Fulfilled by Amazon? Let's tune in to hear what Amanda has to say. 

For this episode, we invited Kayleigh Dumond, the Founder and Owner of Etsy Store of her own brand- Kayleigh Dumond: Vintage Botanicals Handmade Stationery Kayleigh Dumond grew up in a little town in the beautiful state of Michigan. She found a love for botanical prints a few years ago doing product design for a company in St. Louis. She took her love for design and everything vintage and started her own stationery business here on Etsy. It's fun to take something that is vintage and give it a new life, which is what she strives to do with her stationery. She takes vintage prints and turns them into invitations, greeting cards, and personal stationery. She is now blessed to be back home in Michigan, splitting her time between her Etsy business and being a mom and wife.  Wondering how she creates her stationery and why she is selling so well on Etsy? Let's tune in to hear Kayleigh's story!

For this episode, Host Li Zeng shares with you the whole process of creating a greeting card business starting from your kids' art and doodles. At the end of this episode, Li also introduced you the upcoming series about "Creating Printable Products".  Wondering how to encourage your kids to create more in the summer and how you guys can build a greeting card business together? Tune in to hear more details!

56. Let's Grow Leaders and Prepare for Some Leadership Skills with Karin and Sebastian Hurt

55. Get Ready to Think Critically with Educator and Author Dr. Brian Barnes

54. Solving Problems Using Design Thinking with Author and Educator Brett Schilke

This is the second part of the interview with Kevin Cordi. Kevin Cordi, an American teacher, storyteller and author. Kevin has told stories in over forty states and internationally. Kevin holds a doctorate from The Ohio State University in Education, Storytelling, and Story Making and has taught storytelling at the university and secondary level. ??Kevin shares stories with a highly energetic, animated and interactive style and is considered by many storytelling professionals as one of the most influential and dynamic storytellers and teachers today. Cordi also wrote the book "Playing with Stories: Story crafting for storytellers, writers, teachers and other imaginative thinkers" in 2014. ??He is considered one of the "nation's primary  advocates for youth storytelling"! According to the National Storytelling Network, he is “the first full time high school storytelling teacher in the country”.  His work has been chronicled in the book he co-authored with Judy Sima, Raising Voices: creating youth storytelling groups and troupes. Cordi also started the Youth Special Interest Group for the National Storytelling Network and founded the Voices Across America Youth Storytelling Project. ?

For this episode, we invited Kevin Cordi, an American teacher, storyteller and author. Kevin has told stories in over forty states and internationally. Kevin holds a doctorate from The Ohio State University in Education, Storytelling, and Story Making and has taught storytelling at the university and secondary level.  Kevin shares stories with a highly energetic, animated and interactive style and is considered by many storytelling professionals as one of the most influential and dynamic storytellers and teachers today. Cordi also wrote the book "Playing with Stories: Story crafting for storytellers, writers, teachers and other imaginative thinkers" in 2014.  He is considered one of the "nation's primary  advocates for youth storytelling"! According to the National Storytelling Network, he is “the first full time high school storytelling teacher in the country”.  His work has been chronicled in the book he co-authored with Judy Sima, Raising Voices: creating youth storytelling groups and troupes. Cordi also started the Youth Special Interest Group for the National Storytelling Network and founded the Voices Across America Youth Storytelling Project. 

In this episode, host Li Zeng shares 4 critical skills that parents can help their kids foster while staying at home. These skills include storytelling skills, critical thinking skills, design thinking skills and leadership skills. Li will share tips that can help parents to teach these skills to their kids, books that can help expand parents' and kids knowledge on those four areas and also introduce the next series of guests who are experts in those different fields. Tune in and have a listen! Hope you will enjoy this episode!

In this episode, host Li Zeng shares her 4 learnings from running Spark Creators for a year. This is the 50th episode and it is a small milestone for this show. If you want to learn how to run a podcast efficiently, how to overcome fear of creating something by yourself or just simply learn the process behind all the spark creators podcast, tune in and have a listen! Hope you will enjoy this episode!

This is the second part of the interview with Tameka Montgomery. Tameka graduated from Spelman College. She has a master’s degree from Columbia University. And In 2012, Johnson & Wales University awarded her an honorary doctorate in entrepreneurship. Tameka’s career in small business development started in 2001 when she launched one of Denver’s first inner-city business incubators. Under her leadership, the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC) was named the #1 SBDC in the nation out of 900 other SBDCs throughout the U.S. In this episode Tameka shared her experience producing the podcast "Raising Entrepreneurs" and some of the most memorable stories she had with her guests. She also talked about how she raises her sons and her hope for their future. Let's dive into today's episode and hear Tameka's entrepreneurship story!

For this episode, we invited Tameka Montgomery to join our show. Tameka graduated from Spelman College. She has a master’s degree from Columbia University. And In 2012, Johnson & Wales University awarded her an honorary doctorate in entrepreneurship. Tameka’s career in small business development started in 2001 when she launched one of Denver’s first inner-city business incubators. Under her leadership, the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC) was named the #1 SBDC in the nation out of 900 other SBDCs throughout the U.S. But how did working in the Small Business Development Center give her insight working with different types of entrepreneurs? Why did she decide to focus on serving young and underrepresented entrepreneurs and help them? What's the experience is like when President Obama appointed Tameka to lead the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development, where she was responsible for a budget of more than $160 million? Let's dive into today's episode and hear Tameka's entrepreneurship story!

For this episode, we invited Roxanne Christophe, the founder and CEO of Girls Crushing it. Roxanne worked for more than 10 years in public relations before becoming an entrepreneur and launching a boutique publishing firm - forging partnerships with Shutterfly and Best Buy. In 2018, she founded Girls Crushing It (GCI), a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls to flex their leadership muscles through entrepreneurship. The organization has educated hundreds of girls, who have delivered pitches and sold products to more than 10,000 customers at GCI's pop-up shops. But how did Roxanne's daughters inspire her to start a business? Why does she create a non-profit organization, and how did her pop-up shop become a popular market place for other girls too? Let's tune in to today's episode.

For this episode, we invited Jeannine Glista, the founder of BizKids. Jeannine is a producer and director, known for Biz Kid$ (2008), a business she founded back in 2008. She was also known for the mini TV show MO' Money with Mo (2018) and Fresh Take (2011). She has a business background and worked in the corporate world for a long time. But her passion drove her into the business of teaching money and entrepreneurship for kids. But what exactly did she create for the TV series? What was her process producing a show for kids? And what's her top advices for parents who want to raise entrepreneurial kids? Let's tune in to today's episode.

For this episode, we invited Patricia Clahar, the founder of Teaching Entrepreneurship for Kids. Patricia graduated from Harvard University for her undergraduate degree and she got her MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. She has been an educator for over 12 years. She taught entrepreneurship in a Montessori middle school for 3 years and helped over 50 students to launch products or manage small businesses. She has taught business concepts, such as revenue vs. profit, unit calculations, inventory management & forecasting, interest, profit margins and basic accounting to students as young as 6 years old and as old as 17 years old. Both of Patricia's mom and dad are entrepreneurs. So her own passion for entrepreneurship started early. But what exactly did she do when she was young; how did she walked into the path teaching kids about entrepreneurship; what ideas and tips she has for kids and parents? Let's dive into today's episode.

For this episode, we invited Patricia Clahar, the founder of Teaching Entrepreneurship for Kids. Patricia graduated from Harvard University for her undergraduate degree and she got her MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. She has been an educator for over 12 years. She taught entrepreneurship in a Montessori middle school for 3 years and helped over 50 students to launch products or manage small businesses.She has taught business concepts, such as revenue vs. profit, unit calculations, inventory management & forecasting, interest, profit margins and basic accounting to students as young as 6 years old and as old as 17 years old.Both of Patricia's mom and dad are entrepreneurs. So her own passion for entrepreneurship started early. But what exactly did she do when she was young; how did she walked into the path teaching kids about entrepreneurship; what ideas and tips she has for kids and parents? Let's dive into today's episode.

For this episode, we invited Brian Weisfeld, the founder and chief squad officer from The Startup Squad. Brian has been building businesses his entire life. In elementary school, he bought ninety-five pounds of gummy bears and hired his friends to sell them. As a teen, he made and sold mixtapes (ask your parents what those are), sorted baseball cards (he got paid in cards), babysat four days a week after school, and sold nuts and dried fruit (and more gummy bears) in a neighborhood store. As an adult, Brian helped build a number of well-known billion-dollar companies, including IMAX Corporation and Coupons.com. Brian is the founder and chief squad officer of The Startup Squad, an initiative dedicated to helping girls reach their potential, whatever their passions. Brian lives in Silicon Valley and can often be found eating gummy bears with his wife while watching his two daughters sell lemonade from the end of their driveway. Visit him online at brianweisfeld.com. To learn more about why Brian wanted to create a business that empowers girl entrepreneurship, to hear suggestions he has for kids and parents entrepreneurs, let's dive into this episode!

For this episode, we invited Brian Weisfeld, the founder and chief squad officer from The Startup Squad. Brian has been building businesses his entire life. In elementary school, he bought ninety-five pounds of gummy bears and hired his friends to sell them. As a teen, he made and sold mixtapes (ask your parents what those are), sorted baseball cards (he got paid in cards), babysat four days a week after school, and sold nuts and dried fruit (and more gummy bears) in a neighborhood store. As an adult, Brian helped build a number of well-known billion-dollar companies, including IMAX Corporation and Coupons.com. Brian is the founder and chief squad officer of The Startup Squad, an initiative dedicated to helping girls reach their potential, whatever their passions. Brian lives in Silicon Valley and can often be found eating gummy bears with his wife while watching his two daughters sell lemonade from the end of their driveway. Visit him online at brianweisfeld.com.To learn more about why Brian wanted to create a business that empowers girl entrepreneurship, to hear suggestions he has for kids and parents entrepreneurs, let's dive into this episode!

This episode introduces a comprehensive resources list on companies, books, podcast and youtube channels that empowers young creators and entrepreneurs. There is a free guide book for kids above age 12 to learn how to kick start their businesses. This episode also previews the upcoming 5 episodes on Businesses that support youth entrepreneurship. If you want to get all the resources, please go to peachandplumlab.com/43 to access all the links and recommendations from this episode.