SPARK, A Mother-Daughter Journey

Dec 21 2023

SPARK, A Mother-Daughter Journey Podcast artwork

Hi, this is Jenny Kierstead and Sophia Rae, a Mother-Daughter duo. We’ve been through a lot together the last few years. As we moved through COVID self-isolation, we also dealt with our own traumatic grief from the massacre here in NS, which claimed the life of Jenny’s sister, and Sophia’s Aunt, Lisa McCully. We decided to channel our desire to spark a light amidst the darkness by creating this podcast.Our hope for this podcast is to ignite honest, whole-hearted conversations that bridge the generational gap, heal trauma and light the path for a healthy, united future.

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Moving from loneliness to connection

Dec 21 2023 30 mins

In this episode, Sophia and I discuss the epidemic of loneliness, which millions are suffering from around the world.We open with the surprising detrimental effects that loneliness has on our mental and physical health, like how it rewires our brains and increases inflammation markers.What's tricky about loneliness, however, is that we often can't just go out and remedy t

Repair and Recovery: The key to lasting relationships

Nov 10 2023 35 mins

This stellar conversation is the fourth and final episode (for now) with our champion guest speaker, Sophia's Dad, and my hubby, Blair Abbass. We begin with updates on our lives since we chose to postpone our pod to give our chat with Cindy Thompson from A Resilience Project Podcast its full moment in the sun. It was a difficult one, but a beautifully honest chat on our journe

Let's talk about our red flags...ft Blair Abbass

Oct 08 2023 35 mins

In this third episode of our four part mini series on relationships with therapist, mindfulness teacher and educator, Blair Abbass, we discuss everything from dysfunctional relationships and red flags to healthy connections and green flags. We each share three red flags that arouse a sense of caution in us, such as addiction, criticism and lack of accountability. Given that Blair i

Foster Healthy Relationships with the Law of Attraction

Sep 21 2023 26 mins

In this touching and informative family conversation, we discuss the popular phrase 'law of attraction' with regards to attracting partnerships. I start off by reminding us that our intimate relationships are the most important choice we'll ever make, so it's worth our time and reflection. Our guest, Blair Abbass (my husband and Sophia's father), shares abo

Summer 2023 Wrap up- Camp highlights, Epiphanies, Meeting the Prime Minister....

Sep 07 2023 41 mins

Join us for our Summer 2023 Wrap up and Reflection!The practice of 'recapitulation' is a meaningful way of closing any experience, or season. Reflecting on the last season helps us to deepen our insight and savour the goodness we've enjoyed. This is what Sophia and I discuss in this episode, as we share:1. A peak experience2. A lesson learned3. A funny memory. Neithe

Mini series: Let's chat about intimate relationships- an introduction

Jul 20 2023 23 mins

In this episode with our repeat guest, the one and only Blair Abbass, we share a surprisingly serious and deep conversation about intimate relationships. After 22 years of being together, we continue to refine and define our partnership, and we share the details of our winning formula. As a witness to our relationship, and a participant within the family unit, Sophia has unique obs

Unveiling the Truth about Self Harm

Jul 06 2023 28 mins

In this moving and emotional episode, Sophia and I have a very real conversation about the prevalence of self-harm (TW).We want to be clear that we discuss this topic in it's broadest sense, not by what is presented in the DSM-5, which describes self-harm as:Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), is defined as the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue without suicidal

Musicians, Meaghan Smith and Jason Mingo, on success in the industry and in parenting.

Jun 23 2023 61 mins

In this exciting SPARK episode, we chat with the one of a kind duo, singer/songwriter Meaghan Smith and her producer husBAND, Jason Mingo. It's fascinating to hear about them starting out, living and working in LA with the likes of renowned producer Greg Kurstin (who also worked with Pink and Tegan), and how Jason found inspiration in his modest recording set up that still ena

How to Think Big and Pursue Your Deepest Dreams

Jun 08 2023 35 mins

In this moving and frankly, inspiring conversation, this mother-daughter duo discusses the challenges and rewards involved in pursuing your own passions, even and especially when they lie outside of the cultural norm. This topic arose from Sophia's first big keynote speech that she did for the Mental Health Symposium in NB a few weeks ago (at the age of 17).I share about my di

Three Generations- A Mothers Day Special

May 11 2023 43 mins

In this very special Mother's Day episode, we chat with Emily Kierstead, my (Jenny's) mother, Sophia's grandmother and a woman who's lost three of her four children. The three generations discuss Mom's early years when she bravely left NB to attend theological college in Toronto, which women didn't commonly do back then, and how that experience shaped