In this episode, Rick sits down with Diane Strand, co-founder of JDS Creative Academy, award-winning nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, producer, speaker, and creative strategist. Diane is dedicated to helping youth, adults, and individuals with diverse abilities discover their talents and build meaningful careers through the transformative power of the arts.

Drawing from her own journey as a young girl with dyslexia, Diane shares how creativity became the foundation for her confidence, communication, and lifelong mission to empower others. She reflects on her career in television production, her transition into producing meaningful healthcare content, and the pivotal moments that led her to entrepreneurship and nonprofit leadership.

This episode is a MUST-LISTEN! 🎙🚀

We will discuss the following:

⭐️ How creativity can become a powerful tool for personal growth, leadership, and career development.
⭐️ Why combining passion, purpose, and business strategy leads to meaningful and sustainable success.
⭐️ How saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities can create life-changing ripple effects.
⭐️ Practical ways to overcome fear and use community, mentorship, and storytelling to grow.
⭐️ Why helping just one person can spark lasting impact across countless lives.

& more...

More information about Diane:

Website: https://dianestrand.com/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/DianeStrand.JDS/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianestrand

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianestrand/

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Rick will bring you relevant and practical episodes each week, empowering you to make a difference in your life and the lives of others. Each week, we will bring you an inspiring person who learned how to turn their struggles into strengths or a message to help you unlock your inner gifts to share with the world. 🌎👇🏽

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In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Beth Sanchez, founder and CEO of Impactful Improv, a company that helps professionals and teams strengthen communication, collaboration, and adaptive thinking through improv-inspired learning.

Beth shares how her background in business and leadership led her to discover improv as a powerful tool for skill-building while earning her MBA at Duke University. She explains how improv helps people become better listeners, think on their feet, embrace uncertainty, and build authentic human connection—especially in today’s fast-paced, virtual work environments. Through stories from her journey and client work, Beth highlights why presence, play, and curiosity are essential for effective leadership and meaningful teamwork.

This episode is a MUST-LISTEN! 🎙🚀

We will discuss the following:

⭐️ Improv builds essential business skills like listening, adaptability, and collaboration.

⭐️ Presence and human connection drive stronger communication in teams.

⭐️ Learning through play helps ideas stick and strengthens engagement.

⭐️ Great leaders create trust by embracing uncertainty and curiosity.

⭐️ Small moments of connection can create powerful ripple effects.

& more...

More information about Elizabeth:

Website: www.impactfulimprov.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-beth-sanchez/

Grab your gift and Join our group of thousands from all across the globe who want to spread positive change.


25 TRANSFORMATIONAL TIPS TO A BETTER YOU ➡️ https://www.isparkchange.com/join

Become a Patron today here 👉 https://www.patreon.com/isparkchange

Rick will bring you relevant and practical episodes each week, empowering you to make a difference in your life and the lives of others. Each week, we will bring you an inspiring person who learned how to turn their struggles into strengths or a message to help you unlock your inner gifts to share with the world. 🌎👇🏽

IG: @i_spark_change & @rickornelas
FB: Group
Twitter: @isparkchange
YTB: @i_spark_change

Support the show

In this episode, Rick shares his interview with Scott Marshall, President & CEO of the Institute for Shipboard Education and host of the As Unexpected Podcast.

Scott reflects on how a formative study abroad experience in Japan sparked his lifelong commitment to global education and cross-cultural understanding. He shares his journey from academia to leading Semester at Sea, the world’s leading comparative study abroad program, and explains how immersive travel builds empathy, challenges assumptions, and deepens human connection. Together, they explore leadership, purpose, and why experiencing the world firsthand is more important than ever in an increasingly divided and digital age.

This episode is a MUST-LISTEN! 🎙🚀

We will discuss the following:

⭐️ Global education builds empathy by exposing students to diverse cultures and perspectives.

⭐️ Experiential learning creates deeper understanding than classroom study alone.

⭐️ Human connection across borders reduces fear, bias, and misinformation.

⭐️ Purpose-driven leadership starts with curiosity, humility, and service.

⭐️ Travel and cultural immersion help shape more informed, compassionate global citizens.

& more...

More information about Scott:

Scott's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-marshall-b250305/

Semester at Sea YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9BX34qeu4MTcQnAkeJokYg

Semester at Sea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/semester-at-sea-ise/

Semester at Sea Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/semesteratsea/?hl=en

As Unexpected Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@asunexpectedpodcast

Grab your gift and Join our group of thousands from all across the globe who want to spread positive change.


25 TRANSFORMATIONAL TIPS TO A BETTER YOU ➡️ https://www.isparkchange.com/join

Become a Patron today here 👉 https://www.patreon.com/isparkchange

Rick will bring you relevant and practical episodes each week, empowering you to make a difference in your life and the lives of others. Each week, we will bring you an inspiring person who learned how to turn their struggles into strengths or a message to help you unlock your inner gifts to share with the world. 🌎👇🏽

IG: @i_spark_change & @rickornelas
FB: Group
Twitter: @isparkchange
YTB: @i_spark_change

Support the show