Episode 69 | The Solo Spark: Why You Can't Do This Alone
In this special solo episode, Dr. Brandi Kelly offers a timely, heartfelt reflection on community, self-awareness, and the transformative power of HOPE as we close out the year. Tying into the December theme of “You Can’t Do This Alone,” Brandi explores why leaders often carry emotional weight differently—and why tending to your own mental well-being isn't a luxury, but a leadership necessity built on strong support systems.She shares lessons from recent guest conversations, including powerful insights from speaker and coach Carman Murray (Episode 71) on how to lead without losing yourself, reminding us that setting boundaries and choosing self-protection is essential for sustainable leadership.You’ll also hear updates on upcoming December conversations featuring Ben and Crystal Woods (Episode 70) and Bethany Rees (Episode 73), who exemplify how vulnerability, connection, and community can help leaders turn their pain and rocky moments into growth. This episode reinforces the concepts of self-awareness and finding strength in others, which are critical to leading with H.O.P.E.This short but powerful episode will help you:
- Give yourself permission to rest and reset.
- Realign your focus with the core truth that Hope grows in relationships and strength is built in community.
- Lead with renewed purpose during a demanding season.
- And remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup.
If you’re a leader who’s feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or simply ready for a grounding moment of encouragement and connection, this episode is for you.Subscribe now and join Brandi on a journey toward healthier, more hopeful leadership—one step, one breath, and one spark at a time.
Lead with H.O.P.E. - Intro Chapters: https://sparkhopeedu.com/home--lead-with-hope-introduction
Visit sparkhopeedu.com to sign up for my weekly Quick Spark for Leaders email.
Book a 1:1 with Brandi here: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/tdpdiscovery-e57cf8be-1fb0-470c-966d-f9ffb843015a.
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What's the key statistic you're
ignoring in your leadership?
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It's the one that measures your
personal capacity.
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If the data says that you're
running on empty, it's time to
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rewrite the algorithm.
This month, we're replacing the
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solo effort with the proven
competency of community.
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Because you can't do this alone.
Hope grows in relationships and
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strength is built in community.
Pause and think about that for a
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second.
How many times have you tried to
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do it all by yourself?
How many times have you
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convinced yourself that you have
to carry the weight even when
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it's exhausting?
Here's the thing.
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December has a way of exposing
the truth.
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It reminds us of the gaps in our
lives, the cracks in our support
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systems, and the moments where
we just wish someone would step
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in and help.
We create connection.
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We need high expectations, but
we also need high support.
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And we absolutely rise higher
when we rise together.
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This month on the Lead with Hope
podcast, we're going to dig into
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one big important message.
Hope grows in relationships,
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strength is built in community,
and purpose gets activated when
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we show up for each other.
And it all starts with
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understanding who you are.
This month's message of finding
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strength and community is deeply
connected to self-awareness.
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When you know your own
strengths, your motivations,
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your natural wiring, you can
better show up for your team and
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ask for specific help when you
need it.
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I specifically like tools like
the disk and Enneagram.
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The disk model helps you see who
you are and understand your
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behavioral style and the styles
of others.
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It fosters better relationships,
better communication, and the
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working genius is another
assessment that I like to use.
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And this framework helps us
understand what we do best, our
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strengths are our unique
contributions and how to find
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joy and fulfillment in our work,
making us more effective leaders
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within our community and helping
us to place our team in
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positions where they can find
more joy in their work as well.
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Now, for the month of December,
I'm releasing 2 episodes every
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single week and each one will
meet you right where you are,
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whether you're tired, you're
rebuilding, you're dreaming
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bigger, or you're trying to
remember who you are underneath
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all the responsibilities.
So I'm going to walk you through
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what's coming and why it
matters.
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On December 10th, I am welcoming
Ben and Crystal Woods onto the
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show.
And they have a wonderful story.
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They get incredibly honest about
how their deepest pain became a
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pathway to something so
meaningful.
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Sometimes life knocks us down so
hard that we think we can never
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get back up.
But their story reminds us that
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when we lean into connection and
courage, a new path can emerge.
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You'll walk away believing that
you don't have to understand
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everything to take the next
brave step.
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And I want you to pause here and
ask yourself, what step could
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you take today, even if it's a
small one that moves you into
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alignment with your purpose?
And then on December 13th, I
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have Carmen Murray on the show.
This one is for every leader who
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gives and gives until there's
nothing left.
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Carmen breaks down what it
actually looks like to lead
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without losing yourself.
She talks about boundaries and
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compassion.
This is the permission you've
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been needing.
You can be a great educator and
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a great leader and protect your
well-being at the same time.
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Think about your own life for a
moment.
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Where have you said yes when you
should have said no?
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Where have you given your all
and left absolute absolutely
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nothing for yourself?
This episode will help you reset
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and realize that protecting
yourself isn't selfish.
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It's essential for sustainable
leadership.
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And then on December 17th, I
have Amy Wadlington and she
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joins me to explore how your
brain and your beliefs can work
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together to pull you out of the
wilderness.
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We talked about mindset shifts,
supportive relationships, and
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healthy rhythms.
These are all practical tools
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that you can implement
immediately after the show.
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So again, let's self reflect.
What's one thought pattern
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holding you back?
And how could leaning into faith
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or science or community help you
shift it?
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On December 20th, Bethany Reese
and I talk about the rocky break
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you open moments of leadership,
the ones that most people hide.
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But here's the truth.
Those rocky moments aren't meant
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to break you forever.
They're meant to build you.
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Vulnerability, trust, and
community support can transform
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challenges into growth.
This episode will remind you
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that you don't have to face the
hard stuff alone.
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And then on December 24th, I
talked to Doctor Matthew
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Flippin.
His story is pure inspiration.
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He proves that where you start
doesn't determine where you go.
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And his passion for helping
paraprofessionals rise into full
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teaching roles reminds us your
gifts are meant to serve others
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and your story can open doors
for someone else.
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Think about your own story.
How could sharing it, mentoring
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someone, or lifting someone
today create purpose for both of
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you?
And then on December 27th, I
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have Craig Williams and he shows
how the hardest parts of our
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stories, yes, even those messy,
painful ones, can connect us and
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can spark hope.
Your story matters more than you
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think, and the way you share it
can heal, inspire, and build
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resilience in other people.
Who needs to hear your story
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today and who could you reach by
sharing even a little piece of
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your journey?
And then I'm going to end the
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month with Doctor Robert
Thornell because before you step
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into this new year, 2026, this
episode is going to help you get
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grounded, refocused, and clear
about what actually matters.
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Leadership isn't about juggling
everything.
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It's about protecting the things
that matter most.
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You don't need more perfection
in your life, you need more
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connection.
And I hope these conversations
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remind you that you're
surrounded, supported, and
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called to grow alongside others.
If you haven't grabbed it yet,
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I'm gifting you the introductory
chapters of my book, Lead with
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Hope, Totally free.
The link is in the show notes.
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And keep your eyes open.
We've got big announcements
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coming in 2026, and you're going
to want to be part of it.
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If you're ready to bring the
power of self-awareness and
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community strength to your team,
I'd love to connect with you to
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discuss how the Disk and Working
Genius assessments can transform
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your school, your district, or
your organization.
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Book your free Discovery call
with the link in the show notes
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today.
Hey friend, can I ask a favor?
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If this podcast helps you, if it
encourages you, if it reminds
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you you're not alone, do one
thing.
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Follow the show and leave a five
star review.
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It takes seconds.
It costs nothing, and it helps
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us reach more leaders who need
hope.
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I believe in you and I'm
cheering you on every step of
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the way.
These December conversations are
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going to ignite something
powerful inside you.
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Until next time, keep leading
with hope and keep shining the
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light only you can bring into
this world.