In this Sparkle Snack episode of Stay Sparked, John Halcyon (Hug Nation) and Betsy Finkel (Power Affirmation Project) explore socializing, awkwardness, and simple tools for feeling more relaxed and confident in social situations.

If parties, networking events, or even casual gatherings tend to spark anxiety or self-doubt, this conversation offers gentle, practical strategies to help you break the ice and stay grounded—without pretending to be someone you’re not.

Together, they share:

• Easy “pocket stories” and specific questions to spark meaningful conversation
• How to steer conversations away from small talk and toward genuine connection
• Mindfulness tools for calming the nervous system in social environments
• Why curiosity and listening are more powerful than performing
• Letting go of self-judgment, social labels, and the fear of being “awkward”
• The surprising power of honesty and self-compassion in social moments

This episode is a reminder that social ease is a learnable skill, not a personality trait—and that connection gets easier when we stop auditioning and start being present.

✨☕ This episode is sponsored by www.BecomeLucid.com Lucid is a functional mushroom and nootropic brand designed to fuel mental clarity, focus, and long-term brain health. Their flagship product is a premium mushroom coffee blend infused with clinically studied nootropics—crafted to deliver clean energy without the crash.

✨🎶 MASSIVE Thank you to Dub Sutra for their beautiful opening music. Check out their incredible music catalogue online. https://dubsutra.com

This Sparkle Snack episode of Stay Sparked, is a warm, bite-sized conversation about seasonal rituals, reflection, and intentionally closing one chapter before opening the next.

As the year winds down and we move toward the winter solstice, Betsy and John explore simple, meaningful practices for honoring seasonal transitions—without getting swept up in the rush, obligation, or overwhelm that often comes with the holidays.

Together we share:

• End-of-year reflection rituals focused on wins and growth points
• Gratitude walks, journaling, and reviewing calendars and photos to integrate the year
• Nature-based solstice practices like walking a spiral
• A playful yet powerful “future gratitude” practice—writing from the perspective of the year ahead
• Why imagination, presence, and elevated emotion matter more than rigid goals or resolutions

This episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and consciously spiral into the new year with intention, creativity, and compassion.

✨☕ This episode is sponsored by www.BecomeLucid.com Lucid is a functional mushroom and nootropic brand designed to fuel mental clarity, focus, and long-term brain health. Their flagship product is a premium mushroom coffee blend infused with clinically studied nootropics—crafted to deliver clean energy without the crash.

✨🎶MASSIVE Thank you to Dub Sutra for their beautiful opening music. Check out their incredible music catalogue online. https://dubsutra.com

✨ HOSTS

BETSY FINKLEHOO is a healer, an author, and mindfulness guide who blends somatic healing, sound therapy, and mindset awareness to help people feel grounded, connected, and empowered. As a longtime practitioner and Insight Timer teacher, she weaves practical tools with intuitive presence, offering experiences that support personal transformation and intentional living. Betsy is the creator of The Power Affirmation Journal and Power Affirmation Cards, along with a growing library of products and audio practices that help people build healthy rituals, release old patterns, and cultivate a life of joy, clarity, and inner freedom.
http://poweraffirmation.com/

JOHN HALCYON is full-time Love Ambassador. He is the founder of Hug Nation youtube channel and daily zoom gratitude circles. He is co-founder of the Pink Heart Burning Man camp and the 1st Saturdays project for people experiencing homelessness. In his free time he coaches groups and individuals on how to live joyfully and authentically. http://LifeStudent.com

In this episode we sit down with visionary painter Autumn Sky (@autumnskyeart, AutumnSkyArt.com) for a heartfelt conversation about creativity, courage, and trusting the process. 🎨

Autumn shares how art has been a guiding force since childhood, how she turned creativity into a livelihood without losing the magic, and why giving ourselves permission to create is some of the deepest healing work we can do.

We explore:

• Art as both spiritual practice and career
• Perfectionism, productivity, and staying playful
• The “crunchy” parts of the creative process and what they teach us
• How creativity helps us walk through mystery, change, and big life pivots

Autumn also talks about her retreats on the Sunshine Coast of BC and the next evolution of Heartwood Cove, an off-grid eco-retreat for art, healing, and deep reconnection.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “good enough” to make art, or how to protect the soul of your creativity while building a life around it, this episode will feel like a loving, wise mirror.

✨ If this conversation nourished you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow creative.

✨☕This episode is sponsored by www.BecomeLucid.com Lucid is a functional mushroom and nootropic brand designed to fuel mental clarity, focus, and long-term brain health. Their flagship product is a premium mushroom coffee blend infused with clinically studied nootropics—crafted to deliver clean energy without the crash.

✨🎶MASSIVE Thank you to Dub Sutra for their beautiful opening music. Check out their incredible music catalogue online. https://dubsutra.com

✨HOSTS
BETSY FINKLEHOO is a healer, an author, and mindfulness guide who blends somatic healing, sound therapy, and mindset awareness to help people feel grounded, connected, and empowered. As a longtime practitioner and Insight Timer teacher, she weaves practical tools with intuitive presence, offering experiences that support personal transformation and intentional living. Betsy is the creator of The Power Affirmation Journal and Power Affirmation Cards, along with a growing library of products and audio practices that help people build healthy rituals, release old patterns, and cultivate a life of joy, clarity, and inner freedom.
http://poweraffirmation.com/

JOHN HALCYON is full-time Love Ambassador. He is the founder of Hug Nation youtube channel and daily zoom gratitude circles. He is co-founder of the Pink Heart Burning Man camp and the 1st Saturdays project for people experiencing homelessness. In his free time he coaches groups and individuals on how to live joyfully and authentically. http://LifeStudent.com