Spark Castos https://bradleycharbonneau.com/ The question I most get having now written 5 books together with my kids is not about the characters or the dog or the castle or if Lu will ever stop eating fries.* No. The question I get from parents is, "How in the world did you manage to do a creative project with your kids, how did it go, and how can I do it, too?" The answer was: 1.) I just decided to do it, 2.) it went both terribly wrong and wonderfully right, and 3.) this book is how you can do it, too. One parent pulled me aside, a bit frazzled, and almost threatened me with, "If you ever hold a weekend workshop on how to do a creative project together with your kids, I'll pay whatever you want to charge." When I sat down with my then-8-year old on the red chair in early March of 2014, having just read a really bad children's book and said, "Wow, that book was pretty bad." I then immediately followed up with, "We can do better than that." My son looked at me like I was crazy (I was) and challenged me to follow through on my dare. I did. Within a month, we had a book on Amazon. Now we can boast almost all of the list below: 1.) We have sold 1,000,000+ books in 89 countries and 7 languages. 2.) We sometimes had to resort to bribery, coercion, and ice cream to get a chapter done. 3.) Just on royalties alone, Li is eyeing a Maserati for his 16th birthday. 4.) We created something from nothing and no one can ever take that away. 5.) We get regular calls from Hollywood producers about making the movie versions. 6.) We broke all of Audible's rules when we recorded the audiobook version--and got rejected. 7.) Both boys have transformed into perfect angels who study Mandarin in their free time after violin lessons and before their volunteer work for global literacy. 8.) I have a audio proof of my 10-year old narrating Chapter 8 that I can use at his wedding to embarrass him beyond his wildest nightmares and I can bring that up whenever I like to remind my boys that we are a family who shares experiences (and it's good for blackmail). 9.) We did it all right. 10.) We did it all wrong. 11.) We did it. Period. HINT: Take the list above and choose which one you like. This podcast is proof that we can create something from nothing together with our kids. What you're about to embark on is a journey that no one can take away from you. We're going to create a time capsule you'll be able to cherish until your 89-year-old neighbor finally tells you she's deaf and hasn't heard a word about it. This is going to help you create a bond with your kids. Thu, 17 Dec 2020 16:00:21 +0000 en-US © 2020 Bradley Charbonneau US NL EU https://episodes.castos.com/esd/images/ptsc-1731b-spark-audiobook-cover-1400x1400.jpg Spark https://bradleycharbonneau.com/ The question I most get having now written 5 books together with my kids is not about the characters or the dog or the castle or if Lu will ever stop eating fries.* No. The question I get from parents is, "How in the world did you manage to do a creative project with your kids, how did it go, and how can I do it, too?" The answer was: 1.) I just decided to do it, 2.) it went both terribly wrong and wonderfully right, and 3.) this book is how you can do it, too. One parent pulled me aside, a bit frazzled, and almost threatened me with, "If you ever hold a weekend workshop on how to do a creative project together with your kids, I'll pay whatever you want to charge." When I sat down with my then-8-year old on the red chair in early March of 2014, having just read a really bad children's book and said, "Wow, that book was pretty bad." I then immediately followed up with, "We can do better than that." My son looked at me like I was crazy (I was) and challenged me to follow through on my dare. I did. Within a month, we had a book on Amazon. Now we can boast almost all of the list below: 1.) We have sold 1,000,000+ books in 89 countries and 7 languages. 2.) We sometimes had to resort to bribery, coercion, and ice cream to get a chapter done. 3.) Just on royalties alone, Li is eyeing a Maserati for his 16th birthday. 4.) We created something from nothing and no one can ever take that away. 5.) We get regular calls from Hollywood producers about making the movie versions. 6.) We broke all of Audible's rules when we recorded the audiobook version--and got rejected. 7.) Both boys have transformed into perfect angels who study Mandarin in their free time after violin lessons and before their volunteer work for global literacy. 8.) I have a audio proof of my 10-year old narrating Chapter 8 that I can use at his wedding to embarrass him beyond his wildest nightmares and I can bring that up whenever I like to remind my boys that we are a family who shares experiences (and it's good for blackmail). 9.) We did it all right. 10.) We did it all wrong. 11.) We did it. Period. HINT: Take the list above and choose which one you like. This podcast is proof that we can create something from nothing together with our kids. What you're about to embark on is a journey that no one can take away from you. We're going to create a time capsule you'll be able to cherish until your 89-year-old neighbor finally tells you she's deaf and hasn't heard a word about it. This is going to help you create a bond with your kids. Bradley Charbonneau episodic The question I most get having now written 5 books together with my kids is not about the characters or the dog or the castle or if Lu will ever stop eating fries.* No. The question I get from parents is, "How in the world did you manage to do a creative project with your kids, how did it go, and how can I do it, too?" The answer was: 1.) I just decided to do it, 2.) it went both terribly wrong and wonderfully right, and 3.) this book is how you can do it, too. One parent pulled me aside, a bit frazzled, and almost threatened me with, "If you ever hold a weekend workshop on how to do a creative project together with your kids, I'll pay whatever you want to charge." When I sat down with my then-8-year old on the red chair in early March of 2014, having just read a really bad children's book and said, "Wow, that book was pretty bad." I then immediately followed up with, "We can do better than that." My son looked at me like I was crazy (I was) and challenged me to follow through on my dare. I did. Within a month, we had a book on Amazon. Now we can boast almost all of the list below: 1.) We have sold 1,000,000+ books in 89 countries and 7 languages. 2.) We sometimes had to resort to bribery, coercion, and ice cream to get a chapter done. 3.) Just on royalties alone, Li is eyeing a Maserati for his 16th birthday. 4.) We created something from nothing and no one can ever take that away. 5.) We get regular calls from Hollywood producers about making the movie versions. 6.) We broke all of Audible's rules when we recorded the audiobook version--and got rejected. 7.) Both boys have transformed into perfect angels who study Mandarin in their free time after violin lessons and before their volunteer work for global literacy. 8.) I have a audio proof of my 10-year old narrating Chapter 8 that I can use at his wedding to embarrass him beyond his wildest nightmares and I can bring that up whenever I like to remind my boys that we are a family who shares experiences (and it's good for blackmail). 9.) We did it all right. 10.) We did it all wrong. 11.) We did it. Period. HINT: Take the list above and choose which one you like. This podcast is proof that we can create something from nothing together with our kids. What you're about to embark on is a journey that no one can take away from you. We're going to create a time capsule you'll be able to cherish until your 89-year-old neighbor finally tells you she's deaf and hasn't heard a word about it. This is going to help you create a bond with your kids. Bradley Charbonneau bradley@passthesourcream.com false https://feeds.castos.com/px9k yes <![CDATA[Afterword]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2020 16:00:21 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/from-create-give-the-gift-of-you https://spark.castos.com/episodes/from-create-give-the-gift-of-you Just after we finished “The Secret of Kite Hill” and I talked about what the boys and I had done I planned to write this book. 

]]> false Just after we finished “The Secret of Kite Hill” and I talked about what the boys and I had done I planned to write this book. 

]]> 00:00:41 <![CDATA[Ch. 24: Halfway will never finish]]> Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/ch-24-halfway-will-never-finish https://spark.castos.com/episodes/ch-24-halfway-will-never-finish I specifically remember a math word problem in school in which one of the race contestants would get halfway to the finish line with each effort. At the beginning, he was way out in front. With one step, he’d gone halfway to the finish line. 

]]> false I specifically remember a math word problem in school in which one of the race contestants would get halfway to the finish line with each effort. At the beginning, he was way out in front. With one step, he’d gone halfway to the finish line. 

]]> 00:01:14 <![CDATA[Ch. 23: Replace Car Engine in Two Steps]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/ch-23-replace-car-engine-in-two-steps https://spark.castos.com/episodes/ch-23-replace-car-engine-in-two-steps I was a huge fan of the “Car Talk” radio show. Two brothers who were car mechanics talked about car repair. I’m not a car guy. You’d think, “Bradley, why in the world would you listen to a radio show about car repair?”

]]> false I was a huge fan of the “Car Talk” radio show. Two brothers who were car mechanics talked about car repair. I’m not a car guy. You’d think, “Bradley, why in the world would you listen to a radio show about car repair?”

]]> 00:02:52 <![CDATA[Section V: How: Introduction: Sparks]]> Thu, 30 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/section-v-how-introduction-sparks https://spark.castos.com/episodes/section-v-how-introduction-sparks I have talked with lots (no, really, way too many) of people about Spark.

]]> false I have talked with lots (no, really, way too many) of people about Spark.

]]> 00:01:57 <![CDATA[Lorena]]> Thu, 16 Jul 2020 21:26:55 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/lorena https://spark.castos.com/episodes/lorena Lorena and her son created a fantastic adventure complete with colorful characters, funny names, and a moving story of how to fit in with others when you’re different.

]]> false Lorena and her son created a fantastic adventure complete with colorful characters, funny names, and a moving story of how to fit in with others when you’re different.

]]> 00:04:24 <![CDATA[Lizz]]> Thu, 09 Jul 2020 17:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/lizz https://spark.castos.com/episodes/lizz Lizz would love to write a book together with her kids. She’d love to write a book at all. I’m pretty sure she’d be rather pleased with writing anything. 

]]> false Lizz would love to write a book together with her kids. She’d love to write a book at all. I’m pretty sure she’d be rather pleased with writing anything. 

]]> 00:02:47 <![CDATA[Ch. 19: Rich]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/ch-19-rich https://spark.castos.com/episodes/ch-19-rich As much as I don’t like the “threat” of It’s Now or Never, it really comes down to…It’s Now or Never.

]]> false As much as I don’t like the “threat” of It’s Now or Never, it really comes down to…It’s Now or Never.

]]> 00:03:21 <![CDATA[Ch. 18: It’s Now or Never]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2020 19:07:22 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/ch-18-its-now-or-never https://spark.castos.com/episodes/ch-18-its-now-or-never Seth Godin has a habit of writing a few sentences that hit home. Did I mention he writes Every Single Day? What a concept.

]]> false Seth Godin has a habit of writing a few sentences that hit home. Did I mention he writes Every Single Day? What a concept.

]]> 00:03:23 <![CDATA[Ch. 17: Part 4: When: Introduction: Kindling]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2020 18:28:30 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/ch-17-part-4-when-introduction-kindling https://spark.castos.com/episodes/ch-17-part-4-when-introduction-kindling “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” -- ?Chinese Proverb

]]> false “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” -- ?Chinese Proverb

]]> 00:01:50 <![CDATA[Ch. 16: Arlene]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2020 17:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/ch-16-arlene https://spark.castos.com/episodes/ch-16-arlene “…a journey of self discovery using NLP, Hypnotherapy, Magic, and Meditation.”

]]> false “…a journey of self discovery using NLP, Hypnotherapy, Magic, and Meditation.”

]]> 00:02:42 <![CDATA[Ch. 15: Create more than you consume]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2020 15:19:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/ch-15-create-more-than-you-consume https://spark.castos.com/episodes/ch-15-create-more-than-you-consume "One of the characteristics common to best-selling authors is a focus on creation. They are much more interested in producing information than consuming it." -- Dawson Church

Ha, here we are in Spark and yet we're referring to Create! Love it.

]]> false "One of the characteristics common to best-selling authors is a focus on creation. They are much more interested in producing information than consuming it." -- Dawson Church

Ha, here we are in Spark and yet we're referring to Create! Love it.

]]> 00:04:23 <![CDATA[Ch. 14: Craig]]> Thu, 28 May 2020 17:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/ch-14-craig https://spark.castos.com/episodes/ch-14-craig “I’m big into meditation and I’m big into raising kids consciously and I thought, ‘One day I’m going to sit down and write a simple kids’ meditation.’”

]]> false “I’m big into meditation and I’m big into raising kids consciously and I thought, ‘One day I’m going to sit down and write a simple kids’ meditation.’”

]]> 00:04:19 <![CDATA[Focus, Fergus]]> Thu, 21 May 2020 13:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/focus-fergus https://spark.castos.com/episodes/focus-fergus Fergus is a little clumsy. He trips over stuff. He tends to break things. If he could just focus a little.

If could just hear what his parents tell him 2,934 times per day: "Focus, Fergus."

If we, ahem, dear parents, could just focus a bit from the get go then we wouldn't need to be reminded so often. I'm not talking about Fergus anymore.

I'm talking about me--and you.

We could all use a bit of Fergus in our lives.

[ https://youtu.be/m0Rje7PgbTw ]

https://youtu.be/m0Rje7PgbTw
]]> false Fergus is a little clumsy. He trips over stuff. He tends to break things. If he could just focus a little.

If could just hear what his parents tell him 2,934 times per day: "Focus, Fergus."

If we, ahem, dear parents, could just focus a bit from the get go then we wouldn't need to be reminded so often. I'm not talking about Fergus anymore.

I'm talking about me--and you.

We could all use a bit of Fergus in our lives.

[ https://youtu.be/m0Rje7PgbTw ]

https://youtu.be/m0Rje7PgbTw
]]> 00:02:49 <![CDATA[Create + Spark = Give the Gift of You]]> Thu, 14 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/create-spark-give-the-gift-of-you https://spark.castos.com/episodes/create-spark-give-the-gift-of-you Visiting the SPARK world from the latest book, CREATE, here's Chapter 14.

When you think you don't have anything to give, you can still give this.

]]> false Visiting the SPARK world from the latest book, CREATE, here's Chapter 14.

When you think you don't have anything to give, you can still give this.

]]> 00:03:22 <![CDATA[Creating Breeds More Creating]]> Thu, 07 May 2020 18:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/creating-breeds-more-creating https://spark.castos.com/episodes/creating-breeds-more-creating If you get started, there's a good chance, more will come through than what you originally planned to get started with. Oh, and why that's a good thing.

]]> false If you get started, there's a good chance, more will come through than what you originally planned to get started with. Oh, and why that's a good thing.

]]> 00:02:45 <![CDATA[Build your confidence when 8-years-old. Oh, it might also help you get into university.]]> Thu, 30 Apr 2020 18:00:38 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/build-your-confidence-when-8-years-old-oh-it-might-also-help-you-get-into-university https://spark.castos.com/episodes/build-your-confidence-when-8-years-old-oh-it-might-also-help-you-get-into-university Create something, write a book, show us what you've got.

It's never too late--or too early--to create.

Create something (from nothing) and your confidence is bound to soar. Even if what you create is terrible (not kidding!) because it's a start, a first step in the direction away from where you just were.

[ https://youtu.be/OzB5M8kWsWA ]

https://youtu.be/OzB5M8kWsWA
]]> false Create something, write a book, show us what you've got.

It's never too late--or too early--to create.

Create something (from nothing) and your confidence is bound to soar. Even if what you create is terrible (not kidding!) because it's a start, a first step in the direction away from where you just were.

[ https://youtu.be/OzB5M8kWsWA ]

https://youtu.be/OzB5M8kWsWA
]]> 00:01:12 <![CDATA[SPARK Student Highlight: "Random Acts of Kindness" by Dede Charbonneau]]> Thu, 23 Apr 2020 16:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/spark-student-highlight-random-acts-of-kindness-by-dede-charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/episodes/spark-student-highlight-random-acts-of-kindness-by-dede-charbonneau You never know who's listening. ]]> false You never know who's listening. ]]> 00:09:52 <![CDATA[The Dog Ate My Homework: How Things Might go While at SPARK Campfire]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2020 18:00:00 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/the-dog-ate-my-homework-how-things-might-go-while-at-spark-campfire https://spark.castos.com/episodes/the-dog-ate-my-homework-how-things-might-go-while-at-spark-campfire You might bomb. Why that's not only OK but welcome.

This is how we roll.

[ https://youtu.be/rk6C4BgnYio ]

https://youtu.be/rk6C4BgnYio
]]> false You might bomb. Why that's not only OK but welcome.

This is how we roll.

[ https://youtu.be/rk6C4BgnYio ]

https://youtu.be/rk6C4BgnYio
]]> 00:01:44 <![CDATA[Spark: Foreword by Gavin Reese: “This is an important book, maybe the most important you’ll read this year.”]]> Thu, 27 Jun 2019 19:00:34 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/spark-foreword-by-gavin-reese-34this-is-an-important-book-maybe-the-most-important-youll-read-this-year34 https://spark.castos.com/episodes/spark-foreword-by-gavin-reese-34this-is-an-important-book-maybe-the-most-important-youll-read-this-year34 Spark is about relationships, connections, and quality time spent with the most important people in your life.

“This is an important book, maybe the most important you’ll read this year. I don’t believe I could possibly overstate the significance of what Bradley’s shared with the rest of us, but I’ll leave it to you to decide.”

— Gavin Reese

To hear and read more of Gavin Reese’s work, head on over to his author page at gavinreese.com.

If you’d like to see more about the book he wrote with his niece, you can get that in the bonus content of Spark. The coupon code to get in there for free is what Rina makes with her sons in Chapter 5 of Spark.

]]> false Spark is about relationships, connections, and quality time spent with the most important people in your life.

“This is an important book, maybe the most important you’ll read this year. I don’t believe I could possibly overstate the significance of what Bradley’s shared with the rest of us, but I’ll leave it to you to decide.”

— Gavin Reese

To hear and read more of Gavin Reese’s work, head on over to his author page at gavinreese.com.

If you’d like to see more about the book he wrote with his niece, you can get that in the bonus content of Spark. The coupon code to get in there for free is what Rina makes with her sons in Chapter 5 of Spark.

]]> 00:05:41 <![CDATA[“It’s been on my wall for years and I regularly read it.”]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2019 17:00:09 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/its-been-on-my-wall-for-years-and-i-regularly-read-it https://spark.castos.com/episodes/its-been-on-my-wall-for-years-and-i-regularly-read-it We never know when we’re going to make a connection.

For this reason, I keep creating.

“It’s been on my wall for years and I regularly read it.” ]]> false We never know when we’re going to make a connection.

For this reason, I keep creating.

“It’s been on my wall for years and I regularly read it.” ]]> 00:04:30 <![CDATA[It was both “just a fun little thing we did” and a “monumental shift in who I was” at the time.]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2019 17:00:39 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/it-was-both-just-a-fun-little-thing-we-did-and-a-monumental-shift-in-who-i-was-at-the-time https://spark.castos.com/episodes/it-was-both-just-a-fun-little-thing-we-did-and-a-monumental-shift-in-who-i-was-at-the-time Are you ready to take action? Are you ready to co-create?

Here’s the prologue to “Spark.”

Let’s see if there are any warm embers that flare up in your imagination.

]]> false Are you ready to take action? Are you ready to co-create?

Here’s the prologue to “Spark.”

Let’s see if there are any warm embers that flare up in your imagination.

]]> 00:02:38 <![CDATA[Because your imagination can change the world.]]> Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:00:16 +0000 Bradley Charbonneau https://spark.castos.com/podcasts/2313/episodes/because-your-imagination-can-change-the-world https://spark.castos.com/episodes/because-your-imagination-can-change-the-world Why create anything? Why not just sit back, relax, pass the chips, and binge Netflix?

“Because your imagination can change the world.” — Neil Gaiman

Yeah. So that’s why.

Welcome to Spark.

]]> false Why create anything? Why not just sit back, relax, pass the chips, and binge Netflix?

“Because your imagination can change the world.” — Neil Gaiman

Yeah. So that’s why.

Welcome to Spark.

]]> 00:02:48