Hello! And welcome to another episode of 'a Spark of Hope'.
Thank you for joining me again.
Today it's all about Aurora/Aurorae: - what is an aurora - what triggers an aurora - the pros and cons of aurorae - how to increase your chances of witnessing an aurora including my tried and tested tips-and-tricks
I look forward to sharing the next episode with you soon!
- Alicia Jade
References:
- Facebook groups: Southern Hemisphere Aurora Group (aka SHAG) and Southern Hemisphere Aurora Group: Up-to-date Predictions: Your Aurora Australis Resource for Strength Estimation (aka SHAG:UPYAARSE). Yes, I know, the admins have a great sense of humour!
- The Glendale App and associated Aurora Alerts Telegram chat.
- https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/aurora/en/

- https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/aurora/

- https://www.space.com/coronal-mass-ejections-cme#:~:text=Coronal%20mass%20ejections%20(CMEs)%20are,more%20leisurely%20pace%2C%20relatively%20speaking.

- https://www.weather.gov/safety/space#:~:text=Luckily%2C%20Earth's%20magnetosphere%2C%20ionosphere%2C,have%20come%20to%20rely%20on.

- https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/solar-activity/en/#:~:text=Sunspots%20are%20areas%20that%20appear,is%20a%20very%20busy%20place.

- https://earthsky.org/sun/is-a-solar-flare-the-same-thing-as-a-cme/#:~:text=About%20solar%20flares%20and%20CME's&text=Both%20are%20born%20when%20the,particular%20direction%2C%20sometimes%20toward%20Earth.

- https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/nmp/st5/SCIENCE/aurora.html

- https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

- https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10109/

- https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/images/NOAAscales.pdf

- https://cdn.softservenews.com/southern_lights.html - https://hello-aurora.com/blog/aurora-forecast#

Hello! And welcome back to 'a Spark of Hope'.
Today we discuss 'Caffeine' and look at: - what caffeine actually is - where caffeine comes from - items containing caffeine - how caffeine works on the human body - the pros and cons of caffeine consumption
You'll also be exposed to aspects of Michael Pollan's Audiobook: 'Caffeine: how caffeine created the modern world', as well as NASA's study on spiders and the effects being exposed to various drugs had on their web weaving.
As promised, please see the links below.
I look forward to sharing the next episode with you soon!
- Alicia Jade
- Michael Pollan’s book 'Caffeine: How Caffeine created the modern world' - https://michaelpollan.com/books/caffeine-how-coffee-and-tea-created-the-modern-world/.

- Images from NASAs study on spiders (scroll down the page) - https://www.miragenews.com/nasas-experiment-with-spiders-mind-altering-996703/#google_vignette
- Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Formulations for Military Operations: 2 Pharmacology of Caffeine - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223808/#:~:text=Caffeine%20is%20rapidly%20and%20completely%20absorbed%20within%20an%20hour%20following,receptors%20and%20inhibition%20of%20phosphodiesterases.
- Harvard T.H. Chan, School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source: Coffee - https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coffee/#:~:text=Low%20to%20moderate%20doses%20of,direction%20of%20a%20health%20benefit.
- Study.com: Caffeine | Structure, Formula & Composition: https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-caffeine-structure-side-effects.html#:~:text=The%20compound%20caffeine%20comprises%20carbon,10%20N%204%20O%202%20.

Hello! And welcome back to 'a Spark of Hope'.
This instalment is focused on 'confidence'! Definitions, quotes and theories are explored, as are the pros and cons of building confidence, finishing with strategies you can use to build your own confidence!
As always, please see the links below for various resources.
I look forward to sharing the next episode with you soon!
- Alicia Jade

- Google: here you can find the definitions and quotes I mentioned in today's episode, as well as some of the strategies I refer to for ways on building your confidence via Google.
- Steven Bartlett: * instagram = @steven * Book: Happy Sexy Millionaire - https://stevenbartlett.com/happy-sexy-millionaire * Podcast: Diary of a CEO
- Dr Julie Smith's book: 'Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?' - https://www.drjulie.uk/ (the link on her website will take you to Amazon's website to purchase her book).

Hello! And welcome back to 'a Spark of Hope'. This episode comes to you from Port Fairy, hence the slightly 'magical' topic of choice!
Today we discuss 'Soul Modes' by Carlie Maree and a component of the book 'Do Less' by Kate Northrup! 2 very different books - 1 key shared concept (although, they do approach it slightly differently).
To the non-women out there who may feel this episode wont be useful to them: - the Soul Modes concept could still loosely apply if you have an open and creative mind - in regards to Cyclic Living, however, Kate Northrup recommends tracking the cycle of the moon as a way of determining what phase you might be in.

Also, I'm sure you have women in your life, or regularly come into contact with them, so this topic could provide useful when navigating those interactions by providing a little insight.
As promised, please see the links below for various resources.
I look forward to sharing the next episode with you soon!
- Alicia Jade

- Carlie Maree's website: https://www.carliemaree.com/
- Kate Northrup's website: https://katenorthrup.com/#
-Kate Northrup - Cyclic Living information - https://katenorthrup.com/the-411-on-menstrual-cycle-phases/
- Natural Cycles app website: https://www.naturalcycles.com/ *Follow this link for for 20% off the annual subscription plus a free Natural Cycles thermometer! - https://www.naturalcycles.com/refer-a-friend?name=QWxseQ==&code=referralid20&referral=umi323rep5ptw50z
- Tempdrop app website: https://www.tempdrop.com/ *Follow this link for 10% off! - https://tempdrop.refr.cc/aliciaredden - Stardust app website: https://stardust.app/

Hello! And welcome to the FIRST episode of 'a Spark of Hope'. I'm excited to share this journey with you - thank you for joining me.
Today we discuss breath! Boring first topic? As an asthmatic myself... I don't think so.
During this episode, I discuss some of the benefits and risks associated with practicing various breathing techniques, chat about James Nestors 'Breath - The New Science of a Lost Art’, share a basic insight into breath based Mindfulness practices, and provide a little story about my own journey with breathing challenges - including how I managed to achieve a major goal of mine.
As promised, please see the links below for various resources.
I look forward to sharing the next episode with you soon!
- Alicia Jade

- https://www.headspace.com/meditation/breathing-exercises - scroll down the page to find a free 1 minute guided breathing meditation from Headspace.

- https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Breath-Audiobook/024199022X?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp – Follow this link to find the Audible version of James Nestor’s book ‘Breath – The New Science of a Lost Art’.

- https://books.apple.com/au/book/breath/id1483545141 - Follow this link to find the Apple iBooks version of James Nestor’s book ‘Breath – The New Science of a Lost Art’.

- https://www.bigw.com.au/product/breath-the-new-science-of-a-lost-art/p/157142?store=370&gad_source=4&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlN6wBhCcARIsAKZvD5hot-aZLnLQKO0p3a7KlwMnoKBLdecO6uU8cPDIIgzn28PySHNp8I8aAoE_EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds – Follow this link to purchase a hard copy of James Nestor’s book ‘Breath – The New Science of a Lost Art’ from BigW.