MAKERS: PAUL WONTOREK: LIFE-CHANGING THEATRE, RECORD COLLECTIONS + BROADWAY.COM
This week, Susan and Laura are thrilled to talk all things Broadway with someone who has loved theatre since birth, and spent their lives amplifying the joy of it - Paul Wontorek, Editor-in-Chief of Broadway.com!
CREATIVITY SPARKS: IMAGINE IF…A CELEBRATION OF SIR KEN ROBINSON
This episode of The Spark File is dedicated to the memory of one of our creative heroes, Sir Ken Robinson. Laura shares the tale of how Sir Ken walked into her life and left an indelible mark on her creativity and on The Spark File company she and Susan are now building. Be sure to check out the Imagine If Festival going on now online at Imagine-if.com, celebrating the life and the legacy of Sir Ken Robinson.
MAKERS: LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA PART 2: CREATIVE MISDIAGNOSES, PASSION PROJECTS + SENSORY SEEKING
This is part 2, Lin-Manuel Miranda shares how he restocks his creative fishpond whenever the well runs dry, and reveals his secret to avoiding creative blocks. Find out how he fuels his creativity and gains inspiration from “the sensitive" and “the sensory seeker" in his life.
MAKERS: LESLIE ODOM, JR: THE LION, THE BEAR + THE BRAND NEW ALBUM, ‘MR’
In the latest bonus episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura talk to Leslie Odom, Jr, on the eve of his new album launch. Leslie reflects on the life lessons learned from 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Francis Turner, mentor Billy Porter, and so many more. Always open to the next challenge, Leslie shares the vulnerability and the joy that comes with truly taking a swing.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: AOKIGAHARA FOREST + MERCEDES MCCAMBRIDGE
In this special spooky episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura share Halloween inspired sparks from the dark side: the eerie calling of Aokigahara Forest in Japan and the spine-chilling true life story of The Exorcist's voice of satan: Mercedes McCambridge.
Content Warning: suicide, addiction, violence.
A video referenced in this episode of Linda Blair’s performance, followed by Mercedes McCambridge’s voiceover performance in The Exorcist.
MAKERS: GAVIN CREEL: CREATIVE SPONGES + MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS: RECORDED LIVE FROM THE PERFORMING ARTS PROJECT
In this episode, recorded LIVE at The Performing Arts Project, Susan and Laura talk with TONY Award winner Gavin Creel about making space for creativity, heartbreak, being a sponge, and practicing tiny victories. From tears to flatulence in 30 seconds flat, from the divinity of creation to a creativity inspired case of the sh*ts, this episode has everything.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: WHAT IT FEELS LIKE ON THE INSIDE + LUMBER JILLS
In this week's episode of creativity sparks, Susan and Laura discuss their personal quests for authenticity and the dissonance felt when What it Feels Like on the Inside doesn't match What it Looks Like on the Outside. Fresh examples of this dynamic include Game of Thrones's Emilia Clarke, Anne Hathaway's Oscar acceptance, and Marlene Dietrich's cabaret performances. They also find sparks in family history when the discovery of the Women's Timber Corps in the UK during WWII, a.k.s the Lumber Jills leads to a search for a personal connection to the Civilian Conservation Corps in the US.
MAKERS: JULIANNE MOORE + BART FREUNDLICH PART 1: COOKING BRANZINO + DIVING IN HEAD FIRST
Susan and Laura sit down with Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore (Still Alice, The Hunger Games, Far From Heaven, The Kids are All Right, After the Wedding) and writer/director/filmmaker Bart Freundlich (The Myth of Fingerprints, Wolves, After the Wedding). Award winning creatives in their own right, they also merge creative endeavors with marriage and parenthood. In Part One of our conversation, we learn what creative risks Julianne and Bart have been taking recently, how they mix their personal and creative energies and what makes for a creatively satisfying experience.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: FULL SANPAKU + @CHEAPOLDHOUSES
Susan and Laura serve up a load of creativity sparks this week examining Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes and the legacy of the Full Sanpaku along with the seemingly universal dream of acreage, Fixer Uppers and @cheapoldhouses.
MAKERS: ZACHARY QUINTO PART 1: UNCERTAINTY, INSPIRATION + AUTHENTICITY
Part One of a conversation between co-hosts Susan and Laura and prolific actor, producer, creator Zachary Quinto. Zach gives us the 411 on his backstory, key moments in his creative career, and how "uncertainty" can be the most enticing guide. Zach takes us from Broadway to blockbuster films, Glass Menagerie to Star Trek and well beyond.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE + SPEAK THE MOKITA
Co-hosts Susan and Laura serve up some delicious creative sparks in the form of little-known controversies surrounding the beloved Little House on the Praire series and its author, Laura Ingalls Wilder. We also explore the Mokita -- the truth everyone knows but no one will talk about -- how it defines our work cultures and how it can be used to great dramatic (or comedic) effect.
MAKERS: SARA BAREILLES PART 2: ANXIETY, BROADWAY + INSPIRATIONS
This is the second helping of creative conversation with master creator, Sara Bareilles. Susan and Laura dig in deeper to hear what’s next for Sara and what’s inspiring her now. From Grammy, TONY, and EMMY Award nominations to glorious collaborations, Sara gives us real talk about living the creative life as a singer, songwriter, author, producer and performer.
MAKERS: SARA BAREILLES PART 1: CREATIVE RISKS, SONGWRITING + BROADWAY
Susan and Laura talk to favorite songwriter, actor, producer, author and all around prolific creator, Sara Bareilles. Hear how Sara tackles the fear of not knowing, and how she continues to thrive creatively regardless of bouts with anxiety and depression. From Grammy, TONY, and EMMY Award nominations to glorious collaborations, Sara gives us real talk about living the creative life.
Co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien serve up the basics of The Spark File podcast -- what is a Spark File? What do you put in it? and why does every creative need one? From the visual artists to performing artists, writers, dancers, filmmakers, instagramers -- artists, makers and creators of all kinds need to restock our creative fishponds and build a reserve of ideas and inspirations. Listen, then take it and make it!
Listen HERE.
Transcript available soon.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: BREAKING UP WITH TECH + FREE SOLO
Co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien once again surprise each other with ideas and inspiration from their personal spark files. They explore the benefits of breaking up with technology and the impact it could have on your outlook, your productivity, and your creativity. And they discuss the sparks within the award-winning documentary film, Free Solo, looking at the parallels between a life-threatening solo climb of El Capitan and the emotional risk-taking an artist.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: JOHN MULANEY ON FAILURE + NINE ENDERS
Susan and Laura share two new sparks of inspiration from their creative spark files. John Mulaney's interview on You Made It Weird and his personal experiences with failure (perceived or otherwise) give hope to everyone who has ever attempted to create something. Meanwhile, who knew the number 9 might be the reason why you (or the characters you are writing) behave the way you do. The nine-enders just might be the character motivation you were looking for.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: HILMA AF KLINT + THE DIDEROT EFFECT
Susan and Laura reach into their personal Spark Files and share inspiration from artist Hilma af klint, a woman whose other-worldly work was way ahead of her time (and her male contemporaries), and their fascination with the The Diderot Effect, and how a mans spiraling consumption became his enduring legacy.
