Season 2

MAKERSODE: Lynne Cox

MAKERSODE: Lynne Cox

Long time listeners will know what a joy this episode was for us!

In the way back times, Susan introduced us to a human spark named Lynne Cox - a celebrated athlete who set swimming records around the world and achieved astonishing feats of strength and endurance (including swimming with a baby gray whale - eighteen feet long! - in open waters)

She is internationally famous for swimming the world’s most difficult waterways without a wet suit, and she is able to endure water temperatures so cold they would kill anyone else.

Lynne is the acclaimed best-selling author of Swimming to Antarctica and many more books, including her upcoming Tales of Al.

She is also a beautiful human being who recognizes and celebrates all forms of athleticism and creativity in others, human or otherwise!

And this week, we got to talk to Lynne!!

Join us as we explore the creative mindset of Lynne Cox - her resilience, gravitas, discipline, imagination… (make us stop because we could go on and on…)

MAKERSODE: Marc Janowitz

MAKERSODE: Marc Janowitz

This week, Susan and Laura got to hang with bad ass lighting designer and friend, Marc Janowitz, whose holistic, dynamic lighting designs illuminate a story and light up an audience.

His bold, no holds barred lighting transforms comedians into a rock stars and rock stars into gods.

Tune in to hear how Marc approaches designs for concerts for My Morning Jacket, The Lumineers, Fun., and many others, and comedy specials like Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Flight of the Conchords, Bo Burnham, theatre shows like Blue Man Group and Forbidden Broadway and so much more…

MAKERSODE: Mike Michalowicz

MAKERSODE: Mike Michalowicz

This week, Susan and Laura had the distinct pleasure of unpacking the mind of Mike Michalowicz, the man Simon Sinek claims might be “the patron saint of entrepreneurs”.

We have to agree.

He’s a saint, but our kind of saint - comfortable with subversive humor served with a dash of profanity.

On a mission to end entrepreneurial poverty, Mike changed our lives (and the way we think about making a living) with his book, Profit First. He has done the same for millions of other entrepreneurs as well.

If you want a fresh, bold perspective on earning a living as a creative entrepreneur, please tune in!

Mike is a joy to talk to, and life-changing to learn from!

MAKERSODE: Hunter Bell

MAKERS: HUNTER BELL: CONNECTION, COMMUNITY AND FANTASY ISLAND

This week, Susan and Laura got to spend extra time with their beloved Hunter Bell, Tony and Drama Desk nominee, Spark File Creativity Coaching client, and creative / writer / maker extraordinare! Tune in to feel the love and the belly laughs. Too much is never enough Hunter Bell.

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: John Ellison Conlee

MAKERS: JOHN ELLISON CONLEEE: GREAT CONVERSATION AND A CUP OF JOE

This week, Susan and Laura take a deep dive with Tony-award nominee (and Creativity Coaching Client) John Ellison Conlee, and discuss the creation of a life in addition to a career. Plus, in this very special episode, The Spark File debuts a short story written and read by John Ellison Conlee himself - Cup of Joe.

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: IMPOSTER SYNDROME

CREATIVITY SPARKS: IMPOSTER SYNDROME

On this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura examine that deep seated fear that you're just not as good / worthy / capable as others think you are. Imposter Syndrome. Check
out this episode and you just might find ways to let go of those coping mechanisms and start to believe in your own abilities.

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE MIND OF JILL BOLTE TAYLOR, PT 2: Electric Boogaloo

CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE MIND OF JILL BOLTE TAYLOR, PT 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

This week, Susan and Laura, still super sparked by the life-changing whole brain approach of Jill Bolte Taylor, take an even deeper dive into her work, applying her philosophies to our creativity.

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: Lincoln in the Bardo

CREATIVITY SPARKS: LINCOLN IN THE BARDO

This week, Susan and Laura share sparks inspired by the bestseller Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. This exploration of grief led to a greater understanding of Mary Todd Lincoln, perhaps some tolerance and acceptance regarding her mental health, and introduced us to the phenomenal story of Elizabeth Keckly, former enslaved person who became a business owner and personal modiste to the First Lady.

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: The Brain of Jill Bolte Taylor, Pt. 1

CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE BRAIN OF JILL BOLTE TAYLOR

This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura discuss The Brain of Jill Bolte Taylor - one hell of a managed mind! The woman who taught us to "Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space" is the source of this weeks creativity spark.
Tune in to hear Dr. Bolte Taylor's story (as shared in her book My Stroke of Insight) and how we can all gain from her learnings (as shared in her book Whole Brain Living).
If you've ever felt yourself battling between left brain and right brain, now you'll know why.

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: For Love of the Game

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CREATIVITY SPARKS: FOR LOVE OF THE GAME

This week, Susan and Laura serve up a single spark -- a spark 30 years in the making! Learn about the little card game that could - Canasta - and how it rose to fame, despite the Bridge Club establishment trying to keep it down! Friends and Foes, Joy and Pain, Triumph and Defeat intermingle at the card table. Plus a bonus mini-spark - did you know the Olympics once contained a competition for the ARTS?!

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: The Best Advice You've Ever Received + The Sixth Stage

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CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED + THE SIXTH STAGE

This week, Susan and Laura take a spin through some of the best advice they've ever received (including "don't pickle it!") plus, the very encouraging signs that people everywhere are entering the sixth stage of grief - finding meaning.

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: PAUL WONTOREK

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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!

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: Made You Look + The Curated Closet

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CREATIVITY SPARKS: MADE YOU LOOK + THE CURATED CLOSET

This week, the documentary Made You Look sparks a conversation about the phenomenon of justification and how our brains work overtime when we've done something we shouldn't have, PLUS, The Curated Closet - the joy-filled approach to closet curation that promotes self-expression and creativity over consumption!

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: JENNY CLIFT

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MAKERS: JENNY CLIFT: TAPPING INTO OUR EMOTIONAL FREEDOM

This week, Susan and Laura delve into EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) with Jenny Clift, Coach for classical musicians and stage performers. Jenny paves the way to wealth, success, balance, and inner peace using the scientifically proven power of tapping.

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: WHY + The Creative Habit

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CREATIVITY SPARKS: WHY + THE CREATIVE HABIT

This week, Susan and Laura dig into two worthy explorations -- Do you know your Why? Do you know why your Why matters? So many ways to consider how we can act intentionally, on and with purpose. Plus, they revisit Twyla Tharp's classic book: The Creative Habit. Do you have a habit of creativity? If not, you know The Spark File feelings on it - better get one quick!

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: DAX VALDES OF HOLLABACK!

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MAKERS: DAX VALDES OF HOLLABACK ON THE 5 D’S OF BYSTANDER TRAINING

This week, Susan and Laura have the honor of spending time with artist extraordinaire Dax Valdes of Hollaback, discussing their free bystander intervention trainings aimed at making the world a better, and safer, place for us all. Tune in to hear how you can make a difference in ending harassment in all its forms.

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: The Attention Economy + Einstein Time

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CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE ATTENTION ECONOMY + EINSTEIN TIME

This week, Susan and Laura dive into two new sparks of creativity - the attention economy that will literally eat up all of your time (if you let it) and the Einstein Time concept that will allow you to make more time, if you need it!

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: TAYLOR MALI

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MAKERS: TAYLOR MALI: POETRY, PERFORMANCE + WHAT A TEACHER MAKES

This week, Susan and Laura talk to poet, teacher, speaker Taylor Mali. Called "a ranting comic showman and a literary provocateur" by The New York Times, Taylor is one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement and one of the original poets to appear on the HBO series “Def Poetry Jam”. He is a four-time National Poetry Slam champion, in fact, we've read one of our favorites Taylor Mali poems, “What Teachers Make” on a previous episode of The Spark File and we're so thrilled to get this time with him to catch up and talk shop!

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: Champions of Breakfast + The Feedback Process

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CREATIVITY SPARKS: CHAMPIONS OF BREAKFAST + THE FEEDBACK PROCESS

This week, Laura and Susan take a deep dive into the fascinating tale of betrayal, corporate espionage, and family feuds that resulted in the world's most famous breakfast cereals, and how the feedback process can work in service and support of the artist to the benefit of all.

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: SIR RICHARD EYRE

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MAKERS: SIR RICHARD EYRE: THE OPPOSITE OF SCHADENFREUDE, YEATS, AND A CAREER IN THE ARTS

This week, Susan and Laura have a bloody delightful time talking with Sir Richard Eyre, whose creative work has spanned all manner of Arts -- directing theatre, film, television and opera, as well as writing books and plays. He has guided Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Dame Judi Dench and many more to some of our favorite performances. His insight from decades of experience is both practical and inspirational, and at 75, he is far from finished!

Listen HERE.
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