THE SPARK FILE PODCAST

What is a 'spark file'?

spark file (noun) - A place where one consistently collects creative inspirations + fascinations.

The Spark File (proper noun) - Hosted by Laura Camien + Susan Blackwell, The Spark File is a fun, funny podcast obsessed with creativity + inspiration.

Each week on The Spark File podcast, Susan Blackwell + Laura Camien reach into their spark files and share stories, ideas + fascinations to ignite your imagination.

Obsessed with creativity, Blackwell + Camien also talk with artists + makers who have taken the spark of inspiration + fanned it into a flame, such as:

Julianne Moore, Zachary Quinto, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sara Bareilles, Eric Stonestreet, Bobby Lopez + Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Leslie Odom, Jr., Jonathan Groff, Kelli O’Hara, Michael R. Jackson, Sutton Foster, John Early, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Karen Olivo, Erika Henningsen, Caitlin Kinnunen, Phillipa Soo, Gavin Creel, Matt Vogel and so many more!

Refill your creative fish pond with new ideas + fresh perspectives.

Listen, then take it + make it!

MAKERSODE: TAYLOR MALI

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.

MAKERSODE: SIR RICHARD EYRE

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.

MAKERSODE: RYAN J. HADDAD

MAKERS: RYAN J. HADDAD: NEW HOMES, SOLO SHOWS, + HI, ARE YOU SINGLE?

This week, Ryan Haddad, writer and star of Hi, Are You Single? (now playing virtually through February 28 at Woolly Mammoth Theater) shares secrets of storytelling via solo shows. His passion for centering "gay, disabled and arabic communities" is palpable and essential. Susan and Laura celebrate Ryan's message to us all - "You don't have to wait for anyone to approve. Your stories are compelling."

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: BILLY EICHNER

MAKERS: BILLY EICHNER

This week, Susan and Laura have the pleasure of speaking with Billy Eichner about his many creative endeavors, including Man on the Street, Friends from College, and making his singing debut on The James Corden Show. We even get a glimpse into the new gay rom-com he's writing, plus some truly helpful advice -- stand up for yourself, say what you need to say to get the quality of work you envision.

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: JOHN EARLY

MAKERS: JOHN EARLY: SEARCH PARTY, SHORT FILMS, AND POLITICAL STORYTELLING

On this week's episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura laugh more than they listen to comedian John Early, star of HBO's Search Party, The Characters on Netflix, and more.

Listen HERE.

MAKERSODE: Eric Stonestreet

Makers:

Eric Stonestreet:

Fizbo the Clown, Outdoor Bathrooms + Making Memories with Music

Emmy Award winning actor Eric Stonestreet, Laura and Susan cover all the essentials — creativity, clowning, and how to build your dream bathroom in the woods.

Listen HERE.

Makers: Jill Twiss

MAKERS: JILL TWISS: ‘READY, AIM, RECYCLE’, POLITICS AS COMEDY + A GREAT BUNNY NAME

Susan and Laura talk with Emmy Award winning comedy writer, Jill Twiss about her years on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver making people laugh (rather than cry) from current events, and how constantly pitching new things lead to writing her successful children's books, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, and The Someone New.

Listen HERE.

Makers: Kelli O'Hara

MAKERS: KELLI O’HARA: HAVING A ‘VOICE’, DOING NO HARM + LOVE OF THE GAME

On this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura connect with the extraordinarily talented and kind human being, Kelli O'Hara. Kelli shares her philosophy on doing no harm, plus a valuable artist life hack -- her backstage preshow self-talk. You won't want to miss her secret for beating performance anxiety!

Listen HERE.

Makers: Phillipa Soo Part 2

MAKERS: PHILLIPA SOO PART 2: ANXIETY, PERFECTION + LETTING IT HANG LOOSE

Susan and Laura had so much fun talking to TONY-nominated Phillipa Soo, they went for a Part 2! Pippa shares fears, "failure" and her process of letting it all hang loose. 

Listen HERE.

Makers: Phillipa Soo PART 1

MAKERS: PHILLIPA SOO PART 1: GIVING VOICE TO NEW CHARACTERS + LEARNING FROM A LEGACY

In this week's bonus episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura connect with Tony nominee, Phillipa Soo. Pippa shares her love of rehearsal, her dreams of directing, and her perspective on the recently announced film featuring the original cast of Hamilton. 

Listen HERE.

CREATIVITY SPARKS: MAKING CHANGE + SELF RELIANCE

CREATIVITY SPARKS: MAKING CHANGE + SELF RELIANCE

This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura share new inspirations — the many ways the arts (and crafts!) can come to the rescue when it's time for Making Change, and the increasing need for Self Reliance in a world of uncertainty.

Listen HERE.

Makers: Matt Vogel

MAKERS: MATT VOGEL: GETTING BOOED, BECOMING A MUPPET + RETAINING SOMETHING THAT’S YOURS

Susan and Laura curl up with the endlessly creative Matt Vogel. At Sesame Street and in his roles as Kermit the Frog and Big Bird, Matt utilizes his skills as an actor, puppeteer, songwriter, director, and so much more. He shares highlights from his creative journey from getting booed at the high school talent show to debuting triumphantly at the Hollywood Bowl. Matt remains inspired by Jim Henson's mantra to be in service of the best idea, and Kermit's guiding purpose of "making millions of people happy."

Listen HERE.

MAKERS: JONATHAN GROFF PART TWO

MAKERS: JONATHAN GROFF PART TWO: HEAR ME PEOPLE OF THEBES

In this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura get another snuggle sesh with the ever-eager Jonathan Groff. Jonathan shares how a bad review of his performance in The Bacchae lead him to bring a new level of BDE to the part. Who's the Greek God now? 
From his belief that "we're all bad at all different points in the process" to his emerging desire to Pay it Forward, it is impossible to not be inspired by the absolute openess and authenticity of our favorite mindhunter.

Listen HERE.

Creativity Sparks: Bird by Bird and Honey Boy

CREATIVITY SPARKS: BIRD BY BIRD + HONEY BOY

On this week's episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura share two sparks from their personal spark files: The infinite wisdom and inspiration of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and the hopeful possibility of redemption and healing of Shia LaBeouf's Honey Boy. Both sparks speak to the bravery of observing life (your own and others'), taking notes and telling the truth.

Listen HERE.

MAKERS: JONATHAN GROFF PART 1

MAKERS: JONATHAN GROFF PART 1: REHEARSAL ROOMS, THE O FACE + TELLING THE TRUTH

In the latest bonus episode from The Spark File, Susan and Laura snuggle up with actor/singer/dancer/truth-teller, Jonathan Groff. Jonathan shares his visceral responses to most everything, including his approach to choosing roles and relationships. We talk the bravery of coming out, and the importance of telling one's own truth. 

CONTENT WARNING: Sexually explicit language

Listen HERE.

Makers: Lin-Manuel Miranda Part 2

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.

Listen HERE.

Makers: Lin-Manuel Miranda Part 1

MAKERS: LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA PART 1: FRIDAY NIGHT MEET UPS, THE LAUNDRY ROOM + MAKING SPACE

This episode is Part 1 of Susan and Laura's chit chat with writer-performer-director Lin-Manuel Miranda. Whether taking 7 years to write Hamilton, or 7 seconds to spit out a rhyme in the 100% improvised Freestyle Love Supreme, this guy is firing on all pistons. Find out how he uses "time and a deadline" to make it all happen.

Listen HERE.

Makers: Leslie Odom, Jr

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.

Listen HERE.

Creativity Sparks: Spooky Sparks Special Episode: Aokigahara Forest + Mercedes McCambridge

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.

Listen HERE.