GARNET’S GOLD + LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This week, Susan and Laura reach into their spark files and share two fresh sparks of inspiration. First, the documentary Garnet's Gold weaves a tale of lost treasure in the Scottish highlands, and explores the pain of adventures not taken, lives not fully lived. And then, a deep dive into understanding land acknowlegement, recoginzing Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of these lands, and understanding our place within history.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: FURIOUS DANCING + RESILIENCE
Susan and Laura are back with Season 2 of The Spark File - rested, refreshed and creative fishpond restocked! They take a deep dive in search of the value of Creativity, and discover its life-saving attributes; AND they explore the need for resilience, and how to find it if you're not feeling it.
Listen HERE.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: FATIGUE FATIGUE + CREATIVE CYCLES
In the Season One finale, Susan and Laura discuss the various ways the world is exhausting us right now -- Zoom fatigue, Compassion fatigue, Caution fatigue and more. Plus, how knowing where you are in the Creative Cycle can help determine where your Hero goes from here. (hint: picture a Phoenix rising from the ashes).
CREATIVITY SPARKS: MINDSET + VUCA
This week, Susan and Laura are sparked by the possibilities created by the Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset, and explore the VUCA assessment tool to describe the Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous world we're living in.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS + MAKING CHANGE PT. DEUX
Susan and Laura share sparks of creativity that have them lit up. The continued fight for equality and the many ways individuals and groups have demanded it throughout history; and the many ways artists and creatives are making change in these tumultuous times.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: MAILBAG #2!
Susan and Laura dip into the mailbag and hear sparks of creativity from YOU! Sharing your grief, guilt, and guilty pleasures during quarantine and the many ways creativity is feeding your soul…
CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE SHOW MUST GO ON…LINE + MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Learn how The Show Must Go On...line mindset allowed Orange County School of the Art's production of Now.Here.This to continue despite the recent closures and cancellations. Plus, big ups to all the educators out there, holding it all together. Thanks to Taylor Mali for the always timeless reminder of what teachers contribute to us all!
CREATIVITY SPARKS: ODE TO USPS + KITTENS ON A BLANKET
This week, Susan and Laura share some recent sparks of creativity that have inspired them while the world is upside down. First, an ode to the beauty of handwritten letters and the USPS for delivering them, plus, ideas for making a day at home special and meaningful, including the joy of kittens on a blanket.
In this week's episode, Laura and Susan explore the idea of Creative Limitation, and how constraints can lead to liberation, plus, tips on how to approach your work from home routine to have you feeling Like a Boss!
Listen HERE.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: CREATIVE LIMITATION + LIKE A BOSS
In this week's episode, Laura and Susan explore the idea of Creative Limitation, and how constraints can lead to liberation, plus, tips on how to approach your work from home routine to have you feeling Like a Boss!
CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE CAPTAIN’S LOG + BILL WITHERS
If you're feeling the need to be the master of your fate / the captain of your soul, The Captain's Log just might inspire you to get behind the (ship's) wheel! Plus, Bill Withers, a man very much in charge of his own destiny, took a most fascinating journey through the music business and beyond, leaving us with the most wonderful gifts to listen to on this lovely day. lovely day. lovely day.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: COLETTE + IN THE FLO
In this week's episode of The Spark File, the pioneer Colette, fighting for credit of her work and leading the way for women to follow their creative pursuits and earn that money; plus, the power of living in flo to optimize your creative output by aligning with your infradian rhythms.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: CHIAROSCURO + THE HIDDEN LIFE OF TREES
In this weeks episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura dive into an exploration of light and dark with Chiaroscuro plus the story of the understory and the Hidden Life of Trees.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: THANKS, SEMMELWEIS + WE ARE THE DREAM
This week on The Spark File with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien, two fresh new sparks of creativity -- first, the doctor who risked his career and went to his grave trying to convince the medical profession that hand washing matters, plus the incredible true story of the uplifting oratorical festival presented by California students for the benefit of us all.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: UNFINISHED BUSINESS + THE POSH CLUB
This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura dig into the value and comfort that comes with completing Unfinished Business, creative or otherwise, plus, the anti-lonliness campaign being waged by The Posh Club (something we could all use right about now, regardless of age!)
CREATIVITY SPARKS: REJECTED PRINCESSES + THE ASTOR PLACE RIOTS
This week on The Spark File, two sparks of creativity - the treasure trove of phenomenal women throughout history featured in Rejected Princesses books and website, plus the history under our feet: The Astor Place Riots fought over who was the most talented actor, of all things.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: KATHERINE HEPBURN’S CAREER TURNAROUND + SCOTTY BOWERS AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD
When Susan and Laura were invited to intro a NYC showing of The Philadelphia Story recently, they challenged themselves to find sparks related to the movie -- and they didn't have to look very far! This week: the incredible self-orchestrated career turnaround of Katherine Hepburn, plus Scotty Bowers and the Secret History of Hollywood. Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!
CREATIVITY SPARKS: PREPARATION + BOREDOM
Two random sparks of creativity today, pulled from Susan and Laura's spark files give us the yin and the yang, the black and white cookie, the two ends of the spectrum episode ... how extra Preparation may be behind the sensation of effortlessness, and how bouts of Boredom make room for new creative connections in our brain.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: COL. PERCY FAWCETT + A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN
In this week's episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura share two new sparks of creativity: the enduring legend of Col. Percy Fawcett's final journey into the Amazon and the eternal search for personal creative space and a room of one's own, inspired in part by Caridad De La Luz and El Garaje.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: SHOP CLASS TO SOUL CRAFT + INTROVERSION
In this weeks episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura dive into an exploration of the value of work, particularly working with your hands, described in Shop Class to Soul Craft by Matthew Crawford, and the beauty and benefits of Introversion, explained by Susan Cain in her book, Quiet.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: BOMBSHELL + FEWER, BETTER
This week’s episode features two very different sparks from Susan and Laura’s spark files. First, the surprising and far reaching impact of this Bombshell beauty’s life’s work, then the potentially peace-creating, space-making philosophy of ‘Fewer, Better.’
