Makers: Julianne Moore + Bart Freudlich Part 1

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. 

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Creativity Sparks: Full Sanpaku + @cheapoldhouses

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.

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Makers: Rodney Evans

MAKERS: RODNEY EVANS: VISION PORTRAITS, LIMINAL SPACE + TRUTH TELLING

In this week's maker-sode, Susan and Laura talk with award-winning filmmaker Rodney Evans about his very personal documentary, Vision Portraits. Rodney shares the details of his loss of vision and and what it means to be a blind or visually impaired creative artist. Rodney shares the power of channeling his fear into his creativity, illuminates the difference between sight and vision, and shares his belief that going blind just might create new ways of seeing. According to The New York Times, Vision Portraits “has the power, however briefly, to alter your perception."

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Creativity Sparks: Golden Palace + Poet Mary Oliver

CREATIVITY SPARKS: GOLDEN PALACE + POET MARY OLIVER

In this Creativity Sparks episode, co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien discuss the original spark that inspired Susan to write the piece “Golden Palace” for the Off-Broadway show NOW.HERE.THIS at the Vineyard Theatre, as well as the overflowing gift of sparks poet Mary Oliver left for the world.

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Makers: Zachary Quinto PART 2

MAKERS: ZACHARY QUINTO PART 2: INSPIRED COLLABORATION, THEATRE + CREATIVE ASPIRATIONS

Part Two of a conversation between co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien and actor, producer, creator Zachary Quinto. Get to know the thoughtful, original mind of this prolific maker as he shares experiences from a creative life full of blockbuster films, Broadway theater, and off the beaten path Netflix options.

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Creativity Sparks: Survivors of Larry Nassar + Reservoir Noir

CREATIVITY SPARKS: SURVIVORS OF LARRY NASSAR + RESERVIOR NOIR

In this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura discuss a dark spark -- the legacy of Larry Nassar and the powerful, inspiring army of survivors and champions who told their stories, including Katelyn Ohashi, Lindsey Smith, Valorie Kondos Field, Rachael Denhollander and Kate Wells. They also look beneath the surface of Reservoir Noir and the spark-filled stories of towns that drowned.
PLEASE NOTE: This episode of The Spark File podcasts contains mature themes (physical abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, body issues). Please use your discretion.

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Makers: Zachary Quinto PART 1

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.

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Creativity Sparks: Little House on the Praire + Speak the Mokita

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.

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Makers: Sara Bareilles PART 2

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.

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Makers: Sara Bareilles Part 1

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.

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Bonus: What is a Spark File and Why Every Creative Needs One

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!

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Transcript available soon.

Creativity Sparks: Breaking Up with Tech + Free Solo

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.

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Creativity Sparks: John Mulaney on Failure and Nine Enders

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.

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Creativity Sparks: Hilma af Klint and The Diderot Effect

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.

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