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.
Creativity Sparks: Preparation and Boredom
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.
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.
Creativity Sparks: Col. Percy Fawcett and A Room of One's Own
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.
Makers: Bonnie Siegler
MAKERS: BONNIE SIEGLER: CHASING ANDY WARHOL, SIGNS OF RESISTANCE _ THE GIFT OF CERTAINTY
Susan and Laura get to talk to Bonnie Siegler, graphic designer of all things — books, TV shows, editorial, brand logos — and author of the books “signs of resistance” and “dear client”. Discussing everything from the beauty of “I notice” and “I wonder” to the inspiration of andy warhol + a fierce love of history, Bonnie shares how she uses her design superpowers for the good of all.
Check out her work at 8point5.com.
Creativity Sparks: Shop Class to Soul Craft + Introversion
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.
Makers: Angela Johnson
MAKERS: ANGELA JOHNSON: INVESTING IN ACCESS
In the latest bonus episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura talk to Angela Johnson, Founder & CEO of Invest in Access about how important inclusion and access are to our creativity and creative endeavors.
Angela Johnson is an Accessibility Strategist on a mission to increase equity for individuals living with disabilities. She is the Founder & CEO of Invest In Access, and owns AJ Inclusion Consulting, in furtherance of her mission. Angela's is presently focusing on accessibility within: events, recreation, and workplace culture. Since the summer of 2019, Angela has been contracting as Advancer for Democratic Presidential candidates whose teams are dedicated to increasing access + inclusion for all.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: BOMBSHELL + FEWER, BETTER
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.’
MAKERS: FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME'S ANTHONY "TWO-TOUCH" VENEZIALE AND CHRIS "SHOCKWAVE" SULLIVAN part 2
MAKERS: FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME’S ANTHONY “TWO-TOUCH” VENEZIALE + CHRIS “SHOCKWAVE” SULLIVAN - PART 2
Part 2 - Recorded LIVE from The Spark File New Year 2020 Creativity Workshop in NYC, Anthony and Shockwave share their belief in restorative play, mental fitness and the ability to learn how to learn. Plus, the unforgettable story of taking a tennis ball to the, well… balls during a performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Brutal.
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.
MAKERS: FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME'S ANTHONY "TWO-TOUCH" VENEZIALE AND CHRIS "SHOCKWAVE" SULLIVAN PART 1
MAKERS: FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME’S ANTHONY “TWO-TOUCH” VENEZIALE + CHRIS “SHOCKWAVE” SULLIVAN
In this episode, recorded LIVE from The Spark File New Year 2020 Creativity Workshop, Susan and Laura share in the flat out delight of Freestyle Love Supreme's Anthony
”Two Touch" Veneziale and Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan. We talk of overriding the fear mechanisms in our brains to allow for more freedom in expression and creativity and the belief that improv skills can benefit everyone. Plus, they’re just hella cool.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE SPARKS OF NANCY BLACKWELL AND MY FRIEND FEAR
CREATIVITY SPARKS: THE SPARKS OF NANCY BLACKWELL + MY FRIEND FEAR
In this weeks episode, recorded LIVE from the The Spark File 2020 New Year Creativity Workshop, Susan and Laura share sparks near and dear to their hearts. From the deeply personal and close to home, The Sparks of Nancy Blackwell to the universally spark-ish, equally feared and revered, My Friend Fear, inspired by the book by Meera Lee Patel.
MAKERS: META WAGNER PART 2
MAKERS: META WAGNER PART 2: IDENTIFYING YOUR CREATIVE TYPE (AND ITS EVOLUTION)
Ready for Part 2 of our conversation with Creativity Expert Meta Wagner? We dig into the remaining Creative Types — Sensitive Souls, Gamechangers and Activists and question whether we can evolve into other areas? Can we be a combo-platter of motivations?
CREATIVITY SPARKS: CREATIVE SPACES / GATHERING PLACES + THE SPARKS OF AMY POEHLER
CREATIVITY SPARKS: CREATIVE SPACES / GATHERING PLACES + THE SPARKS OF AMY POEHLER
This week, Susan and Laura dig into their personal spark files and share new ideas ready for the taking and making, including the enless possibilities of Creative Spaces / Gathering Places to light your fire; and the entire multi-spark-verse of Amy Poehler - a woman truly lit with inspiration.
Makers: Meta Wagner Part 1
MAKERS: META WAGNER PART 1: WRITING THE BOOK ON CREATIVE TYPES
This week, Susan and Laura dig into the meaty topics of talent, dedication and purpose with Meta Wagner, author of What's Your Creative Type? Harness the Power of Your Artistic Personality. In Part 1 of 2, Meta shares the driving passion and purpose behind the 5 Creative Types. You can't help but question, what is YOUR 'why'?
CREATIVITY SPARKS: HAND LETTERED SIGNS AND UNFINISHED ART
CREATIVITY SPARKS: HAND LETTERED SIGNS + UNFINISHED ART
In this week’s episode, Susan and Laura dig into two fresh sparks — the skill and the psychology behind Hand Lettered Signs and Unfinished Art — the compassion to complete it, the foresight to plan for it, and the only way to avoid it.
Maker: Okorie "OKCello" Johnson
MAKERS: OKORIE “OKCELLO” JOHNSON: ANCIENT INSTRUMENTS, MODERN TECHNOLOGY, THE ENERGY OF UNCERTAINTY + LIMINAL SPACE
Susan and Laura talk with the singular maker Okorie "OKCello" Johnson about his exploration of the cello as a path to self-expression. Creating while in a liminal space, Okorie draws energy from the tension of uncertainty and questions unanswered.
Creativity Sparks: Our Very First Mailbag Episode!
CREATIVITY SPARKS: OUR VERY FIRST MAILBAG EPISODE!
In this special episode, Susan and Laura reach into the mailbag and share sparks and creative results from our fearless listeners. From the desire to reconnect to that spark of creativity within us to making a creative leap or navigating a creative transition…we respond to your heartfelt and humor-filled letters to us.
Makers: Brad Montague
MAKERS: BRAD MONTAGUE: CONFETTI, A CHOIR, A T-SHIRT CANON + A HUMAN BEING WHO WANTS TO BE LOVED
Susan and Laura connect with the magic and the genius that is Brad Montague - writer, Director, Illustrator, Creator of Kid President, but ultimately, "just a human being who wants to be loved." Join us to hear about Brad's mission to seek good, create good, and celebrate good.
Creativity Sparks: Mudlarking + Verbatim Theatre
CREATIVITY SPARKS: MUDLARKING + VERBATIM THEATRE
In this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura share a tinderbox of sparks with the treasure-hunting, archeology-digging, historical-fact-finding adventure that is Mudlarking and the use of language as an entry point into character with Anna Deavere Smith's creation of Verbatim Theatre.