MAKERS: HEIDI BLICKENSTAFF PART 2: GROWING A PAIR, DISCOVERING NEW PASSIONS + MAKING A DIFFERENCE
In part two, Heidi Blickenstaff digs deeper into the spark that inspired her to create GenZStayHome, and how she fanned it into a flame that has now become the bonfire called Broadway Because.
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.
MAKERS: HEIDI BLICKENSTAFF PART 1: SOFT CLOTHES, NY PRIDE + NEW CREATIVE PROJECTS
Susan and Laura talk with dear friend Heidi Blickenstaff, who perfectly puts into words the benefits of continual learning, curiosity and creative growth. She shares the origin story of her Broadway debut in The Full Monty, as well as her latest passion -- producing. Her GenZStayHome project has been a labor of love and is just the tip of the iceburg...
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!
MAKERS: ERIKA HENNINGSEN PART 2: WHITE KNUCKLING CREATIVITY, UNLEARNING + EMBRACING EASE
In part 2 of Susan and Laura's conversation with actress/activist Erika Henningsen focuses on doing double duty of delivering on interpretive work and weaving the gentle thread of activism through every experience.
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.
MAKERS: ERIKA HENNINGSEN PART 1: GIANT MEGAPHONES, NEUTRAL PRINCIPALS + PASSIONATE ACTIVISM
Back before the quarentine, Susan and Laura had the opportunity to cozy up with Erika Henningsen, of Mean Girls the Musical on Broadway fame. Erika shares her passion to use her mega-megaphone for good - from registering people to vote, and increasing literacy rates, to helping teen girls find their footing in the ever-shifting social landscape and beyond.
CREATIVITY SPARKS: PANDEMIC CREATIVITY + YOU ARE DOING ENOUGH
This week, in the first episode recorded during the quarantine, The Spark File offers two sparks of creativity - whether you are inspired to produce any form of Pandemic Creativity, or if you are focused on taking care of yourself and your family, You Are Doing Enough.
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.
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.
MAKERS: KATE QUARFORDT PART 2: HOLDING JOY, CATCHING A THREAD + BEING ONTO SOMETHING
This week on The Spark File, part 2 of Susan and Laura's conversation with Artist Kate Quarfordt. If you find yourself "teetering on the knifes edge" these days, sit back, relax, and take a trip back to three weeks ago when things felt normal. We discuss our Grandmothers, the Resistance Revival Chorus and the power of music and art in any movement for change.
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.
MAKERS: KATE QUARFORDT PART 1: ON BEING A CREATIVE INSTIGATOR, SHIT STIRRER, CAPITAL “A” ARTIST
This week on The Spark File, Laura and Susan are treated to the wisdom, the joy, the laughter and the luminosity that is Kate Quarfordt, Artist. From learning how "your weirdness is your genius" to the discipline required to transcend into kairos time, this episode is dream for all artists or Artists at every juncture.
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.
MAKERS: KRIS ANDERSSON / DIXIE LONGATE: TAKING RISKS, CHARGING FORWARD + BURNING THE BOATS
This week, Susan and Laura catch up with Kris Andersson, accidental hyphenate, who gives us an exclusive scoop, his biggest creative risk so far — shuttering his uber successful show, Dixie’s Tupperware party. With his eye on new creative ideas and endeavors, Kris shares his gratitude for Dixie’s adventures and his vision for brand new shenanigans.
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!)
MAKERS: CAITLIN KINNUNEN: FLUIDITY, AUTHENTICITY + BEING THE TRUTH GOOSE
This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura get to chat with the fabulous, fun, authentically awesome Caitlin Kinnunen. Caitlin shares openly and easily about everything from Tony nominations and failure, soapbox opportunities, and how the struggle is shared.
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.
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!
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!
