The Spark File with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien
Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien
Your one stop shop for creative ideas and inspiration. Sign up for our newsletter HERE. Each week on The Spark File podcast, Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien reach into their spark files and share stories, ideas and fascinations to ignite your imagination. Obsessed with creativity, Blackwell and Camien also talk with artists and makers, movers and shakers who have taken the spark of inspiration and fanned it into a flame. Hear from inspiring creatives like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sara Bareilles, Eric Stonestreet, Jonathan Groff, Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich, Zachary Quinto, Leslie Odom Jr, Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Billy Eichner, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Karen Olivo, Sutton Foster, Michael R. Jackson and many more about their passions and their failures, their inspirations and their aspirations. Refill your creative fish pond with new ideas and fresh perspectives. Listen, then take it and make it! Learn more at thesparkfile.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 25, 2019 • 1h 24min
Creativity Sparks: Armchair Treasure Hunts + But What If It Wasn't?
In the latest installment of The Spark File, Susan and Laura deliver two new Creative Sparks -- the thrill of the chase provided by Armchair Treasure Hunts and the endlessly applicable wisdom of The Grinder's 'But What If It Wasn't?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 21, 2019 • 27min
Makers: Lin-Manuel Miranda Part 2: Creative Misdiagnoses, Passion Projects, and Sensory Seeking
This is part 2 of Susan and Laura's conversation with mega-maker Lin-Manuel Miranda. Lin 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2019 • 1h 42min
Creativity Sparks: The Art of Dying Well + Puzzle Peace
In this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura discuss the therapeutic qualities of puzzling, including the state of creative meditation, and The Art of Dying Well - how talking about and even preparing for death may be the most life-affirming thing we can do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14, 2019 • 36min
Makers: Lin-Manuel Miranda Part 1: Friday Night Meet Ups, The Laundry Room, and 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 8, 2019 • 1h 25min
Creativity Sparks AND Makers: Brundibar + The Mad King and Anthony Roth Costanzo: Live from the MET Opera
In this very special episode, recorded live from the Metropolitan Opera, Susan and Laura each share opera-inspired sparks of creativity, The Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria, and the intense significance of the opera Brundibar. They also engage in conversation with countertenor, actor, producer, star of the MET Opera's production of Akhnaten, and absolute vocal superhero, Anthony Roth Costanzo. Anthony shares his personal opera origin story, spills all the details about Akhnaten and his mission to bring new audiences to the art form. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 7, 2019 • 59min
Makers: Leslie Odom, Jr: The Lion, The Bear, and his 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 4, 2019 • 1h 34min
Creativity Sparks: Spooky Sparks Special Episode: 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 31, 2019 • 38min
Makers: Gavin Creel: Creative Sponges and Meaningful Relationships: Live from The Performing Arts Project
In this episode, recorded LIVE at The Performing Arts Project, Susan and Laura talk with TONY Award winner Gavin Creel about making space for creativity, heartbreak, being a sponge, and practicing tiny victories. From tears to flatulence in 30 seconds flat, from the divinity of creation to a creativity inspired case of the sh*ts, this episode has everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2019 • 1h 17min
Creativity Sparks: Lynne Cox + Patricia Douglas: Live from The Performing Arts Project
In this very special episode, recorded LIVE at The Performing Arts Project in North Carolina, Susan and Laura explore the sweeping inspiration of swimmer and author Lynne Cox as well as one of the best kept secrets of the Hollywood studio system era - the legacy of Patricia Douglas.PLEASE NOTE: This episode of The Spark File podcasts contains mature themes. Please use your discretion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2019 • 37min
Makers: Celia Keenan-Bolger: Authenticity, bridge-building and winning the TONY Award
Episode #19 is brimming with sparks of creativity as Susan and Laura talk theater with TONY Award winner, Celia Keenan-Bolger. Celia shares her origin story, how she learned she was a bridge-builder, and the freedom of owning her desire to win a TONY award. Celia's theatrical career spans To Kill a Mockingbird to Glass Menagerie, Putnam County Spelling Bee, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Light in the Piazza and so much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
