The Spark File with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien

This week, Susan and Laura delve into the very best ways social media can be used - to inspire, educate and spread joy.  We call this The Spark Side of Social Media.Listen and light yourself up with tales of legacy-worthy chocolate via @morticianinthekitchen, kneel at the alter of @andy_birkey's gothic woodworking, and marvel at the beauty of fore edge printing (did you know this even existed?!?) Turns out, good and meaningful things exist on social, when you know where to look! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Laura and Susan explore the inexplicable craving to consume pandemic-related entertainment during a pandemic -  not entertainment about the current state of the world, no, we prefer  imaginary pandemics dreamed up in the minds of fiction writers and TV writers like Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, The End of October by Lawrence Wright, The Walking Dead and more.  These are some of the works imagined by creative minds at a time when an actual pandemic was a scary but far-fetched idea…Listen in to hear how Laura made her way through a tunnel of imaginary pandemic entertainment and emerged on the other side with extreme respect and admiration for #NormanReedus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back, Sparklers! All are welcome here. As long as no one is being a d**k, you are invited to be your real, open, authentic selves. This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura get warmed up for Season 3! They share their gratitude and a mini-spark about indigenous food from The New York Times and an article about Sean Sherman, creator of The Sioux Chef.The Spark File is created on the lands of the Lenape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the season 2 finale of The Spark File podcast, Susan and Laura celebrate the highlights of the past year - revisiting favorite sparks of inspiration, and recognizing the incredible achievements of the participants in The Spark File Select Group Creativity Coaching program.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Susan and Laura got to spend extra time with their beloved Hunter Bell, Tony and Drama Desk nominee, Spark File Creativity Coaching client, and creative / writer / maker extraordinare! Tune in to feel the love and the belly laughs. Too much is never enough Hunter Bell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Susan and Laura take a deep dive with Tony-award nominee (and Creativity Coaching Client) John Ellison Conlee, and discuss the creation of a life in addition to a career. Plus, in this very special episode, The Spark File debuts a short story written and read by John Ellison Conlee himself - Cup of Joe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura examine that deep seated fear that you're just not as good / worthy / capable as others think you are. Imposter Syndrome. Check out this episode and you just might find ways to let go of those coping mechanisms and start to believe in your own abilities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Susan and Laura, still super sparked by the life-changing whole brain approach of Jill Bolte Taylor, take an even deeper dive into her work, applying her philosophies to our creativity.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Susan and Laura share sparks inspired by the bestseller Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. This exploration of grief led to a greater understanding of Mary Todd Lincoln, perhaps some tolerance and acceptance regarding her mental health, and introduced us to the phenomenal story of Elizabeth Keckly, former enslaved person who became a business owner and personal modiste to the First Lady. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura discuss The Brain of Jill Bolte Taylor - one hell of a managed mind! The woman who taught us to "Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space" is the source of this weeks creativity spark.Tune in to hear Dr. Bolte Taylor's story (as shared in her book My Stroke of Insight) and how we can all gain from her learnings (as shared in her book Whole Brain Living).If you've ever felt yourself battling between left brain and right brain, now you'll know why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices