This week, snuggle up and join Susan and Laura as they delve into Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. If you've ever wondered why we feel a pull to retreat indoors and slow down as the days get darker - look no further. It is not your imagination, and it is very much a necessity that we take time to quiet our minds and slow our rolls, so that we can look inward and heal, and maybe even learn to hope again. If you are struggling (any time of year), c...
Jan 19, 2022•53 min•Season 3Ep. 9
This week, Laura and Susan dig into this taboo topic and explore how and why shame keeps us from talking about money, and sometimes even doing anything about money. But valuing ourselves for the amount of money we have accrued has not always been the norm, in fact, it is a rather new framework. Listen in and imagine a time when we valued ourselves, our communities and the quality of our lives by a different standard. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done ...
Jan 12, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Sometimes a spark is so surprising, so complex and thought provoking it can stun you into silence. And so it was when Susan shared Operation Paperclip with Laura. As outlined in the book, Operation Paperclip by Annie Jacobsen, information on this secret United States intelligence program was recently de-classified and we are now all learning about the plan to bring Nazi Germany scientists to the US to harness their intellectual resources. Defenders of the decision to welcome the scientists here ...
Jan 05, 2022•57 min•Season 3Ep. 7
What keeps us from writing those pages we say we WANT to write? What keeps us from taking that first small step toward our goal? What keeps us from doing anything at all related to our creative vision? Why, its our dear ol’ pal, Creative Resistance. This week, Laura and Susan dive into the warm and cozy distractions that keep us safe from the consequence of risk - creative risk, that is. These tactics show up anytime we are close to creating something of meaning or significance and make for damn...
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 6
This week, Susan and Laura dip their toes into the topic of Collaboration via the Metallica Masterclass. They discuss how the members of Metallica, guided by their mantra “whatever’s best” for the project, share how they communicate, keep their egos in check, get the most out of everyone, and how they stay inspired to come together to create great things. They share a commitment to the music, yes, but an even larger commitment to each other. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever though...
Dec 22, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Here at The Spark File, our mission is to spark creativity, free innate self-expression, and grant permission to fear less and create more. In this episode, we share two recently discovered like-minded creative organizations that have completely lit us up! Here’s how it happened…First, Pam Harris introduced us to @creativemornings and Creative Mornings introduced us to @streetwisdom_ and Street Wisdom introduced us to @davidpearl_here and David Pearl introduced us to his book Wanderful: Human Na...
Dec 15, 2021•53 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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! When it com...
Dec 08, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 3
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 i...
Dec 01, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it ...
Nov 24, 2021•40 min•Season 3Ep. 1
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. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? Join ou...
Aug 30, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 41
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. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? Joi...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 40
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. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that...
Aug 16, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 39
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. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you ...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 38
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. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on z...
Aug 02, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 37
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. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I w...
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 36
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...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 29 min•Season 2Ep. 35
This week, Susan and Laura serve up a single spark -- a spark 30 years in the making! Learn about the little card game that could - Canasta - and how it rose to fame, despite the Bridge Club establishment trying to keep it down! Friends and Foes, Joy and Pain, Triumph and Defeat intermingle at the card table. Plus a bonus mini-spark - did you know the Olympics once contained a competition for the ARTS?!? When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I w...
Jul 12, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 34
This week, Susan shares a spark so vast, we give it all our attention - Performance Anxiety. If you've ever felt tormented by fear, panic or anxiety related to your chosen profession, please do not miss this episode! Susan and Laura go deep into the prevalance of performance anxiety, what it feels like, who experiences it, and potential solutions to keep it at bay so that you can go on shining your light with ease. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have do...
Jul 05, 2021•2 hr 41 min•Season 2Ep. 33
This week, Susan and Laura dig into the realities of living as a Highly Sensitive Person and/or an Empath (and how to know for sure if you are one!), Plus, Priya Parker's life-changing approach to bringing people together in The Art of Gathering. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It To...
Jun 28, 2021•2 hr 49 min•Season 2Ep. 32
This week, Susan and Laura take a spin through some of the best advice they've ever received (including "don't pickle it!") plus, the very encouraging signs that people everywhere are entering the sixth stage of grief - finding meaning. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is ...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Wanting to write about your lived experience, but worried about how the other key players in your life might react? This week, Susan and Laura offer up various ways you can approach it so that your creativity is free flowing and feelings don't get hurt. Plus, recent events stirred up some questions about the monarchy, so we unpack what it is and why it is. You can't tell the history of the world without the history of the various monarchies - warts and all. When it comes to your creati...
Jun 14, 2021•2 hr 50 min•Season 2Ep. 30
This week, the documentary Made You Look sparks a conversation about the phenomenon of justification and how our brains work overtime when we've done something we shouldn't have, PLUS, the joy-filled approach to closet curation that promotes self-expression and creativity over consumption! When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do i...
Jun 07, 2021•2 hr 39 min•Season 2Ep. 29
This week, Susan and Laura are thrilled to talk all things Broadway with someone who has loved theatre since birth, and spent their lives amplifying the joy of it - Paul Wontorek, Editor-in-Chief of Broadway.com! When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 28
This week, Susan and Laura delve into EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) with Jenny Clift, Coach for classical musicians and stage performers. Jenny paves the way to wealth, success, balance, and inner peace using the scientifically proven power of tapping. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 27
This week, Susan and Laura dig into two worthy explorations -- Do you know your Why? Do you know why your Why matters? So many ways to consider how we can act intentionally, on and with purpose. Plus, they revisit Twyla Tharp's classic book: The Creative Habit. Do you have a habit of creativity? If not, you know The Spark File feelings on it - better get one quick! When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you u...
May 10, 2021•2 hr 54 min•Season 2Ep. 26
This week, Susan and Laura have the honor of spending time with artist extraordinaire Dax Valdes of Hollaback, discussing their free bystander intervention trainings aimed at making the world a better, and safer, place for us all. Tune in to hear how you can make a difference in ending harassment in all its forms. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that...
May 03, 2021•59 min•Season 2Ep. 25
This week, Susan and Laura dive into two new sparks of creativity - the attention economy that will literally eat up all of your time (if you let it) and the Einstein Time concept that will allow you to make more time, if you need it! When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create?...
Apr 26, 2021•2 hr 58 min•Season 2Ep. 24
This week, Susan and Laura talk to poet, teacher, speaker Taylor Mali. Called "a ranting comic showman and a literary provocateur" by The New York Times, Taylor is one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement and one of the original poets to appear on the HBO series “Def Poetry Jam”. He is a four-time National Poetry Slam champion, in fact, we've read one of our favorites Taylor Mali poems, “What Teachers Make” on a previous episode of The Spark F...
Apr 19, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 23
This week, Laura and Susan take a deep dive into the fascinating tale of betrayal, corporate espionage, and family feuds that resulted in the world's most famous breakfast cereals, and how the feedback process can work in service and support of the artist to the benefit of all. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would have done it by now”? Do you use the fact that you haven’t done it yet as evidence that you can’t do it at all ? ...
Apr 12, 2021•2 hr 58 min•Season 2Ep. 22
This week, Susan and Laura have a bloody delightful time talking with Sir Richard Eyre, whose creative work has spanned all manner of Arts -- directing theatre, film, television and opera, as well as writing books and plays. He has guided Kate Winslet, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Dame Judi Dench and many more to some of our favorite performances. His insight from decades of experience is both practical and inspirational, and at 75, he is far from finished! When it comes to your ...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 21
