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. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I co...
Oct 24, 2019•38 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's episode of creativity sparks, Susan and Laura discuss their personal quests for authenticity and the dissonance felt when What it Feels Like on the Inside doesn't match What it Looks Like on the Outside. Fresh examples of this dynamic include Game of Thrones 's Emilia Clarke , Anne Hathaway 's Oscar acceptance, and Marlene Dietrich 's cabaret performances. They also find sparks in family history when the discovery of the Women's Timber Corp in the UK ...
Oct 21, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast Part Two of Susan and Laura's conversation with Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore and filmmaker Bart Freundlich. These two award winning creatives discuss their union of creative endeavors, dealing with perceived failure, their shared production company and things they need to do before they're done. 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 ...
Oct 17, 2019•49 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura dish up two lively and thought-provoking sparks -- the legacy of the summer stock pioneer, legendary theatrical producer John Kenley and The Unthought Known -- things we know to be true, but can not allow ourselves to think about, a concept illustrated by Dani Shapiro in her book, Inheritance. 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...
Oct 14, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Susan and Laura sit down with Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore ( Still Alice , The Hunger Games , Far From Heaven , The Kids are All Right , After the Wedding ) and writer/director/filmmaker Bart Freundlich ( The Myth of Fingerprints , Wolves , After the Wedding ). Award winning creatives in their own right, they also merge creative endeavors with marriage and parenthood. In Part One of our conversation, we learn what creative risks Julianne and Bart have been taking recently, how they mix t...
Oct 10, 2019•40 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Susan and Laura serve up a load of creativity sparks this week examining Theranos , Elizabeth Holmes and the legacy of the full Sanpaku along with the seemingly universal dream of acreage, Fixer Uppers and @cheapoldhouses . 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, ...
Oct 07, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's maker-sode, Susan and Laura talk with award-winning filmmaker Rodney Evans about his very personal documentary, Vision Portraits . Rodney shares the details of his loss of vision and and what it means to be a blind or visually impaired creative artist. Rodney shares the power of channeling his fear into his creativity, illuminates the difference between sight and vision, and shares his belief that going blind just might create new ways of seeing. According to The New York Tim...
Oct 03, 2019•34 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast In this Creativity Sparks episode, co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien discuss the original spark that inspired Susan to write the piece 'Golden Palace" for the Off-Broadway show NOW.HERE.THIS at the Vineyard Theatre, as well as the overflowing gift of sparks poet Mary Oliver left for the world. 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 yo...
Sep 30, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Part Two of a conversation between co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien and actor, producer, creator Zachary Quinto . Get to know the thoughtful, original mind of this prolific maker as he shares experiences from a creative life full of blockbuster films ( Star Trek ), television hits ( Heroes , American Horror Story ), Broadway theater ( Boys in the Band , Glass Menagerie ), and his personal off the beaten path Netflix options. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I...
Sep 26, 2019•38 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Spark File, Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien discuss a dark spark -- the legacy of Larry Nassar and the powerful, inspiring army of survivors and champions who told their stories, including Katelyn Ohashi, Lindsey Smith, Valorie Kondos Field, Rachael Denhollander and Kate Wells. They also look beneath the surface of Reservoir Noir and the spark-filled stories of towns that drowned. From Andrew Carnegie's South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club and the South Fork Dam causi...
Sep 23, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Part One of a conversation between co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien and prolific actor, producer, creator Zachary Quinto . Zach gives us the 411 on his backstory, key moments in his creative career, and how "uncertainty" can be the most enticing guide. Zach takes us from Broadway to television to blockbuster films, Glass Menagerie to American Horror Story to Star Trek and well beyond. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I wo...
Sep 19, 2019•42 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien serve up some delicious creative sparks in the form of little-known controversies surrounding the beloved Little House on the Prairie series and its author, Laura Ingalls Wilder. We also explore the Mokita -- the truth everyone knows but no one will talk about -- how it defines our work cultures and how it can be used to great dramatic (or comedic) effect. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would ha...
Sep 16, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast This is the second helping of creative conversation with master creator, Sara Bareilles. Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien dig in deeper to hear what is next for Sara and what is inspiring her now. From Grammy, TONY, and EMMY Award nominations to glorious collaborations, Sara gives us real talk about living the creative life as a singer, songwriter, author, producer and performer. 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”...
Sep 11, 2019•21 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien talk to favorite songwriter, actor, producer, author and all around prolific creator, Sara Bareilles. Hear how Sara tackles the fear of not knowing, and how she continues to thrive creatively regardless of bouts with anxiety and depression. From Grammy, TONY, and EMMY Award nominations to glorious collaborations, Sara gives us real talk about living the creative life. When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could have done it by now I would...
Sep 11, 2019•27 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien serve up the basics of The Spark File podcast -- what is a Spark File? What do you put in it? and why does every creative need one? From the visual artists to performing artists, writers, dancers, filmmakers, instagramers -- artists, makers and creators of all kinds need to restock our creative fishponds and build a reserve of ideas and inspirations. Listen, then take it and make it! When it comes to your creativity, have you ever thought: “If I could ha...
Sep 11, 2019•35 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Co-hosts Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien once again surprise each other with ideas and inspiration from their personal creative spark files. They explore the benefits of breaking up with technology and the impact it could have on your outlook, your productivity, and your creativity. And they discuss the sparks within the award-winning documentary film, Free Solo, looking at the parallels between a life-threatening solo climb of El Capitan and the emotional risk-taking of an artist. When it come...
Sep 09, 2019•2 hr 40 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien share two new sparks of inspiration from their creative spark files. John Mulaney's interview on You Made It Weird and his personal experiences with failure (perceived or otherwise) give hope to everyone who has ever attempted to create something. There is strength to be gained from Robert F. Kennedy, John Mulaney and others who have lived through public defeat. Meanwhile, who knew the number 9 might be the reason why you (or the characters you are writing) ...
Sep 09, 2019•1 hr 19 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien reach into their personal Spark Files and share inspiration from artist Hilma af Klint , a woman whose other-worldly work was way ahead of her time (and her male contemporaries'), and their fascination with the The Diderot Effect , and how one man's spiraling consumption became his enduring legacy. 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 d...
Sep 09, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast A lot goes into writing a brief, catchy theme song. On the debut episode of The Spark File, Susan Blackwell + Laura Camien share the origin story of their opening theme song, featuring Gavin Creel, Lilah Guaragna, Sophie Hearn, and The Performing Arts Project. 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:...
Sep 01, 2019•11 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 
