Ready for Part 2 of The Spark File conversation with Creativity Expert Meta Wagner? Susan and Laura dig into the remaining Creative Types — Sensitive Souls, Gamechangers and Activists and question whether we can evolve into other areas? Can we be a combo-platter of motivations? Plus! Meta helped us create a survey — take the quiz and find out what Creative Type you currently are! Your “type” is based on what most sparks you to do anything creative. Understanding your strongest motivations will h...
Jan 16, 2020•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Susan and Laura dig into their personal spark files and share new ideas ready for the taking and making, including the endless ways Creative Spaces / Gathering Places can light your fire; and the entire multi-spark-verse of Amy Poehler -- a woman truly lit with inspiration. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day virtual retreat will help ident...
Jan 13, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Susan and Laura dig into the meaty topics of talent, dedication and purpose with Meta Wagner, author of What's Your Creative Type? Harness the Power of Your Artistic Personality. In Part 1 of 2, Meta shares the driving passion and purpose behind the 5 Creative Types. You can't help but question, what is YOUR 'why'? Plus! Meta helped us create a survey — take the quiz and find out what Creative Type you currently are! Your “type” is based on what most sparks you to ...
Jan 09, 2020•46 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast In this week’s episode, Susan and Laura dig into two fresh sparks — the skill and the psychology behind Hand Lettered Signs and Unfinished Art — the compassion to complete it, the foresight to plan for it, and the only way to avoid it. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day virtual retreat will help identify and clarify your creative vision, and chart a ...
Jan 06, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this weeks bonus episode, Susan and Laura talk with the singular maker Okorie "OKCello" Johnson about his exploration of the cello as a path to self-expression. Creating while in a liminal space, Okorie draws energy from the tension of uncertainty and questions unanswered. From the very start of his career, his cello has helped pave the road to the development of a narrative art that is uniquely his own. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us...
Jan 02, 2020•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this special episode, Susan and Laura reach into the mailbag and share sparks and creative results from our fearless listeners. From the desire to reconnect to that spark of creativity within us to making a creative leap or navigating a creative transition…we respond to your heartfelt and humor-filled letters to us. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one ...
Dec 30, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura connect with the magic and the genius that is Brad Montague - Writer, Director, Illustrator, Creator of Kid President, but ultimately, "just a human being who wants to be loved." Join us to hear about Brad's mission to seek good, create good, and celebrate good. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET T...
Dec 26, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura share a tinderbox of sparks with the treasure-hunting, archeology-digging, historical-fact-finding adventure that is Mudlarking and the use of language as an entry point into character with Anna Deavere Smith 's creation of Verbatim Theatre. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day virtual retreat wil...
Dec 23, 2019•2 hr 41 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura curl up with the endlessly creative Matt Vogel . At Sesame Street and in his roles as Kermit the Frog and Big Bird, Matt utilizes his skills as an actor, puppeteer, songwriter, director, and so much more. He shares highlights from his creative journey from getting booed at the high school talent show to debuting triumphantly at the Hollywood Bowl . Matt remains inspired by Jim Henson 's mantra to be in service of the best idea, and Kermit's ...
Dec 19, 2019•52 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura surprise each other with sparks from their personal files -- the tragic story of Ron and Joy Holiday (aka Cat Dancers) and the paradoxes and duality of the Man in the Arena himself, Theodore Roosevelt. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day virtual retreat will help identify and clarify your creative vis...
Dec 16, 2019•2 hr 30 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest 'makersode' of The Spark File, Susan and Laura talk to the prolific writing duo Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, co-authors of The Nanny Diaries and so much more. With over 6 million copies of their 10 books in print in over 32 languages, Emma and Nicola share their tips and techniques for successful collaborative writing with a partner as well as how it feels to consciously uncouple when the work is done. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever....
Dec 12, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura surprise each other with topics that are sparking their creativity at the moment -- from the flu of 1918 to World War Z, its time to consider the inevitability of the next FLU Apocalypse and the delicate collaboration necessary to participate and thrive in a Storytelling of Writers. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from ...
Dec 09, 2019•2 hr 46 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura get another snuggle sesh with the ever-eager Jonathan Groff. Jonathan shares how a bad review of his performance in The Bacchae lead him to bring a new level of BDE to the part. Who's the Greek God now? From his belief that "we're all bad at all different points in the process" to his emerging desire to Pay it Forward, it is impossible to not be inspired by the absolute openess and authenticity of our favorite mindhunter. BRA...
Dec 05, 2019•50 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of The Spark File, Susan and Laura share two sparks from their personal spark files: The infinite wisdom and inspiration of Anne Lamott 's Bird by Bird and the hopeful possibility of redemption and healing of Shia LaBeouf 's Honey Boy . Both sparks speak to the bravery of observing life (your own and others'), taking notes and telling the truth. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Y...
Dec 02, 2019•1 hr 22 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast In the latest bonus episode from The Spark File, Susan and Laura snuggle up with actor/singer/dancer/truth-teller, Jonathan Groff . Jonathan shares his visceral responses to most everything, including his approach to choosing roles and relationships. We talk the bravery of coming out, and the importance of telling one's own truth. CONTENT WARNING: Sexually explicit language BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creat...
Nov 28, 2019•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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?" BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day virtual retreat will help identify and clarify your creative v...
Nov 25, 2019•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1,...
Nov 21, 2019•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day virtual retreat will help identify and clarify your...
Nov 18, 2019•2 hr 43 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 1...
Nov 14, 2019•37 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast 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 missio...
Nov 08, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kicko...
Nov 07, 2019•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day vir...
Nov 04, 2019•2 hr 35 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff Januar...
Oct 31, 2019•38 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Yea...
Oct 28, 2019•1 hr 17 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever....
Oct 24, 2019•38 min•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 4 min•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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day vi...
Oct 17, 2019•48 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. BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - ...
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•39 min•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 . BRAVE Creatives! Your creative work is needed now more than ever. Join us for The Spark File 2025 New Year Creativity Kickoff January 1, 2025 from 11am - 6:30pm ET This one day virtual retreat will help identify and clarify your creative vision, and chart a course for c...
Oct 07, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast 
