The Spark File with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien

What if the people in our lives came with warning labels, gift receipts or invisible instruction manuals? In this episode of The Spark File Podcast, Laura and Susan explore the invisible “rule books” we all carry — the hidden needs, sensitivities, communication styles, expectations, and emotional landmines that shape our relationships and creative collaborations. From feedback preferences to friendship dynamics to the phrase “I might cry, but I still want you to tell me the truth,” this conversation gets honest, funny, vulnerable, and unexpectedly practical. Because maybe a little more clarity and awareness about who we are could save us all a little heartbreak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the muse isn’t something you wait for, but something you meet? In this episode, Susan and Laura explore the evolution of the creative muse — from ancient Greek mythology (yes, daughters of Zeus included) to modern-day metaphors like demons, geniuses, broccoli, and even… a monkey driving a speedboat. Along the way, they unpack a powerful truth: The most creative people aren’t waiting for inspiration, they’re showing up – consistently – so inspiration has somewhere to land. Featuring insights from Stephen King, Elizabeth Gilbert, Anne Lamott, and more, this episode reframes creativity as a practice, not a lightning bolt strike. Plus, you’ll get a simple, doable way to build your own creative ritual – just 10 minutes a day – that can transform how you experience your creativity (and yourself). Because the key isn’t waiting for the muse to visit you, it’s visiting the muse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the reason you can’t stop obsessing over that one random thing… is actually because something in your life is going really right? In this episode of The Spark File Podcast, Laura and Susan dive into Expansion Anxiety – the sneaky psychological pattern that shows up when you’re leveling up creatively, professionally, or personally. Just as things start to expand, your brain tries to pull you back into familiar (and often unhelpful) loops: rumination, distraction, overthinking, or fixation on problems that suddenly feel urgent. Laura shares her own real-time experience with this phenomenon and breaks down: Why your brain prefers predictability over possibility How old emotional loops disguise themselves as “new problems” The powerful practice of naming the pattern (hello, cognitive defusion) A simple 4-step method to get out of the spiral and back to what matters If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling right when things are getting good, this episode is your roadmap back to your creative center. Because sometimes the discomfort isn’t a sign you’re off track – it’s proof you’re expanding.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the difference between a teacher who changes your life… and one who almost shuts you down for good? On this week’s episode of The Spark File Podcast, Susan brings a spark from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn — a story about a young writer learning the difference between truth and storytelling, and the teachers who shape (or try to silence) her voice. From a compassionate mentor who helps Francie harness her imagination, to a misguided teacher who literally tells her to burn her work, this episode explores the lasting impact of creative guidance — both good and bad. Along the way, Susan and Laura swap their own stories of teachers who saw their potential…  and those who didn’t. The result? A powerful reminder that you get to choose whose voice lives in your head — and who gets a firm “die, vampire, die.” If you’ve ever been encouraged, underestimated, or creatively crushed (and who hasn’t?), this one’s for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the parts of yourself you’ve been hiding from yourself… are actually the key to your creative breakthroughs? In this episode, Laura takes us into the world of Carl Jung—by way of a late-night deep dive into Jungian psychology (and yes, just the tip of the iceberg). Along the way, she breaks down the difference between Jung and Sigmund Freud in the most Spark File way imaginable, using everything from Freudian slips to shadow selves to… Channing Tatum. Together, we explore the collective unconscious, the persona, and the shadow self—including the often-overlooked golden shadow, where your hidden brilliance might be quietly waiting. But this isn’t just a psychology lesson. It’s an invitation. To look at what you’ve tucked away, to question the roles you’ve been playing, to integrate the parts of yourself that might just be the most alive. Because your creativity doesn’t come from the polished mask…it comes from the whole, complicated, deeply human YOU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the thing your creativity needs most… isn’t more effort—but more delight? In this episode of The Spark File Podcast, we’re diving into the deceptively simple, wildly powerful practice of The Artist Date — a concept from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way that might just change your creative life. If you’ve been pouring energy into making, producing, solving, and showing up — but feeling a little… creatively dry? This one’s for you. We explore what happens when you shift from constant output to intentional input — when you step away from the grind and give your imagination something to feast on. From solo breakfasts and antique warehouses to wandering with no agenda and rediscovering boredom, we unpack how curiosity, novelty, and play can reignite your creative spark. Plus: Why your inner artist might be feeling a little neglected The surprising science behind stepping away from your work The “rules” of an Artist Date (and how to break them just enough) A powerful question: What would your creativity say about your relationship? Consider this your permission slip to go wander, wonder, and maybe—just maybe—poke a bug with a stick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is creativity… really? In this episode of The Spark File Podcast, we dive headfirst into one of the most slippery — and surprisingly limiting — questions in the creative world: how do we define creativity in the first place? Along the way, we unpack why so many traditional definitions leave people out, explore the difference between “revolutionary” lightning-bolt ideas and the quieter, powerful force of evolutionary creativity, and challenge the belief that creativity is reserved for the chosen few. Drawing from decades of experience (and a few delightful bloopers along the way), we land on a definition that is simple, expansive, and radically inclusive, and specifically Spark File: Creativity is applied imagination that fights for the power of good. And when you start to see it that way… everything changes. This episode is an invitation to recognize the creativity already alive in your life —and to begin using it more intentionally, more frequently, and more courageously. Because creativity isn’t just what you make. It’s how you live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens after the big creative push? In this episode of The Spark File Podcast, Susan and Laura dive into the all-too-real experience of the creative hangover — that strange, tender, sometimes disorienting crash that can come after a big creative risk, milestone, performance, launch, or emotional lift. One minute you’ve done the brave thing. The next? You’re flattened, fragile, weirdly ashamed, or unable to answer a single email. Inspired by a rich conversation in a recent Coach’s Corner, this episode explores why creative hangovers happen, what they can feel like, and how to care for yourself on the other side. Susan and Laura talk about everything from chemical cascades and nervous system overload to shame spirals, recovery days, processing with a trusted friend, resetting your space, and building a pre- and post-creative care plan. Because making something brave is only part of the process. Recovering with kindness is part of the creative practice too.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do we do with the grief that doesn’t come with a funeral, a clear ending, or even a name? In this tender and powerful episode of The Spark File Podcast, Laura shares a spark about “Ambiguous Grief” — the kind of loss that lives in the in-between. It can show up in a relationship that ended without closure, a loved one who is here physically but no longer fully here, a dream that never quite got to live, or the loss of a future you thought would be yours. Together, Susan and Laura explore what it means to grieve what is unresolved, unseen, or unfinished — and how naming that grief can help us begin to make meaning of it. They also look at the connection between ambiguous grief and creativity, and why so many of us may be carrying sorrow we’ve never been taught how to recognize. If you’ve ever felt the ache of something lost without knowing exactly how to mourn it, this episode is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the thing you reach for to soothe yourself starts quietly stealing your time, your attention, and your creative life force? In “Dopamine Reset”, this week’s episode of The Spark File Podcast, Susan shares her deeply personal experience of getting hooked on TikTok during a season of illness and exhaustion — and what helped her find her way back. Using insights from Dr. Anna Lembke’s book, Dopamine Nation, Susan and Laura explore the science of dopamine, the sneaky design of our frictionless modern world, and the very real cost of compulsive overconsumption. They dig into how addiction can show up in surprising forms, why so many of us feel trapped in cycles of craving and numbing, and what a dopamine reset can offer us in return: more presence, more freedom, and more room for the creative work and real life that matter most. If you’ve ever looked up from your phone and thought, Wait… where did my time go? — this one’s for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our latest episode of The Spark File Podcast, Flip the Script, is a dark spark with a bright creative payoff. When Laura has a vivid, unsettling dream she perceives as a warning about allowing strangers into her life, it sends her spiraling into the cultural storytelling we’ve been fed about “charismatic monsters”… and the powerful, necessary work of changing perspective. Using Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women as a jumping-off point, Laura and Susan explore what happens when you center the voices that were missing, question the narratives that benefit the powerful, and reimagine the story from the other side. It’s part true-crime cultural critique, part creativity lesson: if you think “every story has already been told,” this episode will remind you that the point of view changes everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of The Spark File Podcast, Creating Community is your reminder that creativity doesn’t thrive in a vacuum — it thrives in connection. This week, Susan and Laura talk about why community isn’t just “nice to have”… it’s essential to our mental health, our physical health, and our creative longevity. They dig into the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on loneliness, the heartbreak of creative communities that dissolve when the project ends, and the very real barriers that keep us isolated — even when we want connection more than ever. Plus: a tiny masterclass in how to be a villager (yes, including porch popsicles, front-yard coffee, and the radical practice of asking for help). If you’ve been craving your people — this one’s for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if creativity isn’t a lightning bolt… but a mashup? In this episode, Laura shares a Blue Man Group–born concept that can instantly dissolve the “I’m not original enough” spiral: Creation by Recombination—the idea that most innovation comes from connecting existing things in a way no one’s connected them before. From Blue Man Group’s paint-splattering, percussive “existential hang,” to hip hop turning turntables into instruments, to Hamilton remixing history with hip hop and Broadway… we explore how breakthroughs happen when you borrow across fields, redefine a particular ingredient’s job description, and trust your own weird combo of obsessions. If you’ve ever thought “it’s been done before” or “someone has already said it,” this one is your freedom anthem. Because authenticity is invaluable… and your personal mental kaleidoscope is one of a kind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Spark File, “I Love You vs. Small Talk,” Laura opens up a BIG spark (100 pounds of topic in a five-pound bag): love—romantic love, friend love, family love, self-love, love of strangers, love of pets… the whole sprawling, life-saving universe of it. Along the way, Susan and Laura tumble into the brave stuff: why “anything other than I love you is small talk” (thank you, Andrea Gibson), why saying it out loud can feel terrifying, and why love’s value doesn’t depend on whether it’s returned. They talk love languages, the quiet power of “remembering” someone, and the nervous-system magic of a simple smile or a tiny moment of connection with a stranger. And then—because this is The Spark File—Laura turns it into creative fuel: love stories are everywhere, have always been everywhere, and will never stop resonating. Whatever kind of love you’re living through (or longing for), it’s source material. It’s an invitation. Listen in for the reminder we all need right now: never be afraid to speak of love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In “Making for Minnesota,” we’re asking a question that feels both tender and urgently practical: when the world is loud and scary, what can you make? Susan shares what happened after our free workshop Be the Change, But How—and how (per Martha Beck) creativity can interrupt anxiety by flipping a different switch in the brain. From there, we follow the sparks straight into Minnesota: community action in bitter cold, a heartbreaking loss, and a clear call to stop doom-scrolling and start making one thing—one call, one letter, one love note, one hat, one meal, one song, one brave conversation. This episode is part love letter, part resource list, part nervous-system balm—and a reminder that you don’t have to solve everything. You just have to make something. Featuring tools like Five Calls, a brilliant “how to help from outside Minnesota” post by Naomi Kritzer, the Overton Window, protest knitting history, and the kind of small, human neighbor-connection that turns fear into fuel. (Also: yes, we laugh. Because we’re us.) Listen if you need a hand on your shoulder and a gentle nudge: chin up, eyes out—make one thing today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Spark File, we’re cultivating delight with an episode we’re calling “Words We Love.” Susan went spelunking through her massive digital spark file and emerged with a glittering haul: words that crack us up, words that soothe, words that make you feel—dare we say—carbonated. We talk effervescent, herkle-durkle, mudita (the joy we feel for someone else’s good news), glugaveder (window weather), mangata (moon street), and the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows—aka proof that language can be poetry and permission at the same time. Along the way, we remember that the right word can name what’s true, soften what’s hard, and reconnect us to one another—especially in intense times. Your mission: drop your favorite word in the comments (or email us) and let it spark something new. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Spark File, Laura and Susan celebrate the art, science, and deep humanity of a good cry. Sparked by poems, personal stories, and a lovingly unofficial “research study,” they explore why tears are not a weakness—but a powerful form of emotional intelligence and creative release. You’ll hear why emotional tears literally help flush stress from the body, how “easy criers” may actually process feelings faster, and why letting emotions stay in motion can bring clarity, calm, and connection. Along the way, we share crowd-sourced cry catalysts (movies, music, moments), the concept of collective effervescence, and tender reminders that you never have to apologize for feeling deeply. This is an episode for sensitive souls, brave creatives, and anyone who’s been told they’re “too much.” Bring tissues. Check our website for playlists and movie references! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Spark File, we’re asking a question that might just unclench your whole nervous system: How Easy Can It Be? Susan shares a beloved Spark from our brilliant colleague Kate Kayaian (“How would this feel if I let it be easy?”), then takes us on a joyride through filmmaker Cyrus Bates (aka The Mental Level), NBA legend-in-the-making Tyrese Haliburton, big-wave surfing wisdom from 100 Foot Wave, and a simple magic phrase from choreographer Ohad Naharin: “Piece of cake.” We talk about the stories we’ve swallowed whole—nothing worth having comes easy, hard work has to feel unpleasant—and the radical possibility that ease and excellence can coexist. Come play with us. Come loosen your grip. Piece of cake, baby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Window; Not a Mirror is your new permission slip. In this episode, Laura shares a line she overheard in a NYC café that snapped her nervous system into clarity: “You cannot walk into the asylum and let it convince you that you’ve gone mad. Remember: it’s a window, not a mirror.” Together, Laura and Susan unpack the difference between healthy self-reflection and chronic self-blame—why “everything is a mirror” got oversimplified, how discernment changes everything, and how to tell when something is yours to own… versus yours to walk away from. This episode starts with Cocoa Puffs perfume and ends with a mic-drop truth bomb: sometimes it’s not your “growth edge”… it’s your exit sign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life attracts life. So if you want more creativity, more connection, more possibility… you can’t wait it out on the couch. In this episode of The Spark File Podcast, Laura revisits The Alchemist and uncovers why pursuing your creative calling isn’t about chasing a guaranteed outcome—it’s about choosing aliveness. We talk fear, failure, love, upper limits, and the quiet danger of staying “safe.” If your creative spark has been knocking, this is your reminder: movement creates momentum. Curiosity attracts opportunity. Life finds you when you show up for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this wintery, true-crime-meets-ghost-story episode, Susan shares the chilling tale of the 1892 “hex murder” at the Stone Arch Bridge. A poor farmer accused of witchcraft, a family convinced they’re cursed, a killing “three ways over water,” and a graveyard full of family members. Inspired by the old tradition of telling scary stories at Christmas, this eerie spark is perfect fodder for your next play, film, story, or artwork. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Spark File, Susan shares a spark that hit her straight in the nervous system: From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks — a book recommended by the late, beloved Gavin Creel. Together, Laura and Susan explore the “striver’s curse,” what it means to feel your brain changing as you age, and why the shift from fluid intelligence (raw speed + innovation) to crystallized intelligence (wisdom + synthesis) might be the best news you’ve heard all week. If you’ve ever worried you’re “not as sharp,” felt tempted to rage against time, or wondered how to build a creative life that gets richer—not smaller—with age… this one’s for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 7 of The Spark File podcast with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien! On this episode, Laura and Susan discuss the wisdom of neuroscientist Dr. Dan Siegel and the fact that there is no such thing as Immaculate Perception. We only see what we believe. To truly see deeply, we must question everything we believe. Tune in to learn the inner workings of your own mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Town Hall Spark Sessions - a podcast collaboration between NYC's Town Hall and The Spark File, we welcome the iconic singer, songwriter, actress and composer, Sara Bareilles. With more than 15 million singles and 3 million albums sold in the U.S., she is one of the world’s leading popular musicians. Join us as we discuss how love and grief are interwoven and have sparked her creativity into a new album, the way that truth in creativity is visceral and her journey to the legendary Town Hall stage with the incomparable Rufus Wainwright.  Learn more about The Spark File's upcoming FREE WORKSHOP here. To purchase tickets to Opening Night and support the ACLU, go to The Town Hall box office or purchase them online at Ticketmaster. Learn More and Listen Here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Town Hall Spark Sessions, we welcome Melay Araya, Artistic Director at the Town Hall. In addition to her work as Artistic Director, Melay is a writer, archivist, and multimedia artist with three decades of experience. While providing extraordinary leadership at The Town Hall, one of New York City’s finest cultural institutions, Melay continues to study, compose, record, and perform. Join us as we discuss how Melay finds creativity in the many facets of her role at The Town Hall. She walks us through the curation process and the joys of problem-solving in a storied arts institution. Plus, she shares some details about the newly announced 2025/26 Town Hall Season—which she describes as a cornucopia of creative goodness. When we say it’s all happening at the Town Hall, it all starts with Melay Araya!   You can listen to The Town Hall Spark Sessions on The Spark File podcast feed - now on the Broadway Podcast Network! Or tune in to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more. And, you can learn more about The Town Hall at thetownhall.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Town Hall Spark Sessions, we welcome luminary actress and singer Laura Benanti. Best known for her revolutionary performance in the 2008 revival of Gypsy, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Benanti made her broadway debut at 18 playing Maria in the Sound of Music on Broadway. She has also starred in television and films, including ABC’s Nashville, NBC’s Supergirl, and HBO’s The Gilded Age. Join us as we discuss her upcoming appearance at the Town Hall, in John Cassavetes' Opening Night, the first musical with music, lyrics, and orchestrations by the brilliant Rufus Wainwright. We chat about what it’s like working with your idols and the creative power of taking long walks. In addition to her highly anticipated appearance at The Town Hall, Benanti will be performing her solo show, Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, created with Todd Almond, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland this summer! You can listen to The Town Hall Spark Sessions on The Spark File podcast feed - now on the Broadway Podcast Network! Or tune in to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more. And, you can learn more about The Town Hall at thetownhall.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we welcomed the golden-voiced Sofronio Vasquez, winner of NBC’s The Voice Season 26. With his championship win, Sofronio became the first Filipino and Asian man to win a major singing competition in the United States. Join us as we discuss Sofronio’s thrilling rise in the music industry. He shares his secret to remaining positive and his tips and tricks for navigating what he calls “beautiful rejection.” We also chat about his upcoming concert at the Town Hall on July 19 where Sofronio will take the iconic Town Hall stage to sing through his life story. You can pick up your tickets at the Town Hall box office or online at Ticketmaster. Learn More and Listen Here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of The Town Hall Spark Sessions, we were thrilled to welcome Griffin Newman. For a decade, with his co-creator David Sims, Griffin has hosted the wildly popular podcast Blank Check with Griffin and David. Join us as Griffin discusses the Blank Check origin story, and how a film critic and an actor/comedian became longstanding professional podcasters. We chat about the show’s focus on individual director’s comprehensive filmography, and Griffin shares what we can learn about creativity by studying the career highs and lows of luminaries like Steven Spielberg. Plus, we chat about the upcoming performance, BLANK CHECK: DEMAND AN AUDIENCE WITH KING RALPH. That’s right: after repeatedly promising their producer they’d analyze the 1991 John Goodman/Peter O’Toole screwball comedy KING RALPH, Griffin and David are finally making good on their word, live, at  The Town Hall to celebrate a decade of Blank Check. You can listen to The Spark File Podcast and the Town Hall Spark Sessions on the Broadway Podcast Network. You can also visit The Town Hall and The Spark File online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s Town Hall Spark Session, we welcomed Sean Mayes, the visionary conductor and founder of Pops of Color, as he takes us behind the scenes of creating an orchestra that’s building bridges and breaking barriers. Join us as Sean shares how Pops of Color sparked from idea to inception. We discuss the impact of the orchestra’s unique programming, and Sean connects his work to Town Hall's remarkable 105-year history—as a venue that welcomed Paul Robeson, Marian Anderson, and other profound artists of Color when other prestigious institutions wouldn't. You can listen to The Spark File Podcast and the Town Hall Spark Sessions on the Broadway Podcast Network. You can also visit The Town Hall and The Spark File online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our second round The Town Hall Spark Sessions award-winning actor, writer, and singer-songwriter, Eisa Davis. In addition to co-writing the Warriors concept album with Lin-Manuel Mirana, she wrote and starred in Angela’s Mixtape, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for her play Bulrusher. Join us as we discuss Eisa’s approach to her work, her early morning/late night writing process, and how she balances being an extraordinary multihyphenate. We also share our excitement for The Town Hall’s upcoming “Spring Shout,” honoring Lin-Manuel Miranda on May 19th—and we discuss some of her favorite Town Hall memories. Learn more and listen here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprise! We’re back, with some hot, fresh creative sparks for you—and this time, we’re at the Town Hall! In the first episode of The Town Hall Spark Sessions, we’re thrilled to feature a new conversation with Lin-Manuel Miranda about legacy, creativity, and the upcoming Spring Shout at the Town Hall—a benefit performance honoring him! As one of today’s most profound creatives, there is no one more deserving to be honored on the same stage that has hosted the world’s greatest artists and activists. You can learn more about The Town Hall and the Spring Shout benefit on thetownhall.org. Learn more about The Spark File at thesparkfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Town Hall, New York City’s landmark cultural venue, is teams up with The Spark File, the acclaimed creativity podcast hosted by Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien, in this brand-new podcast series: The Town Hall Spark Sessions. The Town Hall Spark Sessions will spotlight creatives, musicians, comedians, artists, advocates, cultural creators and conversation makers who have graced—or are about to grace—the legendary Town Hall stage. Each episode features fun and fulfilling questions that dive deep into how these inspiring individuals are using their creativity not only to entertain, but to spark change, connection, and meaningful impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After 20 spark-filled episodes, we’re wrapping up the season with a celebration! Join us as we look back at this remarkable season of spark, discuss highlights, and share just how we made this season happen. Bringing Season 5 of the Spark File podcast was a challenge. We were wrestling between our desire to make a perfect product and our hope to get as many sparks into the world as possible.  As we planned for Season 5, one thing became clear right away: like all smart creatives, we couldn’t go it alone! So, we assembled a team of pros to help us run the nitty gritty stuff: audio production, socials, copy, transcripts. We committed to let our best B+ work get out the door. We crowdsourced a spark or two—and then something extraordinary happened: 20 episodes of hot-from-the-oven sparks were served straight into your podcast-loving headphones! We’re so grateful to the remarkable team who helped make it all happen. But, creative friend, we also need to thank YOU! Without loyal listeners, this podcast is just a bunch of juicy ideas spoken into a microphone. We are deeply grateful for your time, attention, reviews, referrals, recommendations, and feedback, and for placing your creative trust in us for another season. You can listen to the Spark File podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and directly on our website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, we learned that the beloved Blue Man Group will be closing their New York City and Chicago companies in 2025. This news was bittersweet, to say the least.  Blue Man Group has impacted each of our personal and professional lives in many ways; not the least of which was the 25 years Laura dedicated to building the Blue Man Group brand as the VP of Communications.  Learnings for our time and experiences with Blue Man Group have influenced and impacted nearly every facet of The Spark File - our mission and values, the way we’ve built and marketed the company, the way we treat each other and every member of The Spark File community.... Join us this week as we discuss all that we learned from this extraordinary organization—like how every voice in the room matters and the importance of processing conflict before continuing with a task – and we’ll explore how those lessons impact our work to this day. We believe that endings are an essential part of the creative cycle. Shows close, messy manuscripts become bound books, art exhibits are hung with excitement and taken down with a pang of sadness. To find new beginnings, we must honor our endings–and this week, we feel profoundly aware of all that is lost, and all that is gained, when things end. You can listen to the Spark File podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and directly on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know that writing a book is hard work—longform creativity takes patience, stamina, and an extraordinary drive to make it to the finish line.  That’s why, this week, we’re celebrating our dear friend Jenny Clift, whose new book Thriving Artist: How Musicians, Performers, and Creatives Can Use EFT Tapping to Achieve Balance, Career Growth, and Success is released on January 15. We got a sneak peek at this incredible resource for artists, and we were too sparked not to share! Join us this week as we take a page from Jenny’s book to discuss fighting for creative freedom. We’ll discuss the process of EFT Tapping and how it has impacted our lives and work. And, we’ll analyze some of Jenny’s most helpful tactics for moving through trauma and limiting beliefs. We’re thrilled to celebrate Jenny’s achievement. But we’re even more grateful for the chance to share it with you! In honor of Jenny—and all the hard-working authors out there–we have one thing to say: We LOVE it! Keep going! You can learn more about Jenny and her new book on her website. You can listen to the Spark File podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and directly on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the New Year barrels on, bringing an abundance of uncertainty with it, we wanted to return to a topic that has sparked us many times before: Making change. In this week’s episode of The Spark File podcast, we reflect on the work of scientists and experts who study the circuitry of the brain, and offer some tangible tips for how to make change in your life. We’ll also discuss some creative changemakers we know—passionate folks who are using their creative superpowers for good. Like a particularly fashionable friend who helps curate professional outfits for job-seekers in need. Or an ASL interpreter whose precise translations amplify equal access in healthcare. At the Spark File, we define creativity as applied imagination that fights for the powers of good. We also believe that if you want to make change, you have to do something! Together we can make 2025 the year that we use our creative gifts to make an impact, without getting bogged down by things we can’t control. You can listen to the Spark File podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and directly on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Oxford revealed its annual “Word of the Year” earlier this month, we had some questions—and not just because “Brain Rot” is two words. The truth is, we scroll past hundreds of images, sounds, and writings every day, pumping into our brains faster than any information has ever moved before. We absorb things that are neither meaningful nor thought-provoking—information with no purpose other than to fill space and time. Join us this week as we discuss the impact of this so-called Brain Rot. We explore the impact of AI “Slop” on our brains (yes, that’s really what its called!) And, we share some old-school knowledge about the importance space for creation.What if we thought of the contents of our brain more like Primordial Soup than slop? Primordial Soup refers to the primitive water bodies on the earth that were so rich in organic matter that scientists believe the first life forms evolved out of them. What if we were filling our brains with such substantive, enriching, inspiring content that creative life was overflowing? Creative life was consistently pouring out of us?The way we see it, this is a bit of a “use it or lose it” situation. We’ve each only got one brain, so let’s do our best to keep it healthy and looking straight ahead toward those big creative goals. Join us in setting the intention for mindful making in 2025!You can listen to the Spark File podcast on Spotify, apple podcasts, and directly on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have found that the more we tap into our creativity, the more we enjoy the holiday season.  In this week’s episode of The Spark File Podcast, we explore creativity in the form of gift-giving. Join us as we discuss the history of giving tangible gifts and why the tradition continues. We’ll explore some of the incredible gifts given (and received!) by members of The Spark File community and touch on some of our favorites from over the years. And, we’ll check in on some expert gift-givers to see what we can learn from them! (Here’s a hint: specificity, timing, and a listening ear are key!)We’re thankful to be part of such a vibrant community where giving generously of your time and talents is foundational. So, whether you’re looking for the perfect antique photo book or thinking about that once-in-a-lifetime gift from the past, this episode has a ton of ideas to fill that gift-giving Spark File.Remember that simply showing up and being present is a present. You can listen to the Spark File podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and directly on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re exploring an experience shared by more than half of the world’s population: Menopause. If you are thinking to yourself, “Oh, that topic isn’t for me.” We’re here to tell you the truth: menopause impacts everyone. If you have had a period in your life, or if you love a person who has had a period, this episode is for you. (Spoiler: that means it is for everybody.) While the word itself might feel familiar, Menopause is deeply under-studied and continually misunderstood, even by medical professionals. And while we are definitely creativity coaches, decidedly not doctors, we’ve been sparked by lessons we’ve learned while navigating our own lived experiences.  Join us this week as we discuss the intense symptoms that can occur during menopause and how those symptoms can impact our lives—and yes, that includes impacts on our creativity!  We’ll share some hard-earned wisdom from professionals working to increase awareness and from folks developing new tools and resources to help folks navigate the hardest parts of this often-ignored piece of our personhood and our health. You can listen to The Spark File podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and directly on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like many artists, we deeply empathize with the world around us. It can be hard to manage all the tough feelings that come up. A lot is happening in the world—a lot to laugh about, cry about, shout about, and rage about. Sorrow can bring joy, anger can bring calm, and it can all feel impossible to face. And, like it or not, we believe there is one path forward: To get through it all, we’ve got to go all the way there. This week’s episode of The Spark File podcast examines our long-held belief that moving through big feelings requires mindful action. Join us as we discuss ways to process the hard stuff, following the real-world examples of everyone from curious toddlers to award-winning songwriters. We’ll explore methods for proper care and feeding of your feelings to help you get unstuck and move forward. The hard truth is that the tough stuff will keep coming. Fear, anger, joy, and the creativity cycle move through us regardless of the world’s events. So, in tenuous moments like these, the best care a creative community can offer—for ourselves and each other—is a developed practice of going all the way there. You can listen to the Spark File podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and directly on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our opinion, creating a connection with others is the most singularly powerful tool any creative has in their armory. Unfortunately, a lot of us find that it’s easier said than done.  This week, Susan and Laura explore Molly Beck’s book Reach Out: The Simple Strategy You Need to Expand Your Network. Join us as we discuss Molly’s research-based guidance and how it intersects with our practical approach to creative work. We’ll share the do’s and don’ts of networking outreach. And, we’ll share some tips and tricks for how to make your outreach feel authentically you.  If you’re like us and you’re making things all the time, you know that finding and articulating your network of like-minded creatives is an essential part of the process. Join us in making this connection-filled time of year a springboard toward your creative goals. Listen in and let’s make this the season of reaching out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lately it feels like so many of us are longing for belonging, but finding it harder than to connect. But why?  In this week’s episode of The Spark File podcast, we dig in to find the answer.  Join us as Laura examines the work of social scientist Bob Putnam, whose book Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community connects the decline of American social organizations, guilds, and community spaces with an increase in isolation and a greater political and personal divide. The 2023 Netflix Documentary Join or Die, which digs into the “half-century story of America’s civic unraveling,” re-examined Putnam’s work with a lens on contemporary struggles. Turns out the answer is pretty simple: we need to reconnect in a meaningful way. Maybe you’re looking for a service organization, a community center, or a coaching community (like this one!) Wherever you can find (or rediscover) community, you might also find a greater sense of belonging. These connections are how we move through the most significant individual and collective problems. Listen on to hear our thoughts on how we move forward toward reconnecting in measurable and meaningful ways. As far as we’re concerned, it’s time to join the club! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The weight of the world felt heavy this week, but tough moments are when we feel luckiest to have this incredible community. Like we always say, everyone is creative but smart creative people do not go it alone! So this week, we did what we so often recommend to our coaching clients when the path ahead feels cloudy: We reached out to all the brave creatives in our lives (including you!) to see what is sparking comfort, catharsis, and change in their lives right now. We asked, and, boy, did you deliver!In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from an avalanche of creatives–including us!–-about which TedTalks, TV shows, poems, and songs are filling creative wells and buoying heavy spirits. And there were enough music recommendations for a whole playlist! Whether you’re seeking the comfort of joy and laughter or the catharsis of a good cry, the Spark File community has got your back. You can listen to this week’s episode of the Spark File podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and directly on our website. And, if you’d like to add music suggestions to our Comfort, Catharsis, and Change playlist, email your ideas to [email protected]! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here at the Spark File, creativity is a way of life and a way of being in the world.  In this week’s episode of The Spark File Podcast, Laura digs into Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being. A profoundly successful American record producer, Rubin is the co-founder of Def Jam recordings, founder of American Recordings and former co-president of Columbia Records. He is someone who has spent his life making things—and, like us, he believes creativity is so much more than one project: it’s a whole way of being!  Join us as we discuss how to break down barriers to the act of creation, making it more attainable in aspects of our lives. We’ll hit the highlights of Rubin’s musings, and share some of our thoughts on the power of infusing your life with creative energy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever found yourself giggling at the most unexpected insult, like "sparrow's fart"? Join us as we kick off this episode of The Spark File with laughter and a light-hearted exchange that sets the stage for a journey through creativity and introspection. We'll explore the wonderful world of "spark files," those magical little tools for capturing inspiration, and emphasize how much more fun the creative process can be with good company. As the conversation unfolds, we'll tackle the anxiety stirred by the relentless election cycle and recent global upheavals. Hear how staying up late with jigsaw puzzles becomes a peculiar form of revenge against bedtime procrastination, as we search for peace amid chaos.We then transition to managing moral distress, presenting effective strategies to calm the mind with practices like meditation, breathing exercises, and EFT tapping. Reflecting on the timeless wisdom of the Serenity Prayer, we focus on controlling what we can and finding solace in helping others. The discussion emphasizes the transformative power of self-care in building resilience against stress. We cap it off with an invitation for you to share your creative risks and feedback, acknowledging the Lenape and Mohican lands. With a "forever permission slip," we encourage you to chase those sparks of inspiration and turn them into something vibrant. Let’s navigate this creative landscape together with humor, courage, and camaraderie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode of the Spark File podcast, we head back to the beautiful Saunders Farm in Ottawa, Canada, where we were fortunate to host our almost annual SPARKFest. This week, on the eve of Halloween, we’re embracing the spooky season. Listen on to hear directly from Spark File community members. In this week’s episode you’ll hear sparks that explore Why (most) human beings love being scared, and how our fear sparks fear in others (spoiler: fear contagion is real!) The history behind haunted houses and fear-filled attractions How our brains trick us into filling in the gaps of what we can’t see The difference between a labyrinth and a maze Plus, you’ll hear from Spark Scribe Jill Dryer about the impact and power of dreams. But that’s not all! Saunders Farm’s own Angela Grant Saunders walks you through some of the spooky and sweet magic that makes Saunders Farm so special. (Hint: Apple cider donuts. Hundreds of them) So, if you’re feeling spooky, or you just want to cuddle up with some autumnal coziness, dig into the latest episode of…THE SPOOK FILE.… just kidding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every so often we hear the question: what is that “special sauce” that helps make up this “warm clan of creatives.” The truth is, a healthy culture and community requires a commitment to that mission from every single person involved. As educators, we’ve spent years learning about what conditions are most optimal for connection and community.  As creatives, we’ve spent years participating in various collaborations and configurations of people working together and noting what processes and agreements bring out the best in each individual while bringing the group together. All of this experience led to developing our own expectations for our classrooms and workshop spaces. Enter: The Spark File Course Guidelines…A Poem. If you’ve ever been involved in a Spark File class session—whether part of a coaching cohort, participating in a one-off workshop, or kicking off the New Year with us in creative style—you’re probably familiar with these guidelines. In this week’s episode of The Spark File podcast, we’ll take a closer look at our community’s creative roadmap. Join us as we break down the course guidelines and explore the history of this living, breathing guide. We’ll discuss the educators, thought leaders and science (yes, science!) that influenced our creation of the course guidelines, and discover the “why” behind each component. There aren’t a lot of requirements when it comes to making things, but communal creative freedom demands that we all swim in the same direction. So, as the course guidelines say: As long as you’re present when you’re present, do the work, and aren’t being a dick, however you’re doing it, you’re doing it right. Them’s the rules! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, you’ll get an extra special glimpse into SPARKfest 2024, our Spark File community retreat, held last fall at the beautiful Saunders Farm in Ottawa, Canada. When we say that The Spark File is a warm and wonderful clan of creatives, this is what we mean! Listen in and you’ll feel the live-in-front-of-a-crackling-fire ambience straight from the Saunders Farm ciderhouse! Our SPARKfest attendees met the challenge of finding and crafting a spark to share inspired by their time on the farm. From this fearless crew of multi-hyphenates, you’ll hear about: what birds can teach us about empty-nesting how nature’s patterns reveal the intersection between science and art  the lessons mushrooms teach about collaboration and competitive advantage how pumpkins represent finding the right container for your work And, all the things you can catch with open arms. We’ll share more SPARKfest goodness later in the season. For now get yourself by a warm fire or hook onto to your nearest zipline and join us for this first round of piping hot SPARKfest sparks! Happy listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we grieve the loss of our dear friend Gavin Creel, Susan called out for memories, wisdom, and lessons learned from Gavin, and we were touched by the outpouring of love from all across the globe. In this week’s episode, titled “WWGD? (Learning from Gavin Creel)," we hear from people who learned something from Gavin over the years—in rehearsal halls or classrooms, in nature, and on a city rooftop. We gathered all the light that Gavin reflected onto others and put it together so that we could, collectively, feel the warmth of its glow. We heard from so many people—award-winning actors, composers, producers, directors; Gavin’s colleagues in the theater, in activism, and in philanthropy; his classmates, students, partners, friends; and fans from all across the globe—who shared the innumerable ways in which Gavin positively impacted them. We heard the wisdom Gavin shared about artistry and creation, openness, activism, love, and all things life. As we share this collective loss, we hope this episode can serve as a reminder for all of us to embody those qualities that made Gavin so remarkable. You can listen to all these lessons and more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and directly on our website.​ You can also learn more about Gavin, in his own words, in Season 1, Episode 21: Gavin Creel: Creative Sponges and Meaningful Relationships. And, If you’d like to honor Gavin’s memory, his family has asked that donations be made to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids in his name. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices