The Spark File with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien (Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien)

Want to know what every single creative can learn from the development and launch of Wordle, the simple and most unexpected game of the century? 

Recorded riiiiiiiight before Wordle was sold to The New York Times, we can still learn how creating for an audience of one, making your work accessible and so much more relates to everything we hope to share with the world.

Listen in.  

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Sit back and marvel at this true tale of limitations inspiring ART as a survival job in less than ideal circumstances.

That’s right. The Florida Highwaymen turned to art to elevate themselves and their community out of poverty while reflecting the beauty of Florida landscapes.

These master painters (some trained and some self-taught) captured the beauty they saw around them, and supported their community with the profits. 

Dive into the lives and the legacy they painted for themselves…

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

You know that voice in your head? The one that drives you crazy sometimes? The one that points out your flaws and re-plays your mistakes over and over? 

What is the point of that voice?

Tune in this week as we gain an understanding of how to tame this voice, and put it to good use, thanks to Chatter: The Voice in our Head, Why it Matters, and how to Harness it by Ethan Kross.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Tired of the “starving artist” trope? Sick of the storyline that says “I’m creative and eccentric, I’m no good with numbers” Isn’t it time you felt a sense of personal agency over your finances? 

You are smart and capable. Tune in for some tips on how you can be even smarter and more capable.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Everywhere you look these days there is a con going down… Inventing Anna, The Tinder Swindler, The Dropout, The Puppermaster, Super Pumped, WeCrashed… Con artists are having a moment.  Tune in this week to learn more about the hustle, and how you can avoid being a “sucker”, a “stooge”, or a “gull” – Better yet, turn the confidence game into an inspired spark!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Whether the war in Ukraine is causing feelings of unease, uncertainty, or outrage, there are creative ways to activate and support. There are ways to use your talents and resources for the power of good.

Tune in this week to hear of creative acts by artists and others to support our colleagues in Ukraine. If you’ve wondered how you can put your thoughts and prayers into action – this episode is for you!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This week, Susan and Laura had the distinct pleasure of unpacking the mind of Mike Michalowicz, the man Simon Sinek claims might be “the patron saint of entrepreneurs”.

We have to agree.

He’s a saint, but our kind of saint -  comfortable with subversive humor served with a dash of profanity. 

On a mission to end entrepreneurial poverty, Mike changed our lives (and the way we think about making a living) with his book, Profit First. He has done the same for millions of other entrepreneurs as well.

If you want a fresh, bold perspective on earning a living as a creative entrepreneur, please tune in! 

Mike is a joy to talk to, and life-changing to learn from!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This week, after experiencing unexpected loss, Laura and Susan discuss the role of grief and friendship, and the bittersweet and inevitable intermixing of joy and heartbreak along this journey we call life. 

Inspired by the genius of Brene Brown, Karen Walrond and Susan Cain, Laura and Susan agree with the conclusion that our broken hearts connect us all. 

And as creators all we can hope to do is make works of profound sadness and beauty. Break our hearts. Use all of the pain. Like Marcus Aurelius said, “A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into 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? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This week, Susan and Laura got to hang with bad ass lighting designer and friend, Marc Janowitz, whose holistic, dynamic lighting designs illuminate a story and light up an audience.

His bold, no holds barred lighting transforms comedians into a rock stars and rock stars into gods.

Tune in to hear how Marc approaches designs for concerts for My Morning Jacket, The Lumineers, Fun., and many others, and comedy specials like Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Flight of the Conchords, Bo Burnham, theatre shows like Blue Man Group and Forbidden Broadway and so much more…

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

John Lennon said, “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end”

This week, we admire the imagination and, frankly, the balls of @connorratliff, creator of Dead Eyes podcast.

Connor created an unbelievable podcast experience in order to solve what he calls “a very stupid mystery that has haunted him for two decades: why Tom Hanks fired him from a small role in the 2001 HBO mini-series, Band of Brothers.”

Instead of running from the experience, he dove directly into the mix of emotions surrounding the event  - confusion, shame, humor - and found a very entertaining way to explore it all.

He took a perceived ‘failure’ and created a new (and very satisfying) ending to the story.

In other words, he gave himself quite possibly the best “Let Me Try That Again” that we’ve ever seen. 

By taking charge of ALL the stories of perceived failure, Collin has empowered us all to rewrite the ending.

And we are here for 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? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Long time listeners will know what a joy this episode was for us!

In the way back times, Susan introduced us to a human spark named Lynne Cox - a celebrated athlete who set swimming records around the world and achieved astonishing feats of strength and endurance (including swimming with a baby gray whale - eighteen feet long! - in open waters)

She is internationally famous for swimming the world’s most difficult waterways without a wet suit, and she is able to endure water temperatures so cold they would kill anyone else.

Lynne is the acclaimed best-selling author of Swimming to Antarctica and many more books, including her upcoming Tales of Al.

She is also a beautiful human being who recognizes and celebrates all forms of athleticism and creativity in others!

And this week, we got to talk to Lynne!! 

Join us as we explore the creative mindset of Lynne Cox - her resilience, gravitas, discipline, imagination… (make us stop because we could go on and on…) 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

For everything there is a season, friends! And this season is winding down. Time for a brief respite. But, before we go, let’s talk season highlights! And we’ll leave you with an excerpt from In Your Light by Rumi...

“I know you're tired but come, this is the way...In your light, I learn how to love.

In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you,

but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.

You and I have spoken all these words, but for the way we have to go, words are no preparation. I have one small drop of knowing in my soul.

Let it dissolve in your ocean.

A mountain keeps an echo deep inside. That's how I hold your voice.

Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you.

Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.

Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.”  

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

'Tis the season, everyone! The 4th season, to be exact! Time to jump back into our spark files and share some creative inspiration! 
This week we're just dippin' our toes in and teasing out a few of the topics we're gonna cover in the coming weeks!
Remember, if you hear something that piques your interest, you gotta take it and make it!
Happy creating, y'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?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Sparks of creativity can come from so many experiences including gratitude and joy, loss and devastation, and even total destruction. On this episode, Susan and Laura discuss some incredible creative works inside these topics, including the shocking play “Medea,” which was given a new life by director/performer Fiona Shaw on the BBC, the devastatingly beautiful book “Wave” by author and economist Sonali Deraniyagala, and even a special hidden gem embedded right into our very own Spark File website. Join us in celebrating the human possibility of 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

They hiked, they swam, they danced, they learned archery, all while being immersed in a horrific ideology. Susan and Laura dive into the shocking true story behind Camp Siegfried, located in the idyllic hamlet of Yaphank, New York, and the beautiful, seductive piece of theater that playwright Bess Wohl crafted out of it all. And so much more. There are certain sparks that light a firestorm in our brains. This is one of them.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This spark itself is so vast, but in order to right-size it for this episode, Susan and Laura stay on this important thread: creativity as it relates to abortion rights activism. They discuss risk-taker Carol Downer and her 1960s feminist movement “The Self Helpers," Mexican activist Verónica Cruz, who has dedicated her life to advancing the human rights of women in Mexico and beyond through her organization La Libres, which she founded in 2000, journalist Stephania Taladrid’s incredible reporting on “The Post-Roe Abortion Underground,” how a multigenerational network of activists is taking extraordinary risks to keep abortions accessible, and so much more. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

In Michael Easter's book, The Comfort Crisis, he shares his belief that the modern day creature comforts – air conditioning, food storage, etc., have made us more comfortable as a society and in turn given us extra time that we have filled with worry and anxiety. In this episode, Laura and Susan discuss what comforts we have put into place in regards to our creativity that are stopping us from stretching our creative limits. What if we push ourselves to explore those artistic areas in which we don’t feel comfortable? We just might realize that we are capable of so much more than we allow ourselves to be right now.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Many people have the desire to spin their lived experience into their creative self-expression, Susan and Laura included. This desire can present a conundrum as these creations can feature people other than the creator, or have ideas in them that might make a loved one uncomfortable, or are about a topic that some close to us might consider to be taboo. So how do we create with freedom and without fear? In this episode, Susan and Laura turn to the works of Banksy, Anne Lamott, David Sedaris, David Wellington, and more while discovering one approach to creating without fear: the idea of creating like your loved ones are never going to read it, hear it, or see it. Or, put another way, creating like your parents are dead…again. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Susan and Laura have found that when they bring up the idea of promoting one’s own work with their creative clients, the idea is almost always met with a sense of dread. 
So, how can creators combat this feeling? By making marketing part of the creative process. In this episode, Laura and Susan explore the methodologies and philosophies of the innovative Blue Man Group and how this unique approach to marketing, (which Cams was deeply involved with), helped build their global brand and, more importantly, stay true to themselves in the process.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

You know the old trope that one must suffer for their art? That creativity is somehow the byproduct of mental illness or addiction or self-harm?  It is time for that idea to go! An examined life can contribute greatly to our enjoyment of life, and to our creative work. In this episode, Susan and Laura discuss the relation of mental health to creativity and the innovative ways in which creators like Neal Brennan, Selena Gomez, Jonah Hill, and many more are infusing their mental health journeys into their creative work, showing that an artist can be brilliant and also prioritize their mental health. 

And remember, if you are in the United States and need immediate mental health support, you can call 988 and you will be connected to a trained counselor. (Painting: "Self-Portrait in Hell" by Edvard Munch.)

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Artists and athletes have a lot more in common than one might think, but our culture seems to encourage choosing one over the other.  In this episode, Laura and Susan discuss what artists can learn from athletes...including training, incremental progress, the discomfort of having a beginner’s mind, and so much more.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Words and language have real power. In this episode, Susan and Laura explore the amazing works and incredible life of someone who managed to harness that power to the benefit of so many: Toni Morrison, Nobel and Pulitzer prize winning author and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As they pull back the curtain to look at her work and creative process, Susan and Laura discuss Toni’s ability to center her own world in her writing, the ways in which her philosophies apply directly to their creative work, and exactly how carrot cake fits into it 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?  Join our FREE WORKSHOP: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

What do a 1998 wall calendar, a couple’s disappearance, and a half-burned postcard have to do with one man’s quest to create the perfect home? In this episode, Laura and Susan discuss the true story of a film editor who took his own obsession for acquiring his dream home perhaps a little too far. Petty crime, lost relationships, and a last-minute trip to a remote part of Spain are just a few of the pieces to the puzzle of this incredible story of one man and his quest to own a three-story building in Brooklyn. Sparks and story ideas are everywhere, y’all. Even in the Real Estate section.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Why is it so hard for us to break patterns that are keeping us from our goals? In this episode, Susan and Laura discuss and discover the ways in which we as humans and artists can navigate lasting positive change. They dive into the powerful process and book “Immunity to Change,” by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey, which unravels the concept of change and specifically how to close the gap between aspiration/good intention and actual behavior shifts. Susan and Laura discover that when experimenting with our own paths to change, remaining open and curious, not jumping to problem solving, and trusting the process can help. And so can a game of canasta every now and then.
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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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Do you feel that people value you only for your output, so you put work above all else, even above getting a good night’s sleep? Or have you ever been so busy that you've uttered the dreaded humble brag “I’ll sleep when I’m dead?” In this episode, Laura and Susan discuss what going without sleep can do to your life and your creativity, the normalization of grind culture, some positive steps we all can take to rest and rejuvenate, and what, exactly, Warren Zevon has to do with any of 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? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Ever wonder what you can accomplish in an 8 minute phone call?
Turns out... A LOT! In this week's episode of The Spark File podcast, Susan + Laura dig into the The New York Times feature "The 7 Day Happiness Challenge" and explore the little things that can make a BIG difference in our relationships and our lives. Take a listen, then ask yourself, "who you gonna call?"...

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This week, Laura and Susan get sparked by a corporate apology that was so authentic it made the news. Discovering the components necessary for an apology to be sincere, this episode explores the painful blocks that keep good people from being able to apologize, AND the creative ways artists have used apologies (or the absence of apologies) to inspire their creative work. Sites like SorryWatch.com share incredible sparks of apology and introduced us to an artist named Jennifer Dalton and her work titled, "Mistakes Were Made." 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

You know at The Spark File, we are not afraid to contemplate our own mortality, especially if doing so enhances our lives and our creativity. 

According to the author, Michael Hebb, “Of the many critical conversations we will all have throughout our lifetime, few are as important as the ones discussing death—and not just the practical considerations, such as DNRs and wills, but what we fear, what we hope, and how we want to be remembered.”

On this week’s episode of The Spark File podcast, Susan and Laura dig into these critical conversations, aided by Hebb’s book, “Let’s Talk about Death over Dinner.”

Pull up a chair and we’ll serve you up a delicious and substantial dialogue that will increase your end-of-life awareness and just might magnify your celebration of LIFE!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

This week, Laura and Susan discuss that tremor in the force you felt a few weeks ago when New York Magazine's The Cut handed us all The New Rules.
These 194 rules on how to exist in polite society, sparked conversations everywhere. 
Listen in to get our take on their take on everything from dating apps to work slacks, texting friends and lovers or engaging with stangers and others... Are we all doing it wrong??

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Were there stashes of gold hidden around the country after the Civil War? Did leaders of the confederate south intend this money fund a second Civil War? Was the outlaw Jesse James responsible for hiding some of this treasure? And has it recently been found?⁠
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Tune in this week to find out more about the Knights of the Golden Circle, their confederacy gold, and what role Jesse James may or may not have played in it. ⁠
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A fantastic article in Popular Mechanics by @davehoward99 has left us with so many questions...⁠

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Ever wonder what exactly is going on in your brain when you have an Ah-ha moment? 
On this week's episode of The Spark File podcast, Susan + Laura discuss what is transpiring in your head when you get that spark of an idea - and the rush of excitement that goes with it!
Wouldn't it be great if we could understand it so that we can create conducive conditions to invite more and more Ah-ha moments to happen?!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Have you gotten into the AI craze yet? Have you asked Chat GPT to write your next marketing plan or promotional copy? Have you asked it to write lines of dialogue, jokes for a stand up routine or a synopsis for your pitch? Have you asked it to write your resume? This week, Susan and Laura dive into what AI might be great for,  where it's limitations are, and where it's headed. Do creatives have anything to worry about? Tune in to sort it all out.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Do you have a creative project that has never seen the light of day because you just don't think it's ready to share yet? Despite years of effort even? Do you have a creative project you've dreamt of making but you haven't even started yet? Because the thought of it not turning out great keeps you from even trying? 
On this week's episode, Laura and Susan dig into the plight of the perfectionist.  Thanks to researchers and authors like Brene Brown, we might just have a chance to prevail - IF we can embrace our imperfections and (shocker!) maybe even learn to enjoy them!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Friends, trust us when we say it is valuable, meaningful, and potentially essential that you take the time to celebrate your creative wins - large and small! Join us this week as Susan and Laura discuss why it's so important that we take the time to acknowledge and reflect on the milestones and the conclusions, the hits and the misses. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Is there anything better than a well-crafted personal story told with humor, authenticity and heart? Even better if its a TRUE story, right? Well, the folks at The Moth have boiled the art of storytelling down to a science. In this week's episode, Laura and Susan share how sparked they are by The Moth and their book How To Tell a Story. We all have one - tune in to learn how to tell YOUR story!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Ever wonder what's needed to take your creative project to the next level? Or wonder if maybe good is good enough? How do we know when to invest the additional time and energy it's going to take to go from Good to Great? If you're ready or when you're ready to level up your work, Susan and Laura discuss the difference between Good and Great, and some of the factors it takes to get there. Inspired by the book, Good to Great by Jim Collins, but seen through the lens of 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Holy Moly! Season 4 of The Spark File is coming to an end! In this episode, Susan + Laura reminisce on some of our favorite sparks from this season. .
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And with a bonus spark inspired by Milwaukee Bucks player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who left us with this mini ted talk when asked if he believed this season was a failure because they didn’t win the playoffs. Just because you don’t win, do we count that as a fail?
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Season 4 of The Spark File is wrapping up, but don’t worry - there are 178 episodes of The Spark File for you to binge! 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Certainty or Creativity - which will you choose?

This week, Nathan Hill’s novel “Wellness” serves as a springboard for Laura’s spark. 
The specific line that ignited our conversation?  "You can choose to be certain or you can choose to be alive." We'll discuss how this notion impacts all our creative journeys and share wisdom from playwright Stephen Karam on the price of admission for love and artistry.

This episode marks the launch of Season 5 with a fresh approach—shorter, more frequent episodes designed to keep your creative sparks burning. Join us as we explore how the need for certainty can hold us back in love and creativity, and how embracing uncertainty can fuel growth and transformation. 

And consider the scientifically proven placebo effect…just the belief in positive outcomes can lead to positive outcomes. What might happen if we approached our creative work with optimism, hope, and a belief in positive outcomes?

Jump back into The Spark File and discover how you can connect with us to turn your sparks of inspiration into a bonfire of 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

Here’s a summary of the key takeaways from this episode!

In this week’s episode, we discuss the idea of “shining the light” on your creative work.What do we mean by “shining the light”? In The Spark File Community, we think of the creative cycle in three steps: generating sparks, fanning the flames of creativity, and shining the light on your creative work. This step involves inviting others to share in your work. This might be requesting feedback, inviting folks to a reading, submitting to a festival, or promoting the sale of your work - anything that extends your work beyond your safe and comfortable realm.

This week, we tackle the most common reasons why people struggle to shine the light—and, we take a look at our recent cohort of llumineers, who did a whole lot of light shining in their recent capstone presentations. Our goal is to make sure that every artist has a choice about whether or not they want to share their work, and if they choose to do so, support them as they learn how to share it in a way that generates excitement.

As always—whether you’re generating those sparks, fanning the flames, or shining that light—however you’re doing it, you’re doing it right! Dive back into Season 5 and bask in the warm glow of The Spark File.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

In this special episode, we draw from Laura’s experiences having lost both of her parents and discuss the ways in which creativity can help us to move through grief. We share thoughts on the non-linear path of grieving, and how to meet grief in the sometimes-unexpected places that it manifests. We also take a look at how profound artists like Frida Kahlo used grief in their own work. And, with examples from our lives, we examine the power of intentionally processing grief as a method of healing. 

When we recorded this episode, we hoped it would be of help to others who are processing their own loss. Then came the news that our dear friend Gavin Creel had passed away. In addition to his prolific award-winning work as an actor and writer, Gavin was a longtime friend of The Spark File community and beloved by all of us. Along with Ian Axness, he was the music director of our theme songs (recorded live at The Performing Arts Project), and can be heard singing with Sophie Hearn in our closing theme. In honor of all the light he brought into our lives, we’ve dedicated this week's episode, “Grief + Creativity” to our friend Gavin. 

In many ways, grief and creation often walk hand in hand. Much like the act of making something, grief is a process to be moved through. Creation can be fuel to move through grief, and grief can be fuel to create. Both require the love and support of like-minded individuals to shout “We love it! Keep going!” Most importantly, though, grief and creation share one very important ground rule: However you’re doing it, you’re doing it right. 

You can listen to this week’s episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and directly on our website.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 getcreative@thesparkfile.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 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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: Is It Too Late to Create? March 20, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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) behave the way you do. The nine-enders just might be the character motivation you were looking for.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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”? 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 causing the tragic flooding of Johnstown, Pennsylvania to the American Corp of Engineers intentionally flooding towns such as Willow Grove, Tennessee in order to form Dale Hollow Lake.
PLEASE NOTE: This episode of The Spark File podcasts contains mature themes (physical abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, body issues). Please use your discretion.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 Times, Vision Portraits “has the power, however briefly, to alter your perception."

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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, 6:30 - 8:30pm ET, live on zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 their personal and creative energies and what makes for a creatively satisfying experience. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 during WWII, a.k.s the Lumber Jills leads to a search for a personal connection to the Civilian Conservation Corp in the US.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 mission to bring new audiences to the art form.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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?"

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 guiding purpose of "making millions of people happy."

And he believes that you must always retain something that's yours.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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.

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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 do anything creative. Understanding your strongest motivations will help you keep your creative flame blazing, even through doubts or setbacks. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!

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. 

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 zoom. Let us offer you a new sense of possibility. 

CLICK HERE to sign up! It's FREE, but you must RSVP!