The Spark File with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien
Your one stop shop for creative ideas and inspiration. Each week on The Spark File podcast, Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien reach into their spark files and share stories, ideas and fascinations to ignite your imagination. Obsessed with creativity, Blackwell and Camien also talk with artists and makers, movers and shakers who have taken the spark of inspiration and fanned it into a flame. Hear from inspiring creatives like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sara Bareilles, Eric Stonestreet, Jonathan Groff, Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich, Zachary Quinto, Leslie Odom Jr, Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Billy Eichner, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Karen Olivo, Sutton Foster, Michael R. Jackson and many more about their passions and their failures, their inspirations and their aspirations. Refill your creative fish pond with new ideas and fresh perspectives. Listen, then take it and make it!
Episodes
199 episodes
Season 5 Finale
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 ...
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Season 5
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Episode 21
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37:14
Closing Ceremonies: Blue Man Group
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 l...
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Season 5
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Episode 19
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41:05
Hug An Author Today
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
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Season 5
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Episode 18
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31:14
Making Change Pt. 3
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 sci...
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Season 5
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Episode 17
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36:27
Primordial Soup
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 in...
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Season 5
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Episode 16
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30:54
Gifts & Creativity
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 ...
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Season 5
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Episode 15
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42:32
Menopause + Creativity
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 yo...
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Season 5
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Episode 14
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42:27
Go All The Way There
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 bri...
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Season 5
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Episode 13
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34:32
Reaching Out
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’...
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Season 5
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Episode 12
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34:30
Join The Joiners
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 o...
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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32:05
Catharsis, Comfort & Change
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 ...
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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35:13
The Creative Act
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 success...
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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33:51
Moral Distress Signal
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 an...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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33:20
Spooky Sparks from SPARKfest
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 Hallo...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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38:04
Them's The Rules
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. ...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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32:51
Sparks from SPARKfest (Part 1)
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 Spa...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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36:14
WWGD? (Learning from Gavin Creel)
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? (Learnin...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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46:05
Grief & Creativity
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...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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40:57
Shining Your Creative Light
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 ...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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26:18
Certainty v. Creativity
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 ca...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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27:39
Creativity Sparks: Season 4 Finale!
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. ..And with a bonus spark inspired by Milwaukee Bucks player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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29:42
Creativity Sparks: From Good to Great
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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58:11
Creativity Sparks: You Have a (true) Story to Tell
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 episo...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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53:09
Creativity Sparks: Processing Creative Conclusions and Milestones
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 ti...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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1:03:09