The Spark File with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien

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.

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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.

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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!

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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! 

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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.

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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!

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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. 

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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!

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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.

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25

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?!

We are currently assembling our next cohort for ILLUME, our 9 month mastermind in creativity focusing on completing your creative work while learning tangible skills to successfully launch your project into the world.

Book a free, no obligation call with us to find out if ILLUME is right for you.
Learn more here: https://programs.thesparkfile.com/illume2024-25