This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:37] Laura Camien: Welcome to The Spark File, your one-stop gift set for creative inspiration.

[0:41] Susan Blackwell: I'm Laura Camien and I'm Susan Blackwell.

[0:43] Laura Camien: If you're joining us for the first time, welcome.

[0:45] Susan Blackwell: You may be asking yourself, what exactly is a spark file?

[0:49] Laura Camien: Where do I get one?

[0:50] Susan Blackwell: What do I file in it?

[0:51] Laura Camien: These are such good questions.

[0:53] Susan Blackwell: We hope to have answers for you.

[0:55] Laura Camien: We do actually.

[0:56] Susan Blackwell: A spark file is a place where you consistently collect all of your inspirations and fascinations.

[1:02] Laura Camien: Here's the deal.

[1:03] Susan Blackwell: We are makers who make all kinds of things.

[1:05] Laura Camien: If you're anything like us and you're making stuff all the time, or want to be making stuff all the time, you know the wellspring of inspiration can run a little dry.

[1:14] Susan Blackwell: So we're on the lookout for fresh ideas, images, and inspiration that spark our creativity and pique our curiosity.

[1:20] Laura Camien: Things that inspire us to get up off of our asses and make things like this podcast.

[1:25] Susan Blackwell: Or a joy-filled project that you create with your friends.

[1:29] Laura Camien: Or a collage made up of so many sparkity sparks.

[1:33] Susan Blackwell: Spark sparks.

[1:34] Laura Camien: Every episode, we're gonna sparks.

[1:36] Susan Blackwell: We're gonna reach into our spark files and exchange some sparks, spark, sparks, spark, sparks.

[1:41] Laura Camien: And from time to time, we're gonna talk to some people who spark us as well.

[1:44] Susan Blackwell: And if you're not careful, you just might get your questions answered.

[1:48] Laura Camien: So without further ado, let's open up the Sparks File, Cam.

[1:54] Susan Blackwell: Oh, black wings.

[1:55] Laura Camien: Before we launch into this very special episode of The Spark File, I have something to share with you.

[2:01] Susan Blackwell: What is it?

[2:02] Laura Camien: A very devoted listener to the podcast.

[2:07] Susan Blackwell: Yes.

[2:08] Laura Camien: Inspired by a spark.

[2:11] Susan Blackwell: What?

[2:11] Laura Camien: Has presented a gift.

[2:14] Susan Blackwell: What?

[2:15] Laura Camien: And that gift is the very first Sparkfile jigsaw puzzle.

[2:20] Susan Blackwell: Come on!

[2:22] Laura Camien: Are you kidding?

[2:23] Susan Blackwell: Let me see it.

[2:24] Laura Camien: This was inspired by your Sparks puzzle piece.

[2:24] Susan Blackwell: Puzzle piece.

[2:30] Laura Camien: And it is our Sparkfile logo, The Sparkfile with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien.

[2:35] Susan Blackwell: And then there's a little thing at the bottom that says, "Oh, The Sparkfile podcast is gonna contain profanity and other adult content."

[2:44] Laura Camien: Use your discretion.

[2:45] Susan Blackwell: Not may contain, but will contain.

[2:48] Laura Camien: Let me shove that across the table at you.

[2:51] Susan Blackwell: That's from Jeff Spitz.

[2:53] Laura Camien: Oh my god.

[2:54] Susan Blackwell: Jeff, this is amazing.

[2:57] Laura Camien: Isn't that cool?

[2:59] Susan Blackwell: This is incredible.

[3:01] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[3:01] Susan Blackwell: Isn't that nice?

[3:03] Laura Camien: Oh my god.

[3:05] Susan Blackwell: I know.

[3:06] Laura Camien: How cool is that?

[3:08] Susan Blackwell: It brings all of our sparks together into a few.

[3:12] Laura Camien: It's legit.

[3:13] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[3:14] Laura Camien: How many pieces is so many pieces?

[3:17] Susan Blackwell: 520 pieces.

[3:19] Laura Camien: It's a lot of pieces.

[3:21] Susan Blackwell: Oh my gosh.

[3:22] Laura Camien: Can I do it after you?

[3:23] Susan Blackwell: Yes.

[3:24] Laura Camien: Oh my gosh.

[3:24] Susan Blackwell: And then we'll break it down.

[3:26] Laura Camien: Wes can do it.

[3:27] Susan Blackwell: And then we can mod podge it and frame it.

[3:29] Laura Camien: Yes.

[3:30] Susan Blackwell: Yes.

[3:30] Laura Camien: So great.

[3:31] Susan Blackwell: That's a deal.

[3:31] Laura Camien: So I just wanted to say a thank you and happy holidays to Jeff Sparks.

[3:37] Susan Blackwell: Thanks for a beautiful puzzle.

[3:39] Laura Camien: Oh my God.

[3:40] Susan Blackwell: That is awesome.

[3:41] Laura Camien: That's what I wanted to say.

[3:42] Susan Blackwell: Okay.

[3:43] Laura Camien: That is a fucking delight.

[3:47] Susan Blackwell: I have some things to say.

[3:49] Laura Camien: Um, I'm excited about our workshop.

[3:52] Susan Blackwell: I am too.

[3:54] Laura Camien: It is growing ever closer.

[3:56] Susan Blackwell: And I'm so freaking excited.

[3:58] Laura Camien: We have been putting a lot of thought into this.

[4:03] Susan Blackwell: And I just feel like we've done workshops before.

[4:06] Laura Camien: I just feel like this is going to be the best ever for the people that are there because I really feel like we just continue to evolve this work and it's effective.

[4:19] Susan Blackwell: It's effective and it's fun.

[4:21] Laura Camien: This is, you know, essentially it's a two-day event, but a day and a half of workshop and then a podcast recording.

[4:29] Susan Blackwell: But the day and a half really gives us that time to go deep.

[4:32] Laura Camien: Yes.

[4:33] Susan Blackwell: Which we don't always have.

[4:35] Laura Camien: Sometimes we're trying to condense a whole lot of stuff, which is also fun, but it feels a little, um, I wouldn't say luxurious, but it feels like luxurious to have that time.

[4:53] Susan Blackwell: They're really going to just get that making all tuned up and we're going to be able to do that.

[4:58] Laura Camien: You know what they're really doing?

[5:00] Susan Blackwell: They are starting their year off right.

[5:03] Laura Camien: True.

[5:04] Susan Blackwell: Right?

[5:04] Laura Camien: Boy.

[5:05] Susan Blackwell: Because we all know how January can be.

[5:06] Laura Camien: You like have these goals and then it's March, you're like, shit, I haven't started it, you know.

[5:11] Susan Blackwell: I feel like the intentions that I set at the beginning of this year have really paid off.

[5:18] Laura Camien: And I mean, we made this podcast.

[5:21] Susan Blackwell: I did consume less, I did create more.

[5:24] Laura Camien: I made that commitment to not buying clothes, and I think I have bought a total of two pieces of clothing.

[5:30] Susan Blackwell: Oh my gosh, a souvenir t-shirt from the Performing Arts Project, yes, and um, there was one sort of like a one-off vintage item that I did purchase.

[5:30] Laura Camien: You had to have.

[5:30] Susan Blackwell: But you know, but two pieces in an entire year, amazing pretty good I'm proud of myself.

[5:30] Laura Camien: I did not win that challenge, but I did consume a lot less than I normally would have.

[5:30] Susan Blackwell: Here's the thing, say you had a goal that you were like, I'm going to create something every day like people are doing in the creativity challenge.

[5:30] Laura Camien: That's right.

[5:30] Susan Blackwell: Even if you don't actually create something every day, you'll probably create more than if you didn't participate in the challenge.

[5:30] Laura Camien: Perfectly.

[5:30] Susan Blackwell: Like even if you don't do it perfectly, you're still making huge strides and you're still thinking about creativity each day.

[6:17] Laura Camien: That's right.

[6:18] Susan Blackwell: Even if you have to make a conscious decision, you know what, it's not gonna happen today.

[6:21] Laura Camien: Today I'm giving myself a snow day.

[6:23] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[6:21] Laura Camien: So I for all those reasons I like it, we'll see you there and if we don't absolutely carry you in our hearts.

[6:30] Susan Blackwell: But you mentioned what we've accomplished this year and I just think like it has been an amazing few months.

[6:39] Laura Camien: Amazing, amazing. I mean we started working on this project last year.

[6:42] Susan Blackwell: Almost exactly at this time last year we started talking about it or we started actually doing the work we were in, we were hammering out full.

[6:42] Laura Camien: That's right.

[6:42] Susan Blackwell: All of it.

[6:53] Laura Camien: That's right, we were like what do we want it to be exactly?

[6:51] Susan Blackwell: And then we started work in the spring actually, um, recording episodes and reaching out to people, etc.

[7:03] Laura Camien: We launched in September.

[7:05] Susan Blackwell: Now it's December.

[7:07] Laura Camien: And this whole bag of bananas has brought us so much joy.

[7:13] Susan Blackwell: I love it.

[7:13] Laura Camien: And it was just an idea.

[7:15] Susan Blackwell: It was just a spark, something that didn't exist before.

[7:18] Laura Camien: That's right.

[7:19] Susan Blackwell: The learning curves.

[7:21] Laura Camien: I mean, we, I'm proud of us.

[7:23] Susan Blackwell: But for the holiday, this isn't about us.

[7:25] Laura Camien: For the holidays, we wanted to take a moment to pause to reflect to extend our gratitude to you.

[7:30] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[7:30] Laura Camien: Gentle listeners.

[7:32] Susan Blackwell: None of this happens without you.

[7:34] Laura Camien: And if it weren't for you, Cammy and I would just look at each other and pretend podcast into two hairbrushes.

[7:40] Susan Blackwell: So thank you for being here for all of this and providing us with external accountability.

[7:46] Laura Camien: So we have a meaningful commitment to keep and for being so inspiring to us.

[7:51] Susan Blackwell: And it's really, we're starting to get, I think we'll share some of this in just a moment, but people are saying, I look forward to, I look forward to the episode dropping.

[8:00] Laura Camien: And I'll tell you, that's some good pressure.

[8:03] Susan Blackwell: That's great pressure.

[8:04] Laura Camien: And it means so much.

[8:05] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[8:06] Laura Camien: It means so much.

[8:07] Susan Blackwell: Anybody gives a shit.

[8:08] Laura Camien: I know it does mean a lot.

[8:10] Susan Blackwell: We're, you know, encouraging people.

[8:12] Laura Camien: Um, so we wanted to open up some presents from you.

[8:16] Susan Blackwell: These are gifts that you sent us in the form of some really top-notch email.

[8:21] Laura Camien: Every single one of these was, well, to quote the Armchair Treasure Hunt, a day maker.

[8:28] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[8:28] Laura Camien: These were some day, day makers, right?

[8:30] Susan Blackwell: So let's hear what you got to say for yourself, gentle sparklers.

[8:34] Laura Camien: Let's open up this spark file mailbag.

[8:37] Susan Blackwell: Woo!

[8:37] Laura Camien: A mailbag episode.

[8:38] Susan Blackwell: Open up the spark file mailbag episode.

[8:41] Laura Camien: We're gonna have to get some.

[8:42] Susan Blackwell: We need a little jangaloo jing.

[8:44] Laura Camien: Um, anybody want to write our mailbag jingle?

[8:47] Susan Blackwell: I have some ideas about who can sing.

[8:50] Laura Camien: Um, so this first email comes from Laura Coward.

[8:55] Susan Blackwell: Hello.

[8:56] Laura Camien: Uh, Laura submitted this through the magic portal that is our website, thesparkfile.com.

[9:01] Susan Blackwell: The subject is "Came for Groff, stayed for your sparks."

[9:05] Laura Camien: Yay.

[9:05] Susan Blackwell: I'll take that any day.

[9:07] Laura Camien: It's honest and I like it.

[9:09] Susan Blackwell: Her price of admission, uh, Laura signed up for the January workshop.

[9:14] Laura Camien: So preemptive risk, she says, I love it.

[9:17] Susan Blackwell: We cannot wait to see you there.

[9:18] Laura Camien: Her second price of admission, she, this is amazing, moved to New York from Texas this year to double down on living a more adventurous and creative life.

[9:29] Susan Blackwell: Step one was taking her first playwriting class.

[9:32] Laura Camien: Yes.

[9:33] Susan Blackwell: Amazing.

[9:34] Laura Camien: Yes.

[9:34] Susan Blackwell: Hats off to you.

[9:37] Laura Camien: That is excellent adventure.

[9:37] Susan Blackwell: Um, and here is the message from Laura Coward.

[9:40] Laura Camien: Susan and Laura, thank you for the time and love and hilarity you are putting into this podcast.

[9:47] Susan Blackwell: You are bringing me so much joy.

[9:47] Laura Camien: And on any given day, you can find me with tears streaming as I listen while walking through Central Park.

[9:53] Susan Blackwell: Shout out to the Art of Dying Well.

[9:58] Laura Camien: You and me and Cam's both.

[9:58] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[10:00] Laura Camien: I'm 39 and completely uprooted my life in April to move from Dallas to New York.

[10:03] Susan Blackwell: My life was great.

[10:04] Laura Camien: My friends were great, but I felt stuck and passive and like I'd lost my, forgive me, spark.

[10:10] Susan Blackwell: I see what you did there.

[10:11] Laura Camien: Nice.

[10:12] Susan Blackwell: I'd always wanted to live in New York, but had decided that I was too old and settled to move.

[10:16] Laura Camien: But then I said, F that.

[10:18] Susan Blackwell: Yes.

[10:18] Laura Camien: I'm a writer for an agency in Dallas, helping raise money for children's hospitals, animal rescues, and food banks.

[10:24] Susan Blackwell: I asked them if I could work remotely for a year or two or forever.

[10:29] Laura Camien: Question marks as well.

[10:31] Susan Blackwell: And now here I am alone, living out a very exciting but solitary dream.

[10:36] Laura Camien: Your words slash voices have kept me company and have inspired me.

[10:40] Susan Blackwell: And the nine ender spark made me feel seen.

[10:43] Laura Camien: So did the puzzle spark as I used to put them together on the cardboard side when I was little just to see if I could.

[10:43] Susan Blackwell: The cardboard side.

[10:51] Laura Camien: Baby genius.

[10:53] Susan Blackwell: I'm so excited for your workshop and for the chance to say hi in person.

[10:56] Laura Camien: Likewise, we can't wait to see you.

[10:58] Susan Blackwell: Um, a brave adventurer.

[11:00] Laura Camien: I love it.

[11:01] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[11:01] Laura Camien: Here's a small spark that one of your episodes made me think of.

[11:04] Susan Blackwell: I grew up with very crafty grandmothers, and as a result, have always been ready to be 75.

[11:11] Laura Camien: My dad's mom was always cross stitching and needlepointing, and she made all of our Christmas stockings and many of our ornaments.

[11:18] Susan Blackwell: My mom's mom loves calligraphy and has made letter writing slash addressing an art form.

[11:23] Laura Camien: I love this family.

[11:25] Susan Blackwell: Everything's an art form.

[11:26] Laura Camien: I love it.

[11:27] Susan Blackwell: As a little girl, like single digits, I used to stitch with my dad's mom, and she'd periodically make me stop and show her the back of the piece I was working on.

[11:36] Laura Camien: I was impatient and loved taking shortcuts, so there would be threads stretched across the back of the canvas and tiny knots that I didn't have the patience to untangle.

[11:46] Susan Blackwell: She showed me the back of her canvas and it looked almost identical to the front.

[11:50] Laura Camien: Oh, grandma.

[11:51] Susan Blackwell: I'm with you, Laura.

[11:52] Laura Camien: I'm, uh, yes, just knots and bullshit.

[11:56] Susan Blackwell: She then explained to me the concept of cross stitch and needlepoint integrity and how shadow threads can ruin a project by showing through.

[12:05] Laura Camien: I listened and then continued to take my shortcuts, sure nobody would ever look closely enough at my work to care.

[12:11] Susan Blackwell: My grandmother continued to take the time to uphold the integrity of her work.

[12:15] Laura Camien: It was a lesson that I'd forgotten until she died, and then it became the theme of the eulogy I gave for her.

[12:22] Susan Blackwell: Her life looked the same in the light and dark from both sides because of her integrity.

[12:32] Laura Camien: I love this.

[12:33] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[12:33] Laura Camien: And I have never had the words for it, but I aspire to be with whoever is reviewing my life, that they were just like it was authentic.

[12:43] Susan Blackwell: It was the same in the front as it was in the back.

[12:45] Laura Camien: Like that's right.

[12:46] Susan Blackwell: No secrets, no like no hidden bullshit.

[12:50] Laura Camien: No shadow threads.

[12:51] Susan Blackwell: No shadow threads.

[12:56] Laura Camien: Love that.

[12:57] Susan Blackwell: And in her creative pursuits, even the lowest stakes examples, she never gave anything less than her absolute best, even though most people would never notice if she'd taken a few shortcuts.

[13:09] Laura Camien: I've been thinking of her a lot and of this notion of the shadow thread.

[13:13] Susan Blackwell: And I'm trying to apply that lesson to my creative work again as well as actual life.

[13:19] Laura Camien: This is a quote from Laura Coward.

[13:24] Susan Blackwell: Everything I do is stitched with its color.

[13:29] Laura Camien: Thank you for giving us a podcast where we can learn and be inspired, and one that somehow also knocks loose beautiful memories buried deep inside.

[13:36] Susan Blackwell: Thank goodness for creativity and creators, the happiest of holidays to you both.

[13:41] Laura Camien: See you soon, Laura Coward.

[13:43] Susan Blackwell: Well, first of all, Laura Camien is full on crying now.

[13:46] Laura Camien: I mean, honestly, the same.

[13:48] Susan Blackwell: I feel the same, Laura.

[13:50] Laura Camien: That if we can live our life that way and have our creative work be the same.

[13:56] Susan Blackwell: Like you can look at it from the front, you can explore, you can examine the back.

[14:01] Laura Camien: You know, we love that.

[14:03] Susan Blackwell: We would talk about this at Blue Man and I think a little in Title of Show.

[14:08] Laura Camien: Um, and I'm sure many other shows, but the sense that if you're portraying people on stage who are joyful, having fun and love each other.

[14:23] Susan Blackwell: It is very difficult to convey that if the backstage area does not also look the same.

[14:32] Laura Camien: There are people who can do it.

[14:33] Susan Blackwell: Sure.

[14:34] Laura Camien: There are people who look like a party in the front and they're a nightmare in the back.

[14:38] Susan Blackwell: 100%.

[14:39] Laura Camien: But I think that when a project really takes off, I think that people speak about the alchemy, the chemical balance of a group of people.

[14:50] Susan Blackwell: Like, why did Friends the sitcom take off and some other sitcom that was, you know, maybe equally funny in its first season did not?

[14:58] Laura Camien: And sometimes when you have time, you know, when you have the ability to reflect back, it's shadow threads.

[15:05] Susan Blackwell: It's that they were not authentically living what they were putting out there.

[15:11] Laura Camien: And I can imagine that would be true of the relationships of a creative team, but I can also imagine that it's true in the underpinnings of the actual creative work.

[15:20] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[15:20] Laura Camien: You know what I mean?

[15:21] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[15:22] Laura Camien: This it's layered.

[15:23] Susan Blackwell: Laura Coward, what a beautiful email.

[15:25] Laura Camien: Incredible.

[15:26] Susan Blackwell: Thank you for sharing that with us.

[15:29] Laura Camien: So excited to meet you.

[15:30] Susan Blackwell: Can't wait to see you.

[15:31] Laura Camien: My amazing.

[15:33] Susan Blackwell: Thank you very much.

[15:33] Laura Camien: Yeah, and I want to know more about your grandma.

[15:36] Susan Blackwell: She seems just phenomenal.

[15:39] Laura Camien: A family of crafters.

[15:40] Susan Blackwell: I also like I was a I was a four-H-er.

[15:44] Laura Camien: Just one.

[15:44] Susan Blackwell: I was too.

[15:46] Laura Camien: Admitted that. Were you really?

[15:46] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[15:46] Laura Camien: What was your what were your disciplines?

[15:49] Susan Blackwell: Well, first of all, I only had one.

[15:51] Laura Camien: I didn't think of them that way.

[15:52] Susan Blackwell: Um, I don't know what they call them.

[15:54] Laura Camien: What were your clubs you were in?

[15:55] Susan Blackwell: I sewed.

[15:56] Laura Camien: You were in sewing.

[15:58] Susan Blackwell: You were?

[15:58] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[15:59] Susan Blackwell: You know how to sew?

[15:59] Laura Camien: Uh-huh.

[16:00] Susan Blackwell: Can you add a sewing machine?

[16:02] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[16:02] Susan Blackwell: I can thread a sewing machine.

[16:04] Laura Camien: Can we?

[16:05] Susan Blackwell: There's one easy thing I need done in this house.

[16:09] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[16:09] Susan Blackwell: But I can't, I learned one time I can't remember how to thread a sewing machine.

[16:13] Laura Camien: I can't believe I am Nancy Blackwell's daughter.

[16:16] Susan Blackwell: But can you all we have to do is just go and mend something else?

[16:20] Laura Camien: Oh my gosh, I'll help you.

[16:22] Susan Blackwell: I will help you.

[16:22] Laura Camien: Camille, sure.

[16:24] Susan Blackwell: Sorry, go ahead.

[16:25] Laura Camien: This is the greatest discovery in the world.

[16:26] Susan Blackwell: I mean, you know, I'm rusty at a number of things, but I'm familiar with patterns and you know all that stuff.

[16:33] Laura Camien: It's been a while.

[16:35] Susan Blackwell: But remember, I was I was telling you I made those tops, you know, um out of vintage linens that I found.

[16:41] Laura Camien: Yeah, I used to love making them.

[16:43] Susan Blackwell: I just weren't just conceiving them and having somebody execute them, you were making them.

[16:47] Laura Camien: I made part of them.

[16:50] Susan Blackwell: Then there was one part that was more complicated, and my friend Nancy Feldman, I had uh thank you, Nancy.

[16:57] Laura Camien: Um, much better than I uh had to give her like so I would sew to a certain point, and then I'd be like, Nancy, can you help me with these?

[17:09] Susan Blackwell: Um, but anyway, it was my best friend Rhonda, her grandma taught the sewing class for our four-H page.

[17:19] Laura Camien: Yeah, and she was tough on me.

[17:21] Susan Blackwell: She was really tough on me because I, you know, I also was impatient.

[17:24] Laura Camien: Shadow stitches.

[17:25] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[17:26] Laura Camien: It was like, what are these little threads?

[17:27] Susan Blackwell: These dangling threads.

[17:28] Laura Camien: What are you doing here?

[17:29] Susan Blackwell: It's supposed to look tight.

[17:32] Laura Camien: Anyway, I that all resonates with me.

[17:35] Susan Blackwell: This is also reminding me of our amazing, amazing maker listener, Andy Berkey, who, in addition to doing this gothic wood craft is also quilting.

[17:47] Laura Camien: He made a quilt for his nephew for Christmas.

[17:50] Susan Blackwell: And if you were like this or anything you cannot do.

[17:53] Laura Camien: I was like, who are you?

[17:55] Susan Blackwell: And are you real?

[17:56] Laura Camien: Maybe you're just some figment of the internet's imagination.

[18:00] Susan Blackwell: So Laura, I'm sparked by Laura Coward.

[18:02] Laura Camien: I'm sparked by your beautiful writing.

[18:04] Susan Blackwell: And I'm also sparked by this desire that I've had to learn how to sew that I'm it's gonna get that done.

[18:11] Laura Camien: Great.

[18:11] Susan Blackwell: Let's get it done.

[18:12] Laura Camien: Awesome.

[18:13] Susan Blackwell: All right, I got another letter here from the mailbag.

[18:17] Laura Camien: Here we go.

[18:18] Susan Blackwell: Hello, ladies.

[18:19] Laura Camien: I've been wanting to write to you for the longest time, but it's actually you who kept me crazy busy and gave me so much inspiration to create and observe and listen to everything around me.

[18:31] Susan Blackwell: Mmm, this podcast means so much to me.

[18:34] Laura Camien: And once I start talking about it to anyone, I can't shut up for hours.

[18:37] Susan Blackwell: So I will try to keep this short and sweet, as I'm sure you're both very busy and get many emails from other fans as well.

[18:43] Laura Camien: So many emails.

[18:44] Susan Blackwell: So many emails.

[18:47] Laura Camien: I'm currently finishing my undergrad at the Royal Conservatory of Scotland.

[18:51] Susan Blackwell: Ooh.

[18:52] Laura Camien: Fancy.

[18:53] Susan Blackwell: I'm Czech and moved abroad to study and live art only a few years ago.

[18:59] Laura Camien: I often feel that while I receive an amazing training in the craft and know how to do things technically, it's often much trickier to get the actual inspiration there.

[19:08] Susan Blackwell: That's interesting.

[19:09] Laura Camien: Mm-hmm.

[19:09] Susan Blackwell: Don't get me wrong, I learn from many outstanding people, but the character of the course simply doesn't offer a lot of time to discuss our inspirations and the reasons why we do this.

[19:20] Laura Camien: I think that's pretty common.

[19:21] Susan Blackwell: I think that that's pretty common.

[19:22] Laura Camien: That's right.

[19:23] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[19:24] Laura Camien: And after a few years of studying, I found myself in a position where I wasn't even sure if I wanted to do it anymore.

[19:30] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[19:31] Laura Camien: I totally forgot why I want to do and write music.

[19:34] Susan Blackwell: I'm majoring in classical composition.

[19:37] Laura Camien: I think this is pretty common.

[19:39] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[19:39] Laura Camien: You sort of lose sight of like where's the joy?

[19:42] Susan Blackwell: Where is that?

[19:43] Laura Camien: Where is the spark?

[19:44] Susan Blackwell: Where's the thing that flashes through my body and like brings me that visceral?

[19:48] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[19:49] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[19:49] Laura Camien: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[19:50] Susan Blackwell: In September, just before the beginning of this academic year, I took a trip to Croatia, hoping I might write something while getting drunk by the scene.

[20:01] Laura Camien: I like this idea.

[20:02] Susan Blackwell: And randomly downloaded the first few episodes of your podcast on my phone.

[20:07] Laura Camien: I'm so curious how we how how that search went.

[20:10] Susan Blackwell: I want to know creativity.

[20:12] Laura Camien: I wonder maybe.

[20:13] Susan Blackwell: Who knows?

[20:14] Laura Camien: I'm glad we showed up there.

[20:15] Susan Blackwell: Glad we did.

[20:16] Laura Camien: I was traveling from Prague by bus and alone because that's what you do when you don't plan things ahead and aren't that great at planning things in the first place.

[20:25] Susan Blackwell: So I had a lot of time to listen to you.

[20:27] Laura Camien: Oh my God.

[20:29] Susan Blackwell: All caps.

[20:30] Laura Camien: All caps.

[20:31] Susan Blackwell: From the first episode, I fucking loved all of it.

[20:36] Laura Camien: The topics, the balance of fun, and really interesting stuff.

[20:40] Susan Blackwell: Your spontaneous reactions to each other, the guests.

[20:43] Laura Camien: Hey.

[20:44] Susan Blackwell: Your enthusiasm and the ideas you give away sparked something truly insane inside of my brain.

[20:50] Laura Camien: You're welcome.

[20:51] Susan Blackwell: Insane in your brain.

[20:53] Laura Camien: I do believe it woke up something manic in me because ever since then I have to write and compose and create something every day.

[21:01] Susan Blackwell: Oh, yes.

[21:02] Laura Camien: That's amazing.

[21:02] Susan Blackwell: And it makes me just as happy to observe things, to listen to and watch for the traces of inspiration I might possibly use in something, both art and/or my daily life.

[21:12] Laura Camien: I love this so much.

[21:13] Susan Blackwell: Love it, love it.

[21:14] Laura Camien: After the trip to Croatia, I finished the script and score of the musical.

[21:20] Susan Blackwell: And we're talking about a good 90% of it.

[21:22] Laura Camien: She's Louise.

[21:24] Susan Blackwell: Less than a month as opposed to months of struggling with it before.

[21:28] Laura Camien: Amazing.

[21:28] Susan Blackwell: I think the biggest difference was that I wanted to create something that I was willing to spend the time and energy on it and to search for the answers.

[21:37] Laura Camien: It was suddenly fun again.

[21:38] Susan Blackwell: Yes, that's what we're talking about.

[21:40] Laura Camien: Like finding a way back to then, like finding that way back to that time when it was fun.

[21:46] Susan Blackwell: And it felt freeing and instead of like and I know all the technical stuff is super important as well.

[21:55] Laura Camien: You have to have it.

[21:56] Susan Blackwell: You have to have it all.

[21:57] Laura Camien: But I think that's why some people get burnt out or also I don't know.

[22:02] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[22:08] Laura Camien: Ironically, the story of this musical is about two brothers from the 19th century accidentally using their father's, who's an amateur inventor, time travel machine, and traveling to the 21st century, where they have to spend some time to realize who they really are and what they want to do with their lives now that it's not dictated by others.

[22:28] Susan Blackwell: Amazing.

[22:29] Laura Camien: The rest is about comparing these times, how there are many things we do nowadays that don't make much sense, etc.

[22:35] Susan Blackwell: Amen to that.

[22:43] Laura Camien: We are in the mood.

[22:44] Susan Blackwell: Oh, we are.

[22:46] Laura Camien: We're about to do the first reading of the first thing this weekend.

[22:50] Susan Blackwell: And while I'm shitting my pants already, it's been such an amazing journey, and you've played an important role in it.

[22:56] Laura Camien: This is amazing.

[22:58] Susan Blackwell: I wish we could go and see it.

[22:59] Laura Camien: I actually think that a bit of this was posted for the creativity challenge, and it is impressive.

[23:05] Susan Blackwell: It's very full.

[23:07] Laura Camien: Like there's an orchestra, there's a stage full of singers.

[23:10] Susan Blackwell: This the like the receipts.

[23:13] Laura Camien: The receipts have been produced on this.

[23:14] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[23:15] Laura Camien: Yes.

[23:15] Susan Blackwell: Legit.

[23:16] Laura Camien: Amazing.

[23:17] Susan Blackwell: So back to the letter.

[23:18] Laura Camien: More recently, after starting to look for more projects to do, I came across a flyer for the competition announced by Edinburgh Studio Opera.

[23:27] Susan Blackwell: Their composition award promised a run of a new opera written for them at next year's Edinburgh Fringe.

[23:33] Laura Camien: Yes.

[23:34] Susan Blackwell: The only problem 14 days till the deadline.

[23:38] Laura Camien: I know.

[23:39] Susan Blackwell: I was like, hey, I've I've dejou.

[23:43] Laura Camien: The only problem is there's three weeks to the deadline.

[23:45] Susan Blackwell: What?

[23:46] Laura Camien: Yeah, we know this life.

[23:47] Susan Blackwell: Oh, well, why not give it a try?

[23:49] Laura Camien: Yes.

[23:49] Susan Blackwell: So I went through the episode of The Spark File, took a few of your sparks and side sparks, and created.

[23:56] Laura Camien: This is awesome.

[23:57] Susan Blackwell: An hour long adaptation, read Monster of Oedipus Rex set in the 1940s with an aging actress in the main role.

[24:07] Laura Camien: Sparks such as Hollywood stars secretly having babies, or is your father really your father?

[24:13] Susan Blackwell: And many others included.

[24:15] Laura Camien: The results of the competition should be known during this month, but no matter the outcome, I loved working on the ideas brought to me by someone else and trying to fit them into my own universe.

[24:24] Susan Blackwell: This is great.

[24:25] Laura Camien: I want to see this show.

[24:27] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[24:27] Laura Camien: I owe you so much for this kick of inspiration.

[24:30] Susan Blackwell: I needed so much.

[24:31] Laura Camien: And I hope you never stop doing this.

[24:33] Susan Blackwell: In 50 years, I will still be waiting for my Monday episode.

[24:37] Laura Camien: No.

[24:37] Susan Blackwell: And I will be furious if you're late with it.

[24:39] Laura Camien: There's that external accountability.

[24:41] Susan Blackwell: I know.

[24:42] Laura Camien: Thank you.

[24:42] Susan Blackwell: I'm super upset.

[24:43] Laura Camien: I can't make it to your January workshop because of conducting in London during those days.

[24:48] Susan Blackwell: Hello, that's a good reason.

[24:50] Laura Camien: However, I'll attend the next one in NYC for sure.

[24:53] Susan Blackwell: Thank you again for doing all of this.

[24:55] Laura Camien: It means a lot to me and to a lot of other people as well, I'm sure.

[24:59] Susan Blackwell: Best, Philip Holotsky.

[25:03] Laura Camien: P.S. Love the episode about Brun de Bar.

[25:06] Susan Blackwell: It's a heartbreaking episode of history, but I feel like people outside of Czech Republic of or Poland rarely know about this.

[25:13] Laura Camien: What a great use of your platform.

[25:16] Susan Blackwell: Oh, Philip, thank you so much.

[25:19] Susan Blackwell: Unbelievable. The joy in our hearts knowing that you're not just thinking about, considering or talking about doing something, but you're actually taking sparks and making something out of it. It's all we've ever wanted in life. Doing it. Just take it and make it. Take it and make it. I love it. And Philip also sent some art from what I think is the cover of one of the pieces, which is called The Orgerie or Whispering in the Storm. That's a very dramatic title. And also a flyer from Lost in Time, which must be the time travel piece. And it's a semi-staged reading of a new musical. Damn, Philip. It's so I really love this one because he is obviously really getting it done. Really good. So I've got a fantasy of going back to school and being like, oh, I want to just I want to study and then I'd like to take a trip to Croatia and write on the beach.

Like I want, I'll like switch with you for just like maybe three weeks. But here's the deal. I feel like with this podcast, we can do all of those things. True except not turn in papers. And we have just had to turn in podcasts or Philip's gonna get mad. But I just want to look at this flyer for Lost in Time. Book, lyrics, and music by Philip. But also conducted by Philip. And in the little video he posted on Instagram, his those conductor arms are flying. He's doing it. Amazing. What incredible great email. Now we need to book another workshop so he can come to that one.

[26:53] Laura Camien: There you go. Or do one at the conservatory in Scotland.

[26:56] Susan Blackwell: That's right. We'll be in, we'll be at Edinburgh Friends. See you there. Um, here's an email. This came through our website. This is from Rachel Jackson. The subject is Met Opera Sparks Realized. Price of admission. I made a podcast with my students without asking permission from my principal. Ha ha. I was really worried he would say no, so I just did it, and then he loved it.

[27:23] Laura Camien: Oh, how awesome.

[27:24] Susan Blackwell: I love that creative risk.

[27:26] Laura Camien: That's right. Don't ask for permission. Just apologize later if you have to.

[27:30] Susan Blackwell: Um, here's the message. Do you remember me telling you at the Met Opera Conference that your podcast sparked me big time? Well, yes, we do. And that I wanted to do a storytelling podcast with my students. Yep. Well, we did it. Here is the first episode of One Song, Many Voices. This is I don't know if you took a little spin. This is so it's the students interviewing a storyteller. It's amazing. So awesome. Um back to the message. We're super pleased with how it came out. Now the kids are all writing their stories and planning interview questions for their family members, friends, and teachers. Thank you so much for putting that spark in my brain. You're the best. Rachel Jackson, elementary music specialist in San Antonio Independent School District.

[28:16] Laura Camien: Oh my god, I love it. This on so many levels. One of the things that struck me is like the kids planning interviews for their family members and friends and teachers. What an amazing, you know, not to be not to bring it back to death, but um as we do. How can we not? But there I there's something I've always loved about intergenerational interviews. Yeah, and as my parents get older, um, and my mom has already passed. I do wish that I had recorded more family history. Ask those questions, find out the things that you think you're always gonna have time to know. Like, how did you guys meet? You know, what was your life like then? Uh, tell us everything. And I just love the idea of these kids doing a podcast, and they'll have that forever.

[29:10] Susan Blackwell: Yeah, I love it. What a great email. Thank you for having that spark and following through on it, Rachel Jackson. Yay! I love it, love it, love it, love it.

[29:20] Laura Camien: All right, here's another email from Sarah Brayer. The subject is sparking healing, the price of admission. I work part-time for a youth community theater in Arizona. We are currently working on The Little Mermaid Junior. Sure. I was choreographing my little baby seagulls in human stuff, and my ambition and their execution didn't mesh. LOL. We'll be revamping and trying again. So, not perfection, but progress.

[29:50] Susan Blackwell: Progress. I love it. Progress. I love it. I love it. Message. I just wanted to thank you for sharing that spark about Amelia Clark. My six-year-old niece, Em, suffered with an AVM, which caused a stroke in August. She had very similar symptoms to Amelia. Headache, violent vomiting, didn't know her name. It is terrifying for all of us.

[30:14] Laura Camien: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[30:15] Susan Blackwell: I can only imagine.

[30:16] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[30:16] Susan Blackwell: Um, she has recovered, thankfully, but she's not out of the woods yet. No, um. After listening to the podcast, I immediately looked up Amelia's Same You foundation. I would love to get more involved there, but my spark comes from this. Em has a sister, E, who is eight. E really struggled with what happened naturally. Watching her sister vomit, lose her cognitive function, go to the emergency room, go to the children's hospital and stay in the ICU for a week. This is getting me.

[30:51] Laura Camien: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[30:51] Susan Blackwell: It's been three months and she still hasn't processed it. I think it would be interesting to create a children's book, support program or something to explain and help siblings of children with emergency situations process what's going on and work as a gateway of communication so that parents can help that child work through the heaviness of what's happened. Phoenix Children's tried, but it wasn't comprehensive, and there was no follow-up. I just feel like there could be more. Not sure how this will manifest itself, but I wanted to share and thank you too for kindling this new heart spark. All my love, Sarah.

[31:29] Laura Camien: Sarah, first of all, our hearts go out to you and your family to Em and to E and to Em and E's parents. That must be so uh I mean, I can really only imagine, but I imagine it would be very scary and very challenging and continue to be so.

[31:51] Susan Blackwell: I think it is a genius idea. We feel it as adults, anytime like our body isn't functioning the way we expect it to be. Or somebody we love to see them in pain. But when you're that young and to really not really hard to understand, I think this is amazing, Sarah. I think it's a really, really good idea, and I think it's smart of you to be aware of where people have tried and maybe come up short before. But I hope that you will take this very great spark and do something with it. Please keep us posted and report back to us, let us know.

[32:35] Laura Camien: Yeah, oh, and happy holidays too in your family.

[32:38] Susan Blackwell: Oh boy, sweet babies. They’re we was Nathan always says this about little dogs, but we it's true of everybody. He always goes, they're just little babies, they're just little babies, they're just little babies, but I think it's true of everybody, we're all just little babies. My nieces and my nephew, Susan. Sometimes I'm like, I want so desperately to protect them from any amount of pain. And I just think I would throw myself in front of anything bad that was about to happen to them. And then of course I know like that's how we learn, that's how we go. That's how you live, yeah. Um, but the thought of them anything bad happening is so terrifying.

[33:19] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[33:21] Susan Blackwell: They're all just sweet little babies.

[33:23] Laura Camien: Sweet little babies, and so are you, Cam's, and so are you, Cam?

[33:26] Susan Blackwell: All right, well, here we go. Fresh email. Hello, Sparks. Yes. I thoroughly enjoyed your show at the Met about Brundibar and wanted to tell you about another opera that was composed in the same camp.

[33:38] Laura Camien: Yes.

[33:39] Susan Blackwell: Der Kaiser von Atlantis. Did you know this from your research?

[33:43] Laura Camien: No.

[33:43] Susan Blackwell: Oh, this is awesome. I mean, I knew that the that Therese and Stadt was a creative top bed.

[33:50] Laura Camien: Yes, absolutely.

[33:51] Susan Blackwell: There was, but I did not know about this specifically.

[33:54] Laura Camien: Oh, cool.

[33:54] Susan Blackwell: Der Kaiser von Atlantis was written by Viktor Ullmann in 1943 while he was interred at Theresienstadt. It was cast in the camp and fully rehearsed. The plot of the opera, which includes a pair of young lovers whose love for one another causes Der Kaiser to lose all his power, an obvious statement about Hitler, was deemed too revolutionary by the Nazi guards. Its performance was canceled, and Ullmann was sent to Auschwitz. Here is a blurb from Wikipedia about it. The particular nature of the camp at Theresienstadt enabled Ullmann, I don't know if I'm saying that correctly. I hope I am. Uh enabled Ullmann to remain active musically. He was a piano accompanist, organized concerts, wrote critiques of musical events, and composed as part of a cultural circle, including Carol Anserl, Raphael Schachter, Gideon Klein, Hans Krasa, and other prominent musicians in prison there.

He wrote, By no means did we sit weeping on the banks of the waters of Babylon. Our endeavor with respect to arts was commensurate with our will to live. Amazing. On 16 October 1944, he was deported to the camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he where on October 18th, 1944, he was killed in the gas chambers. Thank you for sparking my heart and mind, friends, with love to you from Fort Worth, Emily.

[35:19] Laura Camien: Oh, and here's a PS, the price of admission. I'm in Texas, where show choir is a big thing. I was pressured by my administration to create one.

[35:28] Susan Blackwell: Gosh, teachers.

[35:29] Laura Camien: They just pile it on teachers.

[35:31] Susan Blackwell: They do. They do. Uh so I marched blindly off with my students in tow to create our first ever show choir.

[35:38] Laura Camien: Oh, Emily.

[35:39] Susan Blackwell: We worked and sang and choreographed like crazy to get ready for our fall concert last week. The dancing didn't look that great, to be honest. And I was afraid the kids would feel embarrassed after their big concert debut. Right as they were going on stage for their big moment, the power cut out, total darkness. I rushed downstage and had them sing anyway. I tapped the beat for them and sang and they sang along to keep things moving. Soon the audience turned on their cell phone flashlights so the kids could see. They sang and danced their guts out in semi-darkness, which perfectly disguised the aforementioned bad dancing.

[36:15] Laura Camien: Oh my god.

[36:15] Susan Blackwell: They were so proud of themselves, and I was weeping on account of their bravery and gusto. It was magic. So much better than a perfect performance would have been. Attached, please find a picture of them singing in the dark. Amazing. Thank you, Emily. Happy accidents. I love Emily. I love that you shared that. I it's so amazing because we really do like take a lot of time to do this research, but sparks lead to sparks, and there is no way to know all of it. So, how wonderful to have people like Emily fill in the puzzle pieces.

[36:49] Laura Camien: I love it.

[36:50] Susan Blackwell: I mean, what struck me about that, this opera that she's mentioning in Brundibar, you talked about how there was a very subtle message about life.

[37:01] Laura Camien: And not so subtle, but the guards gave it a pass.

[37:03] Susan Blackwell: Oh, they were aware but gave it a pass. I took that they managed to. If they did know, they that they gave it a pass. Um but here they did not give it a pass.

[37:13] Laura Camien: Exactly.

[37:14] Susan Blackwell: I find that fascinating. And I love your price of admission, and I love the thought of it being this amazing positive moment. The students just singing and dancing their hearts out and their bad dancing being concealed by the darkness. Happy accidents. Happy fucking lights going out at just the right time. That is so awesome.

[37:39] Susan Blackwell: I love it.

[37:39] Laura Camien: Um, all right, here's a new one.

[37:41] Listener: Hi, Sparkfile team. I want to first thank you for providing a space through your podcast that rejuvenates my creative soul, inspires me, and encourages me to reach around and explore the possibilities for my creative potential.

[38:02] Listener: Additionally, I want to ask a question, get some thoughts and insight on the creative intersection I have found myself sitting in. I have been listening to the quote, low voices that are stirring and wanting to be heard. I'm patiently listening and trying to honor them, giving them the space to be heard. A little bit about my background before I continue. After graduating high school, I attended the Rhode Island School of Design. I earned a BFA with a focus on apparel design. I moved to New York City in 2015 and started working in the industry that I had set out to conquer and be involved in. Ranging from internships at DVF, Ralph Lauren, Rag and Bone, and a brief time at J. Crew, I have now been working for a menswear brand called Original Penguin.

With almost four years on the design team, I have discovered and acknowledged that my passions, my so-called dreams, and my sparks of curiosity are shifting and changing outside the lanes of fashion. I have discovered that I want to get into the world of costume design. Yes. I want to dive into the theater spaces here in NYC, collaborate with design teams on films, and tap into it. Not only because I'm curious, but because I think my low voices are getting louder and louder. It's such an exciting place to be as a maker, but I also find it to be daunting and a little paralyzing. At times it feels like I have to start over. How does one start over at the age of 28? I reread that and it sounds silly starting over at 28.

But I think what I mean is, how does someone who has set up a career path for the past eight years take action after recognizing a shift? It's a great question. How does one leap from one lane to the next? Maybe it isn't a leap, maybe it's really about showing up and seeing where it goes from there. Have either of you found yourself in a similar situation? If so, how did you approach it? Or how did you provide space for it? How did you honor it? I would love to hear your insight or your thoughts on this. Thanks for taking time to read this. I look forward to connecting and hearing from you. P.S., what is currently sparking me? Today, my answer is storytelling. The participation of contributing and listening to people's stories.

[40:34] Listener: Lovely. Saw The Inheritance last night on Broadway. Beautiful piece of storytelling. What's it all for? I love that you included that gloves. What's it all for? Self-interview. I love it. Today my answer is connection and providing a space to connect. Beautiful. A creative risk. I signed up to be an extra on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in hopes to meet someone on set who could teach me about the costume wardrobe team, ask questions, pick their brain, et cetera. Wasn't sure if an introduction would come out of it, but I showed up with anticipation and a hopeful attitude. I almost chickened out. Soon after arriving on set, I acknowledged that pulling someone aside and talking with them about the industry wasn't a realistic possibility. In the end, I loved every moment of it. It was worth the 12-hour day, and those low voices spoke up a bit louder after that experience. Kind regards, Noah Burke.

[41:23] Susan Blackwell: I love this email, and there's so much in it. First, I want to say, no matter what your age, it is always okay to change your choice. That's I think sometimes, and I know I have felt this in my own life. We think, oh, I or my parents or somebody paid a lot of money for me to get an expensive education that I'm still maybe paying off, blah, blah, blah. And so whatever that education was in, if you're we make those decisions when we're quite young, like you know, you made this decision in your 20s to pursue this, and you invest a bunch in it, and even some real-world work, and then it you your heart starts, you know, that spark starts knocking, and you're like, that low voice rises up, and you it's can be scary because you're like, oh no, oh no, but I just want to say first of all, it's okay to change your choice. So that is correct. You have permission to change your choice. That's right.

[42:35] Laura Camien: And then, and then what can well then I was gonna say in the whole in the larger scheme of things, I would say to Noah, because your skills are so relatable, very complimentary. What feels much like maybe a huge chasm for you is really like a sidestep into this other industry. Your skills are all so transferable. I can imagine people wanting to scoop you right the heck up.

[43:04] Susan Blackwell: I can too. And that leads me to my next thought about this, which is I love that you wrote to us. I love that you are starting to broadcast and boost the signal that you want to dip a toe into this, then maybe a foot, then the ankle, then the lower part of one leg, the whole leg, the groins. I love that you're starting to share this. And I think that we both are inviting you slash granting you further permission to keep talking about this. When people say, What do you, you know, at parties when you meet people, when you are networking with people, and people say, What do you do? That's right. You can say, Well, I've trained and I have an enormous amount of years of experience in this this sort of like fashion silo.

And I'm really my curiosity is really turning towards costume design for film and television specifically, because you're going to start meeting people, and it may be a situation where somebody says, Okay, I don't make film or TV, but I am making a play and it goes up in two months. And would you be willing to do some costumes for that? Like I feel like there are ways to start dipping those tozies in.

[44:23] Laura Camien: Even as we're talking, I'm um this is weird, but I'm just uh I'm just realizing I may write back to you because I have obviously we both like, hey, but we obviously both have friends and yeah, in instagrams. But I do have a particular friend who is in costume design, everything from the Today Show to Sesame Street. Oh, yeah, that's right. You know, theater and television. And he also just happens to be the kind of person who would um graciously and happily have a conversation, I think. So I'm gonna see if I'm gonna do that. Sometimes those conversations lead to everybody wants to work with really smart, talented, capable, hardworking people.

[45:07] Susan Blackwell: That's right. And if that is you, Noah, or if that is you listener, if you can make those connections, I mean, we are always scanning for who is that person who has that magical like checklist of skills that is also passionate about what we're passionate about. That's right, and is you know, would be happy and willing to dip their foot into our put their peanut butter in our chocolate. So I can just speak, I do think that people are always on the lookout for for people like you, Noah. So but that's right, but you like it's clear that you're hardworking and that you're focused. And I think that's half the battle, assuming that you're gonna write a good email to you. You can write a good email and you got some adventurous spirit. I think people, you know, will always find a place for you in the workplace.

[45:54] Laura Camien: And there may be a time, and it's a good thing that you're 28. But uh well, let's let's use Cam's and I as an example. So we are making this podcast because we wanted to do something that that really was in the center of our current like desires and passions and all the things we love to do and less of the things we don't love to do. And we'll be honest with you, we are love it. We love making this podcast, and we do it on top of our normal workload. So we're making this podcast in the cracks in between right now, and there may come a time when that changes and the podcast becomes the at the fore, or that becomes an income stream. But right now we're doing it for love of the game.

[46:38] Susan Blackwell: And there may be some time where you're, you know, doing your fashion job and your evenings and weekends, you're hustling, or you use there are years where I have used all my vacation time from my job job to work another job. To do something that I was really passionate about. So there's there will be a period of transition, but that's and that kind of hard work can be daunting, but you seem like you're up for it, Noah. And if you had the wherewithal to write us this email, you have the wherewithal to follow that spark.

[47:13] Laura Camien: That's right. We're gonna be watching for your next move. Will you please report back?

[47:17] Susan Blackwell: Yeah. We can't wait to hear.

[47:19] Laura Camien: Oh, how fantastic.

[47:20] Susan Blackwell: So awesome. Okay, here we go. This is from Ryan.

[47:24] Laura Camien: Hi, Ryan. The subject line feeling like a half-baked second string maker.

[47:28] Susan Blackwell: That's honest. Okay. Price of admission. I have been a stage actor for 20 years or so and have done some on camera stuff along the way. Very little. Thoroughly enjoyed it when I did it. So I recently had an experience doing a small on camera project, and it fucking sparked me. I feel so eager to apply my spark to another project and have no project to which to apply it.

[47:51] Laura Camien: So my question is got any on camera gigs from me? Kidding. Mostly. My real question is for those of us whose work is dependent on being invited by a maker to participate in their work. How do you recommend maintaining a spark until the next invitation arrives?

[48:11] Susan Blackwell: Besides listening to the Sparks File, that's a gimme.

[48:13] Laura Camien: You're sweet, Ryan.

[48:14] Susan Blackwell: The message.

[48:19] Laura Camien: You are awesome, and the podcast sparks me.

[48:21] Susan Blackwell: Aw. That was the whole message.

[48:23] Laura Camien: I love it. So here's our response. Um, thank you so much for taking the time to write. We love the your price of admission was your entire message, and that your message is that we are awesome. Very well played, Ryan.

[48:35] Susan Blackwell: Can you guess, Ryan, what we're gonna say to you? Can you? Can you guess?

[48:40] Laura Camien: Here's the short version.

[48:42] Susan Blackwell: Listen to Doctors Laura and Susan.

[48:44] Laura Camien: We're not doctors, we just played them on TV.

[48:46] Susan Blackwell: Here's our prescription. We think it's time for you to create your own creative opportunities. We know we know a little bit about you. We know that you have ideas for stories that you'd like to tell. We're not psychic. We know because you've told us separately. What if you began by crafting a short film?

[49:05] Laura Camien: Yep.

[49:06] Susan Blackwell: Like written by you.

[49:07] Laura Camien: That's right.

[49:08] Susan Blackwell: Like directed by you.

[49:09] Laura Camien: That's right.

[49:10] Susan Blackwell: Like maybe starring you.

[49:09] Laura Camien: That's right.

[49:10] Susan Blackwell: And perhaps even the amazing local actors that you have relationships. If you've been doing this for 20 years, right?

[49:17] Laura Camien: That's right.

[49:18] Susan Blackwell: We know that you probably have a cell phone with a camera on it. Might somebody hold that camera for you? We know that you probably have friends who are generating. No, we know you do because you've told us there's friends generating their own work. Could they answer questions about the basic process of making a movie? Well, you probably have a library near you. Could you get a book on basic screenplay slash storytelling structure?

[49:42] Laura Camien: Um, we know that everybody has very deep, incredible early life experiences to draw from. We think about Anne Lamott and Bird by Bird. Like if you've lived about 15 years, you're good.

[49:56] Susan Blackwell: We have spent the past year teaching ourselves everything we didn't know about how to make and release and promote a podcast. I learned how to use Logic Pro X to edit sound. Laura, you've been rocking Buzz Sprout, which is my best friend Buzz Sprout. We never met before, but that's where we upload our podcasts so that they can go out to all the major podcasting networks. I designed our logo in Canva. Laura totally executes and creates our social media plan and our marketing plan. I learned how to caption video in iMovies so that it's accessible to the hearing impaired.

[50:34] Susan Blackwell: I wrote the theme song.

[50:36] Laura Camien: Laura had the idea to how who should sing the theme song.

[50:39] Laura Camien: Laura made up the title for the podcast.

[50:41] Susan Blackwell: Like it has just been sparks on sparks on sparks.

[50:44] Susan Blackwell: And also, do you realize how much work this is?

[50:48] Susan Blackwell: Ryan, do you know how old we are?

[50:52] Susan Blackwell: Do you realize how much our brains are growing every single day?

[50:55] Susan Blackwell: Every day.

[50:56] Susan Blackwell: Do you know how satisfying all of this is?

[50:58] Susan Blackwell: Every day it is.

[50:59] Susan Blackwell: It's hard work, but it's satisfying.

[51:01] Susan Blackwell: If you need a collaborator, pick one.

[51:01] Susan Blackwell: Pick one.

[51:05] Susan Blackwell: Get one.

[51:05] Susan Blackwell: One of your wildly talented friends.

[51:08] Susan Blackwell: Pick one.

[51:09] Susan Blackwell: Somebody, preferably somebody who you enjoy spending time with.

[51:13] Susan Blackwell: If you need an accountability partner so that you keep your deadlines and commitments, you can't have Laura Camien.

[51:18] Laura Camien: No, she's taken.

[51:19] Susan Blackwell: I'm taking.

[51:20] Susan Blackwell: Pick somebody, preferably somebody you respect enough so that you care if you let them down.

[51:25] Susan Blackwell: What do you think about that, Ryan?

[51:27] Laura Camien: Well, you think about all of it.

[51:29] Susan Blackwell: Yes, I say yes to all of this.

[51:31] Susan Blackwell: I got on a tear there.

[51:32] Susan Blackwell: I just got I got on a tear.

[51:34] Laura Camien: You did, and it's so true.

[51:36] Laura Camien: Like you have got to take ownership of this journey.

[51:40] Laura Camien: You can't just sit and wait.

[51:42] Laura Camien: And in terms of short film, I think I mentioned her name on another podcast, but I have a film, a screenwriting teacher named Allah Tyr, who challenged me to make my own short film.

[51:58] Laura Camien: But here's the deal this was so smart.

[52:00] Laura Camien: The assignment is really focused.

[52:02] Laura Camien: She's like, write a short, a short screenplay that is no more than 10 pages that takes place in one location that can be shot over two days.

[52:15] Laura Camien: So now you can do that in a weekend.

[52:18] Laura Camien: So 10 pages, one location, two days of shooting.

[52:23] Susan Blackwell: Amazing.

[52:24] Laura Camien: You can do this, and you can assemble that team.

[52:27] Laura Camien: I think sometimes people don't always feel comfortable being the person in charge of that whole thing.

[52:32] Laura Camien: Truly, it is that is a skill set.

[52:35] Laura Camien: But you can also get yourself a producer, and you say, I'm fine, you're still the boss, you're the executive producer funding it, but you can get someone to pull it all together for you and with you.

[52:48] Susan Blackwell: I that a lot here coming through with the good advice.

[52:52] Susan Blackwell: So Ryan actually sent us that first email, and then he went ahead and just went ahead and updated us saying that he'd share his progress.

[53:01] Susan Blackwell: And then one month later, got this.

[53:04] Susan Blackwell: Just wanted to let you know I have made something.

[53:07] Susan Blackwell: No idea if there's anything to it, but I made it and I'm dot dot dot.

[53:13] Susan Blackwell: Proud might not be the word, but it's the same family reunion as the word I'm looking for.

[53:18] Susan Blackwell: At any rate, thank you for the impetus from the spark file.

[53:21] Susan Blackwell: Just the sparky nudge I needed to get this thing out of my head and into a thing I made.

[53:26] Susan Blackwell: Hearts and sparks.

[53:27] Susan Blackwell: Um and then he wrote again.

[53:31] Susan Blackwell: We can't keep up with you, Ryan.

[53:32] Laura Camien: Ryan's on fire.

[53:33] Susan Blackwell: Ryan wrote again.

[53:34] Susan Blackwell: I wrote a play.

[53:36] Susan Blackwell: It's been in my head for a couple of years, at least in its embryonic form.

[53:40] Laura Camien: Yes.

[53:40] Susan Blackwell: I have shared it with a couple of people, gotten feedback, revised some, shared it with more people, waiting for more feedback.

[53:46] Susan Blackwell: I want to do a reading of it.

[53:48] Susan Blackwell: I want to see if it can actually work in production.

[53:51] Susan Blackwell: I also have a little glimmer of a thought that it can easily slide into a screenplay.

[53:55] Laura Camien: There you go.

[53:56] Susan Blackwell: That my super talented, aspiring cinematographer son, can DP for me.

[54:01] Laura Camien: There you go.

[54:02] Susan Blackwell: But at this point, I can't tell if it's worth a shit.

[54:05] Susan Blackwell: Heart souls and sparksels, Ryan.

[54:08] Susan Blackwell: And then Ryan wrote again.

[54:12] Susan Blackwell: BTW, this just in.

[54:15] Susan Blackwell: I did an informal reading with three actors yesterday.

[54:18] Susan Blackwell: It went pretty damn well.

[54:21] Laura Camien: Riot.

[54:22] Susan Blackwell: Oh my gosh.

[54:24] Susan Blackwell: Ripping it up.

[54:24] Laura Camien: You are doing it.

[54:25] Susan Blackwell: You are on a rally.

[54:27] Susan Blackwell: Oh shit.

[54:27] Laura Camien: I remember Cam's when we were doing Title of Show at the Vineyard.

[54:33] Susan Blackwell: So we're doing Title of Show off Broadway.

[54:35] Laura Camien: Yes.

[54:37] Susan Blackwell: Somebody brought a gentleman, an artist named Andre Gregory.

[54:41] Laura Camien: Uh-huh.

[54:41] Susan Blackwell: Andre Gregory made my dinner with Andre, if you all know that movie with Wallace Shawn.

[54:47] Susan Blackwell: And you know, he's a, I think Andre Gregory also with Wallace Shawn and Julianne Moore did that Vanya on 42nd Street.

[54:54] Laura Camien: Oh, very cool.

[54:56] Susan Blackwell: These people get some really interesting things made.

[54:59] Laura Camien: They do it.

[54:59] Susan Blackwell: And I'm Andre Gregory was so great.

[55:03] Susan Blackwell: He was so effusive and positive about the show.

[55:06] Susan Blackwell: And I said, like such a dumbass.

[55:10] Susan Blackwell: I was like, Andre Gregory, I've when I meet famous people, sometimes I have to say both of their names.

[55:15] Susan Blackwell: I was like, Andre Gregory, do you we made this just sitting around Hunter's kitchen table?

[55:24] Laura Camien: And he like took gently took my hand, and he goes, That's how everything gets made.

[55:30] Laura Camien: Oh, bless him.

[55:32] Susan Blackwell: Everything just gets made around somebody's kitchen table.

[55:36] Susan Blackwell: Even the most fanciest, like the thing that you think of, and you're just holding in such high regard.

[55:43] Susan Blackwell: Like Lynn Manuel.

[55:45] Laura Camien: That guy writing on top on top of the round.

[55:48] Susan Blackwell: Yes.

[55:48] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[55:49] Susan Blackwell: So it just reminds me like, yeah, like you're getting it done, and it you maybe you can't tell right now if it's worth a shit because it seems like it comes from, you know, around your kitchen table or on top of a dryer, or if you're like, it's just me and my friends, but that's how shit gets done.

[56:07] Susan Blackwell: That is all it is.

[56:09] Susan Blackwell: There are no other bells and whistles.

[56:11] Susan Blackwell: There are people gathering together in random spaces making shit happen.

[56:16] Susan Blackwell: Ryan, we cannot wait to get more updates on this.

[56:21] Susan Blackwell: Awesome.

[56:22] Susan Blackwell: Loving you people.

[56:23] Susan Blackwell: All right.

[56:23] Susan Blackwell: Here's one more.

[56:25] Listener: Hi.

[56:26] Listener: I'm the gal who posted that cricket lettering on Instagram.

[56:31] Listener: Yes.

[56:31] Listener: So there is um uh oh, I don't I don't know her username.

[56:37] Listener: I know her name is at the end of the email, but she is a master crafter.

[56:43] Listener: She's yeah, awesome.

[56:44] Listener: Yeah, yeah, awesome.

[56:46] Listener: I would just like to thank you for making and sharing this podcast.

[56:50] Listener: Without giving you my entire life story, I will say that I am typically a very glass half full type of person.

[56:57] Laura Camien: Sure.

[56:58] Listener: But the last few months have challenged that.

[57:00] Listener: This is where your sweet baby podcast comes in.

[57:06] Listener: Why not start that Etsy business?

[57:08] Listener: Yes.

[57:09] Listener: Why can't I make things the heck is holding me back from taking risks and daring greatly?

[57:14] Laura Camien: Yes, Brene.

[57:15] Listener: Yes.

[57:16] Listener: I can do whatever I want.

[57:17] Laura Camien: Yes, you can.

[57:18] Listener: And much like my sense of humor, it can be good for me, not for everyone, and that's okay.

[57:18] Listener: Good for me.

[57:25] Listener: Good for you, not for me.

[57:27] Laura Camien: I love it.

[57:27] Laura Camien: I love it.

[57:28] Listener: And I'd rather be nine people's favorite thing anyway.

[57:34] Listener: So now I'm a maker, motherfuckers.

[57:37] Laura Camien: Yes, you are.

[57:38] Listener: Now, makering means making things.

[57:41] Listener: So that is our new t-shirt.

[57:43] Laura Camien: Oh, I love it.

[57:43] Listener: Makering means making things.

[57:46] Listener: So I've been working my buttons off, and I've attached a 35-second video and a photo of my first projects.

[57:53] Laura Camien: Yes.

[57:53] Listener: Housewarming gifts for a newlywed couple and a sticker for myself as a pat on the back.

[57:58] Listener: That's it.

[57:58] Listener: Your suggestion to make something for someone else who has been struggling gave me a great spark.

[58:03] Listener: There's a gal I follow on Instagram who is opening up a vegan bakery and having all sorts of problems with finalization.

[58:11] Listener: You inspired me to send her a message and offer her my vinyl sign making services for free.

[58:17] Laura Camien: Amazing.

[58:18] Listener: How neat is it to realize your podcast has started a ripple effect of positivity, applied imagination that fights for the powers of good.

[58:39] Susan Blackwell: Oh that was awesome.

[58:41] Laura Camien: Thank you, Celine.

[58:43] Susan Blackwell: You know, nothing tickles me more than watching our, you know, we have a group of people who are doing the creativity challenge.

[58:50] Susan Blackwell: And the year entry.

[58:52] Susan Blackwell: And now people who did not know each other before are cheering each other on, and we see them commenting on each other's work.

[59:02] Laura Camien: It's so gratifying.

[59:04] Susan Blackwell: And many of those people are actually the at this.

[59:06] Susan Blackwell: I swear this isn't an ad.

[59:07] Susan Blackwell: Many of those people are actually coming to the New Year's workshop.

[59:12] Laura Camien: I can't wait.

[59:13] Susan Blackwell: And the great thing is we all, by the time we arrive there, it's sort of like you, that's song.

[59:18] Laura Camien: And so how's the journaling?

[59:20] Susan Blackwell: There are no strangers.

[59:21] Susan Blackwell: It's really fun.

[59:23] Laura Camien: So excellent.

[59:24] Susan Blackwell: And by the Lord, I mean share.

[59:27] Laura Camien: Don't we all, Celine?

[59:29] Susan Blackwell: I love this.

[59:30] Susan Blackwell: Thank you for that.

[59:31] Susan Blackwell: That was beautiful.

[59:31] Susan Blackwell: And I just want to boost this spark that you just shared, which is make something for someone else who has been struggling.

[59:39] Laura Camien: That's right.

[59:40] Susan Blackwell: To see somebody who is like they have a vision of creating a vegan bakery.

[59:45] Susan Blackwell: It's an amazing spark.

[59:47] Susan Blackwell: And they're struggling because they're they do not sparked when it comes to signage.

[59:52] Susan Blackwell: They don't know.

[59:53] Susan Blackwell: And to be able to say, Hi, I'm a magic person who's come from the internet to offer you my services.

[1:00:01] Susan Blackwell: To provide vinyl signage for free.

[1:00:04] Susan Blackwell: It is so especially when you're you're like, I'm never gonna open a vegan bakery.

[1:00:10] Susan Blackwell: But I'm also passionate about veganism or something.

[1:00:13] Susan Blackwell: I just love it.

[1:00:14] Susan Blackwell: I think it's wonderful that sometimes people just need a freaking hand.

[1:00:17] Laura Camien: Dave.

[1:00:18] Laura Camien: You just described a moment ago all the things that we're constantly doing.

[1:00:22] Laura Camien: Yes.

[1:00:22] Susan Blackwell: And thank God there's two of us.

[1:00:23] Laura Camien: And send how I can safely say this podcast would not be happening if it was only one of us.

[1:00:28] Susan Blackwell: That's right.

[1:00:29] Laura Camien: Or it would be 100%.

[1:00:31] Laura Camien: It's it's insane.

[1:00:32] Susan Blackwell: So to just reach out to someone and say, I've got two hands, I can help.

[1:00:36] Laura Camien: I love it.

[1:00:37] Susan Blackwell: It's amazing.

[1:00:37] Susan Blackwell: That's amazing.

[1:00:39] Susan Blackwell: So that's it.

[1:00:40] Susan Blackwell: I hope that this all put another bunch of sparks in your file.

[1:00:44] Laura Camien: It did for me.

[1:00:45] Susan Blackwell: It did for me.

[1:00:46] Susan Blackwell: Thankful for that.

[1:00:46] Susan Blackwell: These are like sparks from you to us, and it really means a lot.

[1:00:50] Susan Blackwell: We'll take your presence.

[1:00:51] Susan Blackwell: If there's a spark you'd like us to explore also, or if you've taken like you all have done, you've taken sparks and fan them, fan them in creative flames, and you want to share more with us, you can email us at thesparkfile.com or submit it through.

[1:01:04] Susan Blackwell: Please just it's so great when you submit it through our website because it just is perfect.

[1:01:08] Susan Blackwell: It's perfect.

[1:01:08] Susan Blackwell: It's easier for us to track too, because we've also gotten incredible messages from people on Instagram and Facebook a little bit, but mostly Instagram.

[1:01:16] Laura Camien: And and here we can at least it's just easier for us to put them in the sparkfile file.

[1:01:22] Susan Blackwell: We're betterer.

[1:01:23] Susan Blackwell: Um, and our website is at thesparkfile.com.

[1:01:26] Laura Camien: That's right.

[1:01:27] Susan Blackwell: And obviously, we will take your feedback.

[1:01:30] Susan Blackwell: But we do want to know the price of admission.

[1:01:33] Susan Blackwell: Please share something that you have done creatively, a risk you've taken recently, something that is progress but not perfection.

[1:01:41] Susan Blackwell: Something that scares you enough to make you a little.

[1:01:45] Laura Camien: And be sure to subscribe to this podcast wherever you get your podcast.

[1:01:48] Laura Camien: Subscribe, rate, five star review it.

[1:01:50] Laura Camien: It really makes a huge difference.

[1:01:53] Laura Camien: If you like this podcast, will you please share it with people you love?

[1:01:56] Laura Camien: And if you didn't like it, in the words of the old timey AOL guy, goodbye.

[1:02:05] Susan Blackwell: Oh god, that's a classic.

[1:02:08] Susan Blackwell: If something tickles your fancy and gets your creative juices flowing, we are writing you a forever fricking permission.

[1:02:18] Laura Camien: No expiration date on that one.

[1:02:19] Susan Blackwell: No expiration date.

[1:02:20] Susan Blackwell: Make that thing that's been knocking at your door.

[1:02:22] Susan Blackwell: Do it.

[1:02:23] Susan Blackwell: It's your turn to take a spark and fan it into a flame.

[1:02:25] Susan Blackwell: You gotta saw it, you gotta sand it, you gotta get an accordion, harmonica, and bass drum and full on one man bandit.

[1:02:34] Susan Blackwell: You gotta take it and make it when I bump into something that inspires me.

[1:02:45] Susan Blackwell: I dump it in the spark files.

[1:02:50] Susan Blackwell: Could be something that I wanna take or how I wanna be.

[1:02:55] Susan Blackwell: I'll pump it in the spark files.

[1:03:00] Susan Blackwell: I jump into my spark files.

[1:03:04] Susan Blackwell: Let's open up the spark files.