Best Laura Camien Podcasts (2024)

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Creativity Sparks: Season 4 Finale! 29:42

12M ago29:42

29:42

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 left us with this mini ted talk when asked if he believed this season was a failure because they didn’t win the…

1
Creativity Sparks: From Good to Great 58:11

1y ago58:11

58:11

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 so…

1
Creativity Sparks: You Have a (true) Story to Tell 53:09

1y ago53:09

53:09

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…

1
Creativity Sparks: Processing Creative Conclusions and Milestones 1:03:09

1y ago1:03:09

1:03:09

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.…

1
Creativity Sparks: The Imperfect Perfectionist 58:14

1y ago58:14

58:14

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…

1
Creativity Sparks: AI + Creativity 50:49

1y ago50:49

50:49

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…

1
Creativity Sparks: The Ah-ha Moment 57:47

1y ago57:47

57:47

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 c…

1
Creativity Sparks: Jesse James and the KGC Gold 1:08:19

1y ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Were there stashes of gold hidden around the country after the Civil War? Did leaders of the confederate south intend this money fund a second Civil War? Was the outlaw Jesse James responsible for hiding some of this treasure? And has it recently been found?⁠ 💥 ⁠ Tune in this week to find out more about the Knights of the Golden Circle, their confe…

1
Creativity Sparks: The New Rules 1:06:55

1y ago1:06:55

1:06:55

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

1
Creativity Sparks: Let's Talk about Death over Dinner 1:03:58

1y ago1:03:58

1:03:58

You know at The Spark File, we are not afraid to contemplate our own mortality, especially if doing so enhances our lives and our creativity. According to the author, Michael Hebb, “Of the many critical conversations we will all have throughout our lifetime, few are as important as the ones discussing death—and not just the practical considerations…

1
Creativity Sparks: I'm Sorry 59:25

1y ago59:25

59:25

This week, Laura and Susan get sparked by a corporate apology that was so authentic it made the news. Discovering the components necessary for an apology to be sincere, this episode explores the painful blocks that keep good people from being able to apologize, AND the creative ways artists have used apologies (or the absence of apologies) to inspi…

1
Creativity Sparks: The 7 Day Happiness Challenge 1:05:05

1y ago1:05:05

1:05:05

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

1
Creativity Sparks: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead 57:40

1y ago57:40

57:40

Do you feel that people value you only for your output, so you put work above all else, even above getting a good night’s sleep? Or have you ever been so busy that you've uttered the dreaded humble brag “I’ll sleep when I’m dead?” In this episode, Laura and Susan discuss what going without sleep can do to your life and your creativity, the normaliz…

1
Creativity Sparks: Change 1:01:48

1y ago1:01:48

1:01:48

Why is it so hard for us to break patterns that are keeping us from our goals? In this episode, Susan and Laura discuss and discover the ways in which we as humans and artists can navigate lasting positive change. They dive into the powerful process and book “Immunity to Change,” by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey, which unravels the concept of …

1
Creativity Sparks: Stealing (a) Home 1:09:53

1+ y ago1:09:53

1:09:53

What do a 1998 wall calendar, a couple’s disappearance, and a half-burned postcard have to do with one man’s quest to create the perfect home? In this episode, Laura and Susan discuss the true story of a film editor who took his own obsession for acquiring his dream home perhaps a little too far. Petty crime, lost relationships, and a last-minute t…

1
Creativity Sparks: Toni Morrison 1:02:35

1+ y ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Words and language have real power. In this episode, Susan and Laura explore the amazing works and incredible life of someone who managed to harness that power to the benefit of so many: Toni Morrison, Nobel and Pulitzer prize winning author and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As they pull back the curtain to look at her work and cr…

1
Creativity Sparks: Artists & Athletes 59:51

1+ y ago59:51

59:51

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

1
Creativity Sparks: Creativty + Mental Health 50:19

1+ y ago50:19

50:19

You know the old trope that one must suffer for their art? That creativity is somehow the byproduct of mental illness or addiction or self-harm? It is time for that idea to go! An examined life can contribute greatly to our enjoyment of life, and to our creative work. In this episode, Susan and Laura discuss the relation of mental health to creativ…

1
Creativity Sparks: Making Marketing Part of Your Creative Process: The Blue Man Group Edition 1:12:35

1+ y ago1:12:35

1:12:35

Susan and Laura have found that when they bring up the idea of promoting one’s own work with their creative clients, the idea is almost always met with a sense of dread. So, how can creators combat this feeling? By making marketing part of the creative process. In this episode, Laura and Susan explore the methodologies and philosophies of the innov…

1
Creativity Sparks: Write Like Your Parents Are Dead Again 54:39

1+ y ago54:39

54:39

Many people have the desire to spin their lived experience into their creative self-expression, Susan and Laura included. This desire can present a conundrum as these creations can feature people other than the creator, or have ideas in them that might make a loved one uncomfortable, or are about a topic that some close to us might consider to be t…

1
Creativity Sparks: The Creative Comfort Crisis 1:00:03

1+ y ago1:00:03

1:00:03

In Michael Easter's book, The Comfort Crisis, he shares his belief that the modern day creature comforts – air conditioning, food storage, etc., have made us more comfortable as a society and in turn given us extra time that we have filled with worry and anxiety. In this episode, Laura and Susan discuss what comforts we have put into place in regar…

1
Creativity Sparks: A Creative Approach to Reproductive Rights 51:11

1+ y ago51:11

51:11

This spark itself is so vast, but in order to right-size it for this episode, Susan and Laura stay on this important thread: creativity as it relates to abortion rights activism. They discuss risk-taker Carol Downer and her 1960s feminist movement “The Self Helpers," Mexican activist Verónica Cruz, who has dedicated her life to advancing the human …

1
Creativity Sparks: The Seduction of Camp Siegfried 51:24

1+ y ago51:24

51:24

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

1
Creativity Sparks: Creation from Destruction 1:02:21

1+ y ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Sparks of creativity can come from so many experiences including gratitude and joy, loss and devastation, and even total destruction. On this episode, Susan and Laura discuss some incredible creative works inside these topics, including the shocking play “Medea,” which was given a new life by director/performer Fiona Shaw on the BBC, the devastatin…

1
Welcome Back, Sparklers! 14:53

1+ y ago14:53

14:53

'Tis the season, everyone! The 4th season, to be exact! Time to jump back into our spark files and share some creative inspiration! This week we're just dippin' our toes in and teasing out a few of the topics we're gonna cover in the coming weeks! Remember, if you hear something that piques your interest, you gotta take it and make it! Happy creati…

1
Creativity Sparks: Season 3 Finale! 53:18

2y ago53:18

53:18

For everything there is a season, friends! And this season is winding down. Time for a brief respite. But, before we go, let’s talk season highlights! And we’ll leave you with an excerpt from In Your Light by Rumi... “I know you're tired but come, this is the way...In your light, I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance ins…

1
Makersode: Lynne Cox 1:00:43

2y ago1:00:43

1:00:43

Long time listeners will know what a joy this episode was for us! In the way back times, Susan introduced us to a human spark named Lynne Cox - a celebrated athlete who set swimming records around the world and achieved astonishing feats of strength and endurance (including swimming with a baby gray whale - eighteen feet long! - in open waters) She…

1
Creativity Sparks: Dead Eyes 58:17

2y ago58:17

58:17

John Lennon said, “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end” This week, we admire the imagination and, frankly, the balls of @connorratliff, creator of Dead Eyes podcast. Connor created an unbelievable podcast experience in order to solve what he calls “a very stupid mystery that has haunted him for two decades: why To…

1
Makersode: Marc Janowitz 1:08:28

2y ago1:08:28

1:08:28

This week, Susan and Laura got to hang with bad ass lighting designer and friend, Marc Janowitz, whose holistic, dynamic lighting designs illuminate a story and light up an audience. His bold, no holds barred lighting transforms comedians into a rock stars and rock stars into gods. Tune in to hear how Marc approaches designs for concerts for My Mor…

1
Creativity Sparks: Beauty + Sorrow 1:02:56

2y ago1:02:56

1:02:56

This week, after experiencing unexpected loss, Laura and Susan discuss the role of grief and friendship, and the bittersweet and inevitable intermixing of joy and heartbreak along this journey we call life. Inspired by the genius of Brene Brown, Karen Walrond and Susan Cain, Laura and Susan agree with the conclusion that our broken hearts connect u…

1
Makersode: Mike Michalowicz 53:22

2y ago53:22

53:22

This week, Susan and Laura had the distinct pleasure of unpacking the mind of Mike Michalowicz, the man Simon Sinek claims might be “the patron saint of entrepreneurs”. We have to agree. He’s a saint, but our kind of saint - comfortable with subversive humor served with a dash of profanity. On a mission to end entrepreneurial poverty, Mike changed …

1
Creativity Sparks: Creatives for Ukraine 54:15

2y ago54:15

54:15

Whether the war in Ukraine is causing feelings of unease, uncertainty, or outrage, there are creative ways to activate and support. There are ways to use your talents and resources for the power of good. Tune in this week to hear of creative acts by artists and others to support our colleagues in Ukraine. If you’ve wondered how you can put your tho…

1
Creativity Sparks: The Art of the Con 1:18:17

2y ago1:18:17

1:18:17

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

1
Creativity Sparks: Creatives + Money 1:04:56

2y ago1:04:56

1:04:56

Tired of the “starving artist” trope? Sick of the storyline that says “I’m creative and eccentric, I’m no good with numbers” Isn’t it time you felt a sense of personal agency over your finances? You are smart and capable. Tune in for some tips on how you can be even smarter and more capable.By Susan Blackwell, Laura Camien

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Creativity Sparks: Does Our Inner Chatter Matter? 1:01:27

2y ago1:01:27

1:01:27

You know that voice in your head? The one that drives you crazy sometimes? The one that points out your flaws and re-plays your mistakes over and over? What is the point of that voice? Tune in this week as we gain an understanding of how to tame this voice, and put it to good use, thanks to Chatter: The Voice in our Head, Why it Matters, and how to…

1
Creativity Sparks: The Florida Highwaymen 50:47

2y ago50:47

50:47

Sit back and marvel at this true tale of limitations inspiring ART as a survival job in less than ideal circumstances. That’s right. The Florida Highwaymen turned to art to elevate themselves and their community out of poverty while reflecting the beauty of Florida landscapes. These master painters (some trained and some self-taught) captured the b…

1
Creativity Sparks: Fertile Wordle 59:52

2y ago59:52

59:52

Want to know what every single creative can learn from the development and launch of Wordle, the simple and most unexpected game of the century? Recorded riiiiiiiight before Wordle was sold to The New York Times, we can still learn how creating for an audience of one, making your work accessible and so much more relates to everything we hope to sha…

1
Creativity Sparks: The Unstoppable Voice of Martha Wash 50:38

2y ago50:38

50:38

You have undoubtedly heard her unforgettable voice on hits such as “Everybody, Everybody”, “It’s Raining Men” and so many more. But Martha Wash had to use her voice to fight to make sure you knew her name. Tune in to find out how Martha took the record labels to task for abusing the demo track system. Martha paved the way for all artists - to make …

1
Creativity Sparks: Rewilding Your Attention 54:30

2y ago54:30

54:30

If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through your feeds or combing through google search results thinking “there must be something more out there”, well, this episode is for you! Laura and Susan dive into the concept of “Rewilding Your Attention” - the phrase was coined by Tom Critchlow, shared by CJ Eller and then expanded up on by Clive Thomps…

1
Creativity Sparks: Wintering 50:50

2+ y ago50:50

50:50

This week, snuggle up and join Susan and Laura as they delve into Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. If you've ever wondered why we feel a pull to retreat indoors and slow down as the days get darker - look no further. It is not your imagination, and it is very much a necessity that we take time to quiet o…

1
Creativity Sparks: Money Money Money 1:10:45

2+ y ago1:10:45

1:10:45

This week, Laura and Susan dig into this taboo topic and explore how and why shame keeps us from talking about money, and sometimes even doing anything about money. But valuing ourselves for the amount of money we have accrued has not always been the norm, in fact, it is a rather new framework. Listen in and imagine a time when we valued ourselves,…

1
Creativity Sparks: Operation Paperclip 54:03

2+ y ago54:03

54:03

Sometimes a spark is so surprising, so complex and thought provoking it can stun you into silence. And so it was when Susan shared Operation Paperclip with Laura. As outlined in the book, Operation Paperclip by Annie Jacobsen, information on this secret United States intelligence program was recently de-classified and we are now all learning about …

1
Creativity Sparks: Creative Resistance; OR, The Monster at the End of this Episode 1:04:38

2+ y ago1:04:38

1:04:38

What keeps us from writing those pages we say we WANT to write? What keeps us from taking that first small step toward our goal? What keeps us from doing anything at all related to our creative vision? Why, its our dear ol’ pal, Creative Resistance. This week, Laura and Susan dive into the warm and cozy distractions that keep us safe from the conse…

1
Creativity Sparks: The Collaborative Wisdom of Metallica 1:10:05

2+ y ago1:10:05

1:10:05

This week, Susan and Laura dip their toes into the topic of Collaboration via the Metallica Masterclass. They discuss how the members of Metallica, guided by their mantra “whatever’s best” for the project, share how they communicate, keep their egos in check, get the most out of everyone, and how they stay inspired to come together to create great …

1
Creativity Sparks: Creative Mornings / Street Wisdom 50:43

2+ y ago50:43

50:43

Here at The Spark File, our mission is to spark creativity, free innate self-expression, and grant permission to fear less and create more. In this episode, we share two recently discovered like-minded creative organizations that have completely lit us up! Here’s how it happened…First, Pam Harris introduced us to @creativemornings and Creative Morn…

1
Creativity Sparks: The Spark Side of Social Media 1:03:08

2+ y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

This week, Susan and Laura delve into the very best ways social media can be used - to inspire, educate and spread joy. We call this The Spark Side of Social Media. Listen and light yourself up with tales of legacy-worthy chocolate via @morticianinthekitchen, kneel at the alter of @andy_birkey's gothic woodworking, and marvel at the beauty of fore …

1
Creativity Sparks: What If...? 58:12

2+ y ago58:12

58:12

This week, Laura and Susan explore the inexplicable craving to consume pandemic-related entertainment during a pandemic - not entertainment about the current state of the world, no, we prefer imaginary pandemics dreamed up in the minds of fiction writers and TV writers like Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, The End of October by Lawrence Wri…

1
Welcome Back, Sparklers! 37:44

2+ y ago37:44

37:44

Welcome back, Sparklers! All are welcome here. As long as no one is being a d**k, you are invited to be your real, open, authentic selves. This week on The Spark File, Susan and Laura get warmed up for Season 3! They share their gratitude and a mini-spark about indigenous food from The New York Times and an article about Sean Sherman, creator of Th…

1
Creativity Sparks: Celebrating Endings 44:45

2+ y ago44:45

44:45

In the season 2 finale of The Spark File podcast, Susan and Laura celebrate the highlights of the past year - revisiting favorite sparks of inspiration, and recognizing the incredible achievements of the participants in The Spark File Select Group Creativity Coaching program.By Susan Blackwell, Laura Camien

1
Makers: Hunter Bell: Connection, Community and Fantasy Island 1:00:12

2+ y ago1:00:12

1:00:12

This week, Susan and Laura got to spend extra time with their beloved Hunter Bell, Tony and Drama Desk nominee, Spark File Creativity Coaching client, and creative / writer / maker extraordinare! Tune in to feel the love and the belly laughs. Too much is never enough Hunter Bell.By Susan Blackwell, Laura Camien, Hunter Bell

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