Best Susan Sutton Podcasts (2026)

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S7E4 - The Alchemist 36:31

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1h ago36:31

36:31

Life attracts life. So if you want more creativity, more connection, more possibility… you can’t wait it out on the couch. In this episode of The Spark File Podcast, Laura revisits The Alchemist and uncovers why pursuing your creative calling isn’t about chasing a guaranteed outcome—it’s about choosing aliveness. We talk fear, failure, love, upper …

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S7E3 - A Spooky Winter Story 30:33

9d ago30:33

30:33

In this wintery, true-crime-meets-ghost-storyepisode, Susan shares the chilling tale of the 1892 “hex murder” at the StoneArch Bridge. A poor farmer accused of witchcraft, a family convinced they’recursed, a killing “three ways over water,” and a graveyard full of familymembers. Inspired by the old tradition of telling scary stories at Christmas,th…

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S7E2 - From Strength to Strength 33:41

8d ago33:41

33:41

In this episode of The Spark File, Susan shares a spark that hit her straight in the nervous system: From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks — a book recommended by the late, beloved Gavin Creel. Together, Laura and Susan explore the “striver’s curse,” what it means to feel your brain changing as you age, and why the shift from fluid intellig…

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S7E1 - Immaculate Perception 36:00

15d ago36:00

36:00

Welcome to Season 7 of The Spark File podcast with Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien! On this episode, Laura and Susan discuss the wisdom of neuroscientist Dr. Dan Siegel and the fact that there is no such thing as Immaculate Perception. We only see what we believe. To truly see deeply, we must question everything we believe. Tune in to learn the in…

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S6E7 - Sara Bareilles / The Town Hall Spark Sessions 27:23

4M ago27:23

27:23

This week on The Town Hall Spark Sessions - a podcast collaboration between NYC's Town Hall and The Spark File, we welcome the iconic singer, songwriter, actress and composer, Sara Bareilles. With more than 15 million singles and 3 million albums sold in the U.S., she is one of the world’s leading popular musicians. Join us as we discuss how love a…

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S6E8 - Melay Araya / The Town Hall Spark Sessions 33:39

5M ago33:39

33:39

This week on The Town Hall Spark Sessions, we welcome Melay Araya, Artistic Director at the Town Hall. In addition to her work as Artistic Director, Melay is a writer, archivist, and multimedia artist with three decades of experience. While providing extraordinary leadership at The Town Hall, one of New York City’s finest cultural institutions, Mel…

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S6E6 - Laura Benanti / The Town Hall Spark Sessions 22:31

6M ago22:31

22:31

This week on The Town Hall Spark Sessions, we welcome luminary actress and singer Laura Benanti. Best known for her revolutionary performance in the 2008 revival of Gypsy, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Benanti made her broadway debut at 18 playing Maria in the Sound of Music on Broadway. She has also starr…

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14. You’re Not Too Old And It’s Not Too Late with Terry Tucker, from Hospital Administrator to Rookie Cop 53:24

6M ago53:24

53:24

What if the thing you're meant to do... still lies ahead? In this moving conversation, Terry Tucker shares what it means to live a meaningful life, not by chasing a title, but by following the pull of purpose, again and again. From Division I athlete to rookie cop at 37, from corporate executive to SWAT hostage negotiator to bestselling author, Ter…

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S6E5 - Sofronio Vasquez / The Town Hall Spark Sessions 17:49

7M ago17:49

17:49

This week, we welcomed the golden-voiced Sofronio Vasquez, winner of NBC’s The Voice Season 26. With his championship win, Sofronio became the first Filipino and Asian man to win a major singing competition in the United States. Join us as we discuss Sofronio’s thrilling rise in the music industry. He shares his secret to remaining positive and his…

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S6E4 - Griffin Newman / The Town Hall Spark Sessions 23:43

7M ago23:43

23:43

In this week’s episode of The Town Hall Spark Sessions, we were thrilled to welcome Griffin Newman. For a decade, with his co-creator David Sims, Griffin has hosted the wildly popular podcast Blank Check with Griffin and David. Join us as Griffin discusses the Blank Check origin story, and how a film critic and an actor/comedian became longstanding…

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S6E3 - Sean Mayes / The Town Hall Spark Sessions 18:20

7M ago18:20

18:20

In this week’s Town Hall Spark Session, we welcomed Sean Mayes, the visionary conductor and founder of Pops of Color, as he takes us behind the scenes of creating an orchestra that’s building bridges and breaking barriers. Join us as Sean shares how Pops of Color sparked from idea to inception. We discuss the impact of the orchestra’s unique progra…

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The Death of Charles Bent 22:28

8M ago22:28

22:28

Send us a text Charles Bent was always in the right place at the right time making the right choices. And it made him a wealthy and powerful man right up until a cold day in January, 1847, when Bent was – finally - in the wrong place at the wrong time - with no idea of what was coming to his front door. If you’d like to know more about the history …

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The Hangman 18:47

8M ago18:47

18:47

Send us a text George Maledon spent decades dropping killers through trapdoors with clinical precision—and total peace of mind. Justice was simple and the mechanics of a hanging were precise. But when the man who killed his daughter got life instead of the noose, Maledon finally called it quits. Turns out, mercy—not murder—was a dealbreaker for the…

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S6E2 - Eisa Davis / The Town Hall Spark Sessions 19:15

8M ago19:15

19:15

For our second round The Town Hall Spark Sessions award-winning actor, writer, and singer-songwriter, Eisa Davis. In addition to co-writing the Warriors concept album with Lin-Manuel Mirana, she wrote and starred in Angela’s Mixtape, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for her play Bulrusher. Join us as we discuss Eisa’s approach to …

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The Only Law West of the Pecos 22:00

8M ago22:00

22:00

Send us a text Judge Roy Bean may have been THE LAW west of the Pecos River, but he NEVER followed the rules. If you’d like to learn more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links: History: Scoundrel Bean, bride wed San Fernando - https://www.mysanantonio.com/life/life_columnists/paula_allen/article/History…

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S6E1 - Lin-Manuel Miranda / The Town Hall Spark Sessions 23:11

8M ago23:11

23:11

Surprise! We’re back, with some hot, fresh creative sparks for you—and this time, we’re at the Town Hall! In the first episode of The Town Hall Spark Sessions, we’re thrilled to feature a new conversation with Lin-Manuel Miranda about legacy, creativity, and the upcoming Spring Shout at the Town Hall—a benefit performance honoring him! As one of to…

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Introducing The Town Hall Spark Sessions 4:38

8M ago4:38

4:38

The Town Hall, New York City’s landmark cultural venue, is teams up with The Spark File, the acclaimed creativity podcast hosted by Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien, in this brand-new podcast series: The Town Hall Spark Sessions. The Town Hall Spark Sessions will spotlight creatives, musicians, comedians, artists, advocates, cultural creators and c…

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The Shoemaker 25:38

8M ago25:38

25:38

Send us a text During the gold rush of Alder Rush, was Clubfoot George Lane merely a mild-mannered shoemaker with a limp? Or was he part of the notorious road agent gang who called themselves “The Innocents?” If you'd like to know more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out the following links: THE ROAD AGENTS - htt…

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Freezing with John C. Fremont 17:36

9M ago17:36

17:36

Send us a text Find out what happened when “The Pathfinder” John C. Fremont loses his way, taking 35 men and 120 mules with him. If you’d like to know more about the history behind this episode, check out the sources below: Frémont’s Fourth Expedition: A Documentary Account of the Disaster of 1848–1849 Edited by LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen. Tao…

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Elizabeth Markham says "THE HELL WITH IT!" 22:29

9M ago22:29

22:29

Send us a text The Oregon Trail was a test of endurance for everyone, but especially for women pioneers. What happens when one woman has had enough? If you'd like to know more of the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, please check out these links: https://www.theresahuppauthor.com/blog/2017/03/22/elizabeth-markham-one-womans-perspe…

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Out for Blood: The Taylor-Sutton Feud 24:17

9M ago24:17

24:17

Send us a text In this episode of Wild Wild Death, we delve into the harrowing saga of the Sutton-Taylor Feud, a violent clash that tore through Southeast Texas during the Reconstruction era. Starting with a string of deadly encounters between the Taylor family and local lawmen, this feud spiraled into a bloody conflict involving ambushes, assassin…

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The Pearl of Cripple Creek 24:03

9M ago24:03

24:03

Send us a text Pearl Devere was the madam of a very successful and exclusive bordello in Cripple Creek. But even the most savvy of businesswomen can make a fatal miscalculation. If you'd like to know more of the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, please check out these links: ◦ https://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-pearldevere/ ◦ htt…

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The Story of Big Nose George Parrott 25:38

10M ago25:38

25:38

Send us a text Big Nose George Parrott yearned to be a famous outlaw. But his claim to fame was for something he never dreamed could happen. If you'd like more information about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these resources: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14910 https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/big-n…

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The Children's Blizzard of 1888 25:44

10M ago25:44

25:44

Send us a text On January 12, 1888, Nebraska farm children headed off to their sod hut schoolrooms under sunny and warm blue skies. None of them knew that a massive blizzard was barreling toward them... and it would test everyone’s survival skills. If you'd like more information about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check ou…

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Season 5 Finale 38:44

11M ago38:44

38:44

After 20 spark-filled episodes, we’re wrapping up the season with a celebration! Join us as we look back at this remarkable season of spark, discuss highlights, and share just how we made this season happen. Bringing Season 5 of the Spark File podcast was a challenge. We were wrestling between our desire to make a perfect product and our hope to ge…

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13. What needs to die in me and what do I need to give birth to? with Glenda Goodrich, from Nurse to Human Resources to Art Doula 59:03

11M ago59:03

59:03

All of us long to be seen for our unique gifts. Too often this innate part of us was extinguished in our early years, or put aside because of fear or practicality. How can we interrupt our busy lives and careers to check in with our authentic selves? What if the pathway to our deepest wisdom can be unlocked through time in nature? Glenda had an ear…

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Stephen King On Writing 37:11

11M ago37:11

37:11

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Susan Blackwell and Laura Camien

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Closing Ceremonies: Blue Man Group 42:35

12M ago42:35

42:35

Recently, we learned that the beloved Blue Man Group will be closing their New York City and Chicago companies in 2025. This news was bittersweet, to say the least. Blue Man Group has impacted each of our personal and professional lives in many ways; not the least of which was the 25 years Laura dedicated to building the Blue Man Group brand as the…

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Hug An Author Today 32:44

12M ago32:44

32:44

We know that writing a book is hard work—longform creativity takes patience, stamina, and an extraordinary drive to make it to the finish line. That’s why, this week, we’re celebrating our dear friend Jenny Clift, whose new book Thriving Artist: How Musicians, Performers, and Creatives Can Use EFT Tapping to Achieve Balance, Career Growth, and Succ…

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Making Change Pt. 3 37:57

12M ago37:57

37:57

As the New Year barrels on, bringing an abundance of uncertainty with it, we wanted to return to a topic that has sparked us many times before: Making change. In this week’s episode of The Spark File podcast, we reflect on the work of scientists and experts who study the circuitry of the brain, and offer some tangible tips for how to make change in…

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Fort Worth Five Photo Fiasco 19:57

12M ago19:57

19:57

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild, Wild Death, we unravel how the Wild Bunch gang went from pulling off million-dollar heists to accidentally sabotaging their own careers with one ill-advised glamour shot. It’s a story of hubris, high fashion, and the dangers of being too photogenic when you’re on the run from the law. If you'd like more i…

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Primordial Soup 32:24

1y ago32:24

32:24

When Oxford revealed its annual “Word of the Year” earlier this month, we had some questions—and not just because “Brain Rot” is two words. The truth is, we scroll past hundreds of images, sounds, and writings every day, pumping into our brains faster than any information has ever moved before. We absorb things that are neither meaningful nor thoug…

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Gifts & Creativity 44:02

1y ago44:02

44:02

We have found that the more we tap into our creativity, the more we enjoy the holiday season. In this week’s episode of The Spark File Podcast, we explore creativity in the form of gift-giving. Join us as we discuss the history of giving tangible gifts and why the tradition continues. We’ll explore some of the incredible gifts given (and received!)…

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The Afterdeath Life of Elmer McCurdy 19:08

1y ago19:08

19:08

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we explore the hilariously tragic saga of Elmer McCurdy, the outlaw who was better at botching robberies than being a criminal mastermind. But Elmer’s story didn’t end with his final, drunken shootout. Instead, his mummified body embarked on a posthumous career more successful than anything he …

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Menopause + Creativity 43:57

1y ago43:57

43:57

This week, we’re exploring an experience shared by more than half of the world’s population: Menopause. If you are thinking to yourself, “Oh, that topic isn’t for me.” We’re here to tell you the truth: menopause impacts everyone. If you have had a period in your life, or if you love a person who has had a period, this episode is for you. (Spoiler: …

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The Bullet and the Sponge 19:16

1y ago19:16

19:16

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we explore the strange and tragic story of James King of William, a crusading newspaper editor who was shot in broad daylight. When a group of esteemed doctors race to save his life, their medical choice led to his doom. Tune in to hear how a sponge became the most lethal weapon in San Francisc…

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Go All The Way There 36:02

1y ago36:02

36:02

Like many artists, we deeply empathize with the world around us. It can be hard to manage all the tough feelings that come up. A lot is happening in the world—a lot to laugh about, cry about, shout about, and rage about. Sorrow can bring joy, anger can bring calm, and it can all feel impossible to face. And, like it or not, we believe there is one …

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The Wild Wild Death: Trailer 0:51

1y ago0:51

0:51

Send us a text The history of the Wild Wild West is a saga of grit, glory, endurance and independence; of the people who faced the challenge of the West head-on and survived. We’re here to tell the stories of those who did not. 2222 Media presents The Wild Wild Death, a history podcast about the fatal side of the Old West. Join us as we share true …

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The Rope Walker 24:18

1y ago24:18

24:18

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we journey back to 1884 in Corsicana, Texas, when the grand opening of a Dry Goods Emporium turned into a day of tragedy. A tightrope walker, known only as “The Rope Walker,” attempts a daring feat—crossing a high wire with a 300-pound cast iron stove strapped to his back. But gravity had other…

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Reaching Out 36:00

1y ago36:00

36:00

In our opinion, creating a connection with others is the most singularly powerful tool any creative has in their armory. Unfortunately, a lot of us find that it’s easier said than done. This week, Susan and Laura explore Molly Beck’s book Reach Out: The Simple Strategy You Need to Expand Your Network. Join us as we discuss Molly’s research-based gu…

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Getting Away with Murder 28:06

1y ago28:06

28:06

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we dive into the twisted tale of Eadweard Muybridge, the photography pioneer who didn’t just invent motion pictures—he also made sure his wife’s lover never moved again. Fueled by jealousy and muddled by a head injury, Muybridge took matters into his own hands, leading to a courtroom showdown t…

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Join The Joiners 33:35

1y ago33:35

33:35

Lately it feels like so many of us are longing for belonging, but finding it harder than to connect. But why? In this week’s episode of The Spark File podcast, we dig in to find the answer. Join us as Laura examines the work of social scientist Bob Putnam, whose book Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community connects the decline…

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Duel in the Street 30:14

1y ago30:14

30:14

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we dive into the legendary duel between Jim Courtright, a former lawman who traded his badge for extortion, and Luke Short, a gambler who wasn’t about to be strong-armed. When Courtright demanded respect, Short gave him a lesson in humility—Western style. Join us to learn how a quick draw ended…

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Catharsis, Comfort & Change 36:43

1y ago36:43

36:43

The weight of the world felt heavy this week, but tough moments are when we feel luckiest to have this incredible community. Like we always say, everyone is creative but smart creative people do not go it alone! So this week, we did what we so often recommend to our coaching clients when the path ahead feels cloudy: We reached out to all the brave …

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The Creative Act 35:21

1y ago35:21

35:21

Here at the Spark File, creativity is a way of life and a way of being in the world. In this week’s episode of The Spark File Podcast, Laura digs into Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being. A profoundly successful American record producer, Rubin is the co-founder of Def Jam recordings, founder of American Recordings and former co-presi…

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'Til Death Us Do Part 30:13

1y ago30:13

30:13

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we delve into the curious case of Minnie Wallace Walkup, a teenage bride whose wealthy husband suddenly dropped dead just a month into their marriage. Was it the aphrodisiac he was taking, or did Minnie have a more hands-on approach to becoming a wealthy widow? With arsenic, strychnine, and a s…

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How to Kill a Town 23:50

1y ago23:50

23:50

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we explore how William G. Butler, a cattleman with a grudge, made sure the thriving town of Helena, Texas dried up faster than a saloon on Sunday. Join us for a tale of how one man’s vendetta wiped a town off the map without firing another shot. Interested in the history behind this episode of …

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Moral Distress Signal 34:50

1y ago34:50

34:50

Have you ever found yourself giggling at the most unexpected insult, like "sparrow's fart"? Join us as we kick off this episode of The Spark File with laughter and a light-hearted exchange that sets the stage for a journey through creativity and introspection. We'll explore the wonderful world of "spark files," those magical little tools for captur…

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The Bloody Benders 26:48

1y ago26:48

26:48

Send us a text In this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we dive into the bizarre and bloody tale of the Bender family, who turned their Kansas inn into the final stop for unlucky travelers in the 1870s. With a dad who muttered like a horror movie villain, a mom who could make Medusa look friendly, and a daughter who combined fortune-telling with col…

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Spooky Sparks from SPARKfest 39:34

1y ago39:34

39:34

In this week’s episode of the Spark File podcast, we head back to the beautiful Saunders Farm in Ottawa, Canada, where we were fortunate to host our almost annual SPARKFest. This week, on the eve of Halloween, we’re embracing the spooky season. Listen on to hear directly from Spark File community members. In this week’s episode you’ll hear sparks t…