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[0:30] Laura Camien: Welcome to The Spark File, where we believe that everyone is creative, but smart creative people don't go it alone.

[0:44] Susan Blackwell: I'm Susan Blackwell.

[0:45] Laura Camien: And I'm Laura Camien.

[0:47] Susan Blackwell: We are creativity coaches who help people clarify and accomplish their creative goals.

[0:52] Laura Camien: Please know that just by listening to this podcast, you are joining a warm and wonderful clan of creatives.

[0:58] Susan Blackwell: But hold the phone, you may be asking yourself, what exactly is a Spark File?

[1:03] Laura Camien: A Spark File is a place where you consistently collect all of your inspirations and fascinations.

[1:09] Susan Blackwell: Every episode, we're going to reach into our very own Spark Files and exchange some sparks.

[1:15] Laura Camien: From time to time, we're going to talk to some folks who spark us too.

[1:18] Susan Blackwell: And your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take some of those sparks of inspiration and make something of your own.

[1:25] Laura Camien: So without further ado, let's open up The Spark File.

[1:31] Susan Blackwell: Welcome.

[1:32] Laura Camien: Welcome.

[1:33] Susan Blackwell: Yay!

[1:34] Laura Camien: Welcome.

[1:35] Susan Blackwell: Welcome new listeners.

[1:36] Laura Camien: Welcome old listeners.

[1:37] Susan Blackwell: Welcome all.

[1:38] Laura Camien: Welcome new listeners who are old and new listeners who are young.

[1:43] Susan Blackwell: Welcome to all of you.

[1:45] Laura Camien: Just briefly, just a few things to put on your radar.

[1:48] Susan Blackwell: We'll share more information about this at some point in some location.

[1:52] Laura Camien: But there are many exciting things happening at The Spark File.

[1:55] Susan Blackwell: So if you like this podcast and you want more Spark File in your life, we have got the New Year's Creativity Kickoff coming up right at the top of January.

[2:06] Laura Camien: It's a beautiful way to reset your creativity.

[2:11] Susan Blackwell: That's the new way we're pronouncing it in 2026.

[2:14] Laura Camien: That's a sneak peek.

[2:15] Susan Blackwell: Creativity.

[2:16] Laura Camien: Yep.

[2:17] Susan Blackwell: We'll rock on a different syllable.

[2:20] Laura Camien: But we've got that coming up, which is just this beautiful online creative retreat, essentially The Spark File Creative Community, which is a new space for creatives from around the world to come together.

[2:36] Susan Blackwell: Come and sposh around a little bit.

[2:38] Laura Camien: Low pressure, but high pleasure.

[2:41] Susan Blackwell: High pleasure.

[2:42] Laura Camien: There you go.

[2:46] Susan Blackwell: We've got a blaze course starting in January, which is just a life changer.

[2:53] Laura Camien: So I'm sure that if you look somewhere, sparkfile.com, there'll be information at some point.

[3:00] Susan Blackwell: And if you're on our email list, we'll be sharing this information.

[3:04] Laura Camien: Get into it.

[3:05] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[3:06] Laura Camien: Join us.

[3:07] Susan Blackwell: Is there anything that you want to say to me before I spark you with a sparky new spark?

[3:14] Laura Camien: I will simply say that my enthusiasm and excitement for this next season remains very, very high.

[3:22] Susan Blackwell: I'm so psyched about these opportunities to sit and talk about ideas that have been popping off in our brains.

[3:29] Laura Camien: I love it.

[3:30] Susan Blackwell: So give it to me.

[3:31] Laura Camien: And you know what's fun? I feel like we've had a little bit of time now that my spark file has just completely refilled with all these freshies.

[3:43] Susan Blackwell: So I'm excited to be sparked and to spark in turn.

[3:47] Laura Camien: So today's your day.

[3:49] Susan Blackwell: Today's my day to spark you.

[3:50] Laura Camien: And my spark today is a book that was recommended to me a couple of times by our dear friend Gavin Creel.

[3:56] Susan Blackwell: Back in 2023, Gavin came to talk with our Illum Mastermind course, and he talked about this book.

[4:06] Laura Camien: He did.

[4:08] Susan Blackwell: Even before he turned 50, Gavin was thinking a lot about aging and what that meant to him.

[4:16] Laura Camien: And he said that this book was useful to him as he was exploring how he wanted to approach his later years.

[4:22] Susan Blackwell: Of course, this is very poignant because he barely experienced later years.

[4:29] Laura Camien: That's right.

[4:30] Susan Blackwell: But in reading this book that Gavin had recommended, I couldn't help but sort of reading it at times through his eyes.

[4:38] Laura Camien: And it made so much sense why he was recommending it.

[4:41] Susan Blackwell: And you could see how it was starting to really take shape and show itself in his life, the influence of this book.

[4:48] Laura Camien: The book that Gavin recommended is called From Strength to Strength, Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life.

[4:58] Susan Blackwell: It is written by Arthur C. Brooks.

[5:01] Laura Camien: And Susan, this is one of those books that I read it and I immediately read it again because I was like, I have got to internalize this booch.

[5:13] Susan Blackwell: I love that.

[5:14] Laura Camien: I know you had mentioned it and I have to give you kudos for going straight through those feelings because you knew Gavin much more than I did, but I knew him a little and he affected my life with just a tiny, tiny bit of interaction.

[5:32] Susan Blackwell: And I bought that book immediately when he recommended it.

[5:37] Laura Camien: And then shortly after when he got ill, then I just found like I couldn't read it.

[5:48] Susan Blackwell: And I was just so conscious of the feelings I would have while reading it.

[5:52] Laura Camien: So there it sits on my shelf.

[5:54] Susan Blackwell: But I bet you're about to inspire me to go ahead and move through those feelings.

[5:58] Laura Camien: Let all those feelings move through me.

[6:01] Susan Blackwell: That makes sense to me that you would have that response to it.

[6:04] Laura Camien: I feel like in moments like this, I am observing that I not always, but often want to lean in to things like reading this book as a way of, I'm like, oh, it seems doubly important because he recommended it, that it was one of the, you know, he read a lot, but he's still talking to you.

[6:28] Susan Blackwell: Like he's still advising and yeah.

[6:30] Laura Camien: And I was like, I got, I got to read that book.

[6:33] Susan Blackwell: So it's a way for me to, in the same way that experiencing one's grief is a way to connect with the person you are grieving.

[6:41] Laura Camien: I think that reading a book that he recommended was a way to connect with him and kind of get to spend more time with him.

[6:48] Susan Blackwell: That makes so much sense.

[6:50] Laura Camien: And I'm so glad, so glad that you did it.

[6:52] Susan Blackwell: It sounds like not just once, but twice.

[6:55] Laura Camien: A book so nice, I read it twice.

[6:56] Susan Blackwell: So let's get into it.

[7:00] Laura Camien: Arthur C. Brooks, according to his bio, the author, Arthur C. Brooks is a Harvard professor, a PhD, a social scientist, a bestselling author, and a columnist at the Atlantic who specializes in using the highest levels of science and philosophy to provide people with actionable strategies to live their best lives.

[7:20] Susan Blackwell: I love that bio.

[7:22] Laura Camien: I like that bio.

[7:23] Susan Blackwell: I like that purpose in life.

[7:25] Laura Camien: Thanks for helping all the rest of us.

[7:27] Susan Blackwell: Thank you, Arthur C. Brooks.

[7:29] Laura Camien: So why did From Strength to Strength feel so important to me that I immediately read it again?

[7:36] Susan Blackwell: So I can internalize it.

[7:38] Laura Camien: Yes.

[7:39] Susan Blackwell: Why did it, Susan?

[7:40] Laura Camien: Please tell.

[7:41] Susan Blackwell: In the book, Brooks describes something that I have felt, that I have experienced from the inside.

[7:45] Laura Camien: He writes, in practically every high-skill profession, decline sets in sometime between one's late 30s and early 50s.

[7:52] Susan Blackwell: He writes, sorry, I know that stings, and it gets worse.

[7:59] Laura Camien: The more accomplished one is at the peak of one's career, the more pronounced decline seems once it has set in.

[8:06] Susan Blackwell: Boo, Arthur C. Brooks.

[8:07] Laura Camien: Wow.

[8:08] Susan Blackwell: Boo.

[8:09] Laura Camien: Boo to that.

[8:10] Susan Blackwell: That's just cruel.

[8:12] Laura Camien: But I was like, oh.

[8:13] Susan Blackwell: And not untrue.

[8:14] Laura Camien: I recognize this.

[8:16] Susan Blackwell: Yeah, exactly.

[8:17] Laura Camien: It was interesting to me because I have always been, see if you relate to this Laura Camien, I have always been such a striver.

[8:25] Susan Blackwell: But I had observed in myself over the years what one might describe as decline.

[8:34] Laura Camien: I was growing increasingly less interested in that hard striving.

[8:39] Susan Blackwell: I observed myself wanting to get off that grindy hamster wheel, not having every moment of my day scheduled for maximum productivity and achievement.

[8:49] Laura Camien: I wanted to transition into doing more teaching.

[8:53] Susan Blackwell: And I was really feeling these feelings.

[8:55] Laura Camien: And then there were moments when I experienced this sort of like psychic jerk where I would be like, what are you doing?

[9:00] Susan Blackwell: Why aren't you striving?

[9:02] Laura Camien: Why aren't you working harder?

[9:03] Susan Blackwell: Why aren't you go, go, going?

[9:06] Laura Camien: We must strive.

[9:08] Susan Blackwell: Because that is what I, freshly, have always done.

[9:12] Laura Camien: It felt like it was one of those key pieces of my identity and my success.

[9:18] Susan Blackwell: Do you relate to that Laura?

[9:21] Laura Camien: Do I relate? I thought striving was the same as being alive.

[9:29] Susan Blackwell: I would not be like, if I'm not striving for something, am I even living?

[9:34] Laura Camien: Yes.

[9:35] Susan Blackwell: Yes.

[9:36] Laura Camien: Is it even life?

[9:37] Susan Blackwell: So Brooks writes, I came to call this the striver's curse.

[9:42] Laura Camien: People who strive to be excellent at what they do often wind up finding their inevitable decline terrifying, their successes increasingly unsatisfying.

[9:52] Susan Blackwell: So that felt very familiar to me.

[9:54] Laura Camien: And to hear this social scientist articulate it, what is a very natural organic transition and the science behind it, I felt like my experience had been articulated in a book, which felt comforting.

[10:10] Susan Blackwell: And also, I'm like, so what do you have to say about it?

[10:13] Laura Camien: What do you have to say about it?

[10:14] Susan Blackwell: Tell me.

[10:15] Laura Camien: Tell me.

[10:16] Susan Blackwell: Help me, Arthur.

[10:17] Laura Camien: Help me.

[10:18] Susan Blackwell: So Brooks shares, there is another path.

[10:22] Laura Camien: Instead of denying change in your abilities, you can make the change itself a source of strength.

[10:30] Susan Blackwell: Instead of trying to avoid decline, you can transcend it by finding a new kind of success, world promises, and not a source of neuroses and addiction, a deeper form of happiness that will...

[10:43] Susan Blackwell: Welcome back to The Spark File! Today, we’re diving into a spark that hit me straight in the nervous system: "From Strength to Strength" by Arthur C. Brooks. This book was recommended to me by the late, beloved Gavin Creel.

[11:13] Laura Camien: I love that. I think it’s such a great way to honor Gavin’s memory by sharing something that inspired you.

[11:43] Susan Blackwell: Absolutely! So, in this book, Brooks talks about what he calls the “striver’s curse.” It’s this idea that as we age, we might feel our brain changing, and that can be really unsettling.

[11:44] Laura Camien: Right, and it’s so relatable. I think a lot of us worry about not being as sharp as we used to be.

[11:45] Susan Blackwell: Exactly! But Brooks also discusses this shift from what he terms fluid intelligence, which is all about raw speed and innovation, to crystallized intelligence, which is more about wisdom and synthesis.

[11:46] Laura Camien: That’s such an interesting concept. It feels like a relief to think that this shift might actually be a positive thing.

[11:47] Susan Blackwell: Yes! It might be the best news you’ve heard all week. If you’ve ever felt tempted to rage against time or worried that you’re not as sharp, this episode is definitely for you.

[11:49] Laura Camien: I can’t wait to dig deeper into this. It’s such an important conversation, especially for creatives.

[11:50] Susan Blackwell: Totally! So, let’s explore how we can build a creative life that gets richer—not smaller—with age.

[11:51] Laura Camien: Yes, let’s do it!

[11:52] Susan Blackwell: Alright, so one of the things Brooks emphasizes is the importance of embracing this transition. It’s not just about losing something; it’s about gaining a different kind of insight.

[11:53] Laura Camien: That’s a beautiful way to look at it. I think so many people feel like they’re losing their edge as they get older, but it’s really about evolving.

[11:54] Susan Blackwell: Exactly! And he talks about how we can leverage our experiences and the wisdom we’ve gained over the years to create something new.

[11:55] Laura Camien: It’s like turning the page to a new chapter rather than closing the book.

[11:56] Susan Blackwell: Yes! And I think that’s such a powerful metaphor for creatives. We’re always in a state of evolution.

[11:57] Laura Camien: Absolutely. So, what are some practical ways we can embrace this shift?

[11:58] Susan Blackwell: Well, one thing Brooks suggests is to focus on mentorship. Sharing what you’ve learned with others can be incredibly fulfilling.

[11:59] Laura Camien: That makes so much sense. It’s a way to pass on your knowledge and also to stay engaged with the creative community.

[12:20] Susan Blackwell: Exactly! And it helps you to see your own journey in a new light. You realize that your experiences can guide others.

[12:22] Laura Camien: I love that. It’s like you’re creating a legacy through your creativity.

[12:23] Susan Blackwell: Yes! And another point he makes is about finding new passions or interests that excite you. It’s never too late to explore something new.

[12:24] Laura Camien: That’s so true! I think a lot of people feel like they have to stick to what they know, but branching out can lead to amazing discoveries.

[12:25] Susan Blackwell: Absolutely! It’s all about keeping that spark alive and allowing yourself to grow in different directions.

[12:54] Laura Camien: So, what are some of the new passions you’ve explored recently?

[12:55] Susan Blackwell: Well, I’ve been diving into more visual arts lately. It’s been a fun challenge to express myself in a different medium.

[12:56] Laura Camien: That sounds amazing! I love that you’re pushing yourself creatively.

[12:57] Susan Blackwell: Thanks! It’s been really rewarding, and I feel like it’s adding a new layer to my creative life.

[12:58] Laura Camien: I can see how that would enrich your work. It’s all about finding those new avenues for expression.

[13:20] Susan Blackwell: Exactly! And I think it’s important to remember that creativity doesn’t have an expiration date. We can keep evolving and growing.

[13:21] Laura Camien: Yes! And that’s such a comforting thought. It means we can always find new ways to express ourselves.

[13:22] Susan Blackwell: Definitely! So, let’s keep this conversation going. What else can we explore about this shift in intelligence?

[13:23] Laura Camien: I think we should talk about how to embrace the wisdom that comes with age. It’s such a valuable asset.

[13:25] Susan Blackwell: Yes! And Brooks emphasizes that wisdom can lead to better decision-making and creativity.

[13:26] Laura Camien: That’s so true. It’s like we have a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

[13:28] Susan Blackwell: Exactly! And that understanding can fuel our creative endeavors in ways we might not even realize.

[13:29] Laura Camien: I love that idea. It’s like we’re building a toolkit of experiences that we can draw from.

[13:30] Susan Blackwell: Yes! And the more we embrace our experiences, the richer our creative lives become.

[13:31] Laura Camien: It’s such a beautiful cycle. The more we create, the more we learn, and the more we learn, the more we can create.

[13:32] Susan Blackwell: Absolutely! And I think that’s a key takeaway from Brooks’ book. It’s all about embracing the journey.

[13:33] Laura Camien: Yes! So, let’s encourage our listeners to reflect on their own journeys and how they can embrace this shift.

[13:42] Susan Blackwell: Definitely! We’d love to hear from you all about your experiences and how you’re navigating this transition.

[13:44] Laura Camien: Yes! Share your thoughts with us on social media or through our website.

[13:45] Susan Blackwell: We can’t wait to hear your stories!

[13:46] Laura Camien: And remember, it’s never too late to explore new passions and embrace the wisdom that comes with age.

[13:47] Susan Blackwell: Exactly! Let’s keep the spark alive and continue to inspire each other.

[14:09] Laura Camien: Yes! Here’s to a creative life that gets richer with age.

[14:10] Susan Blackwell: Cheers to that!

[14:11] Laura Camien: Until next time!

[14:12] Susan Blackwell: Bye!

[21:28] Susan Blackwell: They tend to have richer vocabulary than they did earlier in life, and this leads to a number of abilities. They are, if you are my mother or my friend Mars, you are better Scrabble players. You can do quite well with foreign languages, and studies bear out these observations. People maintain and grow their vocabulary in their native languages and foreign languages all the way to the end of life.

[21:55] Laura Camien: How about Wordle?

[21:56] Susan Blackwell: How about Wordle?

[21:58] Laura Camien: How about Wordle?

[21:59] Susan Blackwell: I bet they're rocking it. I bet they're rocking it.

[22:02] Laura Camien: I know I am. I know I am. There are days when I'm like, in two, Booch. Slammers.

[22:10] Susan Blackwell: Yeah, yeah.

[22:11] Laura Camien: Throwing down.

[22:12] Susan Blackwell: Yes, yes. More often three and four, but sometimes in two.

[22:16] Laura Camien: We're nerds.

[22:17] Susan Blackwell: Similarly, you may notice that with age, people are better at combining and utilizing complex ideas. In other words, you may not be able to come up with shiny new inventions or solve problems quickly like in the old days, but we are getting much better at using the concepts and expressing them to others. We may also be getting better at interpreting the ideas that others have, sometimes even to the people that have come up with the original ideas.

[22:47] Laura Camien: What?

[22:48] Susan Blackwell: Yeah. We can explain back to them what their idea is.

[22:53] Laura Camien: And interpret ideas. Extrapolate. If that, then this.

[22:59] Susan Blackwell: Have you ever thought about combining it with that? That sort of thinking. I love creation by recombination.

[23:05] Laura Camien: That's right.

[23:06] Susan Blackwell: One of my favorite things. And that might get richer and richer as we get older.

[23:10] Laura Camien: Ooh, I'm excited.

[23:12] Susan Blackwell: This is a big deal, I think, for you and me and other people in our age range. If your career relies solely on that fluid intelligence that is more, you know, the provenance of the young, it's true that you will peak and decline pretty early. But if your career requires crystallized intelligence, or if you can repurpose your professional life to rely more on crystallized intelligence, your peak will come later and your decline will happen much, much later, if ever.

[23:50] Laura Camien: And if you can just go, if you can make the leap from the strength of fluid intelligence to crystallized intelligence, Arthur C. Brooks says, then we have cracked the code.

[24:01] Susan Blackwell: Wow. If you are experiencing a decline in fluid intelligence, and if you are my age, you are, it doesn't mean you're washed up. It means it's time to jump off of the fluid intelligence curve and on to the crystallized intelligence curve. And it's helpful just to begin by knowing that that second curve, that the crystallized intelligence curve exists. It exists and it can carry you into a new kind of success.

[24:31] Laura Camien: Wow.

[24:32] Susan Blackwell: Yeah, yeah.

[24:33] Laura Camien: That's exciting.

[24:34] Susan Blackwell: It's exciting. You know what is really great in many ways?

[24:37] Laura Camien: What?

[24:37] Susan Blackwell: You and I have already made the jump, girly.

[24:41] Laura Camien: Isn't that great?

[24:45] Susan Blackwell: It is great. It's great.

[24:46] Laura Camien: It is great.

[24:47] Susan Blackwell: But Arthur C. Brooks, he does acknowledge it can be hard and scary to make that jump. He says it requires courage and fortitude to make changes, big changes like that in our lives, in our careers, to become more of a teacher. Whatever that means in one specific field, it doesn't mean you have to literally be a teacher. Maybe it means you're a consultant. Maybe it means that you're taking your wisdom and you're applying it in different ways. Not everybody wants to do that. Many refuse. But for those who make the jump, the reward is almost always enormous, or so claims Arthur C. Brooks.

[25:25] Laura Camien: And I'm inclined to believe him.

[25:28] Susan Blackwell: I'm inclined to believe him. My experience points to yes on this one. You know what excites me the most about this is if we have this awareness, I just frankly know too many, and lately it's been more women than men, but not always, but just too many women who are verbally condemning their own minds as they go through these changes.

[25:54] Laura Camien: I feel very guilty of that, yes.

[25:57] Susan Blackwell: It's everywhere.

[25:58] Laura Camien: It's everywhere, right?

[25:59] Susan Blackwell: And I always cringe because our brains are listening. They know we're saying this. We should not be saying this in front of our brains. Let's not talk bad about our brains. It is rewiring in a way that it needs to make us better and different for the next chapter of our lives. And so I'm excited about the possibility of more people being aware of that happening and being like, yes, this might be changing for me. And sometimes I feel sad that I'm not as good at this as I used to be. But I know this is on the horizon for me, and I'm excited about that.

[26:42] Laura Camien: Yeah, I like that.

[26:43] Susan Blackwell: Finding new and more compassionate and honest, nuanced ways to talk about our changing brains.

[26:53] Laura Camien: That's right.

[26:54] Susan Blackwell: I like it. Arthur C. Brooks encourages us to devote the back half of our lives to serving others with our wisdom. He says, get old sharing the things you believe are most important. Excellence is always its own reward. And this is how you can be most excellent as you age. This really reminded me of Gavin, who I was seeing really commit his life to devoting the back end of his life to serving others with his wisdom.

[27:23] Laura Camien: So many people.

[27:25] Susan Blackwell: And we got to be the beneficiary of that. So I'm thankful for that.

[27:29] Laura Camien: Wow.

[27:31] Susan Blackwell: Yeah. That makes me feel really good about the decision that we've made as well for this next chapter of our lives.

[27:37] Laura Camien: And doesn't it?

[27:39] Susan Blackwell: It really does. I feel grateful for it. And I feel even more committed to it.

[27:45] Laura Camien: Yeah, I feel the same way. He talks about how we can sense a decline in our fluid intelligence and know that we need to make a change. And if we know that there is a crystallized intelligence curve just waiting for us, we can make a reset, even if it's scary and uncomfortable. But it doesn't mean you have to have like a total midlife meltdown. A major inflection in your life does not mean you have to abandon your spouse or buy a sports car. On the contrary, your professional reset can bring you closer to your family and friends and inspire others.

[28:24] Susan Blackwell: And Laura, not to break my arm patting us on the back, but doesn't that sound a lot like what we've done with The Spark File?

[28:32] Laura Camien: It does. And the gift is like getting to surround yourself with the people that you love, people who inspire you and like the relationships that just get like deeper and more meaningful.

[28:45] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[28:46] Laura Camien: It's such a gift.

[28:47] Susan Blackwell: It is a gift. So what do we make of it? We can work with the natural progression of our mind and with ourselves as we age instead of fighting against it.

[28:57] Laura Camien: Susan Blackwell just provided a great what do we make of it?

[29:00] Susan Blackwell: We can speak of ourselves and this natural organic transition and our minds and our brains in ways that are more nuanced and supportive of these changes.

[29:11] Laura Camien: Kind.

[29:12] Susan Blackwell: Kind. We can accommodate our brains in ways that have changed from our youth. We can work in quieter ways.

[29:18] Laura Camien: Change from our youth.

[29:19] Susan Blackwell: We can work in quiet environments. We can create work and opportunities that capitalize on our crystallized intelligence and serve others with our wisdom. And I think in conclusion, I just want to thank Arthur C. Brooks for giving language to all of this and lighting the way I already feel a positive change from reading this book, From Strength to Strength, two times.

[29:46] Laura Camien: Two times.

[29:48] Susan Blackwell: Whoa, Suze, I love this. I love this spark and I love this awareness, this gift of awareness, truly, that he's offering and now you're offering all of us.

[30:01] Laura Camien: I hope that if you are so moved, Laura, you will read this book.

[30:07] Susan Blackwell: I think I just might.

[30:09] Laura Camien: I know exactly where it is over on the shelf. I will just reach over there and crack it open.

[30:14] Susan Blackwell: Don't be scared.

[30:16] Laura Camien: Feelings.

[30:18] Susan Blackwell: I like feelings.

[30:19] Laura Camien: I will allow those feelings to visit me.

[30:21] Susan Blackwell: I love that. Yeah, what a gift, another gift from Gavin Creel.

[30:26] Laura Camien: So that's it. This episode of The Spark File was made on the lands of the Lenape and the Mohican people. And as always, we hope this put another bunch of sparks in your file.

[30:36] Susan Blackwell: Hey, listen, if there's a spark you'd like us to explore or if you'd like to learn more about how to coach with us to accomplish your creative goals, you can email getcreative at thesparkfile.com or you can reach us through our website, thesparkfile.com.

[30:50] Laura Camien: And you know what? We'll even happily take your feedback.

[30:52] Susan Blackwell: But there is a price of admission. First, you have to share a creative risk that you have taken recently.

[31:01] Laura Camien: You can follow us on social at thesparkfile and be sure to subscribe, rate and five-star review this podcast. It really helps other listeners to find us.

[31:10] Susan Blackwell: Also, if you like this podcast, we hope you'll share it with people that you love.

[31:14] Laura Camien: And if you didn't like it, I question your crystallized intelligence, frankly.

[31:21] Susan Blackwell: If something lights you up and gets your creative sparks flying, we're writing you a forever permission slip to make that thing that's been knocking at your door. It's your turn to take that spark and fan it into a flame.

[31:30] Laura Camien: You know, you got to take it and make it.

[31:35] Susan Blackwell: When I bump into something that inspires me, I dump it in my spark file.

[31:48] Laura Camien: Could be something that I want to make or how I want to be.

[31:54] Susan Blackwell: I pump it in my spark file.

[31:58] Laura Camien: I jump into my spark file.

[32:02] Susan Blackwell: Let's open up the spark file.