Cirque du Sound

Often, creativity comes in the form of adaptation. Reinterpreting a classic can re-frame stories and songs in creative ways for a whole new audience. Meet award-winning music producer and Beatles audio expert Giles Martin – son of legendary music producer George Martin. Giles talks about working closely with his father to adapt the revered Beatles canon and optimizing the sound for Cirque du Solei...

There is no more diverse group of organisms on this entire planet than insects, and perhaps no one draws more creative inspiration from this group than world-renowned entomologist, Dr. Samuel Ramsey (aka Dr. Sammy). Listen in as “Your Friendly Neighborhood Entomologist” sits down with host Michel Laprise to share his extensive research on insects and how each of these remarkable creatures has its...

Sometimes, following a simple line on a page can lead to incredible creative breakthroughs. Michel sits down with Disney animator Roger Gould to talk about the power of immersive storytelling to evoke essential aspects of the human experience. Gould is known for his work on Disney’s Hercules (1997), Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land (2012), EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After (2016) and Tokyo Disneyla...

Sometimes, the source of creativity can be a place that hurts. And one of the places where pain and creativity intersect most potently is in the art of stand-up comedy. In this episode, Michel is joined by Josh Johnson, stand-up comedian, Emmy-nominated writer (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), performer, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana, for a conversation about how to turn pain into...

What happens when you combine scientific and artistic modes of inquiry? According to Diane Ullman, this is how creative genius is born. As co-founder of the Art/Science Fusion program at UC Davis, Ullman interweaves art into her science curriculum to stimulate her students’ interest and creative problem-solving. Join the award-winning professor and entomologist as she sits down with Michel Laprise...

What happens when you have a lifelong mindset of curiosity? Nobel-laureate astrophysicist Dr. John Mather is the big scientific brain behind the James Webb deep space telescope, a massive leap forward in humanity’s quest to understand the universe and its origins. Dr. Mather sits down with Cirque du Soleil creative guide, Michel Laprise, to discuss how a never-ending quest for knowledge has led to...

If you want true creative inspiration, look to the past. So says the highly distinguished Professor of Egyptology at The American University in Cairo, Salima Ikram. Ikram has worked as an archaeologist in Turkey, Sudan, Greece, and the United States, and now she joins Michel Laprise for a deep conversation inspired by the history and mythology of the original must-see Cirque du Soleil show, Mystèr...

How do we continue fueling creativity while holding ourselves accountable for how the future unfolds? In this episode, Michel Laprise interviews Microsoft’s ‘Prime Unifying Scientist’, futurist, musician, and VR pioneer, Jaron Lanier. Inspired by the music and core concepts of ECHO, the two discuss our changing perception of reality, why we must not lose touch with nature, and the future of techno...

In a world that feels like it's evolving faster than we can comprehend, what does it mean to be 'present' and 'immersed'? Felix Lajeunesse's journey into the world of immersive storytelling began when he and collaborator Paul Raphael founded Felix & Paul Studios, a Montreal-based creative studio. The duo embarked on a mission to harness technology to create emotionally resonant narratives that...

The rite of passage is at the heart of the hero’s journey. Understanding it is crucial to understanding humanity, and essential to many forms of creative storytelling. Award-winning anthropologist Wade Davis is a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet, world-traveler, and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity. He joins Michel for a deep conversation about the creative and cultural s...

Open your eyes to magic, and you will find it all around you. A conversation featuring award-winning and best selling Mexican-American author and journalist Luis Alberto Urrea (Goodnight Irene, The Hummingbird's Daughter, The Devil’s Highway) in conversation with Michel Laprise about the inspiration to be found in adopting the lens of magical realism, ghosts, and miracles - and by looking at life...

Screenwriter and director John August (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, The Nightmare Before Christmas) is known for creating wildly imaginative storylines where darkness and light get turned inside-out. He joins Michel Laprise for a chat about character evolution, story-worlds, and stories that challenge our understanding of darkness. Together they discuss ALEGRIA, a Cirque du Soleil show exp...

A great creative idea can come from anywhere, at any time. The trick is – knowing how to spot it. Cirque du Soleil is widely known as a beacon of creative thinking. For decades, they’ve thrilled audiences with imaginative, interdisciplinary live experiences drawing creative inspiration from art, science, nature, philosophy, and the magic of everyday life. Cirque du Sound is a brand-new podcast fro...