Sparkle On With Devi Jags

Visionary costume designer Marie France shares the untold story behind the wardrobe for Prince's Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon, and how one sketch of a white ruffled shirt changed fashion history. From convincing Prince to wear lace for the first time to designing Apollonia's rock-and-roll rebellion in red and black, Marie reveals the high-pressure moment when she had to win over the music...

American actress Mattea Conforti’s career started on Broadway before she could drive. But lately, she attends Harvard and manages her breakout role of ‘Becka’ on Hulu's The Testaments. From playing young Elsa in Frozen 2 and starring in Matilda the Musical to now embodying Becka, a young woman navigating rebellion in The Handmaid’s Tale sequel, Mattea reveals what it takes to hold space for charac...

Director and executive producer Shana Stein joins Sparkle On to trace her path to directing some of television's most politically charged series, including Hulu's The Testaments, Amazon's The Boys, Power, 56 Days, Jack Ryan, and The Lincoln Lawyer. She shares how youth rebellion became the beating heart of her work on The Testaments (sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale) — a story about young women born...

Grace Hong (Nolo Grace) joins Sparkle On to share how creativity became her corporate exit strategy and why building a life aligned with your artistry is worth the decade-long journey. As the founder of Parasol Music, an artist-driven agency and music label with placements in Disney's Moana, Avengers Doomsday, and Avatar Fire and Ash, Grace reveals the winding path from Wall Street to songwriting,...

Author and screenwriter Alanna Bennett joins Sparkle On to discuss her debut novel The Education of Kia Greer, her work on Netflix's XO Kitty, and why teen stories remain some of the most powerful narratives in Hollywood. From her journalism days at BuzzFeed News to breaking into the writers' room, Alanna shares how she carved out a career telling young adult rom-com stories that center young Blac...

Being fierce has always been part of her presence. El Rose joins Sparkle On to share her journey from being a bedroom musician to a performer who has learned to channel rage, mythology, and sexuality through music. Her former identity left little room for creative exploration—until a lonely period in San Francisco led her to a guitar shop, a louder voice, and eventually Austin's thriving music sce...

Named one of Apple's Best Books of May, debut novelist Sarah Wang joins Sparkle On to discuss her novel New Skin — a visceral exploration of plastic surgery addiction, immigrant identity, and an intense mother-daughter relationship set in Los Angeles. Sarah reveals how she spent over a decade crafting a story that uses the world of reality TV and botched plastic surgery as a lens to examine class...

Devi Jags flips the mic and lets herself be interviewed for the first time, revealing the raw, unfiltered origin story of Sparkle On. From surviving violent events in college and rediscovering her fire through writing, Devi unpacks how creativity became her lifeline and why she refuses to let anyone define themselves by a single identity. This solo episode dives into the messy, relentless, punk ro...

Singer-songwriter Joy Melan joins Sparkle On to share how fantasy and intentional melancholy fuel her transcendent old pop sound. From discovering her voice at 17 through poetry to performing with her band, The Wild, across Austin's collaborative music scene, she describes the delicate art of writing songs that help her listeners safely revisit their pain. From Lady Gaga's unapologetic expression...

Brian Menke joins Sparkle On to share his journey from depression to healing through painting and music. A college friend of Devi's from Xavier University, Brian, opens up about the dark years when he lacked emotional outlets, turning to partying and self-destructive patterns. Years later, Brian discusses how creativity became his lifeline, teaching us that art is “expression, not perfection.” He...

Award-winning filmmaker Amy Scott joins Sparkle On to discuss breaking the rules in documentary storytelling, the art of the interview, and what it takes to capture the authentic humanity of music icons. Known for her work on documentaries featuring Counting Crows (HBO’s Have You Seen Me Lately?), Sheryl Crow (SHOWTIME’s Sheryl), and Lainey Wilson (Netflix’s Keepin’ Country Cool), Amy reveals the...

Author Jenny Tinghui Zhang joins Sparkle On to talk about fandom, following obsessions, and the small, stubborn joys that pull us back to art. Jenny discusses her latest novel, Superfan — a coming‑of‑age story about a lonely freshman who finds belonging in a K‑pop–style fandom. We explore how obsessions, artist cities (hello, Austin, TX), and the bravery to consistently show up fuel creativity. Ex...

If you’re in a creative slump, according to Laura Desirée, the solution is simple: go masturbate. As an Intimacy Coordinator, Creative Director at SNCTM, Sex Educator, and Activist, Laura shares her journey of unlocking her erotic force and explains why it is the essential engine behind the power of creativity. From her early days as a dancer in the Lower East Side, to her vision designing immersi...

Fiona Murden knows finding the home within you is a lot easier said than done. Psychologist and author of Defining You, Fiona shares her framework for unlocking human potential by harnessing the power of story. Devi and her dive into the nuances of how creativity is vital not just as an artistic pursuit, but as a fundamental aspect of being human, encompassing how we think, imagine, and problem-so...

Devi sits down with the talented Casey Hodge—actor, model, content creator, and now a self-published author under the pseudonym Cynthia Scarlett. Casey discusses her journey, from committing to her childhood dream of acting and modeling to moving to LA and diversifying her career during the shutdown. She shares how she handles rejection and how creating content, often with her husband, Riley, on T...

Meet Hana Tanaka and Wesley Barker, best friends who transformed their Wicked obsession into a viral sensation. Their social media series, which has garnered over 2 million views and counting, follows their journey to (hopefully) get them to the Green Carpet! Never singing before led to six months of vocal training, and a one-night performance that honored friendship, Oz, and the unique challenge...

What does it truly mean to live your purpose? We welcome Reena SenGupta, astrologer, coach, and founder of Sundara Dharma, a movement focused on decolonizing yoga and guiding creative entrepreneurs to embody their rawest form of purpose (Dharma). We dive into Reena’s intuitive toolkit, starting with the basics of Sun, Moon, and Rising signs in astrology, and demystifying the TikTok trends around a...

Has your relationship been personally victimized by Snapchat? Our Sparkle Sundays with Devi and Tom dives into how social media has reshaped modern relationships, changed how we trust intimate partners, and explores why a digital presence matters more to one party than the other.

In the span of ten days, Jason Hancock lost his mother, his job, and his connection to meaningful work. So he moved to Japan and never looked back. As an actor and performer, Jason wanted to create a new stage for someone else, one that had never been done before. Special Beauty is the first beauty pageant of its kind in Japan, celebrating special needs youth with their unique and beautiful talent...

Suuvi is not just an artist; she’s a multidisciplinary force—a renowned cello soloist, composer, and mental health advocate. In this raw and inspiring episode of Sparkle On, Devi Jags sits down with Suuvi to learn about a life built on musical excellence that came at a cost. As a child prodigy at Juilliard, Suuvi opens up about the immense pressure of a career built on pleasing others, revealing t...

Before you can heal, you have to be willing to look at your pain. Join host Devi Jags as she sits down with Nicole Zimmermann, a trauma-informed integral somatic coach, ceremonialist, and breath work facilitator. Nicole was once an artist lost in the world of modeling, seeking acceptance and fitting in. She candidly shares her journey from battling addiction to a rock-bottom moment at 24 that led...

What happens when you are with the love of your life, but you can't help but still have feelings for someone else? Devi opens up about how music, especially her connection to the Counting Crows and other artists, holds meaning beyond her current relationship. Certain songs tie her back to breakups, flings, and even solo adventures—like her time in Paris—that feel sacred and independent of her part...

As The Summer I Turned Pretty nears its end, Devi and Tom break down how Conrad's behavior would never be acceptable and appealing in real life.

Congratulations to the one and only Taylor Swift! Her engagement to NFL player, Travis Kelce, has her Philadelphia hometown Swifties wondering: Is it possible that her fiancé could be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles? Tom breaks down why or why not on Our Sparkle Sundays, out now.

What started out as trying to win the America's Favorite Couple Contest led to weekly episodes of Our Sparkle Sundays by Sparkle On. Devi and Tom sit down for a rapid-fire question episode of "Would You Rather?" We don't have micro answers, but we tried. As always, send your questions or topic requests for us to answer as a couple.