The Spark Parade

This week, I spoke with musician Skullcrusher (Helen Balentine) about the inspiration she's drawn from Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar winning animated feature Spirited Away. We talk about powerful female protagonists being underestimated in films, the wildly imaginative style of Studio Ghibli and we marvel at the intense emotional response evoked by hand drawn animation. Links: Skullcrusher Spirit...

Rapper, singer/songwriter and producer Pell joins me to talk about Kanye West's legendary second album, Late Registration. We talk about it's lyrical and musical complexity, the dramatic effect it had on hip hop, r'n'b and pop production and the deliciousness of the albums many featured guest appearances.   Links: Pell Late Registration Mama's Gun Advertising Inquiries: https:/...

Singer/songwriter and musician Evan Stephens Hall joins me to talk about the inspiration he's drawn from Kazuo Ishiguro's Booker Prize winning novel The Remains Of The Day. We touch on English repression, unrequited love and the pressures of duty and loyalty under the looming shadow of fascism. Links: Evan Stephens Hall/Pinegrove The Remains Of The Day In And Of Itself Advertising Inquirie...

Composer and producer Adrian Younge joins me to geek out about his spark of inspiration: Marvin Gaye's classic album What's Going On, which celebrates it's 50th anniversary this year. How does music reflect our personal history? How does it reflect the history of our nation? Adrian and I speak about the cultural context in which What's Going On was created, the lasting impact the a...

This week, I'm doing a deep dive into the brain melting world of Alex Garland's limited TV series Devs with comedian, writer and actor Yassir Lester (Black Monday, Duncanville).   We dig into the brilliance of Alex Garland's body of work, geek out over other genre fair (like Watchmen!) and wax poetic about the philosophical and existential themes in Devs.   It's truly one of the be...

Who needs a short, sharp blast of sunshine in their gloomy winter day? *literally everyone raises their hand Thought so! Here it comes! This week I had a frankly adorable conversation with super talented musician Claud about their love for one of my fave tv shows, Broad City. We talked about all of the lols Broad City has brought us over the years, life in NYC and Claud remembers their chance enco...

Congratulations on your new POTUS and VP, America! As a new president gift, here's my delightful chat with comedian Joyelle Johnson about her love for cinema classic Gone With The Wind. We cover flouncy dresses, unapologetically bratty rich people, portrayals of Black people in film and our current dizzying political climate. This one is a real hoot!   Links:   Joyelle Johnson   Gone With The...

What a week, right? Could anyone use a little reprieve from the chaos and insanity swirling around us? Well, I've got you covered, baby! I had a delightful conversation with comedian/composer Matt Buechele about his love for South Park: Bigger, Longer And Uncut, the notorious 1999 full length feature film version of Comedy Central's South Park. Matt and I show appreciation for the South Pa...

This week, I'm taking on one of the most famous and revered albums in history, The Beatles 1968 stone cold classic The White Album. But I'm not doing it alone! I had a little help from Jake Luppen (the singer/guitarist from Hippo Campus and newly minted solo artist as Lupin). We spoke about the impact The White Album has had on him as an artist, the benefits of band infighting in the studi...

So... this happened! I had the enormous pleasure of speaking with Róisín Murphy (one of my musical and artistic heroes) about Terence Conran's classic The House Book, a guide to home interior design and decoration. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. We spoke about Róisín's love of design and architecture, a formative road trip she took as a teenager and so, so much more. This one...

What drives people to commit bank robberies? What happens when you look past the tropes and stock characters in heist movies? Author S.A. Cosby joins me to dig into one of his favorite (and most influential) cultural works, David Mackenzie's 2016 neo-western heist film Hell Or Highwater. S.A. Cosby Hell Or Highwater Sparkle Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out:...

Get ready for some post-election joy! I got to reminisce with legendary singer/songwriter Conor Oberst about one of my favorite '90's TV shows, Northern Exposure. We talked about the show's glorious weirdness, it's unforgettable characters (including one who was Conor's first crush) and also dug into the value of subverting expectations in art. It's a real hoot! Links: Cono...

Now that we're past election day, let's de-stress with a chat about something super chill and supremely soothing. I spoke to musician Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene and Do Make Say Think) about Godfrey Reggio's classic experimental film Koyaanisqatsi, which features the music of certified legend Philip Glass. Have a listen and watch all your election related anxiety melt away.  L...

It's true. I got to talk to the incomparable Gavin Turek! Speaking to a singer of Gavin's caliber about the vocalists who have influenced her is already exciting, but that's before you know that her influences are Tame Impala, Brittany Howard and Raphael Saadiq! Gavin and I had a great chat about those legendary singers, her penchant for winning concert tickets from radio stations and...

Who controls the meaning of an artwork? The artist? The viewer? Both? Singer and author Will Young joins me for a super fun chat about the inspiration he's drawn from René Magritte's work. We also dig into Will's acting career, the perils of taking art too seriously and much more!! Will Young⚡ Rene Magritte's The Treachery Of Images⚡ Rate and review the show⚡ Social links and co...

*Backstreet Boys voice     Oh my god, I'm back agaaaaaaaain! Did you miss me? I slept non-stop for two weeks and now I'm refreshed and ready to deliver the goods. Which goods are those? Why, my delightful and charming chat with writer Brian Moylan about his love for poet, writer and art critic Frank O'Hara and legendary playwright Tennessee Williams. Sounds like a real hoot, don't...

It's Wednesday again! Isn't it? Who knows? What is time anymore? Let's try to focus on the good stuff. Namely, my chat with The Hoosiers and White Tail Falls front man Irwin Sparkes about his love for a trio of powerhouse musical acts: Bruce Springsteen, Guns N' Roses and Moses Sumney. We covered so much ground, folks. You're gonna love it. And you get to hear me babble a bit a...

Another week into the quarantimes. Are you all surviving? I've got another hot plate of distraction to help keep you going. I had a lovely chat with James Barr and Dan Hudson from the UK's #1 LGBTQ+ comedy podcast A Gay And A NonGay about their love for  seminal grunge superstars Nirvana and seminal pop superstars The Spice Girls. We really ran the gamut, folks. And I also talked a bit abo...

How's your new agoraphobic life treating you? Need something to take your mind off of it? Say no more! I've got the perfect remedy... this week's episode!! I had an awesome chat with author Paul Tremblay about his love for the seminal punk/post-punk/grunge/alternative band Husker Du and the solo work of legendary Husker Du member Bob Mould. And I also rambled on about my favorite child...

How often do I get to interview a pop prince about a pop princess? Not often enough! I got lucky for the new episode and had a super fun conversation with the mind blowingly brilliant Boy Radio about the legendary Britney Spears. Sounds incredible, doesn't it? That's because IT IS!!! And to cap it all off, I also talk about about the nature of fandom. Unmissable content, friends. Links: Bo...

Whoops. Looks like I've outdone myself AGAIN! This week's super fun episode features my delightful conversation with synth pop superstar Ariana And The Rose about her love for world renowned light and space artist James Turrell, immersive theater (using Sleep No More as a jumping off point) and fellow synth pop superstars Goldfrapp. And if that's not enough to get your boat well and tr...

It's Kubrick-mania around here this week. Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award winning playwright Christopher Shinn and I take a deep dive into our mutual affection for/obsession with Stanley Kubrick's final film, the Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise starring Eyes Wide Shut. And then you'll get to hear me bragging about going to a Kubrick exhibition in London while I was away. Who doesn&...

Lookie here! A chat with singer/songwriter/actor Declan Bennett about his love for Ani DiFranco's much loved 1994 album Dilate. You might know Dec from his music. Or from Eastenders. Or from Rent and American Idiot on Broadway. Or Once in the West End. SO many ways to know him, right? We had a superfun chat and you'll have superfun listening to it. And I also talk a bit about how art is in...

This week, I had a positively scintillating chat with singer/songwriter Scott Matthew about his love for painter Vilhelm Hammershoi's work and his formative experiences with Morrissey's music. Did we talk about Morrissey's repellent political views? You bet we did! And if that's not enough excitement for you, I also talk a bit about the joy of discovering art as an adolescent. Soun...

What an exciting week you're having!! Or at least you'll be having an exciting week when you find out what I've got in store for you! I had a chat with international pop sensation Rod Thomas (aka Bright Light Bright Light) about international pop sensation Kylie Minogue's world dominating "comeback" album Light Years. You're going to have so much fun listening to it, yo...