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Every episode
The Spark Parade
30 episodes
Bryan Safi on ‘Working Girl,’ 80s Bangs & Harrison Ford as Eye Candy
Jul 29, 2026 · 26 min
What happens when an eight-year-old kid sees the opening shot of Mike Nichols’ 1988 classic Working Girl for the very first time? If that kid is Emmy-winning comedian, actor, and podcast host Bryan Safi (9-1-1, Ask Ronna, Attitudes!), it sparks a lifelong dream to move to New York City and a career built on unapologetic, sharp comedy. In this episode of The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze sits down with Bryan Safi to chat about his Spark: the iconic 80s romantic comedy Working Girl, starring Melani…
Drag Race Superstar Bosco: Why Batman Forever is a Camp Icon
Jun 24, 2026 · 22 min
What happens when a major Hollywood studio trades gritty, nitty-gritty realism for hyper-stylized queer camp and neon aesthetics? Host Adam Unze sits down with the brilliant comedian, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 finalist and performance artist Bosco to dive deep into her Spark: Joel Schumacher’s 1995 cult-classic superhero movie, Batman Forever. Bosco shares how growing up with a well-loved VHS of Batman Forever permanently shaped her comedic consciousness and approach to drag showmanship. She…
Why HBO's The Comeback Predicted Modern Fame with Morgan Bassichis + Tribeca Recap
Jun 17, 2026 · 26 min
How did a short-lived 2005 TV satire accurately predict our modern obsession with social media and internet culture? Host Adam Unze sits down with brilliant comedian, writer and performance artist Morgan Bassichis to dive into their Spark: Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King’s cult-classic comedy masterpiece, HBO’s The Comeback. Morgan tells Adam how the iconic Valerie Cherish profoundly shaped their comedic consciousness. They unpack the deeply queer themes of Valerie's survival in the "econom…
Ginger Minj: The Secret Queer History of Wicked + Tribeca Special
Jun 10, 2026 · 31 min
This week, Adam welcomes the ultimate "Broadway Baby" of drag, Ginger Minj, who brings her lifelong passion for musical theater to the parade to break down her ultimate artistic spark: Jon M. Chu’s spectacular 2024 cinematic adaptation of Wicked. Adam and Ginger dive deep into the Emerald City, exploring how a childhood introduction to The Wizard of Oz at three years old became a brilliant Technicolor metaphor for escaping a claustrophobic small town. They trace the rich, explicit queer and tran…
Lauren Sanderson on Pink’s Funhouse & Navigating Identity in Pop Music
Jun 3, 2026 · 26 min
How does a small-town kid from Indiana find the courage to reject traditional pop-star expectations and build a fiercely independent music career? On this episode of The Spark Parade, Adam sits down with indie-pop singer-songwriter Lauren Sanderson to explore the artistic impact of Pink’s multi-platinum 2008 album, Funhouse. Sanderson details her vivid childhood memories of discovering Pink’s music and explains how the pop icon served as a vital guide for self-discovery, identity, and creative d…
John Gallagher Jr. on Paul Westerberg, The Replacements and a Gift From Winona Ryder
May 20, 2026 · 22 min
Tony Award-winning actor and acclaimed singer-songwriter John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening, The Newsroom, 10 Cloverfield Lane) joins Adam to chat about his Spark: The Replacements' front man Paul Westerberg’s raw, soulful 1993 solo debut, 14 Songs. John opens up about discovering the record during a blue period with his own songwriting and how Westerberg’s "not taking it too seriously" studio philosophy became his ultimate creative mantra. What’s inside this episode: The Actor’s Rental Car Ep…
Kiesza on The Dark Side of the Moon, Analog Magic and World-Building
May 13, 2026 · 18 min
The irrepressible electro-pop visionary Kiesza sits down with Adam to discuss the album that redefined her understanding of sonic "language": Pink Floyd’s 1973 masterpiece, The Dark Side of the Moon. Kiesza shares the cinematic story of hearing the album for the first time while hitchhiking through the Canadian mountains under a full moon, an experience that cemented her belief that music should be a holistic, transformative journey rather than a collection of two-minute "streaming slop." Inside…
Sydney James Harcourt on Singin’ in the Rain & The Jellicle Ball
Apr 7, 2026 · 22 min
"Gene Kelly redefined what it meant to be a leading man." 🕺✨ On today’s episode of The Spark Parade, Adam Unze welcomes the Grammy-winning powerhouse and original Hamilton cast member, Sydney James Harcourt. Sydney joins the pod to celebrate his personal Spark: the legendary Gene Kelly and the 1952 cinematic masterpiece, Singin' in the Rain. We dive deep into Kelly’s athletic, effortless masculinity, the resilient optimism of that iconic title sequence and how Sydney channels that same grace to…
Is This the Perfect Movie? Claybourne Elder on The Last Crusade
Apr 1, 2026 · 25 min
What is it about a fedora, a whip, and a "history avenger" that sparks a lifelong obsession? This week on The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze is joined by Broadway powerhouse and star of HBO’s The Gilded Age, Claybourne Elder. Claybourne takes us back to a small-town theater in Utah to revisit the 1989 masterpiece, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. We dive deep into the "virile" energy of Harrison Ford, the brilliance of Sean Connery and why this film provided a vital sense of adventure for kids…
Michelle Joy (Cannons): How Amélie Inspired a Dream Pop Icon
Mar 25, 2026 · 21 min
"You don't have glass bones. You can take life's knocks." ✨ In this episode of The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze sits down with Michelle Joy, the mesmerizing frontwoman of the dream-pop sensation Cannons. As the band prepares to release their highly anticipated new album, Everything Glows, Michelle joins us to deep-dive into the 2001 French masterpiece that shaped her artistic identity: Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie. Michelle opens up about discovering the film during a lonely first year of college…
Khadija Mbowe: Committing to the Cuckoo with Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet 🥀
Mar 18, 2026 · 20 min
Can 90s camp actually save classical art? This week on The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze sits down with classically trained soprano and celebrated video essayist Khadija Mbowe to dive into their "Spark": Baz Luhrmann’s neon-soaked, 1996 cinematic fever dream, Romeo + Juliet. From reenacting Juliet’s death scene on a suburban couch at age five to mixing "WAP" with "Habanera" in their own operatic productions, Khadija explains how this film gave them the ultimate creative permission to "commit to t…
Hemlocke Springs on Selena Gomez, The Zune, and Another Cinderella Story
Mar 11, 2026 · 17 min
Is Another Cinderella Story actually the best adaptation of all time? Rising pop icon Hemlocke Springs (the mind behind the viral hit "Girlfriend") joins Adam to explain why this 2008 Selena Gomez classic is her ultimate creative "Spark." 🥀✨ From the depths of the $5 Walmart DVD bin to the high-stakes choreography of the "Mary and Joey" dance-off, Hemlocke breaks down how this movie defined an entire generation’s pop aesthetic. We dive into the genius of Jane Lynch as the ultimate pop-star step…
Sasha Colby: Why Janet Jackson’s "The Velvet Rope" is The Queer Bible
Mar 4, 2026 · 27 min
After a brief hiatus, The Spark Parade is back! To kick off our new season, we are joined by a literal legend, the Mother of Mothers and RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 winner, Sasha Colby. Sasha joins host Adam Unze to deep-dive into the album that provided her blueprint for survival: Janet Jackson’s 1997 masterpiece, The Velvet Rope. In this raw and deeply personal interview, Sasha Colby opens up about her journey from Waimānalo, Hawaii, to the global stage. She reveals how she used dance as ther…
Yellowstone star Jefferson White's Spark Is Matrix Reloaded
Dec 10, 2025 · 26 min
In this high-voltage episode of The Spark Parade Podcast, host Adam welcomes actor Jefferson White (Yellowstone, Chicago Fire) to dive deep into the film that ignited his creative "spark": the 2003 sci-fi action epic, The Matrix Reloaded. Jefferson shares his vivid, almost electric memory of seeing the trailer for the first time—calling it his favorite movie before the film even released! The discussion explores the incredible cultural phenomenon of The Matrix and the immense pressure and excite…
Carter Vail's Spark Is The Royal Tenenbaums
Dec 3, 2025 · 31 min
Indie-pop songwriter and producer Carter Vail joins Adam to talk about how Wes Anderson’s film The Royal Tenenbaums became a major creative Spark in his life. Carter shares how discovering the movie in high school—and being struck by its soundtrack, meticulous visual style and mix of whimsy and deep sadness—reshaped the way he thinks about storytelling, world-building and emotional honesty in his own music and videos. From his “Richie Tenenbaum” headband phase to the way he uses color palettes a…
The Lumineers' Jeremiah Fraites' Spark Is Bruce Sprinsteen's Nebraska
Nov 19, 2025 · 28 min
Award-winning songwriter and composer Jeremiah Fraites, co-founder of The Lumineers, joins Adam to explore the powerful impact of Bruce Springsteen’s minimalist masterpiece, Nebraska. Jeremiah reveals how Springsteen’s stripped-down storytelling and raw, lo-fi production inspired his own creative journey—from writing chart-topping hits with The Lumineers to scoring the feature film Deliver Me From Nowhere, which tells the story behind Nebraska’s creation. Discover how Nebraska’s themes of vulner…
Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Spark Is Charli XCX's Brat
Nov 12, 2025 · 29 min
Sophie Ellis-Bextor joins Adam to talk about her Spark: Charli XCX’s bold and boundary-pushing album Brat. They share the story of how the album’s daring production and confessional lyrics sparked Sophie’s creative inspiration just before it exploded into the mainstream. From its genre-blurring sound to its cross-generational appeal, they explore how Brat embodies the fearless honesty and queer cultural vibrancy shaping today’s pop music landscape. If you love innovative pop, authentic songwriti…
Gianmarco Soresi's Spark Is Spice World
Nov 5, 2025 · 29 min
Join comedian and actor Gianmarco Soresi for a campy, nostalgic journey into his Spark: Spiceworld, the 1997 Spice Girls album and film phenomenon. Gianmarco share memories of first hearing the album in childhood, the theatrical personas of Baby Spice and friends and the explosive pop energy that defined an era. Gianmarco dives into the group’s dynamic, the album’s enduring charm, and why Spice Girls remain a touchstone of girl power, camp, and 90s pop culture. What you’ll learn in this epi…
The Boulet Brothers' Spark Is The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Oct 29, 2025 · 31 min
Join legendary horror drag icons The Boulet Brothers for a campy, queer journey into their Spark: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Adam and the Boulets share first encounters with the groundbreaking cult film, its impact on their lives, and why it remains a loud, proud anthem for queer joy, radical self-expression, and chosen family. Swantula takes us back to being a closeted 14-year-old, blown away by Rocky Horror’s uninhibited queerness, campy horror, and radical self-expression that expanded th…
Cheat Codes' Spark Is Ready Player One
Oct 22, 2025 · 29 min
Matt and Trevor of Cheat Codes sit down with Adam Unze to talk about their Spark: the movie Ready Player One. They share the story of how the film’s immersive virtual reality and flood of pop culture Easter eggs blew their minds and sparked creative inspiration. From parallels between gaming, music and business to navigating the future of AI and virtual worlds, they explore how Ready Player One reflects the community, creativity and boundary-pushing spirit that drives their music…
All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth's Spark Is Jimmy Eat World's Futures
Oct 15, 2025 · 31 min
Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low joins Adam to share the story of his Spark: Jimmy Eat World’s Futures. Alex takes us back to his teenage years in Baltimore, discovering Futures on a chance trip to the record store and instantly connecting with the album’s emotional depth, powerful rock energy and flawless sequencing. From the freedom of those first windows-down drives to how Gil Norton’s masterful production revealed the band’s most refined work, Alex explains why Fut…
Maggie Lindemann's Spark Is Lana Del Rey's Born To Die
Oct 8, 2025 · 30 min
Pop singer-songwriter Maggie Lindemann joins Adam to share how Lana Del Rey’s landmark album Born to Die sparked her creative journey. Maggie opens up about falling in love with Lana’s cinematic world, relatable storytelling and signature Old Hollywood-meets-Tumblr vibe—and explains how that influence shaped her own music. In this episode: How Born to Die inspired Maggie’s angsty, alt-pop sound Nostalgia, performance nerves, and Tumblr-era fandom Why Lana Del Rey’s persona an…
Cam's Spark Is Indigo Girls' All That We Let In
Oct 1, 2025 · 31 min
Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter Cam joins Adam for an intimate conversation about her Spark: the Indigo Girls’ acclaimed album All That We Let In. Cam explores her journey from discovering the Indigo Girls at choir camp, to wearing out her copy of the album, to becoming friends and collaborators with Emily Saliers herself. The episode delves into the ways this folk-rock classic continues to shape Cam’s songwriting, activism and sense of community in country music and beyond. Episod…
Chanel Ali's Spark Is Fame
Sep 17, 2025 · 33 min
Award-winning comedian, writer, and actress Chanel Ali joins host Adam to talk about her Spark—Alan Parker’s 1980 musical drama Fame. Chanel discusses how the film shaped her creative journey, from childhood dreams of performing to the realities of making it as an artist in New York City. The conversation covers ambition, life lessons, arts education, and what it takes to chase success both on stage and off. Episode Highlights: Chanel’s early connection to Fame and the performing arts How F…
Mimi Webb's Spark Is How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days
Sep 10, 2025 · 26 min
UK pop sensation Mimi Webb chats with Adam about her Spark: the timeless romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Mimi reveals how the film’s witty banter, unexpected twists, and real emotional moments shaped her love of rom-coms—and inspired her own songwriting, including her new track “Romcom.” Episode Highlights: Why How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is Mimi’s go-to comfort movie—and her favorite for breakups Kate Hudson & Matthew McConaughey’s iconic chemistry, improv scenes,…
G Flip's Spark Is Pixar's Cars
Sep 5, 2025 · 30 min
Australian music sensation G Flip sits down with Adam to explore the surprising source of their creative spark: Pixar’s beloved animated film Cars. G Flip shares how watching Cars with their dad became a powerful family tradition, why Lightning McQueen’s journey resonated so deeply, and how Pixar’s emotional storytelling helped shape their identity—both as an artist and as a person. Episode Highlights: The impact of Cars on G Flip’s childhood and their special bond with…
grandson's Spark Is Rage Against The Machine's The Battle Of Los Angeles
Sep 3, 2025 · 33 min
Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter grandson joins Adam to explore his musical spark: Rage Against the Machine’s legendary album The Battle of Los Angeles. Grandson shares how this politically charged, genre-blending rock album influenced his journey from hip-hop-loving Canadian teen to international hitmaker—breaking down the record’s impact on his identity, artistry, and activism. What’s InsideMusical Origin Story: Grandson reveals how rock, rap, and guitar-driven hip-hop led…
Bonnie McKee's Spark Is Wayne's World
Aug 6, 2025 · 33 min
Acclaimed pop songwriter and artist Bonnie McKee joins Adam to dive into her spark: the cult comedy classic Wayne’s World. Bonnie shares how the film’s humor, music, and fiercely independent spirit shaped her creative outlook—and why its soundtrack and lo-fi, DIY energy still fuel her work today. What’s InsideWayne’s World & Childhood Inspiration: Bonnie discusses how Wayne’s World was a key part of her childhood, influencing her music, style, and approach to authenticity as…
William Beckmann's Spark Is Desperado
Jul 30, 2025 · 42 min
Adam sits down with rising country star William Beckmann to talk all about his spark: Robert Rodriguez’s iconic action film Desperado. William shares how seeing Desperado—filmed right in his hometown of Acuña, Mexico—had a massive impact on his music, style, and creative vision. What’s InsideA Hometown Connection: William recounts recognizing streets, bars, and even old teachers in Desperado, and what it’s like growing up near a famous movie set. Movie Magic Meets Real Life:&…
Fitz And The Tantrums' Spark Is Jeff Buckley's Grace
Jul 25, 2025 · 38 min
Episode SummaryFitz, frontman of chart-topping indie soul-pop group Fitz and The Tantrums, reveals how Jeff Buckley’s iconic album Grace set him on his journey to finding his authentic voice as an artist and inspired a whole new approach to singing, songwriting, and performance. What’s InsideDiscovery of a Classic: Fitz shares how he discovered Jeff Buckley’s Grace years after Buckley’s passing and why the record instantly captivated him with its emotional honesty and vo…
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