The Spark Parade
Adam Unze - Music & Film Interviews
What’s the one album or film that changed everything for you?
On The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze sits down with actors, musicians and other cultural icons to explore the music and movies that ignited their creative journeys. Each episode is a deep dive into a single transformative work of art — from cult classics to chart-topping albums — and how it continues to shape their lives and careers.
You’ll hear from artists like Margaret Cho, Maya Hawke, Chris Gethard, Beth Ditto, Bob The Drag Queen, Ella Purnell, Phoenix's Thomas Mars and many more.
If you’re a fan of music, movies, and the people they inspire, this podcast is your backstage pass to the artistic spark that started it all.
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Top 10 The Spark Parade Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Spark Parade episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Spark Parade for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Spark Parade episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
08/16/23 • 38 min
Showrunner, producer, and writer Max Borenstein (HBO's Winning Time: The Rise of te Lakers Dynasty) was always drawn to WB Yeats work, but one poem resonated with him above all the others. "The Circus Animals' Desertion," one of Yeates' final published works in his lifetime, is about looking back on a lifetime of achievements, grappling with writer's block, and the perils of trying to match past successes in the final years of your life. Max found parallels to celebrity culture, our obsession with social media, and many other aspects of the modern world. His relationship with the poem has grown and changed as he's grappled with his own success and with recent bereavements and it's been a touchstone and source of inspiration throughout his career in entertainment.
Listen to the full interview for all this and more in the new episode. Please also take the time to like, review, and subscribe to the Spark Parade wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.
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Georgia Clark Loves Doug Anthony All Stars/Clara Bow/Buffy
The Spark Parade
10/09/19 • 47 min
Are you ready for another action packed week, full of surprise and adventure? I hope you are 'cause that what I've got for you. I had a fantastic chat with author Georgia Clark about her love for Aussie musical comedy group Doug Anthony All Stars, silent film star Clara Bow and the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV show. Didn't someone talk about that already? Yes! I talk a bit at the top of the show about why I think it's important to hear about artworks from multiple perspectives. Sounds extremely interesting, doesn't it? Well... IT IS!!
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Suzanne Vega's Spark Is Lou Reed's Berlin
The Spark Parade
04/23/25 • 28 min
Legendary singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega joins Adam to discuss her deep connection to Lou Reed’s 1973 concept album Berlin — a haunting, operatic record that became a major influence on her songwriting, especially her iconic hit “Luka.”
Suzanne shares how seeing Lou Reed live for the first time at Columbia University blew her mind, how Berlin’s brutal honesty shaped her approach to writing about difficult subjects, and why pairing dark lyrics with upbeat melodies can create something truly powerful. She also reflects on Reed’s raw, confrontational style and how it taught her to be fearless in her own artistry.
Whether you're a fan of Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, Berlin or behind-the-scenes stories of iconic songs like Luka, this episode is a must-listen.
Suzanne's new album Flying With Angels is out on May 2nd.
The Spark Parade is a podcast that dives deep into the films and albums that have inspired today’s creative icons. Hosted by Adam Unze, each episode features a unique conversation with an artist about their chosen film or album, and how it sparked their artistic journey.
Follow us on social media:
Instagram/Bluesky/TikTok: @sparkparade
Subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen!
For more info, visit: www.thesparkparade.com
Copyright © 2025 The Spark Parade. All rights reserved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alex Marans Loves Prince
The Spark Parade
04/10/19 • 32 min
This week, musician Alex Marans and I get a bit weepy talking about Prince. But there's lots of fun to be had too! I promise!! Plus, I talk about grieving for the artists we love after they're gone. But there's definitely fun stuff too!! Guaranteed!!
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10/26/22 • 35 min
Musician vocalist and electronic composer Tama Gucci spoke to me about his Spark, Brandy’s incredible stone cold classic album Afrodisiac.
Listen... that’s one of my favorite albums ever. I was so excited to have a chance to talk about it!
Tama Gucci and I spoke about the dramatic shift in Brandy's sound that came with this album, the fallout from it's relative commercial failure and the impact it's had on other musicians and the r'n'b world at large.
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Spark Parade is Joining The Consequence Podcast Network!
The Spark Parade
04/17/23 • 3 min
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A Little Interruption To Your Service...
The Spark Parade
09/14/22 • 3 min
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Live! From C'mon Everybody In Brooklyn
The Spark Parade
10/06/21 • 61 min
It's the very first Spark Parade live show!!
Three fantastic guests join me live to talk about their sparks: DJ Sean McMahill on Grease 2, writer and podcaster Mijon Zulu on Slave Play and drag queen Neon Calypso on Nightgowns With Sasha Velour.
All the fun and informative conversations you expect from The Spark Parade, but this one's in front of a live audience at Brooklyn's incredible C'mon Everybody.
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Pausing for now
The Spark Parade
06/10/20 • 3 min
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05/14/25 • 41 min
What album shaped Tune-Yards’ Merrill Garbus as both an artist and a person? Ani DiFranco’s Not a Pretty Girl.
In this episode of The Spark Parade, Merrill joins host Adam Unze to reflect on the raw, political, and poetic power of DiFranco’s groundbreaking 1995 album.
They explore how the record helped her find her voice, challenged traditional ideas of femininity and artistry, and set the tone for Tune-Yards’ fiercely original sound.
Whether you're a longtime fan of Ani, Tune-Yards, or just looking for creative inspiration, you’ll find something to spark your imagination here.
Highlights include:
- The lasting influence of Not a Pretty Girl
- Ani DiFranco’s impact on feminist songwriting and DIY culture
- How Merrill found artistic freedom in Ani’s boldness
- The power of music to unlock identity and creative purpose
The Spark Parade is a podcast that dives deep into the films and albums that have inspired today’s creative icons. Hosted by Adam Unze, each episode features a unique conversation with an artist about their chosen film or album, and how it sparked their artistic journey.
Follow us on social media:
Instagram/Bluesky/TikTok: @sparkparade
Subscribe, rate, and leave a review wherever you listen!
For more info, visit: www.thesparkparade.com
Copyright © 2025 The Spark Parade. All rights reserved.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Spark Parade have?
The Spark Parade currently has 266 episodes available.
What topics does The Spark Parade cover?
The podcast is about Pop Culture Podcast, Film Interviews, Creativity, Music, Storytelling, Podcasts, Deep Dive, Art Podcast, Music Interviews and Tv & Film.
What is the most popular episode on The Spark Parade?
The episode title 'Fallout's Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Spark Parade?
The average episode length on The Spark Parade is 36 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Spark Parade released?
Episodes of The Spark Parade are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Spark Parade?
The first episode of The Spark Parade was released on Feb 6, 2019.
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