Episodes

  • Amy Scott — Counting Crows, Lainey Wilson, and Breaking The Rules In Filmmaking

    Amy Scott — Counting Crows, Lainey Wilson, and Breaking The Rules In Filmmaking
    May 6 2026
    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 intricate process of crafting character-driven stories from hundreds of hours of footage, building three-act structures on whiteboards with her team, and knowing when to bend traditional narrative rules to serve the story. From her journey from editor to director, Amy tells us the delicate balance between the artist and the celebrity persona, and why, as a modern filmmaker, she refuses to double down on themes just to serve the algorithm. Amy reminds us that understanding each other through story is the ultimate creative mission, and artists who change an era are those who defy the rules. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:00:54 Falling in Love with Documentary Filmmaking 00:03:24 The Editor's Journey to Director 00:06:17 Breaking the Three-Act Structure 00:08:41 The Attention Span Problem and Streaming Templates 00:12:37 Rule Breakers Deserve Rule-Breaking Films 00:14:26 The Divisive Band and the Sellout Era 00:16:51 The Art of the Interview 00:20:01 Building Trust and Protecting Mental Health 00:22:37 The Development Game and Pitching Artists 00:24:18 Keeping Up with Lainey Wilson 00:25:41 The Artist Versus The Celebrity 00:27:28 Celebrity Worship and The Golden Rule 00:30:15 Melissa Etheridge and The Women's Prison 00:32:02 Understanding Each Other Through Stories 00:34:01 Finding Grounding Through Motherhood 00:37:07 Becoming a Director While Becoming a Mom 00:39:24 The Wild Ride of the Film Industry 00:40:23 When Do You Feel Most Lit Up? 00:43:42 Trusting Your Intuition as a Woman Filmmaker
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    45 mins
  • Jenny Tinghui Zhang — Falling Into Superfan Obsession

    Jenny Tinghui Zhang — Falling Into Superfan Obsession
    Apr 29 2026
    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. Expect thoughtful riffs on community, limerence, male figure skating, and practical wisdom for turning yearning into art without losing the love that started it. Read Superfan: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250369666/superfan/ Read Four Treasures In The Sky: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250811783/fourtreasuresofthesky/ Follow Jenny: https://www.instagram.com/sunspotletters Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:01:23 Falling Down the BTS Rabbit Hole 00:03:48 The Psychology of Obsession and Limerence 00:05:22 Middle School Obsessions and Lord of the Rings 00:07:54 Understanding Young Women and Fandom 00:13:46 The Power and Dark Side of Fandom 00:19:22 Post-Debut Depression and Losing Love for Writing 00:23:27 Finding the Way Back Through Figure Skating 00:28:02 The Magic of Old Notebooks and Past Selves 00:33:14 Austin's Creative Community and What's Next 00:39:43 Re-Romanticizing the Writing Process
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    56 mins
  • Defining You With Fiona Murden

    Defining You With Fiona Murden
    Dec 4 2025
    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-solve. Fiona explains why many people wrongly believe they aren't creative and details her journey to organizational psychology, driven by a deep curiosity about human thought. She emphasizes that pivotal life moments, even those marked by rage or trauma, often serve as catalysts for self-examination and growth. Fiona introduces the concept of Mirror Thinking and its neuroscientific basis in social learning. She advocates for shifting from the self-defeating question "Why?" (which can lead to depression and anxiety) to the constructive question "What?" (which guides us toward self-awareness and next steps). The episode also explores the vital connection between physical movement and creativity, noting that movement frees the mind and allows for greater clarity, helping us integrate the mind and body. Ultimately, Fiona advises listeners to navigate life's inevitable uncertainties by cultivating self-acceptance and holding things lightly, rather than rigidly adhering to external "shoulds" or focusing solely on outcomes. Fiona’s book, workshops, and podcast can be found at https://www.fionamurden.com/ or @fiona_murden on Instagram.
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    48 mins
  • From TikTok to Fantasy Realms: Casey Hodge on Collaborative Storytelling

    From TikTok to Fantasy Realms: Casey Hodge on Collaborative Storytelling
    Nov 20 2025
    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 TikTok, has helped her professionally. Casey reveals the fun, collaborative process of writing the fantasy-smut novel — Shadow of Mortalis — with friends, a method more common in TV or podcasting than book writing. They explore why fantasy and smut are so popular, offering a crucial escape for many women. Casey also emphasizes that, thanks to the power of social media and platforms like Amazon, independent authors in this genre have successfully bypassed traditional publishing. Finally, Casey shares her personal practices for finding her Sparkle through hobbies and self-care.
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    40 mins
  • ‘Wicked’ Obsessed TikTok Creators On A Mission To Sing Their Way To The Green Carpet Premiere

    ‘Wicked’ Obsessed TikTok Creators On A Mission To Sing Their Way To The Green Carpet Premiere
    Nov 13 2025
    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 to 'defy' expectations, together. Let's help them get to the 'Wicked: For Good' premiere! Hana Tanaka TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hanaisfinechina?lang=en Wesley Barker TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wesleyrbarker?lang=en https://www.tiktok.com/@wickedmovie?lang=en
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    58 mins
  • Astrology, Destiny, and the Journey Back To Your True Self with Reena Sengupta

    Astrology, Destiny, and the Journey Back To Your True Self with Reena Sengupta
    Nov 6 2025
    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 Saturn Return. Reena explains how to integrate astrology into your life without losing accountability, and how cosmic cycles can actively inform and accelerate your creative process.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Our Sparkle Sundays: Is Social Media Ruining Your Relationship?

    Our Sparkle Sundays: Is Social Media Ruining Your Relationship?
    Nov 3 2025
    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.
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    51 mins
  • The Beauty Pageant Breaking Barriers With Jason Hancock

    The Beauty Pageant Breaking Barriers With Jason Hancock
    Oct 23 2025
    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 talents. Each year, participants partner with makeup artists for a runway fashion show and talent competition, and provide a platform for the youth to Sparkle.
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    46 mins