The Spark Parade – Details, episodes & analysis
Podcast details
Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

The Spark Parade
Adam Unze - Music & Film Interviews
Frequency: 1 episode/13d. Total Eps: 173

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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Apple Podcasts
🇺🇸 USA - filmInterviews
28/07/2025#91🇬🇧 Great Britain - filmInterviews
27/07/2025#88🇩🇪 Germany - filmInterviews
27/07/2025#100🇺🇸 USA - filmInterviews
27/07/2025#50🇩🇪 Germany - filmInterviews
26/07/2025#89🇩🇪 Germany - filmInterviews
25/07/2025#71🇺🇸 USA - filmInterviews
04/07/2025#96🇺🇸 USA - filmInterviews
03/07/2025#75🇨🇦 Canada - filmInterviews
22/06/2025#86🇩🇪 Germany - filmInterviews
19/06/2025#99
Spotify
No recent rankings available
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
See all- https://redcircle.com/brands
612732 shares
- https://www.vote.org/
135 shares
- https://www.instagram.com/sparkparade
173 shares
- https://www.instagram.com/catccohen
12 shares
RSS feed quality and score
Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.
See allScore global : 64%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
Ashe's Spark Is Carole King's Tapestry
mercredi 4 septembre 2024 • Duration 33:34
Singer/songwriter Ashe sits down with Adam to talk about her Spark, Carole King's record breaking, earth shattering, emotionally devastating masterpiece Tapestry. Ashe talks about the direct impact Tapestry had on her songwriting and the inspiration she drew from it while composing her highly anticipated new album Wilson.
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.
FOALS' Yannis Philippakis
mercredi 28 août 2024 • Duration 30:40
FOALS and Yannis & The Yaw front man Yannis Philippakis was hooked on the singular sounds of Pixies legendary debut album Surfer Rosa from the first time he heard it. Since becoming a musician himself, Surfer Rosa has influenced the way he plays guitar and his approach to writing and recording music. His personal connection to the album even extends to a stint as Kim Deal's pen pal!
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.
Maya Hawke's Spark Is Euripides' The Bacchae
Episode 221
mercredi 29 mai 2024 • Duration 31:00
This week on The Spark Parade, the multi-talented Maya Hawke celebrates Chaos Angel by diving into an old, and we mean old, piece of art that has remained a source of inspired for years -- Euripides' classic Greek tragedy The Bacchae. Listen now.
Hawke first became aware of Euripides, expectedly, in school. As a teen, she appeared in a high school production of The Bacchae, and she's been absolutely entranced by the work ever since. The Stranger Things star continues to marvel at the universality baked into the ancient storytelling, as moments in her life consistently echo the themes of the play.
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.
Katelyn Tarver's Spark Is Brené Brown's Unlocking Us
Episode 109
mercredi 22 septembre 2021 • Duration 32:51
Singer/songwriter and actor Katelyn Tarver joins me to chat about her spark, an episode of Brené Brown's Unlocking Us podcast.
In her interview with Dax Shepard and Tim Ferriss, Brown talks about the power of relinquishing control. That interview inspired Katelyn to write the first single off of her upcoming album Subject To Change.
Katelyn and I talk about learning to accept the random nature of the universe, the perils of actors' auditions and drawing artistic inspiration from unlikely places.
Links:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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.
Larkin Poe And Nu Deco Ensemble's Spark Is Led Zeppelin 4
Episode 108
vendredi 17 septembre 2021 • Duration 32:39
This week, I'm joined by Grammy nominated roots rock duo Rebecca and Megan Lovell of Larkin Poe along with Sam Hyken of pioneering hybrid orchestra Nu Deco Ensemble to talk about their collective spark of inspiration Led Zeppelin’s 4th untitled album, commonly referred to as Led Zeppelin 4.
How do the biggest albums of all time sound to you? Do you hear them in a different way to anyone else in the world? How would you reinterpret that music if you wanted to make it your own?
Rebecca, Megan and Sam talk through the process of collaborating on their new album Paint The Roses: Live In Concert through the lens of Led Zeppelin's globe dominating magnum opus. We also get into the Zeppelin's unparalleled musicianship and the profound impact their music has had on modern rock and pop.
Paint The Roses: Live In Concert is out now!!
Links:
Paint The Roses: Live In Concert
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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.
The Felice Brothers' James Felice Is Randy Newman's Sail Away
Episode 107
mercredi 15 septembre 2021 • Duration 32:39
I'm joined by the absolutely lovely musician James Felice of the Felice Brothers who spoke to me about his spark, Randy Newman’s classic album Sail Away.
For an entire generation, Newman's voice is inextricably linked to the Toy Story movies and other cinematic classics. But those recent career highlights can be a gateway into Newman's prolific career.
In addition to our chat about Sail Away, James and I speak about learning to appreciate music through older siblings and the lost joys of buying CD's blindly without ever hearing a note from them.
Links:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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.
Dr. Mike's Spark Is American Hardcore: A Tribal History
Episode 105
vendredi 27 août 2021 • Duration 36:24
Psychologist, life coach, heavy metal vocalist and podcaster Dr. Mike spoke to me about his spark, Steven Blush’s book American Hardcore: A Tribal History.
Dr. Mike's discovery of hardcore punk had a profound effect on his life and the way his sees the world. We dig into Blush's detailed recount of hardcore's history. The scene only lasted a decade, but it's influence has been felt by everyone from Dave Grohl to Flea.
Dr. Mike and I explore hardcore's chaotic energy and the vast network of hardcore micro-scenes in towns and cities across North America.
Links:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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.
Small Black's Josh Kolenik's Spark Is Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show
Episode 103
vendredi 20 août 2021 • Duration 32:02
Small Black front man Josh Kolenik joins me to geek out about one of our mutual favorites, Peter Bogdanovich's era defining classic film The Last Picture Show.
It's a film that perfectly encapsulates the angst and anxiety of growing up and first love, while simultaneously nailing nostalgia for the past and the longing of regret.
Josh and I focus on the incredible performances (particularly those of Ellen Burstyn and Cloris Leachman), the beautifully sparse scenery and our changing connection to the film as we grow older.
Links:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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.
Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew's Spark Is Do Make Say Think's You, You're A History In Rust
Episode 101
mercredi 11 août 2021 • Duration 37:31
Broken Social Scene's bandleader Kevin Drew joins me to talk about his spark of Inspiration, Do Make Say Think's fifth album You, You're A History In Rust. Kevin is friends with the band (a couple of DMST's members are also in BSS), but he talks about being able to separate his personal relationships with the musicians from the music he loves so much.
Our conversation covers learning to live with grief, the beauty of film soundtracks, our mutual love for Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual and we also propose a collaboration between Do Make Say Think and Rihanna.
Kevin's brilliant new instrumental album Influences (under the K.D.A.P moniker) is out now on Arts And Crafts.
Links:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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.
Laura Stevenson's Spark Is Claudia Bernardi's Pasa Un Angel
Episode 100
mercredi 4 août 2021 • Duration 28:23
Singer/songwriter Laura Stevenson spoke to me about a cultural spark that is really remarkable. I don’t think that any other topic that I’ve discussed on this show has affected me as much as this one. Laura’s spark is Pasa Un Angel, a mixed media monotype fresco by fine artist and activist Claudia Bernardi, but we talked about Bernardi's entire body of work. She has lived an absolutely incredible life and survived through and witnessed unimaginable trauma.
This conversation is going to be a source of inspiration for you, but it also features discussion of some incredibly upsetting and horrifying human rights abuses that are the driving force behind Bernardi’s work. It's a moving and, for me, truly life changing discussion.
You’ll finish this episode wanting to know much more about Claudia Bernardi’s work and you’ll also be really excited to listen to Laura’s music.
Laura's fantastic self-titled album will be released on August 6th.
Links:
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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.