Laura Camien:

Welcome to The Town Hall Spark Sessions. I'm Laura Camien.

Susan Blackwell:

And I’m Susan Blackwell. We are creativity coaches who host The Spark File Podcast. The Spark File podcast and coaching programs help people fear less and create more.

Laura Camien:

As creatives ourselves, we are always seeking sparks of inspiration. We're cooking up ideas for how to partner with other creatives and organizations who inspire us. Currently, we're obsessed with one of the most dynamic cultural centers in New York City, The Town Hall. Why are we so obsessed with Town Hall? Oh, we'll tell you.

Susan Blackwell:

For over a century, the Town Hall has been a champion for artistry and advocacy, amplifying the voices of icons and emerging artists alike.

Laura Camien:

For instance, did you know the Town Hall was literally built by suffragists in 1921? And,, that same year, Margaret Sanger was arrested on the town hall stage during a public meeting on birth control. This is 1921! She went on to found what we now know as Planned Parenthood. In 1934, Emma Goldman defied the US government and condemned Hitler from the Town Hall stage.

Susan Blackwell:

And then there's the artists. The great performer Paul Robeson made his first concert appearance on the stage at the town hall. Billie Holiday did her first major solo show on the stage at the Town Hall. Rachmaninoff, Nina Simone, Sammy Davis, Jr, Isaac Stern, Dizzy Gillespie, and so many more have all graced the stage at Town Hall.

Laura Camien:

And the legacy continues today. The Town Hall is a place where amazing artists and underrepresented voices can be heard.

Susan Blackwell:

And now The Spark File and The Town Hall have joined forces to elevate and celebrate artists who are appearing at the Town Hall and using their creativity for the powers of good.

Laura Camien:

We're gonna talk to the people who are sparking us right now, the Town Hall artists who are shaping the next century of culture, conversation and creativity.

Susan Blackwell:

As always, we hope these conversations will inspire you. Subscribe now to the Town Hall Spark Sessions, wherever you get your podcasts.

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