American Masters: Creative Spark
How do today’s masters create their art? American Masters: Creative Spark presents narrative interviews that go in-depth with an iconic artist about the creation of a single work. Each episode offers a unique window into the world of art and the creative process of artists and cultural icons across a wide range of disciplines, from music and comedy to poetry and film.
Explore more at www.pbs.org/creativespark
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 29 minutes
- Episodes
- 92
- Years Active
- 2016 - 2025
How Natasha Rothwell’s Life Brought Her to “The White Lotus”
Actress Natasha Rothwell returns as Belinda in The White Lotus Season 3, a role that’s earned her two Emmy nominations and cemented her status as the show’s moral center.
In this episode, Rothwell …
00:33:40 |
Tue 26 Aug 2025
Daniel Dae Kim Leads Spy Drama and Fights for Industry Change
Actor Daniel Dae Kim is no stranger to breaking barriers. From his groundbreaking role on Lost, to his Tony-nominated turn in Yellow Face, Kim continues to affirm his title as one of Time Magazine’s …
00:21:48 |
Fri 15 Aug 2025
Phil Rosenthal’s Secret Recipe: Good Food and a Laugh
Writer, producer and host Phil Rosenthal makes television for the whole family. First, he created the Emmy Award-winning sitcom classic, Everybody Loves Raymond. Now he has taken his vision to food a…
00:22:54 |
Wed 25 Jun 2025
Tunde Adebimpe Channels His DIY Roots Into Raw Solo Debut
TV on the Radio co-founder Tunde Adebimpe is a force of positivity. In the face of unimaginable loss, Adebimpe has channeled his grief into Thee Black Boltz, an upbeat, high-energy solo debut.
You …
00:37:28 |
Fri 06 Jun 2025
George C. Wolfe on Desperation and Desire in His “Gypsy”
For Tony-winning playwright and theater director George C. Wolfe, the “landscape of America is rich and complicated and messy.” He takes the greatest joy in putting that messiness on the Broadway sta…
00:25:43 |
Fri 23 May 2025
Daveed Diggs Takes on Cyberpunk Rap
You might know rapper and actor Daveed Diggs from his performances in Broadway’s “Hamilton” or 2024’s “Nickel Boys.” But he is also one-third of the hip-hop group clipping. Known for their love of ge…
00:26:00 |
Thu 24 Apr 2025
Lucy Dacus Makes Her First Love Songs
Singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus has been building up to this moment her entire career. With her new album, “Forever Is a Feeling,” she is ready to write about love. Coming off the heels of a Grammy Awar…
00:24:37 |
Fri 28 Mar 2025
Alicia Graf Mack on Honoring the Past and Future of Dance
Alicia Graf Mack has been entrusted with carrying the torch of ballet and modern dance into the future. As a dancer, she has battled through adversity to perform alongside artists like Beyoncé, John …
00:31:11 |
Tue 25 Feb 2025
Min Jin Lee Revisits the Decades It Took To Write “Pachinko”
Author Min Jin Lee talks to us about the power of the social novel. Her epic historical fiction novel, “Pachinko,” is frequently cited as one of the best books of the 21st century. Lee’s exploration …
00:37:46 |
Fri 22 Nov 2024
Michael Urie Finds Laughs in the Balcony and the Front Row
Actor Michael Urie is a breath of fresh air. He talks to us about his journey in acting from the suburbs of Dallas, Texas to the Broadway stage. It was an unlikely path filled with generous doses of …
00:35:22 |
Thu 31 Oct 2024
Conor Oberst Finds His Purpose in Process
Singer-songwriter Conor Oberst talks to us about the joy of making music. He describes his music and artistic mission as both a “release of negative feelings” and “a way to rejoice.” With their new a…
00:30:20 |
Thu 10 Oct 2024
Taffy Brodesser-Akner Defends the Trauma Plot
Writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner jokes that “family is a chronic condition,” but eventually, we all figure out that we are lucky to have it. She talks to us about this theme in her newest novel and its s…
00:37:59 |
Thu 19 Sep 2024
Minnie Driver’s Path to the Throne
Actor Minnie Driver talks to us about how she took on the role of one of the most powerful women in history. In the Starz series, “The Serpent Queen,” she plays Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned over En…
00:31:44 |
Thu 05 Sep 2024
Annie Baker Shifts From Stage to Screen
Annie Baker talks to us about her directorial debut, “Janet Planet.” Her film explores the intimate relationship between a single mother and her daughter told over a long and hot summer break in West…
00:32:02 |
Thu 22 Aug 2024
Jewel Finds Healing in Music and Art
Singer-songwriter Jewel talks to us about her love of learning and the joy of making art across multiple disciplines. She recounts her journey navigating a traumatic childhood and channeling its chal…
00:39:22 |
Thu 08 Aug 2024
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Can Do That Genre Too!
Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks to us about the vast “spectrum of realism” in his line of work. He might be one of the most adaptable actors working today. Whether it’s the recently released Beverly Hills…
00:39:42 |
Thu 25 Jul 2024
Here's a quick preview of our new season!
We're back! Our first new episode drops Thursday, July 25th, and every other Thursday after that. First up: Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks with us about his creative process as an actor who is able to mo…
00:00:58 |
Fri 12 Jul 2024
From The Plot Thickens: Decoding John Ford
We’re sharing a bonus episode from our friends at The Plot Thickens, a podcast from TCM about movies and the people who make them. Their new season is all about John Ford, the most influential filmma…
00:50:41 |
Thu 11 Jul 2024
Ling Ma on Imploding the Immigrant Narrative
Novelist Ling Ma doesn’t shy away from taking risks with her writing. Her 2018 debut novel, “Severance,” is an apocalyptic satire that won the Kirkus Prize for Fiction and squarely put her on the map…
00:28:10 |
Thu 15 Jun 2023
Viet Thanh Nguyen on the Ghosts that Haunt our Cultural Past (Replay)
It’s been announced! Writer Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer” (2015) is now getting the prestige TV treatment on HBO’s newly rebranded Max streaming service.
To celeb…
00:37:55 |
Thu 04 May 2023
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