What is it about a fedora, a whip, and a "history avenger" that sparks a lifelong obsession? This week on The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze is joined by Broadway powerhouse and star of HBO’s The Gilded Age, Claybourne Elder.

Claybourne takes us back to a small-town theater in Utah to revisit the 1989 masterpiece, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. We dive deep into the "virile" energy of Harrison Ford, the brilliance of Sean Connery and why this film provided a vital sense of adventure for kids growing up in the 80s.

From secret script polishes by Tom Stoppard to Clay’s surreal experience acting alongside Indy legend John Rhys-Davies, this episode is a celebration of the "monoculture" blockbuster and the art that shapes who we become.

What We Discuss:

• [00:05] Growing up in Springville, Utah, and the magic of the Villa Theater.
• [01:05] Harrison Ford: The "Whip Daddy" and history’s sexiest Avenger.
• [02:55] Defining a "type": How Indy influenced Clay’s taste in men and mentors.
• [04:40] Why "straight-boy coded" adventures resonated so deeply with queer kids.
• [05:15] The Father-Son dynamic: Family legacy and the heart of The Last Crusade.
• [09:08] The Golden Age of Practical Effects (and the truth about the "clean" rats).
• [13:14] Missing the Monoculture: The community experience of the summer movie.
• [19:17] From Fan to Adventurer: How Indiana Jones inspired Clay’s world travels.
• [21:20] Behind the Scenes: Working with John Rhys-Davies on set.

Connect with Claybourne Elder:

• New Album: Pre-save/Listen to If The Stars Were Mine (Out April 3!)
• Live in NYC: Get tickets for Clay’s April residency at 54 Below.
• Instagram: @claybourneelder

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.

"You don't have glass bones. You can take life's knocks." ✨

In this episode of The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze sits down with Michelle Joy, the mesmerizing frontwoman of the dream-pop sensation Cannons. As the band prepares to release their highly anticipated new album, Everything Glows, Michelle joins us to deep-dive into the 2001 French masterpiece that shaped her artistic identity: Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie.

Michelle opens up about discovering the film during a lonely first year of college and how the quirky, observant world of Amélie Poulain provided a "warm blanket" during a time of personal family trauma. We discuss the transition from being a "shy, daydreaming girl" to performing on global stages, and why the film’s message of vulnerability is the ultimate creative catalyst.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Glass Bones" Epiphany: How one line of dialogue helped Michelle face her fears and step into the spotlight.
• Visual Magic: The influence of Amélie’s iconic color palette and cinematography on the aesthetic of Cannons.
• Magical Realism in Music: Why "small pleasures" and "mini-mysteries" are essential to the dream-pop sound.
• Overcoming Trauma: The profound connection between the film’s narrative and Michelle’s own experience with parental illness.
• Style & Identity: The "Amélie Phase" that led to a lifelong love for French culture and Doc Martens.

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.

Can 90s camp actually save classical art? This week on The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze sits down with classically trained soprano and celebrated video essayist Khadija Mbowe to dive into their "Spark": Baz Luhrmann’s neon-soaked, 1996 cinematic fever dream, Romeo + Juliet.

From reenacting Juliet’s death scene on a suburban couch at age five to mixing "WAP" with "Habanera" in their own operatic productions, Khadija explains how this film gave them the ultimate creative permission to "commit to the cuckoo."

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Baz Style: Breaking down the "drug shot" pacing and the iconic 1996 costume design that still dominates mood boards today.
• Mercutio’s Cultural Reset: The radical impact of Harold Perrineau’s performance and the "Alt-Black Girl" aesthetic in 90s cinema.
• Classical Training vs. Creative Freedom: Khadija’s journey from rigid opera school to founding Operatica, where Rachmaninoff meets Cardi B.
• #JusticeForNia: A passionate deep dive into the brilliance of director Nia DaCosta and why her work (including 28 Years Later) is the modern spiritual successor to the 90s "chaos" aesthetic.
• The Rumi Philosophy: Why "words spoken from the heart will enter the heart" is the guiding principle for modern creators.
• 
  

• YouTube: Khadija Mbowe
• Instagram: @khadija.mbowe
• Website: Operatica

• Instagram/TikTok: @sparkparade
• YouTube: The Spark Parade Channel
• Support the Show: Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Keywords: Khadija Mbowe, Baz Luhrmann, Romeo and Juliet 1996, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harold Perrineau, Nia DaCosta, 28 Years Later, Opera Fusion, Alt-Black Girl Aesthetic, Video Essayist, Shakespeare Modernized, Creative Process, The Spark Parade, Adam Unze.

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.