Asher Grodman

Ghosts actor Asher Grodman loves everything about Sidney Lumet's classic Al Pacino starring film Dog Day Afternoon. The story and its themes touch him deeply, but its the legendary performances by the incredible ensemble that really stick with him. Pacino's unselfconscious, honest portrayal of a complicated real-life character is a masterclass in screen acting. The film has aged incredibly well and was tackling subjects like gay and trans rights in a thoughful and nuanced way nearly fifty years ago.

Check out Asher Grodman is in Ghosts, which airs on CBS on Thursday nights.

SHAED

Ever since hearing their self-titled debut, SHAED felt a special kinship with Sylvan Esso. Both bands came from a folky, acoustic background and were experimenting with electronic sounds -- not to mention they were both family ventures. On this episode of The Spark Parade, SHAED explains how Sylvan Esso helped to further shape their musical style. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

SHAED originally started as a straightforward folk band, but after running into trouble finding a drummer, they began looking for other outlets. When they heard Sylvan Esso’s electronic flourishes and programmed percussion, though, a whole new world opened up for them, and the solution to their troubles became clear. Ever since, they've been following their own passion for folktronica.

Beth Ditto

Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto loves everything about Missy Elliott’s second album Da Real World. The non-stop bangers, the icy production from Timbaland, the tight vocal harmonies -- it's basically flawless. More than just quality music, though, the record also reminds Ditto of a time when her musical taste was starting to truly develop. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Ditto explains how the album shaped her young mind. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Missy Elliott as a whole would go on to heavily influence Gossip, as the group looked to Southern soul music for inspiration.

Bassem Youssef

Comedian Bassem Youssef, known for his sharp wit and political commentary, discovered Billy Joel's "Pressure" in an unlikely place -- midway through an episode of Amazon's superhero satire The Boys. From the first notes, he knew he had to seek out the song for himself. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Youssef explains how he fell in love with the track once he did. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The more Youssef dove into "Pressure," the more he connected with its energetic synth-rock vibe, soaring melodies, and themes of dealing with stress.

JIMBO

Self-described drag clown and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner JIMBO first got into Pee-wee's Playhouse, predictably, as a child. And yet, even as an adult, the program's unparalleled creativity continues to have a huge influence on her outlook, art, and even home decor. On this episode of The Spark Parade, JIMBO explores her deep connection with the TV show. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Talking about Pee-wee's Playhouse, JIMBO takes particular note of the show's queer -- or at least drag -- aesthetic, as well as how its content boldly treated kids like adults.

Allie X

Singer, songwriter, and visual artist Allie X loves Christopher Guest’s highly influential mockumentary Waiting For Guffman so much that it’s become a somewhat of litmus test for her. If she meets someone and they love Guffman, she knows they’ll get along. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Allie X explores her deep connection with the film. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The artist touches on the emotional component of the film, zoning in on how even though it's hilarious, it also reflects the real struggle of being an artist in an industry that often crushes dreams.

The artist also explains her link to the world of theater and recalls the concentrated communities that develop during a production -- something she feels Guffman nails.

Everything Everything

The moment he read it, Everything Everything frontman Jonathan Higgs fell in love with the satirical absurdity of Chris Bacheldor's Bear V Shark and its skewering of our modern reliance on technology and entertainment. It inspired the complex backstory underpinning Everything's new album Mountainhead and affirmed Jonathan's broader worldview.

Real Estate

Real Estate frontman Martin Courtney had loved Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete and Pete as a child, but he was understandably skeptical of how it might hold up when it came time to show it to his own kids. Fortunately, Courtney discovered that it was everything he remembered and more. Listen to the singer chat about his rediscovery on this episode of The Spark Parade above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Courtney dives into how, as an adult, he found that the show's weird, sweet, funny nature helped it transcend the pitfalls similar shows from the time fall into. He ended up being so taken by his reconnection with the show that Real Estate created a Pete and Pete-themed video for their new song "Water Underground."

Mitch Rowland

Of all places, Mitch Rowland discovered Charles Mingus' seminal jazz album The Clown at a pizza restaurant. The singer, songwriter, and Harry Styles collaborator was scrolling through his coworkers iPod when the album jumped out at him. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Rowland explains just how instrumental that pizza-adjacent moment was. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Rowland continues to be mesmerized by classic tracks like "Haitian Fight Song" to this day, with the record as whole remaining a core inspiration for the songwriter's own work. As a fan, he comes back to The Clown often to marvel at its audacious take on jazz playing and song structure.

The Beaches' Spark Is True Romance

This week on The Spark Parade, The Beaches front-woman Jordan Miller recalls the time her tour manager introduced her to True Romance, the cult classic written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott.

Hooked from the first frame, Miller details how she loved the film's bright colors, ultra-violence, and -- most of all -- titular romance. She’s watched and re-watched it so many times, she admits, that it has ultimately shaped her perception of romantic relationships throughout her adult life.

Atmosphere's Spark Is Herbie Hancock's Future Shock

On this episode of The Spark Parade, Atmosphere’s DJ and producer Ant discusses seeing a live performance of Hancock's instrumental hip-hop classic "Rockit" at age 13, a performance that ultimately led him to become absolutely obsessed with art of scratching. Listen to the full conversation above, and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to The Spark Parade wherever you get your podcasts.

After catching the live performance, the recorded version of the song (as well as the album it came from, Future Shock) became an all-time favorite for the budding producer. Ant reflects on the personal importance of the track, why it inspired him to master the scratching techniques it displayed, and how strange it was that the song became a hit.

Justin Tranter's Spark Is "Swan Dive" by Ani DiFranco

On this episode of The Spark Parade, Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated songwriter, producer, and activist Justin Tranter talks about feeling completely entranced the first time they heard Ani DiFranco’s song "Swan Dive."

Tranter instantly fell in love with “Swan Dive” and its poetic message of self-empowerment. Ever since, it's continued to shape their taste and songwriting process.

Aryan Simhadri's Spark Is The Devil Wears Prada

Percy Jackson and The Olympians star Aryan Simhadri was a bit skeptical when he first saw The Devil Wears Prada, but he quickly became enthralled with the incredible acting and sharp storytelling. On this episode of The Spark Parade, the actor explains how it wasn't just the glitz, glamour, and fashion that drew him, but the powerhouse that is Meryl Streep.

Max Burkholder's Spark Is Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker’s Airplane!

Ted star Max Burkholder might have been born in the '90s, but the 1980 cult classic Airplane! still resonated with him like few other comedies before or since. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Burkholder gushes about the silly world of Airplane!, a style of comedy that grabbed him and never let go.

The actor admits that, upon first viewing, the performances in the film were so subtle he didn't realize it was a comedy. He's since grown to adore its blend of deadpan humor, slapstick, and surrealism, and it's proven to be a major influence for his work on Ted, a show from another one of his creative heroes, Seth MacFarlane.

Sleater-Kinney Spark Is Patti Smith's Horses

When Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker discovered Patti Smith's legendary debut album Horses, an artistic earthquake occurred in both of their lives. They were blown away by Smith's fearless, challenging lyrics and melodies and Robert Mapplethorpe's stunning portrait on the album's cover. Horses has remained a constant source of inspiration in Sleater-Kinney's decades long career, as the band has travelled the globe playing iconic venues infused with the spirit of Smith's music and that of her contemporaries.

Be sure to check out Sleater-Kinney's new album  Little Rope, a record that was completed in the aftermath of a deadly car accident involving Brownstein’s mother and stepfather in late 2022, which is releasing 1/19 here!

Peppermint's Spark Is Janet Jackson's Janet

As a lifelong Janet Jackson stan, actress, singer, and drag superstar Peppermint loves Janet's entire back catalog. But her self-titled fifth album has a special place in Peppermint's heart. It represents a major leap forward in Janet's style and sound, as well as her public advocacy for the queer community. And, Peppermint has been so inspired by Janet's choreography that she's recreated two of her videos!

Learn more about Peppermint here and be sure to check her out in Peacock's The Traitors, a competition show, hosted by Alan Cumming, where contestants play the ultimate murder mystery game to win a prize of up to $250,000.

Sam Song Li's Spark is Damien Chazelle's Whiplash

Actor and content creator Sam Song Li (The Brothers Son, Never Have I ever, and Better Call Saul) was bowled over when he first saw Damien Chazelle's frenetic music school nightmare Whiplash. Li was even compelled to seek out acting classes that mirrored the film's hard-edged approach to artistic practice - albeit a less extreme version. In look back, he still sees the value of brutal honesty in furthering artists' careers, but he also sees the drawbacks and limitations of relentless negative feedback.

Learn more about Sam Song Li here and be sure to check him out in Netflix's The Brothers Son starring alongside Michelle Yeoh and Justin Chien.

Jesse Boykins III's Spark Is the Fifth Element

Singer, songwriter and producer Jesse Boykins III was introduced to The Fifth Element by his college roommate (who happened to be Jonah Hill!). He was hooked on the film's style and storytelling from the first frame and has continually revisited it as a source of creative inspiration throughout his career. Jean Paul Gaultier's costume design combined with Luc Besson's unique storytelling to create a distinctive sci-fi landscape, one that showed Boykins the power of combining masculine and feminine energies in his artistry.

Trinity The Tuck's Spark Is Death Becomes Her

Drag Race superstar Trinity The Tuck loves the bonkers campness of queer classic Death Becomes Her for lots of reasons. The deliciously over-the-top performances by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, the iconic fashion, and the ridiculous story have had her hooked since the first time she saw it. She watches it multiple times a year and it's influence has even seeped into her drag.