This week, Adam welcomes the ultimate "Broadway Baby" of drag, Ginger Minj, who brings her lifelong passion for musical theater to the parade to break down her ultimate artistic spark: Jon M. Chu’s spectacular 2024 cinematic adaptation of Wicked.

Adam and Ginger dive deep into the Emerald City, exploring how a childhood introduction to The Wizard of Oz at three years old became a brilliant Technicolor metaphor for escaping a claustrophobic small town. They trace the rich, explicit queer and trans history woven into L. Frank Baum's original 1900 book series, celebrate the undeniable, magical chemistry between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and swap legendary backstage stories from the Broadway production.

• The Munchkinland Metaphor: Ginger's grandmother, a 1939 baby, and the three miracles of that year (including Tina Turner!).
• The Backstage Tea: Witnessing the legendary, tense, post-Tony Awards energy between Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth on stage.
• The Secret Trans History of Oz: Uncovering the century-old story of Princess Ozma and Tip, and how the source material was ahead of its time.
• Reclaiming the Narrative: How Ginger found her inner Elphaba while handling online critics during RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars.
• The Subliminal Power of Glitter: Why musical theater is the perfect Trojan horse for sparking vital conversations about inclusion and political erasure.

Ginger Minj is a powerhouse performer, actress, singer, and author who first captured global attention as a finalist on season seven of RuPaul's Drag Race and All Stars 6, before winning All Stars 10. A brilliant theatrical force, she has seamlessly crossed over from the mainstage to major feature films, appearing in Netflix’s Dumplin’ and Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2. She is also the author of Southern Hospitality and an acclaimed recording artist.

• Watch: Catch Ginger starring alongside a runway of drag royalty in the wild new action-comedy disaster movie Stop! That! Train!, hitting theaters June 12th!
• See Her Live This Summer: If you're in Atlanta or Provincetown, grab tickets immediately to Liked: For Gay, a raunchy, hilarious Wicked parody show starring Ginger Minj and Jujubee. Playing at Atlanta’s Out Front Theatre through June 28th, and heading to P-Town this July!

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.

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How does a small-town kid from Indiana find the courage to reject traditional pop-star expectations and build a fiercely independent music career? On this episode of The Spark Parade, Adam sits down with indie-pop singer-songwriter Lauren Sanderson to explore the artistic impact of Pink’s multi-platinum 2008 album, Funhouse.

Sanderson details her vivid childhood memories of discovering Pink’s music and explains how the pop icon served as a vital guide for self-discovery, identity, and creative defiance. The conversation dives deep into Pink’s unique positioning as a queer-coded mainstream artist, her mastery of balancing vulnerable lyricism with high-octane rock swagger, and her rare ability to use comedic relief to make complex, painful personal trials universally digestible.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• The Catalyst of "Don't Let Me Get Me": Lauren shares the unforgettable emotional breakthrough of hearing Pink as a young tomboy growing up in Indiana.
• Dismantling the Pop-Star Mold: An analysis of Pink's refusal to conform to the hyper-feminine, highly commercialized industry standards of the late 2000s.
• The Power of Radical Authenticity: Why top-tier icons choose to protect their genuine identity rather than over-explaining their artistic choices.
• Queer-Coded Mainstream Spaces: A look back at how Pink fostered inclusive, safe environments for listeners navigating their own sexuality during an era with limited mainstream representation.
• Pacing and Showmanship: Lauren breaks down her deep admiration for Pink's unparalleled athletic live performances and strict professional dedication.
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About Tonight's Guest: Lauren Sanderson

Lauren Sanderson is a powerhouse indie-pop force recognized for her unapologetic DIY work ethic, boundary-pushing genre blends, and uncompromising vulnerability. Dedicated to creating an inclusive, safe space for her audience, Sanderson has cultivated a global community of fans through her electrifying live performances and raw songwriting. Her latest album Lauren is out now.

About the Album: Pink's Funhouse

Released in October 2008, Funhouse is the fifth studio album by global superstar Pink. Written in the wake of a painful marital separation, the record stands as a masterclass in creative resilience, seamlessly pairing aggressive, defiant rock anthems with quiet, acoustic introspection. The album yielded massive international hits, including "So What," "Sober," and "Please Don't Leave Me".

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.

Tony Award-winning actor and acclaimed singer-songwriter John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening, The Newsroom, 10 Cloverfield Lane) joins Adam to chat about his Spark: The Replacements' front man Paul Westerberg’s raw, soulful 1993 solo debut, 14 Songs.

John opens up about discovering the record during a blue period with his own songwriting and how Westerberg’s "not taking it too seriously" studio philosophy became his ultimate creative mantra.

What’s inside this episode:

• The Actor’s Rental Car Epiphany: How a film shoot in California led John to a deep-dive into Westerberg’s post-Replacements catalog.
• The Winona Ryder Vintage Tee: A wild, exclusive story about acting opposite Hollywood icon Winona Ryder and the piece of 1991 rock history she pulled out of a grocery bag for him.
• The Songwriting Mantra: Why "What would Paul Westerberg do?" is the exact framework John uses in the studio to embrace mistakes and stop overthinking the music.

John Gallagher Jr.’s brilliant new EP, Almost OK, officially releases on May 29th.

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.