Reaching Back In Time, with Salima Ikram

Often, creativity comes in the form of adaptation. Reinterpreting a classic can re-frame stories and songs in creative ways for a whole new audience. Meet award-winning music producer and Beatles audio expert Giles Martin – son of legendary music producer George Martin. Giles talks about working closely with his father to adapt the revered Beatles canon and optimizing the sound for Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles-inspired show, LOVE, featuring the music of The Beatles through time.

There is no more diverse group of organisms on this entire planet than insects, and perhaps no one draws more creative inspiration from this group than world-renowned entomologist, Dr. Samuel Ramsey (aka Dr. Sammy). Listen in as “Your Friendly Neighborhood Entomologist” sits down with host Michel Laprise to share his extensive research on insects and how each of these remarkable creatures has its own value. Join us for a buggy conversation inspired by OVO, and discover how creative inspiration can be found in the captivating life cycles of insects.

Sometimes, following a simple line on a page can lead to incredible creative breakthroughs. Michel sits down with Disney animator Roger Gould to talk about the power of immersive storytelling to evoke essential aspects of the human experience. Gould is known for his work on Disney’s Hercules (1997), Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land (2012), EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After (2016) and Tokyo Disneyland's Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast (2021). He was a key animation consultant on DRAWN TO LIFE, Cirque du Soleil’s compelling homage to the art and legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Sometimes, the source of creativity can be a place that hurts. And one of the places where pain and creativity intersect most potently is in the art of stand-up comedy. In this episode, Michel is joined by Josh Johnson, stand-up comedian, Emmy-nominated writer (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), performer, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana, for a conversation about how to turn pain into creative output. Featuring music and ideas from KOOZA, a classic Cirque du Soleil show featuring a trio of in-your-face, boundary-pushing clowns.

What happens when you combine scientific and artistic modes of inquiry? According to Diane Ullman, this is how creative genius is born. As co-founder of the Art/Science Fusion program at UC Davis, Ullman interweaves art into her science curriculum to stimulate her students’ interest and creative problem-solving. Join the award-winning professor and entomologist as she sits down with Michel Laprise for a discussion inspired by the music and concepts of JOYA, a Cirque du Soleil show with themes of migration, learning, and coming of age.

What happens when you have a lifelong mindset of curiosity? Nobel-laureate astrophysicist Dr. John Mather is the big scientific brain behind the James Webb deep space telescope, a massive leap forward in humanity’s quest to understand the universe and its origins. Dr. Mather sits down with Cirque du Soleil creative guide, Michel Laprise, to discuss how a never-ending quest for knowledge has led to wildly creative collaborations that redefine our understanding of time, space, and what it means to be human. Listen in as these two luminaries explore concepts inspired by the music and themes of KURIOS: Cabinet of Curiosities.JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPEhttps://webb.nasa.gov/

If you want true creative inspiration, look to the past. So says the highly distinguished Professor of Egyptology at The American University in Cairo, Salima Ikram. Ikram has worked as an archaeologist in Turkey, Sudan, Greece, and the United States, and now she joins Michel Laprise for a deep conversation inspired by the history and mythology of the original must-see Cirque du Soleil show, Mystère. Listen in as the two examine how ancient stories can inspire modern-day creativity.

How do we continue fueling creativity while holding ourselves accountable for how the future unfolds? In this episode, Michel Laprise interviews Microsoft’s ‘Prime Unifying Scientist’, futurist, musician, and VR pioneer, Jaron Lanier. Inspired by the music and core concepts of ECHO, the two discuss our changing perception of reality, why we must not lose touch with nature, and the future of technology. Listen in as the two delve into the future, the power of invention, and the importance of empathy.

In a world that feels like it's evolving faster than we can comprehend, what does it mean to be 'present' and 'immersed'? Felix Lajeunesse's journey into the world of immersive storytelling began when he and collaborator Paul Raphael founded Felix & Paul Studios, a Montreal-based creative studio. The duo embarked on a mission to harness technology to create emotionally resonant narratives that would transport audiences into new dimensions of storytelling. Listen in as Felix joins Michel Laprise for a fascinating conversation about the evolution of Virtual Reality Cinema, the elegance and surrealism of the Cirque du Soleil show “O”, and Felix's philosophy on presence, immersion, and creativity.

The rite of passage is at the heart of the hero’s journey. Understanding it is crucial to understanding humanity, and essential to many forms of creative storytelling. Award-winning anthropologist Wade Davis is a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet, world-traveler, and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity. He joins Michel for a deep conversation about the creative and cultural significance of the Rite of Passage, across cultures and throughout history, and delves into the significance of today’s modern “rites.”. Together, they discuss KÁ, a Cirque du Soleil show with its themes of rites of passage, and self-discovery.