Improv Interviews
Comedy
About
I'm a psychotherapist/improviser and host Improv Interviews with some of the most interesting people in the world - improvisers. We discuss what improv comedy is and how they use it for helping others.
Episodes
- 225 Improv Interviews Ian McLaughlin-Boho Arts Founder & Co-Artistic Director
Meet the brilliant and charming improviser, teacher, filmmaker and so much more, Ian McLaughlin. He started his Improv career on a rainy night in London (see our interview with his partner Beverly Fox) and began an incredible improv journe…
- Rita Ezenwa Okoro - Creative Culturist
I first met Rita a few years ago, during the pandemic when I learned about the Global Play Brigade – an organization right up my alley! She is a powerful woman who exemplifies how one person can bring positive change to so many people! Rit…
- Improv Interviews Bob Mann - Nurse, Social Worker Improviser
Meet my good friend Bob Mann. We met during the pandemic and I had the good fortune to teach with him online at his alma mater, University of Oklahoma School of Social Work on "Improv and Therapy". Bob is an amazing human being who has ded…
- Bev Fox - Improviser/Writer/Filmmaker
Meet the wonderful Bev Fox! Bev has run Boho Arts’ School of Improv in Newcastle-upon-Tyne UK since 2003, serving a vibrant creative community of people from all walks of life. Bev’s improv journey began in 1988 on a rainy night in London…
- 221 Improv Interviews Emma T - Be open to Everything!
I first met Emma with a T during the pandemic online and was immediately taken by her energetic and playful improv. We chat about her improv journey starting in Bristol , including studying with The Bristol Improv Theatre, https://improvth…
- David Escobedo - Dr. of Improv and The Improv Booster
David Escobedo is definitely an Improv treasure! Since we last spoke he received a Ph.D. in Improv Training in the UK. We chat about what that process was like and he gives great tips on anyone pursuing any kind of Ph.D. David is well know…
- 219 Improv Interviews Alex Mann - Improvising Sheriff & Author
Meet Alex Mann, Improviser, Actor, Author and a Corrections Officer with a Sheriff’s Office for 28 years in Boston, Massachusetts. I was particularly interested in his use of improv with first responders as I had spent several years as a C…
- 218 Improv Interviews Vishok Verma - Improviser/Coach & Dear Friend
Meet my dear friend Vishok, Verma from Bangalore, India. We've been colleagues for several years and he has even been a substitute coach for my Improv for Parkinson's Classes. He is continually bringing improv to his community and the worl…
- Hillary Kane-Improviser,Director, Tech Guru & so much more!
We're starting the New Year with our good friend the talented and stunningly transparent Hillary Kane! I met Hillary through Billy Merritt (player with the original Upright Citizens Brigade) who created the BIT Comedy Network, https://bitc…
- Episode 216 Improv Interviews Kim Thanh Le - Joyful Improviser
Meet the dynamic Kim Thanh Le ! Many thanks to my producer, Bright Su ,for introducing us. We had such fun getting to know each other and learning about her improv journey! She was born and raised in Hanoi and loves her city. She is a Hano…
- 215-Improv Interviews Dr. Stephanie McCullough -Musical Improv Director Extraordinaire!- Part 2
In our second hour with Dr. Steph we explore her improv journey, starting as a musical director at Chicago theatre such as IO, Comedy Sports and Second City. We shared our love of the "mother of improv" Viola Spolin and discussed the myria…
- 214 Improv Interviews Dr. Stephanie McCullough -Musical Improv Director Extraordinaire!
Carlisle is the only city In County Cumbria, UK and one of the oldest cities, spanning 2,000 years. Someone who hasn’t been there quite that long is the marvelous Dr. Steph McCullough, world renowned musical improv director! In this first…
- Marc Warzecha - The Sketch Writing Genuis
Marc Watzecha is my friend and teacher and today we talk about all the great classes available at The Sketch School. Marc is the founder of this online training ground dedicated exclusively to sketch and short form comedy. Improv Interview…
- Improv Interviews Jennifer Estin -Film, TV , Theatre Actress
I had the great pleasure of meeting Jennifer Estin when I signed at the terrific online classes for the Annoyance, Improv Fiend! https://improvfiend.com We chatted about her childhood and how her mother created games that inspired her to p…
- Marian Rich - Activist/Improviser/Author
I first met the dynamic Marian Rich at a Global Play Brigade event and later at an East Side Institute meeting. Marian, a New York City native, shared her journey from growing up in Manhattan in the 1960s to becoming a political activist a…
- Gael Doorneweerd-Perry - From Introvert to Improviser Extraordinaire!
Gael Doorneweed-Perry is a fabulous improviser and co-founder of Flock Theatre Amsterdam. https://flock-theatre.com/venue/flock-studio-treehouse/ He loves traveling and creating formats to explore and share, including with his partner on a…
- Kitty Parker - Improviser/Writer
Meet my friend Kitty Parker. We met at the online Queen City Comedy School and I knew I wanted to get to know her better. I was fascinated by her writing about improv which you can find at https://medium.com/@kittyparker_8532 She moved fro…
- Anděl Sudik - The Magical Mystery Tour of Improv
Wow! What a fabulous trip chatting with Anděl We laughed so much and she reminded me how playful improv really is! She is a highly sought after improv coach and director and her performances are truly inspiring! Anděl Sudik is a director,…
- Harold Payne-Multi Platinum Songwriter
What an incredible delight to spend an hour with Singer/Songwriter Harold Payne! Harold is also known as an Improvised Songwriter and wherever he performs he uses audience suggestions to create an incredible improvised song! In fact, Harol…
- Debby Bloom-Sketch Writer/ Improviser/Accounting Professor & Teacher
Meet my sketch writing buddy, Debby Bloom! Debby is a fantastic writer and we've been in many of the same classes and writer's rooms at The Sketch School with Marc Warzecha. She has spent a lot of her life in finance and accounting but sev…
- Improv Interviews Margot Escott with Jay Sukow
Show Notes: Welcome to a milestone celebration — our 200th (well… 203rd!) episode of Improv Interviews with Margot Escott! Since 2016, this podcast has been sharing the joy of improv with listeners around the world, and today we turn the s…
- Liz Thompson - Improv to Writing
Liz Thompson is a vivacious and engaging screenwriter, puzzle/game creator, and development and mystery consultant, and this interview was so much fun! She fell in love with improv and storytelling in middle school and went on to perform,…
- Yael Schy - Zoomers to Boomers Improv
Get to know the incredibly enthusiastic improv player/coach Yael Schy. We explore her improv journey from dreams of being a dancer to becoming a wonderful improv teacher. Yael is truly unsinkable! Yael Schy, Founder, Zoomers to Boomers Imp…
- Laura Doorneweerd Perry - Improviser Extraordinaire
Meet the wonderful Laura Doorneweerd-Perry! She is an improviser from Amsterdam and we had a laugh-filled chat in this episode. Laura is co-founder and co-director of Flock Theatre, but she has also been a member of the cast of multiple pr…
- Fena Ortalli - Improviser/Writer/Teacher
What a delight speaking with Fena Ortalli, known around the world as a brilliant improviser/teacher. He is the founder and editor of STATUS (Revisita de Improvisation) the foremost journal about all things impro around the world. This impr…
- Tim Orr - Improviser/Coach/Creator
Meet legendary improviser Tim Orr based in San Francisco. We had a fabulous chat about his life in improv, international travels and favorite movie. We spoke about his philosophy on improv and the importance of connections. He even gave me…
- Improv Interviews Tim Yeo -Improviser/Coach/Musical Improv
Meet the fabulous Tim Yeo! He is from Singapore and has a fantastic improv theater at Ask Auntie Productions. He studied law in Bristol, UK and there he discovered improv at the Bristol Improv Society. He quickly joined the cast and has be…
- Ashton Keys_Recording
Ashton Keys is a delightful therapist in Orlando, Florida. She is currently working on her Ph.D. and exploring ways that improv can be used in training therapists. I know you'll love getting to know Ashton!
- Rebecca Sohn-Actor/Improviser/Coach/Musical Theater Singer
Meet the incredible Rebecca Sohn! She is originally a New Jersey girl but has had so many adventures since leaving home at age 18. She describes her father and how he fostered her creativity by building a stage in their basement for her to…
- Rich Sohn - Master Improviser/Director/Writer
Meet the talented Rich Sohn! After being introduced to improv in college, he moved to Chicago in 1987, so he's definitely a seasoned pro in the Improv world. He studied, taught and directed at the Annoyance Theatre, IO and, Second City. As…
- Matt Folliott - Comedian, Actor, Writer
Our producer/engineer Bright Su introduced me to an incredible human being, Matt Folliott. We had such a fun and lively conversation and when you listen you'll know why his last name foretold his career in acting! He grew up in Canada and…
- Rebekah Walendzak Slepski Part 1 - Actor, Writer, Coach
I met Rebekah through Marc Warzecha at the Sketch School and knew I wanted to know more about this intriguing person! Rebekah is getting her MFA in Performance Pedagogy at Loyola Marymount University, Rebekah has been an adjunct faculty me…
- Part 2 Rebekah Walendzak Slepski - Actor, Writer, Coach
We continue our fascinating talk with Rebeka Walendzak Slepski and her journey in sketch writing and life. She spoke about her recovery from Hodgkin lymphoma and subsequent bone marrow transplant. Despite going through treatment and surger…
- Diana Brown - Improviser, Actor, Writer and so much more!
Meet my amazing friend, Diana Brown. I've taken several Improvised Shakespeareworkshops with Diana and she is a real gem! We had so much to talk about that this is Part ! Diana is an improv artist, teaching artist, actor, producer, directo…
- Murphy McHugh - The Zen of Improv
Meet my really cool friend and great improviser, Murph McHugh. We met at a class with Billy Merritt, one of the founders of Upright Citizen's Brigade and I was struck by how effortlessly he played! He hails from DC and is quite a Renaissan…
- Nathan Keats Ph.D. - Improv and Autism
Nathan Keates is a lecturer, improvisation teacher and performer. Like many of us, Nathan became addicted to improv studying in diverse forms and even clowning. He found that his interests drew him to teaching improv. Nathan Keats has delv…
- Nick Johne - Improv Teacher extraordinaire
Nick Johne is a beloved Canadian actor and improviser. We first met in 2017 at the Chicago "Yes, and Mental Health & Improv Conference" and did a podcast in 2018. After getting a degree in Microbiology he began his improv journey in Toront…
- Adrian Monte - Actor, improviser, Educator
What a wonderful time I had getting to know Adrian Monte. He is an Actor, improviser, and educator with experience in voice over, commercial production, and on-stage. Founder of DareDevil Improv- a Wilmington, NC based improvisation and pe…
- Aree Witoelar - Improviser, Director, & Scientist
This week we’re delighted to interview Aree Witoelar the Norway based improviser. He is the founder and artistic director of Impro Neuf International, Oslo, Norway’s first English speaking improv comedy theater, with over 1,000 members fro…
- Cale Evans-Founder Queen City Comedy
Cale Evans Cale Evans is an actor, improviser, host, coach, trainer and producer. What a delight getting to know Cale! He shares his improv journey and how he became an “accidental actor”. Growing up in North Carolina he’s a genuine “tar h…
- Katie Caussin - Artistic Director of IO
Katie Caussin is the new director of the 40 year old iO theater in Chicago. She is an actress, improviser, director and actor who has a 30 year career in improv. We talked about what she loves about improv and why she is passionate about i…
- Yuehan Liu
I am so happy to call Yuehan Liu a friend and improv playmate! We met during the pandemic and I instantly was impressed with her brilliance in improv and our mutual admiration for Viola Spolin. Yuehan is a designer by day and improv nerd b…
- Improv Interviews Andrew Cornelius- Improviser, Actor, Sketch Writer & Sendup Comedian
Meet my very funny friend Andrew Cornelius. We met taking classes with. Marc Warzecha at the Sketch School. His sketch writing is dynamic and he has helped me as a writer. Andrew is a Los Angeles based comic whose comedic roots came from a…
- Michael Descoteaux - Legendary Improv Musical Director/Composer & More!
What a wonderful opportunity to chat with the incredible musical improv genius, Mike Descoteaux. I've been lucky enough to call him a friend over a decade! He is a beloved teacher throughout the world. We even got to do a musical improv nu…
- Billy Merritt Part 2
Welcome back to the Billy Merritt podcast, Part 2! Billy shares his journey in LA and his return to FL. So grateful to have the opportunity to interview this improv great!
- Billy Merritt Part 1
Billy Merritt is an improviser, director, actor and all round great guy! Co-author of one of the best books on improv "Pirate Ninja Robot: An Improv Fable" with Will Hines. I've had the great fortune to be studying with him lately on his B…
- Vinny Francois - Montreal Master Improviser
What a wonderful experience getting to know Vinny Francois! He is a delightful person and we had such fun on this podcast. Vinny has over 25 years experience as a professional improviser in both English and French. He's a founding director…
- Improv Interviews David Raitt - Improv Illusionist
David Raitt is an improviser, author and sketch comedian from Toronto. David shares his unique improv story starting in high school and having a troupe that was together for years! He has been performing and teaching improv for over 25 yea…
- BJ Lange - Actor-Improviser-Vet - Part2
Listen to Part 2 of our interview with the fabulous BJ Lange. He has devoted his life to service of others. When a cancer diagnosis forced BJ, a former Air Force Reserve medic, onto the Temporary Disability Retired List in 2016, comedy and…
- BJ Lange - Improviser-Actor-Vet
BJ Lange is a very funny man who has survived many health and life issues but continues to find the bright side of life! When a cancer diagnosis forced BJ, a former Air Force Reserve medic, onto the Temporary Disability Retired List in 201…