This week’s episode features Alice Lemmer (aka Mary’s Mom). Alice Lemmer is a mom, dog whisperer, and volunteer who has brought a pretty awesome improviser into the world (that’s Mary in case that isn’t clear :) Prior to retiring she worked at places including Edward Jones, the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, Iorio Gelato, Hotel Information Systems, Lansing Community College, and the American Red Cross. She has a Bachelors of Science in Child Development, Child Psychology, and Spanish from San Diego State University. During this episode we discuss… What inspired Alice to take an improv classHow taking improv classes has helped her in her lifeMary’s dog, Magi’s emergency vet visit and how Mary’s mom handled itHow Mary’s mom reminds Mary to improviseImprovising as a mom and teaching kids how to accept versus fighting the reality around themEmbracing the “scenes we’re in”Children are natural improvisersHow to foster more of the ability to improvise as we get olderAdapting to new environments, like living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan after San DiegoEmbracing changeAlice’s “mom-ism” that inspires presenceWorryingBalancing caring and concern with presenceHow improvising has improved her relationship with her adult children How the world would be better if everyone took improv classes — spoiler: it involves listening!The gift Mary’s mom always asks Mary to get her as a holiday/birthday gift From Alice, when asked how improv has improved her life offstage, “Improv has improved my mental flexibility and ability to ‘pivot mentally. It has improved my outlook by helping me to ‘see the whole picture’ and choose the perspective that is positive and empowering.” Connect with Alice on LinkedIn and Facebook. If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week’s episode features Kimberly (Kim) Bryden. Kim Bryden runs a small business called Cureate where they focus on shifting the dollar back into our local communities by building an empowered supply to meet a changing consumer demand. They do this through food & beverage entrepreneurship education and local procurement for institutional foodservice.  During this episode we discuss… Her business, Cureate, helping food and beverage entrepreneurs grow their businessesMary’s first business, a gelato business, and how as a food entrepreneur she benefitted from improvisationThe connection between starting and building a food business and improvKim’s 4th grade improv class and the outfit she wore to itReading the roomImprovising to improve listeningShifting mindsetsTaking a “no” somewhere with more curiosity Meetings with food, really good food (shoutout Zingerman’s!)How founders of food businesses could benefit from improvisational skillsBuilding self-awareness as an entrepreneurHow Kim adapted, as an entrepreneur, in her businessGrowing teamsHer family’s holiday dance videos From Kim, when asked how improv has improved her life offstage, “Stress relief, adding whimsy to my day, speaking confidence” Connect with Kim on LinkedIn and Instagram @kimbryden. To learn more about Cureate visit cureate.co If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week’s episode features Max Housner. Max Housner works as an aerospace engineer focused in digital mission engineering, but creatively, he is also a musician, writer, and improvisor. Max has a passion for space exploration, discovery, and gets to work with a variety of exciting space programs, but also has a passion for the art of improv comedy and music. Max's experience in improv ranges from masterclasses at iO Chicago, Second City, to classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade in LA for both Harold and musical improv. He's taught improv workshops for long form, short form, and musical improv and previously performed all through college at the University of Michigan, with ComCo, Michigan's oldest improv troupe. Max is now currently performing long form, short form, and musical improv in Los Angeles at UCB, The Clubhouse, and other small theaters with a variety of teams. Outside of work and comedy, Max loves breweries, a good cup of joe, live music, hikes, movies, traveling, doing the crossword, and having a good laugh with good friends. During this episode we discuss… When and why he started practicing improv Being a band kid and theatre kidThe University of Michigan marching band and engineers in marching bandWhat about improv surprised himSkills he gained onstage that he took offstageHow he uses improv skills as an engineerImprov, aerospace engineering, and music — what they all require and have in common Improvising in spaceCoffee in Los Angeles Simple joys From Max, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “Improv has allowed me to express myself creatively in the best ways, has immensely improved my listening, communication, and creative skills, and has allowed me to be a more honest and open version of myself.” Connect with Max on LinkedIn and Instagram @maxhousner If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Gayaneh Davoodian. Gayaneh took improv classes in high school, college, and the Upright Citizens Brigade. Currently she works as a venture capital (VC) Scout for an accelerator and a couple of seed stage funds.  Previously she was Chief of Staff at Sequel.io, Head of Enablement at a Stealth Startup, and Program Manager of People Operations and Talent Acquisition at Curated, where she developed the company’s Talent and People Operations department at the start of Series B, through Series C, oversaw headcount growth of nearly 3x employees, built processes from scratch as well as identified and implemented necessary tools to maintain this rapid growth. She has a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from USC, and an Associates degree in Fashion from the Parsons School of Design. During this episode we discuss… When and why she first took an improv classImprovising as a media buyerOverthinking Improvising as a recruiter at a Series B startupHer ‘aha’ momentCareer paths outside of being an engineer, doctor, or lawyerThe unknown of startups and the need to improviseThe Chief of Staff roleWorking with different kinds of peopleReacting in improv and what it teaches us about reacting in the workplaceUsing improv as a venue to practice expressing yourself differentlyThe toppling over of suppressed emotionsCreating 2 creative t-shirts From Gayaneh, when asked how improv has improved her life offstage,  “In a work setting, it helped me stay dynamic. You end up working with all different kinds of people (especially in startups). The improv skills I learned allowed me to listen and react to a person/situation as opposed to assuming/staying rigid in my thoughts and expressions. It helped me connect with people more.” Connect with Gayaneh on LinkedIn and Instagram @gaya_dav If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Matthew Goodman, Ph.D. Matthew Goodman, Ph.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY32423), consultant, speaker, and mindfulness teacher. He is Founder of The Middle Way Consulting, where he supports organizations with wellness, team-building, and communication skills through purposeful play (including improv!), awareness-based practices (e.g., deep listening), and behavioral science principles. Dr. Goodman was previously Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where he provided clinical care, teaching, and supervision within the psychiatry residency program. He has expertise in mindfulness-based interventions and has taught mindfulness to children and adults in hospitals, clinics, schools, and to the general public for 10+ years, in addition to authoring several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on mindfulness and creating a documentary film on “the dark night of the soul” phenomenon in the context of meditation. His Zen-prov! classes create a nonjudgmental space for people to practice mindfulness, self-compassion, and other Zen principles such as “not knowing” through fun and interactive improv exercises. During this episode we discuss… His improv origin storyWhen he noticed the shift in himself after starting an improv practiceInternal changes versus external changesParallel life pursuing psychology studies and improv comedyWhy he lived in AlaskaPsychology, improv, and mindfulnessWhat’s going on in the mind when improvisingControl - wanting it and relinquishing controlImprov showing how much we rely on control and better enabling us to let go of itWhat improv has enabled him to do because of improvHis year at a Zen Buddhist monasteryThe documentary he madeImprov as an outward mindfulness practiceThe struggle to be presentHow he brings improv into his work as a psychologistMary’s good questionsThe importance of learning to listen and be present with peopleThe opportunity for hospital settings to benefit from improvisational principlesWhat the world might be like if everyone practiced improvImprov exercises that help us practice letting goThe future of leadership From Matt, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “Creating more present-moment awareness. Confidence in taking risks and speaking what's on my mind/heart. More joy, spontaneity, and flexibility. Taking myself less seriously. Connection to others ” Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn Instagram @matthewgoodmanphd If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Ali Farahnakian.  Ali is an American actor, writer, and improvisational comedian. He is the founder of The Peoples Improv Theater in NYC. Ali studied improv in the 1990s at the ImprovOlympic and was a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award Nomination. Ali’s television credits include “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” “Special Victims Unit,” “All My Children,” “Third Watch,” “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” “30 Rock,” and numerous national commercials. He is an alum of SNL, The iO Theater, and Second City. During this episode we discuss… Ali’s improv origin story His original career pursuit The feeling he had during his first improv class in ChicagoThe star studded fellow improvisers he performed withImprov isn’t public speakingHow improvising impacted his life Yes, and no thank youWhere saying “yes, and” has led him in lifeBallet dancers in NYCHow he keeps strengthening his improv muscle“What would you do if money didn’t matter?”Improvising with intention — having goalsThe most surprising thing improv has brought into his lifeCraft, community, careerHappiness, gratitudeA magic trick in the English languageImprov, sports, walking as forms of meditation From Ali, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “Improv has been a part of my life for over 33 years. It’s my way of life.” Connect with Ali on Instagram @alialinyc and check out The People's Improv Theater in NYC. If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Alec Brown. Alec Brown is a content creator, writer, improviser, stand-up, and musical comedy entertainer. His latest project is the viral TikTok series “Challah At Ya Goy!”A play on words celebrating delicious bread and a Yiddish term for gentiles, “CAYG!” takes viewers on double entendre-laden two-minute riotous recipe revues that climax in tasty test fests: oy vey!  In pre-Covid times, he co-wrote and co-starred in the musical comedy show Peter, Paul and Carly which played a dozen sellouts at NYC’s Duplex Theatre.  Alec has performed stand-up at venues like The Broadway Comedy Club and was invited to join Upright Citizens Brigade’s prestigious Academy. He appeared monthly in 2019 at the Peoples Improv Theater and has since become an Associate Producer at Story Pirates, specializing in children’s improv and writing. His voiceover work is featured on several episodes of their iHeart Radio Award-winning podcast; his sung vocals can be heard on their song “Cheese Quest.” He’s currently in the Writing Lab at The Groundlings. Alec’s writing has been featured on numerous online platforms, most notably on theatre satire site The Broadway Beat (recently acquired by Coil with Reductress and The Hard Times). Articles include “Man Disappointed Nothing Spooky Happened After Seeing Beetlejuice A Third Time” and “Gazillion Bubble Show Faces Controversy After 6-Year Old Counts.” During this episode we discuss… The ACTs and SATSAlec’s improv origin storyThe moment he realized improv was improving his life offstage The benefits of improvising on focus and receptivityPaying attentionIf this is true what else is trueLetting your guard downHow improvising influenced his friendships Alec’s go-to baked good to make for friends Creativity Happy accidentsPerformance blacking outTrusting other people while improvising versus trusting people in real lifeHow improv has helped him with anger Everything can be taken less seriously“Comedy brings joy and there’s nothing we need more in this world than joy” From Alec, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “It's really trained me to listen to what others say in a broader spectrum (i.e.-tone, word choice, timing, and intention)” Connect with Alec on Instagram and TikTok @challahatyagoy If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Melanie (Mel) Rubin. Mel Rubin is a tech support specialist, hip hop improv performer, instructor and beatboxer based out of New York City. She studied long-form improv and musical improv comedy at the Magnet Theater (NYC), and is a performer on the hip hop improv team North Coast, who has been featured in The New York Times and Time Out New York. Mel is also an active performer, workshop facilitator and public speaking coach with Freestyle+ and loves to travel across the country bringing the joy of improv to anyone who will let her. During this episode we discuss… Mel’s improv origin story — why she started taking improv classesHow improv improves creativityHow bringing yourself and versions of yourself to characters is a way to practice skills you want to get better at in life and workHow you can get better at something when there’s no wrong way to do itBreaking rulesAcceptanceT-shirt ideasA funny story about a time Mary was struggling to play the scene she was inThe challenge of society to be presentShadow charactersSetting boundariesExpanding our capabilities and character rangeRebranding “straight man” to “grounded human”The best skill to have if you want to be a great conversationalistFirst Word, Last Word — a great improv exercise to improve listeningPre-improv Mary versus post-improv MaryImprovising TED talksSitting in silenceImprov as social meditationCompeting for space in a conversation Listening differentA Without the B — a great improv experience to improve creativity and quick thinkingBeing nice to yourself From Mel, when asked how improv has improved her life offstage, “It's given me the super power of my very good memory, I'm sure of it! The active listening element has translated into my real life and I have such a visual and detailed memory because of it. It's also helped me be so much more present because if you think too far ahead, you miss what's right in front of you (just like in improv).” Connect with Mel on LinkedIn and Instagram @melrubin2 If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Gus Vieweg Gus is a musician, micro-entrepreneur, programmer, student, playwright, and, of course, improviser. He got his start with improv in college with the Comedic Improvisational Alliance (CIA) at North Carolina State University. He has also improvised in San Diego and North Carolina, where he started an improv Meetup group and performed in the 2019 North Carolina Comedy Festival with his improv trio Broken Compass. He has also taken improv classes at ComedyWorx and the People's Improv Theater. A North Carolina native, Gus now lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. During this episode we discuss… Why he started taking improv classes How he found friendships through improv Being yourselfThe rap he did as a 9 year oldThe unique way he chose a new place to live How leaving the comfort of his apartment empowered spontaneityRelinquishing control and choosing uncertainty, in life, and how improv prepares us for those momentsSmall talkListeningSitting in problems and solving problemsImprov as the antidote to self doubtWhy saying “I am enough” isn’t enough to actually feel like enough and how to actually feel it The importance of improvising in offstage environments Bonus: Listen and see if you think his voice resembles the same famous comedian I think it does! From Gus, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “Improv has helped me learn how to lose, how to delegate, and pick your battles. I think of most of my life as ‘side support’ with some very intentional mainstage performance.” Connect with Gus on LinkedIn and Instagram @GusVieweg and on his website gusvieweg.com

This week's episode features Candace Swaninger… Candace is a Talent Development manager, passionate about leadership development & onboarding. As the Senior Specialist of Talent Development at Petco she leverages strategy, relationship building, creativity and problem solving to help others become their best selves through impactful Talent Development programs. She also is a mom, Louisiana State University alum, and loves Broadway musicals and Taco Bell. During this episode we discuss… How and why she got started improvising Her experience as a Learning Experience Designer at PetcoLife as an improvisationHow to get good at somethingWhy improv is a powerful tool for changeRole playing in talent development and how it helps leaders be betterImprovising from premise as a way to become a better leader and fundraisers Ways she’s used improv and role playing in new leader onboarding How she measures success of using improvisation and role playing to train leaders and teams The role improv plays in her marriage and as a parentThe fast food chain her and her husband sang aboutImprovising with childrenHow improv helps us manage anxiety and dwelling and saboteur behaviors The saboteurs assessment An example of how saying “yes, and” helps us handle when life doesn’t go as planned Improv as a way to practice not being in control (and why it’s such a great practice for people that like to be in control)Improv as a form of mindfulness that benefits ourselves and how we interact with others An improv exercise that requires & improves focus and presence Improv as a way to improve relationships and parenting From Candace, when asked how improv has improved her life offstage, “Improv has helped me both professionally and personally. Professionally, I use it frequently as a workshop facilitator. I also think it allows me to roll with the punches a bit more day to day. Personally, it definitely sparks creativity in me and my family. I like to make up songs randomly, and my husband started doing it with me while we were dating, and now my son also does it. It's also a great tool for play with kids.” Connect with Candace on LinkedIn If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Jason Moore… Jason Moore is an entrepreneur in health tech, currently the Founder and CEO of Spren. He has spent over a decade building sensor and data systems to make people's lives easier, safer, and more productive. Globally recognized HRV expert — health and performance consultant to pro sports teams, first responders, and medical research teams, he is really fascinated about why humans make the decisions they make, and if we can help them make better ones.  During this episode we discuss… His first exposure to improv and why he started improvisingThe book Creativity Inc by Amy Wallace and Edwin Catmull, the Pixar co-founder that shares that the most impactful thing their team did was taking an improv class togetherImprov at his company’s retreatIntroverts and improvHow improv will help you tell the coolest stories to a 3 year oldUncertainty in life, as a parent, as a founder, and a partnerThat there’s not always a “right” or “wrong” thing to sayBeing a founder and the parallels between startups and improvisingPlans The one skill his resume highlighted very early in his careerThe most impactful skill improv trains for him as a leader and for his teamBeing adaptable to being adaptableHow to accept gifts and be adaptable and also being able to hold onto what is important to you and true to you FlowElement of safety that comes to their team from doing improv exercises, and how safety allows you to be more collaborativeThe improv exercise known as ‘follow the follower’ How to foster safety among a team and the improv show ritual that fosters safety and trust among an ensemble, that you can use with other groups and teams to foster safety His superpower“Isolate. Integrate. Improvise” From Jason, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “It was hugely educational for myself and our whole company about how nuanced the practice of listening and communicating can be. As a company, we did a bunch of what are probably standard improv exercises, and we were all caught off guard at moments when we were making assumptions or getting too "in our own head" to respond correctly in the game (or even realize that maybe "correct" isn't even the right way to think about things sometimes!).” Connect with Jason on LinkedIn and check out his company Spren online If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Justyn Williams… Justyn is a man of many interests. His mission in life is “Build bridges, and break barriers for myself and others. Whatever I do, do it with intention." He has an immense level of curiosity and an overflowing sense of imagination. He daydreams a lot. He empathizes heavily. His experiences as a D1 college athlete majoring in psychology (at the University of Pennsylvania) instilled in him a deep passion for well-being encompassing physical fitness, mental wellness, and functional nutrition.  Justyn leads the growth strategy and manages strategic relationships with the recruiting consultancy, StartupTAP, which has worked with clients across 7 countries and 29 cities that have collectively raised over $10 billion. He’s also a Community Builder with StartupGrind, the world's largest community of entrepreneurs, with a presence in over 600 cities worldwide. And, he leads virtual wine education and tasting events for groups of 5-100 people. He formerly worked at LinkedIn (which we talk about in the episode :) And ever since he was a kid on the schoolyard, he has been someone who reflexively stands up for underdogs, embraces those who are marginalized, and ultimately aims to make those around him feel like they belong. He’s huge on bringing good vibes and cultivating team spirit in everything he does and he proudly speaks up for causes that advance human rights and respect for every person regardless of skin color, class, gender, or orientation. Justyn started taking an improv class after meeting Mary at the San Francisco Sketchfest. He has taken improv classes with Mary and Improve, at EndGames Improv in San Francisco, and Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. And he does all that with a smile on his face and giving people hugs along the way (and Mary can attest to…Justyn gives GREAT hugs!) During this episode we discuss… What inspired Justyn to start taking improv classesJustyn’s experience working at LinkedIn, and Mary’s experience liking everyone she has ever met that works (or has worked) at LinkedInThe ability to explore different parts of ourselves in improvThe thing Justyn wanted to do as a kid but never didWhy Justyn hesitated to do improv at first and what finally inspired him to say ‘yes, and’ give it a tryHow Mary and Justyn met, and the now ‘celebrity’ that they met there tooOG Sarah Cooper (okay, so I spoiled the last bullet)Improv as a way to ‘break out of your shell’The similarities between being an athlete and improviserHow Mary sprained her wrist improvisingThe teams Justyn has worked on in the tech industry and how the high performing teams embody improv skillsHow improvising helped him land a job at LinkedIn How improvising skills are critical for working at a small companyRelinquishing control of things we can’t control, and instead focusing on what we can Justyn’s improv wish for the world Justyn’s 6 improv lessons that helped him (and others) through the pandemic From Justyn, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “Many ways: reduced anxiety in professional social settings, increased my curiosity about others/the world, and strengthened my fortitude to overcome whatever obstacles life throws my way (e.g., joblessness).” Connect with Justyn on Instagram @yojustyn and on LinkedIn. If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Samantha (Sammy) Cole… Sammy is a Communications Coordinator at Schmidt Futures, founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to use a broad set of tools—including gifts, grants, investments, and startup activity—for charitable, educational, and commercial efforts with a public purpose. Sammy tried improv for the first time in college and fell in love with it. She was a member of ComCo, the University of Michigan’s oldest (and according to Sammy, best :) improv group. She has led improv workshops in classes throughout her college career and was an intern at Improve.  She lives in NYC and continues to improvise in life and work, and through classes, going to improv jams, and watching improv shows. In this episode we discuss… Sammy’s improv origin storyHer experience improvising and pursuing Greek life while at universityThe way she unlocked her sense of self-reliance Why choosing to pursue improv was the most difficult and best decision she’s ever madeHow improvising regularly during college affected her life offstage and especially how improvising improved her mental healthHow improv helped her find her identityThe time she improvised her way through GreeceHow improvising helps us become the best listeners Why she describes improve as the most genuine freeing feeling in the world Whether improv is more freeing than skydivingHow improv is good for our nervous system Improv as a form of moving meditationThe power of improv as a way to really practice presence The difference between improvising with people we know and trust, versus improvising with new people that we haven’t met or don’t yet know well From Sammy, when asked how improv has improved her life offstage, “It has made me a better listener, inspired me to be authentic and creative, helped me to inspire others around me to do the same.” Connect with Sammy on Instagram @samanatee and LinkedIn Note: Mary introduces the episode as “Improv’ed” which was the original name of the show before calling it “Improved”. We recorded this episode before that brilliant revelation :)  If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Kate Axelsson… Kate is at User Experience Researcher at Microsoft, TEDx speaker (she gave a talk about comedy when she was 19), and a passionate, curious creative who loves understanding how things work and isn't afraid to be a newbie or be seen trying. She seeks to infuse her work with joy and make wholehearted, authentic connections. As a self-proclaimed multipotentialite who wants to be a dozen things when I grow up, she pulls from her improv training, striving to “yes and” my way through life. She lives by the principle of paying it forward and loves mentoring those seeking to break into UX Research. Her first taste of improv was at a 3-week performing arts camp in 5th grade. The acting/improv week was a huge turning point and made her want more. She spent summers watching "Whose Line is it Anyway?" and in high school tried out for the "Impulse Improv Team" and did that for 3 years. In college she took comedy courses, tried stand-up comedy, started a weekly improv group and studied improv and comedy writing at The Second City. She completed her senior thesis exploring comedy and social impact.  In this episode we discuss… Why Kate started taking improv classesHow taking improv classes from a young age shaped Kate’s life from grade school through life after collegeThe benefits of taking improv classes early in lifeHow improv fueled Kate’s self-awareness and revealed her relationship with control and insecurityImprov as a way to practice letting go of controlImprov as movement therapy, a moving meditationImprov as a way to make what we read in books actionable, practice skills we want to learn, and a way to become less embarrassed in lifeThe value of improvisational skills in user researchThe power of naming a feelingWhy we don’t need to fix everything and improv as the best place to break thingsThe value of discomfortFeelings, and how improv helps us express them and react to themKate’s research on comedy and social impactComedy as a vehicle for truth speakingKate’s tattoo The power of laughingImprov as an empathy builder and how to use it to strengthen empathy for different levels of power Plus, we do an improv scene that was probably only entertaining to us 😆 From Kate, when asked how improv has improved her life offstage, “It's taught me to trust myself! I feel prepared to engage with strangers, put myself out there, present at work, etc. because I know I have my improv skills to fall back on. Quick thinking and recovery have come in handy in life! It's also reminded me that I don't need to control everything; I've noticed in my scenes I want to be "at the wheel" steering the scene, when really it's okay to be on the same plane as everyone else. Not all of life can (or should!) be controlled so being okay with being *in* it is key.” Connect with Kate on Instagram @kateaxelsson  If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Bart Sumner… In 2009 Bart Sumner’s life was shattered when his 10-year-old son, David, suffered a traumatic brain injury at football practice and died in his arms. Finding a way back to the road forward in a world where mourners are told “He’s in a better place” or to “Get over it” is a daunting and painful journey. He came to realize that the twenty-five plus years he spent as a performer and teacher of improvisational comedy was not only the key to his own survival, but also a powerful tool to help others mired in grief. Born and raised in New Jersey, Bart has been a professional Actor/SAG-AFTRA Member since 1990. He’s trained and performed with The Groundlings, Universal Studios, Hollywood, among other theatres. Though he initially was drawn to improv to try and be funny, he found it to be an incredibly powerful tool for processing grief. He is the author of Healing Improv: A Journey Through Grief to Laughter and teaches improv at the Comedy Fort in Fort Collins, Colorado. In this episode… Bart shares what inspired him to take his first improv classHear about Bart’s experience limo driving in between training and performing in NYC and LABart shares how improv was his therapy after the tragic death of his 10 year old sonBart reveals the moment he saw there was more to improv than laughing Find out a key way to get people out of bed after experiencing great lossHear how improv can be a way to take us out of pain and still help us process itBart shares techniques and games anyone grieving can useBart shares about his book Healing Improv: A Journey Through Grief to Laughter Learn how improv can be a powerful tool when communicating with someone with Alzheimer’sWe demonstrate an exercise you can use to improve joy, connection, listening, and bring lightness during dark times From Bart, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “Helped me find a way forward after the death of my 10 year old son David” Connect with Bart on Facebook and check out his book Healing Improv: A Journey Through Grief to Laughter  If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week’s episode features longtime HR executive, Lauren Schaad. In this episode: Lauren shares about her background in HR and her improv origin storyShe talks about the importance of leaning into who you areWe discuss how improv allows us to try out different hats We talk about the connection between improv and business Lauren shares how improv helped her be her authentic self at work and why that’s imperative for high performing teams We discuss the importance of an environment fostering psychological safety and how an improv mindset can foster forgiving environments We highlight why and how improv is more than just laughing together and having a good time. It’s this AND … it is more than fun and games!Lauren shares what she wishes organizations knew about improv that they don’t already know We talk about giving and taking focus as a tool we can use to create humor and support high performing teams. And we each share an improv exercise that helps people practice giving and taking of focus Mary shares about a time she unexpectedly sang operaLauren shares advice she gives to teams and people managing people. We demonstrate the improv exercise called “Convergence”, great for improving presence, connection, and fostering magic amongst individuals and teamsLauren shares about the time she delivered a goat Lauren forged a 12-year career as a headhunter, helping senior leaders across nonprofit, tech startup, and financial services industries to better articulate their career journeys. When not at the office, she immersed herself in Boston’s improv scene, becoming a proud graduate of ImprovBoston’s Comedy School.   Lauren’s interest in working with marginalized communities was born during an internship with Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, where she met enterprising, basket-weaving women lifting themselves from poverty to prosperity. This solidified her belief that the arts, and improv, should be accessible to all. To better serve communities living on the margins, Lauren is working towards certification as a trauma-informed expressive arts Coach (EXA-CE), anticipated in 2023.  A lover of travel, Lauren would have definitely joined Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Tales of her globetrotting adventures – at warmer temperatures – can be found at SheClimbs.com. Lauren is based in Denver and performs the first Friday of every month with the house team "Jeff," at Chaos Bloom theatre. From Lauren when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “Improv has provided a safe space to play and to be silly. In my professional life, I’ve learned that it’s more than okay to bring your full personality into your role as leader; employees appreciate working with a Manager who is real, kind, funny, relatable, not just “professional.” In my personal life, improv has helped me to become more comfortable: - Remembering detail when meeting new people (i.e. at parties) - Communicating within groups and either supporting others, or having my voice be heard (give and take of focus)”  Learn more about and connect with Lauren on LinkedIn and Instagram. If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features David Fessell, M.D.  David is an executive coach, faculty associate at Ross School of Business, and a recently retired Professor of Radiology at the University of Michigan. As an author, he publishes in HBR, JAMA, Psychology Today, and many other venues. He speaks and facilitates webinars & workshops on wellness, resilience, EQ, & humor. He loves to help individuals & groups strengthen their inner & outer resources to flourish amidst stress. David has an MD degree from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate degree from Harvard. He is a proud graduate of the Second City Detroit Improv Conservatory. In this episode… David shares what inspired him to take his first improv classListen to David share why reading about public speaking wasn’t enough to help him improve and how improv bridged the gap and got him to a place of actually enjoying public speaking Learn how practicing improv builds trust among teamsHear about an exercise David loves and did with medical students at the University of MichiganFind out what happened when David attempted big Jenga at a company picnicLearn how improvising releases tensionLearn how improv can be used in high stakes environments like medicineDiscover how an improvisation practice helps the people that are practicing medicineWe discuss why improv improves self-awarenessDavid shares a powerful exercise you can use in work and life to improve self-awareness, compassion, understanding, empathy, better connecting with yourself and othersWe support why improv is the best venue to practice anythingFind out the one thing David wishes improv would help people improve  From David, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “more comfort with public speaking...being on stage...bringing an attitude of play and "roll with it"...saying yes, and...to life...embracing mistakes & empathy for another's point of view.” Connect with David on LinkedIn If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features Nicholas Hamlett. In this episode… Nicholas shares why and where he took his first improv classLearn why warm up improv exercises are imperative to mentally preparing to improvise (for improv and life)Hear how improv helped Nicholas in his role at Twitter and how improv changed how he reacted to challenges and opportunities at workGet to know how adopting a “yes, and” mindset at work helped Nicholas grow in his careerFind out what it means to say “yes, and” then “no” and why “yes, and” isn’t always a literal “yes” Nicholas shares how improv improved his feelings of empowerment and his acceptance of himself and discusses what that meant for his career Hear how improvising helped Nicholas as a manager We talk about his favorite improv gameDiscover the surprising way he practices collective storytelling (in addition to practicing it with improv)We discuss kids as natural improvisers and learn about the game he made up as a kid Learn how judgment changes when you start improvising We talk about being an introvert, and why improv is a beneficial practice for introverts Nicholas Hamlett is a marketing professional with a passion for digital/social media, advertising, branding, music and film. Though originally from Michigan he has lived in California for over 10 years. His career journey has been very tech heavy with experiences at Twitter, Snapchat, and now Twitch. Mainly working in Sales, Partner Management, and Creative Strategy throughout and recently transitioned into Program Management work. For fun, he loves playing board games and video games, watching the fun popular TV shows (Marvel, GoT, etc.), working out, and exploring new experiences (places and food too). From Nicholas, “Improv has really given me the confidence to speak up more. Admittedly, I'm an over-thinker and because of the techniques I've learned through improv I'm able to get through that, especially at work. It also helps to open lines of communication and get over the shyness that I have.” Connect with Nicholas on LinkedIn, Twitter @NickHam, and Instagram @NickHam_. If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features actress and two time cancer survivor, Aniela McGuinness. In this gift of an episode… Aniela shares what inspired her to take an improv classLearn how improv helped her through her mother’s cancer diagnosis and death and her own cancer diagnosis and treatmentFind out why and how improv is a “brain brake” and “oasis” that provides presence, joy, and support when going through hard timesHear about improvising’s ability to reduce pain and stressLearn the improv exercise that encourages people to support one another and the gift of asking for helpMary shares how improv has helped her to ask for helpHear about the inspiring, creative, and comedic way Aniela asked for help with her cancer treatment and the pleasant surprises that came from itLearn about the two things Aniela did during every cancer treatment How to use humor to ask for helpWhy being specific when offering help is an improv-inspired gem of a way to better support your friends/family/community during times of grief, illness, hardshipAcknowledging when something is terrible, allowing that to move through you, and then make fun of itLearn about the one woman comedy show she wrote during her cancer treatment and how it How improv providing her freedom to be silly helped her reduce fears of embarrassment Hear Aniela and Mary talk about how the ability to play different characters in improv allows us a venue to practice new behaviors we want to try in life and empowers us to be all that we areAniela shares the exercise called “185” and how she used it during her cancer treatment (join our paid Substack community to see this exercise explained via video). Then, Aniela and Mary demonstrate 185 with plenty of laughter! Aniela McGuinness is a film and TV actress with over 15 years of improv experience. A two-time cancer survivor, she uses her 17 years of improvisational comedy experience to make audiences cry laughing and laugh crying. A year and a half after she lost her mother to cancer she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. Just three days short from her appointment to schedule a preventative double mastectomy. She used improv as an invaluable coping skill during her cancer diagnosis and treatment, and teaches improv to cancer patients at Gilda’s Club.  You may also recognize her from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”.   From Aniela, “It helps me practice communication skills like standing up for myself in a safe environment allowing me to then take them out into the real world.” Connect with Aniela on Instagram @AnielaMcG and watch the trailer for and full one woman show she references in the episode.  If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com

This week's episode features, Jordana Cole. In this gem of an episode… Jordana shares her improv origin story (i.e. how and when she started improvising)Find out what Jordana does for her ukuleles at ThanksgivingLearn about athletes as improvisersLearn about positive psychology - what it is, why it matters, and how improv relates Discover why improv is so much more than team buildingHear how and why improv can improve psychological safety (⁠and why psychological safety matters for teams; link to⁠ information about the Google study referenced in the episode)Learn the benefits of practicing improv over timeListen to how improv is similar, and distinct, from meditation as a form of mindfulnessLearn the improv exercise that will elevate your active listening skillsFind out one simple thing you and every leader can do to be better every dayHear what Jordana would improve in the world if she could wave the magic improv wand  Yeah, we cover a lot in 45 minutes! Jordana Cole is an igniter of leadership and team potential. As a global learning & development leader, leadership development facilitator, certified coach, and applied improviser, Jordana has designed and led programs, workshops, courses, team building sessions, and coaching engagements for thousands of individuals around the globe. Her organizational background includes non-profits, higher education, SAAS technology, financial services, and e-commerce.Jordana is an alumna of the University of Pennslyvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program and has served as an assistant instructor for undergraduate and graduate courses related to positive organizations and human strengths & resilience. Jordana is also certified as a Gallup Strengths Coach and as a facilitator of Inside Out Coaching, the Kevin Eikenberry Group’s From Bud to Boss curriculum, and Fierce Conversations. She lives in the Washington DC area with our husband and two rescue dogs, and she spends her free time playing one of her dozen ukuleles, loudly cheering on the Washington Capitals, and exploring the woods of Northern Virginia. She also has a very impressive ukulele collection! From Jordana, "I credit my success as a leader and my ability to develop other leaders to the skills that I have learned and honed in improv over the past 20+ years. When I went back to get my graduate degree in my 30s, I was inspired to understand why improv had been such a catalyst for my own leadership career and why it's so effective as a team building. At the end of the day, I realized that improv is all about helping us create better relationships - and isn't that would leadership is all about at it's core. So I did a TON of research and wrote a 100 page thesis on that :)" Yes, and you can read her research, I've Got Your Back: Utilizing Improv as a Tool to Enhance Workplace Relationships and find her on LinkedIn. If you liked what you heard, Subscribe, write a review, tell a friend. If you didn’t like what you heard, well, try again next time. Each episode is different and we’re always improving (see what I did there?!)  Visit www.chooseimprove.com for resources and ways to improve in your life and work.  Join us for at chooseimprove.substack.com for weekly improvisations and monthly virtual sessions to practice improvising in your life. Connect with us on Instagram @chooseimprove and linkedin.chooseimprove.com