Monster Baby: A Curious Romp Through the Worlds of Mindfulness and Improvisation

What does it mean to be engaged? Big news from Monster Baby land: Lisa got engaged! For Episode, #107 she and Ted take the opportunity to explore just what that means—both in a marital sense and in an improv and mindfulness sense. They start by playfully acknowledging some technical difficulties (2:03) before Lisa tells the [more…] The post Monster Baby #107 Getting Engaged appeared first on Anima Learning.

How often do YOU hold eye contact? Why or why not? If you're like Ted and Lisa of the Monster Baby Podcast, there's a lot there—for both mindfulness and improv—within the world and practice of eye contact. After a short improvisational riff on raccoons (1:32), Ted introduces his reasons for wanting to explore the topic [more…] The post Monster Baby #106 The Eyes Have It appeared first on Anima Learning.

What's been cooking in Ted and Lisa's improv and mindfulness kitchen over this last while? It's been a few months since the Monster Baby crew gathered for an episode so it's time to get caught up! Ted starts the conversation off by sharing “Wordle Haiku,” a new creative delight that he and a loyal Monster [more…] The post Monster Baby #105 Kickin' It Back Up! appeared first on Anima Learning.

How does a “silly verbal tennis match” become a profound spiritual practice?  Inspired by the intro “Clanging” game they played on the immediately previous Monster Baby episode #103, Ted and Lisa invited the game's creators, Dion Flynn and Josh Radnor, to come on the podcast themselves—and they accepted! For context: Dion Flynn is a writer, [more…] The post Monster Baby #104 Clanging! (A Conversation with Dion Flynn and Josh Radnor) appeared first on Anima Learning.

Who are you? Answering that question well may require more angles than we usually think of. After starting with a delightful new game (“Clanging”, introduced by Dion Flynn and Josh Radnor) (2:25), Ted and Lisa consider some of the primary lessons about identity from the world of mindfulness, including the Buddhist notion of non-self (14:06). [more…] The post Monster Baby #103 You Contain Multitudes (Considering Identity) appeared first on Anima Learning.

It's so fun to make stuff up together! That's one of the truths that Ted and Lisa uncover in conversation with their dear friend, Dan Klein, master teacher of improvisation in the drama, Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Platner Institute for Design (“d.school”) at Stanford University. (He's also the same Dan perilously mentioned [more…] The post Monster Baby #102 The Joy of Collective Imagination: A Conversation with Dan Klein appeared first on Anima Learning.

What if we put relaxation first? Inspired by mindfulness practitioner Bill Morgan's book, “The Meditator's Dilemma,” Ted and Lisa explore the value of putting relaxation in front of other forms of meditation, improv included. They start by musing about Lisa's recent time in Paris and the value of French croissants (2:06), after which Lisa acknowledges that [more…] The post Monster Baby #101 RE: Relaxation appeared first on Anima Learning.

Time for a celebration and retrospective—Monster Baby reaches 1oo episodes! Welcome to the party, people—Monster Baby has reached a milestone! In honor of this, the 100th episode of Ted and Lisa's “curious romp through the worlds of mindfulness and improvisation,” the pair takes a look back to remember and to give thanks for the good [more…] The post Monster Baby #100 Celebrating the 100th Episode! appeared first on Anima Learning.

Rhythm and improvised poetry can lift the highs and heal the lows. For Monster Baby Podcast episode #99, Ted and Lisa link up with San Francisco freestyler, improvisor, music-maker, comedian, actor, Larry martial artist, activist, spiritual practitioner, and all-around good guy, Larry Dorsey, Jr. Larry starts the conversation explaining the history behind the “Junior” in [more…] The post Monster Baby #99 Freestyle Life Supreme (A Conversation with Larry Dorsey, Jr.) appeared first on Anima Learning.

What makes a home “home”? Sparked by Lisa's move into a new apartment, she and Ted consider the many elements that go into feeling at home. The two warm up with a playful new spontaneity game called “A or B” that you can play right along with (1:35) and then explore what's making Lisa's new [more…] The post Monster Baby #98 Coming Home appeared first on Anima Learning.

Making friends with inner voices can be fun—and healing. For Monster Baby episode #97, Ted and Lisa are joined by fellow Applied Improvisor Kat Koppett to discuss (and play!) her mindfulness-and-improv-blending exercise, “Inside Out.” Lisa starts by asking about Kat's inspiration for exploring mindfulness (2:12) and about how mindfulness has affected her life so far [more…] The post Monster Baby #97 Inner Voices (a conversation with Kat Koppett) appeared first on Anima Learning.

Good ensemble members make great humans. Continuing a conversation from the previous Monster Baby episode, Ted and Lisa chat more with improvisor and author Dan O'Connor, discussing his new book (co-authored by Dr. Jeff Katzman), Ensemble! Using the Power of Improvisation and Play to Forge Connections in a Lonely World. This episode starts with a [more…] The post Monster Baby #96 Ensemble! A Conversation with Dan O'Connor, Part Two appeared first on Anima Learning.

A good ensemble can cure the loneliness blues. For Monster Baby episode #95, come join Ted and Lisa for Part 1 of their conversation with improvisor and author Dan O'Connor, celebrating the release of his new book, Ensemble! Using the Power of Improvisation and Play to Forge Connections in a Lonely World. Dan starts with [more…] The post Monster Baby #95 Ensemble! A Conversation with Dan O'Connor, Part One appeared first on Anima Learning.

You've got great stories to tell—want some tips for sharing ‘em? In part two of his conversation with Lisa and Ted, improvisor, storyteller and author Corey Rosen dives deeper into the craft and skill of telling great stories. Corey starts by noting how stories change over time (1:37) which leads into Ted's sharing a story [more…] The post Monster Baby #94 Your Story, Well Told: A Conversation with Corey Rosen, Part Two appeared first on Anima Learning.

What's more compelling than a well-told story? For Monster Baby episode, #93, Ted and Lisa join improvisor, storyteller, and recently published author Corey Rosen for Part One of a super-fun conversation exploring the many facets of his new book, Your Story, Well-Told. The episode kicks off with some musings on the old camp favorite “rest [more…] The post Monster Baby #93 Your Story, Well-Told: A Conversation with Corey Rosen, Part One appeared first on Anima Learning.

Things are different now. It's been a while since the last Monster Baby Podcast episode but we had good reason for the delay: Lisa had a baby! In Episode #92, Ted and Lisa take stock of the mindfulness and improvisation ramifications of Lisa's new life as a (gulp!) mom. Ted cheekily starts the episode by [more…] The post Monster Baby #92 Lisa Had a Baby! appeared first on Anima Learning.

Good things come in small packages. That’s especially true if we pay attention to their beauty and impact. In Monster Baby Episode #91, Ted and Lisa explore the many delights of tiny choices. Lisa starts the episode with a check-in on the imminent birth of her first child (3:11) and Ted reports the great fun [more…] The post Monster Baby #91 The Joy of Little Things appeared first on Anima Learning.

What to do with discomfort? We all feel stress sometimes. A little noodge. A joint out of whack. A bump in the wheel. In Monster Baby episode #90, Ted and Lisa explore what mindfulness and improvisation have to teach us about gettin’ (at least a bit more) comfortable with that discomfort. The pair kick off [more…] The post Monster Baby #90 Gettin’ Comfortable with Discomfort appeared first on Anima Learning.

  What does it mean to make a resolution? Happy New Year Monster Baby fans! Maybe you’re a person who makes resolutions, maybe you’re not. But we bet you’ll think about ‘em differently if you listen in. Ted starts the podcast thinking about change in the air (note: when we recorded, we had just gotten [more…] The post Monster Baby #89 Talkin’ ‘Bout a Resolution appeared first on Anima Learning.

If you’re looking for a holiday dessert, how about a taste of humble pie? It’s Episode #88, and Ted and Lisa are thinking about all the ways they just don’t know. After a fun prompt from Ted and a few rounds of syllable-at-a-time-three-things (2:36), Ted shares what led him to this episode’s topic (9:12). Lisa [more…] The post Monster Baby #88 Hello Humility appeared first on Anima Learning.

A few tasty chestnuts for a warm November—plus some exciting news! In Episode #87, Ted and Lisa consider a little bit of this and a little bit of that. They start in the not-knowing between Election Day and when results got announced (1:45) before getting to Lisa’s big news (10:11). They discuss the dynamics of [more…] The post Monster Baby #87 November 2020 Grab Bag: Election Day, Lisa’s Big News, and Memory Issues appeared first on Anima Learning.

  Simple stories can give a sweet taste of wisdom. Cued by a compact wisdom tale passed on by friend and colleague William Hall, co-hosts Ted and Lisa wonder about purpose, sweetness, and gratitude in the midst of certain danger. The episode starts with a game that Ted created a while back but hasn’t gotten [more…] The post Monster Baby #86 What’s Your Strawberry? appeared first on Anima Learning.

When is the right time to act or to speak? So much of being skillful with life is getting in rhythm with one’s self and one’s surroundings. In Monster Baby #85, Ted and Lisa explore bunches of angles on timing. The episode starts with a game Lisa recently learned (3:06) and a recap of the [more…] The post Monster Baby #85 All in the Timing appeared first on Anima Learning.

How do you dance with your doldrums? Yup. We’re still in a pandemic and it looks like we will be for quite a bit longer. In this episode, Ted and Lisa take stock of that fact and look to transform their feeling a bit down…by acknowledging that they feel down. Ted starts things off with [more…] The post Monster Baby #84 Oh, Those COVID Doldrums! appeared first on Anima Learning.

Where’s *your* focus? Where do you want it to be? Spurred by a suggestion from a Chicago-based listener, Ted and Lisa gallop into a conversation about focus. They start with a rousing round of the new game “D’jever?” (1:54) before Ted kicks off the topic by mentioning the simultaneous different focus tracks in his brain [more…] The post Monster Baby #83 Find Your Focus appeared first on Anima Learning.

 Effective collaboration brings great joy. How the heck does it happen? In Part 2 of their two-episode conversation, Lisa, Ted, and Stanford colleagues Matt Abrahams and Adam Tobin (of the “Improvisationally Speaking” course) dive into what makes for joyful collaboration. Matt and Adam talk about what works well for them (1:24) before Adam playfully reveals [more…] The post Monster Baby #82 Elements of Effective Collaboration (Part 2 of a Conversation with Matt Abrahams and Adam Tobin) appeared first on Anima Learning.

Speaking on the spot can be tough. And you can get better at it! In the first part of a two-episode conversation with Stanford colleagues Matt Abrahams and Adam Tobin, Lisa and Ted dive into the details of “Improvisationally Speaking.” We get to meet Matt and Adam (2:32) and then hear Matt’s stress-filled public speaking [more…] The post Monster Baby #81 Improvisationally Speaking (Part 1 of a Conversation with Matt Abrahams and Adam Tobin) appeared first on Anima Learning.

It’s a Monster Baby birthday: time to consider some improv wisdom! On the 4thanniversary of Monster Baby’s first episode, Lisa and Ted celebrate by going through a recent blog post from their mentor, Patricia Ryan Madson. They start with the obligatory COVID check-in—we are going through a world-changing pandemic after all (2:10). Lisa makes reference [more…] The post Monster Baby #80 Let go. Appreciate more. Use everything. (And happy birthday, Monster Baby!) appeared first on Anima Learning.

That’s the thing about half-baked ideas: they could be gems; they could be duds. In a bit of frivolous departure from their usual deliberations, Ted and Lisa take up the fun task of considering a few half-baked ideas for coronavirus-inspired potential new products. Ted kicks off the episode with a couple rants and Lisa gives [more…] The post Monster Baby #79 Half-Baked Ideas appeared first on Anima Learning.

Are you an extrovert or an introvert? Are you sure? In their continued adjustment to living with the reality of a world-sweeping pandemic, Ted and Lisa turn their attention to one of their most noticeable differences. They start the episode by acknowledging the challenging circumstances of the time (1:49) and then begin by introducing the [more…] The post Monster Baby #78 Extroversion Introversion appeared first on Anima Learning.

How do you make sense of living under lockdown? As citizens of the San Francisco Bay Area, Ted and Lisa have been holed up in their respective homes as the coronavirus crisis continues to unfold. Recorded over Zoom, they start this episode by considering their usual tolerance for germs (2:01) and then check in about [more…] The post Monster Baby #77 Living Under Lockdown appeared first on Anima Learning.

With good reason, everybody’s talking about the coronavirus. We are too. In the midst of the growing global coronavirus pandemic, Lisa and Ted take a few moments to reflect on the impacts of rapid change and uncertainty. Well, actually, they start by reviewing Ted’s mouse-in-the-house scenario and setting up a Table of Contents for the [more…] The post Monster Baby #76 Coronavirus Takes Hold appeared first on Anima Learning.

Presidential Primary season’s swirling into hurricane mode: how do we make sense of it all? Just before the big Super Tuesday Democratic Primary elections, Ted and Lisa take stock of their feelings and leanings. The episode begins with Lisa’s excitement about her new position as the Artistic Director for BATS improv (3:12), including some musings [more…] The post Monster Baby #75 Sorting Through Super Tuesday appeared first on Anima Learning.

What if your spiritual practice meant simply saying “Yes!” to life itself? In anticipation of this March’s “Yes to Life! The Improvisation and Spirituality Weekend,” Ted and Lisa welcome the retreat’s co-facilitators, Angelo John Lewis and Cindy Franklin, on to the Monster Baby Podcast. Lisa starts by coordinating an introduction of each guest, starting with [more…] The post Monster Baby #74 Yes to Life! A Conversation on Improvisation and Spirituality with Cindy Franklin and Angelo John Lewis appeared first on Anima Learning.

What are your “thunderbolt” moments of insight from mindfulness and improvisation? Inspired by a listener’s question, Ted and Lisa consider particular moments of clarity and insight from their long experience in the worlds of mindfulness and improvisation. The episode starts with Ted recalling a recent “prince and the pauper” travel experience (3:09) and Lisa sharing [more…] The post Monster Baby #73 Thunderbolt Moments appeared first on Anima Learning.

What gifts do mindfulness and improv bring to your season of light? It’s the season of giving and Ted and Lisa are musing on the life-shifting gifts of their shared practice. They start the episode with an invitation for responses and then take a few moments for a warm-up game of “Three Things.” (4:11) The pair introduces [more…] The post Monster Baby #72 Waking Up to the Gifts appeared first on Anima Learning.

How can you play if your string is too tight or too slack? Finding the right amount of tension matters hugely: in improv, in mindfulness, and in life. Along those lines, Ted and Lisa mine a moment of tension from the last podcast episode (1:48) before drawing on some wisdom from the worlds of astrology [more…] The post Monster Baby #71 Attention to Tension appeared first on Anima Learning.

Should you tell your story—or step out of it? Storytelling: it’s a topic that lies at the center of both improvisation and mindfulness practices. After recognizing that this episode has been a long time coming (2:14), Ted and Lisa dive into how foundational stories are, starting with the example of the stories we tell in [more…] The post Monster Baby #70 What’s Your Story? appeared first on Anima Learning.

What can you learn from improv without ever taking an improv class? After catching up a bit after a long stretch away from the podcast, Lisa and Ted reflect on a recent article in the Stanford alumni magazine that quotes each of them. Ted starts the episode with some thoughts on his recent trip to [more…] The post Monster Baby #69 The Dish–Insights from Improv at Stanford (and other goodies)! appeared first on Anima Learning.

What if this (and every day) were the best day ever? Finding inspiration from their everyday interactions with others, Ted and Lisa offer up a Monster Baby grab bag of musings and insights. After opening up with a rousing game of Convergence (2:19), Lisa starts the conversation off by wondering about discipline in her life [more…] The post Monster Baby #68: Best Day Ever (A Monster Baby Grab Bag) appeared first on Anima Learning.

“You don’t solve problems in life. You keep reconciling paradoxes.” –Thiagi Every now and then—if you’re lucky—you get to spend time “under a mango tree” in the presence of a true master. For Monster Baby Episode #67, Lisa and Ted had such a treat: chatting with experiential learning guru Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagaragan. Following few moments [more…] The post Monster Baby #67 Under a Mango Tree: A Conversation with Thiagi appeared first on Anima Learning.

Who holds you accountable? Even just a little addition of accountability can make a huge difference in the behavioral choices we make. What the heck makes that work? Given an unexpected gift of time and inspired by an agreement Ted has recently made with a buddy of his, Ted and Lisa dive into Monster Baby [more…] The post Monster Baby #66 Accountability Buddies appeared first on Anima Learning.

What happens if you conspire for joy?   Joy’s a huge part of improv—and hopefully, a huge part of life. On Monster Baby #65, Ted and Lisa explore the ins and outs of this delicious emotion. They start with a laugh-worthy warm-up game of “Convergence” (2:03) and a recap of Lisa’s great day (7:55). Ted [more…] The post Monster Baby #65 Joy Conspiracy appeared first on Anima Learning.

When to say yes and when to say no—how do we know?  Both improv and mindfulness teach us to say yes to the unfolding story of life. But is that the whole story? On this, Monster Baby podcast episode #64, co-hosts Lisa and Ted explore the tension between the poles of yes and no, starting [more…] The post Monster Baby #64 Yes and No appeared first on Anima Learning.

Can you quiet your Inner Critic and nourish your Inner Coach? Few things block your creativity more than the nastiness of the voices inside your own head. And it’s true for all of us. On episode #63 of the Monster Baby podcast, Lisa and Ted sit down with creativity evangelist, Denise Jacobs, to explore insights [more…] The post Monster Baby #63 Simmer Down, Inner Critic (A Conversation with Denise Jacobs) appeared first on Anima Learning.

You are truly special. As is everyone else. Once more, the Monster Baby Podcast shows its affinity for paradox, this time diving into the topic of uniqueness. Ted and Lisa open with a check-in: Ted’s got lottery tickets for Hamilton and the pair struggles for Greek mythological references to describe their state of being (2:26) [more…] The post Monster Baby #62 The Uniqueness Paradox appeared first on Anima Learning.

Some family stories are unconventional from the start. Stepping into a vulnerable arena, Lisa shares her consideration of having a child on her own. Ted and Lisa start with an insight about improv and love from Lisa’s recent class (1:59) and note the ways that our environments help shape who and how we are (8:07). [more…] The post Monster Baby #61 Parenthood without Partnership? Lisa considers motherhood on her own appeared first on Anima Learning.

Have you ever wanted to get a creative vision into the world? In Monster Baby episode #60, Lisa and Ted celebrate the release of Ted’s new book, Playful Mindfulness into the world! The conversation starts with some reflections on Ted’s current voice and presence class (2:14) before Ted describes the error-finding process of bringing the book [more…] The post Monster Baby #60 “Congrats…it’s a BOOK!” appeared first on Anima Learning.

What behavior do you really want to encourage? Today’s episode starts with the mind-blowing wonder of Lisa’s recent night out at a magic show (1:41) before Lisa and Ted together jump into the realm of positive reinforcement (11:30). Ted helps clarify some commonly misused terminology (17:59) before sharing some thoughts about the game “Dolphin Training” [more…] The post Monster Baby #59 Redefine the Ding: Playing with Positive Reinforcement appeared first on Anima Learning.

Nothing like a near-disaster experience to get you thinking. Lisa and Ted return to the ambient sounds of the Stanford University campus to share Ted’s frightening story of almost taking his friend Dan’s life (3:15). Our intrepid pair again dive into the topic of vulnerability, especially as amplified when we’re stepping out into the world [more…] The post Monster Baby #58 Ted’s Harrowing Tale appeared first on Anima Learning.

Want to know what you let in and what you let out? Time to check your filters! For the first episode of another new year, Ted and Lisa lean under the hood to check the topic of filters. Per usual, they start with why the topic interests them (1:25) and then move onto identifying those [more…] The post Monster Baby #57 Filter-ama appeared first on Anima Learning.