Neil+1 The Podcast

For the season 2 finale we go out with a bang! Nick Armstrong is a cornerstone in the improv community. Currently artistic director of Westside Comedy in L.A., Nick has also taught at Groundlings and iO West. He performs weekly with King Ten. Nick is founder of Improv Utopia and co-founder of the Improv Network. We chat about community in improv, the strength of the Improv Network and keeping King Ten fresh for 14 years. http://www.nickarmstrong.com/ http://www.improvutopia.com http://www.theimprovnetwork.org

Josh Nicols is one of my improv heroes. Founder of Spectacles Improv Engine, Josh is a powerhouse on the improv scene with a balanced view of what improv means to him and the importance of community. We chat about opening your own improv theatre outside of L.A. and finding your own style of improv. Update: on 28th September Josh announced he is stepping down as artistic director of "Specs" to pass the reigns on to someone else. Josh remains instructor, performer and coach there while pursing other improv ventures. https://spectaclesimprov.com http://www.theimprovnetwork.org/members/josh-nicols/teacher/

This week I talk to some of the fine folks at American Improv Theatre (AIT) in California, founder Jeff Ringgold and teacher/performers, Amy Shank and Chris Shurland. This episode was a scream to record! We chat about AIT being haunted (and Amy finds out for the first time!), improv and audiences in the Bay Area and balancing improv with having other real world jobs. And we question why ghosts never wear crop tops. http://www.americanimprovtheatre.com

This episode I speak with Jaclynn Cherry from Detroit. Jaclynn is one of the organisers of the Detroit Improv Festival and is also part of the team behind Improv Utopia. We chat about the interesting improv scene in Detroit and also about festival culture. https://twitter.com/jcherrry http://www.detroitimprovfestival.org http://www.improvutopia.com

In this episode I speak with Joey Shope from Spectacles Improv Engine in Fullerton California. Joey chats about taking multiple improv programmes at the one time in L.A. and demystifies the improv format known as "JTS Brown". https://spectaclesimprov.com

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw face to face interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. This week I stay in Dublin and speak with my first Irish guest, the wonderful Kelly Shatter! We chat about Kelly's rich theatrical background and how that influences her improv vision and passion. http://www.stokeimprov.com

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw face to face interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. Kaisa Kokki is a Finish improviser who travels the world for her art, teaching and performing. We chat about the challenges of balancing business and art when you open a training centre and intimacy in improv. https://www.facebook.com/kaisakokkoimpro

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw face to face interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. This week I speak with Lloydie James Lloyd, a UK improviser and teacher with the award winning group, The Maydays, among others. Its a late night chat by the fire as we discuss improv training beyond the stage as well as hypnotism and NLP's relationship with Improv. http://www.themaydays.co.uk https://missimp.co.uk Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw face to face interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. In this episode, somewhat of a ComedySportz special, I speak with the powerhouse behind ComedySportz San Jose, Jeff Kramer. Jeff speaks about keeping improv fresh after 30 years, the importance of family in improv, and developing a following from scratch. ComedySportz San Jose won the CSz World Championship this year and this was recorded prior to their win. https://cszsanjose.com/

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw face to face interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. For the season 2 premiere, I sat down with Colleen Doyle and Jason Shotts, better known as Dummy! Colleen is also co-artistic director of iO West. We chat performing with your your real life partner, diversity in improv and a US view on improv in Europe. http://www.thecolleendoyle.com http://ioimprov.com/west/team/jason-shotts/ http://ioimprov.com/

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. In this podcast I sit down with none other than Kevin Mullaney. Kevin is former artistic director of UCB New York and behind the Improv Resource Center in Chicago. http://kevinmullaney.com/ http://improvresourcecenter.com/news/ https://www.facebook.com/KevinMullaneysImprovClasses/ Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. In this podcast I chat with Robert Long from Bakersfield, California. Rob has being improvising for nearly 30 years and is the founder of the Centre for Improv Advancement (CIA). We chat comic book improv and performing a format where each show is set in the same universe and more. For more about the Rob, please visit: http://robertlongimprov.com http://ciacomedy.com https://twitter.com/improvrobert Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. In this podcast I chat with a gang of folks from Off The Cuff (OTC) Comedy in Utah. They are also some of the people behind the "Funny Side Up" Web Series which follows the exploits of a improv group. We chat doing improv the heart of bible country, creating a web series and more. For more about the gang, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/offthecuffotc http://www.otccomedy.com http://tinyurl.com/funnysideupwebseries Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw interviews with interesting and inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. In this podcast I chat with Katy Schutte and Chris Mead, both performers with The Maydays and Project2. Some of our topics include religion in improv and whether an individual's spiritual beliefs can influence on stage. For more about Katy and Chris and the things they do please visit: http://www.katyschutte.co.uk http://www.themaydays.co.uk http://www.scifiimprov.co.uk Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw interviews with inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. This podcast features Ulla Oksanen and Trent Pancy and was recording during the Slapdash festival in London. Both perform together as a duo and with Yada Yada Improv in Finland. Trent runs the Finland International Improv Festival and The Improv Academy in Tampere. The podcast was recorded during the Slapdash after party. http://www.theimprovacademy.com/ http://www.finlandimprovfestival.com https://www.facebook.com/FinlandImprovFestival Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw interviews with inspiring improvisers that I meet on my travels. This podcast features Will Luera and Dave Sawyer of Big Bang Improv and was recording during the Slapdash festival in London. For more about Big Bang Improv in Boston please visit: http://bigbangimprov.com https://www.facebook.com/BigBangImprov/ For more about Will Luera and the Florida Studio Theatre please visit: http://will-luera.com https://www.floridastudiotheatre.org/fst-improv Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au

Neil+1 "The Podcast" features raw interviews with influential improvisers that I meet on my travels. This podcast features Jules Munns and was recorded during the Slapdash Festival in London. For more about Jules Munns please visit: http://thenurserytheatre.com http://slapdashfestival.co.uk http://www.themaydays.co.uk Music Track "Rainbows" by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au