Podcasts about Applied improvisation

Today, we're exploring a topic that affects all of us: change. Whether it's in our careers, relationships, or personal growth, navigating change can be challenging—but what if we approached it like an improv scene? I'm thrilled to have Kat Koppett with us today. Kat is an expert in applied improvisation where she helps individuals and organizations harness the power of improv to think on their feet, adapt, and thrive in uncertain situations. You'll walk away with insights and practical tools to apply in both business and everyday life. You can reach Kat at: https://Koppett.com where you can find her books and links to the Improv theatre in New York. Here's the article helping you apply some of the expanded principles: https://goalsforyourlife.com/appied-improvisation    Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! https://goalsforyourlife.com/blog  Get them directly to your inbox here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter  Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com Quick recap: Deborah and Kat Koppett discussed the application of improvisation principles in various aspects of life, including work, parenting, and personal relationships, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, resilience, and adaptability. They also explored the benefits of improvisation in personal and professional settings, highlighting its role in developing communication skills, creativity, and innovation. Next Steps: -Take an improv class to exercise spontaneity and comfort with discomfort. -Practice paying attention to thoughts, feelings and surroundings, then asking, “How can I accept and build with this? -Explore journaling or meditation as ways to increase self-awareness and acceptance. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 01:49 - Kat Koppett, Applied Improvisation Expert 03:07 - Kat's Journey to Improv Expertise 09:00 - Embracing Uncertainty in the Future 11:17 - Parenting as an Improv Scene 12:50 - Understanding Applied Improvisation 17:58 - Overcoming Fear of Going Off Script 22:45 - Cultivating Flexibility in Life 24:26 - Celebrating Failures for Growth 27:14 - Strengthening Your Resilience Muscles 32:50 - Improv's Benefits for Clients 34:33 - Boosting Creativity through Improv 41:06 - Navigating Change Effectively 45:30 - Finding Pat: A Personal Journey 46:56 - Thank You for Joining Us 47:58 - Outro

Christiana Frank is a certified speaker, coach, consultant, program developer, and mentor. Since 1999, she has been helping corporate teams, educational institutions, and mental health facilities connect to themselves, each other, and the world at large.  Founder of KidScape Productions and with a strong passion for helping all ages, you can typically find Mrs. Frank in areas of wellness and empowerment, applying evidence-based approaches that draw from modern-day neuroscience and psychology. Since 1999 she has been designing and leading training's with a mindful approach to collaboration, communication, and creativity.  Mrs. Frank's passion is deeply rooted in facilitating teams and individuals to communicate effectively and feel confident with ambiguity and change.   https://christianafrank.com/ christiana@christianafrank.com Facebook Linkedin

One of the most valuable skills in today's world is the ability to improvise.  Improvisation is not just about making things up on the spot but also about adapting to changing situations, finding creative solutions, and collaborating with others. In this episode, Billy and Shaun Peterson sit down with Ryan Sullivan, CFP®, CRPC®, RCC™, Vice … Read More Read More

Our 36th episode of the Creative Flow: Thinkers and Change Agents Podcast Series features Jane Fischer, a Creative Change Facilitator for individuals and groups who focuses on the tools of applied improvisation and Creativity. Jane is a creative trainer at the Creative Education Foundation with over 25 years of experience developing and delivering educational sessions and 20 years of experience as a professional improv comedy performer.  Jane was involved in the Applied Improvisation community for many years in her hometown of Jamestown and was introduced to the Center for Applied Imagination by a graduate in this group. The program was so transformative that she described her life “BC – Before Creativity” and “AC – After Creativity.” One surprising benefit of the Graduate Certificate in Creativity from the Center for Applied Imagination, SUNY Buffalo State, was the inclusion of Creative Leadership in the curriculum. She credits this degree with helping her to empower her workplace and make everything “exponentially better” for the people who worked for her.  Jane discusses how she uses the improvisational mindset to help teams and organizations experience Creativity. She incorporates exercises and activities from the world of improv, and participants learn how to balance divergent and convergent thinking while finding new and exciting possibilities. One of her favorite success stories involved a person who considered improv fluff until she could practice it and experience the impact it can have on collaboration and communication skills.  Don't miss this chance to laugh while you also hear insights from a respected leader who  has a vision for the future of the creativity community, where we will continue to convert people and help them make their “own meaning with creativity.” Find our podcast today on all of your favorite platforms.  

Not Fishy Enough: A Ridiculous Parable About Finding Worth Through Self-Acceptance by Briton Kolber Amazon.com Britonkolber.com "Holy freakin' snail shells! What is this book?" asked Edwin. This is a combination of a slightly short novel for kids over 8 and a self-help guide for the people who care about them. There are subtle jokes for adults and deeper meanings to explore as well. This story is about Edwin. He is an odd-looking fish. At least that's what everybody tells him. Well, they tell him he's a fish, anyway. Not much of a tail for a fish. The scales are wrong, too. The fins are a bit, well, grabby. More on that later. "Wait what? Tell me now," demanded Edwin. Sorry, Edwin, you'll spoil the adventure. "Fine. I'm out of here." Now that he's out of earshot, I can tell you that it's about a crab adopted by fish growing up in an isolated tidepool with no other crabs. So, he grows up thinking he is merely an incompetent fish. There is a section in the back of the book with discussion questions for many of the themes in this book. The questions are designed for classrooms, for mental health professionals, and for caregivers in general. In these pages, is an adventure of aquatic proportions. It's about finding out who you are and figuring out what to do about that. This highly unusual, but hopefully not too unusual, book is by Briton Kolber, a licensed therapist who specializes in helping geeks accept and find the best in themselves. In a world that may remind you of Finding Nemo, it explores themes found in The Ugly Duckling, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Brené Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection. If you are a fan of the pragmatic wisdom of Brené Brown or the humor of Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, or Christopher Healy (The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom) you will have a good time here. Illustrations by Nicoleta Dabijya add wonder and whimsy. Briton Kolber is a family therapist focusing on geeks as a special population. He has taught Applied Improvisation at SAGA School, General Assembly, and Aspiring Youth/Ryther. He has done many odd things ranging from Research Scientist Associate at Applied Research Laboratories to Board Member of Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to computer sales to performing regularly with ComedySportz Austin to working in the film industry in Los Angeles. He spent his youth split between mountains, culture, and extended family in Austria and a ranch, live-stock, space technology, and energy culture of Houston. In what little free time he has left after grand adventures with his family, he runs, skis, writes sketch comedy, has conversations with his cats, and tries not to set himself on fire while cooking. Again.

— “We can ask people to be kinder and more accepting. That works to some extent, but if we are dependent on others to give us that feeling of belonging, we can still get emotionally hurt. It seems like a smarter idea to find a way to like yourself for who you are.” Valeria interviews Briton Kolber  — He is the author of  “Not Fishy Enough: A Ridiculous Parable About Finding Worth Through Self-Acceptance.”  Briton Kolber is also a family therapist specializing in geeks as a special population. His first book, Not Fishy Enough is for children and the adults who care for them. He has taught Applied Improvisation at SAGA School, General Assembly, and Aspiring Youth / Ryther. He has done many odd things ranging from Research Scientist Associate at Applied Research Laboratories to Board Member of Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to computer sales to performing regularly with ComedySportz Austin to working in the film industry in Los Angeles. In what little free time he has left after grand adventures with his family, he runs, skis, writes sketch comedy, has conversations with his cats, and tries not to set himself on fire while cooking… again.  To learn more about Briton Kolber and his work, please visit: notfishyenough.com                 — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well. 

Welcome to Episode 531 of the Yeukai Business Show. In this episode, our guest Briton Kolber shares his unique perspective on what stops people from living the life they want. Throughout the episode, we delve into various topics such as the importance of understanding the stories we tell ourselves, the power of curiosity and objective data analysis, and differentiating between emotional reactions and rational responses.  So, if you want to know more about overcoming limitations and living the life you want, tune in now! In this episode, you'll discover: The Importance of Understanding Your StoryOvercoming Obstacles and Embracing AuthenticityApplying Your Story to Success About Briton Kolber Briton is an author and family therapist focusing on geeks as a special population since 2012. His first book, Not Fishy Enough: A Ridiculous Parable About Finding Worth Through Self-Acceptance, is for kids over age 8 with enough gems for adults, too. He has taught Applied Improvisation at SAGA School, General Assembly, and Aspiring Youth / Ryther. He has done many odd things ranging from Research Scientist Associate at Applied Research Laboratories to Board Member of Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy to computer sales to performing regularly with ComedySportz Austin to working in the film industry in Los Angeles. In what little free time he has left after grand adventures with his family, he runs, skis, writes sketch comedy, has conversations with his cats, and tries not to set himself on fire while cooking. Again.  More Information  Learn more about overcoming limitations and living the life you want at https://britonkolber.com/ Book: https://notfishyenough.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briton-kolber-a5a2812/  Thanks for Tuning In! Thanks so much for being with us this week. Have some feedback you'd like to share? Please leave a note in the comments section below! If you enjoyed this episode on How to Expand Your Business, please share it with your friends by using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post. Don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic episode updates for our "Yeukai Business Show !" And, finally, please take a minute to leave us an honest review and rating on iTunes. They really help us out when it comes to the ranking of the show and I make it a point to read every single one of the reviews we get. Please leave a review right now Thanks for listening!

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, connects with Marcus Collins, the head of strategy at Wieden+Kennedy and a clinical assistant professor of marketing at The Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, to discuss his new book: “For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, And Who […]

We wrap up the interview with Don Colliver talking about key stumbling blocks like presenting data heavy content. There are a number of other misconceptions and improper approaches he addresses in this discussion of becoming a better presenter. The essential point is one we often see. You should remember why you are presenting it. That, of course, points back to his earlier three questions of knowing who you are talking to, what you want to convey, and the call to action. Presenting Data Heavy Content Is About The Journey There are really two reasons for presenting data heavy content. You are either trying to show the journey to achieve your conclusions or point to the conclusion itself. Don brings up a common fallacy where the amount of work involved is attempted to be conveyed. That is not something your audience cares much about. They want to send the end results or learn how you problem-solve through it. Both of those cases mean a summary or similar approach is going to be better than a lot of data. Keep your focus on what you can easily communicate, and they can easily digest. About Don Don Colliver is a teacher, speaker, writer, and comedian with over twenty-five years of experience. He enjoys passionately engaging audiences and helping them engage with one another. Don's mission is to help every speaker profoundly impact their audience through the power of courageous vulnerability, confident authenticity, and the joy of connection. Thanks to his popular public speaking courses delivered internally at Google and worldwide, hundreds of nervous speakers have transformed into more effective and joyful communicators, reaching a deeper level of audience connection than they ever thought possible. In addition to teaching, Don can be found on the trade show floor, where he writes and delivers presentations for companies including Adobe, Cisco, and Medtronic. On the screen, Don has written and directed hundreds of hours of nonfiction television for shows, including House Hunters, $40 a Day with Rachael Ray, and Roker on the Road. Before teaching others to take the spotlight confidently, Don toured internationally as a theatrical Clown for the contemporary circus company Spiegelworld and performed briefly with the Blue Man Group. Also, he is listed in the Cirque du Soleil performer database. He is a founding member of the award-winning sketch and clown groups DJ Faucet and the Innocents. His troupes have received awards, including the Improv Olympic Del Close Award for Best Sketch Comedy Troupe and the Hollywood Fringe Award for Best Physical Theater. Don won the 2017 Toastmasters International District One Tall Tales Speech Championship. Don graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Communications from Boston University. He holds certifications in Design Thinking, Applied Improvisation, and Instructional Design. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. When he's not helping speakers engage with their audiences more deeply, he can be found hiking through the redwoods.  Learn More Check Out More From Don at: https://www.doncolliver.com Check out the site and his latest book, "Wink.

BONUS PODCAST: This bonus podcast was taped live at the Up Comedy Club at The Second City. Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, hosts a podcast taping with a stellar panel of guests to look at how comedy is an effective tool in the struggle for human rights. […]

This interview is a new one with Don Collliver, and we go deep on effective presentations. There are a lot of best practices and rules you have heard that he breaks. His approach is not simply to be different. He has seen the value in using his approach for business presentations that focus on getting the point (or series of points across). The goal is communication, in this case, rather than entertainment. However, his background in entertainment makes him an entertaining speaker as well. Effective Presentations Get The Message Across There are a number of factors that Don considers in putting together a presentation. These help him focus on his message, the audience, and show respect for their time. That helps us avoid things like the cat "hang in there" slide or other superfluous slides and gimmicks you often see. The approach and guidelines he provides are for putting together a professional and focused presentation. About Don Don Colliver is a teacher, speaker, writer, and comedian with over twenty-five years of experience. He enjoys passionately engaging audiences and helping them engage with one another. Don's mission is to help every speaker profoundly impact their audience through the power of courageous vulnerability, confident authenticity, and the joy of connection. Thanks to his popular public speaking courses delivered internally at Google and worldwide, hundreds of nervous speakers have transformed into more effective and joyful communicators, reaching a deeper level of audience connection than they ever thought possible. In addition to teaching, Don can be found on the trade show floor, where he writes and delivers presentations for companies including Adobe, Cisco, and Medtronic. On the screen, Don has written and directed hundreds of hours of nonfiction television for shows, including House Hunters, $40 a Day with Rachael Ray, and Roker on the Road. Before teaching others to take the spotlight confidently, Don toured internationally as a theatrical Clown for the contemporary circus company Spiegelworld and performed briefly with the Blue Man Group. Also, he is listed in the Cirque du Soleil performer database. He is a founding member of the award-winning sketch and clown groups DJ Faucet and the Innocents. His troupes have received awards, including the Improv Olympic Del Close Award for Best Sketch Comedy Troupe and the Hollywood Fringe Award for Best Physical Theater. Don won the 2017 Toastmasters International District One Tall Tales Speech Championship. Don graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Communications from Boston University. He holds certifications in Design Thinking, Applied Improvisation, and Instructional Design. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. When he's not helping speakers engage with their audiences more deeply, he can be found hiking through the redwoods.  Learn More Check Out More From Don at: https://www.doncolliver.com Check out the site and his latest book, "Wink.

BONUS PODCAST: Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, welcomes the legendary Seth Godin back to the podcast to talk about his new book “The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams.” “The work of significance embraces the very things that industrialism seeks to stamp out.” “What each […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, gets a lesson in both food and economics from Professor Ha-Joon Chang when they discuss his new book “Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World.” “We Koreans don't just eat garlic. We process it. In industrial quantities. We are garlic.” “This […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, talks to facilitator, Neuro-Linguistic Programming Executive Coach, and Burnout Management Specialist Neelu Kaur about her new book, “Be Your Own Cheerleader: An Asian and South Asian Woman's Cultural, Psychological, and Spiritual Guide to Self-Promote at Work.” “We teach people how we want […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, connects with University of Virginia psychologist Daniel T. Willingham to talk about his new book, “Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make it Easy.”  “It may come as a surprise, but people can be mistaken about what they […]

BONUS POD: Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, talks to Princeton historian Kevin Kruse about his new book “Myth America: Historians Take on The Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past.” “American Exceptionalism has a double meaning.”“Political myths are never far from conspiratorial thinking.”“Few myths have the staying […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, Kelly has a conversation with entrepreneur Surbhi Sarna who has a new book “Without a Doubt: How to Go From Underrated to Unbeatable.” “Entrepreneurs are people who build their own ladders while also climbing them.” “Taking care of yourself is a demonstration […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, welcomes back Sarah Rose Cavanagh to the podcast. Sarah is an associate professor of practice in psychology at Simmons University and the author of “Mind Over Monsters: Supporting Youth Mental Health with Compassionate Challenge.”  “The principal purpose of our brains is to manage the […]

BONUS PODCASTS: Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, records a live podcast with beloved actor, writer and producer Rainn Wilson for the Chicago Humanities Festival to talk about his new book “Soul Boom.” This episode was recorded live April 21, 2023 at The Francis Parker School in Chicago, […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, crosses the Atlantic to talk to Ben Alderson-Day, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Durham University and the author of “Presence: The Strange Science and True Stories of the Unseen Other.” “Some presences lead. And some our led.” “How our bodies and […]

In our final episode of this round of The Artist's Oath Interview Series, Merideth chats with improvisor, facilitator, and leadership coach David Westerlund. David delights in listening to the aspirations of leaders and helping them unlock hidden resources by facilitating meaningful engagement. This unleashes innovation and leads to resilient, supportive, joyful, and agile workplace cultures that allow organizations to have greater momentum and impact toward their mission. His work as a consultant, designer/facilitator, and coach is informed by the philosophy and practice of Liberating Structures and Applied Improvisation, both of which remind us that there is a lot of wisdom in the room and amplify our ability to tap into that and experience collective synergy. He believes that in order to solve the complex problems we are facing, we must be collaborative and intentionally develop skills of presence, agility, relating, collaboration, and creativity. David reads his inspiring Oath and encourages you to be present and discover joy.  David Westerlund's website Artist's Oath Workshop April 21 + 22 Join the Fall Artist's Way Creative Cluster with Merideth

Let's talk about the magic that is improvisation, or what us cool kids call "improv." It's an art form that's all about unleashing your creativity and performing without a script or plan. Sure, you may have heard of it as a side-splitting comedy act, but improv goes a lot deeper than that. From acting to business to mental health, improv skills can be applied in various areas of life.  Enter Kelly Leonard, the VP of Creative Strategy, Innovation, and Business Development at the infamous Second City in Chicago. Kelly, who over the decades has produced hundreds of original revues with comedians such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Seth Meyers (to name a few) has a unique understanding of behavioral science through the lens of improv.   Regaling us with lessons and stories from his career and book, ‘Yes And', we learn how to utilize improv to help us adapt, empathize, communicate, trust, and collaborate better. We are reminded that saying ‘yes' to new ideas and experiences sparks creativity and can lead to beneficial outcomes. From deepening our relationships with others by practicing active listening and learning to accept and appreciate new ideas, regardless of their origin. It also teaches us to think on our feet and work together to create innovative solutions to problems. Listen and Learn:  How Stephen Colbert came to write a blurb for Kelly's book, Yes, and: How Improvisation Reverses No, But Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration Why so many successful comedy performers have an improv background  How improv skills can help us to empathize, communicate and collaborate The idea of the ‘Yes And' exercise  Why Kelly prefers to use the word ensemble vs. team  Improv's positive impact on caregiver burden and depression An introduction to the ‘I Am Somebody Who' exercise Why adopting a Yes And mentality helps create a psychologically safe environment How improv can be applied in therapy  If improv were an animal, what animal would it be?  What's next for Kelly's work in science and the arts  Resources:  Learn more about Kelly: https://www.secondcity.com/people/kelly-leonard+ Get your copy of Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses No, But Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780062248541 Check out The Second City website: https://www.secondcity.com/ Listen to Kelly's podcast, Getting to Yes And: https://www.secondcityworks.com/podcast About Kelly Leonard  Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of Learning and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works. His book, “Yes, And: Lessons from The Second City” was released to critical acclaim in 2015 by HarperCollins and was praised by Michael Lewis in Vanity Fair who called it “...an excellent guide to the lessons that have bubbled up in Second City's improv workshops.” Kelly is a popular speaker on the power of improvisation to transform people's lives. He has presented at The Aspen Ideas Festival, The Code Conference,TEDx Broadway, Chicago Ideas Festival, The Stanford Graduate School of Business and for companies such as Coca Cola, Microsoft, Twitter, Memorial Sloan Kettering and DDB Worldwide.  Kelly co-created an initiative with the Center for Decision Research at the Booth School at the University of Chicago, The Second Science Project, that looks at behavioral science through the lens of improvisation. He also hosts the podcast, “Getting to Yes, And,” for Second City Works and WGN radio that features interviews with academics, authors and leaders such as Brene Brown, Adam Grant, Michael Lewis, Lindy West, Ash Carter and Amy Edmondson. For over twenty years, Kelly oversaw Second City's live theatrical divisions where he helped generate original productions with such talent as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Steve Carell, Keegan Michael Key, Amy Sedaris, Adam McKay and others. In 2019, Arts Alliance Illinois awarded Kelly and his wife Anne Libera with their Creative Voice Award.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent episode of his podcast that explores the idea that if you are ruminating about the past or living in an imaginary future, you won’t be […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent episode of his podcast that explores the idea that if you are ruminating about the past or living in an imaginary future, you won’t be […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent episode of his podcast that explores the idea that if you are ruminating about the past or living in an imaginary future, you won’t be […]

This is the 11th conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 10th conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 9th conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 8th conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 7th conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 6th conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 5th conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 4th conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 3rd conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 2nd conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

This is the 1st conversation [EP33 to 43 S3] with Renatus Hoogenraad, a former ballet dancer, choreographer and theater improviser. He is the founder of Sparks, a human centered training and consulting firm in Geneva and cofounder of the CoCreation School. In this episode he talks about his journey from being a performer and how that translated to being in the business field. This is an inspiring and relatable episode especially for those in the performing arts, facilitation, business and beyond.

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast he did with former Cubs manager Joe Maddon. Kelly explains that while data is important to success, you can’t count out lived experience.

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast he did with former Cubs manager Joe Maddon. Kelly explains that while data is important to success, you can’t count out lived experience.

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast he did with former Cubs manager Joe Maddon. Kelly explains that while data is important to success, you can’t count out lived experience.

In this episode, we're talking with the Director of Learning and Development for On-Cue, Matt Elwell. We invited Matt on to teach us about training, but we ended up learning so much more. This episode is full of actionable advice to help your attendees retain the messaging of your event. So hit the download button, screw your headphones on tight, and get ready to take notes.Matt Elwell, CPTD has been using the principles of improvisation to improve professional performance for 15 years. He has created learning experiences used by 100s of organizations including AT&T, McDonald's, Astellas Pharma U.S., SRR, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Navy. Matt is a Certified Professional in Talent Development, and has shared his insights on interactive learning and improvisation at both professional and academic conferences. He has been active in the Applied Improvisation and Learning & Development communities, including as President of the Association for Talent Development, Chicagoland Chapter.CREDITSHosted and Written by Jeremy DobrishProduced by Bethany PotterTheme Music by Mike ManciniLogo design by Shraddha MaharjanSpecial thanks to Dossie McCraw WHERE TO FIND USProscenium WebsiteLinkedInInstagramTwitterFacebook

The Second City – where countless actors and comedians got their start. They've been bringing the funny for over 60 years. Now the first name in improve and comedy, they've expanded well beyond the stage and into business, wellness, education and so much more. Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning and Applied Improvisation at The Second City, joins Bill and Megan in this episode to talk about improvisation, creativity, and whether and how it can be used in conflict communication – especially in high conflict interactions. For over twenty years, he oversaw Second City's live theatrical divisions working with such talent as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Steve Carrell, and others.In this episode, we'll talk about: Kelly's book, Yes, And improvisation and creativity beyond the stage allowing anything to be on the table differences between creativity and innovation allowing yourself to be a human being the effect of the body on the brain and anxiety (he'll talk about what can be seen on an MRI when a smile is involved) so much more Links & Other Notes: KELLY'S BOOKYes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--Lessons from The Second City KELLY'S PODCAST"Getting to Yes, And" KELLY'S TEDxBroadwayTalkEmbrace Your Failures KELLY'S COURSESThe Second City Our website: https://www.highconflictinstitute.com/Submit a Question for Bill and MeganAll of our books can be found in our online store or anywhere books are sold, including as e-books.You can also find these show notes at our site as well.Note: We are not diagnosing anyone in our discussions, merely discussing patterns of behavior. (00:00) - Welcome to It's All Your Fault (02:30) - Meet Kelly Leonard (09:21) - Yes! And... (12:29) - Using It in Conflict Situations (15:45) - Times to Not 'Yes And' (18:31) - Thank You, Because... (20:03) - Avoiding Escalation (20:58) - Humor, Surprise, Delight (21:40) - Why Improv? (27:01) - The Science (36:56) - Reminders & Coming Next Week: Jackhammer Parents Learn more about our exclusive Family Law Consultation Group right here and sign up to be part of the 2024 session today!

Belina Raffy, Empress and Improvisation guide,  is the director of Maffick Ltd & Applied Improvisation and Thrivability thought-leader, Thrivable World Quest co-founder and global captain.She used to work in London and New York as an Executive for one of the largest global financial institutions, in 13 years, she saw many people struggle with burn-out.  She studied improvisation to find out: 1) how these skills help individuals respond to the unexpected, and navigate ambiguity 2) how it can transform our organizations as a whole. She encourages people to explore what happens when we consciously align our work with how nature and people thrive. She believes that our ability to improvise gives us a choice about how to respond to life's challenges. Improvisation helps us develop our creative thinking skills in service of a happier life, and play a vital part in our response to our complex, dynamic world. It is her passion to spread these mindsets and practices and support others discover the power of improvisation.In this sparkling, thought-provoking episode, we explore the differences between stand-up and improv, and how the structures of either and both can allow us to reach past the tribal screaming of our time, to a more gentle, compassionate, connected way of reaching each other.  Humour reaches the places that charts, data and stats never will - and Belina has years of experience in creating spaces where people can find what matters most to them, and share it in ways that make us laugh - and care.Belina's website https://www.maffick.com/Belina at Wisdom Together https://www.wisdomtogether.com/belina-raffy-maffick-ltd/Belina's book https://www.maffick.com/#the-bookBelina on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi1EGkh_vzgUpcoming courses1-hour online ‘Compassionate Climate Comedy' on 7 NovAnd next 7-week Sustainable Stand Up course starts 19 JanDetails at https://www.sustainablestandup.com/#coursesInga Foundation http://www.ingafoundation.org/Red Cross Disaster Risk Reduction  https://climatecentre.live/courses/participate/ The Frontier Development Lab https://frontierdevelopmentlab.org/ and https://fdleurope.org/ .

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast with author and former professional poker player Annie Duke about the benefits of quitting.

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast with author and former professional poker player Annie Duke about the benefits of quitting.

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast with author and former professional poker player Annie Duke about the benefits of quitting.

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast discussion he had with author Cassie Holmes about happiness and what you need to prioritize if you want to become happier.

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast discussion he had with author Cassie Holmes about happiness and what you need to prioritize if you want to become happier.

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast discussion he had with author Cassie Holmes about happiness and what you need to prioritize if you want to become happier.

Join me this week as my guest Don Colliver and I explore a life of passions, connectivity, and all the things we can learn from clowns. Don Colliver is a teacher, speaker, writer, and comedian with over twenty-five years of experience passionately engaging audiences and helping them engage with one another. Don's mission is to help every speaker profoundly impact their audience through the power of courageous vulnerability, confident authenticity, and the joy of connection. Thanks to his popular public speaking courses delivered internally at Google and around the world, hundreds of nervous speakers have transformed into more effective and joyful communicators, reaching a deeper level of audience connection than they ever thought possible. In addition to teaching, Don can be found on the trade show floor, where he writes and delivers presentations for companies including Adobe, Cisco, and Medtronic. On the screen, Don has written and directed hundreds of hours of nonfiction television for shows including House Hunters, $40 a Day with Rachael Ray, and Roker on the Road. Before teaching others to confidently take the spotlight, Don toured internationally as a theatrical Clown for contemporary circus company Spiegelworld and performed briefly with the Blue Man Group and he is listed in the Cirque du Soleil performer database. He is a founding member of the award-winning sketch and clown groups DJ Faucet and the Innocents. His troupes have received awards, including the Improv Olympic Del Close Award for Best Sketch Comedy Troupe and the Hollywood Fringe Award for Best Physical Theater, and Don won the 2017 Toastmasters International District One Tall Tales Speech Championship. Don graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Communications from Boston University. He holds certifications in Design Thinking, Applied Improvisation, and Instructional Design. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and when he's not helping speakers engage with their audiences more deeply, he can be found hiking through the redwoods. You can connect with Don at www.doncolliver.com. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Serhiy Velichanskyi is a Ukrainian professional improviser and started Improversity as a way to help ESL teachers use improv and humor in teaching English. His plans were interrupted by the invasion of Ukraine.  Here he discusses how to improvise with war and find humor in difficult situations. Katy BEE and Jim-Bob are very grateful for this interview and learned some Ukrainian language in the process! Follow the link to learn more about Improversity! https://improversity.org/

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast he recorded with author Eric Barker about what it means to have great relationships. What are we getting wrong about the way we communicate?

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast he recorded with author Eric Barker about what it means to have great relationships. What are we getting wrong about the way we communicate?

In a world of increasing polarization, Kelly Leonard is working to bridge the divide and bring people together by teaching the power of improv. In this episode you will learn: 1. The importance of play, especially as we get older. 2. The power of "Yes, And" to create agreement and understanding. 3. The importance of a shared humanity that includes people who may not think or vote like we do. "The world we live in right now, no one wants to work together. It's never been this bad, in my experience. If we could just enter rooms with curiosity instead of blame, if we could enter rooms with a 'Thank You, Because' orientation, I think we have a shot." - Kelly Leonard Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of Learning and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works. His book, “Yes, And: Lessons from The Second City” was released to critical acclaim in 2015 by HarperCollins and was praised by Michael Lewis in Vanity Fair who called it “...an excellent guide to the lessons that have bubbled up in Second City's improv workshops.” Kelly is a popular speaker on the power of improvisation to transform people's lives. He has presented at The Aspen Ideas Festival, The Code Conference, TEDx Broadway, Chicago Ideas Festival, The Stanford Graduate School of Business and for companies such as Coca Cola, Microsoft, Twitter, Memorial Sloan Kettering and DDB Worldwide. Kelly co-created an initiative with the Center for Decision Research at the Booth School at the University of Chicago, The Second Science Project, that looks at behavioral science through the lens of improvisation. He also hosts the podcast, “Getting to Yes, And,” for Second City Works and WGN radio that features interviews with academics, authors and leaders such as Brene Brown, Adam Grant, Michael Lewis, Lindy West, Ash Carter and Amy Edmondson. For over twenty years, Kelly oversaw Second City's live theatrical divisions where he helped generate original productions with such talent as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Steve Carell, Keegan-Michael Key, Amy Sedaris, Adam McKay and others. In 2019, Arts Alliance Illinois awarded Kelly and his wife Anne Libera with their Creative Voice Award. Twitter.com/KLSecondCity Paul Vato is an on camera and voice actor, improvisor, podcaster and entrepreneur. Connect with Paul Vato: PaulVato.com • VATO.tv • y.at/

Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at The Second City. He began his Second City career in 1988, eventually becoming producer of Second City in 1992 and Executive Vice President through 2015. He has produced hundreds of original revues with talent such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Keegan Michael Key, Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler. His book, "Yes, And," received rave reviews in Vanity Fair and the Washington Post. What role did his father play in pursuing a career in arts/entertainment? How did he go from being a dishwasher to becoming producer of Second City? How can improvisational techniques be used to improve romantic relationships? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions as well as learn who shot JR. Buy Yes, And, Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NKhwUI Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780062248541 Connect with Kelly Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/klsecondcity Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klsecondcity/ Website: https://www.secondcity.com/people/kelly-leonard+ Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

Welcome back all! Today I am going to be exploring more into my new found passion of Improv comedy classes and why I am here to tell all of you, to try one out in your own hometown. On episode 158 I delved into some deep content about facing your fears and sitting with discomfort. I directly referenced Phil and I pushing past our awkwardness and joining Improv classes. It turns out I wasn't quite done with the subject, and in fact will probably record another podcast about how to make meaningful relationships as you age, which Improv will be involved in that discussion as well. What can I say... When I am into something... I am INTO it. :) Aside from being a fun activity to participate in, Improv has helped me personally communicate better with others, and myself. My brain feels sharper than it has in years, and Phil and I's communication has improved A LOT. We always considered ourselves great at talking, but have realized over the years that you can be great at talking, but NOT at communicating. We talk over one another. We blame and judge. We get defensive. We assume and project. I am sure we are not the only ones. When you are with someone for a long period of time you develop habits, and patterns. These habits became apparent to me when we started taking Improv together and began working through some practices and games. We weren't listening outside of class as well as we could have been. Improv helped us pause and instead of waiting for our turn to speak, to really listen to what the other was saying. It also revealed long standing patterns of blame. If we were in a scene together, we instantly fell into "Well, you didn't do this." or "Why are you blaming me? You weren't there either!." Sort of scenario. Those negative emotions were easy to access as we built our pretend world for a scene. For example- A married couple at a furniture store that can't agree on a couch. Normal, right? Let me be clear here in saying that Improv comedy classes didn't entirely solve our problems. I am not saying it is therapy or a replacement for therapy. It just offered a lovely way of actually PRACTICING how to communicate better. You learn from therapy and discover how to better communicate. You may notice your own patterns or you might read concepts from books on how to shift the way you communicate. You read it, but to actually put these good habits into practice in a fun way allows you to shine light on where they pop up and strengthen better communication muscles so that you deeply know it. It was shortly after our Phil and I's first few classes that we began to unfold. The blame game disappeared. We were listening to one another AND then most beautiful thing happened naturally... We were playing again. Truly playing. This past year with the death of my sister Nina has been a rough one, and I have actively been rediscovering how to play and find joy. Life is hard. It is dark, and it can sometimes be easy to stay dark. It is hard to be playful after tragedy, but man is it needed. We began being lighter and not just in class. The affects lingered on throughout the week and seeped into our days and evenings, and we could not wait until the following week to play again with our new found friends! At least for us Improv classes are pure childlike joy. It is like camp for adults! Wanna try it? Let's chat with a veteran on the show! I am excited to announce that I have a guest for today's show, something I haven't had in over a year and a half! Feels good to speak to another human on MOTM. On today's episode I bring on Justin Borak. Justin is an Improv teacher and actor, and has worked in Chicago for several years performing in shows at Second City, iO, and the Annoyance. Some popular and prestigious Improv hot spots around the country. I am so excited to chat with him about how he thinks Improv spurs creativity and playfulness, how he thinks Dungeons and Dragons blends so well with Improv Comedy, and how inclusive it is in different cities. We also discuss how diverse of a crew you get when you join a class. Age, race, all walks of life join in these classes and it is a delightful way to expand your perspective and friend group. We also walk you into your first improv class and tells you what to expect, so you don't have to be nervous. This is me trying to break down what happens in a typical class for all those who are curious but are really scared to walk into something crazy. It is harder to write, so listen to the episode to get a better idea. A Typical First Improv Class- You sit in the chairs waiting for everyone to arrive. Maybe you say hi to someone, maybe you don't. The instructor introduces him/herself and they have everyone then stand in a circle and play some games. Most of these games are typical icebreaker games. Remembering people's names, passing the red ball around, Zip, Zap, Zop. They are games that are played and learned very quickly and intended to warm you up, to allow you to get comfortable so that you soon realize you are just having fun like you used to do when you were a kid. No pressure or expectation, only fun. After that they may explain how Improv works, you might do some quick short practices with others. One of my most favorite practices the instructor lead early on - It was myself and another classmate on stage. The instructions were that we were making a bed together, and we couldn't talk until the instructor tells us to. We start and just begin to act out making a bed. Folding sheets, fluffing pillows, etc. The real subject of this scene isn't the bed though it is the relationship between the characters and what is going on. What is their relationship to each other. Is the body language angry, happy, sad? I liked the exercise because when you begin Improv it is hard to find words. Silence is easier and it relaxed me. It allowed me to use my body to express how I was feeling. On your first class you may also start to delve into something called Monologue Deconstruction. I like to think of this as basically storytelling time. The audience throws out a word. Say "Beach." and one person comes forward to tell a story that relates somehow to a beach. Trying to add in as much detail as possible. Then from this story and the details, the classmates start to create scenes. That is about it, folks. Sound scary? It shouldn't. I have honestly found the most easy going people to be in my Improv classes. Everyone there is showing up to have a good time and learn some fun and funky new skill. Creativity sparks because everyone is showing up for one another to build the best scene possible. It is the ultimate co-op game where everyone wins. You ready to try it? YOU SHOULD! Better yet, bring your partner, friend or family member along with you and watch your communication start to evolve and your playfulness ignite!   Yoga Sailing Retreats for 2023 Registration is OPEN!!! Thailand- April 8th to the 15th Croatia August 26th to the 2nd Sardinia and Corsica- Sept 2nd to the 9th. - 2 spots left! Don't miss out on your chance to sail with me next year because I am not sure if I will be hosting sailing retreats in 2024 or 2025. ALSO if you can't roll with me overseas this year, stay local! My friend Elizabeth Craig and I are hosting a women onlyTransformation Retreat near Pittsburgh. Sept 8-11th. Registration is now open and Early Birds Registration ends on June 30th. This retreat is for the awakening woman, and we want you with us. Choose from a 2 or 3 day retreat for your busy schedule. This episode is sponsored by Steel City Improv. "Steel City Improv Theater teaches and performs Long-Form improv comedy. In long-form improvisation, a group of improvisers take one suggestion from the audience and perform an entirely made-up show, complete with multiple scenes, characters, and ridiculous spectacles, bound only by its creators' imaginations. Steel City Improv Theater (a.k.a. the SCIT), teaches Applied Improvisation. The SCIT knows that improv classes make you more than just funny.  By applying the principles of improv to your life,  you can become a better parent, mentor, entrepreneur, employee and friend.  Improv teaches you to deal with the unexpected in life. You become a better listener, more positive person, and improve your ability to truly live in the moment. Steel City Improv Theater's philosophy is best summed up in three words: “Listen. Commit. Play.” The SCIT combined the best practices from improv training found at New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles improv theaters into the SCIT Philosophy. Listening can be a hard skill to master, but, by staying in the moment can open up a world of possibilities. Accepting others' ideas is difficult, but committing to our own ideas can be an even bigger challenge. With improv training, we learn to break through the inner critic that normally stops us. With a sense of play, we find an endless sense of possibility and inspiration. When our teammates have that same sense of imagination, it makes the word “failure” seem less scary and more exciting. For a safe space to step out of your comfort zone, come listen, commit, and play at Steel City Improv Theater!"        

On the podcast today we delve into the importance of putting the audience first, dissect the rules of improv and when to break them, and analyze how knowing one's (and other's) strengths and weaknesses is a gateway to success. Initially hired by Dick Chudnow as a ballet-parker at CSz Milwaukee in 1997, Dave Nelsen would go on to be a player, referee, workshop instructor, and Applied Improvisation facilitator. He's also a copyeditor who does business as The Grammar Geek—but more importantly, he's married to the host of The ComedySportz Podcast, Christine “Rolo” Capriolo. The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand.

Anne Libera, Director of Comedy Studies, The Second City, and Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation, Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, join John Williams to talk about a new class at Northwestern University that Anne is teaching which is based on Suneel Gupta’s book, “Backable.”

Anne Libera, Director of Comedy Studies, The Second City, and Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation, Second City Works and host of the “Getting to Yes, And” podcast, join John Williams to talk about a new class at Northwestern University that Anne is teaching which is based on Suneel Gupta’s book, “Backable.”

Fear– An unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. We are not immune to fear. It comes to us like waves and is usually unwelcome. There are global fears such as the war in Ukraine, global warming, food shortages, death. Death of a loved one, or our own amount of time on this spinning globe. I will touch on some of that later, but today I want to tackle some fears that we ourselves can have control over to allow us to stretch outside our comfort zones, try new things, and find peace and joy in our lives. Fear stems from uncertainty and doubt. How do we face it? We have to sit with discomfort. “Never be afraid of not knowing, find out” Discomfort- make (someone) feel uneasy, anxious, or embarrassed The internet has become something that has made us more afraid than ever and extremely comfortable being more than an arms length away from coming face to face with our discomfort. Discomfort is why most of us never face our fears or step outside of our comfort zones. Think about it. Who wants to feel uneasy, anxious or embarrassed… nobody. The problem is when we avoid these feelings we create a bubble of safety around us that isolates us and keeps us fixed in our habits, patterns and zone of comfort. Let's look at an example of this. You get invited to a party, and at first you have every intention of going. You knew what you were going to wear, what to bring. You looked forward to seeing some friends you haven't connected with in a while. The day of the party comes and you suddenly think to yourself. “What if I don't know anyone there? What if nobody talks to me? Staying home and watching The Durrells in Corfu sounds amazing, I don't have to go. Nobody will miss me.” Now, I am not saying that a little couch introvert time isn't needed by all of us, but I am sure there have been situations where you wanted to attend an event, and discomfort or fear of the unknown held you back. In order to conquer and face our fear we must push past discomfort. It takes a leap of faith to delve into uncertainty… How do we deal with uncertainty? “The unknown is just something we don't know yet.” This statement is 100 percent fact. Uncertainty is just having doubts about the unknown. Not knowing something gives people anxiety, it fuels self doubt, and ultimately makes them feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. Think about it. If you know a subject very well, you would be happy to speak about it. Someone gives you a topic you know nothing about, and suddenly you are freaking out. All that is, is you learning about the topic! How incredibly powerful is that fact?! That you have the power to shed your fears by learning what you don't know. It is simple, yet something we overlook due to massive amount of distraction. Our minds have power over our joy and happiness, it just takes some discomfort getting there. Here are some personal examples of this… I decided to push Phil's and I's boundaries this year by signing us up for Improv Comedy Classes. Getting Phil to go was not an easy feat. He was ridiculously upset that I signed us up. He didn't want to be put on display. When I finally convinced him to go, he was miserable, and extremely anxious the entire two hours before we went, acting like a 10 year old that is being dragged to church. Once we arrived, he was fine. I even caught him smiling a couple times. The second class was the same, only this time I caught him laughing. Third class he was beginning to loosen up on stage, having more fun with it. Now he looks forward to our classes, and goes to shows every weekend! It is a new hobby he never would have discovered if he wasn't brave enough to try and learn this new skill, make new friends ands with his discomfort. He now knows the process. He knows people who are going to be there, and he is more confident because he is starting to understand improv and open up communication with others. I use Phil because he is a classic example of someone who was extremely uncomfortable with showing up for something new, BUT after going for a while, now loves it! Improv has since improved our communication with one another, we laugh and joke more, listen more, and has brought increased joy and playfulness back into our lives. Hence, why they are sponsoring this episode. Do you have a something like this in your life? Something you know you would love, but you avoid because of the discomfort or fear of going? How do we move past these feelings? I actually encourage you to ask for help on this one. Working up the nerve to do things alone can be intimidating, but I know there are people out there that probably feel the exact same way and would love to join you on your new fear busting journey. FRIENDS are the key to helping you overcome your fears. Try this… Grab a piece of paper or a journal and write down- A list of fears that you have. At least three activities or experiences you have always wanted to try but haven't due to discomfort. A lists of friends or family that would help you overcome this fear or complete something you want to do. Now comes the hard part of pushing past your discomfort and ASKING them to help you achieve the results you want which can look like- Having them do some research on the subject and explaining it to you. Asking them to listen as you talk openly about your fears to them. Asking them to go with you to a class or adventure so you don't have to go alone. I too need those people in my life to help me break past my comfort zones and face some anxieties and fear. For all of us will just require some vulnerability on your part asking for help, which is never easy. I promise you that if you sit with your discomfort a bit, you will find the root cause and possibly overcome it. Doing this will not only allow you to try something new, but will create a more meaningful relationships with that friend because they will feel honored that you asked them for help with this. Instant joy! “Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story” On the flip side of learning about your fears to become comfortable and more certain, there is also the possibility that you will never have understanding, or even want to know something about the larger questions of our existence. Death, uncertainty and what will the future bring cause pain and anxiety in all of us. In this case. Sitting with your uncertainty and accepting that everything will work out IS possible. It is when we are in a state of calm peace that the nagging uncertainty removes itself from our lives and we become open to possibilities and not worry about what we can't control. How do we accomplish this? For me, it was through self care. Self care in the form of movement, meditation, therapy, shadow work. This is all very healing work, and the goal of all of it is to find stillness which leads to happiness because you are pulling yourself into the present moment. It is why I love teaching meditation with my students. I know what that restlessness feels like, and it isn't pretty. You feel trapped in it and it feels endless. It creates negative emotions, judgement, fear, and of course… uncertainty, discomfort and doubt. If we can all learn to sit with our emotions and bring awareness to the surface, peace CAN be found. In the end…we have this one life, and that is a gift. We should soak in every minute of it and try and spread happiness. That joy starts within by sitting with discomfort. Recent Personal Experiences in Conquering Fear, Change, and Uncertainty I am on my own personal journey of exploring wishes, dreams, and experiences that I had either left aside in my younger years, or never stepped up to the plate to try. So often as adults life has influenced our opinions about what we LOVE to do. It becomes blurry, and habitual. We can sometimes forget the dreams we had when we were younger. Through deep meditation, and journaling work, almost a year later, and I now have my list of what truly fills my cup, and what is preprogrammed to look like it does. (But it doesn't… happy hour anyone?) After I had my list I began digging into my fears, and traumas. There was a ton of discomfort through that process, but it uncovered a lot for me and is leading me to finding more joy, peace and meaning in my life. It is opening up doors to allow me pursue my passion of helping others lead their lives from their hearts. If you are ready to grow, break some boundaries, and open your heart to lead your life with joy feel free to ask me about my classes or my new Marta on the Move Mentorship program. I would love to hear about something you were fearful or uncomfortable with that you pushed past and overcame. Send me an email and tell me all about it for inspiration

How can improv and communication skills translate to a more creative, compassionate and empathetic environment in the healthcare setting? Listen as we explore the why and how of better listening, empathetic communication, being others focused with Kelly Leonard, the Executive Director of Learning and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works. Additionally, Kelly shares how his own personal and professional journeys have shaped his thoughts around empathy, communication and resiliency.

The Offer take a journey into interview, with THE TAKE: where Caesar and Paul interview a guest about their passions, their life, and their dreams. Normal stories will return in March! Today on The Take: Curt Mabry! Founder of Zmack Improv family, renowned international coach individuals and corporate teams, and most importantly all around Renaissance mensch. Curt discusses with us the world of "applied improv" one of the primary ways he plies his trade as improviser. We pick his brain about what applied improv is, why people need it, and why Curt finds it worth doing. You can find and connect with Curt via his Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtmabryimproviser/ And you can find more about all the upcoming projects Zmack has going on on their facebook page: www.facebook.com/zmackcomedy or via their WeChat! Here's a bit about Curt, in his own words: Curt Mabry is a Senior Organizational Learning and Development Consultant, Trainer, Facilitator, Coach and Program Designer based in Shanghai, China. He has over 13 years of Asia Pacific Training, Coaching and Lecturing experience. Curt has designed and delivered programs for hundreds of Multinational and Local corporations with a high degree of success. Curt brings energy, passion and enthusiasm to all his trainings; and prides himself on helping teams and trainees discover learning that is specifically applicable to their work and life long after the training program is completed. His experiences include television, radio and film production; administration of a respected international school, professional theatrical coaching and leadership training using unique and unconventional methods of training and development. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theoffercast/message

 It's 2022, and the focus is on checking in with people who are actually out there promoting levity,  humor, and positive applications of laughter and play in the workplace for adults. I had the pleasure of speaking to the lovely Kay Ross. She's an applied improvisation trainer, a personal development coach, a storyteller extraordinaire, and she will even help you explore all of the wonderful possibilities in your life and in your organization.About Kay Ross:"I wear several related hats: Marketing-minded Editor/Copywriter, Applied Improvisation Trainer, and Personal Development Coach/Trainer. The common thread is Storytelling.I'm a marketing-minded freelance editor and copywriter – hire me if your company or organisation needs compelling, effective, shareworthy marketing words (in English), or your team needs a training workshop about marketing, editing, copywriting or business storytelling. I've worked with clients in a wide range of industries. My mantra: Marketing doesn't have to be sleazy.I'm an improv performer, and I lead tailor-made corporate “Applied Improvisation” workshops – hire me if you want your team to build their skills in leadership, teamwork, communication, creativity, innovation, emotional intelligence, and agile responsiveness to change, risk and uncertainty. My mantra: Life is an improvisation game.I work in the field of personal development and healing – my “The Playground of Possibilities” card deck and workshops will help your team (either individually or as a group) to transform their old, limiting thoughts, beliefs and stories about themselves, your organisation and world so that they heal and thrive (and that's good for the whole organisation). My mantra: Life is a playground of possibilities."Kay's WebsitePlayground of Possibilities WebsiteLinkedInSupport the show (https://paypal.me/leadwithlevity)

Second City Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation, and host of “Getting to Yes, And…” joins John Williams to talk about how a small, shared reward can positively reinforce a large group. And Kelly also explains why your ears perk up at words that apply to you, even when they’re not being spoken to […]

In the kickoff episode of SEASON 2, we talk with Dr. Krista Longtin, Associate Professor of Communication Studies & Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at IUPUI in Indianapolis, about using Applied Improvisation to improve communication and become a more interesting and engaging presenter.

The Iowa Idea: Kelly Leonard  “Meaning is made in moments.” In this episode of the Iowa Idea Podcast, I'm joined by Kelly Leonard. Kelly is the Executive Director of Learning and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works. His book, “Yes, And: Lessons from The Second City” was released to critical acclaim in 2015 by HarperCollins. […]

In this HCI Podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhwestover/) talks with Will Dennis about applied improvisation and how organizations can stand to benefit from it. See the video here: https://youtu.be/R_Hd9lOJ1Tg. What is applied improvisation and how can organizations stand to benefit from it? What are UnScripted Productions' 5 core principles of improv? I'm an introvert- when I hear "improv" I want to dig a hole and hide forever, what do you have to say to me? So you teach theology and run an improv studio... that's a strange combination. Will Dennis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamjdennis/) is the owner and operator of UnScripted Productions, an improv studio in Bucks County, PA offering classes, group events, corporate workshops and live performances. As an entrepreneur, he also has a breadth of experience in a number of different fields including fundraising, education, management, and professional theater (Will is a proud member of Actors Equity Association). UnScripted Productions has been working with companies and organizations across a spectrum of industries: from dentistry to accounting to marketing to pharmaceuticals to research analysis to teaching, and everything in between, to introduce applied improvisation as a method to transform leaders, teams and culture in the workplace. In addition to his work with UnScripted, Will also teaches World Religions and Discernment at a local private high school. Will lives in Newtown, PA with his wife, Danielle, daughter Hope and chihuahua, Mumford. Check out Dr. Westover's new book, The Alchemy of Truly Remarkable Leadership, here: https://www.innovativehumancapital.com/leadershipalchemy. Check out the latest issue of the Human Capital Leadership magazine, here: https://www.innovativehumancapital.com/hci-magazine. Ranked in the Top 10 Performance Management Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/performance_management_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 10 Workplace Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/workplace_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 15 HR Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/hr_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 15 Talent Management Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/talent_management_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 15 Personal Development and Self-Improvement Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/personal_development_podcasts/ ; Ranked in the Top 30 Leadership Podcasts: https://blog.feedspot.com/leadership_podcasts/

Kelly Leonard is the executive director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at The Second City joins John Williams to describe how the great center of improv has thrived in this uncertain time. And Kelly talks about the ethics in technology, and how advertising agencies follow you. Listen to the latest episode of “Getting to Yes, […]

Kelly Leonard is the executive director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at The Second City joins John Williams to describe how the great center of improv has thrived in this uncertain time. And Kelly talks about the ethics in technology, and how advertising agencies follow you. Listen to the latest episode of “Getting to Yes, […]

Eric Farone a Partner at Applied Improvisation tells you how to use improvisation to accelerate your business. You can check him out at https://Apixii.com/ Go to https://OnFireIgnites.com/ to get our guide on 10 ways to use testimonials that you have probably never heard of.

Kay Ross believes that life is an improvisation game and a playground of possibilities. She is an improv performer and an Applied Improvisation trainer; a bodyworker/healer; the Head Tour Guide in The Playground of Possibilities (that’s her project about guiding people to choose more joyful, resourceful thoughts, beliefs and stories about themselves and the world, and take inspired action). She’s also an editor, a copywriter and a trainer about marketing. The common thread in all of that is storytelling. Kay is Australian and has been living adventurously in Hong Kong for 27 years. When she’s not inspiring people by just being herself, she’s created a deck of cards that we can use to discover what’s possible called The Playground of Possibilities. Her cards don’t tell the future, they encourage us to dream and dare to create a better future for ourselves.

I was fortunate to meet Ellen at the Yes, and Mental Health Conference held at the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, September 2017! Ellen is passionate about experiential learning and helping everyone on the team to “Be the Difference” and work better together. After 25 years in business and training, she grew tired of the endless PowerPoints and toxic cultures. She dared herself to take classes at 2nd City – fell head over heels with improv and moved on to iO and many other theaters. She began studying Applied Improvisation and best practices in leadership, team, and work cultures. Ellen is now Chief Possibility Officer at her company, ImprovTalk, Inc. and collaborates with Jim Mecir, ten year MLB veteran pitcher, born with a club foot, who is the most resilient and inspiring teammate she has ever met.

Find Calm Here Partner Gary Ware and FCH Event Host Deb Schell chat about the upcoming LIVE VIrtual Event, Find Calm with Public Speaking. Come laugh as we play improv games in this brief interview! Want in on the fun? You'll have to join us Wednesday for our interactive call! If you’ve ever wanted to gain courage for public speaking, we have an awesome special event for the Find Calm Here Community! Our FCH Partner Gary Ware will lead us through how to find calm with improv to find public speaking not only fun but calm as well! Join us for this awesome interactive event! About Gary- I’m a creative catalyst that harnesses the power of applied improvisation and play. I provide workshops and coaching to busy professionals like yourself who are looking for ways to become more creative, confident, charismatic, or chill. I have found that my practice of LEGO building and meditation helps me find calm in many aspects of my life. I am certified in Laughter Yoga, Applied Improvisation, and working on finishing my hours for my Professional Coaching Certification through the International Coaching Federation. Check out my website, and find me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.”Join Gary during the FREE LIVE Virtual Event, Find Calm with Public Speaking, at 7 PM on Wednesday, October 14Register in advance for this meeting:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udO-gpzspE9Wmh_TVxhqiKEiV8klFkHXK

David Bogan is the Educational Director, Roadshow Manager, and a current performer at CSz Seattle. Prior to moving across the country, David performed, taught improvisation, and managed the ComedySportz Rec League at CSz Milwaukee for nearly twenty years, and has been co-managing CSz Seattle since 2015. He has performed in thousands of shows, and has also taught thousands of individuals the art of improvisation in a wide variety of skills, including improv comedy, Applied Improvisation for the workplace, public speaking, and CSz Seattle's Improv For Anxiety.***The ComedySportz Podcast is an independent production made by CSz players. The views and opinions expressed by the podcast host and any guests are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of any CSz location or CSz Worldwide. Vocabulary used by the host and guests is not necessarily representative of the CSz brand. To all of our listeners, thank you so much for 20 joy-filled episodes. New episodes coming 2022.

In today's episode we welcome back to the program Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works and host of the "Getting to Yes, And" podcast.   Zarak and Erik chat with Kelly about how they have pivoted their business, which is based on in-person experiences, to digital events. We cover how Second City has had to experiment to produce virtual classes and shows in the Year of COVID-19. Kelly says that improv comedy traits like resilience and change readiness have helped them pivot, and that the application of improv skills has never been more relevant.    Since this is Action Design Radio, and our guest is an improv guru, we cover a lot of ground with Kelly, including why we should go off-camera more when using video conferencing platforms like Zoom, and how during this time we're all dealing with the trauma and loss of things in our lives (both big and small) that used to be cornerstones of our humanity. Oh, and the quest for the best Italian beef in all of Chicagoland.

This week’s guests is our new friend, Matt Elwell. As a keynote speaker, instructional designer, and facilitator, Matt Elwell has been using Applied Improvisation to improve organizational performance and culture for over 15 years. We spoke about the benefits of developing soft skills in teams, how improv has made him a master of paying attention, and how to move your company’s service from a “want” to a “need”. This is conversation is hilarity wrapped around nuggets informative gold!Follow Matt:Website: https://MattElwell.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattelwell/LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mattelwell-com/about/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/inconversation)

We are happy to announce our newest session of The Library is Open Podcast! Today's session features an interview with Cheryl Gould, learning facilitator and training consultant with Fully Engaged Libraries. Listen as Jessie, Nate and Cheryl discuss change management, communication methods, invigorating organizational culture and preparing for the unexpected.About Cheryl GouldCheryl Gould is a learning facilitator and training consultant who believes in the transformative role libraries can play in their communities. Cheryl's professional role is to help libraries with the culture shift required to move from an institution that provides access to resources to one that promotes conversation, learning and engagement at all levels. Cheryl's ability to connect people and ideas, to facilitate conversation and to enhance learning has been demonstrated through 17 years of working with libraries in thousands of hours of consulting,mentoring and training. Her passion for learning, crossed with current developments in neuroscience and her involvement with Applied Improvisation to create library cultures of “Yes, And…” defines her work.You can read more about Cheryl through her website, Fully Engaged Libraries

Med udgangspunkt i Lars Udengaards improvisationsforløb snakker vi om, hvilken effekt det har hos erhvervsfolk at blive præsenteret for improvisationsteknikker og -redskaber. 'Applied Improvisation' betyder, at man anvender improvisation uden for det normale felt.

This is IMPACT. A daily look at how we are coping with the coronavirus in Nevada. I'm Carrie Kaufman.I spent the first half of my adult life doing, watching and writing about theatre.But I really spent those decades of the 90's and aughts writing about life.PerformInk, which was the newspaper I started back when the first Bush was ending his presidency, covered politics, race, sexual and workplace harassment. We wrote about economic development. And leadership. And being a working parent. And global policies and issues.Because arts is a lens that refracts and makes sense of the entire world. It is our common language. It is our shared experience.These are the things I've learned from theatre:To be in the moment. To always be authentic and present.To be emotionally available. If you bottle yourself up and follow outside rules, rather than inside intuition, you will not be a good leader. You simply won't see the people you're trying to lead. You may not even see yourself.To listen. Truly listen. Not just with your ears, but with your whole being.To take risks. I just started a radio show on two days notice. I am a gay, single mother who reoriented her career halfway through her life.To say Yes… AND. That's one of the main tenets of improv. You come into a given situation, you find agreement, then you add something to help it move forward.Theatre has taught me how to live. It's made me a good journalist and interviewer and manager. It's made me a halfway decent teacher. It's made me a damn good mother.We're going to talk today about how arts are influencing us in this time of lockdown and fear. And how we can take the lessons that arts have to teach us to see our way through to more meaningful experiences on the other side.I'm joined today, as I am going to be every Friday, by Sarah O'Connell. Sarah is the artistic director of Asylum Theatre, and former associate director at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. She is also a fierce arts advocate and leader, and has stepped up to bring the performance community in Las Vegas together, most notably through her website, Eat More Art Vegas, and her monthly Arts Table gatherings.Matt Elwell is an old friend from my Chicago Theatre days. He's Executive Director of CSz Worldwide and a speaker and consultant in Applied Improvisation. CSz Worldwide produces ComedySportz. In addition to his exec duties, Matt has been a performer in ComedySportz for 20 years.I met both of these people because I interviewed them. And I was like, “Yeah, I have to keep these people.”

Ben and Jay open a new decade with an improvisational theatre, organizational learning, and human behavior rock star, Kelly Leonard.  Kelly is the Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, overseeing The Second Science Project with the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.  He's the author of the critically acclaimed book “Yes, And”, a multiple TEDx speaker, and host of the podcast “Getting to Yes, And”.  Kelly talks about the connection between improv and innovation, improv and general business skills, improv and behavioral science, improv and caregiving.  You get the idea – the principles of improv are connected deeply to basic principles of functioning better as a human being.Twitter handles:  @KLsecondcity @JayGerhart @TheBenReport Subscribe/listen to "Getting to Yes, And" podcastBuy Kelly's book hereKelly's TEDx Talks:Learning Lesson Through Improv Embracing Your FailuresExploring The Idea of Strategic DiscomfortReferences:Caring Across Generations  @aijenpooSupport the show (https://healthpodcastnetwork.com/)

You are not alone as Mickael Jackson would preach, but when living abroad far from home, you sometimes feel alone. Don't worry everyone does at some point. Thanks to Gretchen Rubin, she identified 7 different types of loneliness and why it matters. We will go over these today with our ''foreigners'' eyes and ears with my guest of honour Jay Wang a passionate improviser (Beijing Improv), improv facilitator from the Applied Improvisation network. He currently lives in Beijing. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/laurence-couture/message

“The great thing about creative work is that it actually thrives in constraint.” — Kelly Leonard Today, Chad is joined by Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Insights & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works. Kelly originally started off as a production assistant (aka dishwasher) in 1988 and worked his way up at The Second City. By 1992, Kelly had risen to the role of Director of Sales and was the assistant to the Executive Producer of the show. Since starting with Second City, Kelly has produced work with talents such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Keegan Michael Key, Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, and many others.  Kelly finished his first book, titled “Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration,” which is all about the magic of improv and how we can use the practice in our day to day lives.  “I really think why improvisation is so powerful is it’s literally human being practice. It’s getting in a room, making eye contact, saying some words, maybe saying gibberish and finding a way that we can understand each other, learn from each other and, most important, co-create with each other,” says Kelly. On this episode, Chad and Kelly take a deep dive into improv, why it is the core of what it means to be human and how we can use the practice to enhance our own creativity and connection with each other. — Mission Daily and all of our podcasts are created with love by our team at Mission.org. We own and operate a network of podcasts, and brand story studio designed to accelerate learning. Our clients include companies like Salesforce, Twilio, and Katerra who work with us because we produce results. To learn more and get our case studies, check out Mission.org/Studios. If you’re tired of media and news that promotes fear, uncertainty, and doubt and want an antidote, you’ll want to subscribe to our daily newsletter at Mission.org. When you do, you’ll receive a mission-driven newsletter every morning that will help you start your day off right! 

"What fuels and enables great improv are the very same things we need to build relational infrastructure of our organizations. Things like cultivating presence, empathy, supporting each other, and being agile in the moment... Improv is about loosening our grip on control, which can be a difficult thing, but when we experience that in the context of play... it builds that visceral experience of maybe I don't need control in this other situation in work or life." David approaches life and the world with a growing curiosity, wonder, and a posture of "Yes". He savors Ignatian and Jesuit spirituality and longs to enter the Story more each day, sensing the deep, present, joyful Love of Jesus, who calls us Beloved. David lives in Bellingham, Washington and is the founder of BePresentDiscoverJoy. He facilitates improv workshops for non-profits, businesses, schools, churches, and for people who are currently or formerly incarcerated, and in recovery from addiction. His workshops are designed for participants to cultivate presence, discover joy, and build resilience. To learn more about Holden Village, visit: www.holdenvillage.org or to listen to more audio recordings visit: http://audio.holdenvillage.org The Holden Village Podcast is accessible through Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeart Radio, and most podcast apps. To contact the podcast author, podcast@holdenvillage.org

Where does creativity fit into compliance? In more places than you think. Problem-solving, accountability, communication, and connection - they all take creativity. Join Tom Fox and Ronnie Feldman on Creativity and Compliance, part of the Compliance Podcast Network. In this show, we discuss how improvisation can be supportive to ethics and compliance programs by helping internal and external communications and driving a culture of compliance throughout an organization. Some of the highlights include: Improv is not simply comedy. It’s a skill that improvisers use to make comedy on stage. This skill has application to the ethics and compliance professionals, from leadership teams and to all employees. You can think of it as Applied Improvisation. Applied Improvisation is "yoga for your communication skills". While we cannot teach you to be funny, Improv techniques can teach you How to be better listeners; How to increase awareness; How to make connections and build rapport and trust; How to be more adaptable and agile; and How to diffuse emotional situations. Improv techniques can help ethics, compliance and legal teams to be less scary and better listeners. Improv techniques can be seen as leadership development skills as its reframing conversations and discussions with senior management to help create a system of trust and support. Improv techniques can help build a better culture through encouraging respectful disagreement, being more open minded about challenging assumption, assuming positive intent, validating and building bridge to commonality and helping foster active listening. The bottom line is the improv techniques can help give employees skills and tools that will help them challenge business decisions respectfully and to encourage them to stop disrespectful behavior when they encounter it. Finally, take an improv class! You will love it! Resources: Ronnie Feldman (LinkedIn) Learnings & Entertainments (LinkedIn)  Ronnie Feldman (Twitter) Learnings & Entertainments (Website) 60-Second Communication & Awareness Shorts – A variety of short, customizable, quick-hitter “commercials” including songs & jingles, video shorts, newsletter graphics & Gifs, and more. Promote integrity, compliance, the Code, the helpline and the E&C team as helpful advisors and coaches. Workplace Tonight Show! Micro-learning – a library of 1-10-minute trainings and communications wrapped in the style of a late-night variety show, that explains corporate risk topics and why employees should care. Custom Live & Digital Programing – We’ll develop programming that fits your culture and balances the seriousness of the subject matter with a more engaging delivery.

Today’s guest is Vivian Geffen. Vivian is the creator of the Empty Nest Mastermind and Founder of CreativityMuse. These masterminds are for mothers, adjusting to life after children leave home. As a life coach working with people in transition, Vivian noticed this process left many women feeling surprised by how deeply the transition impacted them. She recognized an opportunity to create community for people going through the same experience and developed her unique spin on masterminds. Vivian infuses elements of Creativity, NLP, Applied Improvisation and Belief Clearing Modalities to provide uplifting experiences that empower the Members to think proactively about how to best use their newly free time – while simultaneously navigating the emotional ups and downs of the adjustment.   Vivian has a Master’s Degree in Creativity from SUNY Buffalo. She teaches at Santa Barbara City College and has presented her signature Creativity and Improvisation workshops at conferences around the country.  You can find out more about her by going to www.creativitymuse.com. This episode is being brought to you by the HIVE, which you can learn more about here: HIVE Community. Be sure to subscribe to Consciously Speaking so that you don’t miss a single episode, and while you’re at it, won’t you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about our previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to www.MichaelNeeley.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

We drop in on a improv session run by the master Dan Klein from Stanford University, to hear how 'applied improvisation' has changed the dynamics in Netflix's multicultural global team. Bill Holmes chief business development officer at Netflix said once his team realised it wasn't about being funny on the spot, the group exercises about being open and vulnerable became tools to establish trust and bonds very quickly.

Kat and Alex talk with Gary Hirsch about creating the space for collaboration, "no-think time", lessons learned from his work with Marc Craig in the Leake Street Tunnel and letting others steal your ideas. Follow GaryFacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagramLinksBotjoyLeake Street Botjoy Marc CraigCarolyn McKnight - "To ____ in a way that ______, so that ______" BIOGary is the co-founder of On Your Feet an early pioneer in the emerging field of Applied Improvisation helping organizations such Nike, Intel, Disney, Apple, Uber, and others generate new ideas, collaborate, engage audiences and walk their talk...all while having a ridiculously good time.Gary is also a muralist, illustrator, author, visual artist and the creator of Botjoy, an on-going-year visual experiment that uses over 50,000 large and small hand-painted robots to explore collaboration, inspiration and how art can help. Gary’s public works can be seen in London, Madrid, New Orleans, Boulder, Dallas, Melbourne and in his home town of Portland.____________________________________________________________Send us your advice from kids, questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to hello@daretobehumanpodcast.com, join the conversation on our Facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! We record at The Mopco Improv Theatre in Schenectady, NY where you can come visit us sometime! Original music by Mark S. MerittLogo by Derek WalkerEdited by Mary DarcyRecorded at The Mopco Improv Theatre

In this episode of the FCPA Compliance Report, I visit Kelly Leonard, Executive Director, Insights and Applied Improvisation at The Second City Works. We discuss the compliance training which The Second City Works has developed and how they have incorporated storytelling into compliance training and communications. Some of the highlights include:Most folks are familiar with Second City but what is Second City Works?What are the service offerings of Second City Works?What is the Second Science Project and how does it inform your service offerings?Why is storytelling so important in training and ongoing communications?The book “Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--Lessons from The Second City”.How do you mentor Millennials but sidestep the drama?As a company scales up or grows how can it keep its lines of communications open?Where can listeners go for more information?You can find more information on The Second City Works by checking out their website, here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kay Ross – Imagining Possibilities Kay Ross was born in Scotland, grew up in Australia, and has lived in Hong Kong for 25 years. She has been acting since she was a teenager, did stand-up comedy for a while, has been performing with short-form improv team People’s Liberation Improv in Hong Kong for 11 years, is a member of the Applied Improvisation Network, and leads Applied Improvisation workshops in Hong Kong and around Asia for companies, universities and community organizations. Weaving together her interest and experience in improv, Applied Improvisation, personal development and healing (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual), Kay has created a card deck called “The Playground of Possibilities”. It has 52 questions for people to ask themselves, all starting with “What would be possible for me if I…?”, so they let go of their old, limiting thoughts, beliefs and stories about themselves and the world, choose more useful ones, take inspired action, and improvise more resourceful, joyful ways of being. She leads public workshops using the card deck, some mindfulness exercises and some improv games, and has done a TEDx talk about how life is both an improvisation game and a playground of possibilities. She’s also an editor/copywriter and a corporate trainer about marketing. The common thread in all of that is storytelling – the stories we tell ourselves and each other, about ourselves and the world. Discover more about Kay at www.kayross.com Visit The Playground of Possibilities at https://playgroundofpossibilities.com And see Kay’s TEDx talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4yibOcDfQc Kay also loves finding, curating and sharing useful information, so she has compiled a 4-part series of blog posts titled “All About Improv, Applied Improv, Creativity, Play, Innovation…” – each one includes a link to a different list of resources (articles, videos, podcasts and books) by many people. Here’s Part 4 – it includes links to Parts 1-3. http://www.kayross.com/blog/2017/04/26/all-about-improv-applied-improv-creativity-play-innovation-part-4/

Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at The Second City and Second City Works. His book, “Yes, And: Lessons from The Second City” was released to critical acclaim in 2015 by HarperCollins and was praised by Michael Lewis in Vanity Fair who called it “...an excellent guide to the lessons that have bubbled up in Second City’s improv workshops.” Kelly is a popular speaker on the power of improvisation to transform people’s lives. He has presented at The Aspen Ideas Festival, The Code Conference,TEDx Broadway, Chicago Ideas Festival, The Stanford Graduate School of Business and for companies such as Coca Cola, Microsoft, Memorial Sloan Kettering and DDB Worldwide. Kelly co-created and co-directs a new initiative with the Center for Decision Research at the Booth School at the University of Chicago, The Second Science Project, that looks at behavioral science through the lens of improvisation. He also hosts the podcast, “Getting to Yes, And,” for Second City Works and WGN radio that features interviews with thought leaders such as Simon Sinek, Adam Grant, Gretchen Rubin, Dan Pink and Brene Brown. For over twenty years, Kelly oversaw Second City’s live theatrical divisions where he helped generate original productions with such talent as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Steve Carell, Keegan Michael Key, Amy Sedaris and others. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Anne Libera and their children Nick and Nora. Twitter: @KLsecondcity

Kat and Alex speak with Theresa Robbins Dudeck and Caitlin McClure the co-editors of the new book Applied Improvisation: Leading, Collaborating, and Creating Beyond the Theatre. This is an incredible new development in the field of Applied Improvisation that draws back the curtain on an exciting, innovative, growing field of practice and research that is changing the way people lead, create, and collaborate Despite some technical difficulties, we persevered in our quest to speak with Theresa and Caitlin and talked to them about how they first began collaborating on this book. We also discuss how they both began improvising, their experience keeping the magic of improv alive in the working world, Keith Johnstone, and of course, get them to share some Dre to Be Human Stories. Check out the links below to check out the book as well as some of their other works and where you can find them on social media! 'Applied Improvisation: Leading, Collaborating, and Creating Beyond the Theatre' 'Keith Johnstone: A Critical Biography' 'Theresa's Website' 'Impact International' Logo by Derek Walker Theme Music: Blue Dot Sessions - Planting Flags

What do Tina Fey, Facebook, Uber, Steve Carell, and Hilton all have in common? Improvisational comedy training. Starting as a dishwasher in 1988, Kelly Leonard is now the Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at The Second City. It's no wonder that Kelly is a popular speaker on the power of improvisation to transform people’s lives. His book, “Yes, And: Lessons from The Second City” was released to critical acclaim in 2015 by Harper Collins. He has presented at The Aspen Ideas Festival, TEDx Broadway, the Chicago Ideas Festival, The Stanford Graduate School of Business and for companies such as Coca Cola, Microsoft and DDB Worldwide. Kelly co-created and co-directs a new initiative with the Center for Decision Research at the Booth School at the University of Chicago that looks at behavioral science through the lens of improvisation. He also hosts the podcast, “Getting to Yes, And,” for Second City and WGN radio that features interviews with thought leaders such as Adam Grant, Simon Sinek, Angela Duckworth, Gretchen Rubin, Robert Sutton and more. An expert at asking the question, "What if we did it this way," Kelly joins Innovation Crush to talk about their evolution as a business and how improv often leads to the best innovation.

Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation at The Second City and President of Second City Theatricals. He has worked at The Second City since 1988 and has overseen productions with such notable performers as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Adam McKay, Seth Meyers, Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler, Jason Sudeikis, Keegan-Michael Key, Horatio Sans, Amy Sedaris and a host of others. In our newest episode, Erik and Zarak chat with Kelly about his recent involvement with the Second Science Project – a partnership between Second City and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. The Second Science Project utilizes cutting-edge behavioral science to better study, understand, and support improvisation in everyday life. By approaching behavioral science through the lens of improvisational comedy, they create executive training programs for businesses to improve innovation, creative thinking, and ways to challenge our instincts and assumptions.

Currently the "Executive Director of Insights and Applied Improvisation" at the iconic theater The Second City, Kelly Leonard is an improviser who doesn't perform on stage. He applies the constructive principles behind improvisational theater in business and everyday life. He studies ways to improve business models and culture by navigating uncertainty, with failure as the base for success. Kelly condensed his 3 decades of experience at The Second City and conjoined behavioral studies at the University of Chicago in his book, co-authored with Tom Yorton, titled "Yes And" and his podcast "Getting to Yes And".  

In this episode we explore a few ways theatre can be used in conflict resolution. For upcoming Applied Improvisation for Conflict Resolution Training with Sharon Sutherland check out the Creativity Zone Mentioned in this Episode Theatre of the Oppressed Augusto Boal Carrie Gallant Epsiode 003 - Coaching in Conflicts with Carrie Gallant Practicing Democracy was a piece Legislative Theatre with Carrie Gallant Theatre for Living David Diamond Keith Johnstone Applied Improvisation Network Kat Koppett Training to Imagine Sharon Sutherland can be found online here or @ssuth Are you using theatre in your practice?  Have a favourite exercise or skill?  Tell us about it @overconflict

When we wanted to know how professionals describe Applied Improvisation, we asked Barbara Tint to lead a study to find out. Here the California-based professor discusses the results of the Delphi Study with AIN President Paul Z Jackson, as well as her views on the current and future states of improvisation, academia and much else.

I am Kathy Klotz-Guest, founder of Keeping it Human, coming to you live from San Jose, CA, in Silicon Valley. This show airs Thursdays at 3:30 PM PDT.  We help marketing executives and their teams tell their most important company, product and customer stories to the world. This podcast is all about making marketing communications and content more human, fun and effective. We are a jargon-monoxide-poisoning free zone. Leave a comment on the blog. Follow Kathy. Applied Improvisation and Product Design Applying improvisation to communication, teamwork and leadership has received a lot of business press lately. Improvisation principles can also be used in marketing areas including product design and usability. Join me Oct 23rd when we chat to Jessie Shternshus, a fellow Applied Improv Network member, about how improv principles can improve design. About As the founder and owner of The IMPROV EFFECT, Jessie weds her lifelong passion for and expertise in applied improvisation with the fast paced demands of the corporate world. In her classes she helps people become better listeners, team players, leaders, and communicators. Her physically engaging and playful workshops are relevant to all fields of life; participants of her workshops vary from college professors to engineers and from web developers to lawyers. Jessie gained her formal education at USF and NYU. Throughout her career she has worked with Fortune 500 companies and companies such as CBS, Johnson & Johnson, Expedia, Getty Images and Celgene.  

This episode features Paul Z Jackson, Gabe Mercado (Manila), Kay Ross (Hong Kong), Dave Cooper (Beijing), and Curt Mabry (Shanghai, in which they discuss Applied Improvisation in Asia and the events of the Manila AIN Mini Conference, with music by Red Pirates. Produced by Dave Cooper and Paul Z Jackson

This episode features Viv McWaters and Johnnie Moore, in which they survey the Australian landscape of applied improvisation.

I am Kathy Klotz-Guest, founder of Keeping it Human, coming to you live from San Jose, CA, in the heart of Silicon Valley.   Keeping it Human is about using human-speak and marketing storytelling to drive results. We are a jargon-monoxide-poisoning free podcast. Innovation Leadership, Agility and Applied Improv Improvisation has reached a tipping point in business. It's taught in b-schools and used by top companies to teach employees to be more innovative, adaptable, and to improve business performance. As an improviser and marketer, I know adaptability is critical to market success in dynamic environments. Join me Thursday, Dec 12, for a chat with my fellow improviser-in-chief, Kat Koppett, about how to apply improv to increase your agility and innovation leadership!  About Kat Kat is the Founder of Koppett and Company, a company that specializes in personal and professional performance.   She is the author of Training to Imagine: Practical Improvisational Theatre Techniques to Enhance Creativity, Teamwork, Leadership, and Learning. Kat has designed and delivered programs for such diverse clients as the Clinton Global Initiative, Apple, Chanel, Eli Lilly, GE, and more in places such as India, Brazil, Paris, Budapest and Oklahoma. Her areas of focus include executive coaching, leadership, communication, and creativity facilitation. She has given two TEDx talks on the use of improv to enhance non-theatrical performance. Kat performs with and is a Co-Director of The Mop & Bucket Theatre Company   Her most fulfilling improv gig is playing Mama to daughter, Lia.