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What does sofrito—a base of herbs and spices used in Puerto Rican cooking—have to do with reimagining business, food security, and conveying a history lesson about a rich and sometimes complex culture? For today's guest, it's everything. If you've ever wondered how to weave your culture, creativity, and calling into one powerful movement... then this episode is the recipe you've been looking for. In this episode, you will hear:   Food has a cultural foundation passed through generations. Cultural identity can be preserved and taught through everyday meals. How to make the best sofrito if you don't have time to cook. Food is more than just food – it's heritage, intention, and a story. The story of the Puerto Rican pasteles is shared. Food choices are power moves, shaping local or global economies. Imagination makes it possible to wear multiple hats and still stay rooted in purpose. You don't need permission to do things differently, just the will and a plan. This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact by Melissa Llarena Audible   Audio Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CY9BZH9W/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0   Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0CK2ZSMLB   Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Fertile-Imagination-Stretching-Superpower-Maximum/dp/B0D5B64347/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0   Or, download a free chapter at fertileideas.com       About Crystal Diaz   Crystal Díaz has spent nearly two decades at the intersection of food, marketing, and cultural advocacy. She co-founded PRoduce, Puerto Rico's digital marketplace for locally grown food. Crystal is also the force behind El Pretexto, the island's first culinary farm lodge, where food and imagination meet 2,600 feet above sea level. A committed advocate for food security, she collaborates with Espacios Abiertos to advance agricultural policy. Crystal holds two master's degrees, including one in Food Studies from NYU. She's been recognized by Fast Company and El Nuevo Día for her creative leadership and impact in the local food movement. Quotes that can change your perspective:  “If you really want to learn about something and you're obsessed about it, there's always ways to learn, to make it happen.” – Crystal Díaz   “With every single meal that we do, with every single snack, everything that we eat, you are impacting economies. And if you want to support your local communities and you want to see them, everybody having a better life, you might want to spend that dollar closer home and making sure that all of the ingredients that are on that food are closer to home so that money stays closer to home.” – Crystal Díaz   “Sofrito is very personal. You know? It's part of how your family has done it… but also learn that there is a lot of history into it. It's not something that we do because we do it. There is a lot of history to it.” – Crystal Díaz   “We are on a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension, so we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think about it differently.” – Crystal Díaz   “Puerto Rican food is full of history, is complex enough, is flavorful enough, and varied… so I can pull something like this [a culinary farm lodge] up in Puerto Rico.” – Crystal Díaz SHARE this episode with fellow food lovers, cultural storytellers, and moms on a mission to raise rooted kids. Crystal's insights on local food, identity, and imagination will inspire anyone looking to nourish their family and community from the inside out. Let's keep our culture alive—one pastel, one sofrito, and one big idea at a time. Supporting Resources:   Website: https://www.elpretextopr.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elpretextopr  Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/@elpretextopr/ Subscribe and Review   Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.    I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. About Fertile Imagination   You can be a great mom without giving up, shrinking, or hiding your dreams. There's flexibility in how you pursue anything – your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The limitations on your dreams are waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids along any path – you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's like kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert!    In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book – featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes – we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination!  Advance Praise    “You'll find reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life in this book!” —MARTHA HENNESSEY, former NH State Senator    “Melissa invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom (and dad too) truly happy to work on…even after the kids are in bed.” —KEN HONDA, best-selling author of Happy Money    “This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours.” —MAUREEN TURNER CAREY, librarian in Austin, TX   TRANSCRIPT   00:00:00 Crystal: Come up with ideas to make it easier for food producers to produce more food because we are in a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension. So we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think it differently.  00:00:25 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, your weekly podcast to inspire you to dream bigger. Plan out how you're gonna get to that next level in business, find the energy to keep going, and make sure your creative juices are flowing so that this way you get what you really want rather than having to settle. Get ready to discover founders have reimagined entrepreneurship and motherhood.  00:00:47 Melissa: Ever wonder how they do it? Tune in to find out, and stretch yourself by also learning from diverse entrepreneurs who might not be moms, but who have lessons you can tailor about how you can disrupt industries and step way outside of your comfort zone. I believe every mom's superpower is her imagination. In this podcast, I'm gonna give you the mindset, methods, and tools to unleash yours. Sounds good? Then keep listening.  00:01:17 Melissa: So what does sofrito, which is essentially a base of herbs and spices used in Puerto Rican cooking, have to do with reimagining business, food security, and passing along really critical history lessons. Well, for today's guest, it is everything. And if you've ever wondered how to weave your culture, creativity, and calling into one powerful movement, then this episode is the recipe you've been looking for.  00:01:49 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. This is your weekly podcast designed to inspire you to dream bigger in your business and your life. Also, to help you find the energy to keep going because how are you going to sustain what's necessary to be big and to keep your imagination flowing so that this way you could feel inspired, lit up like a Christmas tree or Hanukkah candles. I'm your host Melissa Llarena. 00:02:17 Melissa: I'm a mom of three high energy boys. No. They did not get their energy from me. Psyched. They did. I'm also a best selling author of Fertile Imagination and an imagination coach for mom founders who are reimagining what success and motherhood can look like on their own terms, and that's really important.  00:02:34 Melissa: Now, if you've ever stirred a pot of sofrito, you already know this. Right? You know that the blend of flavors tells a deeper story. It tells a story that sometimes has made its way across generations. It preserves a culture, and it does nourish more than just our baby's bellies.  00:02:56 Melissa: So today's guest, I am thrilled to invite Crystal Diaz. Now she's taken the same approach in terms of her business ventures. She's a foodpreneur, culture keeper, I love that, and community builder. She wears four hats and in today's episode we're gonna go through each of those hats. One of which is as the owner of El Pretexto, i.e. The Excuse, a culinary farm lodge in the countryside of Puerto Rico where she serves 100% locally sourced meals and lives her mission every day.  00:03:33 Melissa: She has lots of degrees and an MA in food studies from NYU, which is why if you're watching the video, you could see, I hope, my NYU t-shirt. Hit subscribe if you see it and you love it. Subscribe on YouTube. Hit follow on this podcast. 00:03:53 Melissa: A little bit more about Crystal. She was recognized by Fast Company as one of the most creative people in business in 2022 and was named one of El Nuevo Diaz women of the year in 2023. She's the real deal. In this episode, we're gonna explore how Crystal uses her imagination as her main ingredient, whether it's in terms of the way that she's carving away for Puerto Rico to have its own food centric cultural immersive experience or even by how she decided to commute to NYU from San Juan every single week, which was creative in and of itself, or even in terms of the way that she describes the depth of a very famous Puerto Rican dish.  00:04:43 Melissa: Oh, and side note, I actually have her real life best on the planet, sofrito recipe. My gosh, do not run away, For sure. Check out the sofrito recipe we articulated in this conversation. You're gonna walk away with yummy ideas for how to use your own imagination to nourish your business, your family, and community, and it's gonna be so important even if you're not working in food.  00:05:13 Melissa: So before we dig in, I would appreciate if you hit follow, if you're listening to this on iTunes. Why hit follow? Because every time someone hits follow on iTunes, it tells me that I need to bring more guests with stories like this to the podcast. And I get really excited and when a mom is excited, it is a very good day in her entire home. So go ahead, hit follow. You will absolutely get that dopamine hit that everybody needs or if you're watching this on YouTube, then hit subscribe. I would be so appreciative and again, I will do the dance of joy. Okay. So enjoy the conversation.  00:05:54 Melissa: Crystal Diaz, thank you so much for this conversation on the Mom Founder Imagination hub. We are delighted to have you here. Crystal, just to kind of set off the scenery, why don't you explain to us where you are in Puerto Rico? What's outside your windows? 00:06:10 Crystal: All right. Well, let's… our imagination hub in a car. We are in San Juan, and you drove forty five minutes south, up to the mountains. Now we are in Cayey. I am at El Pretexto, which is also my home, and we are overlooking… we're up in the mountains, 2,600 feet over sea level, overlooking the Caribbean Sea at the south, and all the mountains slowly winding down all the way to the coast. 00:06:43 Crystal: And you will have some crazy chickens surrounding you. In my patio while you are probably sipping a wine or a coffee, depending on the time of the day. Enjoying the view and, surrounded by trees, lush greenery all over the place. And there are gardens on your side, also as well. So you are surrounded definitely by nature and you feel at peace. That's where we are.  00:07:15 Melissa: Oh, okay. Cool. So let's bring that sense of peace to this conversation. I am excited because I'm sure any listener right now who is a mom, has a business, might feel a little frazzled now and again. But right now, for the next thirty minutes, this is a peaceful zone. We are in Puerto Rico right now. 00:07:37 Melissa: Okay. So, Crystal, now I'm gonna ask you an obvious question, as you just described what you are surrounded by in Puerto Rico. But you attended NYU, and I'm just kind of super curious. You could have stayed in New York, let's say. Right? You could have been like this chef at a restaurant in New York City, Michelin star, etcetera, etcetera. But you decided to return home. And so I'm just curious, like, what informed that decision?  00:08:13 Crystal: Well, you will be surprised with my answer because I never left home. I commuted every single week to New York. Coming on to the city, take my classes, back to my home. So for two years, I was traveling every week to New York for one day.  00:08:34 Melissa: Oh my gosh. Yeah. That is so surprising. Okay. So now I'm just curious here. Okay. So you were on a plane. So, usually people complain about their commute. Right? 00:08:48 Crystal: Uh-huh.  00:08:49 Melissa: They have this whole return to work aggravation. Here you are getting on a plane every single week to take courses at NYU. So then let me ask you this other question. So I know that it's a little off track, but now I'm just way curious. Why did it have to be NYU? That's quite the pull.  00:09:13 Crystal: Yeah. Well, my background is in marketing, and I have a BA in Marketing with a Minor in Advertising and Public Relations. Then I worked with a newspaper for fourteen years. So my background is all about business and marketing. Then I did a first master degree here in Puerto Rico, in the University of Puerto Rico, about cultural action and management. And then, I wanted – because at this point, I believe that I am not passionate anymore. I am kind of obsessed with food, and I guess we will get into that later. 00:09:58 Crystal: But, I wanted to learn the policy part of it. And in Puerto Rico, we don't have any program in any of the universities nor public or private, specifically about food, and way less food policies and advocacy and that type of perspective on the food system, which is what I wanted to learn. So that's why I ended up in New York. I decided to do this because it's a direct flight. So it's gonna be a three hours and a half flight going in, then the one hour in the A train until Westport. 00:10:49 Crystal: Even though I know it's intense, it was pretty straightforward. You don't have make a stop then take another plane. And I was studying and reading all my plane hours, so there's no excuse to not complete your assignments, I guess.  00:11:07 Melissa: Yeah. I love that. Okay. So, hey, that is 100% using your imagination because I think a lot of us, myself included, I wouldn't have considered that to be an option in my mind. I still don't. Right? It's gotta be a certain set of circumstances that make that a possibility. But, I love that now that's an idea that we just planted in someone's head. Right? If they really are obsessed. Right?  00:11:35 Crystal: And if you really want to learn about something and you're obsessed about it, there's always ways to learn, to make it happen. And to my point, New York is so expensive that I spend way less money in flight tickets than actually living there.  00:11:56 Melissa: Yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Okay. So this is really interesting. Okay. So you could have stayed in New York, but you didn't even choose to stay in New York when you were taking classes at NYU. So now you have the whole, like… that's just so that's fascinating, Crystal. You really gobsmacked me right now with that piece of information.  00:12:18 Melissa: So along the same lines of using your imagination and thinking totally out of the box, let me ask you this one question. So, El Pretexto, of course, we'll go into what it is and all of that. But I also wanna understand because on your website, you say that you've traveled the world. Right? So you've seen all these different culinary experiences. And using your imagination and imagining where or how would you imagine Puerto Rico's cuisine fitting into the landscape of world gastro– I can't say the rest of that word, but I know it's a real word.  00:12:57 Crystal: Yes. Well, for me, I love to travel. I am a girl of no luxuries. Right? I don't care about purses or new shoes or jewelry. It's like I don't judge, but I don't care. So where I spend my money and my time, which I can't… money, you can recover it somehow, but time is just one time. You just have every minute that you have.  00:13:27 Crystal: And I like to spend those traveling and getting to know other cultures and exposing myself to other cultures. And I think that those travels have pushed me to understand and appreciate what we have back here at home and also understand the opportunities that we have back here at home. Not everybody is doing it perfectly, but you can definitely learn how it is done in other places. And I'm talking generally. Right? Depending on what you are interested.  00:14:01 Crystal: But you always learn of how the world do things in other places. So, I in my case, I love food and I try to expose myself, not only to eating in good restaurants or good food, but I love to go to markets. I even go to supermarkets every time I travel. I like to visit farms and I noticed, especially in Mexico, you can see this – Peru is developing this a lot and Italy has it all set. 00:14:40 Melissa: On lockdown.  00:14:41 Crystal: But you have these culinary experiences where you get to… expose to their cuisine, with a local chef and and you go to their farmers' markets and you get the whole country but with a special focus in food. And I was like, “You know what? Puerto Rican food is full of history, is complex enough, is flavorful enough, and varied so I can pull something like this up in Puerto Rico.” So that's how one of our offerings about the curated food experiences came to be because I was sure that somebody will have the curiosity to get to know Puerto Rico from its food.  00:15:33 Crystal: So that's how I got into there. And I think that because I am obsessed with the fact that Puerto Rico imports 90% of everything that we eat, I am then focused on cherish and enhance and share that 10% what it can be if we actually put a lot of effort into grow that 10% into 20%, let's say.  00:16:08 Melissa: That's interesting. So okay. So, I mean, I'm not cynical, but, in my opinion, I kind of believe that the person that controls food source kinda controls a lot. And that's not fantastic. And so I'm just wondering from a policy perspective and as you think about this share of stomach or however it's really considered, are you also part of that conversation too? Like, are you actively advocating for that too?  00:16:45 Crystal: Yes. Yes. I always say I have a couple of hats for all those also thinking that you only have to do one thing and one thing only. If you want to do one thing and one thing only, that's okay. But in my case, I am focused on food, but I try to deal with it from different perspectives. So I have four hats.  00:17:09 Crystal: And one of my hats, specifically works with food policy advocacy. And we try to understand the local food policies that are in place, understanding what programs work, what programs doesn't work, and then trying to make it as… to come up with ideas to make it easier for food producers to produce more food. 00:17:41 Crystal: Because we are in a little island. We don't have that much territorial extension, so we can't think about our agriculture as other countries that have large extensions of terrains and flats and stuff like that. We need to think it differently. And I am not against importation. We all have globalized diets, and we love olive oil, and we can't produce that in Puerto Rico. And we love wine, and we can't produce that in Puerto Rico.  00:18:16 Crystal: So it's not like, all the way 100%. That's not what I mean. But definitely, we should aim to have, let's say, half of our stomach-share full of food that is produced locally. Not only because of its nutritional value, but also because it means economic growth and development for our island and our local communities. So every dollar that you spend on food… somebody might be hearing us while they are eating something.  00:18:55 Crystal: So you imagine whatever you're eating right now, let's say it cost you $1. It depends on where the ingredients came from, that dollar went to that place. It depends on where it was processed, part of that dollar went to that place. And then if you bought it in the supermarket or if you bought it in Amazon, to who you gave that share of that dollar.  00:22 Crystal: So with every single meal that we do, with every single snack, everything that we eat, you are impacting economies. And if you want to support your local communities and you want to see them, everybody having a better life, you might want to spend that dollar closer home and making sure that all of the ingredients that are on that food are closer to home so that money stays closer to home. And that's how I see it. 00:19:58 Crystal: How do we make that that share of that dollar that we as consumers have the power to choose where it goes. And, by the way, there are some parts that we have the power and some part we don't have the power. I understand that. But how do we make an effort in whatever way we can to stay as close as possible to our home.  00:20:24 Melissa: So I think you said that… was that one out of your four hats? 00:20:28 Crystal: Yes.  00:20:29 Melissa: What are the other three?  00:20:30 Crystal: Well, El Pretexto, which is a bed and breakfast, is our Puerto Rico's first and only culinary farm lodge. This is my home, but I also welcome guests here. So El Pretexto is my second one. I'm the co-founder of PRoduct, which is a digital marketplace that connects local food producers with consumers directly. We're trying to shorten that food chain and make it easier and convenient to get local products on your home. We deliver island wide. So that's my third hat. And then I have a super small, digital, marketing agency with another partner, and it's all focused on food and beverage. So everything is about food but from different perspectives.  00:21:25 Melissa: Yeah. That's so interesting because it's almost like you have a little supply chain kind of going on. Right? It's like we've got a lot going on, but it's all related to eating, which is essential. But I think it's smart. I mean, you have your little niche there. Huge niche. We keep being hungry, so you're in a good spot, I would say.  00:21:49 Melissa: So let me understand this idea about food and how you saw it as an opportunity for Puerto Rico because it has a rich history. Right? So me as a mom, for example, I'm second generation from a Puerto Rican perspective. As a mom, for me, passing down culture is urgent. It's almost on the verge of extinction, I feel, because of where I am generationally. Like, I'm, quote, unquote, “amongst people that I know I'm not,” quote, unquote, “supposed to know Spanish.” I'm not, quote, unquote, “supposed to literally make rice and beans every day,” which by the way, I don't have to. But my goodness, my children really like their rice and beans. And I am so lazy. So that is all I make because I just want one pot.  00:22:40 Melissa: But anyway, so culture, food, that's the one way that I pass it along. Right? You are what you eat. So guess what? My kids are Puerto Rican and Cuban, at this stage. Yes. They have Dominican in them, but, hey, that's just my culinary preference. So tell me about this idea of culture, Puerto Rican culture. And I would be super curious if you could maybe choose an example of a cuisine or food and just kind of walk us through how that kind of expresses culture or maybe there's a story behind it that is unique to Puerto Rico.  00:23:20 Crystal: Well, for me and my mentor used to be doctor Cruz Miguel Ortiz Cuadra, which was the only food historian in Puerto Rico. He passed two years ago, but I learned so much from him and pretty much I was his daughter. He inherit me all his library, which I have here, home. And, so we discussed this a lot. And I think that we both shared that the ultimate dish that represents the Puerto Rican culture will be the pasteles. For those that doesn't know what a pastel is, it's a tamal like preparation. But the tamales are corn based and they use corn leaves to wrap it up. The pasteles puertorriqueños is made out of a dough made out of root vegetables mainly. 00:24:20 Crystal: It will have bananas and plantains that we got from our African in [inaudible]. It will have pumpkin, which were already with our Taino peoples here in America. It will have yautia, which also was here in Puerto Rico. And then, it will have some pork stew that was brought by the Spanish people. So you have in one dish our full heritage of the three cultures that have conformed the Puerto Rican-ness in just one dish.  00:25:01 Crystal: And then that works too will use, what is the ultimate base of flavor of the Puerto Rican cuisine, which is the sofrito. And the sofrito itself also is a blend of African, Spanish, and Taino ingredients, but it's a bricolage of flavors and smells that then go into the stew that then is used to make the pastel. And the pastel is also representative of the most authentic Puerto Rican soul because el pastel is wrapped as a gift.  00:25:40 Crystal: And if you were poor and there was a lot of poverty in Puerto Rico at some – we still have, but there used to be a lot of poverty back in the days. If you didn't have any resources, monetary resources to gift things, you will make pasteles with the things that are on your patio. You will have that growing up in your patio, in your garden, and then you will do pasteles, and you will gift that to your adult, kids, to your sisters, to your brothers.  00:26:13 Crystal: And so because it's – now we have technology, and now we can use food processors and so on. But back in the day, you had to grate that by hand. So if you have that gift, I am not only gifting you my talent and the products that I grow in my patio, but I'm also gifting my time. So it's a very meaningful way of telling someone that you really care about them. 00:26:42 Crystal: And that's all about Puerto Ricans. We care. We care a lot. We want to share everything that we have. And all the visitors that we have, they all can say that Puerto Ricans are always nice to them. Even if we have people that doesn't speak so much English, they will take you to whatever place you wanted to go, trying to understand you and enjoying our island. So I think that the pastel is representative of all the goodness of the Puerto Ricans.  00:27:16 Melissa: Let's pause for a second. If you've been nodding your head all along while listening to Crystal talk about food as fuel for imagination, then I wanna put this on your radar. My book, Fertile Imagination is for any mom who's ever thought, “I know I'm capable of more, but I don't know where to start.”  00:27:39 Melissa: And as one Amazon reviewer said this of my book, Fertile Imagination, which is all about maximizing your superpower to make your maximum impact, She says this, “It's a non judgmental kick in the butt to start valuing your whole selves and to create a new reality where we combine motherhood with our big dreams. Whether you're chasing an idea during nap time or whispering your big vision,” this is hilarious, “into a spatula, then this book is your creative permission slip.”  00:28:17 Melissa: You're gonna hear stories, especially if you like this conversation with Crystal. You're gonna hear a story as well from a podcast guest that I had here who is a James Beard award winning chef, Gabriele Corcos. And you're gonna learn about how he has really latched on to this idea of novelty as his way to explore new categories of interest in his one beautiful life. So I want to just be sure that you realize that this conversation is the beginning of the process. I wanted you to see through Crystal how if your imagination was reawakened, you can start to reimagine how you approach your own life. And I think that's important.  00:29:04 Melissa: But then the book, Fertile Imagination, goes on and adds some tools that you can actually use to incorporate your imagination into your one divine life. And here's the thing, because you could use your imagination from any place you are in the world, you won't have to hop on a plane and go to any place. You can actually just close your eyes and replug in to the little girl that you once were who had all these beautiful ideas that you wanted to play out in the world and that's what I want for you. 00:29:41 Melissa: So here's what I have for you. Just go ahead to fertileideas.com. If you're driving, if you're running, if you're walking, you could do this in a bit. Just go to fertileideas.com and you could download a free chapter of my book, Fertile Imagination. What's really amazing about that chapter is that that chapter basically takes you to a place where you can go and travel back in time, to that moment when you were most free, to that moment where you had the world totally ahead of you and you were imagining what you wanted for your one divine life. That's what I did when I got on stage at the Magnet Theater in New York City 100 years ago now, so it feels. 00:30:25 Melissa: But I talk about that moment for me in that chapter that you can get for free right now on fertileideas.com. So back to the show. Again, shop the book. This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination, every mom's superpower. Go to fertileideas.com. Grab the free chapter. Why not? What are you gonna do? Have an amazing time reading a free chapter? That's the way to set yourself up for success for this summer. All right. Enjoy the rest of the conversation.  00:30:55 Melissa: I've never ever heard of un pastel in that way. I'm just like… it's fascinating because I also think it's… maybe it's just me, but I feel like there's a bit of an acquired taste to it too. Like, for me. Right? When I think about a pastel and I compare it to a tamal, I do not think about a Mexican tamal at all. I think about Cuban. I think about– 00:31:26 Crystal: Yeah. Sure. 00:31:28 Melissa: And for me, it's really fascinating to hear the story behind the pastel in the sense that it's very, very comprehensive. You could… I mean, I bet you there's probably books already. Or maybe you're gonna write a book. Maybe you got a fourth – a fifth hat to wear, right? You can write about pasteles. I mean, it's not a bad gig.  00:31:49 Melissa: But I think it's really interesting. And I think it's a testament to the fact that irrespective of where someone travels to the depth with which they can get to know and appreciate a culture is almost unlimited in a way, right? It's… like, for me and my family, I am not a Disney World person. But I've been to Disney World because it's kinda like, “Oh, we just go to Disney World and I have three kids.” And you got a cat. That's a little bit of a cat. She's got a cat. If you're watching this on video, you see her big and fluffy cat. Is your cat Puerto Rican though? 00:32:29 Crystal: She is Puerto Rican. She is a sato cat.  00:32:31 Melissa: Aw.  00:32:32 Crystal: She's a rescue one.  00:32:34 Melissa: So cute. She probably eats pasteles because she's got meat on her. She's a solid cat. But, yeah, just the depth with which you could understand a culture, what I'm hearing from you, Crystal, it can absolutely include history and and careful attention to the food that you're eating. Right? I think about just everywhere that I've traveled and every time I've eaten food, it's kind of like there's almost a story or a reason for why something is on a plate, and it's not always superficial. It's not just labor profile. It could have to do with political conversations. It could have to do with whoever decided that that food would make its way to that region.  00:33:27 Melissa: But let me ask you this question then. So just to kind of close-up this conversation on something that I think is very practical, I'm gonna ask you a very selfish question. Okay, so I'm on the quest for the perfect sofrito. I'm gonna tell you what I do for my sofrito. So it's my ritual on Sundays. I take all the peppers that I find, red, green, yellow, and even orange because it comes in that pack. I also then buy cilantro. I'm in Texas, so let's just be mindful I'm limited in some of the things I can get.  00:34:05 Melissa: Also because I'm a health conscious mom, I put bone broth in the blender so that this way things can blend. Right? I put onions. I put garlic. I put some oregano. That is what's in my sofrito on a good day. Melissa's like, “Okay. I am ready to make a sofrito.” How can I enhance that sofrito, or how do you teach people that visit El Pretexto how to make their own sofrito?  00:34:39 Crystal: Well, sofrito is one thing as the pasteles. Right? Everybody have their own recipe, and everybody says that their mom's sofrito is the best. Right? [inaudible] My mom's sofrito is the best. So that's the one that I do. And I'm happy to share the recipe for you because I have it written.  00:35:03 Crystal: But there are two schools of Sofrito to begin with. The school that says you do your Sofrito on a Sunday and you don't touch it… you don't do another Sofrito batch up until that one is gone in one or two weeks. And then you have my mom's school, which is you do your sofrito every time that you're gonna cook. 00:35:28 Melissa: Gotcha. Right.  00:35:31 Crystal: Obviously, that's nice for those that are retired and have all the time in the world. I do it that way. I'm not retired, but it's because I have a– 00:35:40 Melissa: That's your job. 00:35:41 Crystal: That's how she does it. And I don't want to, to your point, I want to continue her way of doing things. So, there are onions. We don't use all the colors of the bell peppers. We actually use cubanelle pepper. Onion cubanelle, then we will have the aji dulce, the sweet little pepper we need. We will have the cilantro, but we will also have culantro. [inaudible]. Yeah? And then, we will have garlic in it, a little bit of oregano, and pretty much that's the base. 00:36:29 Crystal: So depending on who you ask, there are people that will omit having the onion, and they will do it when they are cooking, if they're doing a batch. And then you will have people that will go all the way in with a lot of culantro in it, so it has that strong flavor to it. My mom's is more balanced in how much goes of each little thing in there. And we also use the bone broth, but not to blend the sofrito, but to stew the rice. If it's gonna be a stew rice, we will do bone broth instead of water with the rice. 00:37:18 Crystal: And then, the beans, we like them vegetarians. We don't use any hams or meat cuts into it. But, again, that's us. There are people that say that the most flavorful ones is with a piece of ham in it and whatever. But, I like… my mom's and mine are vegetarian. And my cat starts again.  00:37:43 Crystal: But, sofrito is is very personal. You know? It's part of how your family has done it. And as I told earlier, it's also a blend of these three cultures that goes into it. A lot of cultures have mirepoix or other type of base of flavors into their food and this is ours. So you have to make it yours but also learn that there is a lot of history into it. It's not something that we do because we do it. There is a lot of history into it. But, yeah, happy to share my mom's one with you. 00:38:29 Melissa: Yeah. For sure. Crystal, this was so amazing. So I would say around now, a lot of individuals are planning their summer holiday trips and vacations and all of that. So, maybe you can share where people can learn more about you, can learn more about El Pretexto if that's an option to them to kind of explore, and just follow your journey. 00:38:53 Crystal: Yeah. Sure. Well, a friendly reminder that it is an adults only project. So this might be your chance to… El Pretexto actually translates to “The Excuse.” So this might be your excuse to having your parents take care of the kids and hop down to the island and have a little bit of a honeymoon. But, El Pretexto, you can find it at elprotextopr.com. We're also in social media @elprotextopr in Facebook and Instagram.  00:39:30 Crystal: There you will meet our chickens and photos of our garden and our harvest and the breakfast, and maybe you get a little bit hungry. In our website, you will find different options because you could come for a weekend or you could come for a weekday stay, but also you could come for these curated food experiences, which are in very specific dates around the year. We also have dinners, farm to table dinners in our property. We invite guest chefs to cook dinners, around the year.  00:40:08 Crystal: And, also, I take people to other places in the countryside to enjoy a beautiful lunch, but getting to know another piece of countryside around the island. So, El Pretexto is no other thing than the celebration of the beautiful diverse countryside of Puerto Rico. And you can check all the information there. So, yeah, feel free to follow me there.  00:40:37 Melissa: Thank you so much, Crystal. This has been amazing. Have an awesome rest of your day. Keep enjoying the peace and serenity of the mountains and the Caribbean Sea and all the beauty that you see outside your window. Thank you so much for this conversation.  00:40:53 Crystal: Thank you. Thank you for the invitation.  00:40:56 Melissa: So what's your version of a sofrito? Right? Let's take it out of the kitchen and into your home office. What sort of things for you can you put together to create your next big idea, whether it's something for business, something for your personal life or something for your family this very summer. I am so excited to have had Crystal Diaz for this conversation because I think she's inspiring all of us. She's giving us a good idea of all the ways that we could color our own individual rainbows.  00:41:33 Melissa: At the same time, I want this to just remind you that your imagination could be stirred into anything, right? Especially like tonight's dinner. So catch up on Tuesdays on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub and until then, keep cooking up ideas that only you can serve. I honestly think there's a place in this world for imaginations. And irrespective of AI and technology, at the end of the day, it's only as good as the person behind the computer screen, our prompts, our ideas, the way that we decide to use these resources.  00:42:10 Melissa: And that is the best case for you to actually keep your imagination going and playing with it. So thank you for this conversation. And again, if you are interested in learning more about the book, just go to fertileideas.com. Have an amazing rest of your day, moms.  

Folksy diner worker Jo Jo remains bummed that his boss won't invite him into the walk-in freezer to make out in a circle with the rest of his coworkers. But the idea that a Sigmund Fraud like Ian Herrin would be able to help him is more absurd than thinking White Lotus season 3 would end any way but darkly and tragically! Get out of there, Jo Jo, before Ian follows you to work and does something regrettable! Ah, you must be a real gentleman, because you've found the best part of the episode description! The part where I tell you all about the tremendously talented actor, improviser, and comedian Levi Friedman. You can follow Levi on Instagram @levi_h_friedman and be sure to check out his teams Mercy Santos and Grinch Debussy with upcoming shows Thursday May 1st 6pm Magnet Theater and Sunday May 11th 8:30pm at BCC!

We were joined by comedian Evan Forde Barden for a great talk on pursuing comedy. Evan joins the podcast to discuss his extensive 21-year journey in improv and sketch comedy. Evan shares his early days doing improv at Fairfield University and his subsequent experiences with renowned groups like 'Bodywork' and 'Young Douglass.' He opens up about navigating the improv scene in New York, his tenure with Improv Boston, Magnet Theater, and UCB, and how he tries to survive on stage. Evan also talks about his show, 'The Power Joker,' a comedy talk show hosted by a fictional Robert Moses (played by previous guest, Sam Rogal), the evolution of his comedic voice, and more! YouTube: @YoungDouglas, @ThereItIs Instagram: @YoungDouglas, @ThePowerJoker, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Threads: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @ThereItIsPod  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

In this episode of The Ethics Experts, Nick welcomes Cindy Marsh. Cindy, a practicing improvisor with over 12 years of experience, is a member of the Applied Improvisation Network. She honed her skills at improv powerhouses like The Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, and Magnet Theater. Cindy's background in Global Logistics and Trade Compliance surprisingly intertwined with improv, as the skills proved valuable in navigating her career. Experiencing the positive impact in both her personal and professional life, she began sharing her experience and training with others. Now, as the founder of Good Human Improv Company, Cindy empowers individuals to discover their comedic potential and embrace the transformative power of improv. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindysmarsh/

We do a deep dive into improv with performer, Sam Rogal! Jason sits down with New York-based performer Sam Rogal for this fun chat! Sam shares his extensive experience at the Magnet Theater, recounting his time performing improv and sketch with teams like Metal Boy and Nitro Girls. He also discusses Metal Boy's current show, 'Your Worst Idea,' which celebrates creative failures. From the importance of chemistry in improv teams to the interplay of comedy and history, Sam offers insights drawn from his journey from Buck's Rock Camp to leading improv teams. Tune in for practical advice on balancing fun and audience satisfaction, advanced improv techniques, and fascinating behind-the-scenes stories that reveal the joy and challenges of the craft. Tickets! Metal Boy's "Your Worst Idea": magnettheater.com/show/tickets/58720 The Power Joker: caveat.nyc/events/the-power-joker-a-robert-moses-comedy-show-11-3-2024 Friday Night Show: https://magnettheater.com/show/58943/ Instagram: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Threads: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod  Twitter: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Dive into an engaging conversation about improv and writing with Ashley Siflinger! Jason's good buddy, Ashley, discusses her journey from growing up in Long Island to discovering her love for comedy and improv in college after initially pursuing a more serious acting path. She shares insights into her experiences with the Magnet Theater, how improv has influenced her playwriting, and vice versa. Throughout the episode, Ashley and Jason perform improv together on the Friday Night Show and they dive into the intricacies of comedic performance, detailing personal hurdles performing and the artistic evolution that accompanies it. It's a revealing chat about their mutual appreciation for comedy that is both sincere and reflective of artistic voices. Join them as they explore the nuances of finding humor and truth on stage, offering a captivating look into the world of improv. www.strollerscene.com www.ashleysiflinger.com Instagram: @strollerscene, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Threads: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @ThereItIsPod  Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

We had a great chat with improviser and Magnet Theater co-owner, Sean Taylor! Jason and Sean talk about Sean's starting improv at Dartmouth and how Mindy Kaling played a role in him starting his journey through the NYC improv scene from studying at UCB and The PIT to landing at Magnet, where he performed and taught at before becoming a co-owner. He talks about his thoughts on performing and teaching improv and how, aside from being a lover of improv, he is also a lover of pizza! We talk about his 31 Days of Pizza food blog, which he's done for over 20 years, to celebrate National Pizza Month by eating pizza every day from different pizza spots. They delve into the importance of living an interesting life outside of comedy to enhance onstage performances and talk about Sean's latest pursuits, including playing Fortnite and joining a bowling league. This episode is a delicious mix of comedy, life experiences, and mouth-watering pizza chat! Note: Pizza is not provided by the podcast. It's a fun chat! 31daysofpizza.blogspot.com TikTok: @31DaysofPizza Instagram: @MagnetTheater, @31DaysOfPizza, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Facebook: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod  Twitter: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes  Threads: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Fanny, vajayjay, kitty, muff, coochie, hoo ha, lady garden – whatever you call it, in this week's episode, both of our storytellers share weird and wonderful tales about their vaginas. Part 1: When Milly McDermott is 15, she finds a grapefruit-sized tumor growing out of her vagina. Part 2: After a guy she was dating tells Dawn Harris she has two vaginas, she can't help but wonder what is going on down there. Milly McDermott is a cartoonist, comedian, and show runner who has ran comedy shows in both the U.S. and in China. Milly began her comedy career after being diagnosed with a rare uterine cancer at the age of 15. She now runs comedy shows in New York City and continues to publish comic strips about her life.  Dawn Harris is a theatre major from Alabama, enjoying a lucrative career in an unrelated field. She has studied storytelling at The Magnet Theater and The Story Studio. Her early years in New York were spent studying improv comedy with The People's Improv Theatre, The Magnet Theater, and The Upright Citizen's Brigade. Dawn has been featured on the podcasts Love Hurts and RISK! (under a mysterious pseudonym) and has told stories live with Story Collider, Awkward Teenage Years and The Armando Diaz Experience. Adam Wade highly recommends her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We got to talk to Magnet Theater musical improv director, instructor, and performer, Chris Bell! Chris reveals his journey from performing in high school drama classes to becoming an accomplished musical improviser. Jason and Chris discuss the importance of ensemble mentality, theatricality in musical improv, and balancing real-life experiences with performance emphasizing how commitment and making definitive choices on stage can overcome perfectionism. Chris also reflects on his experiences teaching improv and his journey to dig deeper because it's a journey, baby! Undressed: The Musical: www.undressedmusical.com Instagram: @UndressedMusical, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes  Facebook: @ThereItIsPod  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Sydney Duncan is a New York-based comedian, improviser, writer, and actor. She has trained extensively at UCB, The PIT, Magnet Theater, and Dallas Comedy House studying advanced improv, musical improv, and sketch. The North Coast Podcast is a Musical Comedy podcast featuring interviews, improvised hip-hop songs, and long-form improv from New York City's long-running hip hop-improv team, North Coast. From conversations with comedians, hip-hop artists, and other exciting creatives, you can now bring the infectious energy of a North Coast show into your headphones with this brand new podcast. Produced by Douglas WidickNorthcoastnyc.comNorth Coast - @northcoastnycRj Williams - @rjron.williamsMichael Crisol - @TheDoctorBrickMel Rubin @melrubin2Billy Soco @bsocoDouglas Widick @douglaswidickLuke Miller @lukemillerfakeWith a cast of improv comedy veterans in New York City, North Coast's explosive performances have been packing comedy venues, universities, and festivals nationwide since 2009. Built around a single suggestion from an audience member, the show's improvised scenes escalate into full-blown hip-hop songs, facilitated by resident beatboxer, Doctor Brick. With their seamless melding of comedic timing and freestyle rapping abilities, North Coast frequently blurs the line between comedy show and concert, drawing audiences from the comedy, hip-hop, and theater communities for an experience that has been hailed as “mind-blowing” and “next level” by critics and audiences alike.Named one of the “Top Ten Best Comedy Shows”  by Time Out New York, North Coast has been featured on Vh1, in Slate's Podcast The Gist, The Village Voice, and The New York Times Comedy Listings.The North Coast Podcast is a Musical Comedy podcast featuring interviews, improvised hip-hop songs, and long-form improv from New York City's long-running hip hop-improv team, North Coast. From conversations with comedians, hip-hop artists, and other exciting creatives, you can now bring the infectious energy of a North Coast show into your headphones with this brand new podcast. Produced by Douglas WidickNorthcoastnyc.comNorth Coast - @northcoastnycRj Williams - @rjron.williamsMichael Crisol - @TheDoctorBrickMel Rubin @melrubin2Billy Soco @bsocoDouglas Widick @douglaswidickLuke Miller @lukemillerfakeWith a cast of improv comedy veterans in New York City, North Coast's explosive performances have been packing comedy venues, universities, and festivals nationwide since 2009. Built around a single suggestion from an audience member, the show's improvised scenes escalate into full-blown hip-hop songs, facilitated by resident beatboxer, Doctor Brick. With their seamless melding of comedic timing and freestyle rapping abilities, North Coast frequently blurs the line between comedy show and concert, drawing audiences from the comedy, hip-hop, and theater communities for an experience that has been hailed as “mind-blowing” and “next level” by critics and audiences alike.Named one of the “Top Ten Best Comedy Shows” by Time Out New York, North Coast has been featured on Vh1, in Slate's Podcast The Gis...

Ever feel that pang of guilt when you finally score a kid-free getaway with girlfriends? How about when you go away to a conference and that means missing your son's trumpet solo? Big confession. I recently went to a conference and missed my kid's solo. Yep, I felt mom guilt especially while I watched the livestream, but as a mom of three, I knew I was doing my best and that this conference (ironically the Mom 2.0 conference) was a big deal for my book and business. And (further justifications) it wasn't an on-stage solo in front of an audience...it was a Saturday morning classroom solo in front of a teacher. All of this to say, yes, mom guilt still continues to pop up for me when I pick career over family (and it doesn't even happen a lot!), and yet it's a constant juggle. So imagine this: what if you had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live in another country without your family to explore your childhood career dreams? Sounds impossible? Would that make you feel guilty? This episode tackles the monster called "mom guilt." Enter Alicia Fernandez Miranda, a super-achiever mom of twins who decided to hit pause on her high-powered CEO career at 40. We delve into her story and ask the lingering questions: Does mom guilt ever truly fade? Is self-care a selfish act, or a necessity? Most importantly, can our actions teach our kids valuable life lessons that words simply can't? Tune in to episode 225 for an honest conversation that will empower you to embrace motherhood on your own terms. Let's connect on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ In This Episode You Will Uncover: -How to navigate the guilt of pursuing your own passions as a mom, especially if it means taking time away from your family. -The importance of role modeling and showing your children how to live a fulfilling life, even if it means taking risks. -Why it's better to try something and fail than to never try anything at all. This Episode is Perfect For You If: -You're a mom who feels stuck in a rut and longs to pursue your own interests. -You're wondering if it's possible to chase your dreams while still being a good parent. -You're looking for inspiration to break free from self-doubt and create a life you love. Key Points: -Many moms struggle to find inspiration for pursuing their own dreams because the media often portrays women who achieve success without children. -The guilt of leaving your family can be a major obstacle, but sometimes the risk of not following your dreams is greater. -By taking action and showing your children how to live a fulfilling life, you can inspire them to do the same. -It's okay to fail, and in fact, it can be a valuable learning experience. Taking time for yourself can ultimately make you a better parent. This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact, which reached the #1 spot as an Amazon bestseller in both the motherhood and women and business categories! Woo hoo! And if this episode deeply resonates with you, then you are definitely invited to read my book, Fertile Imagination! In my humble opinion, I believe double-fisting Alisha's book The What If Year and mine, Fertile Imagination, would make for an epically fun weekend of reading. Dive into Alisha's adventures and live vicariously through a fellow mom, and then turn to my personal framework to help you think about your best first step on getting your imagination fired up about your own adventure! As I alluded to earlier, this episode tackles the struggle of mom guilt that tugs at our hearts, even when we deserve a getaway or break from adulting! I've been there too! Moreover, I, Melissa, share a vulnerable moment straight from my book, Fertile Imagination, where I spent Sundays unlocking a surprising talent. And guess what? It was totally worth it! Intrigued to discover your own hidden mom superpower? Head over to https://www.melissallarena.com/fertileideas/ and grab a FREE chapter of Fertile Imagination. It's your guide to maximizing your impact as a mom. Imagine achieving goals you never thought possible, all while rocking motherhood on YOUR terms. Download your free chapter today and ignite your fertile imagination! https://www.melissallarena.com/fertileideas/   Official bio for Alicia Fernandez Miranda ALISHA FERNANDEZ MIRANDA is the author of My What If Year, featured on Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC, NPR and as one of People's Best Books. She is the host of podcasts Extra Shot with Alisha Fernandez Miranda and the award-winning Quit Your Day Job. Alisha also serves as chair and former CEO of I.G. Advisors, a social impact intelligence agency that consults with the world's biggest nonprofits, foundations, and corporations on their philanthropy and social initiatives. A graduate of Harvard University and the London School of Economics, her writing has appeared in Vogue, Marie Claire, Insider, Romper and Huffington Post. Originally from Miami, Alisha currently lives in Scotland with her husband and children. Follow Alisha on Instagram @alishafmiranda and her website at www.alishafmiranda.com. TRANSCRIPT Alicia Fernandez Miranda. I am excited to have you on the podcast, and I feel like you need to like stamp my passport. Where are we going? Where are you located? Let's chat. Let's chat. Thank you so much, Melissa, for having me. I am in Edinburgh, Scotland right now. Behind me, it's like hurricane force winds blowing outside, which is sort of typical, typical Wednesday for January in Scotland. Yeah, kind of, sort of like, uh, Canada, actually,  so it's, it's interesting, but Alicia, I am so excited to have you here. When I saw your profile, cause I know you're going to be attending probably like mom 2. 0, right? Yes, I'm going to be there this year. I was like, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa. There's like this like twinsie of me somewhere in, in Europe. So that's a good thing. Cause I want to eventually land there. But when I saw that you wrote the book, my what if year, I was just like, Holy mother of guacamole. This is so cool. Like, this is like really, really cool. So why don't you share with listeners just a little bit about my what if year, and then we'll go into maybe like what has stopped a lot of moms from pursuing their own what if years. Totally. So  I guess the story really kind of started for me in 2019. I was living in London. I had done the expat thing. I grew up in Miami  and moved to London in 2008. I was the mom of my twins who were eight years old at the time. I was CEO of a business I had founded with my husband and we were kind of consulting to the biggest foundations and wealthy people, companies, nonprofits, all on social impact and philanthropy and how to give away money a bit better, which was an interesting job. And I sort of, I had done. All of the things that I had said I was going to do in my life. I had my list. I had checked everything off my list and I found myself approaching 40 and thinking, oh my God, is this really where I want to be? Then of course, feeling horribly guilty about. Thinking, is this really where I want to be? Which we can definitely talk about. Cause I think a lot of moms can relate to that.  And I just sort of had this moment where I was like, what, what, what were all the things that I didn't do that I had maybe always wanted to do? And is it really too late to try them? Or could I do this crazy thing, which is to take a year and through a series of little small. Sabbaticals, I was calling them, could I go try out all the jobs I wanted to do when I was a kid and never got a chance to do the things that I really loved, like working on a musical or working in the art industry. And so that was my what if year. It was an attempt to explore these paths that I never got to explore and to do internships at the jobs I had always dreamed of doing. So all of that sounds like so theoretically amazing. It's like, I want to just the, the abort mission, but, and I guess you could say on life and I just want to go and be in Cirque du Soleil. That's what I wanted to do. Actually. I have that in my own book, fertile imagination. I didn't do it just let's just to be clear. You haven't done it yet. That's true. I am working on mobility, so you never know what's up for me. But that was like my thing, right? I was like, Oh, how cool would it be Cirque du Soleil?  And, and I have other, I have a list of other things too, but there was, there was nothing, I never saw any woman, certainly any mom, Nor any Latina do something where she was away from her kids for such a long time during a time when they still needed her,  right? And 40, my goodness. So 40 years old, like how far could someone go 40? I'm just curious from your own perspective, like what sort of things were like, okay. Within the realm of possibilities for a mom versus what you did. I mean, it's such a good question because the guilt was real and the  feeling that my primary responsibility was always to my family, no matter what, even if that meant putting myself further down the list. It was just, I had just accepted that. I had accepted that that was the case. Without really stopping to think, what are the implications on my family? If I am a person who is not happy with my life and not feeling complete in myself or full in myself. So, I mean, of course, who are the people that had done this kind of like, They press the abort button on their life, right? Okay, you have like Elizabeth Gilbert who wrote Eat Pray Love, not Latina. Didn't have kids, I don't think either.  But she went, she took a year. She went to eat pasta in Italy and to India. And then she went to Bali and fell in love with a hot surfer. And that was the end of that book. But that was not a possibility for me. Neither was the Cheryl Strayed Wild. Also not Latina. Also no children. Because there was no way I was going to sleep in a tent for like a year at a time. But again, she left to deal with her grief. And she walked the Pacific Coast, the Pacific Crest Trail. And this idea of literally blowing up my whole life, that was off the table for me. Because I love my children. I love my husband. And I was so conscious that whatever I did was going to be  at best inconvenient for them. And at worst, a really big deal. for their day to day lives, if I was going to leave and go try these things. And so I was very, very conscious of that. It wasn't like I was just like, Meh, screw you all, like I'm going off to Italy to eat all the pasta. So when I started thinking about what this experience was going to be for me, I had a plan. I had, Months of planning, of fitting everything in, of figuring out who was going to pick up my kids from dance and soccer on the different days when my husband had to work, of organizing everything, of figuring out how to do my internships at the same time as their vacations from school, so they could come with me and join me. This was like a beautiful color coded plan because I wasn't willing. To really throw their happiness out. I could never, I could never have done that to them and I couldn't have enjoyed myself if I knew that that was the case. Now, of course, I say all of this and then I'll tell you my first internship started on February 29th, 2020. So all of my careful plans went completely out the window as soon as the pandemic hit, but definitely.  I was very, I was putting myself first, but only to a certain extent. I was very conscious that I didn't want my kids and my husband to be collateral damage somehow to my desire to go and chase these opportunities.   And it's so interesting because it's, it's true. Like, it's like, who is it that you look towards as inspiration for what's possible in your life? And me too, for, for some odd reason, I don't know if it's just like a quirk, but like, I look at these like billionaires that have no children whatsoever that are men as like, Oh, why can't I be like Tom Bilyeu?   And it's like, Hello, you have three kids, two of whom are identical twins who are 10 years old. You live in Austin and there's just no way for you to create a fitness bar or a protein bar without high fructose corn syrup without breaking some nails, right? Cause the machinery that Tom  broke and used, I wouldn't do.   So it's, it's just a weird, it's super weird, right? Like what a, what an interesting thing to kind of compare yourself. Those articles that are like advice from successful CEOs. And one of the things that, and they're almost always men. And one of the things that they'll say is get up an hour early, get up at 5 AM to start working and start your day and exercise and clear your head.   And I'm like, if I'm getting up early, I'm making breakfast for people. I'm feeding the dog. The kids are getting ready for school. So that's, that's not possible in my life. I think you can be a successful CEO, by the way. And still have all those responsibilities, but that model, that inspiration, it's, it's not really meant, I think, for people like us, at least it hasn't been historically.   Yeah, which is why we have to kind of carve our own path. So as a mom with two kids who were eight years old, who started this adventure right when the pandemic hit ultimately. And at that, you started with. theater as your first internship, which I think listeners can now appreciate had a big hiatus, right?   During that time,  how did you sort of navigate the mom guilt? And then also just like the regular guilt, because this was a very unique timeframe. And I'm saying that 1000 times unique once in a lifetime  timeframe. Right. As far as being away from family when there was a lot of uncertainty and fear. So why don't you share a couple of stories about that?   I felt,  I felt, I felt so guilty at every point. I mean, I felt guilty for even thinking that I maybe wanted to. A life that looked different because I had been brought up to always be grateful and appreciative of what you have and what you have been given. My dad was a Cuban immigrant. I grew up in a family where that story of we left everything to come here and give you a better life.   And you need to work hard to get to the point where you don't ever have to do that and be appreciative and grateful for everything we've done and what you have. That was my. like cornerstone mythology of my entire childhood. So I felt guilty even for, for thinking.  This thought that I was unhappy, that was like something that I shouldn't be, I shouldn't be thinking that.   That's just being ungrateful for everything I have. And so I felt guilty even from the inception. I felt guilty about doing something that was about putting my needs, even for a short period of time ahead of my family, even though I did not abandon them completely.  I felt guilty about all of those things.   And I like to joke always that my dad is Cuban and grew up Catholic. My mom is Jewish. And so I have the most guilt. I have Catholic guilt and Jewish guilt. It's like all the guilt forever.  But at the same time, I could recognize, finally, after a lot of thinking and soul searching, that I was not in a good place in myself.   I was not happy. I was not being the best mom I could be, or the best wife I could be, or the best me that I could be. Because I felt like I was treading water in my own life, and I was living a life that I had signed up for, but wasn't right for me anymore. And so, really, I got to the point where it felt like the risk of not doing something was greater than the risk of doing something.   And this worry that I was always going to feel this way, or maybe even worse, became so great that I just knew, I That it was going to be worth the kind of short term inconvenience for my family as it, as it was going to be worth it to have this experience. Now, right before I left, like the night before I left, my husband and I were sitting on the sofa, and at the time, You're thinking back like late February 2020, China had already been in lockdown for a month.   Italy had gone into lockdown. Iran was, I think, in some sort of lockdown. But there was still, people were still saying like, oh, it's going to be contained to these three countries. This is not going to spread. It's going to be very small. The idea that the pandemic would have happened on such a scale was so far from our heads.   But I did have a conversation with my husband and I said, do you not want me to go? Do you want me to stay behind?  And then I held my breath. Because I was so worried he was going to say, yeah, I think you should stay, which I was going to be devastated if that was the case. Theater was like my dream, the dream of the all the dreams.   It was the dream to be able to be part of a production. And I had these incredible opportunities to be part of two shows about to open on Broadway and off Broadway. And so I went and then. The whole time I was there, I kind of had my fingers in my ears until the very end. Things were getting worse.  My husband was definitely freaking out.   And I was like, nothing's happening.  Everything's fine. This is all going to blow over. It's not going to be a big deal. And it wasn't until things got really bad. That I decided to leave. And then the following day, before I got on my plane, they announced that all the Broadway theaters were closing for what was initially going to be a period of, I think, four weeks.   And then of course ended up being, I want to say 21 months altogether before everything got back to normal. normal.  But yeah, I mean, I was a little bit in denial and I, I, the thing is I felt guilty anyway. I felt guilty, but I did it anyway. Right? Like that's how I navigated the guilt. I never stopped feeling guilty.   I just knew that it was important. And so I was able to push the guilt to the side. and do what I knew I needed to do.  Yeah, and,   and I was wondering about that. So like, kind of like exposure therapy, like, do you feel that it got a little bit easier the first time you're like, Oh, okay, everybody survived.   And then the next time and the next time. So do you feel like it got easier during that time?   I don't know. I don't know that it's gotten easier. The first time I went on a work trip after the twins were born, they were about  not quite 18 months old, I think. And I had a new job that I had started and I went to China and my husband was in, we were in London at the time with the kids and I flew for a kajillion hours to get there.   I got there like in the middle of the night and I pick up the phone to call home and it's like a disaster zone at home. Like, They've already been to the, the emergency doctor with my daughter who has like a horrible cough and her nose is blocked and she can't breathe the, and now Carlos is starting to feel sick and I was so upset and like, I have to get on, I have to get on a plane home.   I have to go home right away. And of course I couldn't do that. I had other responsibilities. He was like, look, it's going to be fine. You don't need to come home. You're not going to get home in time anyway. Continue with this trip. So I've always had that fear that something has gone wrong. And sometimes stuff has.   I went to Paris once on a girl's trip with my daughter and my son broke his arm. And thank God he didn't need surgery, but he was in the emergency room with my husband for several, I mean, like stuff has gone wrong. Even in the book, as soon as I get to New York on my internship, my kids have terrible food poisoning and they have thrown up all over the house.   They're all three in bed together, my husband and the twins and. He eventually they had to get that room professionally cleaned before I got home because it was so it was so disgusting. Okay, so stuff goes wrong. It does go wrong. It still goes wrong, and I don't know that it gets easier because my kids are 12 now, and for whatever reason, it feels like they miss me more sometimes when I go away.   Now, I don't know if it's that they're better able to articulate how they're feeling than they were when they were little or what. So it's it's.  I know that things are going to be okay. That has changed. I know the more times I do it, that everybody will survive. But I'm not sure it really gets easier. The thing that is easier is that I've seen The positive impact of taking these moments for myself, whether it's a work trip that I need to do, or just going to spend a weekend with my girlfriends because I haven't seen them in a long time, or sometimes meeting my parents somewhere that I wasn't able to do.   I mean, they're so rejuvenating. They helped me reset. They helped me come back into my life and myself, uh, feeling better and doing better all around. And I think that's, what's gotten easier because I know that it's worth it. Yeah.  So even if I still feel guilty about leaving them and I still worry about what's going to go wrong, I know now that I've done it so many times for really fantastic experiences that I would do it again.   And I think anyone that's listening, that's inspired by this, I think you don't have to necessarily. Go away for an entire year. We could do this like baby steps. What I mean? It's like you nurse your kid or you bottle feed your kid and then you introduce solid slowly. So it's kind of the same idea for us.   I know in my case, in my book, Fertile Imagination, like I decided to actually take storytelling classes at Magnet Theater in Midtown in Koreatown. Love it. Yeah. And it was nine Sundays and I was coming from Connecticut. I like to call it fancy town, Connecticut, and it was a schlep, right? And so the whole idea is I know that on Sunday, technically, if I followed a certain script, like I was supposed to be at home, I don't even know, either washing the walls or like being at a soccer field or like something, right?   Making pancakes for somebody, for sure.   Right, in the shape of their desired animal farm person, right? Or whatever. I'm thinking dinosaurs and I'm just saying animal farm. I'm like, I'm a city girl. I can't help it. So yeah. And it's kind of like just doing that, like on weekends, for goodness sakes, it's not saying I'm out an entire year, but you could work your way up.   If you start noticing that, wait a minute, when I got back home and I saw my kids, I was happier.  I had stories to tell, what I mean? So there, there are benefits and it's not all one sided, but it takes courage because then, yeah, maybe, maybe you are not the mom who's doing the things with the other moms and you might feel a little bit like an outsider, but again, was it worth it?   And what I'm hearing from you, Alicia, is that it was worth it to actually take action in your life that might go against what. Other individuals may have done before with children that are Latina. And so I'm curious in terms of really what your, my, what if your experience showed your kids, like, why do you, what do you think is the difference?   Right? Cause we could tell our kids like, Hey, when you turn 40. I mean, granted it's very far ahead, but like 40, that's so old. I know. Right. So, okay, fine. So, Hey, when you go to college, you could do a gap year, for example. Right. Like that's something that I've heard people say, and, and that's one thing, right, you're saying it to them, but what if you actually like did it yourself?   And so for you, Alicia, like, I know they're still young, they're 12, but what do you think is the difference between showing versus telling? A. K. also how to write a good   book.  I mean, I think, okay. So I remember like when my kids were, when they were babies, I was like, I'm never going to let them eat like junk food because I grew up only eating junk food, but if I eat junk food, my kids, turns out they also like some junk food.   Now we don't eat a lot of junk food, but. There's only a certain point that you can tell your kids, wouldn't you rather have this carrot stick than a pack of McDonald's French fries. If you're sitting there eating the McDonald's French fries, they're going to realize that maybe you're not being completely true and authentic to yourself.   So I do think that kids receive information so much better. From modeling and from you showing them how to do it. And the thing is that my kids went on this journey with me. They were, I was away for different parts of it, but even the times that I wasn't with them, we were talking on the phone every day and then I would come home and talk to them about what I was doing.   And subsequently they got to come on my book tour. They've heard, heard me talk about this book more than I'm sure they'd ever liked to in the world, but they. watched me decide to do something different. They watched me try my hand at these varied jobs, many of which I was very bad at, like very, very bad at.   And they watched me fail, and they watched me dust myself off and stand back up and go back the next day and do the thing.  To me, that is the most important lesson that I hope they have taken from this and that I try to instill on them is that  it is better to try something and fail at it than to not try anything at all.   That you are not going to be good at everything and that's okay. And that the most important thing in your life is not necessarily picking the job, doing it perfectly and sticking with it on that path, no matter what happens, then no matter how you feel and that they know that when they're adults and hopefully have families of their own, that they are important people, both my son and my daughter and their needs also matter.   And I just was in the U S last week. Doing a bunch of different work things and some fun book stuff and my son and I had, I had, I did a talk at the IFC, the International Finance Corporation for my what if year, it was amazing. And the day before my son was like, why can't you just tell them you're sick and cancel and come home early because I want you to come home so you can come and see my hockey match.   And I was like, okay, so not only would that be. Completely setting aside my responsibilities, but also I want to be here. This is important to me. I want to be able to share this experience with people. This is why I did it. Why I wrote the book. Not why I did the internships, but why I wrote the book. And so, no, I'm not going to tell them I'm sick and come home early because this is important to me.   And making sure that they are seeing me choose myself sometimes, I am hoping is going to give them that Permission or awareness that when they get to a point in their lives, when they are caring for other people, too, that they know they also can choose themselves sometimes. And that's okay.   Yeah, I love it.   I think, I think what you said as far as like the, they saw you maybe like,  Either fail or, or have errors and stuff, but then like, decide to like, get back up again, like watching you do that. I don't think it, I don't think it could be replaced with words. I mean, that's like resilience in action. That's resilience while mommy ing.   Yeah, resilience while mommy ing, I love it.   Yeah. Yeah. And, and it's just like, it's beautiful. And, and I witnessed it with my own mom because she has a mental illness. And so every time she'd get into an episode, she had to like dust herself off in, in very dramatic ways. But then it gives you a sense as a kid, it's like, huh, I'm related to that.   Maybe I got a little bit of that in me too. Right.   100%. There's beauty. That's how I, I think, I think that  a large part of the reason I have  such resilience, and I do feel like I'm a very resilient person, so far so good, is because I came from a family that I, I grew up hearing all of the stories of my grandmother, my dad, and his siblings, and my, my grandfather, and how they, how they, you know, Left everything behind.   They left Cuba with a suitcase each and nothing else and moved to a country where they didn't speak the language and they had to just pick themselves up and they had, they had no other choice but to do that. And that, knowing that that's part of me, that's inside of me somewhere,  has always made me feel A lot more capable of dealing with challenge, I think, because I know there's got to be something in there that came from them that is propelling me forward.   And I know that I have that, and I want my kids to know that's part of who you are. You come from a long line of people who have failed at things and had to move forward, and that is, I think, the best gift that I could give them, if that's a realization that they take from this whole thing. Definitely. I love it.   Alicia, where can people continue to follow your story and purchase the My What   If Year book?  Well, you can get my book anywhere that you get books. You can get it at a bookstore. You can get it online at bookshop. org or Amazon if you want. You can listen to me on audiobook if you enjoy this. It's me reading it, so it's basically just like nine hours of this or however long the book goes for.   And you can find me on my website, which is aliciafmiranda. com or my Instagram at aliciafmiranda. And that's A L I S H A I'm named after a shoe store. It's not because that name has anything to do with anything else.   I love it. Fun facts. Appreciate it so much, Alicia. Have an awesome Scottish day.   Yeah, well, let's see if I can survive the wind and rain.   Thank you so much for having me. Oh, thank you.   You're awesome.  That was great.   Here are the three things that really stood out for me in terms of this conversation. The first one is, it's true. I have seen a lot of non Latina moms who decide to actually go and live in Europe or press abort mission on their lives, like that we see in the media.   But there's not too many Latina moms who have been portrayed, not even in Hollywood, as making this idea okay to choose yourself every once in a while and not have to struggle with so much mom guilt and let it hold you back. Second point is there is this point where if you really think about it, When you weigh the risk of doing something for yourself versus not doing something for yourself, there's that, that point where the risk of not doing it might outweigh the risk of doing it and the inconvenience of doing it.   When I lived in Australia with my family, when we all went abroad, it was highly inconvenient to sell every single article of furniture that I had. It was highly inconvenient to find brand new schools, but The risk of not doing it would have meant that my kids would have never been exposed to a completely different culture or side of the world.   And for that, I'm grateful. Here's the third point. In terms of, you know, does it get easier, right, with mom guilt. So Alicia said it best in that it might not get easier, but you do appreciate the fact that things will be okay.  Having more. evidence that things will be okay if you choose yourself and you're away from your kids just builds your confidence and gives you this sense that, okay, I might be feeling this emotion of mom guilt.   However, as in the past, things have been okay. So I hope you enjoyed this conversation. And I want to hear from you. Like, do you suffer from mom guilt? Is it particularly hard or when it's unrelated to doing something that you have to do, like building your business? Like, what if you wanted to all of a sudden take tennis lessons?   Like, is that the point where thickly? Let me know on Instagram at Melissa Llarena. I would love to hear from you.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chatting-with-betsy--4211847/support.Sherri emphasized the power of storytelling in fostering connections and inspiring others, highlighting the importance of understanding one's audience and the narrative arc. Notably, "Tales from the Six" captivates audiences at premier venues like the Magnet Theater in Manhattan and various other theaters across New York City. Noteworthy, Betsy's enthusiastic endorsement of Sherri Rosen's Publicity, LLC underscores the satisfaction of clients benefiting from Sherri's expertise. For those seeking further information, Betsy enthusiastically recommends visiting Sherri Rosen's website.To contact Sherri and further information, please use this info:  https://bit.ly/3VeFX4k

Let's delve into the economic impact of laughter. A new research report from Oracle Fusion Cloud Customer Experience titled "The Happiness Report" reveals that while people want brands to make them smile and laugh, business leaders are afraid of using humor in customer interactions. The report includes insights from over 12,000 consumers and business leaders across 14 countries and highlights that people are searching for new experiences that can make them smile and laugh. Brands that embrace humor are rewarded with customer loyalty, advocacy, repeat purchases, while those that don't, lose customers. Other key findings from the report are as follows:   • 88% of people are looking for new experiences to make them smile and laugh • 91% of people prefer brands to be funny and 72% would choose a brand that uses humor over the competition • 95% of business leaders fear using humor in customer interactions   Leanne Linsky, founder, and CEO of Plauzzable is a passionate entrepreneur with a background in comedy. She is on a mission to bring people together with laughter. Leanne earned a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of California, Irvine. She also holds a Professional Coaching Certification (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation and CoachVille, Center for Coaching Mastery. Additionally, Leanne studied comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Magnet Theater, The Second City, and IO Chicago. She wrote, performed, and produced her critically acclaimed one-woman show, produced and hosted a comedy open mic, and produced and hosted a weekly stand-up show in New York City and California. In our interview, Leanne shares more about her journey and how she aims to spread joy through comedy.   For more information https://plauzzable.com/

In this episode, we provide valuable insights on promoting diversity and inclusion in your comedy scene! We're not judging anyone's current position, but hoping to inspire! While coordinating the diversity scholarship at the Magnet Theater, Jason thought it would be good to share practical suggestions for growing the community you are trying to foster. Keep in mind that each comedy scene is unique, so feel free to adapt and implement these ideas that resonate with you for the betterment of your community! Got your back! Jerome Foundation: jeromefdn.org/announcing-re-tool-racial-equity-panel-process For Magic Mind go to https://www.magicmind.com/JANthereitis Use code THEREITIS20 for an additional discount! Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes  Instagram: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Facebook: @ThereItIsPod  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Cancer researcher and first time pot smoker John Divakopoulos catches a ride into the office space this week to have that terrible Sigmund Fraud of a therapist Ian Herrin serve as a spiritual guide for his first marijuana experience. And wouldn't you know, instead of being helpful, Ian mostly just wants to talk about the Spiderman video game?? Weed shouldn't cause this many mood swings, John! You're having a bad trip because Ian is bad at his job and not the weed! Don't get the wrong takeaway message from Of Mice and Men!! Ah, now you must be a real good friend like George, because you've found the best part of the episode description! The part where I get to tell you all about the tremendously joyous actor and improviser Jon Dimakopoulos. You can catch "Dimo" playing with Woodstock at The Ian Herrin Improv Hour Saturday February 24th at 10:30pm at the Magnet Theater. https://magnettheater.com/show/58110/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sigmund-fraud/support

We talked to Dallas, TX improviser, Christen Nutter! Jason randomly met Christen at the Magnet Theater on a trip from Dallas and was checking out the comedy scene in NYC. She talks with Jason about what she picked up on seeing so many shows across various New York theaters and clubs, hanging out at Comedy Cellar, what made her want to start the improv collective SALLAD in Dallas, the interesting and brilliant way she got people involved in it. They have a great chat delving into the early part of the improv journey which she is currently in. It's a discussion as big as Texas! http://salladcomedy.com https://youtube.com/@SALLADCOMEDY Instagram: @salladcomedy, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Facebook: @salladcomedy, @ThereItIsPod  Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes  For Magic Mind go to https://www.magicmind.com/JANthereitis and use code THEREITIS20 for an additional discount. Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Sometimes, you gotta hit the snooze button—until it's time for podcasting, of course. Although Nikki is loving pilates, she had to take the morning off. The quest for the perfect name for her special and tour continues. Can Reductress headlines provide the spark of inspiration?  Brian shares his insight on the Magnet Theater in NYC. Nikki is not the only member of her family that was an answer on Jeopardy. They take a close look at Bill Cosby and his questionable enthusiasm to "Come on People." Nikki talks about her vacation plans. In the Final Thought, Nikki and Brian talk about seeing Jimmy Carr perform and spending time with him backstage. - Subscribe to Big Money Players Diamond on Apple Podcasts to get this episode ad-free, and get exclusive bonus content: https://apple.co/nikkiglaserpodcast    Watch this episode on our Youtube Channel: The Nikki Glaser Podcast Follow the pod on Instagram for bonus content: @NikkiGlaserPod Leave us your voicemail: Click Here To Record Nikki's Tour Dates: nikkiglaser.com/tour Brian's Animations: youtube.com/@BrianFrange More Nikki: IG More Brian: IG More producer Noa: IG  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode of #NoSuggestionPod is a free-for-all! We had a wild, delightfully unhinged time with our guests, clown comedy duo Shoshana Rubin-Mann (@shoshanashoshanashoshanashosha) and Riley Stanzione (@rileystanz)! Me and co-host Aston Hollins (@astonhollins) have our work cut out for us trying to tame this wild pair as we gab about topics as far ranging as sounds, popsicle binges at the Celebration Barn, the liberation offered in musical improv, Mr. Bean, Shoshana's failed turtle neck protest. The show is so action packed with music, Shoshana's numb toes are saved by Rileys lined crocs, and the duo tell us about their upcoming show at the Magnet Theater on January 12th, Shoshana and Riley's Laundromat! As if this episode isn't kooky enough, we also get in a gaggle of silly improv scenes starting with a scene about a spaceship captain desperate for moment to complete his vital daily captain's log. This episode was truly so much fun, and recording it flew by, even though there was an actual blackout in he middle of it. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. If you do, please rate this episode, subscribe to No Suggestion, and tell a friend! Thank you!

In this episode of KAJ Masterclass LIVE, join the laughter-filled conversation with Leanne Linsky, a comedian turned entrepreneur and the founder of the online Comedy Club Plauzzable. Discover why humor is a vital asset in both business and life, as Leanne shares insights on navigating challenges with a smile. From workplace humor dos and don'ts to finding common ground, this episode promises a delightful exploration of the power of laughter.

We got to talk to Magnet Theater improviser, Ellen Matthews! Ellen is a damn delight! She and Jason take a deep dive into improv! They talk about how stand-up and sketch were more appealing to her than improv was, how finding the Magnet made her fall in love with improv, the improv gods, how improv is the formula to friendship, feeling out the rhythm of a show instead of over-thinking your way through scenes, and much more! Check out her podcast, 'The Pursuit of Perfectness': letshearit.network/series/the-pursuit-of-perfectness Instagram: @CatsCradleImprov, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes  Facebook: @ThereItIsPod  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Tara Leroy is struggling with her assertiveness when standing up to other people, so much so that her boss still thinks her name is "Kara", which it isn't and never has been. And wouldn't you know, the office stray dog seems to be even more of a helpful resource than Ian in actually helping her make tangible steps towards achieving her goals. Real strength comes from within, Tara! Believe in yourself and not a stoolie informant to the police and parents like Ian! You don't actually need to go to med school to become assertive!! Ah, you must be someone that has no problem standing up to their boss because you've found the best part of the episode description! The part where I get to tell you all about the fantastic improviser and podcaster Ellen Matthews! You can catch Ellen on Wednesday nights playing on Megawatt with Dreamboat at the Magnet Theater and be sure you follow Ellen's podcast The Pursuit of Perfectness wherever podcasts are found. You can also find Ellen's projects @ellen.matthews and @pursuitofperfectness on Insta --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sigmund-fraud/support

Leanne Linsky, comedian turned entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of the new online comedy club, Plauzzable. Originally from Waukegan, Illinois, Leanne has a passion for learning. She earned a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of California, Irvine. Leanne also earned her Professional Coaching Certification (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation and CoachVille, Center for Coaching Mastery. Leanne studied comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Magnet Theater, The Second City, and IO Chicago. She wrote, performed, and produced her critically acclaimed one-woman show, produced and hosted a comedy open mic, and produced and hosted a weekly stand-up show in New York City and California. Today Leanne's on a mission to bring people together with laughter. When it comes to comedy, Leanne couldn't be more serious.

Struggling with stage confidence? Have we got the episode for you! A lack of confidence can make you hit speed bumps in your development as a performer making it hard for you to open up on stage and shine the way you want to. There are multiple reasons this can happen. We talked to previous guest and licensed psychotherapist (and brilliant Magnet Theater performer), Amie Roe, about this. She offers her take on stage confidence from the unique perspective of understanding confidence as both a therapist and a performer. https://www.amieroe.com  Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes  Instagram: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Facebook: @ThereItIsPod  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Welcome to "Healthy Mind, Healthy Life," where we unravel the connections between wellness, personal growth, and extraordinary journeys. Today, we have the pleasure of hosting a remarkable individual, Leanne Linsky, a trailblazer whose laughter-infused passion is reshaping the comedy industry with an entrepreneurial spirit. Leanne Linsky is a visionary, comedian-turned-entrepreneur, serving as the founder and CEO of the groundbreaking online comedy club, Plauzzable. Hailing from Waukegan, Illinois, Leanne is a fervent learner, holding a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of California, Irvine. Her commitment to excellence extended to earning her Professional Coaching Certification (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation and CoachVille, Center for Coaching Mastery. Leanne's venture into comedy was a passionate pursuit. She honed her craft at the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Magnet Theater, The Second City, and IO Chicago. Her comedic prowess led her to write, perform, and produce a critically acclaimed one-woman show, hosting and producing comedy open mics, and spearheading weekly stand-up shows in New York City and California. Leanne's passion for bringing people together through laughter led her on an entrepreneurial path. Recognizing the need for innovation in the comedy industry, she founded Plauzzable, an online comedy club disrupting the conventional comedy space. With a mission to provide comedians a platform for live performances, real-time audience interaction, and income opportunities, Plauzzable offers a revolutionary approach to comedy. Leanne's journey, from mastering the art of comedy to innovating an industry, is a testament to her unwavering dedication and entrepreneurial spirit. Her commitment to bridging the gap between technology and entertainment has birthed a novel experience in the comedy world. Today, Leanne joins us to share insights into her extraordinary journey, the inception of Plauzzable, and the intertwining of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the pursuit of spreading joy through laughter. Welcome, Leanne Linsky, to "Healthy Mind, Healthy Life!”

Phantom Electric Ghost Interviews Leanne Linsky Comedian & Entrepreneur (Founder/CEO of Plauzzable) The Funny Side of Innovation: A Comedian's Tech Success Story Biography Leanne Linsky, comedian turned entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of the new online comedy club, Plauzzable. Originally from Waukegan, Illinois, Leanne has a passion for learning. She earned a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of California, Irvine. Leanne also earned her Professional Coaching Certification (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation and CoachVille, Center for Coaching Mastery. Leanne studied comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Magnet Theater, The Second City, and IO Chicago. She wrote, performed, and produced her critically acclaimed one-woman show, produced and hosted a comedy open mic, and produced and hosted a weekly stand-up show in New York City and California. Today Leanne's on a mission to bring people together with laughter. When it comes to comedy, Leanne couldn't be more serious. Link: https://plauzzable.com/ Donate to support PEG free artist interviews: PayPalMe link Any contribution is appreciated: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/PhantomElectric?locale.x=en_US Support PEG by checking out our Sponsors: Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription. The best tool for getting podcast guests:  Podmatch.com https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghost Subscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content: https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/ Donate to support PEG free artist interviews: Subscribe to our YouTube  https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost PEG uses StreamYard.com for our live podcasts https://streamyard.com/pal/c/6290085463457792 Get $10.00 Credit for using StreamYard.com when you sign up with our link RSS https://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rss --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/phantom-electric/message

Shari Hazlett is a Brooklyn–based director, writer, performer, producer and media professional who works at the intersection of storytelling, comedy, and technology to inspire civic engagement and social change. Shari just finished producing, writing and directing The March, an historical comedy, which was presented by The Tank Theater (NYC) in June 2023. Shari produces and performs in The Duo Show, a monthly comedy show featuring NYC's favorite improv performers paired up for one-night-only character duos (Magnet Theater).  Shari is the co-creator and artistic director of the Social Justice Improv Project (SJIP) Collective, a media arts organization for marginalized and historically underrepresented theater and media arts creators to bring their voices to the stage and screen, and take their artistic practice out into the community (NYC/Chicago). Shari began her career as a community organizer and public health educator, from outreach to conducting HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, to program manager for the Congressional Black Caucus-funded (CBC) Medical Education Initiative, a multi-year pilot study and direct intervention to fight healthcare disparities and remove barriers to HIV/AIDS treatment. As a fellow for Equality Florida, she supported city and county lobbying efforts for workplace non-discrimination protection ordinances and statewide education and mobilization for marriage equality.  Shari has directed, produced and performed in original and scripted work at Magnet Theater (NYC); Dixon Place w/ Rubbish Comedy Collective (NYC); Tiny Cupboard (Brooklyn); QED (Queens); Upright Citizens Brigade (NYC), and at venues across NYC and beyond. A creative producer, director, and strategist, Shari has worked with NBC-Universal; SiriusXM; Comic Relief/Red Nose Day; NYC Big Apps; and the American Cancer Society, among others. Her work has been featured on WNYC and WBUR; The New York Times Live Broadcast of the DNC 2012 (Charlotte) and RNC 2012 (Tampa); The Stranger (Seattle, WA); Courier News - Election 2020 Series; and Creative Loafing, among others. Whew! That is a lot. Listen here for the details!

After taking a workshop with Jill Eickmann I was so delighted to chat with her. Jill's teaching is incredibly supportive and validating! Jill Eickmann, MA, LMFT, is San Francisco's Leela Improvisational Theater's Co-Founder, Artistic Director, and Director of Corporate Training. Training.Informed by her diverse training and experience, Jill designed Leela's holistic 5 level improv curriculum. She oversees all elements of Leela's Corporate Training program including client communication, curriculum design, casting, hiring, and training teaching artists, and facilitation. Jill is a licensed psychotherapist, drama therapist, play therapist, and self-revelatory theatre director who continues to teach and present on the psychological implications and therapeutic benefits of improvisation. With training and experience facilitating groups for individuals struggling with social anxiety & shyness, teaching foster parenting classes, and designing corporate training programs, she is passionate about utilizing improvised role play as “Rehearsal for Life.” Clients include: Adobe, The Clorox Company, IBM, Facebook/Meta, Google, Levi Strauss & Co., LinkedIn, McKinsey & Company, Coinbase, Walmart, and YouTube (among others.) She has produced events and held board positions for The San Francisco Improv Festival, and is the Executive Producer for Femprovisor Fest, SF's Feminist Improv Festival. Jill received her BFA in Theatre/ Acting from University of Florida and MA in Counseling Psychology, Drama Therapy from California Institute of Integral Studies. She studied in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco with some of the best from Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCB), The Second City, iO Chicago (Formerly Improv Olympic), Annoyance Productions, SF Clown School, and Magnet Theater. In addition to performing in duos and small ensemble projects with Leela's past and present faculty members, she has performed across the country with notable improvisors including Chad Damiani, Dan Fogler, Law Tarello, Jay Sukow, Tracy Burns, Brian James O'Connell, and Sunita Deshpande. (among others.) As a therapeutic performance artist, she regularly performs with playback theatre actor/director, Roni Alperin in their playback theatre duo, and in an improvised therapy format, “In Session” for the treatment of your favorite fictional character. In their duo, “Intimacy,” Jill collaborates with somatic practitioner, Chelsea McAlexander exploring the intersection between improv and consent. “The Friendship Show” a solo self-revelatory theatre performance, is Jill's mission to heal adult loneliness through theatrical improvisation. Always looking to push the boundaries of the art of improvisation, Jill has conceived and directed original formats and theories in long-form improv performance, from a darkly psychological “Improvised Black Mirror” format, to incorporating contact improv and improvised dance in “Story Dance”, as well as on-line formats like, “The Before Times” which was performed at Seattle's (On-line) Festival of Improvised Theatre with inner monologist, Joe Bill. Most notably, Jill customized a private improv class for cast members of The Lion King – Broadway Tour. Her artistic mission is to inspire people of all walks of life to invest in an improv practice that is connected, mindful, joyful, transformative, and courageously surrenders to TRUTH. To learn more about Jill, check out these links. Websites: http://www.leela-sf.com http://www.leela-nc.com http://www.jilleickmann.com Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

On this episode, Rick welcome Jason Farr from There It Is Podcast to talk about Ti West's House Of The Devil. We get into the 80's, satanic panic, Greta Gerwig, The Fixx, nasty looking on set pizza, Jeff Grace's score, respectful disagreements about the film, nudity in horror & more! We also get into Screaming Jay Hawkins, performing improv at Magnet Theater, the snuggle effect, jump scares, The Satanic Temple, the hypocrisy of religious conservatives, how John Wayne was a cunt, Roommate X & more! Please subscribe, review & give us that 5 star boop!

Angelica Florio returns to talk with Rick about Barbarian! We get deep into Zach Cregger's subterranean masterpiece, the preview that didn't spoil anything, the performances by Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long, Richard Brake & Matthew Patrick Davis' horrific Mother. We put ourselves in the shoes of these characters & ponder how we'd fare in this situation. We also get into Japanese toilets, midwives, diversity in improv, how Rick & Angelica met at Magnet Theater, believing women & the price of property in & around Detroit! Please subscribe, review & give us that 5 star boop!

This week's guest in the magical city of Chellesot is Rick Andrews, a talented performer and teacher at the Magnet Theatre in New York, who uses improv to help people become better leaders and collaborators. You can catch Rick teaching a class or co-starring in Kornfeld & Andrews.For 20+ years, Rick has helped hundreds of clients and thousands of students become stronger, more confident listeners, creatives, decision makers, and speakers. Learn more about Rick's classes and workshops at rickandrewsimprov.comSpecial shout out: The Magnet Theater is a performance space and training ground for the best and brightest comedic talent in New York City. Since 2005, they've been at the epicenter of the city's growing improv movement—and today, are of the most recognizable improv schools and theaters in the city. Check out their critically acclaimed shows and classes in improv, musical improv, sketch, storytelling at magnettheater.comThank you for listening to the NPCity podcast! If you enjoyed your time in Chellesot, feel free to let us know by rating, reviewing and subscribing anywhere you get your podcasts. Connect with us on Instagram @NPCitypodStock media was provided courtesy of Pond5 featuring music composed by John McAllister, Jose de la Parra, John Bohn and Alex Roxx. NPCee you next time! 

In this episode we talk to character comedian, sketch writer, and director, Amanda Xeller! Amanda is beloved in the house of There It Is. Infectious, hilarious, and lovable, Amanda performs her unique brand of humor with gusto. We had to talk to her about how she got into comedy and how she makes it. Amanda also talks with Jason about starting out in improv, doing the same Disney+ show (The Big Fib), switching over to character-based and sketch comedy, working with Moxie at the Magnet Theater, how she approaches what she creates, and more. She is a darn delight! Get tickets to Character Night on Sept. 10th: magnettheater.com/show/tickets www.amandaxeller.com Instagram: @wildladypegpegpeg, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Twitter: @AmandaXeller, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes Facebook: @ThereItIsPod Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Magnet Theater improviser and instructor, Elana Fishbein, returns to the podcast! The last time Elana was on the podcast she and Elena Skopetos talked about their 2-person show, Sisters Three. This time Elana talks about challenging things she's witnessing while as an improv instructor, how to address issues when running a practice, the responsibility of an improviser depending on the form they're doing, as well as many more of her thoughts on improv. It's a really informative chat for improvisers and instructors! Contact her on her website for info on the Improv and Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica: www.ElanaFishbein.com For more on classes and shows at the Magnet: https://magnettheater.com Twitter: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes Instagram: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

We finally got to talk to Magnet Theater's Musical Director, Frank Spitznagel! Frank is an accomplished musician and has played all over the place! He talks about his time starting out in conservatory in Boston, his journey through musical theatre, working with Chorus Line and Chicago City Limits and more, the little nuances of playing music with others, and working with Darrell Hammond, Tim Meadows, and Itzhak Perlman. They talk extensively about what he's doing now at The Magnet and Frank breaks down doing musical improv. It's a really informative and fun chat! For info on tickets and classes: www.MagnetTheater.com Twitter: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes Instagram: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @ThereItIsPod Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Frankie is a slightly susceptible guy just checking in from his tour in New Orleans to talk about his indigestion, but something more sinister seems to be going on. Something so dark that the Sigmund Fraud of a therapist Ian Herrin will likely never be able to control. You need professional help, Frankie! It was more than just a meatball sub! And I'm pretty sure Ian stole at least $10 from you!! Amen, you must be a sacred lamb indeed because you've found the best part of the episode description! The part where I get to tell you all about the wonderful improviser and comedian Xave Padin!! Be sure you follow Xave @xavepadin, his program Inductive Improv @inductiveimprov, and his hit indie team Woodstock @improvwoodstock. You can also see Woodstock and Xave (and someone named Ian?) at the Ian Herrin Improv Hour Sunday August 20th 9pm at Magnet Theater: https://magnettheater.com/show/57638/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sigmund-fraud/support

Nina Sharma is a NJ-based writer and performer and we talked to her about her work! Jason met Nina through Magnet Theater and she was always performing and/or at the same shows as Jason. She performs with previous guest, Sarita Ekya, on the South Asian Women's improv team "Not Your Biwi." She and Jason talk about how she got into writing; getting past rejection on the road to getting published in places like The New Yorker, Electric Literature, and Women's Studies Quarterly; how she got into improv; and more. It's a fun chat! https://www.nina-sharma.com Twitter: @nsharmawriter, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes Instagram: @NotYourBiwiImprov, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @ThereItIsPod Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to Jo Rou and Ryan Santa of Imposters Theater. Jo is a veteran of the NYC improv scene, having studied and performed at the Magnet Theater, the Pit and the Upright Citizens Brigade. Ryan is a veteran of the Chicago improv scene, having studied and performed through iO Theater and the Second City Conservatory. How are their styles different? How are they similar? Give it a listen and find out!

John Wick oddly seems like he's doing surprisingly well under the guidance of that terrible Sigmund Fraud of a therapist Ian Herrin, but with show anxiety in the air, Ian finally seems like he's ready to reverse all of John's progress in one day. Lean in to your inner David Attenborough, John! That's the best side of you! Some improvisers can do sketch and some sketch performers can do improv and switching between the two is okay and even healthy sometimes! Don't let Ian coax you back into a life of violence no matter how cool or fun to watch it may seem!! Ah, you must have all the skills of a highly trained assassin, because you've found the best part of the episode description! The part where I get to tell you about the phenomenally talented actor, improviser, and comedian Donald Chang!! Be sure you check out Donald hosting Asian AF in September and playing alongside Ian with Woodstock at IHIH this Sunday 9pm Magnet Theater and follow him on Instagram @donaldkchang --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sigmund-fraud/support

We got to talk to improviser, instructor, and Magnet Theater Artistic/Musical Megawatt/Megawatt Director, Michael Lutton! Michael Lutton is a multi-hyphenate in general, but also at the Magnet Theater alone. He talks with Jason about his background in theater, how he got into improv, musical improv, and what it's like to be the overall artistic director of an improv theater while also being the director of house team nights. It's a lot. This is a great talk about what makes an improv team great, the ups-and-downs of auditioning, the thought process he puts into auditioning people and casting teams, how to handle the disappointment of not getting cast, and much more! For more on classes and shows at the Magnet: https://magnettheater.com Twitter: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes Instagram: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Learn more about Plauzzable at:  https://plauzzable.com/Leanne is the Founder and CEO of Plauzzable, a live online entertainment platform for transforming engagement between comedians and their fans. Give and get laughs - LIVE stand up comedy from anywhere!Originally from Waukegan, Illinois, Leanne studied comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Magnet Theater, The Second City, and IO Chicago. In New York City, she wrote, performed, and produced her critically acclaimed one-woman show, produced and hosted a comedy open mic for over 7 years, and produced and hosted a weekly stand-up show.In 2015 Leanne moved to California where she continued producing shows, opened an online store, and co-hosted a podcast. While it was fun, she missed the opportunities and connections that New York offered her as an aspiring artist. Because everything in California is so spread out, Leanne found herself spending more time on the freeway than on stage.In August 2019 BC (before COVID), she began using existing technologies to host an online open mic. This allowed her to spend more time honing her skills and less time struggling with time and money. After a few months, her regularly participating comedians suggested that she charge them for the service. It was then that she knew she was onto something.Leanne has earned a Master of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MIE) degree at the University of California, Irvine. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Leanne is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and with CoachVille. 

In this episode, Purloin Realty Director of Acquisitions Ryan Bedfellow discusses what it's like to aggressively underpay families for their homes, how he once relocated some talented orphans, and what it's like to be a “propulsion geek.” Plus, Charlene Mopps, Leader of Guest Engagement for Traditional Teddy, talks about helping people to build teddy bears that look like their favorite GOP celebrities. Want to watch an unedited video version? Check it out on our YouTube channel. ABOUT THE PERFORMERS Douglas Widick (Ryan Bedfellow) is a founding member of the NYC-based hip hop improv troupe North Coast. He tours nationally, has appeared on many TV shows and commercials, and hosts The North Coast Podcast. He is also founder and operator of Suite Tea Studios. Mel Rubin (Charlene Mopps) is a beatboxer and improviser based in New York, and is also a cast member of North Coast, the nationally touring hip hop improv troupe. She performs regularly at the Magnet Theater in New York. Nathan Hartswick (Dean Ardenfell) is a comedy performer, teacher, and the co-owner of Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington, VT.   ABOUT THE PODCAST The Corporation is a podcast hosted by Dean Ardenfell (Nathan Hartswick), a superfan of the global corporation “Hogswood Cooper Media.” Each episode, Dean interviews folks who work for the many different subsidiaries of Hogswood Cooper.* * This podcast is improvised satire, “Hogswood Cooper Media” is fictitious, and the employees are comedians. But don't tell Dean.   SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST * Apple Podcasts * Spotify * Stitcher

This week your least favorite amigos (Bryan and Reaves) are joined by our good friend and hilarious human woman, Katy Berry (Baby Wants Candy, Diamond Goddess Crystal Pussy). Katy told us she'd only come on the podcast if we talk about Top Chef Season 20, Episode 5 "Holiday Vacation" so we did that for her and we did lots of other fun stuff with her as well. Top Chef talk starts at 37:30 Check out Katy's one woman show at the Magnet Theater on April 29th. Tickets here - https://magnettheater.com/show/57243/ Follow Katy on all the socials - @katyberrycomedy ----more---- Subscribe for new episodes every Monday. Rate us 5 stars and let us know what you had for dinner last night in the review! This episode was edited by Bryan A Jackson. The Pod Chef theme song was produced and performed by Jeff Ray.  Pod Chef Links Follow us on Instagram and Twitter - @podchefpodcast Follow Bryan on Instagram - @bjacksonininaction Follow Jamal on Instagram - @hell0newman Our intro was produced and performed by Jeff Ray - https://www.instagram.com/jeffrayfilms/Honking   

Leanne Linsky Founder/CEO at Plauzzable, Inc., Master of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, UCI  Go to www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com  for the full episode and other episodes of The Jason Cavness Experience on your favorite platforms.  Our Sponsor  CavnessHR - CavnessHR delivers HR companies with 49 or fewer people with our HR platform and by providing you access to your own HRBP. www.CavnessHR.com Leanne's Bio Leanne is the Founder and CEO of Plauzzable, a live online entertainment platform for transforming engagement between comedians and their fans. Give and get laughs - LIVE stand up comedy from anywhere! Plauzzable is an online platform for stand-up comedians and comedy fans. Comedians can schedule and produce their own shows, receive audience feedback, and grow a global fan base. Comedy fans can sort through a talent directory, stream LIVE performances, and enjoy LIVE comedy with friends. Comedians and fans can see and hear each other in real-time without audio delays or cut-outs.  Originally from Waukegan, Illinois, Leanne studied comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade, the Magnet Theater, The Second City, and IO Chicago. She wrote, performed, and produced her critically acclaimed one-woman show, produced and hosted a comedy open mic for over 7 years, and produced and hosted a weekly stand-up show in New York City. In 2015 Leanne moved to California where she continued producing shows, opened an online store, and co-hosted a podcast. It was fun, but she missed the opportunities and connections that New York offered her as an aspiring artist. Because everything in California is so spread out, Leanne found herself spending more time on the freeway than on stage. So in August 2019 (Before COVID), she decided to take her comedy online – only to discover new challenges with existing technologies. It was then she decided to take matters into her own hands and Plauzzable was born. Leanne has earned a Master of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MIE) degree at the University of California, Irvine. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Leanne is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and with CoachVille. She has participated in The Wayfinder Incubator, Long Beach Accelerator, and WTIA's Founder Program. We talk about the following among a few other subjects Accelerators/Incubators Pitching  Comedy Plauzzable Leanne's Social Media Leanne's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leanne-linsky/ Plauzzable: https://plauzzable.com/landing Plauzzable Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plauzzable/ Plauzzable Twitter: https://twitter.com/plauzzable/  Leanne's Advice So advice, I would say keep a good sense of humor, especially in entrepreneurship. Lots of material to be had. I just think keeping a sense of humor. Also my goal is trying to get more steps in my day and not just to the bathroom in the kitchen.

This is Love Hurts. Lane Kwederis is an actor, comedian, and Findom living in Brooklyn. Lane has spent the last 15 years of her life as a financial dominatrix, but she only recently started telling friends about her career. She talks to me about about the stigma of sex work, navigating the world of Findom, and balancing her two lives. Lane is performing a new show about her experience as a Findom called Sex Job. You can see it April 2nd at the Magnet Theater and April 29th at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective. Our theme song is EmoTown by Mikki Hommel. Follow Love Hurts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and rate and review it on Apple Podcasts! Support Love Hurts by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/love-hurts Find out more at http://lovehurtspodcast.com

This week Xavier and I finally have a guest we've wanted on for a while, the former impresario of the Triple Crown basement, actor and improv comedian, the infamous Steve Ling (@slingprov)! We love Steve, he's such a unique and distinct character in the NYC improv scene and we had a lovely time having him up the Radio Free Brooklyn studios last Thursday night. We talk with Steve about a bunch of tings including about the short-lived indie team Steve and I used to have, we talk about repelling energy verses attracting energy, phases we went through as young men, basketball trick shots, improv making you dumber, and we do a deep meditation on "dramatic improv." Besides this chat we get a few silly improv scenes in, including a scene where we witness a CIA chief under extreme pressure who is slowly losing his mind. Hit play and enjoy! If you enjoyed this episode you check out Steve Ling at the Magnet Theater a couple times a month playing on a Megawatt team! And if you really enjoyed this episode please like, subscribe, and tell a friend!

We talk to Magnet Theater improviser and NYC therapist, Amie Roe! Amie Roe is a licensed psychotherapist who was part of the old guard at the Magnet. She's back on a house team at Magnet and still practicing therapy. She talks with Jason about traveling from Philly to NYC to study improv at the Magnet while she was in college, her love of fests like the one she helped start - Duo Fest, becoming a therapist and how she's integrated improv and therapy, the parallels between them, and much more. https://www.amieroe.com Twitter: @AmieRoeWasTaken, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes Instagram: @amieohmy, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @ThereItIsPod Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Magnet Theater improviser, Alex Kornfeld, joins us for a great chat! Alex is a good buddy of Jason's and a teammate on Jason's beloved Magnet team, Sweetheart. They talk all things improv, what it was like joining Magnet when his brother (previous guest, Louis Kornfeld) was already in, his approach to avoiding improv traps, what a healthy level of confidence is, his advice to people starting out at a theater, and more! Justina's Blugh: https://www.justinasparling.com/theblugh Our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis Twitter: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes Instagram: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @MagnetTheater, @ThereItIsPod

We talk to NYC actor and improviser, Michael Serpe. Jason and Michael get right into it about normalizing addressing mental health, the Magnet Theater show Serpe co-hosts, "You Are Not Alone," (an uplifting comedy show about depression) and how it addresses mental health through comedy. Michael also talks about the delicate balance the performers must take to care for the serious material, his love of wrestling and AEW, doing theater, and more! Twitter: @BadCaseOfSerpes, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrJokes Instagram: @BadCaseOfSerpes, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @ThereItIsPod Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

If someone tells you they're not afraid of anything, they're a liar. As the wise Nelson Mandela once said: "The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." In this week's episode, both our storytellers face their fears, no matter how irrational. Part 1: Steve Whyte decides to try exposure therapy to overcome his fear of germs. Part 2: Dave Kalema realizes he's failed to outrun his lifelong fear of addiction. Steve Whyte thought he had it all figured out until he left the womb. He was Elf #2 in the Old Greenwich Elementary School production of Twas The Night Before Christmas. Later, lured by the prospect of big money, Steve joined the improv world, and can be seen at the Magnet Theater in Chelsea. For money he edits video, and for fun he plays the drums. Dave Kalema is a digital storyteller and upcoming filmmaker based in Brooklyn. Most recently, he was the founder of Coin Flyp Media, a video-first media company for the untold, personal stories of change that athletes experience after sports. As a former college athlete and National Champion, Dave used the power of video to help former college, NBA, NFL, and Olympic athletes share personal stories of reinvention. Dave is a 2-time StorySlam Champion at the Moth and is currently working on his first documentary. He is passionate about using visual storytelling to highlight where change meets identity and belonging for underrepresented voices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices