Jim Ansaldo – Teaching improvisation to teenagers with autism

Jim Ansaldo is a Research Scholar at Indiana University Bloomington, a member of Comedysportz Indianapolis and an instructor at Camp Yes And, which teaches improv Teenager on the Autism Spectrum.

“Improv gives us a means for everyone to bring their life experience to the table”

I had the chance to catch up with Jim earlier this year in San Jose, California.… Listen Now

Series 2 Summary | Question and create

In this episode I recap what I’ve called  ‘series 2’. The last eight interviews with some great people who use applied improvisation (improv, impro…that particular way of thinking and responding, and using mental agility). Beginning with Paul Z. Jackson and culminating  with Pam Victor.… Listen Now

Dan Starkey | An Actors Foundation

Dan Starkey is an actor appearing in television series such as Doctor Who, inside No.9 and Class Dismissed on CBBC. He’s performed with many improv groups and done improv marathons.

I’m a massive Doctor Who fan, and seeing Dan improvise some online shorts for Doctor Who, a big TV production,  made want to delve into how that came about and find out more about Dan’s work.… Listen Now

Adam St John Lawrence | Improvisation for Innovation

Adam is a customer experience consultant with a background in stand up comedy and psychology.

“We are going to break your ideas”. Adam uses improv theatre techniques to drive design and innovation and is the co-initiator of the world’s largest service innovation event, the 48 hour Global Service Jam.… Listen Now

Mary T. Curtis | Behavioral Health

mary-tMary is a learning and development professional. She trained with Second city and combines her skills to deliver dynamic experiential learning programs.

Mary uses applies improvisation techniques in the area of behavioural health. Working with business in professional development courses and families, she helps people manage issues such as stress, anxiety and addiction to fulfil their peak potential.… Listen Now

Paul Z. Jackson | Train the Trainer

Paul (@Paulzj) is a trainer of trainers and a founding members of the Applied Improvisation Network. He has authored a handful of books including ‘The Inspirational Trainer’ and ’58 and a Half Ways to Improvise in Training’.

“We teach what we need to learn most.”

He has a background in comedy and journalism and his early biog entries read like a who’s who’s of the British comedy scene.… Listen Now

Richard Pascoe | Presentation skills and Facilitation

Richard is the founder of Making Presentations, where he trains and consults on advanced presentation skills.

His work is underpinned by the principles of Improv, in terms of training and how improv principles help us be better presenters.

He worked for Procter & Gamble for 17 years, starting in sales.… Listen Now

Marijn Vissers | Social Inclusion

The importance of having fun

Marijn began using improvisation during his time as a nurse working with PTSD sufferers. There he learned to use improv techniques to bring much needed fun into the lives of people using the clinic.
He is now part of improbattle.nl working with people from all ages and background and uses improv theatre to bring them together.… Listen Now

Sam Al-Hamdani | Diversity and Inclusion

samBringing people together

Sam is a member of the Renegade Saints improv troupe. He’s also part of the Csz Worldwide diversity and inclusion committee and works for the United Nations.

Sam took time out to chat about the current state of improv in Geneva, what it’s like to perform in a multilingual city and how he almost left the world of improv, he wants to make the world a better place, so it’s a good job he didn’t.… Listen Now

Patrick Short | Improv for Training

Plan as much as you can, then prepare to throw the plan overboard.

Patrick has worked in the improv industry for over thirty years. In this interview we chat about early days of his career, taking improv training into Silicon Valley,  the changes he’s observed in the industry and how he prepares for a training event.… Listen Now

Kat Koppett | Storytelling

“Story is the way our brain makes meaning of the world.”

In this interview with Kat Koppett we discuss her career origins in theatre and how she went back into the classroom to explore the qualities of improvisation as a tool for training. … Listen Now

Drew Tarvin | Improv in Business

Leading on your feet.

In this interview we chat about teaching improv in business, introverts and extroverts and life on the road. I’m really grateful to Andrew for agreeing to be the first interviewee for the Bring a Brick podcast, we cover a broad range of subjects.… Listen Now