Episodes
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Juliette has been a Playboy Bunny, a soap opera writer for ABC Television, a theater writer/performer, and an ATP airplane pilot and Master Flight Instructor. She won two Writers Guild Awards and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy. She is also an animal rights advocate who worked for Best Friends Animal Society for almost a decade. Juliette also added TedX Fargo Speaker to her extensive resume.
Her current mission is twofold: to help people who are struggling with the debilitating and potentially lethal symptoms of Compassion Fatigue; the emotional and physical burden created by caring for others in distress or neglecting your own life-stress, and guiding people to create the future of their dreams.
Definitely give this one a listen!
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Anne Montgomery Is a decorated television sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, author, and amateur sports official. Her first TV job came at WRBL-TV in Columbus, Georgia, and led to positions at WROC-TV in Rochester, New York, KTSP-TV in Phoenix, Arizona, and ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, where she anchored the Emmy and ACE award-winning SportsCenter.
We discussed the highs and lows of being a reporter and her transition to writing about what interests her. Her novels include The Castle, A Light in the Desert, Wild Horses on the Salt, The Scent of Rain, and Wolf Catcher. Montgomery taught sports reporting at Arizona State Universityâs Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and taught high school journalism for 20 years. She was an amateur sports official for four decades, a time during which she called baseball, ice hockey, soccer, and basketball games and served as a high school football referee and crew chief.
Montgomery is a foster mom to three sons and a daughter. When she can, she indulges in her passions: rock collecting, scuba diving, musical theater, and playing her guitar. Listen to this episode!
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Episodes manquant?
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Jen is an improviser in Canada who started out studying improv at schools including WGIS, Queen City Comedy, Second City, and more. She teaches improv classes and hosts jams at World's Greatest Improv School (WGIS) and Queen City Comedy. In the before-times, Jen enjoyed teaching dance fitness and performing in semi-rural vaudeville/burlesque themed shows both of which took place on stages made of wood. She has an online improv website called FlatImprov.com and likes making videos and podcast episodes that five people listen to. Jen is still working on perfecting her Canadian accent. Give it a listen!
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Alex Shaver is new to the improv scene, performing at Imposters Theater in Cleveland, Ohio since 2022. After a decade of working in higher education, he now works in community mental health. Alex is passionate about comedy and mental health, and is interested in the parallels between the two. He loves his wife (Rachel) and his children (J. and Joan) and counts their presence in his life the greatest of gifts. Give this one a listen!
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This one. This one is one for the ages! We (and by we, I mean Abby Sher, Bethany Hall, Lulu French, John Fugelsang, Michele Laikowski and me) discussed the present and future of comedy in New York City and other environs, The group waxed on satire vs. parody, talent winning out, improv as the best training for life and waiting for the whole fart.
Interested? Listen to this special episode!!
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Gail Gallagher is a Chicago based Singer-Songwriter, Composer, improv music director, producer, and teacher whose lyric-driven songs reflect on the highs and lows of life exploring nuances of whimsy and wisdom.
Originally from Waterloo, Iowa, Gail attended University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated with a dual BA in Theater Performance & Directing/ Theater Management in 2010. She has worked as a music director in the improv and theater scene for over a decade and has composed original music for several musicals including Feathers: A Super Hero Musical which won âBest underscore throughoutâ at the 2017 Premiere Premieres Festival of New Musical Comedies at MCL Chicago. I describe my genre as âmusical theatre folk rockâ or âwhat it would sound like if Joni Mitchell, Amanda Palmer, and Tori Amos wrote a musical.â
Give this one a listen!
You can reach Gail at @gailgmusic for artistry, or @sparklebardstudios for production work, on Instagram!
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If This Is True would like to introduce you to Michele Laikowski on this throwback! Michele was an associate producer and on-air personality on the Jenny McCarthy Show on SiriusXM Stars. She is also an improvising and voice over veteran of New York City. Michele finds solace and purpose in running and reaching for goals. She also has great stories of her time with Jenny McCarthy and her crew. You can find her voice and acting work at www.moshow.org. Give it a listen!
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Allow me to introduce you to Bracha! She was first published when she was 12 years old. She's written 41 children's books and a memoir, Nourish The Soul. Her books tackle difficult topics at a child's level. This was a fascinating half hour! Listen to this!
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Please let me introduce you to Carlos Baker! Carlos is an author and musician whose latest album with the CK Baker Band, Find Your Way, and book, Songs for Ivy, are available wherever you get your content. Carlos overcame childhood cancer and used that experience to write and to play his bass guitar. He lives in Germany with his family, but is in Chicago working on his next album Give this a listen!
https://ckbakerband.com/about-us/
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Talk about prolific! John Leister has published more than 100 e-books, Including the Lee Hacklyn and Urban Tiger crime series over the past few years. John is a big believer in having the right mindset and philosophy when reaching goals. He'd like to share this information with everyone, and does, here on If This Is True! GIve it a listen!
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Let me introduce you to the multi-faceted Deborah Johnson. Deborah is an inspirational speaker, author and international award-winning music artist who helps others get unstuck by producing and executing a successful plan for their second half. As a musician she has been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards and has spent over 20 years in the entertainment industry.
She's an expert on how to constantly reinvent yourself in a gig-economy. Deborah is the author of six books, coming out including her most recent, Stop Circling.
We talked about writing books and becoming unstuck, how to become a professional speaker (Spoiler Alert: just decide), and so much more. Listen to this episode! Like Deborah says, "Life is sweeter with jam!"
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Let me introduce you to John Lehr! He is an actor and writer, known for 10 Items or Less (2006), Quick Draw (2013) and The Sweetest Thing (2002). He is also known for being one of the GEICO Cavemen!
Currently, he has a production company, Triple Threat Media, that is working on several projects--which were on hold because of the Writers' and Actors' Guild strikes.
We talked about his time at Northwestern University and how he has grown as a person and as performer since then. He feels he is better now than he was in his 20's. John walked me through his sobriety journey. We talked about balancing family, career and passions and he had great things to say about Cleveland.
This one is a must listen!
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If This Is True would like to introduce you to singing sensation Nora O'Connor! Nora is a Chicago based singer/songwriter who has worked with everyone from the Decemberists to the New Pornographers to Mavis Staples. We discussed balancing work and family, what Americana is, and everything in between. Give it a listen!
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Let me introduce you to Ted Leo, master of soul searching pop punk and indie rock! Ted has a long career with bands like Citizens Arrest, Chisel, Puzzlehead, and the Sin-Eaters.
He's mostly known for his group, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. He's also put out albums with Aimee Mann as The Both and as a solo artist.
We talked about the intersection of comedy and indie rock throughout the 2000's, and Ted's journey in putting out his first solo album, The Hanged Man. Since then, he has been recording EP's and putting them on Bandcamp. You can find his works there, https://tedleo.bandcamp.com/. You can also go to www.tedleo.com for tour dates and merch.
Please give this one a listen!
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Shari Hazlett is a Brooklynâbased 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 NYCâs 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!
Instagram: @sharihazlett @socialjusticeimprovproject @themarch.play -
Let me introduce you to Vishok Verma. Vishok is a Social Entrepreneur and Professional Trainer for Communication Skills, (Corporates, Social Enterprises, and Non-profits), Personality Development Coach, and Budding Improv Artist based in India.
He is the Founder & CEO of a Social Venture named âLetâs Expressâ. The venture has positively impacted the lives of more than 2000 individuals, online and offline through self-created modules about effective communication. The venture aims to boost the self-esteem of teenagers using Performing Arts.
improv and serving the underserved. Give it a listen! -
Liz has been coaching, directing and performing improv for the last 25 years. Liz coached the long-running IO (Improv Olympic) house teams Valhalla, Deep Schwa and Mission Improvable (founders of the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica). Liz was IOâs Training Center Director for 3 years, and an ensemble level teacher for 10 years. A founding member of The IO Roadshow, Liz has taught hundreds of workshops at colleges and corporations nationwide. In 1999, 2000 & 2001 Liz won the Del Close Coach of the Year Award at IO, now called the Liz Allen Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2006, with Jimmy Carrane, Liz co-wrote the book Improvising Better (Heinemann) and co-created their popular Individual Assessment Workshop.
Liz was honored to coach The Commune, the improv ensemble in Mike Birbigliaâs 2016 feature film Donât Think Twice. Liz mentors improv coaches at The Improv Shop in St Louis, and thanks to Skype, coaches faraway improv teams around the globe.
In 2017 Liz and her family moved back to Chicago where she continues to write and teach. She is happy to return to her alma mater, The IO Chicago, where she currently teaches Advanced Harold.
Liz is a national treasure! Give it a listen.
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Jake is an actor, comedian, music producer, and filmmaker. He has produced numerous original sketch revues, musical comedy albums, web shorts, podcasts, plays, a documentary about the Chicago improv scene called âOff the Cuff,â and the original musical âRich People in Space,â which will premiere this September. Jake's work embraces a theatrical style of humor that balances playful fun with thoughtful satire. Give it a listen!
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Let me introduce you to Margot! She graduated from the New York University School of Social Work in 1983 and has lived and practiced in Naples since 1984. She attended the Rutgers Summer School of Addiction Studies in 1987 and 1990 and has extensive post-graduate training in addiction studies and co-dependency.
For over thirty years, Margo has presented workshops and seminars on âTherapeutic Value of Humor and Playâ on a national level, and has published several articles on humor, geriatric issues, and improvisational comedy.
Using Improvisational Theatre exercises combined with cognitive-behavioral education, Margot helps people suffering anxiety disorders, Parkinsonâs, and those in recovery from addictions. She offers a wide range of âWellness through Improvâ classes and workshops.
Give it a listen!
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I interviewed Mary Hynes on her birthday in April. She is a professional improviser, educator and stage manager. Her performance and teaching career brings her back and forth between NYC, Chicago and LA. She is a faculty member with the storied Second City Training Center in Chicago, Toronto and LA.
After graduating with her BA in Theatre from Butler University, she discovered a love for helping students young and old discover their creative voices. The power of the âyes, andâ mindset in improvisation teaches presence, acceptance, courage and creativity.
She is one of the pioneers of the role of virtual stage manager. During the pandemic, she was on a team of innovators with The Second City Training Center that assessed the needs, and implemented the solutions to keep theater vital and vibrant through trying times of isolation and uncertainty. She is now both highly revered and in demand as a remote operator, virtual stage manager, and facilitator for live and online events in education, entertainment and corporate workshops.
She is an inspiration. Give it a listen!
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