Episodes
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Meet the incredible Rebecca Sohn! She is originally a New Jersey girl but has had so many adventures since leaving home at age 18. She describes her father and how he fostered her creativity by building a stage in their basement for her to give dancing performances. Her dad involved the whole family in co-writing a play, which was basically improvised and was produced at two local schools.
Her passion and love was ballet until age 16 when she tragically "grew out of a dancer’s body" and gave up her dream of being the Prima Ballerina of the World.
She remembers her high school English teacher, Ms Bartow, who nurtured her students’ artistic sides.
At 18 she moved to Boston and recalled seeing an Improv Touring Company Show, but didn’t walk away thinking “This is what I want to do.”
A few years later she moved to the Bay Area of California and was able to attend school and knew she wanted to be an actor. But the acting classes were full so she enrolled in an improv class, with the thought it would help her acting.
While in SF she met Charna Halpern of the IO and was invited to Chicago and the rest was history! It was Charna who persuaded her to date Rebecca’s (now) husband, Rich Sohn!
To learn more you’ll have to listen to the podcast.
You can find out even more about Rebecca at her website www.rebeccasohn.com -
Meet the talented Rich Sohn! After being introduced to improv in college, he moved to Chicago in 1987, so he's definitely a seasoned pro in the Improv world. He studied, taught and directed at the Annoyance Theatre, IO and, Second City.
As a teacher, he was at The Annoyance Theatre where Rich primarily found his voice and approach. His teaching style is highly influenced by Mick Napier.
He moved to LA in 2017 and now teaches at The Pack Theater. He has directed, written and performed hours and hours of comedy content. Designed curriculum to help professionals and students find and perfect their voice. And improvisation has remained at the root of everything he does.
We talked about what he looks for in his students and his teaching style.
I think you'll admire Rich as much as I do! -
Episodes manquant?
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Our producer/engineer Bright Su introduced me to an incredible human being, Matt Folliott.
We had such a fun and lively conversation and when you listen you'll know why his last name foretold his career in acting! He grew up in Canada and had is own agent at ten years old!
Matt is a Comedian/Actor/Writer from Toronto, Canada, and a former cast member of The Second City National Touring Company and Canadian Comedy Award Winning Sketch Group The Sketchersons. Matt was nominated for Best Male Improviser two years in a row in Toronto’s beloved NOW magazine. He was also nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Improv Troupe with his group K$M (pronounced K and M) and has had the pleasure of performing and teaching improv across the globe in festivals like NOW Improv Festival (Beijing), Manila Improv Festival, Vietnam Improv Festival, Singapore Improv Festival, Hong Kong Improv Festival, Improvaganza (Edmonton, CND), Vancouver Improv Festival, Mprov (Montreal, CND), Ottawa Improv Festival, The Winnipeg Improv Festival and The Seattle International Festival of Improv. You can hear him or see him on your TV or laptop screens in shows like Bakugan (Netflix), PJ Masks (Disney +), Clifford the Big Red Dog (Prime Video), Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe (Treehouse), Charlie’s Colorforms City (Netflix), Workin’ Moms (Netflix), Baroness Von Sketch Show (Netflix) and Odd Squad (PBS Kids).
Check out his website at https://www.mattfolliott.com -
I met Rebekah through Marc Warzecha at the Sketch School and knew I wanted to know more about this intriguing person! Rebekah is getting her MFA in Performance Pedagogy at Loyola Marymount University, Rebekah has been an adjunct faculty member at The Second City since 2008. She has developed comedy writing courses for SCTC, Lesly Kahn & Co, and The Sketch School. Co-creator and executive producer of Chicago's long-running LGBTQIA+ soap opera, The Ville, Rebekah is a former associate member of The Actors' Gang with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from San Jose State University. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and a founding member of the Association of International Comedy Educators (AICE-CWA Local 9505).
In Part 1 we talk about her early life, interest in theater and her path that led her to Second City Chicago.
Be sure to check out her website at:
https://rebekahwalendzakslepski.com
This summer she Rebeka perform for Shakespeare on the Bluff: https://cfa.lmu.edu/programs/theatrearts/shakespeareonthebluff/
If you'd like to study sketch writing with her she teaches at the Rodney Dangerfield Institute @LACC.
https://lacitycollege.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=13113&int_category_id=0&int_sub_category_id=0&int_catalog_id=0 -
We continue our fascinating talk with Rebeka Walendzak Slepski and her journey in sketch writing and life. She spoke about her recovery from Hodgkin lymphoma and subsequent bone marrow transplant.
Despite going through treatment and surgeries she persevered and went to Second City LA. She was on the faculty teaching writing and sketch. Rebekah has been an adjunct faculty member at The Second City since 2008. She has developed comedy writing courses for SCTC, Lesly Kahn & Co, and The Sketch School. Co-creator and executive producer of Chicago's long-running LGBTQIA+ soap opera, The Ville, Rebekah is a former associate member of The Actors' Gang with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from San Jose State University. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and a founding member of the Association of International Comedy Educators (AICE-CWA Local 9505).
Be sure to check out her website at:
https://rebekahwalendzakslepski.com
This summer she Rebeka perform for Shakespeare on the Bluff: https://cfa.lmu.edu/programs/theatrearts/shakespeareonthebluff/
If you'd like to study sketch writing with her she teaches at the Rodney Dangerfield Institute @LACC.
https://lacitycollege.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=13113&int_category_id=0&int_sub_category_id=0&int_catalog_id=0 -
Meet my amazing friend, Diana Brown. I've taken several Improvised Shakespeareworkshops with Diana and she is a real gem!
We had so much to talk about that this is Part !
Diana is an improv artist, teaching artist, actor, producer, director and voiceover talent. She was voted Most Valuable Mentor and Teacher at the San Francisco Improv Festival. Diana was named as one of The Improv Boosts 2025 Sudden Impact Teachers. She leads the improv program at Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s School of Theatre. Diana is an instructor, producer and a member of the leadership team with Leela Improv Theatre in San Francisco. She presents the improvised Shakespeare program at All Out Comedy Theatre, is a guest teacher with BATS (Bay Area Theatre Sports) and teaches with Greater Than The Sum.
Diana enjoys helping improv artists find and amplify their unique gifts! She genuinely believes everyone is infinitely fascinating and endeavors to instill that belief in her students. She believes the truth is the most compelling thing we can offer up on the stage and encourages her students to bring their truth to their characters whether they’re naturalistic or fantastical.
She’s presented Improv workshops, intensives and “workshop to show” experiences at SAVI Fest, Northwest Improv Fest, Improv Fest Ireland, Belfast Improv Fest, Queen City and Comedy Experience, Uptown Improv Festival, Vancouver Improv Festival, Tucson Comedy Arts Festival, Ocean State Improv Festival, Gather Spring Improv Retreat, Cornerstone Improv, O-Town Improv festival, Countdown Improv Festival, Camp Improv Utopia West, Experience, IMPRIDE, Unscrewed Theatre, 2nd Best Comedy Fest, Denver Improv Festival, Unscrewed Theater in Tucson, AZ, All Out Comedy Theater in Oakland, CA, Sealevel, San Francisco, CA, Phoenix Theater, San Francisco, CA.
Diana plays in the Shakespeare inspired, Gamesome Frolic. She’s half of the duo Bingewatch, plays in the Tennessee Williams inspired duo Fleeting Reminiscence, the trios POPTOP, Slumber Party, the duos Horrible People, DJ, Secret Lives of Villains, Salt and Pepper, Davenport & Brown, and the Twilight Zone inspired ensemble But of Mind.
Diana appeared as a guest artist with BATS Improv in San Francisco and is a member of the acting pool with the San Francisco sketch comedy company Killing My Lobster. She has appeared at Impro Amsterdam, the Liverpool Improv Festival in Mark Smith’s Taxi Tales, the Vancouver Improv Festival, Uptown Improv Festival, Improv Fest Ireland, Gather Spring Improv Retreat, Rise Comedy Fest, SF Sketchfest, The Queen City Comedy Experience, San Francisco Improv Fest, Improvaganza Hawaii Festival of Improv, San Diego Improv Fest, O-Town Improv Fest, New York Improv Festival. Vintage Improv Fest, 2nd Best Comedy Fest, New Orleans Improv Fest, Twin Cities Improv Fest, Alaska State Improv Fest, Tucson Comedy Arts Fest and others. Diana also performs in scripted theater productions including Playground Solo Fest 2025 and at theaters and theatre festivals around the country.
You can reach Diana at:
Check out Bingewatch Improv my duo with Dan Wilson:
https://www.contemporarytheatercompany.com/ocean-state-improv-festival
Or her website at:
https://www.dianalynnbrown.com -
Meet my really cool friend and great improviser, Murph McHugh. We met at a class with Billy Merritt, one of the founders of Upright Citizen's Brigade and I was struck by how effortlessly he played! He hails from DC and is quite a Renaissance man. I don't use the word "brilliant" often but it absolutely describes Murphy. To find out more about Murphy and take a class with him here are his contacts.
His comedy group is Brick Penguin (brickpenguin.com) , he teaches at Dojo Comedy (dojocomedy.com) and The Radical Agreement Project (https://www.radicalagreement.com/) and his personal site is Murphymchugh.com -
Nathan Keates is a lecturer, improvisation teacher and performer. Like many of us, Nathan became addicted to improv studying in diverse forms and even clowning. He found that his interests drew him to teaching improv. Nathan Keats has delved into researching improv, one major project being with autistic people. He is an expert on autistic people, and we discussed the terms that have been use for autistic people that does not honor their individuality. We spoke several years ago, and I was delighted to connect with him again. He is a Lecturer in Health and Social Care at the University of Sunderland in London. Nathan is involved in research in Applied Social Sciences, Critical Autism Studies, Social and Positive Psychology, Organizational Culture and Improvisation. He has many research articles on neurodiversity including his recent "Inclusive Improv Pedagogy" https://keatesresearchblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/25/inclusive-improv-pedagogy/ “The Experience of Participating in Improv Comedy for Autistic Adults” https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/27546330251323154
And his 2017 book is especially worthwhile! "University Improv Comedy Society Manual" https://www.amazon.co.uk/University-Improv-Comedy-Society-Manual/dp/1549662694 You can contact Nathan at: [email protected].uk -
Nick Johne is a beloved Canadian actor and improviser. We first met in 2017 at the Chicago "Yes, and Mental Health & Improv Conference" and did a podcast in 2018.
After getting a degree in Microbiology he began his improv journey in Toronto and joined the Toronto Second City Troupe in 1991. He moved to Chicago to Second City Chicago where he taught and also in the Theater Department of DePaul University. He developed the Improv Anxiety classes at Second City. He has a daughter who is neurodiverse and that inspired him to develop a teach Improv for ASD. He is a "stay at home" and "chauffeur" for his daughter, Emma, a gifted vocalist. He and Second City faculty Lisa Bany, will return to the Orlando Center for Autism this year to teach Improv for Students on the Autism Spectrum. -
What a wonderful time I had getting to know Adrian Monte. He is an Actor, improviser, and educator with experience in voice over, commercial production, and on-stage.
Founder of DareDevil Improv- a Wilmington, NC based improvisation and performance training center focusing on comedy, community, and corporate training. His mission is to build a better world through collaboration, creativity, and humor.
He is a compassionate educator and a very funny man.
Check out his theater at DareDevil Improv -
This week we’re delighted to interview Aree Witoelar the Norway based improviser. He is the founder and artistic director of Impro Neuf International, Oslo, Norway’s first English speaking improv comedy theater, with over 1,000 members from over 50 countries.
A few days after our interview Aree appeared on the cover of STATUS magazine and you can get a copy here https://payhip.com/status
Aree has been improvising since 2005, studying from many teachers throughout his improv career.
Aree and Friends is his popular duos improv scenes, and as of this date (April 2025) there are 178 episodes with 62 countries.
These scenes can be accessed at his Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/areewitoelarimprov/
I had the pleasure of doing a duo scene with him and it was so lovely.
He describes himself as aloud advocate for race diversity in theatre, and has created minority representation teams Rice Eaters and Monosodium Glutamates, mixed language shows, and produced Impro Neuf's world-bending Cloud Atlas.
Aree spoke about his childhood in Indonesia and his decision to pursue advanced studies in Norway. He has a Ph.D. degree in physics.
He is a prolific writer on improv and began his blog in 2017. Check out his writing here.
Blog
https://areewitoelar.medium.com/
He is the Artistic Director of the 2025 Oslo Impro Festival featuring artists from around the world. You’ll want to attend this amazing festival! https://www.osloimprofestival.com
Here are some ways you can get in touch with Aree.
Official Website
https://areewitoelar.com/
Oslo Impro Festival
https://www.osloimprofestival.com/
Instagram page
https://www.instagram.com/aree2d2/ -
Cale Evans
Cale Evans is an actor, improviser, host, coach, trainer and producer. What a delight getting to know Cale!
He shares his improv journey and how he became an “accidental actor”. Growing up in North Carolina he’s a genuine “tar heel” but no tar grows under his feet!
He began his improv training at Charlotte Comedy Theater where he is now a coach. He is the Founder of Queen City Comedy and Now are the Foxes Improv Comedy. Cale also performs with Improv Charlotte and Background Noise Musical Improv.
He is the Ensemble Coach for Close Distance and Smells Like Ghosts.
When not on stage, Cale can be heard on the wildly popular podcast - The Podcast from Hell and Bat Boys Comedy Podcast.
Cale co-produces the Queen City Comedy Experience
Cale is also a coach for Charlotte Comedy Theater.
Cale is a dynamic, positive force in our improv world!
To learn more about Cale check out his podcast “The Podcast from Hell” and Queen City Comedy.
https://linktr.ee/thepodcastfromhell
https://linktr.ee/queencitycomedy
https://www.queencitycomedy.com/ -
Katie Caussin is the new director of the 40 year old iO theater in Chicago. She is an actress, improviser, director and actor who has a 30 year career in improv. We talked about what she loves about improv and why she is passionate about it. One of her favorite experiences was being in Comedy Sportz and touring with them. She believes that Comedy Sportz gave her the best training to be an improviser. One of her experiences was on tour when members of her team shaved their heads! She thought about going bald herself but eventually kept her lovely locks. She shared the history of iO and the incredible improvisers who came out of their school. Katie is a warm and generous person and I felt like I'd known her for years. I know you'll love her as much as I do!
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I am so happy to call Yuehan Liu a friend and improv playmate!
We met during the pandemic and I instantly was impressed with her brilliance in improv and our mutual admiration for Viola Spolin. Yuehan is a designer by day and improv nerd by evening. She has been living in Stockholm for several years. She is the founder of English improv community - Fika Improv Group in Stockholm, where she's committed to connecting improvisers and sharing our passion for improv in a welcoming space. Graduated from Second City, she has also been training with teachers from different schools around the world like Jay Sukow, Liz Allen, Susan Messing and Billy Merritt. Yuehan is half of the Scandinavian Asian duo "Herring & Chopsticks", teaches and performs at several international improv festivals as well as locally. By creating a fun and connecting atmosphere, she's committed to spreading the joy and freedom of improvisation in her performances and teaching.
You can get in touch with Yuehan at:
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/yuehan.liu.5
www.facebook.com/FikaImprovGroup/
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/_ru_ok/
www.instagram.com/fika_improv -
Meet my very funny friend Andrew Cornelius. We met taking classes with. Marc Warzecha at the Sketch School. His sketch writing is dynamic and he has helped me as a writer.
Andrew is a Los Angeles based comic whose comedic roots came from a decade of improv comedy experience in Chicago and New York before he focused exclusively on stand-up comedy eight years ago. He was the host of Intrigue.TV’s “Just Eat It!,” a restaurant review show that is available on YouTube. Andrew also played “Preston” in the indie comedy feature, “Captain Hagen’s Bed & Breakfast” streaming on Amazon. He made two appearances on Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer.” Sometimes children recognize him as “Coach Scalp” from Nick Jr.’s “Platy & Jackie’s Mixed Up Challenges.” Through Cool Beans Comedy, Andrew is coach / instructor at the Ice House Comedy Club for beginner and intermediate stand-up comedy classes. Andrew is a whiskey aficionado and has logged over 200 different tastings in his journal. However, he probably forgot to log another hundred or so over his lifetime.
You can see some of Andrew’s work on the following links.
infamouscornelius.com
youtube.com/@corneliushaha
youtube.com/@corneliusdrinksandthinks
x.com/@infamousacorn -
What a wonderful opportunity to chat with the incredible musical improv genius, Mike Descoteaux. I've been lucky enough to call him a friend over a decade! He is a beloved teacher throughout the world.
We even got to do a musical improv number!
Mike Descoteaux is a music director, teacher, composer, improviser and airline pilot, apparently. He was creator and head of the Music Program at The Second City Training Center, music director of the Second City ETC stage in Chicago, and full-time artistic director/executive director of several New England nonprofit arts and comedy organizations. His work has been seen on NBC, A&E, WGN, WGBH and stages around the globe. He has “composed” and “conducted” over 1,000 completely improvised musicals with BLANK! the musical (Off-Broadway), Baby Wants Candy, Musical! the musical, and many others. In addition to teaching/performing at institutions like the Second City, iO, Comedy Sportz, the Annoyance, the Magnet, UCB, Northwestern University, and Columbia College, Mike has led workshops in improvisation, sketch, music direction, and music improv at festivals and theaters all over the world. -
Welcome back to the Billy Merritt podcast, Part 2! Billy shares his journey in LA and his return to FL. So grateful to have the opportunity to interview this improv great!
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Billy Merritt is an improviser, director, actor and all round great guy! Co-author of one of the best books on improv "Pirate Ninja Robot: An Improv Fable" with Will Hines. I've had the great fortune to be studying with him lately on his BIT comedy podcasts and it is a real trip! He is a founding member of The Swarm, and UCB. As a teacher Billy has developed many improvised longform shows. Such as, The Documentary, Improvised One Acts, The Ninja, Murder Murder, Robot Theatre, and the Holiday Spectacular.
Launched in 2024 he curates the BIT Comedy Network with monthly podcast shows "Podcast Town" and "rabbitHOLE" found on Apple Music.
Billy is a compassionate and beautiful improv teacher and I know you'll have funny hearing his story! -
What a wonderful experience getting to know Vinny Francois! He is a delightful person and we had such fun on this podcast. Vinny has over 25 years experience as a professional improviser in both English and French. He's a founding director of Improv College, Camp Zipzap (an improv camp for adults), was the Executive Producer of Mprov: The Montreal Improv Festival and co-founder of the Montreal Improv Theatre. Vinny has performed in Just For Laughs and improv festivals around the world and he currently writes for The Beaverton.
Be sure to check out his beautiful work at the links below.
Links:
https://improvcollege.ca/
http://www.campzipzap.com/
https://www.can-i-get-a.com/ -
David Raitt is an improviser, author and sketch comedian from Toronto. David shares his unique improv story starting in high school and having a troupe that was together for years!
He has been performing and teaching improv for over 25 years. After acquiring degrees in Cognitive Science and then Law, he started taking improv classes at The Second City, Toronto, in 1996. In 2000, he joined their Canadian National Touring Company. He performed with the Mainstage ensemble and was also on the Training Centre Education faculty for 17 years. He offers speciality workshops in object work, environment and physicality.
His book, Improv Illusionist, https://improvillusionist.com/improv-illusionist-book/ is a terrific guide to movement and physical work in improv. We had a fantastic chat and I know that you'll enjoy learning more about David.
Be sure to sign up for his newsletter at https://improvillusionist.com/subscribe/ with a focus on the improv skills of environment, object work, and physicality in character and performance.
I heartily recommend all of his work! - Montre plus
