Your inner critic might be a key reason you feel stuck, anxious, or in your head during an improv scene. But trying to fight it or ignore it doesn't work. This episode reveals a completely different approach: give that critical energy to your character.

I break down the science of why your brain creates that critical voice and how it’s connected to a deep fear of social rejection. You will learn a practical three-step system for working with your inner critic instead of against it.

The episode concludes with a practical exercise I'm calling "Accept This Story, You," designed to retrain your brain. This exercise teaches you how to turn that intense analytical energy outward into relentless curiosity and support for your scene partner, transforming what might be your biggest challenge into a pretty useful tool.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Download the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: https://improvupdate.com/newsletter - get Neurodivergent resources if you select "Performing and your brain" option.

Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps with challenging scenes "Exercises to Ruin You": https://improvupdate.com/downloads and its YouTube companion https://youtu.be/h2_J4tLqCN0

Episode with 7 hacks to help you get out of challenging spots in a scene: https://youtu.be/RTN5KfE7GZ4

The science of adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism (related to sport, but a good jumping off point): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11055971/

CONNECT WITH ME:

StereoForest Podcast Production: https://stereoforest.com

Social Media:

• https://tiktok.com/@yourimprovbrain
• https://instagram.com/yourimprovbrain
• https://jendehaan.bsky.social

NEW CONTENT - PODCAST PERFORMANCE LAB

Find Jen deHaan's latest content in the new show Podcast Performance Lab. It contains acting exercises and other information about creating shows, improvising for video and audio content, and more.

Find it here, or subscribe to "Podcast Performance Lab" wherever you get podcasts.

Downloadable content

Download the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed).

Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You"

More resources

1. Get downloads about improv & comedy: Find them here.
2. Review the podcast: Rate and review this podcast on Podchaser.

Support

Like this content and want it to continue? Support this podcast here with a one-time tip here: StereoForest.com/tip

We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact me anytime to ask me anything. You can support my shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytz

About

This podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here.

This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. Contact StereoForest for information about producing YOUR podcast, website, and more at reasonable rates.

Join the FREE StereoForest newsletter for all podcast and show updates at https://stereoforest.com/newsletter

This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast Performance Lab

In this show we take the most effective tools from improv performance and behavioural psychology, and apply them directly to your video and audio content. If you're building a personal brand, B2B show, or a creative new podcast, you know how you say things matters just as much as what you say.

What to expect:

Psychology of Presence: Why listeners trust some voices and tune out others (and how to fix "flat" audio).

Unscripted Strategy & Exercises: How to speak naturally using tools from improv & behavioural science.

Production Strategy: Systems for video podcasting that don't burn you out.

Host: Jen deHaan is the founder of StereoForest. With a background of over 20 years in tech, education, & instructional design and 10 years in improv and performance, Jen brings systems and scientific approach to media production.

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.stereoforest.com/lab

Podcast Performance Lab

In this show we take the most effective tools from improv performance and behavioural psychology, and apply them directly to your video and audio content. If you're building a personal brand, B2B show, or a creative new podcast, you know how you say things matters just as much as what you say.

What to expect:

Psychology of Presence: Why listeners trust some voices and tune out others (and how to fix "flat" audio).

Unscripted Strategy & Exercises: How to speak naturally using tools from improv & behavioural science.

Production Strategy: Systems for video podcasting that don't burn you out.

Host: Jen deHaan is the founder of StereoForest. With a background of over 20 years in tech, education, & instructional design and 10 years in improv and performance, Jen brings systems and scientific approach to media production.

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.stereoforest.com/lab

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp