Dare to Be Human

Morgan Heyward of Illuminate Theatre returns to update us on her work, her thoughts on the state of the arts at this moment in our national consciousness, and some exciting new opportunities she has coming up. Check out our first DTBH follow-up episode!

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Broadway performer Adam Grupper recounts the tale of his real-life actor's nightmare, which happened to take place on the night of his Broadway debut in a starring role. In this conversation Adam and Kat talk about dedication, process over product, and the critical importance of the improv precept "make your partner look good." A fascinating hour with a kind, humble, and super talented master of his trade. 

WAM Theatre is a professional theatre company based in Berkshire County, MA, USA, that operates at the intersection of arts and activism. WAM creates theatre for gender equity and has a vision of theatre as philanthropy. The founding artistic director of WAM, Kristen van Ginhoven, talked to us about the new performance called for in this unique time, intersectional feminism, performance, and vulnerability. A fascinating conversation with a powerful and innovative arts leader.  

Our first-ever repeat guest, Renaissance man DIon Flynn talks about Grandma's purse, knowing everything will be OK, and the perception of our own personal power in a complicated time. Join us as we traverse the Escher-like corridors of a wonderful mind. 

Kat and Alex discuss improvising in a time of crisis. If we weren't on the mark about us all improvising all the time, we certainly are now. Cancellations. New rules and guidelines. The ways things were can't be, so how do we keep moving? We discuss some basic improv principles that you may find helpful as you navigate and adjust to challenges, disruptions, and blocks in the era of Covid-19.

Be sure to share this episode with a friend and to share your own Dare to be Human stories with us!

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* Submit a story for DTBH's Live Storytelling Show *

Send us your advice from kids for our collaborative project, questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to [email protected], join the conversation on our Facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! 

We record at The Mopco Improv Theatre in Schenectady, NY where you can come visit us sometime! 

Original music by Mark S. Meritt

Logo by Derek Walker

Edited by Mary Darcy

Recorded at The Mopco Improv Theatre 

Kat and Alex discuss a Dare to Be Human Story Alex shares about bumping into someone at a concert. They discuss awareness, our internal stories, the differences that emerge in "shared" experiences, and how first reactions can be the wrong ones.

Be sure to share this episode with a friend and to share your own Dare to be Human stories with us! 

________________________________________________________

* Submit a story for DTBH's Live Storytelling Show *

Send us your advice from kids for our collaborative project, questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to [email protected], join the conversation on our Facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! 

We record at The Mopco Improv Theatre in Schenectady, NY where you can come visit us sometime! 

Original music by Mark S. Meritt

Logo by Derek Walker

Edited by Mary Darcy

Recorded at The Mopco Improv Theatre 

Kat and Alex talk with Lindsey Caplan about her work on helping us to gather more effectively. We discuss Lindsey's journey discovering that she needed to do this work and begin to turn it into a book. She shares some insights into why gatherings can feel like a let down to those gathered and shares some tips to gatherers about how to be more intentional when you organize a gathering (or if you even need one). Also, smelling people? 

Lindsey Caplan

Lindsey Caplan has been gathering people for over 15 years — first to entertain, as a comedy writer in Hollywood, then to educate for companies like DreamWorks Animation and McKinsey, and now to transform as an organizational psychologist as the Head of Talent Development for successful Silicon Valley companies like Zendesk and Credit Karma. She earned a Master's Degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Creative Writing for the Media from Northwestern University. She helps companies drive organizational change by applying lessons in gathering from entertainment, education, and business. Lindsey is currently writing a book on “Gathering”.

Connect on Twitter or Linked In

Learn more at lindseycaplan.com or share your research examples here https://lindseycaplan.com/contact/.

3 mistakes to avoid at your next company gathering

The Gathering Effect: Leading others through change that lasts

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Send us your advice from kids for our collaborative project, questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to [email protected], join the conversation on our Facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! 

We record at The Mopco Improv Theatre in Schenectady, NY where you can come visit us sometime! 

Original music by Mark S. Meritt

Logo by Derek Walker

Edited by Mary Darcy

Recorded at The Mopco Improv Theatre 

Kat and Alex discuss mindfulness, what it is and some methods toward being more mindful. Alex shares a DTBH story about trying to be a better hitter in baseball to get things rolling as we pull at the threads of a very tangled web of topics. We discuss how we can approach mindfulness, conscious and unconscious competence, self-fulfilling prophecies and naming the discomfort in moments of growth.

Links:

Your Basal Ganglia is Your Friend

Infrastructure matters

Internal Family Systems Therapy

Check out David's website https://www.bepresentdiscoverjoy.com/

________________________________________________________

* Submit a story for DTBH's Live Storytelling Show *

Send us your advice from kids for our collaborative project, questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to [email protected], join the conversation on our Facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! 

We record at The Mopco Improv Theatre in Schenectady, NY where you can come visit us sometime! 

Original music by Mark S. Meritt

Logo by Derek Walker

Edited by Mary Darcy

Recorded at The Mopco Improv Theatre 

Kat and Alex talk about the differences between something that is habitual and something that is truly authentic to you. How can we tell the difference? Where do these unhelpful habits come from? How can we make sure our habits are aligned with our intentions and reflect or desires? With a few stories and discussion, Kat and Alex explore how we can strive to be more aware and able to change our habitual performance.

Links:

Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick

Hidden Brain - Creatures of Habit
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Send us your advice from kids for our collaborative project, questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to [email protected], join the conversation on our Facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! 

We record at The Mopco Improv Theatre in Schenectady, NY where you can come visit us sometime! 

Original music by Mark S. Meritt

Logo by Derek Walker

Edited by Mary Darcy

Recorded at The Mopco Improv Theatre 

Kat and Alex chat with their friend and colleague Brenny Rabine. The coach, facilitator, and actor shares a story about being told about your inner strength and how we can approach helping to grow strength in others. We discuss performing, deciding to make the career you want to have against expectations, and some of the realities of being a working actor. 

Brenny Rabine 

Brenny Rabine combines over 30 years of theater experience with nearly two decades of teaching, facilitation, and training. 

Brenny is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Inc. As a playwright, her work includes the NYSCA grant winner Catching Babies and holiday favorite Santa’s List. Her acting roles include Rita in Educating Rita, Susie in Wait Until Dark, Maggie Saunders in Lend Me a Tenor, and Lucia Pechenik in A Shayna Maidel. Brenny’s essays have been published in Saratoga County Living, The Sun and Journal for Living. Brenny has also appeared or provided voice talent and is an actress, known for Gotham (2014), Street Fighter: The New Challengers (2011) and The Beauty Inside (2011).

Brenny holds a Masters of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Composition Studies from University at Albany. A list of her acting roles and a ridiculous number of pictures can be found at www.brennyrabine.com.

Twitter
IMDB
 ________________________________________________________

Send us your advice from kids for our collaborative project, questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to [email protected], join the conversation on our Facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! 

We record at The Mopco Improv Theatre in Schenectady, NY where you can come visit us sometime! 

Original music by Mark S. Meritt

Logo by Derek Walker

Edited by Mary Darcy

Recorded at The Mopco Improv Theatre