Dare to Be Human

Kat and Alex talk with game designer Jason Morningstar about "meta techniques" to create games where we can play safely, bringing FIASCO to the Mopco Improv Theatre, the brilliance of the group, social engineering through games, and why his work his like making a fine table leg. Support Jason and Bully Pulpit Games on Patreon! 

Jason Morningstar
Jason Morningstar is a game designer who lives in Durham, North Carolina, USA. Best known for his game Fiasco, which earned him his second Diana Jones Award for Gaming Excellence, Jason’s design credits include Night Witches, Ghost Court, Grey Ranks, Durance and many other games. He has also made games for clients like Google and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Jason's games have been featured at Indiecade and in the Gen Con 50th anniversary museum.

Beyond roleplaying, Jason consults on the use of games for teaching and learning, most recently with the University of California, University of Michigan, Kaiser-Permanente Health Care, and the Innovation Learning Network. In addition to design, Jason has written extensively on game-related topics. His articles have appeared in the anthologies Analog Game Studies, States of Play and Unframed.

You can read more about Jason and his work at www.bullypulpitgames.com.

 ________________________________________________________

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 

Our very own Livia is now Livia Armstrong Walker! It got us thinking about weddings and what a complex and intense moment they can be in our lives. So we gathered the team together to share some stories dive deeper in!

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 

Alex and Kat talk to the hosts of The Walking Dead 'Cast Jason Cabassi and Karen Koppett about podcasting, dealing with negativity, creating with your friends, and being a zombie. Jason and Karen had the #1 podcast about the Walking Dead during the peak of its popularity. They continue to create pop-culture based shows together and share with us their insight and experience. 

The Walking Dead ‘Cast 

Follow Podastica on Twitter 

Jason and Karen are Making Podcasts 

Karen Koppett
Karen Koppett is a professional water conservation specialist in California and an amateur podcaster with her partner Jason on The Walking Dead 'Cast and The Jason and Karen Show, part of the Podcastica network of podcasts.  

Jason Cabassi
In 2010 Jason started podcasting about the AMC show The Walking Dead and grew it into a network, Podcastica. Jason loves podcasting because it touches on many things particular to him: his analytical nature, his love of joking around with friends, his obsession with TV shows and pop culture, his desire for connection and community, and his insatiable need to be listened to.

 ________________________________________________________

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 Livia talk with Gabe Mercado to take a chance to explore parenthood and being singleparent, finding support from family and friends in times of upheaval, and how our cultures can try to define how we are meant to behave. After a short LIVE episode at the Applied Improv Network (AIN) conference, we got Gabe back on the podcast to dive into his DTBH story even more deeply. 

Follow Gabe
Twitter
Instagram

Links
Third World Improv

BIO

Gabe is a single dad of a fourteen-year-old boy named Beeto. He is an improviser who performs with the group SPIT and heads the improv school Third World Improv in the Philippines. He is currently busy setting up a creative education accelerator for kids called VIVITA PH in the northern city of Baguio.


____________________________________________________________

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 Gary Hirsch about creating the space for collaboration, "no-think time", lessons learned from his work with Marc Craig in the Leake Street Tunnel and letting others steal your ideas.

Follow Gary
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram

Links
Botjoy
Leake Street Botjoy
Marc Craig
Carolyn McKnight - "To ____ in a way that ______, so that ______"

BIO

Gary is the co-founder of On Your Feet an early pioneer in the emerging field of Applied Improvisation helping organizations such Nike, Intel, Disney, Apple, Uber, and others generate new ideas, collaborate, engage audiences and walk their talk...all while having a ridiculously good time.

Gary is also a muralist, illustrator, author, visual artist and the creator of Botjoy, an on-going-year visual experiment that uses over 50,000 large and small hand-painted robots to explore collaboration, inspiration and how art can help. Gary’s public works can be seen in London, Madrid, New Orleans, Boulder, Dallas, Melbourne and in his home town of Portland.


____________________________________________________________

Send us your advice from kids, 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 

On this episode of DTBH Michael and Alex speak with Dion Flynn about the bardo and other spaces between spaces, fear of tiny holes, examining ambiguity in art and the power of being a performer (shaman).

Follow Dion
Facebook
Twitter
Tumbler
Instagram

BIO

Cited by Oprah Magazine as “one of our favorite creative thinkers…” NYU Tisch School of the Arts Grad, comedian, and Army veteran Dion Flynn is best known as Barack Obama (and other characters) with over 100 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Dion leads workshops in mental agility and team-building with Fortune 500 clients all over the world. Dion pioneered and conducts Improv Recovery Workshops for recovering addicts. His voice-overs and on-camera national commercials include clients like Sprint, Virgin Mobile and Verizon. Growing up as ‘The Only Brown Kid In The Trailer Park’ taught Dion to focus on that which is essentially human in us all — and how to think fast in a tight spot. 2019 secs Dion guest-starring in TruTv’s Jon Glaser Loves Gear and a series regular on the new college loan debt-repayment gameshow: Paid-Off With Michael Torpey. 2020 Dion and his comedy partner Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother) will continue performing their stage show Clanging: Verbal Jazz. Dion lives in NYC with his dear wife Amy and their beloved son, Miles.
____________________________________________________________

Send us your 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 

On this episode of Dare to Be Human, Mary and Michael talk to Ric Orlando about being a passionate member of humanity, the fundamental tactile experience of being human, our fear of food and its potential to bridge us together, failure and learning to lose. 

BIO 

A renowned cook, restaurateur, writer and activist with a rock-and-roll pedigree, showman’s personality and proven dedication to the people, places and products of the Hudson Valley, Chef Ric Orlando has become a leading culinary spokesman and top draw for events, fundraisers and festivals in Upstate New York and across the country and the world. 

He’s authored We Want Clean Food long before Clean Food was a catchphrase;  beat Bobby Flay and won Chopped — not once but twice; cooked with Top Chef Master Ming Tsai on Simply Ming; earned multiple ‘best of’ awards from Thrillist, Hudson Valley Magazine and Albany Times Union; owned local landmark New World Home Cooking in Woodstock and Saugerties, NY, from 1993 to 2018; and helped open Albany hotspot New World Bistro Bar in 2009. 

Today, in addition to serving as executive chef and management consultant for New World Bistro Bar, Chef Orlando is hosting two popular podcasts; writing his memoir; hosting cooking classes; holding spring and summer 2019 restaurant popups on the shores of the Hudson River in Coxsackie, NY; and traversing the world with guest culinary enthusiasts on international food tours while keeping fans up to date on his Instagram, Facebook, and other social media accounts.

One Million String Beans 

Clam Bellies and Apizza

Chefs as Addicts: Why Being Addicted to Work Could Be a Good Thing 

Follow Chef Ric on: 

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter 

Send us your 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 

On this episode, Kat and Mary talk with Taína Asili a NY-based Peurto Rican singer, songwriter, bandleader, and activist. They discuss reclaiming your humanity in the face of inhumanity through acts of resistance and art, Taína's travels through Peurto Rico after the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, how to discover your own bravery and raising kids as an act of rebellion.

Taína Asili is a New York based Puerto Rican singer, filmmaker and activist carrying on the tradition of her ancestors, fusing past and present struggles into one soulful and defiant voice. Her music combines powerful vocals carrying themes of social justice with an energetic fusion of Afro-Latin, reggae, and rock. For over 20 years she has brought the music of love and resistance to venues across the globe – From the Women’s March on Washington to the nationwide Rock Against the TPP Tour. After the 2016 election, a bigger audience has caught up to the artist Huffington Post named one of “12 Freedom Fighting Bands to Get You Through the Trump Years.” Her protest songs “No Es Mi Presidente” and “Freedom,” inspired by social movements for racial justice and an end to mass incarceration, have been lauded by the likes of Rolling Stone and Billboard. Taina Asili’s music offers a sound that spans continents, exuding strength of Spirit, and inspiring audiences to dance to the rhythm of rebellion.

Resilencia on Bandcamp, iTunes, and Spotify

Documentary Series 

Plant the Seed

Find out more about Soulfire Farm

Follow on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Tour Dates 

Kat and Alex talk with Moriah Formica about finding strength in faith, forging your own path, the amazing people she met on The Voice and bringing her genuine voice to her art. We talk a lot about breaking out of the mold and not letting certain parts of yourself define your entire being. A wonderful conversation with a lot of ground covered in just a little time!

Moriah is a local to the Capital Region here in New York and studied at Clifton Park's Modern Day Music. We caught Moriah shortly before she and another Shaker High School and Modern Day Music Alumni Madison VanDenburg (American Idol) teamed up for a show at The Times Union Center, an arena venue not far away in Albany.

Moriah on Facebook
Moriah's Fan Page
See Moriah LIVE!

Bio

Albany, NY native Moriah Formica represents what many had thought to be the end of an era. A member of Generation Z who grew up on Aerosmith, 'That Metal Show', and other precious relics of the rock purist ilk from the time she was 7 years old; Moriah discovered the world of rock n' roll music through her father and quickly thereafter picked up a guitar, then the drums, and eventually pretty much any instrument that she could get in front of her. The message was clear; what had started as a source of joy was quickly developing into an undeniable passion for creating music. The future singer/songwriter would go on to write and arrange her first song, "Lovestrong" when she was only 11.

At the age of 16, Formica decided that she was ready to put her talents on the biggest stage that a teenager could dare to step on. She auditioned for NBC's 'The Voice', leaving fans around the world (and four judges with very successful careers) awestruck by her booming, declarative rendition of Heart's "Crazy On You." In that moment one thing became apparent: just like with many other great performers, it is impossible to separate the powerful, unapologetic delivery of Moriah's music from the image of the person who's performing it on that stage. For someone in the often turbulent teenage years, the excitement and nerves of being viewed on national television can't be quantified. But those watching around the world could see something more in Moriah. She wasn't just grateful for this moment, she was ready for it. Years of songwriting, honing her craft as a musician, and performing for audiences in her hometown and beyond had made sure of that.

Perhaps what new fans will find most striking about Formica's still budding career is the intersection at which her music lies. Staying true to the ethos of tried and tested rock, she weaves a seemingly effortless thread between the gnarled, firebrand voice of acts like Joan Jett, Halestorm and The Pretty Reckless ("I Don't Care What You Think", "I Will") and the soulful blues of Heart, Fleetwood Mac, and City & Colour ("Here's My Heart", "No Regrets"). Even fans of everything from Queensryche and Armored Saint to Shinedown and Evanescence will find qualities to marvel upon on tracks like "Time". And lyrically, she'll be the first to admit that her songs don't have many hidden meanings or lofty subtext. The message behind the music is always loud and clear.

2019 marks a pivotal moment in Moriah's mission. Once an eager 7-year-old drawn to the swagger and emotion of rock music, the now 18-year-old Formica yearns to make the kind of music that inspired her all those years ago; all while forging a sound that speaks to both the new generation and the ones before it. Her resume now equipped with accolades and live shows accompanied by t

Livia, Michael, Kat and Alex discuss Daring to be Human at work after sharing some stories from their experience in the workplace. From management, status, interviews and sharing emotions, we explore a lot of topics around being human at work!

Special thanks to listener Mike Ganino for the suggestion for an episode! It was a lot of fun to do and we hope you enjoy!

Send us your 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