In this episode of How to Handle Anything, we talk stress. During this episode Marie shares how she’s learned to handle stress differently—both in her work and her life—because of her improvisational practice. From being highly organized and carrying stress in her body, to learning how to let go, adapt, and play the scene she’s in, she offers a refreshing and often humorous perspective on how to navigate everyday stress with more ease.

We discuss…

How stress shows up in the body (including the now-iconic “clenched butt”) and how to recognize it

How improv builds skills like active listening, flexibility, and presence that translate offstage

The connection between control, rigidity, and stress, and how to loosen your grip

How to navigate unexpected disruptions with more ease by playing the scene you’re in

Why making “weird choices” and stepping outside your comfort zone can reduce stress and open up new possibilities

How improv muscles can help you show up as a better parent, friend, and collaborator

A bit about Marie…

Marie Ellis is a Sunday Times number 1 bestselling ghostwriter, freelance editor, and fiction writer. With over 15 years of experience, she has worked on books, led content strategies at top health publishers, and managed content teams to great success. She combines her journalism and acting background with her writing skills to help businesses and individuals tell their stories through the written word. With 30 years of acting experience, her improv credits include The Bish Bosh Bash at the Bristol Improv Theatre, Pressure Cooker, and, most recently, the improv pilot Nothing To Play For. Find her on her website and on Instagram.

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