If This Is True with Chris Hall

Let me introduce you to Kevin! He is an improviser, turned coach, and applied improv facilitator based in Oslo, Norway. He hails from Johannesburg, South Africa. He has lived, worked and studied in Ireland, the UK, and now Norway. 

Kevin’s values are a love of learning, communication, mindfulness, leadership development, and his family. Doing meaningful work is the goal.

A “work hard, play hard” mindset has resulted in a colourful background of professional acting and theatre, juxtaposed with a day-job in engineering and project management and stints in start-ups. 

Kevin has been a leader of the Impro Neuf community over the years: founding house teams, teaching workshops, establishing and coaching mixer teams, directing the 18 hour Improv Marathon. He has also been the Artistic Director of the Oslo Impro Festival and Artistic Director of Impro Neuf community.

Kevin and his partner have a 7 month old son called Aron - an experience that is rewriting the definition of "meaningful."

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After med school at Creighton and residency at Tulane, Mike began his medical career, finding that he, and other colleagues, had issues communicating with patients and each other. In 2014, Mike began taking Level 1 improv classes, as they were a present from his wife.. Realizing early on that the skills learned through improv could help him as a hospitalist, Mike began implementing them at work. The result was more enjoyable work, better interactions with patients, and more effective teaching.  

Mike will be performing with his group Dad Jokes at the Omaha Comedy Festival September 26-29. Tickets and information can be found here: www.omahacomedyfest.com.

See Mike there, and listen to him here!

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Brynna is  a multidisciplinary artist (writing, photography, fine art, singer, composer, musician) who has spent the last 30 years working in advertising. She has worked for massive brands and conglomerates, like Coca-Cola, American Airlines, PepsiCo, Hilton and Hyatt companies (etc.), while spending her remaining free time raising a daughter and creating pieces that matter.

This was a really touching episode as she put me on the hot seat and became the interviewer. Great back and forth! Give it a listen!

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Let me introduce you to Mark Riccadonna. Mark is known for his roles in the TV Series, Checked Out. The movies, Days of Power and Gail’s New Boyfriend. He has toured globally, playing theatres, clubs, with the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment (which landed him his Travel Column "Dad Trippin" in Today's Man Magazine. Mark has served as a contributing writer for Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update). He has performed on such diverse shows as Monsters of Rock Cruise, Disney Cruise Lines, Fox's Laughs, Red Eye, and Live at Gotham. Mark broadcasts on podcasts like Drinks, Jokes ’n Storytelling and Two Guys Comedy with Tom Briscoe

Check out his work at markriccadonna.com and listen here!

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Let me introduce you to Brandon.

He grew up in a small SE Ohio town called Caldwell and graduated from Kent State University in Dec. 2012 with Applied Engineering and Tech Management.

Brandon started at Imposters Theater April 2023 where he took sketch writing, and then started improv in July 2023. He just finished Level 4

Brandon likes to write sketches, screenplays, journals and other projects. He “won” NaNoWriMo in 2013 by completing it. Brandon has a podcast called Wigglin’ and Gander which is about the TV show Dave.

Brandon likes to do crafts and woodworking. He loves music, TV, movies and podcasts.

You can check out his work on IG at @abrandoncraft, @buffoonbrandon, and @microtheatercle. Also check out his sketchwork on YouTube at Post Industrial Cactus Farts.

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From Saturday Night Live and Pretty Woman, Rhonda Hansome’s comedy has opened for stars including Anita Baker, Diana Ross, James Brown and Aretha Franklin; in venues from LA’s Greek Theater to NY’s Radio City. She was Artist Coordinator and Host of Laughing Liberally (NY’s top political comics) Off-Broadway production of Indictment Excitement. Every Monday on Sirius XM, Rhonda is John Fugelsang’s guest. She’s an award winning director and offers an online Solo Show Development Workshop. When not regaling Storytelling audiences, Rhonda writes and anchors Real Newz on Politipod. In her free time she writes Politoonitics cartoons on Facebook and rollerblades. 

Check out this tremendous talent! 

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Have you met Jayant? Jayant is an improviser and facilitator with over 5 years of experience in the field. He has showcased his improvisational skills in various performances with his troupe, NIC (Nautankibaaz Improv Collective), for esteemed multinational corporations such as Adobe, Google, and KPMG, among others.

He has honed his skills through comprehensive training under the guidance of influential mentors such as John Hildreth, Artistic Director at The Second City, Chicago, and Ankur Sardana, the Founder of Nautankibaaz Improv Collective, Gurugram. 

Additionally, he performs as a valued team member of Queen City Comedy's esteemed global team - Horrible Friends of Mine. 

We talked about the value of being focused, yet unprepared in improvisation and in life. He is a down-to-earth sort of fellow. Give this a listen!

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BJ Lange currently resides in Los Angeles, where he is actively involved in the improv community as both performer in various groups, including his two-man comedy duo, Tacklebox Improv, and instructor, at The Improv Trick, 3-2-1 Acting Studios, and The Second City Hollywood, where he leads the Improv for Veterans Program. BJ also teaches at the prestigious Orange County School of the Arts Acting Conservatory and coaches the high school’s Improv Club.

BJ completed several improv programs, including iO West (formerly improvOlympic West) and Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre LA. He is a graduate of The Second City Hollywood Conservatory additionally completing the long form improv and musical improv programs. He has also studied at The Groundlings School. Naturally, this background in theatre performance, voiceover, and improv has been invaluable as BJ has moved into hosting duties for both live and televised events, including Maxim’s Spring Break in Panama City Beach, GameRiot for MTV2, X-Games BMX Jams, LG National Texting Championship, Mobile World Cup, and the Simon D Tour Live! presented by ABC Family. 

Two-time testicular cancer survivor BJ’s passions outside of “Yes, and”-ing, include beatboxing, riding motorcycles, aviation, barbecuing, and extensive volunteer work. A retired USAF Reserve medic and pilot, BJ proudly volunteers as a Public Affairs Officer for the Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary. 

Finding a way to combine his passion for performing with his devotion to service, BJ is an athlete, mentor, and ambassador in the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, serving also as a comedy coach teaching improv as part of the resiliency programs. He is a member of the Veterans of Comedy, Veterans in Media & Entertainment, and the American Legion, and a cast member of DIAVOLO Dance Theatre’s Veterans Project, which recently performed at the Kennedy Center.

You don't want to miss this one! Check it out!

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