If This Is True with Chris Hall

Let me introduce you to Vishok Verma. Vishok is a Social Entrepreneur and Professional Trainer for Communication Skills, (Corporates, Social Enterprises, and Non-profits), Personality Development Coach, and Budding Improv Artist based in India.

He is the Founder & CEO of a Social Venture named “Let’s Express”. The venture has positively impacted the lives of more than 2000 individuals, online and offline through self-created modules about effective communication. The venture aims to boost the self-esteem of teenagers using Performing Arts.

improv and serving the underserved. Give it a listen!

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liz has been coaching, directing and performing improv for the last 25 years. Liz coached the long-running IO (Improv Olympic) house teams Valhalla, Deep Schwa and Mission Improvable (founders of the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica). Liz was IO’s Training Center Director for 3 years, and an ensemble level teacher for 10 years. A founding member of The IO Roadshow, Liz has taught hundreds of workshops at colleges and corporations nationwide. In 1999, 2000 & 2001 Liz won the Del Close Coach of the Year Award at IO, now called the Liz Allen Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2006, with Jimmy Carrane, Liz co-wrote the book Improvising Better (Heinemann) and co-created their popular Individual Assessment Workshop.

Liz was honored to coach The Commune, the improv ensemble in Mike Birbiglia’s 2016 feature film Don’t Think Twice. Liz mentors improv coaches at The Improv Shop in St Louis, and thanks to Skype, coaches faraway improv teams around the globe.

In 2017 Liz and her family moved back to Chicago where she continues to write and teach. She is happy to return to her alma mater, The IO Chicago, where she currently teaches Advanced Harold.

Liz is a national treasure! Give it a listen.

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jake is an actor, comedian, music producer, and filmmaker. He has produced numerous original sketch revues, musical comedy albums, web shorts, podcasts, plays, a documentary about the Chicago improv scene called “Off the Cuff,” and the original musical “Rich People in Space,” which will premiere this September. Jake's work embraces a theatrical style of humor that balances playful fun with thoughtful satire. Give it a listen!

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• Let me introduce you to Margot! She graduated from the New York University School of Social Work in 1983 and has lived and practiced in Naples since 1984. She attended the Rutgers Summer School of Addiction Studies in 1987 and 1990 and has extensive post-graduate training in addiction studies and co-dependency.

  For over thirty years, Margo has presented workshops and seminars on “Therapeutic Value of Humor and Play” on a national level, and has published several articles on humor, geriatric issues, and improvisational comedy.

  Using Improvisational Theatre exercises combined with cognitive-behavioral education, Margot helps people suffering anxiety disorders, Parkinson’s, and those in recovery from addictions. She offers a wide range of “Wellness through Improv” classes and workshops. 

  Give it a listen!

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I interviewed Mary Hynes on her birthday in April. She is a professional improviser, educator and stage manager. Her performance and teaching career brings her back and forth between NYC, Chicago and LA. She is a faculty member with the storied Second City Training Center in Chicago, Toronto and LA. 

After graduating with her BA in Theatre from Butler University, she discovered a love for helping students young and old discover their creative voices. The power of the “yes, and” mindset in improvisation teaches presence, acceptance, courage and creativity. 

She is one of the pioneers of the role of virtual stage manager. During the pandemic, she was on a team of innovators with The Second City Training Center that assessed the needs, and implemented the solutions to keep theater vital and vibrant through trying times of isolation and uncertainty. She is now both highly revered and in demand as a remote operator, virtual stage manager, and facilitator for live and online events in education, entertainment and corporate workshops. 

She is an inspiration. Give it a listen!

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allow me to introduce you to Tashika Campbell, member of indie group Cake Walk from Baltimore. In addition to performing, Tashika has headlined festivals across the US and coordinated the first Improv festival dedicated to Black Improvisers, the From Another Mother Festival, in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area (also known as the DMV). Tashika is also a sought-after Coach, Teacher, and Workshop Facilitator.

Tashika shares about being in an indie group, putting on a festival in 30 days and how she likes to do impolite i

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this throwback, If This Is True talks with Sam Dee, half of the Mass Hysteria Improv Fest in Cleveland and bon vivant at Imposters Theater! We discussed festivals, DC vs. Marvel, thrifting and improv everywhere. Give it a listen!

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this throwback, which is the inaugural episode of If This Is True, I'm introducing everyone to RJ Tolan! RJ is the co-artistic director of Ensemble Studio Theatre's Youngblood in NYC. He is also a veteran of Shadowbox Live in Columbus, OH, where I met him. Come along for a visit!

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to Mandy Price. She's an improv bon vivant, performer, and teacher with Jet City Improv in Seattle. Mandy has worked with Second City BoatCo, the Annoyance and iO. She's really up for anything, including carpentry! We talked about carpentry, social anxiety and the state of the world. Mandy believes that everyone should do improv or at least take a class just to find the peace onstage that it gives her. For more on Mandy and her endeavors, go to www.jetcityimprov.org.

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this throwback, If This Is True would like to introduce you to John Bolger, veteran of the Second City and co-founder of Schadenfreude Theatre in Chicago. John also does work with WGN Radio; is a creative director with TPN,; and started his own production company, Man Eating Cereal. John talks about these and other endeavors, including teaching improv at the University of Chicago. John is kind to everyone and a huge Chicago White Sox fan. Give it a listen!

This episode, like all episodes of If This Is True, brings forth what drives creatives to do what they do. For more of this content and interaction, you can also go to my substack, coolmite25.substack.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.