Improv Obsession - Conversations About Improvising Better

By Boardwalk Audio

What's Improv Obsession - Conversations About Improvising Better about?

The Improv Obsession Podcast is the ideal place to hear fun and thoughtful improv discussion. Your host Stephen Perlstein brings you new guests from the improvisation community to have an enlightening talk about improv comedy.

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Improv Obsession - Conversations About Improvising Better episodes:

07.19.2017
76. Dave Theune & Doing Comedy On Your Own Terms
We’re back! 2017! Will this be the only podcast I record all year? Who knows! Today on the show, it’s Dave Theune. Los Angeles improvisers may know Dave from the legendary Bangarang, or Sassy Bluff, or Midbest, or his run...
06.21.2017
75. Mike McLendon & Finding Your Place in Improv
Mike McLendon is on the show! You may know Mike from his incredible teams, Outside Dog, Orpheus Roy, Tatertown, Second City, Mission Improvable, and more! Mike talked to me in this one about how he found his way in improv,...
06.20.2017
74. James Bachman & The Indie Improv Scene Is Completely Broken and Needs to Be Destroyed and Rebuilt from Scratch
James Bachman is on the show today to talk about the indie improv scene, and how it’s completely broken, and needs to be destroyed and rebuilt from scratch. LA improvisers may know James from his Mess Hall Team Green Light...
06.19.2017
73. Carl Tart (MADtv, White Women, Comedy Bang Bang) & Performing to the Max
Carl Tart is on the show! You may know Carl from UCB Harold Teams Queen George & Six Killer, as well as his Maude Team, The Bus, OR maybe his improv and sketch group White Women. Carl’s also an alumni...
06.17.2017
72. Jake Jabbour (Shapeshift, The Meat, We’re Gross with Gilli Nissim) & How To Be a Good Coach
Jake Jabbour (Shapeshift, We're Gross with Gilli Nissim) is on the show! Improv fans will know Jake from hosting 4,3,2,1 and Shapeshift. Podcast fans will know his podcast, The MEAT Improv with Josh Simpson and Jake Jabbour, in my opinion...
08.03.2016
71. Rebecca Drysdale & Doing It Your Own Way
Becky Drysdale is on the show! Improv fans will know Becky from the Hebecky Drysbell, Elephants Gerald, Baby Wants Candy, and Brand New Ball. You may also know Becky as the benevolent landlord of The Clubhouse. Plus, she’s written for...
07.11.2016
70. Kyle Parulski & Keeping it Simple
Kyle Parulski is on the show! Improv fans will know Kyle from the Delta Flow, Argo Navis, and plenty of other lovely indie improv teams. Kyle is one of the hosts of Happy Hour every Tuesday in the UCB Sunset...
07.04.2016
69. Farley Elliott & Walking Away From Improv
Farley Elliott (Scandal! Squeeze, Comrades, Los Angeles Street Food, Eater LA) is on the show talking about improv in a continuing conversation I’m having about my tense relationship with improv. Farley is a super interesting multi-talented man. Boldy, Farley came...
06.27.2016
68. Billy Merritt & Should I Quit Improv
Billy Merritt comes on the show to talk about the the darker side of improv. Jealousy. Loneliness. Failure. Fading passion. Billy helps me with the existential question of, should I just quit improv. We talk about the struggles being part...
06.20.2016
67. Ronnie Adrian & The Plan to Get On Harold Night
Ronnie Adrian is on the show! Improv fans will know Ronnie from the UCBLA Harold Team The Dragons. You may also know Ronnie from hosting Tuesday Night Thunder or hosting the Cagematch, or even his sketch and improv team White...
06.13.2016
66. James Mastraieni & Approaching the Harold
James Mastraieni comes on the show to talk about improv! You may know James from UCB house team Outside Dog, or his former harold team The Ruckus. He’s also on the iO West House Team, Orpheus Roy. James talks about...
06.06.2016
65. Will Hines & How To Be The Greatest Improviser On Earth
Will Hines is on the show today to talk about this new book, How To Be The Greatest Improviser on Earth. You know Will from UCBLA Team The Smokes, Fuckable, and many more improv and comedy and sketch credits. In...
10.11.2014
64: Jen Krueger on the LAIIF Improv Talks
Today on the show, Jen Krueger is on to talk about the LAIIF Improv Talks! Saturday, October 18th 3-6 PM at the Downtown Independent improv talks (like TED Talks, but with improv) from great improv minds like Nick Armstrong, Heather...
10.06.2014
63: Chris Kula
Chris Kula is on the show! You know him from The Smokes and Police Chief Rumble. Also he's been a writer on Onion News Network, MadTV, and @Midnight. Chris and I talk a lot about sketch, improv, and everything in-between....
08.25.2014
Sketch Obsession 1: Charlie Sanders
Charlie Sanders opens the very first Sketch Obsession edition of improv obsession podcast! I recored this forever ago, thought I was gonna do more, and wanted to release them as a series, but didn't. Ok, moving on. You know Charlie...
08.18.2014
62: Jacob Reed
Jacob Reed is on! You know Jacob from improv powerhouse Bangarang, sketch duo Tremendosaur, movie teams Rought Cut and Whilem. You COULD say Jacob Reed is a UCB Based Triple Threat. Wink Samanth Pitchel. Jacob and I talk about parameters...
08.11.2014
61: Chad Damiani
Chad Damiani is on the show! You know him front he wonderful show he runs, Catbath, his crazy improv team, Jetzo, and he's an accomplished screenwriter. Chad and I talk about everything from the challenges of running an indie show,...
08.04.2014
60: Drew DiFonzo Marks
Drew DiFonzo Marks in on the show, but call him DDFM he likes it! You know Drew as that Last Day go School Harold-ing, Boom Chicago Alum-ing, Bonafide sketching act-ing, former UCBTLA artistic direct-ing, all around awesome person-ing person. Drew...
07.30.2014
59: Will Hines
Will Hines is on the show! You know him from The Smokes, Your F’ed up Family, The Stepfathers, Play by Play, and the bitter rival podcast to my own, Long Form Conversations. Today will and I talk about… a lot....
11.11.2013
58: Jacob Womack
Jacob Womack is on the show! He’s the long time host of the soon to be finished Crashbar Improv! He’s also on the wonderful Harold team John Velvet. Jacob and I talk about the one thing I always talk about,...
09.16.2013
57: Scott Neiman
Scott Neiman is on the show! You know Scott from his Harold teams, The Ruckus, Scandal!, and The Great War. Scott and I talk about the moment when it ‘clicked’ for him. How we can interpret notes and hear the...
09.09.2013
56: Joel Jensen
Joel Jensen is on the show! You know Joel as one of the cohosts of Room 101 with his team Shakedown. Joel and I talk about EVERYTHING, and it’s a pretty great episode. We discus coming up in the comedy...
09.01.2013
55: Scott Davis
Scott Davis is on the show! You know Scott from Styx Martin, or as the DJ for Soundtrack, or from Oh Brother or as one of the hosts of the 11th Hour Show, or from One Photo Reviews. PHEW....
08.13.2013
54: Drew Coolidge
Drew Coolidge is on the show! You know him from his two man team Ranger Danger and The Danger Ranger, and his iO West Harold team The Cartel. Drew and I talk a bit about what makes a show a...
08.11.2013
53: Matt Newell
Matt Newell is on the show! You know Matt from his super star Harold team Kid Grift, as previously heard on this podcast. AND, you know Matt from his super star two person team, Fiddler's Green with Mary Holland, also...
08.05.2013
52: Matt Walsh
Matt Walsh is on the show! You know him as one of the founders of Upright Citizens Brigade, as well as from Assscat, and he's in like 100 movies. Matt and I talk extensively about heightening. Andl we discuss how...
07.15.2013
51: Miles Stroth
Miles Stroth is on the show! You know him from the Cagematch juggernaut team, Heather and Miles Miles and I chat about his Miles Stroth workshops and how they can teach you how to be an excellent improviser. We...
07.06.2013
50: Ian Roberts
Ian Roberts is on the show. You know him as one of the founders of Upright Citizens Brigade, as well as from Assscat, from the legendary The Family, Reno 911, the executive producer of Key and Peele, and a whole...
06.30.2013
49: Jessica Allen Eason
Jessica Allen Eason is on the show! You know her from Neutrino and Ms. Jackson. Jessica and I talk about her roots in musical theatre and her desire to be a lusted after leading lady. She also tells me about...
06.24.2013
48: Mary Holland
Mary Holland is on the show! You know her from John Velvet, Fiddler’s Green, Lord Willin’, and New Money. Mary talks to me about the first thing she thinks of when starting a scene and how it helps her build...
06.16.2013
47: Paul Welsh
Paul Welsh is on the show! You know him from Cooper, Styx Martin, Grandma’s Ashes, Monstro and more. Paul and I talk about following dreams, getting stage time, and hanging back in scenes. Also, we decide that no one wants...
06.02.2013
45: Harrison Brown
Harrison Brown stopped by the show! You know Harrison as the host of The Cagematch at Upright Citizens Brigade Los Angeles, maybe you’ve seen one of his famed air guitar, drum, and high-fiving solos. Also, Harrison is the host of...
05.26.2013
44: Adam McCabe
Adam McCabe is here! You probably know Adam from Bangarang!, Oh, Brother, and as one of the hosts of Sketchbar. We talk about the merits of Short Form, how simple games can be great, and the way to straight man...
05.19.2013
43: Los Angeles Indie Improv Festival (Casey Feigh, Nick Mandernach, Jonny Svarzbein)
Today, we’re talking Los Angeles Indie Improv Festival, THE SECOND YEAR! And back each for their second time, Casey Feigh, Nick Mandernach, and Jonny Svarzbein. First we cover all the important information about the LAIIF, like it’s Saturday May 25th...
05.12.2013
42: Christopher George
Christopher George is on the show! Christopher is the Assistant Artistic Director a at Finest City Improv in San Diego. He also writes an awesome improv blog, Riding on the Wall. Chris talks about his mission for creating a new...
04.07.2013
41: Dickie Copeland
Dickie Copeland is on the show today! You know Dickie from Styx Martin, Bitty Schrim, D’artagnan, Heavy Goose, Bikini Tiger, her wonderful writing, more. Dickie and I talk a bit about improv, but even MORE about developing yourself as a...
03.17.2013
40: Lilan Bowden
Lilan Bowden is on the show! You may know Lilan from Bonafide, Styx Martin, or TAB, the host team of Crashbar! Lilan and I chat about being in love with what other people are bringing into improv scenes. Lilan also...
03.10.2013
39: Jimmy Carrane
Jimmy Carrane, aka The Improv Nerd is on the show today! If you’re a Chicago person, you’ll know Jimmy from his many Art of Slow comedy classes. Or if you’re outside of that area you may know him as part...
03.03.2013
38: Thomas Middleditch
Thomas Middleditch is on the show today! You know Thomas from his friday night exploits with Diamond Lion. You also may know Thomas from Snow Pants, Middleberger, Baby Wants Candy, The Improvise Shakespeare Company, and a bunch of other stuff...
02.24.2013
37: Erin Whitehead
Erin Whitehead is on the show! She's a hilarious improviser who you may know from her UCBLA harold team Kid Grift, and you may remember THEM as all coming the podcast together for episode 26. Erin and I chat about...
02.17.2013
36: Sarah Claspell
Sarah Claspell is on the show!! You know her from The Get Go, Styx Martin, Monstro, Dybbuk, and her website Well That's Adorable. Sarah teaches me a bit about moving and making friends in improv. We also chat about coaching...
02.10.2013
35: Brian Jack
Brian Jack is on the show! You know him from The Reckoning, Deep Schwa, and The Armando Show. Brian comes on to talk about being in the moment, we debate a bit about cage match, and pre-show stress. Also, shout...
02.03.2013
34: Johnny Meeks
Johnny Meeks is on the show! You know him from Sentimental Lady and as the new Education Guy at UCBLA. He and I talk Por Las Buenas, bringing strong acting to your improv, and improvising effortlessly. We also eat some...
01.27.2013
33: Heather Anne Campbell
Heather Anne Campbell is on the show! You know her from Heater and Miles, Last Day of School, The Midnight Show, and Drew Carry's Improv-A-Ganza. Heather and I talk about what it is to make the show a strong...
01.20.2013
32: Joe Hartzler
Joe Hartzler is on the show! You know Joe from Flap Jackson, The Great War, Up! Up! Up! The Twitter Show, a whole dickload of commercials and funny videos. We talk about our pie eyed improv dreams, his trips around...
01.13.2013
31: Mark David Christenson
Mark David Christenson is on the show. You know him as a member of one of the newest UCBLA harold teams, Mister Town City. He's also a member of The Mutiny sketch team, Pals, my team, Styx Martin, and he...
01.03.2013
30: Charlie Sanders
Charlie Sanders kicks of 2013 on improv obsession podcast. That sentence made it sound like he was here and recording this over new years eve, that's not true. Ok, moving on. You know Charlie from Shitty Jobs, Police Chief Rumble,...
11.11.2012
29: Lennon Parham
Lennon Parham is on the show! You know her from Skinny Business Will Not Apologize, her amazing show on NBC, Best Friends Forever, and her one woman show She Tried to Be Normal. Lennon and I spend a good amount...
11.04.2012
28: Alex Berg (The Return)
Alex Berg IS BACK! You know him from his UCB Los Angeles teams Convoy, Sentimental Lady and maybe you know him for when he was the second guest on my show. Today we spend a lot of time talking about...
10.22.2012
27: Neil Campbell
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What's Improv Obsession - Conversations About Improvising Better about?

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Improv Obsession - Conversations About Improvising Better episodes:

76. Dave Theune & Doing Comedy On Your Own Terms

75. Mike McLendon & Finding Your Place in Improv

74. James Bachman & The Indie Improv Scene Is Completely Broken and Needs to Be Destroyed and Rebuilt from Scratch

73. Carl Tart (MADtv, White Women, Comedy Bang Bang) & Performing to the Max

72. Jake Jabbour (Shapeshift, The Meat, We’re Gross with Gilli Nissim) & How To Be a Good Coach

71. Rebecca Drysdale & Doing It Your Own Way

70. Kyle Parulski & Keeping it Simple

69. Farley Elliott & Walking Away From Improv

68. Billy Merritt & Should I Quit Improv

67. Ronnie Adrian & The Plan to Get On Harold Night

66. James Mastraieni & Approaching the Harold

65. Will Hines & How To Be The Greatest Improviser On Earth

64: Jen Krueger on the LAIIF Improv Talks

63: Chris Kula

Sketch Obsession 1: Charlie Sanders

62: Jacob Reed

61: Chad Damiani

60: Drew DiFonzo Marks

59: Will Hines

58: Jacob Womack

57: Scott Neiman

56: Joel Jensen

55: Scott Davis

54: Drew Coolidge

53: Matt Newell

52: Matt Walsh

51: Miles Stroth

50: Ian Roberts

49: Jessica Allen Eason

48: Mary Holland

47: Paul Welsh

45: Harrison Brown

44: Adam McCabe

43: Los Angeles Indie Improv Festival (Casey Feigh, Nick Mandernach, Jonny Svarzbein)

42: Christopher George

41: Dickie Copeland

40: Lilan Bowden

39: Jimmy Carrane

38: Thomas Middleditch

37: Erin Whitehead

36: Sarah Claspell

35: Brian Jack

34: Johnny Meeks

33: Heather Anne Campbell

32: Joe Hartzler

31: Mark David Christenson

30: Charlie Sanders

29: Lennon Parham

28: Alex Berg (The Return)

27: Neil Campbell