After a podcasting hiatus, Dayna Gowan is back behind the mic – and she’s got a lot to share. In this solo episode, Dayna opens up about the wild ride that has been new motherhood, from unexpected detours in her birth plan to sleepless nights, big trips and moves, and the messy, beautiful process of adjusting to her new identity as “mom.” Plus, she’s sharing the mantra about embracing uncertainty that has changed everything for her growth and peace.

Big announcement: Dayna is going full-time with Improvly Speaking in Fall 2025!  Contact Dayna for public speaking coaching, team workshops, and improv-based communication training. Find out more on the website, or reach out directly at [email protected]. 

Want more Improvly Speaking? Follow along on Instagram and LinkedIn!

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

On this episode of Improvly Speaking, Dayna Gowan sits down with the incredible Jessica Halem, a powerhouse public speaker, communication strategist, LGBTQ+ health equity advocate, and a former stand-up comic trained at Second City.

Jessica has worn many hats (and delivered many punchlines). She’s currently the Senior Director of the LGBTQ+ Health Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania and formerly served as the first LGBTQ+ Director at Harvard Medical School. But no matter the stage – whether it’s a university, a conference, or a comedy club – Jessica brings her signature mix of authenticity, empathy, and improv skills to every room she’s in.

You can find out more about Jessica Halem here:

Connect with Jessica Halem on her website, Instagram, or LinkedIn

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

Parenting can be just like improv (aka Improvly Parenting) – you never know what’s coming next, and you just have to roll with it. That’s exactly the kind of real talk you get on the Improvly Speaking today with my guest, Matthew Krekeler – a proud “girl dad,” podcast host, and media pro from Denver, Colorado.

Matthew is the founder of the Girl Dad Nation Podcast, where he shares stories, hacks, and heartfelt conversations about raising daughters. With three girls of his own*, including his oldest who just turned five, Matthew knows a thing or two about the joys and challenges of fatherhood – and how improv sneaks into the day-to-day parenting hustle. Tune in to hear about the Girl Dad Nation Podcast, how Matthew makes time for his passions as a dad, and how improv can make you a better parent.

The phrase Improvly Parenting doesn’t mean that parents never do any research on how to be a better parent and they just “wing it” for all of their child’s life. Parents of course need to do their research and make the best informed choices they can from what they know at the time. However, being a parent requires A TON of flexibility, patience, mindfulness, collaboration, communication, and a playful mindset – all tenets and skills of improv. 

*When we recorded this episode, Matthew had 3 girls. It took a little while for this episode to get released (due to my own maternity leave), and Matthew now has 4 girls with his daughter born in November 2024. Congrats to Becca and Matthew on the new addition to their family and for staying consistent with the Girl Dad brand! :) 

You can find out more about Matthew here:

• Tune into the Girl Dad Nation Podcast, attend a Girl Dad Nation event, grab merch, and contact Matthew Krekeler on his website (https://www.girldadnation.org/)
• IG - @girldadnation - https://www.instagram.com/girldadnation
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@girldadnation

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

What happens when you combine the compassion of a therapist with the quick-thinking creativity of an improviser? You get someone like Salma Soliman – a licensed therapist and the founder of Brave Youth Therapy in California, and today’s guest on Improvly Speaking. I got the privilege of chatting with Salma for a joyful and heartfelt conversation about blending improv and therapy, how therapy has helped so many people (myself included) with disordered eating, and ways that we can break the cycle today.

Salma has experienced the healing power of authentic, vulnerable scene work as an improviser. She has done the inner work, and she helps her clients and patients do the inner work to overcome barriers and find their own healing and personal growth. Salma embodies a Yes, and…mindset in her improv scenes, in her life, and in her therapy business as she helps her clients discover the best version of themselves. 

You can find out more about Salma here:

• Check out Salma’s therapy practice, Brave You Therapy
• Follow her practice and her personal page on Instagram.

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

Today on Improvly Speaking, we hear from Tony DeRosa, owner and co-founder of hear.say brewing + theater, a new improv theater and brewery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Tony blends his love of improv with beer, business, and community building, and is sharing it all on today’s episode. 

Tony's story is a great example of what can happen when you follow your instincts, lean into creativity, and allow yourself to take big, joyful risks. Tune in to hear how Tony got into improv, why he founded here.say brewing + theater, and how he has created a sense of community through his new business.

Please note: We recorded this episode in May 2024 before the brewery was fully open and operating. Happy to report that the brewery is fully open, and they have food and improv classes going on too. If you’re in the Ann Arbor area, be sure to check out hear.say brewing + theater!

You can find out more about Tony and hear.say brewing + theater here:

• https://www.heardotsay.com/ 
• Connect with Tony on LinkedIn or IG (@hearsaytony)

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

What do you think of your voice? If your answer is anything uncertain or negative, you’re definitely not alone. But as this week’s guest on Improvly Speaking proves, your voice isn’t something to cringe about — it’s something you can strengthen, support, and maybe even start to love. 

Today, we hear from Emmy-winning journalist and broadcast voice coach Susan Murphy, who brings more than 40 years of broadcasting experience to the mic. Susan likes to say that she’s not here to change your voice — she’s here to help you find your best and boldest voice. 

Whether you’re doing improv, recording a podcast, teaching a class, or simply speaking up at work, strengthening your vocal presence makes a real difference. Susan helps her clients (including Dayna) understand their breath, their pitch, and their tone so they can speak with more clarity and confidence. 

Tune in to hear practical, tactical tips for how to improve and use your authentic voice!

You can find out more about Susan here:

• Website: https://susanmurphyvosot.com/
• Instagram: @vosot_better_broadcast_voices - https://www.instagram.com/vosot_better_broadcast_voices
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-murphy-a649406/

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

Have you ever felt completely lost in the rhythm of music, moving without thinking, and experiencing pure joy? That’s the essence of ecstatic dance – a practice that blends movement, community, and self-expression.

In this episode of Improvly Speaking, we hear from Dr. Bob Swoap, Professor of Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina, to discuss the power of ecstatic dance and its connection to improvisation, wellness, and personal growth. 

Plus, he shares all about his research on psychedelic-assisted therapy, his work with college students and athletes, and how he trains athletes and first responders in mindfulness. 

You can find out more about Bob here: 

• https://www.warren-wilson.edu/people/robert-swoap/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-swoap-291853208/
• IG - @bob.swoap - https://www.instagram.com/bob.swoap/
  
  
  

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

Jesse Greenfield first appeared on the show nearly a year ago, and so much has changed since then! In this episode of Improvly Speaking, we catch up on their incredible journey, including the launch of their own business, Kaleidoscope Training Center, and our experience facilitating a 2-day Intensive Training Session at the 2024 Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference (spoiler alert: we had so much fun!)..

And if you haven’t heard Part 1 of Jesse’s interview in 2023, check that out here!

You can find more about Jesse here: 

• Website: https://www.kaleidoscopetrainingcenter.com/
• IG - @kaleidoscopetrainingcenter
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaleidoscope-training-center

Also, you can find out more about the Art & Science of Health Promotion Conference here.

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

Ferran Luengo is a Spanish actor, improviser and applied theatre facilitator based in London. He has his postgraduate on theatre in education and Applied theatre master degree. 

Ferran is passionate about playback theatre, a community oriented improv art form that he has been practicing since 2013. He’s brought playback theatre workshops around several continents and he has served as the Secretary of the International Playback Theatre Network.

In this episode, we dive into what Playback Theater is, how the performances are led and conducted, and how it can bring communities together and spark social change. Ferran shares examples of some of his memorable Playback Theatre performances and discusses the healing and cathartic nature of playback Playback Theatre, and Applied Theatre and Arts in general. 

We also talk about Improv Camp, applied theatre, public speaking, and so much more. Give this episode a listen to get inspired by the healing power of the arts and all it can do for us! 

You can find out more about Ferran here: 

• Linktree - https://linktr.ee/ferranluengo
• Website - https://ferranluengo.com/
• IG - @luenkun - https://www.instagram.com/luenkun
• Threads - https://www.threads.net/@luenkun
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferran-luengo-b97b3717/

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/

Brian James O'Connell (or BOC as most people call him), is a working actor, writer, director, filmmaker and teacher based in Los Angeles. As a regular performer, coach and teacher, Brian derives most of his approach to improv from The Deconstruction, which we certainly discuss in this episode. He also offers "All Improv" deep-dive workshops across the country for improvisers looking to improve their skills and craft. 

When BOC saw his first improv show 20 years ago, he immediately loved it, and he jumped all in to learn more about the art form. In this episode, BOC shares about his 20-year improv journey, how improv has given him so much in his career and life, and why he wants to give back and help the next generation of improvisers and instructors. He also shares some of his philosophies about improv and becoming a better improviser.

BOC has an amazing memory and recall ability, which is quite evident throughout this episode. BOC goes all in and shares some fun memories, stories, movies, and even scenes from improv shows 20 years ago. It's very impressive!

If you know BOC, you know he goes all in for everything he does — including improv and including this episode! Go all in and give this episode a listen! You will be inspired and motivated to keep going in your own improv, speaking, or creative outlet journey!

You can find out more about Brian James O'Connell (BOC) here: 

• Website - itsboc.com 
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@therealbrianjamesoconnell
• IG - @b3oc - https://www.instagram.com/b3oc
• Twitter/X - @b3oc - https://twitter.com/b3OC
• Dr God Comedy - https://www.drgodcomedy.com/

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments! Your message might just get a shoutout in another episode!

-------------------------------------------------

Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/improvlyspeaking/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daynagowan/
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/
• Join the Mailing List - https://www.improvlyspeaking.com/mailing-list
• Pod Mom Gear: https://improvlyspeaking.threadless.com/