Improvly Speaking

Click here to view the video version of this episode on Youtube.

Every person who has taken an Improv 101 class has learned the rule of Yes, And. Say yes to the idea in front of you, then build on it – even when the idea is a three-and-a-half-year-old who's beating you at Monopoly Jr. before 7 a.m.

That's Kristen Stegall's philosophy in a nutshell, and it's carried her from a self-designed college major to founding Novice Studios, the Charlotte-based video podcast production company behind 1,000+ episodes and counting. 

We recorded this episode in person at her fabulous podcast studio in Matthews, NC. In this episode, we discuss: 

• Her pandemic-era leap into entrepreneurship
• Her high school improv days and how those lessons have stuck with her and shaped how she runs client meetings and coaches nervous first-time podcasters
• The unfiltered emotional rollercoaster of running a service business
• Why you should start that podcast idea if you've been dreaming about it
• The honest truth about podcast downloads (spoiler: more than zero is a win!)
• And much more! 

If you've ever thought about starting a podcast, or you just want proof that saying "yes, and" to your own ideas can turn into an actual career, this one's for you. 

(Fair warning, we also cover board games, doggy baths, and the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, because that's just how these conversations go.)

Kristen Stegall is a Podcast Producer and CEO of Novice Studios, a marketing agency that helps business owners align their podcasting efforts with broader content and sales strategies. She’s known for making clients feel seen, heard, and confident on camera. Kristen is redefining what it means to be a producer - and stepping into a visionary role in her business.

Connect with Kristen:

• Website - https://novicestudiosclt.com/
• Instagram - @novicestudiosclt

Resources mentioned:

• Media Makeover by Novice Studios 
• Book a Discovery Call with Kristen - mention Improvly Speaking to get 10% off your podcast launch or Media Makeover!
• How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 (The How To Talk Series)

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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/

In this episode of Improvly Speaking, Dayna Gowan welcomes back Joe Van Haecke, experienced improviser, performer, and teacher, for a follow-up and check-in conversation. They talk about Joe’s journey of his career pivot, knowing when it was time to let go of a dream, and discovering his purpose in teaching. 

Dayna and Joe explore how the “Yes, And” moments show up everyday in the classroom and in parenting, how perfection can keep people stuck (and how improv helps people break out of perfection), and Dayna’s favorite exercise to promote honesty and vulnerability. This episode is great encouragement to say “Yes, And” to life’s biggest transitions.

Email Joe Van Haecke at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn

Listen to Episode 26 of Improvly Speaking: Living a "Yes, And..." Life in a "Yeah, But" World with Joe Van Haecke

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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 if there was one place where the entire improv community could come together? That's exactly the question Chris "Jazz" Colthurst set out to answer with ImprovCon. In this episode of Improvly Speaking, Dayna Gowan chats with Jazz, the Founder and Executive Producer of ImprovCon, a convention dedicated to celebrating and advancing the entire improv ecosystem. Jazz shares about his 25-year improv journey, the surprising inspiration behind the first-ever improv convention, and why bringing improvisers together can strengthen the entire art form. Tune in to hear why ImprovCon is the improv event you can’t miss. We can’t wait to see you there!

Learn more about ImprovCon on the website, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Attend the Improvly Speaking workshop at ImprovCon

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments!

Support the show

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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 if humor wasn’t something “extra” or “nice to have” in your work, life, and improv – but a must-have tool for connection, resilience, and wellbeing? In this episode of Improvly Speaking, Dayna Gowan sits down with Dr. Michael Cundall Jr. (better known as Dr. Mike), Professor of Philosophy, author, TEDx Speaker, and founder of Mirth Management, a company that helps people improve their workplace through humor. Dr. Mike shares the science behind humor, why humor belongs everywhere from the workplace to the stage, and how you can practically start incorporating more humor into your life today. 

Subscribe to Dr. Mike’s Substack

Learn more about Mirth Management

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments!

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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/

In this episode of Improvly Speaking, Dayna Gowan chats with Dr. Evelyn Carter, a social psychologist, author, and musical improviser. Evelyn has spent the last 15 years as a DEI consultant across a wide range of industries, and today, she’s sharing how we can challenge our own racial biases and cultivate a growth mindset toward those biases.

Plus, she’s sharing the behind the scenes of her new book, Was That Racist?: How to Detect, Interrupt, and Unlearn Bias in Everyday Life. Tune in and take one step forward in making the world a better place for all - not just for the next generation but for YOU and the current world we live in. 

 
Connect with Evelyn Carter on Instagram, LinkedIn, and her website 

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments!

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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/

Do you ever feel like structure and organization is a constant struggle? You try new planners and productivity hacks, but nothing sticks. Maybe the problem isn’t you – maybe those hacks just aren’t built for your personality. Today on Improvly Speaking, Dayna Gowan chats with Anna Dearmon Kornick, a time management coach and keynote speaker. Anna shares her story on burnout, helpful tips to be more productive (especially when you’re a creative type who hates structure), and why good time management might actually make you better at improv. If you think time management is boring (but could benefit with more creativity in your life), you need this episode!

Connect with Anna Dearmon Kornick on her website and listen to her podcast, It’s About Time

Get instant access to Anna’s free 4-video time course: Blueprint to Balance

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments!

Support the show

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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/

Storytelling has a funny way of bringing people together and connecting them. That sense of connection is exactly what this episode of Improvly Speaking is all about. Dayna Gowan welcomes mental health therapist, consultant, and master storyteller Lamarr Lewis for a powerful conversation that weaves together improv, public speaking, psychological safety, and the very human need to be seen and heard. Tune in to be inspired by Lamarr’s journey and appreciate the power of storytelling. 

Learn more about Lamarr Lewis on his website and on LinkedIn

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments!

Support the show

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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 if the people with the best ideas spoke up more often? In this episode of Improvly Speaking, Dayna Gowan sits down with speaker, coach, and improviser Jordan Hirsch to talk about confidence, saying goodbye to boring presentations, and why improv is such a powerful tool for helping good people take up more space in the world. (Key emphasis on the good people taking up space right now too!)

Jordan shares his journey from a 20+ year corporate career into entrepreneurship, how improv helped him build resilience, and how embracing discomfort can lead to a more aligned, joyful life. If you’ve ever wanted to speak up (but couldn’t) or find more confidence in your speaking, this conversation is for you.

Learn more about Jordan Hirsch on his LinkedIn and at FishTree.Co

Also, check out The Improv Mindset, which is the collaborative work of Jordan Hirsch and Sarah Filman.

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments!

Support the show

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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/

Fifty episodes. Five thousand downloads. And a whole lot of doubt, courage, and creative growth in between.

In this special solo episode, Dayna pauses to celebrate a major milestone for Improvly Speaking and to pull back the curtain on what it really took to get here. From spiraling self-doubt and analysis paralysis to unexpected momentum and joyful surprises, Dayna shares the behind-the-scenes reality of launching (and sticking with) something new.

You’ll hear the behind the scenes of launching the podcast, the “more than zero” mindset that kept things moving, and why releasing judgment — especially your own — is often the most creative act you can make. Whether you’re dreaming about starting something or trying to stay the course, this episode is an invitation to trust yourself, take the leap, and keep going.

More than zero is still something — and sometimes, it’s everything.

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments!

Support the show

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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 sits down with the incomparable Rona Lewis — leadership and communication coach, keynote speaker, experiential learning facilitator, and unapologetic play instigator. As the co-founder and CEO of Playful Mind Project and author of Play and Profit, Rona helps teams ditch burnout, strengthen communication, and spark innovation through purposeful and attuned play.

Rona shares her zigzag journey from acting and advertising to fitness, corporate wellbeing, and applied improv — revealing how tapping into our inner child builds resilience, creativity, and human connection at work and beyond.

Rona’s playful energy and spirit will brighten your day and inspire you to say yes to offers that come up and find your own playground. 

Learn more at ronalewis.com and playfulmindproject.com. Also check out her Biz Souls Podcast with co-host Jeffrey Hansler.

Loved the episode? Now you can send a text message with your thoughts and comments!

Support the show

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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/