Improvly Speaking

When you’ve spent years performing on stage, doing standup, and speaking in front of crowds, you learn one thing very quickly: nothing ever goes exactly as planned. In this episode of Improvly Speaking, Dayna chats with actor, voiceover artist, and public speaking coach Brian Lafontaine about his improv experience, the beauty of uncertainty, and why learning to “run toward the scary things” can change how you show up in both performance and life. 

You can find out more about Brian Lafontaine here:

• Connect with Brian Lafontaine on his website, LinkedIn, and Instagram
• Email him at [email protected] 

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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/

If there’s one thing that improvisation teaches us, it’s that life rarely follows a script. For Jacque Arend, Managing Director of Camp Improv Utopia and Executive Director of Savi Fest, that truth has been especially clear over the past few years. She’s navigated running multiple improv camps, ADHD, and career pivots – and today, she shares with us how she’s learned to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Tune in to get inspired to start new adventures before you’re ready, and to get comfortable with uncertainty.

You can find out more about Jacque Arend here:

• Website - https://jacquearend.com/
• Instagram - @goldtoothe
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jacque.arend

Also, check out Savi Fest, Camp Improv Utopia, and Arizona Actors Academy

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/

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!

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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 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!

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/

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!

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 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!

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/

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!

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 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!

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/

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!

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/

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!

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/