Improvly Speaking

The previous episode with Ashley Ward talks all about her journey into the musical improv world and why she loves teaching musical improv classes. This solo episode highlights my experience over the past year with musical improv, why I took musical improv in the first place, and how it's helped me with my public speaking skills and stage presence. 

In this episode, I share with you three takeaways (and maybe a bonus takeaway) from a year of musical improv experience that can also apply to your public speaking skills. We are always "on stage," whether at work or in our personal lives. Being able to deliver our messages and points well, even when put on the spot, is a gamechanger! 

I say this a few times in the episode, but you of course don't have to take musical improv classes to be a good speaker. Try out these takeaways when delivering your next speech or presentation and see how they help you. Give some breathing and vocal warm-ups a try to see how they strengthen your voice. Keep going, growing, and glowing in your public speaking journey so that you become the best speaker that you've always wanted to be! 

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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/

Ashley Ward is an improviser, actor, writer, snack lover, and singer who has performed everywhere from the Kennedy Center to The Sydney Opera House. She can be seen on Dropout TV’s Play It By Ear and in Hello Jack! The Kindness Show on Apple+ as Delivery Delores. She is also a Jeopardy champion (and yes, we talk about that in the interview!).

In this episode, Ashley shares her improv journey of how she got started in improv and then shortly after musical improv. Even though Ashley had a musical theatre background, she was still very nervous starting out in musical improv.  Once she got into it though, she enjoyed the world of musical improv where she could play any character and sing any kind of song that came up.

Ashley now teaches a ton of musical improv classes and enjoys seeing people learn the structure and form and discover that they can do hard things. Improv in general requires a lot of focus and attention to be present in the scene, and musical improv requires double or triple that focus. There are a lot of plates spinning in a musical improv scene, but it can still all come together to create magical and fun scenes, songs, and shows. 

You may be elated or disappointed by this, but there is actually no improvly singing in this episode. However, there's a whole lot of talking about it, which is super fun as well. Musical improv can help level up your improv skills, stage presence, and public speaking. Also, musical improv is just an overall good time because there's music involved!

Fair warning - give this episode a listen, and you may find yourself signing up for the next musical improv class in your area!

You can learn more about Ashley Ward here: 

• IG - @ashleyjeanward
• Twitter - @ashleyjward 
• TikTok - @ashleyjward 
• Baby Wants Candy (Los Angeles) - https://www.babywantscandy.com/ - performs every 2nd Friday at UCB Franklin
• Magic To Do - performs every 1st Friday at UCB Franklin
• Westside Comedy Story - performs the 1st Wednesday of every month at Westside Comedy Theater

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/

Joe Van Haecke is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and he has been performing and coaching improvisation for over 20 years! He is the Chief of Inspiration for his company Inspire Me Mr V, which provides improv-inspired life coaching to help people start living a "Yes, and…" life in a "Yeah, but" world. (hence the title of this episode)

In this episode, Joe shares how he got his start in the improv world and how much it has helped him in the past 20 years. Joe is taking a unique approach to improv by infusing it into his life coaching sessions. We discuss how Joe handles that with his life coaching clients, and we even demo an exercise that leads to Dayna taking a few clown bows throughout the demo.

Joe is an applied improv facilitator who helps attendees become better active listeners, idea supporters, risk takers, and stronger leaders. Joe also coaches high school students in their improv competitions, which always brings up fun discoveries for both the students and him! 

Joe is a bundle of fun energy, and he brings joy and smiles everywhere he goes! This episode will leave you excited about improv and motivated to keep  going in your own improv journey.  And best of all, it will encourage you to live your best "Yes, And..." life in a "Yeah, but" world!

You can find out more about Joe here: 

• Website - https://inspirememrv.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-van-haecke/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inspirememrv/
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/InspireMeMrV
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InspireMeMrV

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/

One day, my solo episodes won't be considered special solo episodes because I will do them more and will be putting out more solo episodes than just 2-3 times a year. For now though, here is another special solo episode about my experience with alcohol and how I feel like I don't need it much anymore. 

Thanks to improv and overcoming my fear of public speaking, I am not nervous anymore to go up on stage or be put "on the spot" in a social situation. In fact, I thrive in it now! I used to think I needed alcohol to get me through networking events, social situations, and even performing in improv shows. In my mind, I needed alcohol to make me a more exciting, lively, fun, and lovable person. Now I realize I can be that exciting, lively, fun, lovable person all on my own - without the use of alcohol or other substances. 

In this episode, I share some examples of times where I used alcohol to get me through a grad school presentation and  improv show, and (spoiler alert) alcohol didn't help or make the performance better. In fact, it put me in my head more and heightened my nerves because I am not using other tools - like breathing or meditation/mindfulness - to calm the nerves. 

It's taken me a while to get to this realization, but I am proud that I have come to it now. I recorded this one on a whim after a lovely night of hanging out with my improv team and not needing a single drop of alcohol to have a great time.  

Hope you find it helpful! Feel free to reach out if anything resonates about this topic. 😊

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/

Fernando Funes is a poet, writer, improviser, and performer in the Los Angeles/Orange County, CA area. He has performed in hundreds of shows in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, Oakland, and even Brazil! Fernando loves to bring people of all backgrounds together, and lately, he has been producing a ton of local improv shows in the Southern California area. At this point in 2023, he is producing multiple shows a month around the LA area! 

In this episode, Fernando discusses showing up and putting in the work to be successful in comedy and in pursuing your dreams in general. Many times, people want to hit the easy button and get discouraged when their dreams don't come to fruition quickly. Fernando has been on this comedy and creativity journey for 14 years now, and he has had many ups and downs. However, he continues to show up, put in the work, learn, and grow, and he is seeing both artistic success and commercial success with his improv shows and poems.

Fernando writes a poem a day, and he shares why he started doing the poem-a-day journey six years ago. Some days he doesn't love the poems he writes, but he still posts them anyway. He has learned that not all poems are going to be homeruns, but in order to have a homerun poem, he has to show up and put it out there. The more he does poem writing and comedy, the more he learns, and the better he gets. 

Be prepared to take notes, whether written or mental notes, because Fernando is full of so many helpful tips and quotes in this episode! Keep showing up and continuing to learn and grow - the best is yet to come for you! As Fernando says in the episode, "If you show up, magic will happen." 

You can find out more about Fernando here: 

• For all show updates and his daily poems, follow Fernando on Instagram - @fernandoafunes - https://www.instagram.com/fernandoafunes/
• Twitter - @fernandoafunes - https://twitter.com/fernandoafunes
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/fernando.a.funes
• Fernando's Poem-A-Day Blog - https://thesisyphuslife.wordpress.com/
• Improv Blog - https://fernandosimprovblog.wordpress.com/
• Latinx Comedy Pachanga - https://latinxcomedypachanga.com/

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 listened to a few episodes of this podcast and loved the jingle that plays before each episode? Maybe you have found that you can't help but dance and sway when this jingle kicks off an episode. (You're not alone!)

Shantel Sole' is based out of Atlanta, Georgia, and she joins this episode to discuss her journey as a singer, songwriter, and most recently business owner and jingle creator. Shantel is also known as The Jingle Lady, and she is the creator of the Improvly Speaking Podcast Jingle! (Have I mentioned that I am obsessed with my podcast jingle?)

Shantel shares how she got into the jingle and sonic branding business, she teaches us what sonic branding is, and she shares some tips on how to make your voice stronger. Shantel uses improvisation throughout her jingle creation process - from creating the beat, coming up with the words, to then putting it all together in the recording studio.

Shantel is very creative and uses a Yes, and... mindset in her daily life (even though she was unfamiliar with the term yes, and... until recording this episode). She is using her voice and creativity to build her business and help other brands boost their business through catchy jingles and sonic branding. "It's a beautiful story" as Shantel says in this episode talking about her business, and we couldn't agree more!

You'll leave this episode feeling inspired to say yes, and..., and flex your creative thinking, just like the jingle says! 😀


You can find out more about Shantel here: 

• Order a Jingle from The Jingle Lady - https://pro.fiverr.com/s/8Na5ZE
• IG - @shantel_sole 
• IG - @thejinglelady_
• IG - @nostalgiahighway
• Youtube (singing) - https://www.youtube.com/@shantelsole
• Youtube (jingles) - https://www.youtube.com/@thejinglelady6660
• Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/shantelsole
• Spotify - Shantel Sole' 
• The HeauxCast Jingle that Shantel created and we discuss in the episode - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3mmfUYmC6x0

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/

Special guest BJ Lange shares how he supports military veterans by leading applied improv workshops and helping them learn important resilience skills as they navigate back into civilian life. BJ Lange is an actor (The Prank Panel, General Hospital, The Rookie), retired USAF Reserve medic, two-time testicular cancer survivor, and an alumni of iO West & Upright Citizens Brigade. He's also a teaching artist at The Geffen Playhouse and the applied improv comedy coach for the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program as part of the resiliency programs.

During his applied improv workshops, BJ helps veterans and their caregivers learn listening and communication skills, problem solving skills, and thinking outside the box, just to name a few benefits. He also allows them the opportunity to be present in the moment, have fun, and forget about their problems and struggles for at least their time in the workshop.   

BJ joined the Air Force Reserve at age 35 because he wanted to serve his country, and it was always something he wanted to do. Service is a big core value for him. He says that helping others helps him to heal as well.   

BJ's energy, humor, and love of life is contagious. He calls himself a big goofball, and he even shares some stories of when he was an extreme goofball, which got him into trouble. He has had so many ups and downs, but he continues to show up and serve the military and veteran community, improv community, and everyone around him. His story and journey is incredibly inspiring!

You can find out more about BJ here:

• Linktree - https://linktr.ee/bjlange
• BJ's Birthday Roast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBxOvzr_ldw
• Tower of Hope Gala Speech - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVvSd6SW1Go
• In May 2023, BJ hosted Fleet Week in LA. Check out their IG page to see some of BJ's interviews at this event - @lafleetweek - https://www.instagram.com/lafleetweek

Other improv resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Clay Drinko's Blog - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/play-your-way-sane
• Shoutout to Viola Spolin - https://www.violaspolin.org/
• Improv and Sports Article that BJ mentioned - https://chapelboro.com/sports/improv-and-sports-unc-womens-lacrosse-program-forging-unlikely-partnership

Other helpful resources mentioned: 

• Testicular Cancer Information - https://www.testicularcancer.org/
• Air Force Wounded Warriors (AFW2) Program - https://www.woundedwarrior.af.mil/
• Armed Services Arts Partnership - https://asapasap.org/
• Veterans in Media and Entertainment - https://vmeconnect.org/

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/

Don Colliver is a speaker, communications consultant, comedian, improviser, and clown. His public speaking workshops have helped transform hundreds of nervous speakers into more joyful and effective communicators. He recently released the bestselling book entitled Wink: Transforming Public Speaking with Clown Presence.  

In this episode, Don shares his improv and clown journey and how clown presence can help you be more authentic on stage and better connect with your audience. We also discuss how you can easily incorporate humor in presentations, even the most technical and jargon-filled presentations. Dayna even shares her very limited experience with clowning and how it's helped her be more aware of her physicality on stage. 

In August 2023, Don led a workshop at the Toastmasters International Convention called "No Joke: Engaging Your Audience Like A Clown (Not the Creepy Kind)." We recorded this episode before the Convention, and he shares some insight on his preparation for that workshop and how he was planning to pull off some of his staged jokes/bits. 

We're not clowning around in this episode! (Couldn't resist saying that...) Some may think of clowns as scary and creepy, but this episode is anything but that. It's full of fun and passion for making public speaking and presentations more engaging and exciting! Check this episode out if you're looking for some fresh ideas and tips on how to improve your presence on stage!

You can learn more about Don here:

• Website - https://www.doncolliver.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/doncolliver/
• IG - @doncolliver - https://www.instagram.com/doncolliver/
• "Wink: Transforming Public Speaking With Clown Presence" available in paperback, eBook, hardcover, and audiobook through Amazon and all major retailers. - https://a.co/d/2Mn7CRK
• Wink Public Speaking Classes (next class starts October 3) -  https://www.winkpublicspeaking.com/ 
• Free Audience Engagement Exercise on Don's website -  https://www.doncolliver.com/techengage 

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/

Erick Escalante is an improviser and creative performer from San Diego, CA.  Erick took acting classes all throughout high school and college, but he tried his first official improv class in June 2021, when he decided to take a Level 1 class at Finest City Improv.

Before that, Erick was struggling with depression and addicted to getting high and/or drunk to numb himself from the emotions. He says he was "comfortable in the laziness of not wanting to live." When he started taking improv classes, he realized that being high during class wasn't helping him keep up with the scenes or stay present. He didn't feel like he was doing well in the classes and wanted to be a better improviser. By Level 4 class, he decided to quit drugs and alcohol cold turkey, and he has been sober ever since!

The improv community helped Erick to keep going with his sobriety and allowed him to be more sociable and creative and feel alive again. Making people laugh has become Erick's new dopamine hit and addiction. Erick has now been sober for more than a year and a half, and he credits improv for changing his life and saving his life.  

Erick has fully immersed himself in the improv world, which has opened up other opportunities for him to perform at San Diego Comic Con and be a Scare Actor at the Balboa Park Haunted Trails. During this episode, Erick shares all about these experiences and performances, which he never would have done or even tried if he was getting high all the time. 

Congratulations to Erick for doing the hard inner work and continuing to stay sober — every day sober is a day to celebrate! And improv was the catalyst for helping him make that positive change. I am proud of you, Erick, and we are all proud of you! <3 

You can find out more about Erick here: 

• Instagram - @greyfoxalias 
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GreyFoxAlias
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@greyfox0986
• Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/greyfoxalias
• Voicebox San Diego Instagram - @voicebox_san_diego
• Finest City Improv Calendar/Shows - https://www.finestcityimprov.com/theater/
• The Dinner Detective San Diego - https://www.thedinnerdetective.com/san-diego/
• Balboa Park Haunted Trails - https://hauntedtrail.net/

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/

Will Hines is a longtime improv teacher and performer who trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in both New York and Los Angeles. In April 2020, he founded the World's Greatest Improv School (WGIS and can also be pronounced Weegis), which the name of the school was based on his best-selling book on improv called How to Be The Greatest Improviser on Earth.  

In this episode, Will shares his improv origin story of why he decided to start taking improv classes back in 1999, and he tells us why he decided to start WGIS in 2020. He also gives some helpful tips and advice for people starting out in improv and finding themselves very much in their heads.  

Although it wasn't his original intention, improv took over his life in the best way possible and has been a main part of his life for the past two decades at least. It's helped him be more creative and try lots of creative pursuits - like acting, doing stand-up, starting a band, hosting and guesting on tons of podcasts, writing and performing in sketches, and more creative pursuits to come.

Not many people would call themselves the World's Greatest Improviser, but Will is comedically pretentious enough to do it.  Now he's ambitiously training the next generations of performers to be the world's greatest improvisers as well! It's a good thing the world can have many greatest improvisers!

You can find out more about Will here: 

• World's Greatest Improv School (WGIS) Website - https://www.wgimprovschool.com/
• Will's Website - https://www.willhines.net/
• Will's Linktree - https://linktr.ee/willhines
• IG - @williebhines - https://www.instagram.com/williebhines/
• IG - @wgimprovschool - https://www.instagram.com/wgimprovschool/
• Twitter - @willhines - https://twitter.com/willhines
• TikTok - @willhines18 - https://www.tiktok.com/@willhines18
• Wayne and Rodney Bandcamp - https://wayneandrodney.bandcamp.com/

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/