Monster Baby: A Curious Romp Through the Worlds of Mindfulness and Improvisation

With Ted finally back from a month in Europe, he and Lisa explore the ramifications of her recently directed run of “Bechdel Test” improv shows.* After a playful warm-up game of Finish the Word (3:23), Lisa and Ted recount their performer and audience perspectives on the show’s portrayal of stories about women (16:12). Eventally, they connect explorations of gender to those of racism and other opressions (33:23) and to recent developments around sexual harassment in the national improv community (37:07). Ted shares some recent heartbreaking news from a past employer and acknowledges one of his own skeletons (44:38). The pair close the episode invoking an invitation from Zen monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh (52:54).

As always, send us a note if you feel so inspired: [email protected]. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!

Http://monsterbabypodcast.com

*What has come to commonly be called the Bechdel Test should really be the Bechdel-Wallace Test, created by American cartoonist Alison Bechdel and her friend Liz Wallace. The test measures a work of fiction’s minimal inclusion of women’s stories by asking 1) Are there at least two female characters? 2) who talk to each other? 3) about something other than men? Occasionally, you hear the added criteria that those characters be named.

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Make sure to subscribe to get all future episodes as well!

The post Monster Baby #11: Passing the Bechdel Test: On Gender in Improv and Facing Old Demons appeared first on Anima Learning.

Finally back from a month-long hiatus, Lisa and Ted get into their different preferences around chaos and order. They open with a ribald riff on unicorns and rainbow prisms (really, see 2:34) and then explain what happened with the delay between podcast episodes (5:45). Together, Ted and Lisa try to determine what makes for a healthy amount of chaos (13:28) and wonder if they’re as fixed in their preferences as they might have led us all to believe (23:52). They explore how stillness can help with chaos (38:21) and wonder whether schedules make for effective teaching (41:03). Lisa recalls an inspirational character from her childhood (47:17) and eventually they both return to the value of beginner’s mind (54:46). Jump into the chaos with them both—see what wisdom you can find!

Monster Baby Podcast: a curious romp through the worlds of mindfulness and improvisation!

Join the Monster Baby community by subscribing at the link below and please spread the word.

As always, send us a note if you feel so inspired: [email protected]. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Make sure to subscribe to get all future episodes as well!

The post Monster Baby #10: Chaos Theory appeared first on Anima Learning.

Toward the end of their recently concluded Mindful Play, Playful Mind retreat, Ted and Lisa sit down for an interview with David Treadwell, a writer from Brunswick, Maine. Ted and Lisa get into why they offer such retreats (2:46), what the weekend usually covers (6:03), and how improv skills can lead to a better life (9:03). They also consider what keeps people from such ways of being in their normal lives (14:26) and when they themselves can get into the “no” mode (21:34). David asks about how the retreat can help teachers (23:41), business professionals (26:50), and those in personal relationships (29:28) before getting into the rewards and challenges of leading such retreats (36:00). Ted and Lisa offer a few specific examples of the kinds of exercises they offer (41:26) and the podcast closes with a few short testimonials from this year’s participants (48:07). Oh, and if you keep listening past the apparent end, there’s a hidden bonus track improvised performance from Ted and Lisa!

If you’ve ever thought about a Monster Baby retreat—or want to think about it now—give a listen and let us know what you think. Thanks so much—we love you all!

Monster Baby Podcast: a curious romp through the worlds of mindfulness and improvisation!

Join the Monster Baby community by subscribing at the link below and please spread the word.

You can let us know what you think or any questions you have by sending a note to [email protected]. We’ll be glad to respond on- or off-air. Thanks for listening!

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Make sure to subscribe to get all future episodes as well!

The post Monster Baby #9: The Monster Baby Retreat–An Interview appeared first on Anima Learning.

Inspired by a new workshop they led in western Massachusetts, Ted and Lisa explore why we should talk about positivity (1:25) in improv and mindfulness, how one of Lisa’s improv groups has learned to make positive starts (16:05), and how beginning from gratitude lays the groundwork for transformation. (22:50). They also wonder about the perils that James Bond always has to face right off the bat (27:58) and introduce the Story Spine (28:48) and their new Positivity Spectrum exercise (34:33). Ted shares a helpful cloud image from the mindfulness world (46:07) and they close with an examination of the many stories we tell ourselves (56:40). It’s a longer ‘cast than normal so feel free to break it up as needed. And let us know what you think by sending a note to [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Http://monsterbabypodcast.com

Join the Monster Baby community by subscribing at the link below and please spread the word—enjoy!

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Make sure to subscribe to get all future episodes as well!

The post Monster Baby #6: The Power of Positivity appeared first on Anima Learning.

In Episode #5, Ted and Lisa play with the tension between accepting what is and aspiring to excellence, starting with a game of Clover (3:19) and exploring whether mindfulness and improv are easy or hard—and how “hard” often leads to feelings of “not good enough” (7:02). They discuss the importance of a strong biochemical foundation (15:33) and what else gets in the way of our best selves (18:39), ultimately asking if desire to do well actually helps us do well (23:05). Using a Zen koan about picking and choosing (28:17) and a quotation from Alan Watts (47:28), they discuss their own aspirations and why process goals may serve us better than product goals.

Join the Monster Baby community by subscribing at the link below and please spread the word—enjoy!

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Make sure to subscribe to get all future episodes as well!

The post Monster Baby #5: Aspiration and Acceptance appeared first on Anima Learning.

Fresh off a trip to Phillips Exeter Academy, Ted and Lisa hop on the ‘cast to explore the fun and reward of sharing control in improvisation (5:53), Line-at-a-Time Drawing and what it has to do with Lisa’s trip to Buenos Aires (11:21), sharing control with life itself (15:58) and whether this approach is an elaborate excuse for a lack of discipline (20:49). They close by circling back to the notion of living life one line at a time and delighting in that precarious space between life’s trapeze bars (33:18). Join the Monster Baby community by subscribing at the link below and please spread the word—enjoy!

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Make sure to subscribe to get all future episodes as well!

The post Monster Baby #4: Shared Control appeared first on Anima Learning.

In Monster Baby Episode #3, Ted and Lisa explore the ways that improv and mindfulness create community (2:25), whether mindfulness generates excessive self-focus (17:36), and the need for a balance between activity and quiet (20:42). From there, they consider how community provides a “tribe” of belonging (29:40), how mindfulness and improv cultivate certain values (35:21), and how quality presence heals (43:24). Listen in and get inspired for finding—or building—your own sense of belonging. Better yet, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and join the budding Monster Baby community. More good stuff to come!

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Make sure to subscribe to get all future episodes as well!

The post Monster Baby #3: Do Mindfulness and Improv Breed Community? appeared first on Anima Learning.

In this second episode, Ted and Lisa dive into defining (or at least describing) mindfulness (3:37), discuss what mindfulness is not (16:53) and then explore how improvisation amplifies or differs from mindfulness (21:06). They close by talking about the tension between honoring our impulses and taking a mindfulness pause before acting (42:26). Thanks for listening in—and remember to subscribe so you get future episodes as well!

San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived.

Make sure to subscribe to get all future episodes as well!

The post Monster Baby #2: Defining Mindfulness and Impulse vs. Pause appeared first on Anima Learning.