This is a special extended (podcast-only) episode of Your Improv Brain on neurodivergent inclusion in the improv community. These episodes will focus on inclusion, nervous system regulation, and help neurodivergent improvisers understand themselves and help non-neurodivergent improvisers work better with their teammates and students.

This is the first one. Hi!

Think about the best improv team you've ever seen. That team where everyone seemed to know when to step in and when to hold back. That connection didn't come from scenework. It came from the offstage work of actually knowing each other. Jen talks about what it feels like, as an autistic person, to carry the belief that you're a burden in every space you enter. She names where that feeling shows up in improv (hint: it's rarely onstage), what autistic improvisers bring to a team, what's genuinely harder for us, and what teammates can do to include everyone equally. The episode ends with a team inclusion exercise called "What I Need From You" and a solo version you can try on your own.

Have something to share? Add a comment here:

https://improvupdate.com/how-well-do-you-actually-know-your-improv-teammates-offstage-skill-building/

Or reply to the newsletter I send out with these things (any newsletter!) ImprovUpdate.com/newsletter

Key Takeaways

1. The burden belief often starts early in life and gets carried into every space, including improv, whether you realize it or not.
2. For many autistic improvisers, scenes feel safe because they have structure, but unstructured social time (group chats, hangouts after shows, pre-rehearsal mingling) is where the burden feeling lives.
3. Autistic improvisers bring different pattern recognition, a willingness to name injustice, and perspectives that make scenes richer and teams stronger.
4. Autism is a communication difference, and non-autistic people do not have a more correct way of communicating; both are valid, and the effort to bridge that gap should come from everyone.
5. The fastest way to confirm someone's burden belief is to only engage with them when they're useful and go silent when they need support.

Chapters

00:00 — The best improv team you've ever seen

02:06 — This episode is about the offstage part

02:31 — The video that stopped me scrolling

03:35 — Who this episode is for

05:18 — Where the burden belief comes from

07:57 — Where this shows up in improv spaces

10:17 — The evidence problem

12:22 — What autistic improvisers bring to a team

13:47 — Communication differences

16:46 — What you can do as a teammate

21:17 — Team exercise: What I Need From You

22:46 — Caveats for running the exercise

24:08 — Solo version

26:00 — Closing

Resources

The video I watched: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2189375501869990

Downloadable content

Download the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed).

NEW! Comprehensive guides all about getting notes as a student, or giving them as a teacher. Two guides, big discount if you get both! https://yourimprovbrain.com/notes

Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You"

Get more downloadable booklets here: https://yourimprovbrain.com/shop

Review the show

Please consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options.

Apple Podcasts | Podchaser

It helps out! Thanks!

Support the show

• Like this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/support
• We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytz
• We have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8ndd
• Transcriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqk
• Schedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZR
• Support the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j

About

This podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. Jen has certifications related to healthy communities (Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy), nervous system regulation and soon teacher training certification on community resilience. She has a BFA in teaching creative arts to adults. You can find her full bio here.

This podcast was written, recorded and edited in British Columbia, Canada by Jen.

Mentioned in this episode:

Visit Your Improv Brain

Workshops, this show, newsletter & Jams, downloads and more. https://YourImprovBrain.com

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp