The After Improv Podcast

When most people say they do improv, it’s probably one of the more interesting things about them. For Joe Jakubowski, this week’s After Improv Podcast guest, it might not even make his top 20. Joe talks about first job shining shoes in Hamtramck bars when he was five years old, mouthing off to older kids so much that he needed a police escort to and from school in the third grade, beating Bob Seger in a battle of the bands, drumming in a house band for a motorcycle gang when he was 14, and getting fired for falling off the Boblo boat. And this is only a SAMPLING of the stories Joe shares. If this isn’t enough to make you listen, you are jaded beyond all belief and should seek help: *Why improv *Hamtramck *Big band man *Shoe shine kid *On the strip *Rebellious Literature *Vigilante house band *Boblo band *Real estate *Experiments of self *Renaissance man *He doth protest *Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty

Eventually in improv, it’s time to move on. That’s the subject of this week’s After Improv Podcast, as Julia Schroeder, James Quesada and Mitch Socia visit to talk about moving to New York next month to further pursue their entertainment careers. The trio talks about what success means to each of them, how they arrived at their decisions to move and their improv and professional goals in the Big Apple. James also talks about his cross-country improv teaching tour. All this and more: Schroeder *Moving on *Julia’s Journey *DIII money *The decisions *Smash and grab *Network *Personal success levels *Timelines *Hello Future Mitch *Supporting cast *James on tour *Well wishes *Cat update *Surprise surprise *Buffalo John *Fact of the week * Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty

The latest Planet Ant process show, “Annamals,” is playing RIGHT NOW, and the cast and director visit the After Improv Podcast this week to discuss the show they wrote and staged in just five weeks. Fun fact: Host Tony Augusty is in the cast. Join him, Jaclynn Cherry, Annelyse Miller, Maggie O’Reilly, Jim Rimmel, Dan Tice, stage manager Nick Boulahanis and director Dave Davies as we talk about the process of “the process,” from auditions to opening night. No spoilers, so listen, then buy your ticket for “Annamals” today at planetant.com! *Meet the cast *History of the process *Auditioning and casting *Improvising *Trust the process *Jaclynn is here! *Recording and transcribing *Beating up the script *Kill your darlings *Bringing it all together *Does this make sense? *Higher authority *Blocking and book *Italian *Bad meaning bad *Opening night *Silent night *Cardboard star *Farmer Tim *Catsanova *Shameless plugs *Tangerine *Car accident *John might quit *Fact of the week * Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty

After interminable delays, Go Comedy! and League of Pointless Improvisers cast member Chris Fortin stops by the After Improv Podcast this week to show off his soft skills. Chris talks (eventually) about why he got into improv, being an engineer, why he hates singing, growing up with a speech impediment, his quiet childhood, his spiteful family’s olive boat, his start-and-stop improv education, his deep and abiding love of dinosaurs, brooches and so much more: Tony’s troubles *By the booking *Crocs *Unsung *Speech, speech *Classic education *School and more school *Spite *Olive boat *Wolverine hell *Against type *Why improv *Bury me at Go Comedy! *Dropping in *Harsh Butt judge *Dinophile *Inside joke *Shaggy *Europe *Teaching *Brooch Cooch *Soft skills *Chris gifts *Heather has seen stuff *Almost equal *Mystery fans *Fact of the week * Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty

We kick off Season 10 with an all-around fascinating guest, Dame Andi Maziarz. Andi talks about getting knighted, how her first language is Polish despite being born in America, almost losing two toes in high school, the time she appeared in a hair metal video, the time Beavis and Butthead called her a slut, her law career, her struggles with drug addiction and how improv comforted her in a dark hour * The pronunciation game * Lego Batman review * Half-lies * Toeing the line * Hair metal heaven * Early improv intro * Law of non-attraction * West coast wild times * San Fran, crystal meth, cocaine and ecstasy * L.A., cocaine and heroin * SMART Recovery® * Spiritual psychology * Starting over * A very tough year * Back to improv * Krav Maga * Flip or flop * Jim is clueless * Launch Cast * Sketch and auditioning * Voiceover * Miss Michigan * Comedy Sportz * IO * Dame Andi * Check-in * R.I.P. Pearl * Honda hate

We wrap up the season with Friendsgiving II, our annual live episode where we bring back guests from past seasons and see what they’re up to. Coming to you from the Ghost Light Hamtramck, we talk to its proprietor, Darren Shelton and talk about his family’s history with Planet Ant, and how he got involved with the group buying renovating the Ant Hall and his journey to owning his own business. Then we catch up with our guests of seasons past — and book a guest we never thought would say yes. All this, and more: Heather-Tony tiff * Darren Shelton * Bryan counterpoint * Ghost plans * AquaDarren * Audra Jantz * Ashley Davis * Tom Schultz and Amber Barker * Mitch Haba * Mike McGettigan * Jim’s tuxedo * Jason Petterson * Emily Englehart, Chris Fortin and Sarah Rose * Adrian Johnston * Rapiversary * Scott Icenogle * Tim Lally * Grand Andy finale * The Hal-y Grail * Fact of the week * Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty

It’s a history-making week on the After Improv Podcast, as we are visited by the improvising duo of Mitch Socia and Matt Penridge. This is Matt’s second time on the podcast, not including his numerous Heather Drunknonymous appearances, so we get to know Mitch a little better first, talking about his years trying to make it as a musician and how SNL led him to improv. Then Mitch and Matt talk about how they met and, in an After Improv exclusive, settle on their troupe name once and for all and debate who came up with the bit that grew into their one-act show, “Hamilton: Fully Loaded.” All this and more: Improv best friends * A Peter Griffin-looking motherfucker * Second City * Hawk & Son * Breakups to make-em-ups * Shirt tales * When Mitch met Matt * Reclassify Pluto * Match or Mitch and Matt? * Come together right now * Style choices * Fart choices * Adventures in podcasting * Hamilton: Fully Loaded * Hair today… * Variations on a scene * Launch cast, resident cast * It was written * Rock the vote * India * Job updates! * The bet * Fact of the week * Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty

This week, improvisor, writer, Go Comedy! resident cast member and noted smiler Jennifer Bloomer visits. Jennifer talks about how depression led to her to dropping out of college, managing a storage facility and living in a secret apartment there, the phobia that makes her vomit, becoming a computer programmer and hosting a nu metal podcast. All this and more: All names welcome * Funny games * Just sort of a weirdo * Lawbreaker * Goon * Great depressions * Stately Wayne State * In storage * Jen’s yes-and moment * It was written * Check me out * Learning to deal * Trypophobia * Role model * Get with the program * Roach Koach * Rush * Unruly Women * Futurist * Job updates * Jennifer Denim Underpants * Fact of the week * Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty

In Part II of a two-part interview, Planet Ant Artistic Director Shawn Handlon talks about life back on land, how his brother’s cancer led to one of the most satisfying moments of his career, his passion for Detroit and being a tour guide in the city, and his lauded teaching method. All this and more: Land ho! * Cancer strikes * Cancer! The Musical * Herr director * Really Really regretful * ExpANTion * House beautiful * Teaching style * Upon further review * Formalities * Intro 101 * Sexy time * Sketch stuff * Factory worker * Onward? * The horizon beckons * Views on the scene * Job updates! * Fact of the week * Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty

This week, Planet Ant Artistic Director, home team member, and former Second City Mainstage cast member Shawn Handlon visits the After Improv Podcast. In Part I of a two-part interview, Shawn talks about his 20 years of improvising, why he changed his last name, growing up with seven siblings, stepping down as vice president of a bank to pursue improv, how “Star Wars” inspired him to write, what it was like living on a cruise ship for almost three years. All this and more: 20 years * Not his given name * The only child * A man of business * Steve and Stephen * The first days of improv * Touching moments * Funkytown * Genital Ben * TourCo * Bad bank breakup * Mad mom, mad dad * Mainstage * Written in the Star * Power battles * Novi * Cruisin’ * Comments or whatever: @tonyaugusty