Yes But Why Podcast

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to Feña Ortalli, an improv teacher and performer based out of Madrid, Spain.

Feña Ortalli has been obsessed with improvisational acting since the early 2000s. After the first impro show he saw in Buenos Aires, he studied Keith Johnstone books and youtube videos from the LIQ. Since 2001, Feña has taught and performed around the world in such countries as Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Canada, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and South Africa.

In 2006, Feña created Global Impro, an improv troupe dedicated to national and international collaboration and exchange. He’s currently based in Madrid where he performs and teaches with Impromadrid and El Club de la Impro.

In this conversation, we talk about theater sports, physical comedy and making friends.
Feña Ortalli shares stories about starting out in the impro community of Buenos Aires. Feña talks about being inspired by the international improv festival community and the breadth of different styles he has witnessed over the years. Feña is the author of “Impro: Dynamics of the Unthinkable,” a book that raises a series of ideas and concepts of improvisation explained through soccer analogies.

You can support Feña Ortalli by attending his shows in Madrid. You can also find Feña at Impro Amsterdam from Jan 25th to Feb 1st 2020. You should also subscribe to Feña’s magazine, Status, which focuses on the world of theatrical improvisation.

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to New York City stand-up comic, Carie Karavas.

Carie Karavas is a tough, wisecracking New York City comic who has been performing standup comedy for 30 years. She is a regular in the New York City comedy club scene and she tours across the country as well. Carie is so busy with gigs that we had to do this interview in the moments before she went onstage! You can hear the action of the green room behind her during our whole chat.

In this conversation, Carie talks about falling in love with comedy at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. She muses on the adventures she had performing at the Comedy Cellar in NYC. Carie compares her experience in both the New York City and Los Angeles comedy scenes. She shares the well-earned wisdom of the benefits of being nice to people and working on your craft. Carie is the real deal and she has great stories!

You can support Carie Karavas by checking out the shows she does with Patty Rosborough on Facebook – Chick Chat and Two Tired Twats! For more comedy videos with Carie Karavas, subscribe to her YouTube channel! Also, she is currently filming her HBO special so stay tuned for that as well!

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to improviser and community psychologist, Ronald Harvey.

Ronald Harvey is a professor of Psychology at the American University in Bulgaria. He is also the faculty co-sponsor for the student improv troupe, the 1st English language improv club in the Balkans.

This is the 3rd conversation that Ronald and I have had about improv. Unfortunately, technology has twice lost the recordings. Thankfully, Ronald is a kind and understanding man who rescheduled with me and had 3 different conversations with me. We talk about his improv journey and how he has used it in his career as a psychologist.

In this conversation, we discuss that Ronald’s love of improv started in the 1990s at the iO theater in Chicago, where he saw the very first Armando Diaz Experience (WHOA). He also mentions that he uses the “Failure Bow” exercise with his improv students and that he learned it at The Hideout Theater in Austin when he came one summer for their intensive.

Ronald grew up in America and he is currently living in Sofia, Bulgaria; his perspective on the international improv community is fascinating. Ronald and I chat about embracing failure, building trust and developing empathy. This is an amazing conversation about building communities and breaking through cultural boundaries. Tune in!

Support Ronald by watching him at one of many international improv festivals! He and Moscow-based improv pal, Frances perform a duo troupe called Decent Freaks. Check them out if you can!

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to singer-songwriter Daisy O’Connor.

Daisy O’Connor is an Austin indie rock musician who tours the country regularly. Daisy’s music style mixes folk, Americana and country influences with psychedelic rock and pop. She is sweet and caring and I’m glad we are friends. We met in the improv community of Austin and so we have warm fuzzies for each other because of our Yes And beginnings.

This conversation takes place in a library and so we talked in hushed tones. We might be talking quietly but the topics are still BIG. In this interview, we talk about activism, loneliness and teen angst. Daisy shares her experiences of her conservative Christian upbringing in Washington state. We discuss the intensity of the social work she did at domestic violence shelters while she was in college. Daisy tells us how she got into music and how she fell in love with the Austin music community when she got here. I love Daisy and I was glad to sit down and connect with her.

Support Daisy O’Connor by contributing to her Patreon! You can also buy and share Daisy’s albums on such sites as bandcamp and Spotify. See Daisy perform in her holiday show with her band at Geraldine’s in Austin on Tuesday December 17th!

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to improv performers, Chloe and Lane Ingram.

Chloe and Lane Ingram are Austin-based improv and sketch comedians. Together they perform in a sketch comedy duo called Chlane and they produce the podcast, “Yeah But Are You Happy?”

In this conversation, we talk about being married and how the comedy they do is the glue of their relationship. They tell the story of how they connected through their mutual love of The Simpsons. We talk about the leap they took to start taking improv classes together. They share the amazing journey they had learning from such improv conservatories as Four Day Weekend in Fort Worth, IO and Second City in Chicago and Dallas Comedy House in Dallas. We talk about how they found an open and kind improv community here in Austin. Chloe and Lane discuss the joy of working together on Chlane shows.

Support Chloe and Lane Ingram by watching them perform as Chlane! They guest on varios variety shows around town and they will have a new show coming this spring of 2020. Also, check out their podcast, “Yeah But Are You Happy?” on Apple Podcasts!

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to improv performer and instructor, Shacottha Fields.

Shacottha Fields is a career improviser, a personal development coach, and a storyteller. She does private coaching as well as corporate training in public speaking and group communication through her company, Impower Improv.

In this conversation, we talk about the fearless sense of adventure that got Shacottha into theater. We discuss her improv training from The Magnet Theater, Upright Citizens Brigade, and The People's Improv Theater. We talk about the work she does to help NYC 9to5ers break down their cubicle walls with her corporate workshops.

Shacottha shares the experience of creating “1 Deep,” her one-person improv show that toured internationally. She also shares some tidbits about working with Armando Diaz! Shacottha is kind and inspiring and I look forward to all of the art she will create in the future.

Support Shacottha Fields by seeing her perform in The Armando Diaz Experience show at the Magnet Theater in New York City, every Saturday night at 7:30pm. You can also catch her in the Somewhere in the Meantime web series! If you work in the New York City area and need a boost of creativity to your workplace, contact Shacottha and Impower Improv! impowerimprov.com

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to sci fi/ fantasy writer, E.C. Myers.

E.C. Myers is the author of six young adult (YA) novels: Fair Coin, Quantum Coin, The Silence of Six, Against All Silence, RWBY: After the Fall, and RWBY: Before the Dawn (forthcoming). E.C. has also recently collaborated with the awesome new reading app, Serial Box on Orphan Black: The Next Chapter and Alternis. Serial Box blends together the best of series television and the convenience of ebooks and audiobooks to bring readers a new form of storytelling. Plus, more Orphan Black?? Yes please!

In this conversation, we talk about E.C.’s experience in the Serial Box writers room and how exciting it is to develop new work this way. We talk about the formative experience he had at the Clarion West Writers Workshop. E.C. shares his advice on being persistent if you want to write professionally. We discuss the fun times he had touring conventions like Reader Con and Dragon Con when he was promoting his recent book, RWBY: After the Fall. I am hugely impressed by E.C.’s work ethic and his upbeat attitude! This is a great interview for new writers!

Support E.C. Myers by downloading the Serial Box app and listening to (or reading) Orphan Black: The Next Chapter and Alternis! (Did I mention the Orphan Black audio is read by Tatiana Maslany??)


Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to writer Traci Shannon of the “A Star In My Own Universe” blog.

Traci Shannon has been writing the blog, “A Star In My Own Universe” for the past ten years. There, she calls herself “a slightly weird, very sentimental, out-of-work actress in love with her husband and two kids.” She writes articles on being a woman and being a mom and she also does interviews!

Fans of the podcast will enjoy that this episode starts with me telling Traci about my 18 year theory. In our conversation, Traci told me about the various people she has been in her life. She muses about her experience getting an MFA in Acting. We giggle about the movie, Sliding Doors. We talk about the tough times. We bond about both being moms. Traci and I go deep talking about dealing with failure. We discuss creativity and the heart of imagination.

Support Traci by reading her blog, “A Star In My Own Universe” available at astarinmyownuniverse.com !

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to Scottish actress and standup comic, Rachel Jackson!

Rachel Jackson is an up-and-coming actress and standup comic from Scotland. She is currently touring the UK and Europe doing her new show, Slutty Little Goldfish. Rachel very recently won the Herald Scottish Culture Award: ‘One To Watch’ 2019! Starting on November 22nd, you can also see Rachel acting on television in the BBC Scotland comedy show, The State Of It.

I happened upon Rachel’s comedy when I saw a clip of her on Twitter. A joke from this set at the Comedy Underground had gone viral and it had to do with my total favorite, The Rock. And she said yes to talking to me, you guys, cause here it is.

In our conversation, Rachel shares the moment she felt her calling to be a performer and all the uphill battles that followed. Rachel is an actress with a positive outlook – she loves the travel that comes with standup and she loves working on films! We chat about theater snobs and cancel culture but then it gets much happier when Rachel tells me all about her crush on Skeet Ulrich from Scream. We had a delightful chat and I hope you enjoy it!

Support Rachel by following her on social media and consuming her comedy in whatever way you can get it in the country you live! If you’re lucky enough to catch The State Of it next week, do so! And go see Rachel do standup if/when she comes to your town!

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.

This week, Yes But Why Podcast talks to comedian and actor, Michael Monsour!

Michael Monsour is a hardworking and passionate comedian who currently produces the standup show, “A Comedy Show LA.” Before he moved to Los Angeles to act in movies and TV, I knew him from the standup circuit in Austin. Michael used to perform and produce shows at my theater five or so years ago. As you can hear, he is a kind soul, and so we kept in touch!

In this conversation, we talk about show promotion magic, insecurities and the gig economy. Michael shares stories about his experience on Richard Linklater’s “Everybody Wants Some.” We talk about the celebrity impressions we both did for our parents when we were kids. We discuss the importance of making connections and maintaining a good attitude. There is also a #Nebraska tangent that happens suddenly and just as quickly fades away! We had fun. Enjoy!

Support Michael Monsour by attending his monthly standup show, “A Comedy Show LA”! You can also see Michael play a fun and wild character in HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones!

Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Download the FREE HC Universal Network app for Android and iDevices or visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com and join the fun.

This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY.