Joe Bill #2
Second half of a really joyful and tired talk after JO festival, reaching back to George Carlin and packing an insane amount of books into a carry-on luggage, recalling how 9/11 affected the comedy scene in the USA and started an avalanche of one-in-a-lifetime events for Millennials, mental changes between generations, differences between “slow” and “fast” improv, and characteristics of Polish improvisers. Again without any introduction, again in between travels.
Listen to “Joe Bill #2” on Spreaker.
Joe Bill #1
Joe is based in improv Chicago universe, but had been traveling with improv since I was born. This time we’re talking about the difference between inner engineer and jazzman, about political and popcultural influence on improv, what makes groups work (or not), his upcoming book, and traumas, obviously. No intro, nor outro this time, as I’m packing to Samothrace Improv Retreat, second half of our conversation when I get back!
Listen to “Joe Bill #1” on Spreaker.
Omar Galvan
Omar is a brilliant improviser, director and actor from Argentina, living in Madrid. After we did a Soundpainting project at the University of Gdańsk, we talked about magical realism, Mexican improv wrestling, tango as existential struggle, similarities between people in Poland and Argentina, and where in comedy is a place for memento mori.
Listen to “Omar Galvan” on Spreaker.
Lost in translation
Improvising in foreign languages is a challenge. Let’s tame this beast. What to do when we don’t understand what’s happening? How to turn linguistic problems to our advantage? How not to lose flow when we lose words? How to create a safety net in case of absolute confusion? We will also take a look at some multilinguistic shows.
Listen to “Lost in translation” on Spreaker.
Goodbye 2020
How the world of improv adapted to the new reality, what we lost, what we gained and how the only international improv festival in a pandemic looked like – I mean the Hunger Games.
Listen to “Goodbye 2020” on Spreaker.
Improv rules – why tho?
I picked 9 improv rules and deconstructed them brutally for you. I added a “but” to each of them, so we don’t take them too literally.
Listen to “Improv rules – why tho?” on Spreaker.
Joe Bill – bad shows, therapy and improv before the Internet
How did improv community look like before the Internet? When did international festivals start? Why should every improviser go to therapy? How to deal with a bad show? What is REALLY improv like in Chicago these days? This and more you can find in this episode recorded with Joe Bill during IMPRO Amsterdam 2020, right before it all went down.
Listen to “Joe Bill – bad shows, therapy and improv before the Internet” on Spreaker.
Stage makeup and styling
There is no film and theatre without makeup, yet we underestimate this power of expression in improvised theatre. The whole styling is a massive tool that can take both actors and the audience on a journey to different worlds. How can we use it to serve our artistic purpose, and to make our stage persona shine?
Listen to “Stage makeup and styling” on Spreaker.
Couch Traveler
If you’re tired of the situation around us, the stress, checking the news ten times a day, find a moment to chill and let me invite you on a little journey to my carefree memories from travels to different parts of the world. Do people in Seattle really wanna know how are you? What is the Moon doing upside down? Why the word “molo” makes Finns giggle, ad what behaviours make “one Italian grandma die”?
Listen to “Couch Traveler” on Spreaker.
Stacey Smith – improv, music and well-being
Stacey Smith, American improviser, currently living in Amsterdam, shares her thoughts on differences between American and European improvisers, on how teaching in different countries can make you a better person, why the music is the universal language, and that you don’t have to be singer to play improv musical, how is it to perform improv solo, how to set boundries as a full-time improviser and take care of your mental health, and many more.
Listen to “Stacey Smith – improv, music and well-being” on Spreaker.
Take improv home
Stay home and do some improv! I give you 21 games for times of quarantine. At first this episode was supposed to be a homework for my students, but then I thought, we could all use some creative fun these days. You will find here 7 games for beginners, to play with your family (5:55), 7 games for solo players (17:50), and last 7 games, a bit more advanced, but still fun for everyone, for two players (24:10).
Listen to “Take improv home” on Spreaker.
Fun in the time of pandemic
Tell people to stay at home, and you’ll make them want to go to the gym. Lock in a quarantine a freelancer and a corporate worker and see who goes crazy first. Where to find a little bit of fun, when the whole world tells you to #stayhome? Culture, entertainment, sport, travels – all of that you may find in your living room if know where to look. Comedy shows, concerts, workouts – all live, and from different countries. Never before has the world came to your house this much, while YOU couldn’t leave it.
Listen to “Fun in the time of pandemic” on Spreaker.
What is improv anyway
What is improv and how is it different than stand-up and sketch comedy – and what are the strengths and weaknesses of each of these forms of comedy. What can you expect at the audience of improvised show, as a participant in individual workshops, as well as improvisation for business. No comedy slang!
Listen to “What is improv anyway” on Spreaker.
Ok, Elder Millennial
Elder Millennials are so nostalgic for the 90s, and is there really something to miss? The story of the time, when the alarm clock was a physical object, and when you had to check in a notebook, instead of Facebook, if your crush is dating someone. The story of the generation of transformation from post-communist Poland to the world of the Internet. And what are your memories of the 90s?
Listen to “Ok, Elder Millennial” on Spreaker.
First Date
Imagine we went on a first date, and this is what I told you. Now it’s your turn!
Listen to “First Date” on Spreaker.