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    Improvly Speaking

    Dayna Gowan is a speaker, improviser, and Facilitator of Fun, and the Founder of Improvly Speaking. Each episode, she brings you golden, beautiful, delicious nuggets of wisdom about public speaking, improv, performance, creativity and anything in between. Learning public speaking and improvisation skills has changed her life and made her a more confident speaker, colleague, and friend. Listeners will be inspired to face their public speaking fears, try new things, flex their creativity muscles, and say “Yes, and…” to challenges and roadblocks in both their personal and professional lives.
    en-us31 Episodes

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    Episodes (31)

    Become a World Champion Speaker with Ramona J. Smith

    Become a World Champion Speaker with Ramona J. Smith

    Ramona J. Smith is a dynamic international speaker who holds the prestigious title of the 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking. She is based out of Houston, Texas, and she is on a mission to inspire, connect and transform lives globally using the power of words (and she's really great at it too)!

    In this episode, Ramona shares her journey to winning the World Champion title, and she also talks about what life was like pre- and post title. She also reveals that there was an unexpected, improvised moment during her World Champion Contest speech titled "Still Standing."

    Ramona coaches Toastmasters speakers who are competing in the speech contests, and she also helps speakers outside the Toastmasters world become more authentic and genuine on stage. She graciously puts her coaching hat on for most of this episode and gives very helpful tips and suggestions for improving your presentations and speeches. 

    While the World Champion of Public Speaking Contest happens once a year with one person winning the title, you can be a World Champion Speaker on every stage that you step on. They key is to practice, practice, and practice some more, and also continue to grow and try new things, even when you're nervous and scared. 


    You can find out more about Ramona here: 


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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usMarch 01, 2024
    communication
    public speaking
    authenticity
    speeches
    improv

    Bringing Your Authentic Self to the Stage with Neil Curran

    Bringing Your Authentic Self to the Stage with Neil Curran

    Our first international guest, Neil Curran, joins the podcast all the way from Dublin, Ireland! Neil is a professional improviser and communications and teams expert who has performed in shows and festivals all over the world. His signature show - Neil+1 - brings an audience member up to the stage to perform the improv show with him! (Would you be up for that as an audience member??)

    When he's not on stage as an improviser, Neil facilitates interactive corporate trainings about authentic speaking and presenting, conscious communicating and influencing, storytelling in business, creativity and innovation, and much more! 

    This is a podcast of platitudes, as Neil points out throughout the episode. Both improv and public speaking trainings are riddled with platitudes, like make your scene partner look good, don't try to be funny, and be more authentic on stage, but what do all these overly used statements mean?  

    In this episode, Neil dives deeper beyond the surface level of these platitudes and explains what they mean in more context for performers and speakers. He also shares how he helps presenters become more confident at speaking as their authentic selves and not relying so heavily on the presentation slides. 

    Neil's passion for improv and teaching/facilitating is infectious! You can tell that he loves what he does, and he loves sharing the joy of improv with others...even the unsuspecting audience members who come to watch his shows only to then become the +1 part of the show. 

    You can find out more about Neil here:

    1. Website - https://www.lowerthetone.com/
    2. IG - @improvneil - https://www.instagram.com/improvneil/
    3. Twitter - @improvneil - https://twitter.com/ImprovNeil
    4. Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/neilplus1/
    5. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/curranneil/
    6. Improv Fest Ireland - https://improvfestireland.com/
    7. Camp Improv Utopia - https://improvutopia.org/

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usFebruary 22, 2024
    authenticity
    public speaking
    improv
    applied improv
    extemporaneous speaking

    Takeaways From Musical Improv That Can Boost Your Public Speaking Skills

    Takeaways From Musical Improv That Can Boost Your Public Speaking Skills

    The previous episode with Ashley Ward talks all about her journey into the musical improv world and why she loves teaching musical improv classes. This solo episode highlights my experience over the past year with musical improv, why I took musical improv in the first place, and how it's helped me with my public speaking skills and stage presence. 

    In this episode, I share with you three takeaways (and maybe a bonus takeaway) from a year of musical improv experience that can also apply to your public speaking skills. We are always "on stage," whether at work or in our personal lives. Being able to deliver our messages and points well, even when put on the spot, is a gamechanger! 

    I say this a few times in the episode, but you of course don't have to take musical improv classes to be a good speaker. Try out these takeaways when delivering your next speech or presentation and see how they help you. Give some breathing and vocal warm-ups a try to see how they strengthen your voice. Keep going, growing, and glowing in your public speaking journey so that you become the best speaker that you've always wanted to be! 

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usFebruary 02, 2024
    voice
    confidence
    public speaking
    improv
    fun

    Improvly Singing and Trying Hard Things with Ashley Ward

    Improvly Singing and Trying Hard Things with Ashley Ward

    Ashley Ward is an improviser, actor, writer, snack lover, and singer who has performed everywhere from the Kennedy Center to The Sydney Opera House. She can be seen on Dropout TV’s Play It By Ear and in Hello Jack! The Kindness Show on Apple+ as Delivery Delores. She is also a Jeopardy champion (and yes, we talk about that in the interview!).

    In this episode, Ashley shares her improv journey of how she got started in improv and then shortly after musical improv. Even though Ashley had a musical theatre background, she was still very nervous starting out in musical improv.  Once she got into it though, she enjoyed the world of musical improv where she could play any character and sing any kind of song that came up.

    Ashley now teaches a ton of musical improv classes and enjoys seeing people learn the structure and form and discover that they can do hard things. Improv in general requires a lot of focus and attention to be present in the scene, and musical improv requires double or triple that focus. There are a lot of plates spinning in a musical improv scene, but it can still all come together to create magical and fun scenes, songs, and shows. 

    You may be elated or disappointed by this, but there is actually no improvly singing in this episode. However, there's a whole lot of talking about it, which is super fun as well. Musical improv can help level up your improv skills, stage presence, and public speaking. Also, musical improv is just an overall good time because there's music involved!

    Fair warning - give this episode a listen, and you may find yourself signing up for the next musical improv class in your area!

    You can learn more about Ashley Ward here: 

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usJanuary 26, 2024
    creativity
    performance
    public speaking
    singing
    improv

    Living a "Yes, And..." Life in a "Yeah, But" World with Joe Van Haecke

    Living a "Yes, And..." Life in a "Yeah, But" World with Joe Van Haecke

    Joe Van Haecke is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and he has been performing and coaching improvisation for over 20 years! He is the Chief of Inspiration for his company Inspire Me Mr V, which provides improv-inspired life coaching to help people start living a "Yes, and…" life in a "Yeah, but" world. (hence the title of this episode)

    In this episode, Joe shares how he got his start in the improv world and how much it has helped him in the past 20 years. Joe is taking a unique approach to improv by infusing it into his life coaching sessions. We discuss how Joe handles that with his life coaching clients, and we even demo an exercise that leads to Dayna taking a few clown bows throughout the demo.

    Joe is an applied improv facilitator who helps attendees become better active listeners, idea supporters, risk takers, and stronger leaders. Joe also coaches high school students in their improv competitions, which always brings up fun discoveries for both the students and him! 

    Joe is a bundle of fun energy, and he brings joy and smiles everywhere he goes! This episode will leave you excited about improv and motivated to keep  going in your own improv journey.  And best of all, it will encourage you to live your best "Yes, And..." life in a "Yeah, but" world!

    You can find out more about Joe here: 


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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usJanuary 12, 2024
    creativity
    life coaching
    public speaking
    improv
    yes and

    Letting Go of My Need for Alcohol, Thanks to Improv and Conquering My Fear of Public Speaking

    Letting Go of My Need for Alcohol, Thanks to Improv and Conquering My Fear of Public Speaking

    One day, my solo episodes won't be considered special solo episodes because I will do them more and will be putting out more solo episodes than just 2-3 times a year. For now though, here is another special solo episode about my experience with alcohol and how I feel like I don't need it much anymore. 

    Thanks to improv and overcoming my fear of public speaking, I am not nervous anymore to go up on stage or be put "on the spot" in a social situation. In fact, I thrive in it now! I used to think I needed alcohol to get me through networking events, social situations, and even performing in improv shows. In my mind, I needed alcohol to make me a more exciting, lively, fun, and lovable person. Now I realize I can be that exciting, lively, fun, lovable person all on my own - without the use of alcohol or other substances. 

    In this episode, I share some examples of times where I used alcohol to get me through a grad school presentation and  improv show, and (spoiler alert) alcohol didn't help or make the performance better. In fact, it put me in my head more and heightened my nerves because I am not using other tools - like breathing or meditation/mindfulness - to calm the nerves. 

    It's taken me a while to get to this realization, but I am proud that I have come to it now. I recorded this one on a whim after a lovely night of hanging out with my improv team and not needing a single drop of alcohol to have a great time.  

    Hope you find it helpful! Feel free to reach out if anything resonates about this topic. 😊

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usDecember 18, 2023
    alcohol
    public speaking
    improv
    improvisation
    no more drinking

    Consistency in Comedy and Creativity with Fernando Funes

    Consistency in Comedy and Creativity with Fernando Funes

    Fernando Funes is a poet, writer, improviser, and performer in the Los Angeles/Orange County, CA area. He has performed in hundreds of shows in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, Oakland, and even Brazil! Fernando loves to bring people of all backgrounds together, and lately, he has been producing a ton of local improv shows in the Southern California area. At this point in 2023, he is producing multiple shows a month around the LA area! 

    In this episode, Fernando discusses showing up and putting in the work to be successful in comedy and in pursuing your dreams in general. Many times, people want to hit the easy button and get discouraged when their dreams don't come to fruition quickly. Fernando has been on this comedy and creativity journey for 14 years now, and he has had many ups and downs. However, he continues to show up, put in the work, learn, and grow, and he is seeing both artistic success and commercial success with his improv shows and poems.

    Fernando writes a poem a day, and he shares why he started doing the poem-a-day journey six years ago. Some days he doesn't love the poems he writes, but he still posts them anyway. He has learned that not all poems are going to be homeruns, but in order to have a homerun poem, he has to show up and put it out there. The more he does poem writing and comedy, the more he learns, and the better he gets. 

    Be prepared to take notes, whether written or mental notes, because Fernando is full of so many helpful tips and quotes in this episode! Keep showing up and continuing to learn and grow - the best is yet to come for you! As Fernando says in the episode, "If you show up, magic will happen." 

    You can find out more about Fernando here: 

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usNovember 30, 2023
    creativity
    writing
    comedy
    improv
    consistency

    Elevate Your Sonic Branding and Flex Your Creative Thinking with Shantel Sole' (aka The Jingle Lady)

    Elevate Your Sonic Branding and Flex Your Creative Thinking with Shantel Sole' (aka The Jingle Lady)

    Have you listened to a few episodes of this podcast and loved the jingle that plays before each episode? Maybe you have found that you can't help but dance and sway when this jingle kicks off an episode. (You're not alone!)

    Shantel Sole' is based out of Atlanta, Georgia, and she joins this episode to discuss her journey as a singer, songwriter, and most recently business owner and jingle creator. Shantel is also known as The Jingle Lady, and she is the creator of the Improvly Speaking Podcast Jingle! (Have I mentioned that I am obsessed with my podcast jingle?)

    Shantel shares how she got into the jingle and sonic branding business, she teaches us what sonic branding is, and she shares some tips on how to make your voice stronger. Shantel uses improvisation throughout her jingle creation process - from creating the beat, coming up with the words, to then putting it all together in the recording studio.

    Shantel is very creative and uses a Yes, and... mindset in her daily life (even though she was unfamiliar with the term yes, and... until recording this episode). She is using her voice and creativity to build her business and help other brands boost their business through catchy jingles and sonic branding. "It's a beautiful story" as Shantel says in this episode talking about her business, and we couldn't agree more!

    You'll leave this episode feeling inspired to say yes, and..., and flex your creative thinking, just like the jingle says! 😀


    You can find out more about Shantel here: 

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usNovember 14, 2023
    creativity
    singing
    improv
    songwriting
    improvisation

    Empowering Military Veterans with Healing and Resilience through Applied Improv with BJ Lange

    Empowering Military Veterans with Healing and Resilience through Applied Improv with BJ Lange

    Special guest BJ Lange shares how he supports military veterans by leading applied improv workshops and helping them learn important resilience skills as they navigate back into civilian life. BJ Lange is an actor (The Prank Panel, General Hospital, The Rookie), retired USAF Reserve medic, two-time testicular cancer survivor, and an alumni of iO West & Upright Citizens Brigade. He's also a teaching artist at The Geffen Playhouse and the applied improv comedy coach for the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program as part of the resiliency programs.

    During his applied improv workshops, BJ helps veterans and their caregivers learn listening and communication skills, problem solving skills, and thinking outside the box, just to name a few benefits. He also allows them the opportunity to be present in the moment, have fun, and forget about their problems and struggles for at least their time in the workshop.   

    BJ joined the Air Force Reserve at age 35 because he wanted to serve his country, and it was always something he wanted to do. Service is a big core value for him. He says that helping others helps him to heal as well.   

    BJ's energy, humor, and love of life is contagious. He calls himself a big goofball, and he even shares some stories of when he was an extreme goofball, which got him into trouble. He has had so many ups and downs, but he continues to show up and serve the military and veteran community, improv community, and everyone around him. His story and journey is incredibly inspiring!

    You can find out more about BJ here:

    Other improv resources mentioned in this episode: 

    Other helpful resources mentioned: 

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usOctober 13, 2023
    resilience
    healing
    service
    improv
    improvisation

    Clownly Speaking: From Clown Presence to Authentic Stage Presence with Don Colliver

    Clownly Speaking: From Clown Presence to Authentic Stage Presence with Don Colliver

    Don Colliver is a speaker, communications consultant, comedian, improviser, and clown. His public speaking workshops have helped transform hundreds of nervous speakers into more joyful and effective communicators. He recently released the bestselling book entitled Wink: Transforming Public Speaking with Clown Presence.  

    In this episode, Don shares his improv and clown journey and how clown presence can help you be more authentic on stage and better connect with your audience. We also discuss how you can easily incorporate humor in presentations, even the most technical and jargon-filled presentations. Dayna even shares her very limited experience with clowning and how it's helped her be more aware of her physicality on stage. 

    In August 2023, Don led a workshop at the Toastmasters International Convention called "No Joke: Engaging Your Audience Like A Clown (Not the Creepy Kind)." We recorded this episode before the Convention, and he shares some insight on his preparation for that workshop and how he was planning to pull off some of his staged jokes/bits. 

    We're not clowning around in this episode! (Couldn't resist saying that...) Some may think of clowns as scary and creepy, but this episode is anything but that. It's full of fun and passion for making public speaking and presentations more engaging and exciting! Check this episode out if you're looking for some fresh ideas and tips on how to improve your presence on stage!


    You can learn more about Don here:

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usSeptember 08, 2023
    communication
    performance
    authenticity
    public speaking
    connection

    Improv Saved My Life And Helped Me Get Sober with Erick Escalante

    Improv Saved My Life And Helped Me Get Sober with Erick Escalante

    Erick Escalante is an improviser and creative performer from San Diego, CA.  Erick took acting classes all throughout high school and college, but he tried his first official improv class in June 2021, when he decided to take a Level 1 class at Finest City Improv.

    Before that, Erick was struggling with depression and addicted to getting high and/or drunk to numb himself from the emotions. He says he was "comfortable in the laziness of not wanting to live." When he started taking improv classes, he realized that being high during class wasn't helping him keep up with the scenes or stay present. He didn't feel like he was doing well in the classes and wanted to be a better improviser. By Level 4 class, he decided to quit drugs and alcohol cold turkey, and he has been sober ever since!

    The improv community helped Erick to keep going with his sobriety and allowed him to be more sociable and creative and feel alive again. Making people laugh has become Erick's new dopamine hit and addiction. Erick has now been sober for more than a year and a half, and he credits improv for changing his life and saving his life.  

    Erick has fully immersed himself in the improv world, which has opened up other opportunities for him to perform at San Diego Comic Con and be a Scare Actor at the Balboa Park Haunted Trails. During this episode, Erick shares all about these experiences and performances, which he never would have done or even tried if he was getting high all the time. 

    Congratulations to Erick for doing the hard inner work and continuing to stay sober — every day sober is a day to celebrate! And improv was the catalyst for helping him make that positive change. I am proud of you, Erick, and we are all proud of you! <3 

    You can find out more about Erick here: 


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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usAugust 25, 2023
    storytelling
    improv
    sober
    sobriety
    lifechanging

    Becoming the World's Greatest Improviser with Will Hines

    Becoming the World's Greatest Improviser with Will Hines

    Will Hines is a longtime improv teacher and performer who trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in both New York and Los Angeles. In April 2020, he founded the World's Greatest Improv School (WGIS and can also be pronounced Weegis), which the name of the school was based on his best-selling book on improv called How to Be The Greatest Improviser on Earth.  

    In this episode, Will shares his improv origin story of why he decided to start taking improv classes back in 1999, and he tells us why he decided to start WGIS in 2020. He also gives some helpful tips and advice for people starting out in improv and finding themselves very much in their heads.  

    Although it wasn't his original intention, improv took over his life in the best way possible and has been a main part of his life for the past two decades at least. It's helped him be more creative and try lots of creative pursuits - like acting, doing stand-up, starting a band, hosting and guesting on tons of podcasts, writing and performing in sketches, and more creative pursuits to come.

    Not many people would call themselves the World's Greatest Improviser, but Will is comedically pretentious enough to do it.  Now he's ambitiously training the next generations of performers to be the world's greatest improvisers as well! It's a good thing the world can have many greatest improvisers!


    You can find out more about Will here: 


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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usAugust 18, 2023
    creativity
    comedy
    performance
    improvisation
    improv

    I Have Arrived at 35, and I'm Ready to Thrive!

    I Have Arrived at 35, and I'm Ready to Thrive!

    SPECIAL SOLO BIRTHDAY EPISODE -- I turned 35 in May 2023 (yay!), and I wanted to do a solo episode to highlight this special birthday milestone. Not only is it a mid-thirties milestone, but also this is the age that I always thought I would magically just become confident and love myself. I don't know why I had in my head that I should be confident and feel fully comfortable with myself by age 35, but that's how my 20's brain operated. 

    I'm happy to report that I have turned out exactly how I thought I would be at the age of 35 - confident, embracing myself and who I am, and constantly growing and improving. However, I didn't magically become confident, like I thought back in my 20's. I actually worked really hard to gain and develop this confidence, and there was a lot of failing and struggling and questioning myself along the way. 

    Have you ever thought there was a magical age for you where you would reach it all and become exactly who you wanted to be? 35 was that age for me, and I unpack my feelings about all that in this episode.  I've been on a 9-10-year journey of improving my public speaking skills, which helped me improve myself overall along the way, and I am so happy I embarked on that journey.  Age 35 would have looked much different if I didn't start that journey.

    I am excited about this age now and where I am, and I look forward to seeing what comes next! Cheers, darling, to many more years of fun, adventure, and growth! 

    Fair Warning: I rhyme 35 with arrive, thrive, and alive quite a bit in this episode! I couldn't resist... Don't say I didn't warn you. 

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usAugust 11, 2023
    growth
    public speaking
    self improvement
    confidence
    improv

    Saying Yes, and... to Adult Learning Best Practices with Dr. Carrie Graham

    Saying Yes, and... to Adult Learning Best Practices with Dr. Carrie Graham

    Have you ever sat through a presentation, conference session, or workplace training and thought, "Well, that's an hour of my life I won't get back!," after it's over? Chances are that the presenter or speaker didn't make the content applicable to you, didn't make it engaging to keep your attention, gave too much information that it was overwhelming, or didn't offer a chance for you to practice and apply the skills learned, among many other reasons. 

    Dr. Carrie Graham is working to fix that so that your audience never becomes disengaged from your message again and your learning outcomes can soar! Carrie is based in Charlotte and is the owner of Carrie O. Graham Learning & Solutions, and she helps businesses improve learner engagement, information retention, and skill application by integrating adult learning best practices into their trainings.

    What are adult learning best practices? Well, Carrie explains these best practices very well in this episode, but one principle to keep in mind is that adults learn best when they understand why this topic is important to their work or business. Adults bring many life experiences with them to these trainings, and they are more apt to learn new knowledge when it is demonstrated how this topic and training applies to their life experiences and work.

    Also, there is the adult learning practice of skills application, which can create experiential learning. That is where applied improv comes in! Applied improvisation exercises allow participants to practice the related skills in a low-stakes environment and then reflect on how the skill, tool, and lesson learned can apply to and also help improve their work and personal life. 

    In this episode, we discuss some very helpful adult learning practices that should be taken into account whenever presenting to a group of adults. Dayna even has some light bulb moments of her own that help her understand and relate it back to her own work as an applied improv facilitator. 

    As Carrie states in the episode, "If you are in the business of educating people who are over 25 years old, you can benefit from adult learning best practices!" Check this episode out to come up with your own light bulb moments for your next presentations, workshops, and trainings! 


     You can learn more about Carrie and her work here: 

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usJuly 20, 2023
    public speaking
    learning and development
    adult learning
    presentations
    employee training

    Using Applied Improvisation and Creative Play to Enhance Intellectual Humility, A Special Conference Debrief with Jesse Greenfield

    Using Applied Improvisation and Creative Play to Enhance Intellectual Humility, A Special Conference Debrief with Jesse Greenfield

    Jesse Greenfield is a health communicator, storyteller, and improviser from San Diego, California. Jesse started doing improv in college at Tufts University, and with eight years of experience as an improviser, Jesse now leads applied improv workshops for adults, youth, and the LGBTQIA+ community. 

    In March 2023, Jesse and I co-presented together at the Art & Science of Health Promotion Conference, and in this episode, we debrief and chat about that experience. (Spoiler alert: It was an amazing experience!) The theme of the conference was "The Wisdom of Rethinking: Promoting & Practicing Intellectual Humility to Advance Health & Well-Being," and Jesse and I had the opportunity to present two breakout sessions and two activity sessions at the conference. 

    In our breakout sessions, we presented the research about applied improvisation and how it can help enhance intellectual humility, communication, and resilience for health promotion professionals (and other professions as well). For our activity sessions, we facilitated improv exercises and games for participants to experience and practice the skills and discuss how these lessons learned apply to our professional and personal lives. 

    We had a blast at the conference, and we are so appreciative of the opportunity to share more about the benefits of applied improvisation and creative play at the conference this year. Please enjoy this special debrief episode to hear all about how it went and what's on the horizon for us as facilitators and presenters. 

    You can learn more about Jesse here:


    You can learn more about the Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference here:

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usJuly 06, 2023
    communication
    resilience
    humility
    improv
    conference

    It Takes Hard Work And Flexibility to Wear the Crown, a conversation with Miss North Carolina Karolyn Martin

    It Takes Hard Work And Flexibility to Wear the Crown, a conversation with Miss North Carolina Karolyn Martin

    In June 2022, Karolyn Martin earned the job of Miss North Carolina, and she is currently serving as Miss North Carolina for the 2022-2023 year. In this episode, Karolyn shares her journey to becoming Miss North Carolina — why she decided to compete and how she focused, trained and prepared for the competitions during her college years.  

    Karolyn opens up about her experience at the Miss America Competition in December 2022 and how she dealt with the ups and downs of winning and losing. We also discuss the impromptu questions that they are asked during the competitions. Dayna thought they had 90 seconds to answer these tough questions, but they only get 20 SECONDS!!! 

    Karolyn is such a hard worker - whether it's volleyball, theatre, singing, or training to become Miss North Carolina. When she sets her mind on a goal/outcome she wants, she puts all her energy and focus into achieving that goal. Karolyn will be attending Law School at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in Fall 2023, and we all know she will give it her all in this next chapter of her life!

    Even though Karolyn doesn't call herself an improviser, she improvises every day! As a state title holder, Karolyn attends many speaking engagements and is constantly in the spotlight.  She has to be prepared and know what she's going to say and also be flexible and ready for any unexpected question thrown her way. She is a great speaker and has a phenomenal stage presence. Even when she's thrown an unexpected question, she handles it like a champ! (She also has some good jokes up her sleeve when needed too!)

    How do you handle impromptu questions? How do you handle the spotlight with all eyes on you? Check out this episode for some serious inspiration from Karolyn and be ready to hit the ground running on accomplishing your goals and dreams once you're done listening! 


    You can learn more about Karolyn here: 


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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usMay 25, 2023
    competition
    public speaking
    flexibility
    improvisation
    miss america

    Approaching Improv (and Life) with Joy & Ease with Pam Victor

    Approaching Improv (and Life) with Joy & Ease with Pam Victor

    Pam Victor is  the Head of Happiness (aka founder and president) of Happier Valley Comedy, the first improv theater in Western Massachusetts. Pam is the co-author of Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ & Dave Book along with TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi. Pam is also a TEDx Speaker, and she creates and facilitates applied improv workshops and currently a new series of workshops about wellness micro-habits. 

    Pam has been improvising professionally since 2003. When she first started taking improv classes, she was OBSESSED! Actually, obsessed is an understatement — she was like improv cookie monster trying to get her fill of improv cookies (aka classes, shows and deep discussions and analysis about improv). Pam started writing a blog/series called "Geeking Out with..." in which she interviewed improvisation's biggest brains and talents, which ultimately led to her co-authoring the book with TJ and Dave. 

    In this episode, Pam shares her 20+ year improv journey and talks about her experiment in 2014 when she gave herself one year to make a living doing what she loves — improv. Spoiler alert: She is the founder of Happier Valley Comedy Theater, so her experiment worked. We also discuss the thoughts and feelings that new improvisers can have as they start their improv journeys.

    Pam has many core values that guide her in improv scenes/shows and in life - follow the joy and ease, be of service to the moment and your scene partner, and play more. (These are also some of the core values of her theater as well!) These core values are so inspiring for newbie and experienced improvisers - and humans in general - who find themselves stuck in their heads and listening to their inner critics, or as Pam likes to say their inner mind meanies.

    You can learn more about Pam here: 

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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usMay 12, 2023

    Improvly Flyin' and Freestylin' on the Pole with Susan Bartley

    Improvly Flyin' and Freestylin' on the Pole with Susan Bartley

    Susan Bartley is the owner of Heaux Apparel, a company that specializes in pole dance and aerial sports apparel, products and accessories. Their goal is to help women of all shapes & sizes, who have fallen in love with pole & aerial fitness, look their best and feel confident while they're in the air on the pole, lyra, or silks, and while they're on the ground living their best life. 

    Susan started pole dancing about 4 years ago as a way to get back in touch with her body and feel sexy again. Even though it was very difficult, she had a great beginner's mindset when she first started out. She says it was nice to suck at it knowing that she was on the ground floor and could only go up from there, which she did. She never dreamed it would lead to owning her own business that supports pole dancers and aerial sports enthusiasts, but that's where she is now and crushing it!

    In this episode, we talk all about being a beginner and handling the early stages of learning something new. We also talk about kettlebells, twerking, improv (and Susan's traumatic improv story from high school), nursing school improv simulations, groundhog farmers, and sexy lyra. Quite a range of topics, and we giggle the whole time throughout the episode, so get used to it. 

    How do you handle being a beginner in something new? Check this episode out for inspiration to keep going in your new endeavor and adventure! It takes time, but you got this!

    SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFER for Improvly Speaking listeners: Use the code 5OFFNOW to get $5 off your next purchase from Heaux Apparel!

    You can find out more about Susan and her Heaux Apparel business here: 


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    Improvly Speaking
    en-usApril 18, 2023

    Helping Healthcare Professionals Become Better Communicators Through Improv with Dr. Michael Smith

    Helping Healthcare Professionals Become Better Communicators Through Improv with Dr. Michael Smith

    Dr. Michael Smith is an attending physician of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  In 2014, Mike began taking Level 1 improv classes. Realizing early on that the skills learned through improv could help him as a hospitalist, Mike began implementing them at work. The result was more enjoyable work, better interactions with patients, and more effective teaching.

    In 2018, Mike started doing healthcare improvisation workshops and created Healthcare Improv, which is an Omaha, Nebraska-based startup specializing in improv training as a communications tool for healthcare professionals.  (SO COOL!)

    In this episode, we talk all about how healthcare improv can help medical professionals practice and learn empathy, listening skills,  growth mindset, wellness/self-care, trust, and much more! It's so cool (just going to keep saying how cool it is) that these exercises that are usually considered just for the theater/arts are now being used to help medical and healthcare professions. 

    We also go on a little side tangent and talk about Mardi Gras. Deal with it. 😃


    You can find out more about Dr. Michael Smith and Healthcare Improv here: 

    1. Healthcare Improv Website - https://www.healthcareimprov.com/
    2. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-smith-9896471bb/
    3. Instagram - @hcareimprov 
    4. Twitter - @HcareImprov
    5. Facebook - @HcareImprov
    6. Medium articles - https://medium.com/@mike_3149
    7. Article about Medical Improv that highlights some of the research out now - https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/no-joke-serious-role-improv-medicine


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    Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

    Improvly Speaking
    en-usMarch 17, 2023
    healthcare
    communication
    improvisation
    listening skills
    mardi gras

    Rockin' to Recovery through Improvised Songs and Breathwork with Sonny Mayo

    Rockin' to Recovery through Improvised Songs and Breathwork with Sonny Mayo

    Sonny Mayo is a super rad musician, breathwork facilitator, and overall human being. Sonny has been sober for 21 years, and he now facilitates Rock to Recovery® sessions and breathwork sessions to help people heal through creativity and breathing. 

    Rock to Recovery® is a non-profit organization that harnesses the healing power of music by bringing musical instruments and equipment in to treatment facilities to write and record original songs with people recovering from drug/alcohol addiction, PTSD, eating disorders, and other illnesses. 

    By the end of the 1-hour sessions, Sonny and other Rock to Recovery® program administrators have participants playing and singing a song that they created together in that hour - an improvised song that did not exist until that session! They have 26,000+ tracks on SoundCloud, which is incredible! 

    In this episode, Sonny shares his experience leading these improvised musical healing sessions. We also talk about breathwork, meditation, rocking out in front of 60,000+ people, and saying yes (and) to the highs and lows of life. You can't help but be inspired by Sonny's stories, energy, and joy!

    And remember, as Sonny would say - "You're rad!" 😃


    You can find out more about Sonny here: 


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    Want to learn more about Improvly Speaking? Here are all the ways to get in touch:

    Improvly Speaking
    en-usFebruary 28, 2023
    music
    mental health
    creativity
    healing
    meditation
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