Neurodiversity and Improv with Jen deHaan FlatImprov Podcasts

Most humans have some amount of mental imagery, or visual imagery. You might find that you use the visuals to help you build and remember improv scenes. The extreme ends are considered to be neurodivergence (they are called hyperphantasia and aphantasia), but regardless of what or how much you have you can do great improv.
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For more information see “part 1” of this episode, which covers how visual imagination works and how it affects improv. You can find that episode here:
This episode focuses how to use visual imagery for memory recall in scenes and forms such as a monoscene or macroscene.
I discuss how visual imagery relates to flash memory (I mention this study here: The role of visual imagery in autobiographical memory).
I also include some maybe-practical tips that include:
* how to use this to improve your scenes (and why it’s important)
* good forms to try if you want to enhance visuals
* how to utilize these techniques for second beats of a scene
So if you’re working on how to remember and recall in your scenes better, consider strengthening your visual imagery techniques and see if it helps.
Thanks for stopping by, improv friend!
Thanks for reading! This article and the podcast episode it was based on was written/hosted/produced/whatever by me, Jen deHaan. You can blame me for the whole thing, it’s my fault.
Find the contact form for this podcast at FlatImprov.com/substack.
See the FlatImprov site for online shows, jams, and podcasts and stuff.
Improv Class: I have another online character class on April 13th at WGIS. Come say hi and do this class! This class is all about heightening YOU in a scene. BE YOU! You are good! It’s a one day workshop and it will be fun and you will learn new things about YOU. And improv. And characters. And fun.
REMINDER: I am alternating weeks of content. Podcast episode one week, written article the next. If you think you might want more content (extra podcast or article(s) per month) on this stuff, let me know by making a pledge to the substack.
Questions, comments, let me know:



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jendehaan.substack.com

Neurodivergent humans might communicate in a different way, a way that is difficult for neurotypical humans to understand. Different social communication styles not necessarily a deficit, and it’s not a pathology - it’s a difference. However, having difficulty communicating in a way other people understand it can be frustrating and isolating.
Because we’re misunderstood. And we don’t want to be! And it’s often why we mask.
There’s scientific study regarding being misunderstood too! In this episode I’ll talk about these studies (and they’re linked below).
I’ll also describe how this impacts improv scenes in different types of improv (oh my gosh I’m going to talk about dramatic longform narrative… WHAT). In future episodes I’ll talk about how this impacts improv teams and communities.
I am mostly going to describe autistic/allistic communication because the differences have been described in research. However, you can apply these communication differences to many different demographics. For example, communication across neurotypes has been compared to cross-cultural communication. It’s relevant in many contexts.
And I also want to note — of COURSE everyone is misunderstood, sometimes. As with many things in this series about neurodiversity we are talking about the complexity, intensity, and frequency of these situations.
Avoiding misunderstanding takes a lot of work. We need to attempt to avoid making assumptions, jumping to conclusions, and inquire if we hear something that might not make sense. Or is considered overly direct or whatnot. Or doesn't make sense.
Ask and answer questions or seek clarification. And listen to the response you receive! And, if it seems to be in good faith, take it as such.
Some of the studies I talked about
* Autism and the double empathy problem: Implications for development and mental health
* Perspective-taking is two-sided: Misunderstandings between people with Asperger's syndrome and their family members
This podcast and Substack
I will be releasing this podcast every second week. The weeks I don’t do a podcast I will publish a written article. So you will receive something every week but I’ll alternate the format.
It seems like some people found the written article helpful, so I’ll try that out on a regular basis now.
Also, I’m releasing these things on Wednesday now.
Plugs
This episode was written/hosted/produced/whatever by me, Jen deHaan. You can blame me for the whole thing, it’s my fault. Find the contact form for this podcast at FlatImprov.com/substack. See the FlatImprov site for other shows and podcasts and stuff.
IMPROV CLASS: I have an improv class/show series starting Feb 28th with WGIS. This class is an improvised morning show. We’ll learn and practice the form for six classes, and then do a four show series delivered both to video and podcast.
LAST CHANCE! Come join our team and show!
WHAT YOU LEARN:
* Character development.
* Sustaining characters.
* World building.
* Adding details/specifics/point of view.
* Clean unique edits.
* Improv for audio
* FUN! You’ll learn fun.
Join us! Info here.
ANOTHER IMPROV CLASS: I have another character class on April 13th at WGIS. Come do this class! It’s on being YOU and heightening it. YOU. As you ARE. However YOU are. It’s a one day workshop and it will be fun and you will learn new things.
An Improv Show: Check out WNIS, the World’s Nerdiest Improv Show. We have a livestream show on Thursdays at 6:30pm PT and you can find the old episodes at the previous link. And all of our fake ads about improv are here.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jendehaan.substack.com

Last week I promised an episode about finding the unusual thing: how you find what’s weird at the top of a scene when you’re setting up the base reality that leads to the game. And here is that episode.
Communication is a challenge in improv, especially when we have different neurotypes playing together (which is probably… always). Our cognitive wiring is a fundamental difference between us, and at times it can lead to communication challenges especially when we need to agree on something important (like what’s weird!) to drive a scene forward. Finding the unusual thing, then framing the unusual thing, so everyone is on the same page and can move forward.
And… what’s WEIRD anyway? We usually know, but sometimes it might be a mystery. Because of our wiring and lived experiences. Then what?
This episode includes examples of communication between scene partners. I’ll mention a bit of science about communication in a group situation, and provide real life examples of communication breakdown between neurotypes. But mostly I talk about about improv.
Even if you’re neurotypical, hopefully this ep will help you with noticing the unusual thing in a scene and framing it. And some things to try if and when that’s hard
Hopefully - for all neurotypes - this episode will help you effectively communicate with your scene partners at the top of a scene. So we can all move together efficiently, and on the same page, for the rest of the scene.
And I missed a lot, for sure, so let me know what I missed at FlatImprov.com/substack.
About this podcast & an improv class
This podcast is hosted/produced/whatever by me, Jen deHaan. You can blame me for the whole thing, it’s my fault. You can submit your questions, heckles, comments, blame, more heckles, or even a voice note on the website. Find the contact form for this podcast at FlatImprov.com/substack. See the site for other shows and podcasts and stuff.
You can also subscribe to this podcast where you get your other podcasts - Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castro, etc. If you like it maybe rate it if you’re on there? I’d appreciate it!
IMPROV CLASS: I have an improv class series starting Feb 28th with WGIS. This class is an improvised morning show. We’ll learn and practice the form for six classes, and then do a four show series delivered both to video and podcast. WHAT YOU LEARN: Character development, sustaining characters, world building, details, clean edits. FUN! Join us! Info here.
TALK AT YOU NEXT WEEK, IMPROV NERD FRIENDS!


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jendehaan.substack.com

I had A WEEK. So you’re getting AN EP that gets real.
So this week I experienced something related to last week’s episode (ep 10). I wrote all of the notes for an episode about finding the unusual thing as a neurodivergent improviser. But you’re getting that one next week, friend, because I’ve been thinking about this stuff instead.
And you know what happens when we get all focused on a subject. Well… this.
So this week I’m talking about how we observe small details, things many others don’t notice, particularly well due to our neurodivergent traits. It’s how we gather all those details, spew specifics, read our scene partners with aplomb, and care so much about what we know, do, and feel. And the world. It’s also how and WHY we see those patterns and make the connections so very well in life (and scenes).
I’ll talk about what neurodivergent traits and experiences we commonly have that make us so good at these things, and how you can work to enhance your observation to help make your scenes easier.
I’ll also get up on a soapbox to challenge the improv advice to “get out there and live life for your scenes!” for those details with my “yes, but”. Very different approaches in this regard are valuable and valid and equal and need to be noted.
Some of our experiences, like feeling socially isolated, are hard. I won’t minimize or toxic positivity them here. But they’re real, happen, it’s life, and we can utilize the pieces of data we get from these experiences in our improv practice.
About this podcast
This podcast is hosted/produced/whatever by me, Jen deHaan. You can blame me for the whole thing, it’s my fault. You can submit your questions, heckles, comments, blame, more heckles, or even a voice note on the website. Find the contact form for this podcast at FlatImprov.com/substack. See the site for other shows and podcasts and stuff.
You can also subscribe to this podcast where you get your other podcasts - Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castro, etc.
TALK AT YOU NEXT WEEK, IMPROV NERD FRIENDS!
OK. Here we go, it’s being published. Send.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jendehaan.substack.com

So in this episode you learn about the spectrum of visual imagination, from lots to none, and explore how you imagine visual details in improv. I cover what the spectrum of phantasia is, from hyperphantasia to aphantasia, then go into how it affects improv.
How you visually process details in a scene are not just important for exploring the environment, scene painting, or describing an object (the obvious parts). You can also use it to create characters or incorporate an emotion. Flash memory-ing an emotion involves phantasia! It affects a lot.
Can you improve your visual processing? Change where you are on the visual imagination spectrum? We’ll look at that kind of stuff too. I’ll give you some improv exercises to do to check out your own visual imagination.
Also apologies for using my space heater tonight half way through the recording. Oops. It cold! Removed most of the noise, but some artifacts remain. I’ll be cold next time or put on extra socks or something :)
About this podcast & links
This podcast is hosted/produced/etc by me, Jen deHaan. You can blame me for the whole thing. You can submit your questions, heckles, comments, blame, more heckles, or even a voice note on the website. Find the contact form for this podcast at FlatImprov.com/substack.
You can also subscribe to this podcast where you get your other podcasts - Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castro, etc.
PLUGS:
I have online improv classes starting in February at World’s Greatest Improv School (WGIS) (weegis) that involves character stuff and a new form and online show format. For the Morning Show, apply by Tuesday Jan 30 ‘24! These will be fun:
* Character Point of View class
* Improvised Morning Show - learn the form, do a show series
TALK AT YOU NEXT WEEK, IMPROV NERD FRIENDS!


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jendehaan.substack.com

Masking is a common behaviour for autistic and/or ADHD people. It’s a trait that can be subconscious or conscious, and one we take on to suppress natural reactions, responses, physicality or expressions. This, of course, can affect how we position ourselves in scenes if we are trying to be the voice of reason and respond naturally and honestly.
Thanks for reading Improv and Neurodiversity - The FlatImprov Podcast Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Masking can help us in improv, but also adds a challenge sometimes. With careful consideration, pondering, and a whole lot of processing I believe it can inevitably make us stronger improvisers. And maybe win improv?
This episode covers, in a mere 40 minutes of detail, the intersection of masking and playing the voice of reason in your scenes.
A future episode will infodump about our neurodivergent brains and the unusual… like identifying the unusual thing.
Refer to episode 6 for more info about neurodivergent masking and improv but instead about peas in a pod or character matching scenes:
About this podcast & links
This podcast is hosted/written/produced/etc by me, Jen deHaan, of FlatImprov.com. You can blame me for the whole thing. You can submit your questions, heckles, comments, blame, more heckles, or even a voice note on the website. Find the contact form for this podcast at FlatImprov.com/substack.
You can also subscribe to this podcast where you get your other podcasts - Apple, Spotify, Overcast, Castro, etc.
PLUGS:
I have online improv classes starting in February at World’s Greatest Improv School (WGIS) (weegis) that involves character stuff and a new form and online show format.
* Character Point of View class
* Improvised Morning Show - learn the form, do a show series
I have an improv show too called World’s Nerdiest Improv Show (WNIS) (weenis). Find episodes here.
TALK AT YOU NEXT WEEK, IMPROV NERD FRIENDS!


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jendehaan.substack.com