Your Improv Brain

StereoForest Podcasts
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Your Improv Brain is a show that helps you understand your brain (and body!) to be a happier, better performer. I'll also explore the intersection of improv comedy, neurodivergence, and the science of performance. Episodes cover how different brain types, including neurodivergent and neurotypical minds, experience comedy and performance. The show discusses creating supportive environments and understanding cognitive differences in improv practice. Your Improv Brain also explores how neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism, impacts how we learn, coach, and perform. Host Jen deHaan - who is certifying in multiple programs based on nervous system regulation - gets into the science of why we freeze up on stage, how to find flow state, and using nervous system regulation tools to become a more resilient improviser and actor. Why this show is for you Whether you are neurodivergent or neurotypical, this show provides a neuroinclusive lens on the creative process. We move beyond "yes and" to discuss: How different brain wiring affects ensemble teamwork. Overcoming stage fright and the "body" side of performance. Tools for autistic and ADHD improvisers to thrive in rehearsals and shows. Improving coaching techniques for comedy teachers and directors. About the host Hosted by Jen deHaan. Jen is an autistic and ADHD comedy performer, writer, and improv enthusiast. These episodes offer a deep dive into the intersection of cognition and creativity to help you work more efficiently, learn more effectively, and ultimately, be funnier. More about Jen at https://jendehaan.com/about. Note: This show was formerly titled "Neurodiversity and Improv." Produced by: https://StereoForest.com This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Special: How well do you actually know your improv teammates (offstage skill building)

    This is a special extended (podcast-only) episode of Your Improv Brain on neurodivergent inclusion in the improv community. These episodes will focus on inclusion, nervous system regulation, and help neurodivergent improvisers understand themselves and help non-neurodivergent improvisers work better with their teammates and students. This is the first one. Hi! Think about the best improv team you've ever seen. That team where everyone seemed to know when to step in and when to hold back. That connection didn't come from scenework. It came from the offstage work of actually knowing each other. Jen talks about what it feels like, as an autistic person, to carry the belief that you're a burden in every space you enter. She names where that feeling shows up in improv (hint: it's rarely onstage), what autistic improvisers bring to a team, what's genuinely harder for us, and what teammates can do to include everyone equally. The episode ends with a team inclusion exercise called "What I Need From You" and a solo version you can try on your own. Have something to share? Add a comment here: https://improvupdate.com/how-well-do-you-actually-know-your-improv-teammates-offstage-skill-building/ Or reply to the newsletter I send out with these things (any newsletter!) ImprovUpdate.com/newsletter Key TakeawaysThe burden belief often starts early in life and gets carried into every space, including improv, whether you realize it or not.For many autistic improvisers, scenes feel safe because they have structure, but unstructured social time (group chats, hangouts after shows, pre-rehearsal mingling) is where the burden feeling lives.Autistic improvisers bring different pattern recognition, a willingness to name injustice, and perspectives that make scenes richer and teams stronger.Autism is a communication difference, and non-autistic people do not have a more correct way of communicating; both are valid, and the effort to bridge that gap should come from everyone.The fastest way to confirm someone's burden belief is to only engage with them when they're useful and go silent when they need support. Chapters00:00 — The best improv team you've ever seen 02:06 — This episode is about the offstage part 02:31 — The video that stopped me scrolling 03:35 — Who this episode is for 05:18 — Where the burden belief comes from 07:57 — Where this shows up in improv spaces 10:17 — The evidence problem 12:22 — What autistic improvisers bring to a team 13:47 — Communication differences 16:46 — What you can do as a teammate 21:17 — Team exercise: What I Need From You 22:46 — Caveats for running the exercise 24:08 — Solo version 26:00 — Closing ResourcesThe video I watched: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2189375501869990 Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed). Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You" Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads Review the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options. Apple Podcasts | Podchaser It helps out! Thanks! Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j AboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here. This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    28 min

  2. 5 DAYS AGO

    Metacognition and improv: how to use your monitoring brain in a scene

    "Get out of your head" is advice that sounds reasonable until you try to follow it. When you do, you end up monitoring whether you're monitoring the scene. That's just another layer of the problem. This episode covers metacognition (thinking about your thinking) and why it matters for improv. During the 2026 Winter Olympics, freestyle skier Eileen Gu gave an interview that went viral. A reporter asked whether she thinks before she speaks. She gave a detailed breakdown of how she monitors her own thinking in real time and treats that skill as something she's built on purpose. What she described is directly relevant to what happens in your brain during a scene. There are two kinds of self-monitoring happening when you're in an improv scene. One kind keeps you present and feeds your next move. The other pulls you into evaluation mode and uses up cognitive resources without giving you anything to act on. This episode breaks down the difference and explains why, for neurodivergent improvisers, the monitoring channel can run especially loud. Exercises covered: Ground My Brain (partner exercise): practicing the act of noticing when your brain drifts and coming back to the sceneSolo observation practice: building the habit of catching yourself in evaluation mode vs. curiosity mode outside of performance pressureBrain exhaustion drill (inspired by Will Hines): letting your planning brain run out before you start References: E31 Get Out of Your Head: YouTube / Podcast and Article Eileen Gu response: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-tbAaPXNeSg YouTube version of this ep: https://youtu.be/3YZ5wJ9Vvic Article for this ep: https://improvupdate.com/metacognition-and-improv-how-to-use-your-monitoring-brain-in-a-scene/ Chapters: 0:00 The problem with "get out of your head" 0:56 Eileen Gu and metacognition 2:07 Your monitoring channel in improv 4:47 Useful vs unhelpful self-monitoring 6:46 Neurodivergent brains and the nervous system 9:04 Exercises intro 9:38 Partner exercise: Ground My Brain 11:44 Solo exercise Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed). Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You" Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads Review the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options. Apple Podcasts | Podchaser It helps out! Thanks! Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j AboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here. This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    15 min

  3. 13 MAR

    Trailer for Your Improv Brain (2026)

    Your brain goes blank in the middle of a scene. Or the opposite happens: twelve ideas at once and you can't pick one, so you stand there smiling while your scene partner waits. Your Improv Brain breaks down improv concepts one at a time, for every brain type. Each episode covers a single concept, how neurodivergent brains might experience it differently, and what's happening in your nervous system when improv gets hard. Because sometimes the thing blocking your scene is physiological, and "just relax" has never been useful for us. Topics include how to start a scene, how to build a character with your voice, and how to actually listen instead of planning your next line. Every episode includes at least one exercise to practise with a scene partner, and most include a solo version for those working on their own. Whether you're autistic, ADHD, or just someone whose brain doesn't always cooperate on stage, this show is for you. New episodes drop every week. There's also a monthly bonus audio episode on inclusion, regulation, or neurodivergence. Find show details at improvupdate.com. Find the video version of these episodes at YouTube.com/@jdehaan Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed). Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You" Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads Review the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options. Apple Podcasts | Podchaser It helps out! Thanks! Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j AboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here. This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    2 min

  4. 9 MAR

    Emotion in improv: when to start big and when to stay grounded

    Emotion connects you to your scene partner, your character, and the audience. It gives a scene depth and grabs attention fast. And if you use it at the top of a scene, it can set the whole thing up in seconds. In this episode I talk about using emotion as part of your base reality. Most scenes start grounded, and that's usually what we're taught. But sometimes breaking that rule and starting at a full level 10 emotional reaction to something completely mundane creates something you remember for years. I also get into alexithymia, which affects about 10% of the population, and what it means for improvisers who have difficulty processing or labelling emotions. There are workarounds for all of this, and I've never once had an improv teacher bring it up in class. Two exercises in this one. The partner version, It's Tuesday, practises pairing a mundane statement with an extreme emotional reaction (and then flipping it). The solo version has you assigning emotions to sections of your room and launching into monologues at full intensity as you move between them. This is part of a series on the top of the scene, initiations, and base reality. Resources and downloads: https://improvupdate.com Article for this episode: This episode is part of a four episode series available on YouTube and audio podcast. You can find an article for this episode, and links to the full series on both platforms, here. Episodes about alexithymia and a big text-based overview here: https://improvupdate.com/emotional-processing-acting-and-improv-part-one-and-two/ YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/rwgBDmUqHEo Newsletter: https://improvupdate.com/newsletter Chapters 00:00 Why emotion matters in scenes 01:29 Initiations and base reality series 01:35 Delayed emotional processing and alexithymia 03:24 Workarounds you can use yourself 03:54 Starting grounded vs. starting at a 10 04:53 The chair scene I still remember 05:22 Why big emotional starts are worth practising 05:52 Partner exercise: It's Tuesday 07:20 Flipping the exercise 07:48 Solo exercise: Emotion quadrants 08:50 Training without a scene partner 09:20 A note on alexithymia and having each other's backs 10:48 Wrap up Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed). Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You" Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads Review the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options. Apple Podcasts | Podchaser It helps out! Thanks! Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j AboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here. This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    11 min

  5. 2 MAR

    Your brain went blank? Try this scene start instead

    Initiating a scene can be stressful at any level, and when your brain goes blank up there, it's easy to panic. In this episode I talk about a simple approach to scene initiations that Will Hines recommends: start by answering the question "where are you?" You can do it physically, verbally, or both, and it gives you and your scene partner something concrete to build on while your brain catches up. Two exercises in this one. The partner version, This Place Has So Much Flavour, has you enter a scene using only physicality and emotion to establish the character of the space before anyone speaks. The solo version, The Garage, has you handling objects in an imagined location and then describing the base reality you just created. This is part of a series on the top of the scene, initiations, and base reality. Resources and downloads: https://improvupdate.com Article for this episode: This episode is part of a four episode series available on YouTube and audio podcast. You can find an article for this episode, and links to the full series on both platforms, here. Newsletter: https://improvupdate.com/newsletter YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/8HXZl0LS7AU Chapters 00:00 Why initiations are stressful 00:56 Will Hines on answering "where are you?" 02:19 Why physicality buys you time 03:21 Using words to set location 03:47 Partner exercise: This Place Has So Much Flavour 05:17 Figuring out what you're doing together 05:47 Solo exercise: The Garage 07:17 Wrap up Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed). Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You" Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads Review the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options. Apple Podcasts | Podchaser It helps out! Thanks! Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j AboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here. This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    8 min

  6. 23 FEB

    Assume, don't ask: how to start better improv scenes

    Questions at the top of a scene are an advanced move, and if you're still building your skills, they can stall your scene before it gets going. In this episode I break down why questions are tricky at the top, what makes a good question versus a bad one in improv, and how assuming shared history with your scene partner gets things moving faster. I also talk about something that tripped me up early on: the weirdness of making assumptions about another person's character. If that feels uncomfortable to you, especially if you're someone whose brain flags assumptions as unfair, that makes sense. I get into why and how the pivot that comes from those assumptions can actually become the fun part. Two exercises in this one. A partner drill using "you look / you seem / you feel" to practise adding information without questions, and a solo version using a one-sided phone call format to train your assumed knowledge muscle. This is part of a series on the top of the scene, initiations, and base reality. Resources and downloads: https://improvupdate.com Article for this episode: This episode is part of a four episode series available on YouTube and audio podcast. You can find an article for this episode, and links to the full series on both platforms, here. Newsletter: https://improvupdate.com/newsletter YouTube version of this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNl6231OS5Q Chapters 00:00 Why questions are risky at the top of a scene 00:52 When you can break the "no questions" rule 01:52 Why questions are even harder at the top 03:22 Assume shared knowledge instead 04:22 Why assuming things might feel weird (and that's okay) 06:28 Partner exercise: You look / You seem / You feel 08:08 Solo exercise: One-sided phone call 09:14 Wrap up Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed). Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You" Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads Review the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options. Apple Podcasts | Podchaser It helps out! Thanks! Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j AboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here. This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    10 min

  7. 16 FEB

    You don't need backstory: starting scenes in the middle

    SURPRISE! I'm back. Hi! :) Starting a scene with two people standing there asking "who are you?" or explaining a bunch of backstory is one of the quickest ways to lose your audience. In this episode, I talk about why exposition bogs down the top of your scene and how starting in the middle of the action gives your scene immediate momentum. This is the first in a short four episode series about the top of the scene, initiations, and base reality. I reference Truth in Comedy (linked in the show notes below) and walk through two exercises: a partner drill where one player starts a physical action and the other identifies and justifies it, and a solo version arbitrarily called Narrate This where you practice describing and justifying your own actions in real time. Resources and downloads: https://improvupdate.com Truth in comedy: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/truth-in-comedy-the-manual-for-improvisation/9781566080033.html YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/WFyTR-IJc-s Article for this episode: This episode is part of a four episode series available on YouTube and audio podcast. You can find an article for this episode, and links to the full series on both platforms, here. Newsletter: https://improvupdate.com/newsletter Chapters 00:00 Why backstory kills your scenes 00:59 Truth in Comedy and why exposition doesn't work 02:29 Start in the middle of the action 03:59 Partner exercise: identify and justify 05:26 Adding challenge by making actions illegal 06:27 Solo exercise: Narrate This 07:33 Wrap up Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed). Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You" Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads Review the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options. Apple Podcasts | Podchaser It helps out! Thanks! Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j AboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here. This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    8 min

  8. 03/11/2025

    Five Vocal Exercises for Better Improv Characters

    Get the PDF "Vocal Basics for Improv" with all the exercises and concepts from this episode at https://improvupdate.com/downloads. This episode is all about using your voice in improv. You do not need to do "funny voices" to be a good performer, you can work with the attributes of your own voice and make some subtle shifts. I explain how to use your own voice effectively. These subtle changes to your vocal dynamics can create clear, grounded characters that you can heighten in a variety of ways. You'll get an overview of the core components of vocal musicality, and how to practice them. These include speech rate, cadence, and prosody. Understanding these is the first step to vocal control. Then, I share five specific improv exercises to practice these skills. I really REALLY want to redo the singing parts, oh gawd :) Also feel free to take a drink or something each time I bump the mic arm. Mentioned in this episode: Previous Episodes on Vocal Musicality: Figuring out your vocal speed (words per minute): https://youtu.be/3HK40OxMGno Exercises for voice: https://youtu.be/Z6ekXuwbpxk Newsletter Sign-up (with reflection PDF): https://improvupdate.com/newsletter Jill Bernard's "Small Cute Book of Improv": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3231956-jill-bernard-s-small-cute-book-of-improv Viola Spolin: https://www.violaspolin.org/publications Example of "Recitative": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDq4KqP7Pxs Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed). Get a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You" Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloads Review the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options. Apple Podcasts | Podchaser It helps out! Thanks! Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j AboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. You can find her bio here. This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com. This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    22 min
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Your Improv Brain is a show that helps you understand your brain (and body!) to be a happier, better performer. I'll also explore the intersection of improv comedy, neurodivergence, and the science of performance. Episodes cover how different brain types, including neurodivergent and neurotypical minds, experience comedy and performance. The show discusses creating supportive environments and understanding cognitive differences in improv practice. Your Improv Brain also explores how neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism, impacts how we learn, coach, and perform. Host Jen deHaan - who is certifying in multiple programs based on nervous system regulation - gets into the science of why we freeze up on stage, how to find flow state, and using nervous system regulation tools to become a more resilient improviser and actor. Why this show is for you Whether you are neurodivergent or neurotypical, this show provides a neuroinclusive lens on the creative process. We move beyond "yes and" to discuss: How different brain wiring affects ensemble teamwork. Overcoming stage fright and the "body" side of performance. Tools for autistic and ADHD improvisers to thrive in rehearsals and shows. Improving coaching techniques for comedy teachers and directors. About the host Hosted by Jen deHaan. Jen is an autistic and ADHD comedy performer, writer, and improv enthusiast. These episodes offer a deep dive into the intersection of cognition and creativity to help you work more efficiently, learn more effectively, and ultimately, be funnier. More about Jen at https://jendehaan.com/about. Note: This show was formerly titled "Neurodiversity and Improv." Produced by: https://StereoForest.com This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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