The Imperfect Impulse w/Bree O'Connor

Bree O'Connor
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Join Bree O'Connor in a weekly exercise to expand your self awareness and inspire your creative practice. breeoconnor.substack.com

  1. Vacay Impulse

    Apr 16 ·  Bonus

    Vacay Impulse

    When the Impulse Don’t Stop, Mini-Episodes Gotta Drop! While cruising through my IG feed between rest areas on I-90 (don’t worry, it’s not my turn to drive) I am having thoughts about feminine desire and its evolutionary enmeshment with the male gaze, procreation, commodification, and resources (both physical and emotional). Is there a point when a lusty stare will fall out of fashion? Or would that be a denial of an inescapable, primal truth? Will we ever be able to tell truly nuanced vampire stories in which they wear sweatpants and listen to Adele while crying over their mortal lover’s gravesite? Will we ever be able to stage a Tennessee William’s play without lingerie? I dunno. That’s kind of up to us, isn’t it? Keep checking in. Mini-episodes will drop sporadically throughout the summer break and I’ll keep you up to date on all the Playful Substance shenanigans including our participation in Reading Resistance at The Old Stone House in Brooklyn on May 30th, the release date for our self-directed online courses, some exciting video interview drops including our first with playwright Niki Hatzidis who has just adapted her stage play, Setting the Sky on Fire , for audio release with Playful Substance! Keep creating. There’s room! Thanks for listening to The Imperfect Impulse. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    10 min
  2. S 2 Ep 20: Your Feelings Make Me Uncomfortable

    Mar 19

    S 2 Ep 20: Your Feelings Make Me Uncomfortable

    I went down a rabbit hole with a triggering Reddit post this week. It started me thinking about all of the backbends we have done to make people feel more comfortable in the theatre (in particular), how those efforts may have backfired and whether we might be negating the power and purpose of the form. Being vulnerable and/or accountable are big challenges for us as a society right now. Living a perfectly curated life behind the shield of a screen helps us avoid discomfort… and growth. It is the 20th episode of our 2nd season (That is 40 total episodes!) This means I will be taking a little break before jumping into Season 3. You can expect some mini-episodes along the way as I give some thought to what I may want to cover moving forward. Have thoughts or questions? You can always reach out to me here or by email at artisticdirector@playfulsubstance.com Thanks for listening to The Imperfect Impulse. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    25 min
  3. S 2 Ep 19: The Squelched Impulse

    Mar 12

    S 2 Ep 19: The Squelched Impulse

    The body doesn’t lie. This is why we need to acknowledge and incorporate the body into every single choice we make. To complicate matters, a cast is an entire network of bodies that are allergic to untruths and we must work together to find the winding (and often strange) path to truth. If you are interested in our Writers’ Groups or upcoming Memoir Programs, visit our website playfulsubstance.com. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    19 min
  4. S2 Ep 18: Catharsis and Clarity

    Mar 5

    S2 Ep 18: Catharsis and Clarity

    We know it when we see it from another artist, don’t we? The work may be powerful but it makes us avert our eyes and leaves us with a nagging feeling that the artist rushed the work and perhaps exploited their own experience. Or the work possibly feels undercooked, defensive and petulant, maybe even whiny. How do we avoid these pitfalls in our own work? Today’s episode makes the argument for continual self exploration and self-knowledge to strengthen your artistic output. To find out more about our upcoming workshops, check out our Artist Services page on playfulsubstance.com. Unreliable Narrator is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    23 min
  5. S 2 Ep 17 The 7 Habits of Emotionally Stable Arts Practitioners

    Feb 26

    S 2 Ep 17 The 7 Habits of Emotionally Stable Arts Practitioners

    There is nothing like a blizzard for giving you some space to think. This week, I have been thinking about how and why artists succumb to negative thoughts and behaviors. This lead me to think about healthy habits in my own practice- those that I have implemented and those that I am consciously trying to develop. So far, I have come up with a list of 7: * Cultivate Self Awareness * Lean on the Wisdom of Your Discipline * Embrace the Stress Cycle * Feed Yourself * Take Your Work Beyond Catharsis to Craft * Don’t Pick It Up, Don’t Lay It Down * Give Yourself Credit for Experience and Humble Yourself for Future Growth I am positive this in not a definitive list, but it is a conversation starter! Do you have habits you can add to this list? If you are interested, here are some useful links from this week’s episode: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle Iconoclast: Dave Chappelle and Maya Angelou If you find this podcast useful or intriguing, please consider sharing! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    24 min

  6. Feb 19

    S 2 Ep 16 Kill Your Darlings

    Today we are talking a bit more about story craft, specifically looking at what might be hidden inside repetitive images, language or anecdotes in your narrative. It happens to all of us- we find ourselves drawn to some kind of repetition and we cringe when we enter rewrites. How many times am I going to use this phrase or riff on this same image/idea? How many times, indeed! Join me in the search for meaning in a peanut butter sandwich! As promised, if you are interested in getting tickets for Jerry Palooza on March 6th, you can find tickets and information at our.show/jerry-palooza. It’s going to be a seriously good time! And don’t forget to check out some new and exciting things over on playfulsubstance.com. You’ll find all kinds of information there and we are building more resources each week. Thanks for listening to The Imperfect Impulse! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    15 min
  7. S 2 Ep 15 Market Realities

    Feb 13

    S 2 Ep 15 Market Realities

    Is this week all about yelling “GIT OFFA MY LAWN!” accompanied by Jazz Hands? Maybe. This interview snippet with Carrie Coons has been making the rounds on the socials among my theatre friends and I think that the whole concept of celebrity needs to be discussed openly and WITH our audiences. It may sound like sour grapes- and maybe it is- but celebrity fuels so much of the business and the business has shrunk so much that we will reach a breaking point unless we talk to our audiences about why this is happening. If you are wondering why there is nothing new under the sun and why entertainment is stagnating you need only look as far as your own purchasing habits to see what’s what. If you want something new and exciting, you will have to go out on a limb and find it. You will have to risk not liking something! I promise, a bad movie, play or concert can fuel more spirited dinner conversation than a good one and isn’t that conversation part of the reason we subject ourselves to new experiences anyway? I am sure this topic won’t go away, but neither does your power in the marketplace. Try something new. Speaking of which, our Memoir Writers’ Group starts March 26th. You can find out more HERE. Tickets for Jerry Palooza go on sale Monday, February 16th! Check out playfulsubstance.com for updates and info! Thanks for listening to The Imperfect Impulse. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min
  8. S 2 Ep 14: Why? Why? WHYYYYYYY???

    Jan 29

    S 2 Ep 14: Why? Why? WHYYYYYYY???

    What? Fair. I don’t think I’ve been getting enough sleep so this ay take a few passes to make sense. I’ve been thinking a lot about the central question behind your piece and how having a clear question gives you an honest to goodness quest for your story. Oh, man. That’s good. I wish I would have thought of that line when I was recording this episode. Quick! Somebody write that down! Oh- I just did. Right. Not a lot of sleep lately. ANYHOO… A good central question can help you put your story, your character arcs, your plot points, and necessary actions all into alignment. It can help you peel away that which is cool, but superfluous, and send your characters into definitive action inside the given circumstances. Without the question, you have nothing to discover. You already know it all. Where’s the fun in that? Speaking of fun, if you are interested in our upcoming online memoir programs, our Writers’ Groups, or our upcoming events in NYC- make sure you check out our fancy new website at playfulsubstance.com. We are putting in new updates and features every week so keep coming back for more! I think it is time I took a proper nap. I’ll be back soon. Thanks for reading Unreliable Narrator! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min
See All (41)

About

Join Bree O'Connor in a weekly exercise to expand your self awareness and inspire your creative practice. breeoconnor.substack.com

Information