Actor’s Notes

Giovanni Axibal
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  • Performing Arts
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Actor’s Notes is a solo podcast exploring acting, improv training, communication, mindset, discipline, and the process of creative growth. Hosted by Giovanni Axibal, each episode reflects on real experiences! from Second City improv classes to auditions, creative blocks, confidence, and the lessons that show up while doing the work. This isn’t advice from someone who’s “arrived.” It’s documentation from someone actively becoming. Actor’s Notes blends performance craft with life lessons, emotional awareness, and honest reflection New episodes weekly.

  1. 13h ago

    Confidence Changes Everything | Second City Improv Week 7

    ever hold back on a choice because you're worried it'll come out wrong? same 🎭 finishing improv 1 at second city and reflecting on the thing i kept coming back to: trusting myself enough to commit. accents, awkward moments, going blank, and bringing that same confidence onto my first feature film set. i'm still in the messy middle with you. next time you catch yourself second guessing, take a breath, listen, and give your choice a chance. what's one choice you've been holding back on? all my links: https://beacons.ai/giovanniaxibal listen on spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3yyPg5IjdoTePqoq9vZlb6

  2. 1d ago

    Stop Trying to Be Funny | Second City Improv Week 6

    week 6 at second city and the reminder is simple: you don't have to force the funny 🎭 ever get so focused on saying something clever that you stop listening to the person in front of you? this week i'm talking about being truthful, giving your scene partner something to work with, and trusting that a specific choice is enough. questions, relationships, object work, and what to do when your mind goes blank. all part of learning to stay present instead of trying to carry the whole scene yourself. what helps you stop overthinking and actually listen? let me know in the comments 👇 catch up on week 5: https://youtu.be/xH8UAn_VrqM find me everywhere 👉 https://beacons.ai/giovanniaxibal

  3. 2d ago

    Get Out of Your Head | Second City Improv Week 5

    starting improv 1B at second city and apparently i brought a whole checklist into my head 🎭 ever know exactly what you're supposed to do in a scene and still get stuck thinking about all of it? same. this week i'm talking about giving your scene partner a name, building a relationship in three lines, and remembering to actually look at the person in front of you. plus the advice i needed from tall tom: have fun. and a little question i'm taking outside the classroom too: if this is true, then what else? new episodes every week as i go through all 22 weeks of improv at second city chicago. let me know in the comments what helps you get out of your head 👇 0:00 Welcome back to Actors Notes 1:29 Starting Improv 1B 2:24 Networking just means talk to people 4:13 Coming back to the foundations 5:09 Showing up takes courage 7:03 The three line scene 8:25 Give your scene partner a name 11:34 Trust what you say is enough 12:31 Remember to have fun 14:27 Get out of your head 15:25 Look at your scene partner 17:12 Why questions take instead of give 18:22 When your partner keeps asking questions 19:37 Choosing Improv for Actors 22:00 What I still need to work on 23:39 If this is true, then what else? 25:49 I'll see you in the next one find me everywhere 👉 https://beacons.ai/giovanniaxibal

  4. 3d ago

    Who, Where, What Do You Want | Second City Improv Week 4

    last day of improv 1A at second city and i was running on 3 hours of sleep after a 5 hour drive 🎭 ever hold back in a scene because you're waiting for someone to save you? same. in this one i get into freeze tag (not the one from recess), why you should tag your scene partner out early instead of letting them blank, the pillars game, and the three questions i ask in every improv scene AND every script: who are you, where are you, what do you want. plus a little homework at the end: practice active listening today. with your friends, your family, the cashier, even the guy at the gym you're trying to avoid. new episodes every week as i go through all 22 weeks of improv at second city chicago. let me know in the comments which lesson you're taking with you 👇 0:00 Welcome back to Actors Notes 1:06 Networking just means talk to people 1:34 How Second City's improv levels work 3:00 Improv 1A vs 1B 3:28 Why I barely took notes this week 4:29 Driving 5 hours for a 3 hour class 5:57 Community and belly laughs 7:21 Freeze tag (not the one from recess) 8:49 Why you should tag early 10:08 The pillars game 13:32 Who, where, and what do you want 14:29 Miming and specificity 14:58 Relationship, relationship, relationship 15:28 Goals vs preconceived ideas 16:54 Something I haven't said before find me everywhere 👉 https://beacons.ai/giovanniaxibal

  5. 4d ago

    Why Questions Kill Your Scene | Second City Improv Week 3

    week 3 at the second city and we upgraded "yes, and" to "hell yes, and" 🎭 ever catch yourself firing questions at your scene partner? or blank so hard you forget your own name? same. in this one i get into why asking questions is basically stealing from your partner, the coming home game that taught me specificity without saying a single word, why every scene should start in the middle, and the move i use when my mind goes completely blank. plus a little homework at the end: stay self aware today. we're all living truthfully under our own imaginary circumstances. new episodes every week as i go through all 22 weeks of improv at second city chicago. let me know in the comments which lesson you're taking with you 👇 0:00 Welcome back to Actors Notes 1:24 What we covered in week 3 2:48 Three line scenes and "hell yes, and" 5:30 Fully accepting the gift 6:27 Listen with your eyes, not just your ears 6:55 The Coming Home game 8:17 Why specificity makes a scene interesting 9:43 Why you never ask questions in improv 11:44 Start your scene in the middle 13:30 Tina Fey and the Chicago improv scene 14:19 What to do when you blank 15:46 Sometimes a little is enough 16:41 Improv is being truthful under imaginary circumstances 17:33 Justify it 19:25 Learn the rules so you can break them 19:54 Something I haven't said before find me everywhere 👉 https://beacons.ai/giovanniaxibal

  6. 5d ago

    Celebrate Your Mistakes | Second City Improv Week 2

    week 2 at the second city and honestly this one hit different 🎭 you ever freeze up in a scene and default to bossing your partner around? same. in this episode i get into why so many improvisers fall back on anger or teaching, why you should "kill your babies" (thanks Del Close), and why one simple, specific line is usually all your scene partner needs. plus a little homework at the end: practice active listening today. with your friend, your mom, the cashier, anyone. new episodes every week as i go through all 22 weeks of improv at second city chicago. let me know in the comments which lesson you're taking with you 👇 0:00 Welcome back to Actors Notes 1:27 Know who you're improvising with 3:18 Why improvisers default to anger or teaching 5:16 Mime in improv, never in self tapes 8:36 Accepting gifts and "yes and" 10:43 Baby steps and the redeemable quality 12:44 Creating an inside joke with the audience 14:40 Celebrate your mistakes 16:03 Always assume, never guess 17:59 Learn the rules so you can break them 19:18 Trust what you say is enough 22:11 Kill your babies 24:39 You're the expert in your scene 26:15 Be in the process, not correct 27:41 Your homework: practice active listening find me everywhere 👉 https://beacons.ai/giovanniaxibal

  7. 6d ago

    What I Learned From 22 Weeks of Improv | Second City Improv Week 1

    The fastest way to become a better actor, improviser, and scene partner might be to stop trying to be perfect. Giovanni reflects on his first week at Second City Chicago and the improv lessons that changed how he thinks about confidence, specificity, and taking up space on stage.From the “yes, and” rule to the trap of “polite improviser syndrome,” this episode turns beginner-class insights into practical guidance for anyone who wants to perform, communicate, or create with more confidence. Giovanni also shares what it was like learning from instructor Tom Rhodes, working with classmates from different places, and discovering how the right room can shift your mindset.You’ll hear about: Why “no but,” “yes but,” and “yes and” are more than warm-up gamesHow specificity makes a scene more interestingWhat it means to lead and follow in an improv sceneWhy your relationship to your scene partner and surroundings mattersHow “polite improviser syndrome” can hold performers backWhy trusting your first idea can be better than overthinking itGiovanni also reflects on the realities of acting life from rejection and unusual call times to the pressure to find the “right” path and offers a reminder that there often isn’t just one. For actors, improvisers, and other creatives, the takeaway is simple: treat yourself like a genius, and give other people the chance to do the same.

  8. Sep 16

    Why Your Upbringing Makes You a Better Actor Than You Think

    Actors Notes, where Giovanni turns the lens on his own life as a half-Russian, half-Filipino actor. He shares how growing up between two cultures taught him to read subtext, trust instinct, and make bolder creative choices in auditions. He also breaks down why your upbringing, cadence, humor, and even your “edges” can make a performance more memorable—if you stop trying to sand them down.You’ll discover: Why cultural differences can become an acting advantage instead of a limitationHow Russians and Filipinos shape communication in very different, very useful waysThe mindset shift that helps actors stop delivering “safe” performancesWhy making a bold choice matters more than guessing what casting wantsHow food, family, and identity all connect back to honest creative workGiovanni also touches on the importance of real human creativity in an AI-heavy world, the value of community-driven art, and the inspiration he’s drawing from an indie animated Filipino project while waiting on his own audition results.Perfect for anyone who loves cultural commentary, actor insights, or the kind of episode that starts with street food and ends with a lesson on how to breathe, trust yourself, and stand out. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to cultural influence in acting 02:24 Humor and cultural expression in Filipino households 05:15 Focusing on emotion and subtext in performance 07:38 Risks and authenticity in character portrayal 08:31 Recap of key acting principles 09:10 The importance of real content over AI-generated work 11:30 Celebrating Filipino culture and community 13:22 Trust your intuition and embrace your upbringing 14:02 The significance of authenticity and boldness in acting 15:08 Understanding ginhawa as a metaphor for breathing and presence

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About

Actor’s Notes is a solo podcast exploring acting, improv training, communication, mindset, discipline, and the process of creative growth. Hosted by Giovanni Axibal, each episode reflects on real experiences! from Second City improv classes to auditions, creative blocks, confidence, and the lessons that show up while doing the work. This isn’t advice from someone who’s “arrived.” It’s documentation from someone actively becoming. Actor’s Notes blends performance craft with life lessons, emotional awareness, and honest reflection New episodes weekly.

Information

  • Creator
    Giovanni Axibal
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Giovanni Axibal
  • Show Website
    Actor’s Notes