Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight

BIT Improv Comedy Network
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The SPOTLIGHT Podcast is The BIT Comedy Network's educational and experimental stage. Veteran ensemble members create and produce shows outside BIT's three established formats. These new producers are encouraged to explore forms, characters, themes, etc.

  1. Shut Up Gail 11 - Ohio's Freddie Simone

    4 DAYS AGO

    Shut Up Gail 11 - Ohio's Freddie Simone

    Ohio Raised. Truth Bomb Fed. Enlightened as Hell. Guest: Freddie Simone (Ohio's own Inlightened Ediot™) What happens when Gail sits down with a comedian who proudly calls herself an Enlightened Idiot—with the E and I intentionally swapped? You get a conversation that's equal parts stand-up set, philosophy lecture, and spiritual mic drop. Fresh off their PodFest 2026 meet-cute, Gail welcomes Freddie Simone, creator of Foxy Freddy Entertainment, a performer who delivers wisdom with bite, humor with heart, and truth bombs with impeccable timing. Freddie believes enlightenment doesn't require silence, softness, or spellcheck, and she makes a compelling case that laughter might be the fastest route to clarity. This episode dives into: Why being smart and dumb at the same time might be the most honest way to live How comedy can sit in discomfort without losing the laugh The art of delivery (because you can say almost anything… if you say it right) Why play, joy, and feeding your inner child aren't optional—they're survival tools And why sometimes the most enlightened advice is simply: "Shut the f* up."** It's bold. It's funny. It's surprisingly tender. Like Freddie herself—crunchy on the outside, gooey on the inside. Best Line Pull-Quotes "We're all smart, but we're dumb, okay?" "Shocking but sweet. Sweet and shocking—that's the brand." "The world would be better if people just shut the f*** up." (Honorable mention to the turkey pesto sandwich discourse, which somehow became a spiritual metaphor.) Rapid-Fire Highlights Preferred delivery system: Truth bombs (no glitter, please) Carnival ride name: The Motaco Mixer Enlightenment vs. sandwich: Jury's out—but toast the bread, and we'll talk Final Word This episode is a reminder that wisdom doesn't have to whisper; sometimes it laughs loudly, swears a little, and tells you exactly what you didn't know you needed to hear. And yes. Freddie absolutely tells Gail to shut up. Repeatedly. 💖 Follow Freddie: Facebook Instagram

    14 min
  2. Shut Up Gail - Margot Escott | Ep 10

    8 JAN

    Shut Up Gail - Margot Escott | Ep 10

    🎧 SHUT UP GAIL – Episode 11 Play Is Not Optional (with Margo Escott) Play is not a reward. It's not a break. It's not something you "get back to" when life calms down. According to Margo Escott, play is essential — and she's been proving it since the 1970s. In this Season 2 premiere of Shut Up Gail, Gail sits down with Margo Escott: psychotherapist, New Games referee, improv teacher, and lifelong champion of joy. What unfolds is a grounded, hilarious, deeply human conversation about laughter, resilience, Parkinson's, anxiety, failure, and why yelling "TA‑DA!" at your mistakes might actually change your life. 🧠 What We Talk About Why play isn't optional, for kids or adults How improv became a powerful therapeutic tool Using play with people living with Parkinson's (and their care partners) Why CBT + mindfulness + improv is a secret weapon for anxiety The radical idea that there are no mistakes Pain vs. suffering — and how presence loosens suffering's grip Gibberish dinnertime (yes, really) 💬 Best Lines "There are no mistakes. Everything you do is meant to happen." "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." "Play helps us get out of our heads — and back into being human." 🎭 The Yelling (Mandatory) Margo delivers not one, not two, but multiple heartfelt, joyful, and slightly mischievous renditions of: "Shut up, Gail." Because professionals commit to the bit. 💥 Why This Episode Matters This isn't just an interview — it's permission. Permission to play. Permission to fail loudly. Permission to laugh in the middle of hard things. And permission to tell Gail to shut up. If you want to yell at Gail, please email us at TheBITComedyNetwork@gmail.com "The BIT Spotlight" is part of The BIT Comedy Network. Visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to listen to our other podcasts or apply to join the ensemble. CAST Gail: Hill Kane Herself: Margot Escott MUSIC: "Zombie Clambake" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © (RIP buddy :() "The BIT Spotlight" and "Shut Up Gail" are part of The BIT Comedy Network. Host, Producer, Director, Editor, Art, Co-Creator: Hill Kane Show Runner, Co-Creator: Billy Merritt Co-Creator: Paul Vato Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing. Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com "The BIT," "The BIT Comedy Network," "Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight," and "Shut Up Gail" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. ©2025-2026 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Send inquiries + notices + requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

    11 min
  3. SHUT UP GAIL w Jay Sukow - Bonus Double Episode/Season Finale

    08/12/2025

    SHUT UP GAIL w Jay Sukow - Bonus Double Episode/Season Finale

    🎙️ Shut Up, Gail – Season Finale: "Yes, And Your Way to World Domination" Guest: Jay Sukow Host: Gail Shepherd (Not Like Cher, but kinda like Cher) Improv legend Jay Sukow drops into Gail's virtual lair to talk shop, shout affirmations, mispronounce "spatula," and accidentally invent the word "fyrk." If you've ever wondered whether failure is your superpower, or if you should microwave fish at work (spoiler: don't), this episode is your new religion. Get ready for: 🎭 The Renaissance of Improv: Jay reflects on the early days of doing scenes with 12 nerds in a rec center and how improv went from "misfit hobby" to "mandatory corporate training." 📉 Failing Spectacularly: Why bombing is beautiful, and how to embrace every weird moment like you meant to do it all along. 🧠 Tools Not Rules: The improv mantra that might save your life—or at least your next Zoom meeting. 🔥 Rapid-Fire Madness: Gail grills Jay on late-night shows, Beastie Boys, Brave Spaces, and… boardroom jams vs. Chicago dive bars. 💥 Plus: -Improv for four-year-olds and vintage performers -Side-mouth Cher impression -A surprise Shakespeare reference (because Gail has a degree) -"Shut Up, Gail" yelled with emotionally intelligent rage -Winslow the British assistant (who definitely ghosted Jay) 🎧 Best Lines: "You're in control of your character. Stop acting like your character owns you." "We don't need rules. We need a fyrk." "Failure is the gift. The comedy is in the mess." 🛑 WARNING: This episode contains high-level improv geekery, joy, and at least two sincere metaphors involving bunting. Be sure to come back on Janaury 8th for the Season Two kick off.  If you want to yell at Gail, please email us at TheBITComedyNetwork@gmail.com "The BIT Spotlight" is part of The BIT Comedy Network. Visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to listen to our other podcasts or apply to join the ensemble. CAST Gail: Hill Kane Himself: Jay Sukow MUSIC: "Zombie Clambake" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © (RIP buddy :() "The BIT Spotlight" and "Shut Up Gail" are part of The BIT Comedy Network. Host, Producer, Director, Editor, Art, Co-Creator: Hill Kane Show Runner, Co-Creator: Billy Merritt Co-Creator: Paul Vato Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing. Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com "The BIT," "The BIT Comedy Network," and "Shut Up Gail" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. ©2025 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Send inquiries + notices + requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

    34 min
  4. Back Stage at The Regency - Season One Finale

    22/11/2025

    Back Stage at The Regency - Season One Finale

    In this tenth and season finale episode, Andrew, the technical director of the Regency Theatre is joined by the Regency's resident scenery performer Steckman, fresh off her return from the Great White Way. They are joined again by British actor Kristian Night Lewis to discuss bidets and racing cars, and local lucky actor Jenny Blessed to talk about winning lotteries and stopping wars.   Backstage at the Regency will be dark for a few months before returning for Season 2 with all new episodes. Thanks for listening!   CAST: Andrew - Luke Bovard Steckman - Lisa Steckman Kristian Night Lewis - Dean Aisles Jenny Blessed - Thea Marie Thorkildsen   Have a question for the fine theatre folks at the Regency Theatre? Please e-mail us at backstageattheregency@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram at @backstageregency Follow BIT Comedy Network on Instagram at @bitcomedynetwork and Facebook  @BITComedyNetwork. "The BIT Spotlight" is part of The BIT Comedy Network. Created, produced, and edited by Luke Bovard Graphics/Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing Special Thanks: Billy Merritt MUSIC: * Showtime - Cabaret - Revue by Julius H. * It's Showtime by VictorvanTast   Music provided by PixaBay (a Royalty Free Platform) Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com "The BIT," "The BIT Comedy Network," "The BIT Spotlight," and "Backstage at The Regency" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. © 2025-2026 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Inquiries + Notices + Requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

    41 min
  5. SHUT UP GAIL – Paul from OSLO | Ep 8

    08/11/2025

    SHUT UP GAIL – Paul from OSLO | Ep 8

    🎙️ SHUT UP GAIL – Ep. 8: "From Cult to Carnival" with Paul Omarr This is the eighth installment of Bit Behind the Scenes (a.k.a. Shut Up Gail). Listen, follow, rate, and share... PLEASE and THANK YOU! This month, Gail heads to Oslo for a deeply human (and surprisingly funny) conversation with Paul  — a Norwegian comedian, scholar, and improv performer whose journey from cult survivor to carnival-level creative proves that humor and healing can share the same stage. From growing up in a strict congregation to discovering freedom in the unpredictable world of improv, Paul turns personal history into powerful storytelling — with warmth, self-awareness, and the occasional spreadsheet. 🧠 In This Episode: ✨ How growing up in a "cult" shaped Paul's understanding of language, leadership, and laughter 🎭 Why improv became his portal to autonomy and self-expression 🧩 Navigating neurodivergence and sensory challenges in the performance world 🎤 What it's like to host a festival, research your teams, and still find time for brisket jokes 🥨 The link between critical thinking, character work, and sauerkraut 💬 Quotable Moments: "I already freed myself before improv — but improv freed me even more." "Critical thinking is important … but once I'm on stage, I just see whatever the universe gives me." "Oh shut up Gail, you're amazing." 🇳🇴 Bonus Bits: 🕯️ How Paul channels past trauma into empathetic comedy 🧠 The science of decoding neurotypicals — one scene at a time 🍖 Brisket, sauerkraut, and other cross-cultural improv food groups Be sure to come back on the 8th of each month for a new "snack-sized" episode of SHUT UP GAIL. Next month, Gail ends her first season with a kickass interview with the one and only, JAY SUKOW!!!! If you want to yell at Gail, please email us at TheBITComedyNetwork@gmail.com "The BIT Spotlight" is part of The BIT Comedy Network. Visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to listen to our other podcasts or apply to join the ensemble. CAST Gail: Hill Kane Himself: Paul from Oslo MUSIC: "Zombie Clambake" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © (RIP buddy :() "The BIT Spotlight" and "Shut Up Gail" are part of The BIT Comedy Network. Host, Producer, Director, Editor, Art, Co-Creator: Hill Kane Show Runner, Co-Creator: Billy Merritt Co-Creator: Paul Vato Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing. Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com "The BIT," "The BIT Comedy Network," and "Shut Up Gail" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. ©2025 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Send inquiries + notices + requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

    14 min
  6. Backstage at the Regency - Ep 9

    22/10/2025

    Backstage at the Regency - Ep 9

    In this ninth episode, Andrew, the technical director of the Regency Theatre, is distracted and accidentally leaves the podcast recording equipment on, and the ghosts of the theatre decide to host an episode.   CAST Andrew/Bartholomew  - Luke Bovard Lindsey  -  Thea Marie Thorkildsen Tommy - Hillary Kane Constance - Terry Armstrong Have a question for the fine theatre folks at the Regency Theatre? E-mail us at backstageattheregency@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram at @backstageregency Follow BIT Comedy Network on Instagram at @bitcomedynetwork and Facebook  @BITComedyNetwork. "The BIT Spotlight" is part of The BIT Comedy Network. Created, produced, and edited by Luke Bovard Graphics/Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing Special Thanks: Billy Merritt MUSIC: * Showtime - Cabaret - Revue by Julius H. * It's Showtime by VictorvanTast   Music provided by PixaBay (a Royalty Free Platform) Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com "The BIT," "The BIT Comedy Network," "The BIT Spotlight," and "Backstage at The Regency" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. © 2025 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Inquiries + Notices + Requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

    37 min
  7. Shut Up Gail - Thea Marie | Ep 7

    08/10/2025

    Shut Up Gail - Thea Marie | Ep 7

    🎙️ SHUT UP GAIL – Ep. 7: "Cats, Clapbacks, and Contrasts" with Thea Marie Thorkildsen This is the fourth installment of the Women of BIT.  Listen, follow, rate, and share... PLEASE and THANK YOU! This month on Bit Behind the Scenes (a.k.a. SHUT UP GAIL), Gail gets philosophical, improv-sical, and mildly feline-ical with Norwegian multi-hyphenate Thea Marie Thorkildsen—a political scientist turned stand-up comic, improv rebel, and self-declared curator of "Cat of the Day" (even though it's weekly). 🧠 In This Episode: 🏛️ How nine years of political science, psychology, and history shape Thea's comedic instincts 🎭 Why breaking the "Yes, and" rule might make you a better improviser 🐱 What neighborhood cats really think of Thea's stand-up (spoiler: it's "meow") 👏 The story behind her improv group The Clap (yes, that's what it's called, and no, not for that reason) 🎤 Performing solo at Oslo Improv Festival and 121 times at Edinburgh Fringe (!) ⚡ Rapid-Fire Round Includes: Regression analysis on improv + stand-up combos UCB vs. Second City for first dates National Cat Day vs. Talk Like a Pirate Day (cat supremacy confirmed) Spanish-language improv show titles and fringe audience chaos 💬 Quotable Moments: "Improv taught me you can break the rules—if you know the rules." "My cat critics would just say… 'meow.'" "Gail, you are weird and cool, so shut up, please?" 🇳🇴 Bonus Bits: Thea's guide to navigating Norway with just a "plastic card" Gail's journey into Duolingo Norwegian A teaser for the gang's upcoming Norway Improv Festival takeover Be sure to come back on the 8th of each month for a new "snack-sized" episode of SHUT UP GAIL. If YOU want to yell at Gail, please email us at TheBITComedyNetwork@gmail.com "The BIT Spotlight" is part of The BIT Comedy Network. Please visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com and check out our other podcasts or to apply to the ensemble.   CAST Gail: Hill Kane Herself: Thea Marie Thorkildsen   MUSIC: "Zombie Clambake" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © (RIP buddy :() "The BIT Spotlight" and "Shut Up Gail" are part of The BIT Comedy Network. Host, Producer, Director, Editor, Art, Co-Creator: Hill Kane Show Runner, Co-Creator: Billy Merritt Co-Creator: Paul Vato Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing. Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com "The BIT," "The BIT Comedy Network," and "Shut Up Gail" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. ©2025-2026 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Send inquiries + notices + requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

    15 min
  8. Shut Up Gail - Amber | Ep 6

    08/09/2025

    Shut Up Gail - Amber | Ep 6

    Gail is going to interview as many BIT lady improvisers as she can this summer! Gail forgot to mention she was globe-trotting in August, so... WHOOPSIE!!! No August episode.  This month, it's the third installment of the Women of Bit! Gail interviewed the incredible, DC-dwelling, hilarious, and kind ... AMBER BELLSDALE. Caps locked,baby! Listen, follow, rate, and share... PLEASE and THANK YOU! Be sure to come back on the 8th of each month for a new "snack-sized" episode of SHUT UP GAIL. Coming up in October, Gail has the Norway Improv Phenom, Thea Marie Thorkildsen! It makes sense to have Thea on the October episode because the BIT Crew is sending a team to perform the rabbitHOLE at the OSLO Improv Fest. That's so forking cool!   If YOU want to yell at Gail, please email us at TheBITComedyNetwork@gmail.com "The BIT Spotlight" is part of The BIT Comedy Network. Be sure to visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to check out our other podcasts or to apply to the ensemble.   CAST Gail: Hill Kane Herself: Amber Bellsdale   MUSIC: "Zombie Clambake" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © (RIP buddy :() "The BIT Spotlight" and "Shut Up Gail" are part of The BIT Comedy Network. Host, Producer, Director, Editor, Art, Co-Creator: Hill Kane Show Runner, Co-Creator: Billy Merritt Co-Creator: Paul Vato Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing. Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com "The BIT," "The BIT Comedy Network," and "Shut Up Gail" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. ©2025 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Send inquiries + notices + requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

    15 min
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The SPOTLIGHT Podcast is The BIT Comedy Network's educational and experimental stage. Veteran ensemble members create and produce shows outside BIT's three established formats. These new producers are encouraged to explore forms, characters, themes, etc.

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