Improv Yak

In Episode 39 of Improv Yak, Carla chats with LA improviser and teacher, Brian O'Connell, about "Position Play" and "Deconstruction". Get out your notebooks and pens, this is one to take notes on!

In Episode #38 of Improv Yak, Carla picks up her previous conversation (#36) with good friend and fellow improviser, Nancy Hayden. They chat about Nancy's experience as a writer on the new Comedy Central show "Detroiters", and yak about all things improv and Detroit related. Both Nancy and Carla will be at the Detroit Improv Festival this August. Go to detroitimprovfestival.org to get tickets to shows and workshops.

In Episode #35, Carla yaks with Xchel Hernandez on his transition from the Phoenix to Los Angeles improv scene. They talk about feedback, failures and successes, and get into the nitty gritty of studying at iO West and The Second City in Hollywood. Xchel Hernandez is a multi-cultural improvisor currently residing in Hollywood, CA. He has performed on several festivals across The United States including Out of Bounds, The Phoenix Improv Festival, The Hollywood Improv Festival, Duke City Improv Festival, and many more. In 2014, he co-created the popular nationally touring Dissecting The Set. A monthly show that engages audiences in an interactive form of impromptu comedy. Xchel is a featured master of ceremonies in many public and private events.  He has received several awards in the field of comedy including a Best of the Festival in Phoenix, AZ. Xchel has attended schools in Arizona, Indiana, California, Illinois, and Texas. While attending Arizona State University, he produced many shows at The Torch Theatr

In episode number 34 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with the artistic director of Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica, Mike Betette. They discuss how Mike puts together teams at his theater, as well as the skill set he's looking for in an improviser auditioning for a team. Then they improvise a scene inspired by the word, "MISSING!"

In Episode 33 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with Co-Artistic Director of iO West, Colleen Doyle about "The Why" in improvisation. In this honest and informative conversation, they also touch upon the difficulties of being people pleasers and how giving and taking notes in a two person show can get tricky. 

In Episode 32 of Improv Yak, Carla sits down with long time improviser and teacher Stephen C. James and yaks about his experience teaching kids and teenagers.

In Episode 31 of Improv Yak, Carla chats with Second City alumna and teacher Jenna Jolovitz. They yak about Jenna's philosophy on making a bold choice and applying energy in a scene. They also discuss how a skiing experience humbled and reminded Jenna about what it's like to be a student. And then things get all oatsy-crunchy. 

In the season two premiere of Improv Yak, Carla talks with Los Angeles improviser Chad Damiani on his use of clowning and idiot work in improvisation. They also yak about tearing down the fourth wall between audience and improviser and discuss Chad's introduction to improvisation via wrestling!

In Episode 29 of Improv Yak, Carla hands over hosting duties to Craig Cackowski as they yak about her experience hosting season one. Carla edited nothing in this episode. Not. One. Thing.

In Episode 28 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with LA based improviser and teacher, Jaime Moyer, about her take on being a female improviser and the importance of making bold initiations. Then Carla and Jaime improvise a scene as two men and Jaime makes Carla laugh so hard she cries.

In Episode 27 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with her improv buddies Monique Madrid and Corey Rittmaster about performing improv and sketch comedy on cruise ships. They discuss what they did on the ship in between shows, as well as give advice on avoiding the buffet as much as possible.

In Episode 26 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with improviser Drew Coolidge about his different ways of exploring “theme” in improvisation. They also chat about Drew’s experience on Harold teams at iO West and UCB, as well as a short term correspondence he had early on in his career with improv guru and mentor, Dave Pasquesi. Drew Coolidge is a member of the iO West Harold team MAX as well as one half of the improv duo Ranger Danger and the Danger Ranger. He has performed for the last 13 years and taught improvisation all across the US, from Pennsylvania to Texas, Utah to Alaska. He has hosted videos for New Media Rockstars on YouTube and his writing has been featured on sites like CollegeHumor and Higgs Weldon.

In Episode 25 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with writer and improviser Charity Miller about the different improv schools she has studied and performed at in Los Angeles. They also talk about how improvisation has influenced Charity's writing technique. 

In episode 24 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with Los Angeles based improviser Pepper Berry about the assorted tools he picked up from studying and performing at a variety of LA's improv schools and theaters. Then they go to jury duty! (In an improv scene.)

In episode 23 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with Bob Dassie and Stephnie Weir about two person improvisation. They lay out what a Weirdass structure looks like on stage and discuss the idea of challenging each other and themselves after years of performing together.

In episode 22 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with Los Angeles improviser Chris McGowan about his thoughts on supporting the ensemble in improvisation. They also talk about the different ways "success" can be interpreted in regards to making a house team and they improvise a scene in the style of Doctor Who!

In episode 21 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with Los Angeles based improviser and Life Coach, Deanna Moffitt. They talk about the similarities between the feelings you have when falling in love and the feelings you have when improvising, as well as how the philosophy of "yes and" can change your life, and maybe one day, the world!

In Episode #20 of Improv Yak, Carla yaks with LA Improviser and Teacher, Celeste Pechous, about her recent experiences teaching improvisation at a Retirement Center.  They also discuss how improvisation has inspired Celeste in both her professional and personal lives.