Improv Interviews

Meet my good friend Bob Mann. We met during the pandemic and I had the good fortune to teach with him online at his alma mater, University of Oklahoma School of Social Work on "Improv and Therapy". Bob is an amazing human being who has dedicated his life to helping others. Bob has an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Tulsa Community College and a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Social Work from The University of Oklahoma School of Social Work. Bob started in mental health as a psych tech in 1987 and now carries nearly forty years in the field. He’s spent the last twenty-five in state and federal government in administrative and clinical roles. Bob’s direct clinical practice was providing intensive case management and substance abuse services to veterans experiencing homelessness. In 2011, Bob was inducted into the OU Social Work Hall of Fame. This was slightly less surreal than when he was Mr. August in the 2005 Oklahoma Men in Nursing Calendar. Bob performs with multiple troupes at OKC Improv and has performed in festivals across the country. Improv turned out to be the perfect companion to clinical work — a way to reconnect people through play, presence, and well-timed chaos. Bob’s current mission: blend improv, mental health, aging, and community in ways that help people heal, laugh, and maybe even surprise themselves. To see Bob in action check out his OKC Improv links https://youtu.be/79bH1JyDlHY?si=K4HSfFWbDZeenhO0 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu6Cs0xSIbOtY-Yng0ywl3DA8vOTrdaco&si=lEqHkcBDNe5-YacJ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu6Cs0xSIbOvmTdZ3C1d9r9dBg0kZQlc0&si=wwv_vGybpiLGw39e https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu6Cs0xSIbOsBwk2okrrMOwYFyNU0BKnq&si=JY2QS2D6TQUPLSdv Link to DOC reentry work https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ps.62.1.pss6201_0073 VA HUD VASH Program

Meet the wonderful Bev Fox! Bev has run Boho Arts’ School of Improv in Newcastle-upon-Tyne UK since 2003, serving a vibrant creative community of people from all walks of life. Bev’s improv journey began in 1988 on a rainy night in London when, as aspiring actors, she and her young sweetheart - now long-term partner - Ian McLaughlin ventured out through the storm to an improv class. That “sliding doors” moment changed their lives. Over nearly four decades, Bev has performed, taught and developed improvisation across stage, film, TV and radio. She is also a co-founding member of The Suggestibles, Newcastle’s professional improv ensemble. Bev and Ian’s teaching, grounded in training with Keith Johnstone and other pioneers of the form, continues to evolve. They love to invent, explore and inspire. You can see Bev’s interviews with Keith Johnstone that have become valuable teaching resources for improvisers worldwide on YouTube. Bev established Boho Arts as a charity in 2021 during the pandemic, inspired by the global improv community they reached and how improv connected people from around the world to their local Newcastle groups. The experience proved especially meaningful, highlighting the positive impact of laughter, human connection and cultural diversity on both their own and their students’ wellbeing, while sparking fresh ideas for improv on camera and for when the world would open up again. In 2026, they will open a new community arts hub in Newcastle, a "Third Place" dedicated to improv, creativity and wellbeing. Find out more: bohoarts.co.uk Contact Bev: hello@bohoarts.co.uk Follow: facebook.com/schoolofimprov | facebook.com/bohoartsNCL | instagram.com/bohoartsNCL

I first met Emma with a T during the pandemic online and was immediately taken by her energetic and playful improv. We chat about her improv journey starting in Bristol , including studying with The Bristol Improv Theatre, https://improvtheatre.co.uk She was able to continue to study the Art of Improv with wonderful teachers like Patti Stiles and Jay Sukow during the pandemic. She plays in person and online with many troupes and different styles. She is a freuquent performer on Highwire Improv https://highwireimprov.com One troupe has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe where she also guested in other shows. Two of her online troupes have gone on to perform in person as well as online. Currently she is studying Improv Instruction Deconstructed with Rich Baker at Queen City Comedy. We love Emma and are excited about where her improv journey takes her next. Be sure and check out this video of Emma playing at Highwire Improv https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH7UWNud8lo&list=PLzEjFjctkjeQrZKBQLNieXRMlnos0rRPH&t=577s Here are ways to get in touch with Emma! https://linktr.ee/emmatimprov https://www.instagram.com/emmatimprov www.facebook.com/emmaTimprov https://youtube.com/emmatimprov Features episodes of The Emma T and Bela Show, Scene Time ! with Emma T series and other videos. https://highwireimprov.com/improviser/emma-t/

David Escobedo is definitely an Improv treasure! Since we last spoke he received a Ph.D. in Improv Training in the UK. We chat about what that process was like and he gives great tips on anyone pursuing any kind of Ph.D. David is well known around the world as a fabulous improviser , author , father, podcaster and the creator of The Improv Boost, https://www.facebook.com/BoostImprov The Improv Boost is a community with 29K followers! David supports so many improvisers and artists around the world and as he pointed out, not just the "famous" actors but many who are unknown. The Improv Boost is a must for anyone who loves Improv ! David now lives in Chester, UK and is the father of 4 year old Qinton, who is featured on his podcast, "David is Curious" on Apple Podcasts. You can get in touch with David at: https://linktr.ee/MrDavidEscobedo Sign up for his email list here! https://theimprovboost.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6779da8b62e4ba10af741f734&id=c1f4effc0c

Meet Alex Mann, Improviser, Actor, Author and a Corrections Officer with a Sheriff’s Office for 28 years in Boston, Massachusetts. I was particularly interested in his use of improv with first responders as I had spent several years as a Critical Incident Stress Responder in Florida. He has authored "The Law of Improv": Yes, and for First responders" which you can see on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@theLawofImprov or better yet, buy his book on Amazon. He is an amazing person who is also a member of SAG-AFTRA. He is doing really important work bringing improv to corrections facilities and to other law enforcement folks! In our talk we covered a lot about his improv philosophy and techniques including; how improv tools help regulate stress responses and improve emotional resilience, what “leading from presence, not position” looks like in real-world policing and public safety, practical communication strategies anyone can use to lower conflict and build trust, and how creativity and mental health intersect in both leadership and everyday interactions. You can learn more about Alex at: Website: alexmanncomedy.com Instagram: @alexmanncomedy Facebook: Alex Mann Comedy Podcast: The Law of Improv – coming soon Email: alexmanncomedy@gmail.com

Meet my dear friend Vishok, Verma from Bangalore, India. We've been colleagues for several years and he has even been a substitute coach for my Improv for Parkinson's Classes. He is continually bringing improv to his community and the world! He has recently started his "Yes, Let's Improvise for 15 minutes" which I played with him last year - so much fun! Yes-Let's Improvise for 15 Minutes!! - https://www.facebook.com/share/17kZQtCcud/ Also, Vishok is a Social Entrepreneur, International Improv Coach, and Artist. He is also an Applied Improv Practitioner, along with Effective Communication Skills Training. With around 9 years of experience in Improv performance and teaching, along with Applied Improv (in-person and online), he has trained a variety of audiences from 39 countries, and their age ranges from 5 Years to 85 Years. He recently facilitated a workshop and a panel discussion at the Vietnam Improv Festival, 2025. He has studied with numerous international online groups, including the Vintage Improv Community and Queens City Comedy (USA), Improv College (Canada), and Doc Cooper Community (Germany), among others. In Bangalore, he is building Improv Springs and sometimes jams with the No Pressure Improv Community. Jay Sukow is his mentor. Social Media - Insta - Vishok Verma (@vishok_verma) • Instagram photos and videos LinkedIn - Vishok Verma | LinkedIn Linktree - vishokverma | Instagram, Facebook | LinktreeVishok

We're starting the New Year with our good friend the talented and stunningly transparent Hillary Kane! I met Hillary through Billy Merritt (player with the original Upright Citizens Brigade) who created the BIT Comedy Network, https://bitcomedynetwork.com. Billy praised her leadership role at BIT, "Hillary is amazing, she’s the COO, chief organizing officer. We would not have BIT without her." Hillary produces and edits these wonderful shows and does a fabulous job! She is currently living in San Antonio and we chatted about our favorite Westerns, and our love of the Alamo! She grew up in California and studied theatre and psychology but ended up as an attorney. She began classes at UCB and discovered that she could play improv 7 days a week! She studied with the legendary Ian Roberts who taught the flash memory skill which she still uses today. She is also the host of the podcast, "Shut Up, Gail" and has a really unique way of interviewing her guests. Hillary is a dynamic and generous spirit and I think you'll love her as much as I do!

Meet the dynamic Kim Thanh Le ! Many thanks to my producer, Bright Su ,for introducing us. We had such fun getting to know each other and learning about her improv journey! She was born and raised in Hanoi and loves her city. She is a Hanoi-based improviser/writer. She is the founder and director of The Improv Hub, Vietnam's first community space dedicated to improv, and the Vietnam Improv Festival. Thanh has been building the improv community across Vietnam, bringing this special art form to audiences who are mostly experiencing it for the first time. A lot of the shows and classes she has produced in her country are bilingual, to treasure both local cultures and international bonds. She has also taught and performed in Australia, China, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. With an academic background in education and business, she also applies improv to design training and facilitation programs on collaboration and development for organizations. This past year she taught at the Oslo Impro Festival and taught "Culturally Proud" and "Generational Bridges" which she describes on our podcast. When not doing improv, she gets nerdy and writes case studies about Asian businesses, or takes her motorbike and wanders around Vietnam. You can learn more about her at: The Improv Hub https://www.improv.vn or any of the social media handles for The Improv Hub (FB/IG) and Vietnam Improv Festival (FB/IG).

In our second hour with Dr. Steph we explore her improv journey, starting as a musical director at Chicago theatre such as IO, Comedy Sports and Second City. We shared our love of the "mother of improv" Viola Spolin and discussed the myriad improv schools and forms that we see today. She studied musical improv with, Mike Descouteaux, legendary founder of the celebrated Music Program at The Second City Training Center in Chicago. That was where she really heightened her playing and working with improvisers. Dr. Steph describes the art of improv and how much it is now a global phenomena. And starting January 4 she is teaching an online class at And, Also Improv and there is still space available at https://andalsoimprov.culmas.io/class/2ynoy17uHUk2FLDfnuqZ?from=component-api

Carlisle is the only city In County Cumbria, UK and one of the oldest cities, spanning 2,000 years. Someone who hasn’t been there quite that long is the marvelous Dr. Steph McCullough, world renowned musical improv director! In this first of a two-part interview, Dr. Steph describes her love of her husband James and her new hometown of Carlisle. In her unique and melodious way, Dr. Steph describes her journey from Chicago to this historic city that is close to Hadrian’s Wall, a place she loves to explore. She shares the story of her long distance love affair with James is better than any Hallmark movie, and it brought tears to my eyes. As she lives near Scotland she performed the 2025 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. We discussed her research project on “seniors” while pursing a Ph.D., interviewing Del Close. Dr. Steph hadn’t entered the world of improv yet and wasn’t sure she wanted to after meeting with this historic figure. When studying at the IO she met up with Del again. Recently she has created The Improv Lineage Project, a research project that already has 700 participants on their personal improv lineage. You can join the study below. https://improvlineage.com To learn more about Dr. Steph you can visit her YouTube channel for some lessons on musical improv.