Beyond the Basement podcast is the playground of Chris Kenworthy - an improviser, facilitator and coach, who’s exploring a broader range of what it is to be human.
Join me unpacking a recent experience of improvising at a festival - in a room that wasn’t quite ready to play. What started as a search for lightness turned into a fascinating, often excruciating ex…
Perhaps perfectionism’s just a quirk in your life, you’re not even sure what it is, or what it has to do with you - then this episode is for you.
I make the case for why it’s worth getting curious abo…
In this episode, I explore something you could call your play love language - the idea that each of us has a particular way we enjoy playing, even if we think we’re “not a playful person.”
I often mee…
In this episode, I talk about why letting go can feel almost impossible - especially for perfectionists. Not because we don’t want to relax, but because our whole system has been trained to hold on, …
If there’s one thing humans resist, it’s not knowing - stepping into a void of uncertainty (a.k.a being alive).
In this episode, I explore our very human relationship with the unknown. I reflect on ho…
In this episode, I explore a condition I call Seriousness Fatigue™ - a surprisingly common but under-diagnosed affliction affecting grown-ups everywhere. Symptoms include: chronic joylessness, relent…
If you’re a regular listener, you’ll know Laurie (my dog) was a robust presence in my life, and our relationship was both loving and incredibly challenging. It wasn’t simple. It stretched me, frustra…
Ever questioned your trust in yourself or doubted your capacity to do brave things? Ever felt weak or ashamed because of that?
In this episode I share reflections from periods of my life when I’ve fel…
Modern life really isn’t set up for being slow and still. It can feel uncomfortable, even pointless. Yet beyond the resistance, I’ve been discovering something tender, alive and a source of great rel…
Here I’m exploring the terrain of desire - not the surface-level kind, but the deep, bodily knowing of what you truly want and need. Speaking from a clearing in the woods, I reflect on the difference…
Join me for walk in the Austrian Alps, reflecting on a question few of us ever dare to ask, let alone answer: “How do you want to spend your time on Earth?” From the beauty of retreat to the discomfo…
What does wild swimming in an alpine lake have to do with improvisation? Everything, it turns out.
In this episode, I tell the story of standing on the edge of a glacial lake in Austria, feeling the p…
Some Perfectionists think they’re pretty easy-going. They don’t make a fuss. They go with the flow. Or do they?
In this episode, I explore the subtle difference between genuinely flowing with life and…
Ever wondered why you’re so hard on yourself?
In this episode, I share the story of how I became a Perfectionist - from the early signs I didn’t have a name for, to the moment it all clicked, and the …
By the time you hear this, I’ll have said goodbye to my dog Laurie.
This episode is me choosing not to “function” my way through the re-homing process - but to feel it, and to share that with you. I r…
What if the thing we’re all really searching for… is aliveness?
In this episode, I explore what I believe is a core human drive — the longing to feel something. To feel moved, stirred, stretched, awak…
Ever felt restless, frustrated or ‘just this side’ of anger - but can’t quite put your finger on what or why?
In this episode, I explore one of those days... When your body speaks louder than the mind…
In this episode, I explore what it really means to commit - not just in theory, but in practice, in the body, and in everyday life. Drawing from improv and personal experience, I explore the cost and…
Why do people try improv? Turns out, it’s not just for laughs (though those are definitely part of it). In this episode, I introduce you to the wonderfully diverse cast of characters who say yes to i…
We all know rest is important, but actually slowing down to stop? That’s another story. In this episode, I share my experience of slowing down and leaning into a winter cycle - what it really feels l…