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Your Improv Brain - Podcast

Your Improv Brain

Do you learn, coach, or perform improv and comedy? Then this show is for you. Jen talks about the intersection of comedy and different forms of thinking. How do our brains work when learning and performing improv. Because there are so many different types of brain wiring that affect how we learn and perform together.

Good comedy is neuroinclusive when you're performing or learning it. That means that you create a supportive environment inclusive and accommodating of all cognitive types and abilities to learn, write together, or perform. This includes both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals, and all the different ways we experience life. Which is… you, since that is every type of human brain!

These episodes are about the many different types of brains that exist in the comedy and improv space. It features the voices of neurotypical and neurodivergent performers, any and all of the variations of brain types we have.

The topics we discuss are relevant to comedy, improv, acting, and performance. We can be better at comedy and acting if we try to understand each other. When we do, we work together more efficiently, learn more effectively, and function on teams with more success. And we're funnier.

These episodes are not for diagnosing people, making excuses for bad behaviour, or a form of therapy. They are for discussing, learning, and being human in your improv or comedy practice!

Hosted by Jen deHaan, an autistic and ADHD comedy performer, improv enthusiast, and writer. Produced by https://StereoForest.com.

Note: This podcast was formerly called "Neurodiversity and Improv"! New name, same kinda stuff.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Comedy How To Arts Education Performing Arts Improv
Update frequency
every 9 days
Average duration
25 minutes
Episodes
38
Years Active
2023 - 2025
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An Improv Workout: 6 Exercises to Build Your

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How Forgetting Can Help to Get Out of Your Head in Improv

How Forgetting Can Help to Get Out of Your Head in Improv

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00:19:51  |   Mon 04 Aug 2025
Fail More to Learn More (Plus Seven Hacks to Help!)

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What if the key to becoming a great improviser is the number of failures you accumulate?

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Improving Communication Skills So You Can Improvise With Anyone

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To be a successful improviser, you have to communicate effectively with everyone on your team. But what happens when people think, communicate, and experience the world differently?

In this episode, …

00:18:57  |   Mon 21 Jul 2025
Mind Blank on Stage? A 3-Step Reboot for Your Brain

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That feeling of your mind going completely blank on stage is a top fear for any performer. But what if it's not a personal failure?

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00:19:18  |   Mon 14 Jul 2025
The Pain of Learning Improv: What to Assess, How to Respond

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Feeling frustrated, stuck, or even like you're getting worse at improv? This episode reframes the struggle.

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00:11:21  |   Mon 07 Jul 2025
A Source of Great Improv Ideas (bonus: Get Out of Your Head)

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If you struggle to come up with specific or original ideas in your improv scenes, there's something you can do between scenes to help with that struggle.

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00:11:33  |   Mon 30 Jun 2025
Improv Burnout? Prioritize Yourself for Better Improv Performances

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Are you sacrificing your well-being for your improv team? This episode of Your Improv Brain challenges the myth that good improvisers must be comedy doormats. Always saying yes outside the scene does…

00:15:55  |   Mon 23 Jun 2025
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00:18:21  |   Mon 16 Jun 2025
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Tired of being told to "get out of your head"? This episode of Your Improv Brain explores a different approach. Discover how your active inner voice, often seen as a distraction, can actually become …

00:25:04  |   Mon 09 Jun 2025
Suggestions for Protecting Your Mind While Doing Comedy

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This episode provides general suggestions to comedians, especially neurodivergent ones like us autistic and ADHD actors in comedy and improv, to protect our minds while engaging in comedy and with ot…

00:42:58  |   Tue 05 Nov 2024
New Podcast Name for One Year Anniversary

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This marks one year of making podcast episodes! There are some changes happening next week, and here's what those changes are. And the things not changing (most of it isn't change). Yeah, STUFF IS HA…

00:09:15  |   Tue 29 Oct 2024
Inclusive and beneficial icebreaker exercises for performers

Inclusive and beneficial icebreaker exercises for performers

Icebreakers. They're common in an improv class, at the top of a jam, or maybe when a team is just getting to know each other.

Some people love them.

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00:20:41  |   Tue 22 Oct 2024
Emotional Processing, Acting, and Improv (Alexithymia) - Part 2

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00:30:47  |   Tue 08 Oct 2024
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00:28:52  |   Tue 24 Sep 2024
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