Yes But Why Podcast

This week, Yes But Why talks to Stephen Davidson, trans improviser, music teacher and published author. In this episode’s chat, Stephen tells Amy about studying improvised music in Montreal, developing inclusive improv workshops in London, teaching theater abroad in Japan and Australia and SO MUCH MORE! After they chatted, Amy was so inspired that she bought Stephen’s book, Play Like An Ally! Look, it came this week! Buy your copy TODAY!

This week, Yes But Why talks to Christopher Sullivan, co-artistic director of Modjeska Playhouse in Lake Forest, CA. Christopher tells Amy about how he was a juggling street performer in high school, his experiences as Tall Ship Captain “Sully”, and his passion for the unscripted theater at his Modjeska Playhouse. This was a great conversation with a fascinating man! We had such fun! Listen in!

This week on Yes But Why, Amy interviews Mikey Heller, head writer of Cartoon Network’s animated series, We Bare Bears. Amy (and her baby son) are BIG FANS of We Bare Bears and she was overjoyed to be able to chat with Mikey and thank him for making her new favorite show! Mikey talks to Amy about the collaborative process of We Bare Bears, his start in cartooning, and performing standup comedy. This is an awesomely nerdy episode about story structure and creative process. SO AMAZING!

This week’s Yes But Why episode features Chicago improv teacher, producer and performer, Nelson Velazquez. Amy met Nelson a few years ago when he came to Austin for Out of Bounds with his musical improv troupe, Los Improviachis. In our interview, Nelson talks to Amy about how long it can take to find your own voice, about falling into leadership roles and about finding a great mentor. Nelson is an entrepreneurial entertainer and his drive is awe inspiring! He is doing so many shows that we can’t even believe it! He performs regularly with Los Improviachis, Salsation, Makeshift Up Improv, The Tony Stanzas AND he just recently started his own company, Improductions LLC to produce MORE fun workshops and shows! Whaaat??! Amazing!! Support Nelson by contributing to the Improductions LLC Patreon! Keep an eye out for this guy and take workshops with him whenever you see he is in your town! Enjoy this episode!

This week on Yes But Why, Amy talks to Australian improviser Jaklene Vukasinovic. Jaklene shares her experience performing and teaching improv in Melbourne with Impro Melbourne and The Big Hoo-Haa. She didn’t always know that improv was something she should do but when she tried it, it changed her life. We talk about all the adventures that got her to where she is now. You can meet Jaklene next week at the New Zealand Improv Festival! Watch her perform at The NZIF Gala and take a workshop with her during the festival as well!!! Enjoy this amazing guest!

In this week’s episode of Yes But Why Podcast, Amy chats with Pirates of Tokyo Bay founder Mike Staffa! Amy cuts straight to the nitty gritty up top in this episode with a deep dive question about why improv fills Mike’s soul. Then, Amy and Mike talk about Osaka, the comedy capital of Japan, about connecting improv with Japanese audiences, and about balancing creativity with business. Mike was a great guy to talk to and he shares lots of stories about his experiences running Pirates of Tokyo Bay, Tokyo area’s only bilingual improv comedy community. This is a great podcast to listen to if you ever wondered what if you just decided to go do improv in another country. This is that story. Enjoy the adventurous spirit of Mike Staffa!

In this week’s Yes But Why Podcast episode, Amy and Wendell chat with Louisville improviser and producer, Stefan Gearhart as he celebrates 19 years of doing comedy. Listen in to learn how improv in Louisville, KY gets done! Stefan shares stories about performing beachprov in Florida, about roadtripping to Los Angeles and about producing the Dam Good Improv Festival in Louisville! We had a lot of laughs in this exciting conversation! Join us!

On this week’s episode of Yes But Why Podcast, Amy talks to Nashville performer Lacie Madison. Lacie started out her career in Nashville as a musician but then she fell in love with improv and now she runs the Nashville Improv theater! Listen in as Amy and Lacie talk about Stephen Fry, country music, Carol Burnett, counseling, Tom Hanks, musical improv and MUCH MORE! If you live in the Nashville area, go meet Lacie at one of Nashville Improv’s many amazing shows!

This week on Yes But Why, Amy talks to Delaware improviser Dan Stabb about the ups and downs of a career in improv.Dan talks to Amy about filling the creative void after departing the short form troupe he directed for nearly eight years. Dan and Amy talk about what it’s like changing scenes from city to city, about producing the Tax Free Comedy Festival and about using the basics of Yes And to do life coaching. Dan is getting married soon and Amy gives him advice much to everyone’s chagrin! So fun! Listen in to this wonderful conversation between two likeminded improvisers!

This week on Yes But Why, Amy and Wendell chat with improviser and theater administrator Roger Anderson. Roger is part of the team that runs Station Theater in Houston, Texas. Roger shares stories of growing up doing comedy bits with his sister Caroline, moving to Los Angeles to do comedy and falling into the barbershop quartet scene. Listen in as Amy and Wendell chat and laugh with the funny and sweet Roger Anderson!

Today’s episode is the final segment of Yes But Why’s showcase of Out of Bounds talent and it is yet again an amazing double feature! This week, we are presenting our chat with local Austin improv powerhouse Chuy Zarate followed by our great conversation with comedy power couple Edi Patterson and Dan O’Connor!Amy had a great time talking to Chuy Zarate! They couldn’t believe they had never met each other before as they are clearly cousins (just look at that photo)! In this chat, Chuy talks about how his stubborn nature has kept him going in improv, how #representationmatters in all aspects of theater, and how to navigate an active performance schedule when you have kids. Support Chuy’s show TONIGHT on the final night of Out of Bounds!(All info on oobfest.com)An Evening With... With Tyler and Chuy Feat. TosinMon, Sep. 3rd, 8:00pm at the Hideout Theatre (Downstairs) In our 2nd interview, Edi Patterson and Dan O’Connor tell Amy all about how they met when Edi was taking classes at the Hideout and Dan came into t

This week, Yes But Why Podcast features the talent of Joe Liss & Molly Brenner! To celebrate the Out of Bounds Festival happening in Austin (Tues 8/28-Mon 9/3), Yes But Why is interviewing some of the performers and workshop instructors that are coming to town! In the first interview, we talk to actor/writer/improviser Joe Liss about his adventurous life of performing and creating comedy. Joe Liss is a really nice guy. He will be teaching a workshop during OOB weekend and he will also be performing with his duo improv troupe Liss N Sams! Joe shares stories about getting his Equity card at Second City, writing a movie for Chris Farley and immersing himself in the San Francisco improv scene. Joe has written and created many amazing characters during his career and he can help you find yours in his workshop!In our next interview, Amy talks to comedian and content creator, Molly Brenner. Molly’s the kind of person that doesn’t let anything get in the way of her dreams. Listen in as Molly tells stories of over

This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, we are releasing a very special combo episode! To celebrate the Out of Bounds Festival in Austin (Tues 8/28-Mon 9/3), Yes But Why will be speaking with some of the performers and workshop instructors that are coming to town! In this episode, Amy chats with comedian Ian Abramson and improv teacher, Will Luera. In the interview with standup comic Ian Abramson, Amy and Ian talk about the internet’s obsession with Ian’s mustache, Ian’s love for vaudeville and the development of Ian’s show, 7 Minutes in Purgatory. Ian is very friendly and a little odd (in a good way) and he has great advice for aspiring comedy performers! During OOB weekend, Ian has plans to visit the Museum of the Weird and he says he would absolutely love it if Yes But Why listeners join him in celebrating Austin’s weirdness while he is in town!In Amy’s discussion with Will Luera, they talk about his thirst for knowledge and his drive to share what he has learned with improvisers all across the world. Will s

This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, Amy talks to screenwriter and film producer, Bradley Jackson about what it takes to “make it” in a creative career. Amy has been a fly on the wall on a couple of projects Bradley has worked on so she was very excited to speak to him about his life in film. Bradley tells the tale of his first ever filmmaking experience, made in his dentist’s office as a kid; he talks about the formative education he got from UT’s Radio Television & Film program; and, he shares the trial and error of developing a narrative in the documentary film, Dealt. Get on the path to success with Bradley’s advice on identifying your creative focus and finding your team!Watch Bradley’s recent films, Balls Out and Dealt on VOD and find his sci-fi series Crunch Time on Rooster Teeth! And keep your eyes peeled for anything produced by Bradley and his team at Ralph Smyth Entertainment because it will definitely be good!!

This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, Amy chats with Arcade Comedy Theater founder, Kristy Nolen about Pittsburgh and the great improv community she and her team has built there. Kristy tells funny stories about how she got on her first IO house troupe by going to see a band and how she decided to give dating her husband a chance at Boom Chicago in Amsterdam. She shares gems of wisdom from her experience as a casting assistant and as a comedy show producer. Kristy Nolen is a great example of someone who has built a complete and full life in the theater. Enjoy!

This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, Amy chats with TV writer Helen Krieger. Helen and Amy went to college together in Dallas and have worked together on comedy for years.  Helen tells Amy all about her move from... Read more The post Yes But Why ep 117 Grownish staffer Helen Krieger shares what it is like working in Hollywood as a female comedy writer! appeared first on Yes But Why Podcast.

This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, Amy and Wendell talk to improviser, playwright and middle school theater teacher, Jeremy Sweetlamb. Jeremy talks about starting out in the Austin improv scene at Monks’ Night Out in the Velveeta Room as... Read more The post Yes But Why ep 116 Jeremy Sweetlamb talks about the beginnings of the Austin improv scene and the next generation of theater kids coming up now! appeared first on Yes But Why Podcast.

This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, Wendell has his first ever solo hosting! Wendell chats with rapper Mike Fitts about growing up in Texas, playing and composing music, and starting an artist collective. Check out Mike’s new album coming out soon on Spotify! #echoisalwayslistening #becomeSpidermanagain

This week on the Yes But Why Podcast, co-hosts Amy and Wendell reconnect! We’ve missed Wendell while he worked hard out in the world and we’re glad to have him back! We got together to watch a couple Friends episodes together and then chat. Listen in as we talk about weird drugs, Houston, aliens, Michael Jackson, and the glory of being a fat idiot. Amy tells her classic story of when she had to join a gang in NYC. Check out this totally weird rabbithole discussion.

This week, Yes But Why #Podcast features Comedian, Rachel Austin. Rachel urges you to put your grocery cart away OR ELSE. We talk to Rachel about watching horror films in her own special way, about connecting... Read more The post Yes But Why ep 113 Rachel Austin of Fallout Theater discusses confidence, debate and fear. appeared first on Yes But Why Podcast.