Episodes
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes the wonderful crowd of Philadelphia to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse owner Ariell Johnson! Ariell chats about what her first pet’s name was, all of her fish she had growing up, and why she’d prefer a cat over a dog if she were to get another pet. Then, they are joined by improvisers Eugene Cordero, Tawny Newsome, and Little Janet Varney, to improvise a story set at San Diego Comic-Con. And as always, Eban...
Published 09/10/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes everyone abruptly back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is writer/comedian/actress Kulap Vilaysack of Bajillion Dollar Propertie$! Kulap chats about being the child of refugees, which zoo is her favorite, and learning to breathe with the Grinberg Method. Then, they are joined by improvisers Maribeth Monroe, Mano Agapion, and Ify Nwadiwe, to improvise a story set in Reno, Nevada. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on...
Published 09/03/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes all the distracted people back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is Jay Ellis of HBO’s Insecure! Jay chats about which country is the most romantic and why, the perils of long bus rides, and his most exotic animal sightings. Then, they are joined by improvisers Gary Anthony Williams, Ryan Gaul, and Jaime Moyer, to improvise a story set at in Eudora, Arkansas. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!
This episode...
Published 08/27/18
Paul F. Tompkins gets philosophical in welcoming listeners back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is actor/comedian Scott Thompson of The Kids in the Hall! Scott chats about what song he puts on when a hookup comes over, becoming content with himself, and staging an countrywide intervention for the US. Then, they are joined by improvisers Colleen Smith, Chris Grace, and Mano Agapion, to improvise a story set in a High School Auditorium. And as always, Eban (only the...
Published 08/20/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes music lovers back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is author/actress/musician Calpernia Addams! Calpernia chats about her first memory, figuring out what was going on in pop-culture when she was younger by sifting through Mad magazines,and the mixtape that changed her life. Then, they are joined by improvisers Kimia Behpoornia, Maria Blasucci, and Ronnie Adrian, to improvise a story set Inside the Mind of a Horny Housewife. And as always, Eban...
Published 08/13/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes you back to the good ol’ show known as Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is Sam Richardson of Veep and Detroiters! Sam chats about why he is here, coming to the conclusion that he wasn’t religious when he figured out Santa Claus wasn’t real, and what was his concept of God when he was little. Then, they are joined by improvisers Ally Beardsley, Ronnie Adrian, and Carl Tart, to improvise a story set at a High School Graduation. And as always,...
Published 08/06/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes you, no matter near or far, back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is winner of the 2018 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Karthik Nemmani! Karthik chats about whether or not he pretends to like/read famous writers when they die, his love of tennis, and if he sees a time in the future where he doesn’t want to spell words. Then, they are joined by improvisers Matt Gourley and Mark McConville, to improvise a story set in Dallas. And as always, Eban...
Published 07/30/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes friends near and far, high and low, & big and small back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is writer/professor/author Roxane Gay! Roxane chats about what her name, personality and occupation would be if she were born the opposite sex, playing at construction sites as a kid, and never meeting a dog she’s been cool with her whole life. Then, they are joined by improvisers Ego Nwodim, Gary Anthony Williams, and Maria Blasucci, to improvise a...
Published 07/23/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes listeners right under the wire to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is Kaitlin Olson of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and The Mick! Kaitlin chats about what her spirit animal would be if she has met or seen it before, the biggest person who has hugged her in her adult life, and her favorite animal as a child. Then, they are joined by improvisers Carl Tart, Jean Villepique, and Marc Evan Jackson, to improvise a story set Backstage at an...
Published 07/16/18
Paul F. Tompkins finishes up some business and welcomes listeners back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is actor/improviser Erin Whitehead of Wild Horses! Erin chats about what she would do if she saw herself from 5 minutes ago across the room eating a banana split, what kind of magic she was waiting for as a kid, and making herself sound smarter in her old journals. Then, they are joined by improvisers Edgar Momplaisir and Laci Mosley, to improvise a story set...
Published 07/09/18
Paul F. Tompkins surprises unsuspecting listeners on today’s Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is actor and improviser Veronica Osorio of the Treks and the City Podcast! Veronica chats about what she would make a souvenir penny machine for, why she’s been drawing vaginas lately, and dubbing the songs for Dorothy during a performance of The Wizard of Oz in high school. Then, they are joined by improvisers Amanda Lund, Shaun Diston, and Matt Gourley, to improvise a story set...
Published 07/02/18
Paul F. Tompkins is proud of his listeners on today’s Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is stand-up comedian Caitlin Gill! Caitlin chats about what style concept she’s always wanted to try, living in the basement of Bobcat Goldthwait, and her experience under the influence of mushrooms. Then, they are joined by improvisers Tony Rodriguez, Joan Ford, and Steve Szlaga, to improvise a story set in A Craft Fair. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!
Published 06/28/18
Paul F. Tompkins is confident in welcoming back everyone to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guests are comedy couple Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher of Take My Wife! They chat about why you shouldn’t watch TV in the morning, Emilio Estevez’s relatives, and what the musicals about their lives would be called. Then, they are joined by improvisers Chad Westbrook, Ryan Barton, and Chris Grace to improvise a story set in Akron, OH. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter...
Published 06/25/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes everyone back as Pride Month continues on Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is Natalie Morales of Parks and Recreation! Natalie chats about why her favorite teacher has changed over time, being given Pepsi and condensed milk as a child to gain weight, and a story about the hottest teacher at her school. Then, they are joined by improvisers Mano Agapion, Jiavani Linayao, and Oscar Montoya, to improvise a story set in Parrot Jungle, A...
Published 06/18/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes his listeners back to the professional show known as Spontaneanation! This week, Paul’s special guest and SOLE improvisor is Spontaneanation’s good friend Drew Tarver! Drew chats about his very very happiest memory from childhood, naming the villain of his Lego town “Vagina” as a kid, and moving to New York to work on a new show “The Other Two.” They then improvise a story set in Downey, CA. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on...
Published 06/11/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes all to the beginning of LGBTQ Pride Month on Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is Stephanie Beatriz of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and BoJack Horseman! Stephanie chats about whether she would date Nicole Byer (the previous guest on the show), negging being an automatic turn off when she was dating, and the difficulty of sharing custody with her old dog Banjo with her ex. Then, they are joined by improvisers Ally Beardsley, Travis Coles, and Kimia...
Published 06/04/18
On a bonus episode of Spontaneanation, we proudly present the SF Sketchfest Tribute to Paul F. Tompkins featuring Matt Gourley, Ben Acker, Rhea Butcher, John Hodgman, Eban Schletter, and The Workjuice Players. Enjoy!
Published 05/28/18
Paul F. Tompkins is reunited with his listeners on Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is comedian/improviser Nicole Byer of Nailed It! and Loosely Exactly Nicole! Nicole chats about who she would kill first if The Purge were real, why she would want to live in the world of the movie Ghost, and everyone always trying to get her into Star Wars. Then, they are joined by improvisers and A.P. Bio cast mates Mary Sohn, Jean Villepique, and Lyric Lewis, to improvise a story set at...
Published 05/21/18
Paul F. Tompkins is the mysterious voice that welcomes all back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is actor Allen Maldonado of The Last OG! Allen chats about what he would have his evil twin do if he had one, his mother having his family go on The Price Is Right on their 18th birthday, and a string of bad luck events that started and ended with car accidents. Then, they are joined by improvisers Nyima Funk, Maribeth Monroe, and Jaime Moyer, to improvise a story set at The...
Published 05/14/18
Paul F. Tompkins contemplates whether he wants welcome everyone back back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is Natasha Rothwell of HBO’s Insecure and Love, Simon! Natasha chats about a dream she had that is actually interesting, how she deals with confrontation, and the best part of being an army brat. Then, they are joined by improviser Hal Lublin, to improvise a story set in a Grocery Store. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!
This...
Published 05/07/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes every person back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is actor/comedian/writer Bryan Safi of Throwing Shade! Bryan chats about who the Denzel Washington in his life is, dancing the dabke, and the unexpected problems that arise when taking your spouse’s last name. Then, they are joined by improvisers Shaun Diston, Shulie Cowen, and Colleen Smith to improvise a story set at a LensCrafters. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all...
Published 04/30/18
Paul F. Tompkins is excited that Spontaneanation is happening once again! This time out, Paul’s special guest is actor Utkarsh Ambudkar of Game Over, Man! and Brockmire! Utkarsh chats about what he would name a star, being crushed after finding out how much his childhood toys were worth years later at a comic book store, and being fired from a Korean restaurant for eating the high-end food. Then, they are joined by improvisers Craig Cackowski, Colleen Smith, and Edgar Momplaisir, to improvise...
Published 04/23/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes his wonderful listeners back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is comedian and actress Helen Hong of Go Fact Yourself! Helen chats about why she is here, her life before stand-up being a producer for reality television, and how the depths of depression lead her to take a stand-up comedy class. Then, they are joined by improvisers Laci Mosley, Ego Nwodim, and Chris Grace, to improvise a story set at a Fish Taco Shack On The Beach. And as always,...
Published 04/16/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes everyone born on Earth back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is Jon Hamm of Mad Men! Jon chats about one of the biggest failures in his life, pushing through the fear when he first moved to LA to pursue an acting career, and his new film Beirut. Then, they are joined by improvisers Maria Blasucci, Shaun Diston, and Mark McConville, to improvise a story set on The Moon. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on...
Published 04/09/18
Paul F. Tompkins welcomes everyone born on Earth back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is actor/improviser/writer Ryan Gaul of The Last O.G.! Ryan chats about what he wants someone to whisper in his ear, his afterlife beliefs as a child and how they changed now that he’s an adult, and stealing a wad of 50 dollar bills and handing them out in Kindergarten. Then, they are joined by improvisers Ronnie Adrian and Stephanie Courtney, to improvise a story set at the San Diego...
Published 04/02/18