What do secret societies, mac and cheese, and murder all have in common? They’re part of the story of MainStage actor Scoop Dawson’s journey at Whole World. Scoop shares his secrets to being a good scene partner, making up good characters, and being a side-kick.   But seriously…don’t ask about the Mac & Cheese…

This week Chip and John are joined by the sometimes unpredictable, but always entertaining Jake Christensen. We learn how wearing spandex in high school led him to improv. The differences between short form and longform improv. What's it like to be a musician during a show and what's appropriate to say onstage in this special unfiltered episode.

We continue meeting our incredibly talented MainStage cast with Grant Bojarski. Grant tells us his reaction to his first Whole World Improv show. His principle of smart and supportive scene work, avoiding complacency in improv, and what exactly made him take up guitar. We also learn about tipping the scales and the best strategy for a white elephant gift exchange.

This episode's guest is Tanya Wagner. Chip and John learn about her passion for teaching, the bond she creates between her students, and bouncing back from bad scenes. And then…She takes the reins of the show and we get a preview of the upcoming podcast "Talking with Tanya." Spoiler alert: Chip may not have been on board for that part.

This week Chip and John talk with Lee Cuthbert on her experience as a mainstage actor. We learn how Lee traded in her high school ambition to be a barista for a guitar and rocking out in bands. Also how to make choices on stage, getting out of a small comfort zone, and what on MTV changed her life.

We're back with Season 3! This season we're meeting our Main Stage cast and we start with the incredibly talented Paige Crawford. We learn about her first acting experience, finding Whole World in high school, plus what she tells her students and how she creates great characters. We also find out the really important things: What's on her warm up playlist and who's her favorite game show host.

In our season two finale Chip and John are joined by Whole World Improv Theatre's own Bethany Rowe. Bethany is more than our social media maven, she leads and teaches The X Group, an improv program for the neurodiverse. We learn how it started and how it benefits the students, their parents, and those who love dragons.

Failure: We all try to avoid it, but what important lessons does it teach us about great improv? This week Chip and John speak to Tim Stoltenberg about what we can learn from failure. We also talk about the roles of good directors and teachers, silence in scene work, and bad Carol Channing impressions.   Tim Stoltenberg is the Artistic Director of Dad's Garage Theatre. Previously worked with The Second City as a performer and teacher. Has been seen on numerous commercials and at comedy...

It's part two of our interview with Sketchworks alumni Brian Bremer and Jeffery Umberger. We talk about creating strong characters, day jobs, and how life's journey takes unexpected turns.   Additional music this week from bensound.com

This week Chip and John talk to Sketchworks alumni Brian Bremer and Jeffery Umberger. We learn about the founding of Sketchworks, how improv training crosses over into other forms of acting, and how much we love Dunwoody Housewives.

What can the insights of a director give us on acting and improv? Learn more about the Meisner Technique and the building blocks of great acting in part two of our interview with Grant McGowen.   Find out more about Pinch 'N' Ouch Theatre! pnotheatre.org  @PnOTheatre

What is the Meisner Technique? How is it related to improv? Grant McGowen of Pinch 'N' Ouch Theatre joins Chip and John to explain it all. Find out more about Pinch 'N' Ouch Theatre! pnotheatre.org  @PnOTheatre

It's Part 2 of our interview with the great Jeff Justice. Chip and John learn the history of Stand-up classes in Atlanta, how the pandemic affected workshops, and the importance of clean comedy. Then we learn what John's teachers really thought of him as a student.   Find out more about Jeff here:   https://comedyworkshoppe.com/ [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/Jeffjusticeatlanta  

This week we take a departure into the world of stand-up comedy. Chip and John host stand-up legend and founder of the Country’s #1 Comedy Class, Jeff Justice. Join us as we learn about the people who take stand-up classes, the structure and delivery of a joke, and comedy in the era of political correctness.   Find out more about Jeff here:   https://comedyworkshoppe.com/ [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/Jeffjusticeatlanta

What do ancient Etruscans, Aikido, and seeing new things in familiar places all have in common? They're all part of The Improv Mind. In part 2 of our interview with Robert Lowe we talk about the importance of being present, honest, and Chip's childhood performances.

Chip and John are joined by a pioneer of improv in Atlanta, Robert Lowe. Robert teaches us his four tenets of improv and how Atlanta's very first improv workshop and live show came to be.

In Part 2 of our deep dive into Whole World Improv Theatre's classes continues. Associate and Student Programs Director David Owen talks about the theater's award winning summer camp program. Then Emily Reily Russell rejoins us as we all talk about one the most important aspects of improv - and life - No Judgement.

This week we welcome David Owen and Emily Reily Russell returns for a deep dive into Whole World Improv Theatre's class program. How did it start, where is it now, and what does the future hold?

It's part two of our conversation with Amanda Rountree. We learn about some go to educational tools and balancing a student's needs with the needs of the entire class. Plus, we learn about adapting to classes over Zoom and a little breakfast with William Shakespeare.   Find Amanda here, here, here, and here!   Website: amandarountree.com IG:  @amanda_rountree FB: @amandarountreeimprov Twitter: @amandarountree1

This week Chip and John are joined by the amazing Amanda Rountree. Amanda talks about getting into Improv teaching, growth as a teacher, and how teachers are always learning. We also delve into improv vs. acting and how much they really have in common.   Find Amanda here, here, here, and here!   Website: amandarountree.com IG:  @amanda_rountree FB: @amandarountreeimprov Twitter: @amandarountree1

It's part two of our interview with Hal Peller. We talk about poignant improv scenes, how to be more than just talking heads on stage, and the work of Applied Improvisation Practitioners. We also learn about one of John's best scenes, Chip reenacting a date that became a nightmare, and the secrets hidden inside a computer in the kitchen.   Learn more here: improvworkshop.com   And watch a video demonstration of some games here: Improv Games with Hal Peller

It's the season two premiere with improv great Hal Peller. This season Chip and John are diving into improv education and we're starting with one of the masters. Join us as Hal talks about the Spolin Way and shares three of his ten rules for improv with us.   Find out more about Hal Peller at his website: improvworkshop.com 

John has a lot of episode renumbering to do. While he's busy we go back to the pod's first recording session to bring back two conversations to close out season one. Chip and John's guests are current Whole World Improv Theatre actors Sharon Powell and Connelly Crowe.   And follow Connelly on IG: @connellycrowe

This week, it's a fantastic conversation with our special guest Karen Ceesay. Chip and John get tips on auditions, what are the essential improv skills, and a powerful new project that may, or may not, be related to Scooby-Doo.

We're in mourning this week as the theater has suffered the shocking loss of one of our own. Katie Janness was a manager, a musician, a friend, and wonderful person taken too soon. John talks about Katie and presents two of her original songs.