dark blue background with colourful text on top that reads: commit to your brain

Committing to YOUR weird brain in improv

We are neurodivergent, and we can bring our best to scenes in so many different ways. How to commit hard to YOU, and reject self-comparison to others.

We’ve all heard those sayings like “do not compare your chapter 1 to their chapter 6.” But that can be pretty hard to do. Especially when we get notes that relate to our brain wiring! Maybe we’re reading from, or writing, a completely different book.

It can be hard when our brains are so different in a word that’s constructed for a different (neurotypical) wiring altogether. And here we are up on a stage with everyone watching us. Yikes.

But… it’s possible to find our own way, with what we got, and succeed greatly. Yep, even in improv.

This episode talks about ways to commit hard to yourself, and what YOU bring to the table as a unique, neurodivergent, thinker. When can you let go and be yourself? When should you let go, commit hard, and break your hand on your desk in a meditation scene? (That feels specific Jen. Yes, it is, you. Learn more in the ep. SUSPENSE! Cheap ploy!)

And I also talk about the cases where our default wiring might not work how we’d like in improv scenes, and how to approach working around it (or otherwise adjusting) during the learning process.

There are Pros and Cons for EVERYTHING!

Listen to the episode

This podcast is hosted by me, Jen deHaan, of StereoForest.com. You can submit your questions, comments, or even a voice note on the website.

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Discuss this topic with improvisers

This link will take you directly to the forum for this newsletter on the Improv Update Discord.The discord also contains a bunch of channels for improv nerds. Nice.

Jen deHaan
Jen deHaan

Jen deHaan founded StereoForest in 2024 to focus on creating comedy podcasts, audio dramas, and audio fiction series that blend scripted and improvised material.

Jen has taught long form improv classes at/with World’s Greatest Improv School (WGIS), Compass Improv, Highwire Improv, and Queen City Comedy. She was also the WGIS Online School Director, and hosted a lot of improv jams.

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