Best PDayna Gowan Podcasts (2024)

1
Putting Yourself Out There and Making Discoveries On Stage with Amanda Bonar 1:34:32

10d ago1:34:32

1:34:32

Amanda Bonar is an improv and sketch comedian based in Los Angeles. You can find her performing in the Sober Show and Do the Dumb shows at UCB, as well as other shows at the Clubhouse in LA. Amanda shares her improv journey and how she fell in love with improv around age 10 when her parents took her to a family-friendly improv show. She performed o…

1
Improv Is For All Ages, Including Older Adults with Paula Dirkes 2:05:40

1M ago2:05:40

2:05:40

Paula Dirkes is an improvisational theater fan, actor, and facilitator based in metro Detroit, Michigan. She has spent over 20 years in the improv theater community as a performer and improv games leader. She is the owner and Chief Play Officer of Vintage Improvisation Detroit, which brings her love of improv games and older adults together through…

1
Access the Issue and Push It Out of the Tissue with Susan Bartley 1:39:14

2M ago1:39:14

1:39:14

I promise the episode title will make more sense once you listen to the episode. :) It's amazing all that can happen in a year! My bestie Susan Bartley joins the podcast again for a part 2 episode to give some updates about all that happened in her business in 2023. In the first episode, which was released in April 2023, Susan shared all about her …

1
Improv-ing Your Video Presence and Performance with Chris Bogue 1:53:45

2M ago1:53:45

1:53:45

Chris Bogue is based in Chicago, and he coaches people to get on camera and create mercifully short video content for business. He is also a long-time improviser, sketch comedy writer, improv trainer and host of the podcast Chris Sells His Soul. In this episode, Chris shares about his improv and sketch comedy journey and how it led him to creating …

1
From Trails to Tales: Embracing Nature, Health, and the Improv Life with Dr. Jay Maddock 1:26:32

3M ago1:26:32

1:26:32

Jay Maddock, PhD, is based in College Station, Texas, where he is a Regents Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University. He is also the Director of the Center for Health & Nature and serves on the Brazos County Board of Health. In this episode, Jay shares all about his …

1
The Mysterious Notebook of Goals and Creativity with Dr. Jana Hirsch 1:47:26

4M ago1:47:26

1:47:26

What would you do if you received a notebook from your local Buy Nothing Group that you thought was empty, but then later you noticed that it had a list of goals written in it? Would you tear out the pages and start with a fresh, clean notebook? Or would you take the list of goals on as your own? If you said you would tear out the pages and start f…

1
Become a World Champion Speaker with Ramona J. Smith 1:29:44

4M ago1:29:44

1:29:44

Ramona J. Smith is a dynamic international speaker who holds the prestigious title of the 2018 World Champion of Public Speaking. She is based out of Houston, Texas, and she is on a mission to inspire, connect and transform lives globally using the power of words (and she's really great at it too)! In this episode, Ramona shares her journey to winn…

1
Bringing Your Authentic Self to the Stage with Neil Curran 1:43:16

4M ago1:43:16

1:43:16

Our first international guest, Neil Curran, joins the podcast all the way from Dublin, Ireland! Neil is a professional improviser and communications and teams expert who has performed in shows and festivals all over the world. His signature show - Neil+1 - brings an audience member up to the stage to perform the improv show with him! (Would you be …

1
Takeaways From Musical Improv That Can Boost Your Public Speaking Skills 56:44

5M ago56:44

56:44

The previous episode with Ashley Ward talks all about her journey into the musical improv world and why she loves teaching musical improv classes. This solo episode highlights my experience over the past year with musical improv, why I took musical improv in the first place, and how it's helped me with my public speaking skills and stage presence. …

1
Improvly Singing and Trying Hard Things with Ashley Ward 1:34:23

5M ago1:34:23

1:34:23

Ashley Ward is an improviser, actor, writer, snack lover, and singer who has performed everywhere from the Kennedy Center to The Sydney Opera House. She can be seen on Dropout TV’s Play It By Ear and in Hello Jack! The Kindness Show on Apple+ as Delivery Delores. She is also a Jeopardy champion (and yes, we talk about that in the interview!). In th…

1
Living a "Yes, And..." Life in a "Yeah, But" World with Joe Van Haecke 1:36:49

6M ago1:36:49

1:36:49

Joe Van Haecke is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and he has been performing and coaching improvisation for over 20 years! He is the Chief of Inspiration for his company Inspire Me Mr V, which provides improv-inspired life coaching to help people start living a "Yes, and…" life in a "Yeah, but" world. (hence the title of this episode) In this episode, J…

1
Letting Go of My Need for Alcohol, Thanks to Improv and Conquering My Fear of Public Speaking 44:33

6M ago44:33

44:33

One day, my solo episodes won't be considered special solo episodes because I will do them more and will be putting out more solo episodes than just 2-3 times a year. For now though, here is another special solo episode about my experience with alcohol and how I feel like I don't need it much anymore. Thanks to improv and overcoming my fear of publ…

1
Consistency in Comedy and Creativity with Fernando Funes 1:53:07

7M ago1:53:07

1:53:07

Fernando Funes is a poet, writer, improviser, and performer in the Los Angeles/Orange County, CA area. He has performed in hundreds of shows in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, Oakland, and even Brazil! Fernando loves to bring people of all backgrounds together, and lately, he has been producing a ton of local improv shows in the Southern…

1
Elevate Your Sonic Branding and Flex Your Creative Thinking with Shantel Sole' (aka The Jingle Lady) 1:27:15

8M ago1:27:15

1:27:15

Have you listened to a few episodes of this podcast and loved the jingle that plays before each episode? Maybe you have found that you can't help but dance and sway when this jingle kicks off an episode. (You're not alone!) Shantel Sole' is based out of Atlanta, Georgia, and she joins this episode to discuss her journey as a singer, songwriter, and…

1
Empowering Military Veterans with Healing and Resilience through Applied Improv with BJ Lange 1:54:31

9M ago1:54:31

1:54:31

Special guest BJ Lange shares how he supports military veterans by leading applied improv workshops and helping them learn important resilience skills as they navigate back into civilian life. BJ Lange is an actor (The Prank Panel, General Hospital, The Rookie), retired USAF Reserve medic, two-time testicular cancer survivor, and an alumni of iO We…

1
Clownly Speaking: From Clown Presence to Authentic Stage Presence with Don Colliver 1:03:24

10M ago1:03:24

1:03:24

Don Colliver is a speaker, communications consultant, comedian, improviser, and clown. His public speaking workshops have helped transform hundreds of nervous speakers into more joyful and effective communicators. He recently released the bestselling book entitled Wink: Transforming Public Speaking with Clown Presence. In this episode, Don shares h…

1
Improv Saved My Life And Helped Me Get Sober with Erick Escalante 1:37:06

10M ago1:37:06

1:37:06

Erick Escalante is an improviser and creative performer from San Diego, CA. Erick took acting classes all throughout high school and college, but he tried his first official improv class in June 2021, when he decided to take a Level 1 class at Finest City Improv. Before that, Erick was struggling with depression and addicted to getting high and/or …

1
Becoming the World's Greatest Improviser with Will Hines 1:31:08

11M ago1:31:08

1:31:08

Will Hines is a longtime improv teacher and performer who trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in both New York and Los Angeles. In April 2020, he founded the World's Greatest Improv School (WGIS and can also be pronounced Weegis), which the name of the school was based on his best-selling book on improv called How to Be The Greatest Imp…

1
I Have Arrived at 35, and I'm Ready to Thrive! 46:07

11M ago46:07

46:07

SPECIAL SOLO BIRTHDAY EPISODE -- I turned 35 in May 2023 (yay!), and I wanted to do a solo episode to highlight this special birthday milestone. Not only is it a mid-thirties milestone, but also this is the age that I always thought I would magically just become confident and love myself. I don't know why I had in my head that I should be confident…

1
Saying Yes, and... to Adult Learning Best Practices with Dr. Carrie Graham 1:49:22

11M ago1:49:22

1:49:22

Have you ever sat through a presentation, conference session, or workplace training and thought, "Well, that's an hour of my life I won't get back!," after it's over? Chances are that the presenter or speaker didn't make the content applicable to you, didn't make it engaging to keep your attention, gave too much information that it was overwhelming…

1
Using Applied Improvisation and Creative Play to Enhance Intellectual Humility, A Special Conference Debrief with Jesse Greenfield 1:23:12

12M ago1:23:12

1:23:12

Jesse Greenfield is a health communicator, storyteller, and improviser from San Diego, California. Jesse started doing improv in college at Tufts University, and with eight years of experience as an improviser, Jesse now leads applied improv workshops for adults, youth, and the LGBTQIA+ community. In March 2023, Jesse and I co-presented together at…

1
It Takes Hard Work And Flexibility to Wear the Crown, a conversation with Miss North Carolina Karolyn Martin 1:46:32

1y ago1:46:32

1:46:32

In June 2022, Karolyn Martin earned the job of Miss North Carolina, and she is currently serving as Miss North Carolina for the 2022-2023 year. In this episode, Karolyn shares her journey to becoming Miss North Carolina — why she decided to compete and how she focused, trained and prepared for the competitions during her college years. Karolyn open…

1
Approaching Improv (and Life) with Joy & Ease with Pam Victor 1:46:00

1y ago1:46:00

1:46:00

Pam Victor is the Head of Happiness (aka founder and president) of Happier Valley Comedy, the first improv theater in Western Massachusetts. Pam is the co-author of Improvisation at the Speed of Life: The TJ & Dave Book along with TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi. Pam is also a TEDx Speaker, and she creates and facilitates applied improv workshops …

1
Improvly Flyin' and Freestylin' on the Pole with Susan Bartley 1:10:16

1y ago1:10:16

1:10:16

Susan Bartley is the owner of Heaux Apparel, a company that specializes in pole dance and aerial sports apparel, products and accessories. Their goal is to help women of all shapes & sizes, who have fallen in love with pole & aerial fitness, look their best and feel confident while they're in the air on the pole, lyra, or silks, and while they're o…

1
Helping Healthcare Professionals Become Better Communicators Through Improv with Dr. Michael Smith 1:46:51

1+ y ago1:46:51

1:46:51

Dr. Michael Smith is an attending physician of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 2014, Mike began taking Level 1 improv classes. Realizing early on that the skills learned through improv could help him as a hospitalist, Mike began implementing them at work. The result was more enjoyable work, better interactions wit…

1
Rockin' to Recovery through Improvised Songs and Breathwork with Sonny Mayo 1:41:57

1+ y ago1:41:57

1:41:57

Sonny Mayo is a super rad musician, breathwork facilitator, and overall human being. Sonny has been sober for 21 years, and he now facilitates Rock to Recovery® sessions and breathwork sessions to help people heal through creativity and breathing. Rock to Recovery® is a non-profit organization that harnesses the healing power of music by bringing m…

1
Improv-ing Employee Wellness, Engagement, & Psychological Safety with Dr. Raquel Garzon 1:45:37

1+ y ago1:45:37

1:45:37

Dr. Raquel Garzon is the President and Founder of Revitalize Project and author of the book, The Business of You: Leveraging Business Principles to Thrive in Life. She is a keynote speaker and thought leader in the employee engagement, performance, resilience, and work culture space. Her goal is to empower people to live vibrant and meaningful live…

1
Improvly Dancing and Connecting with Susan Wagner 1:25:33

1+ y ago1:25:33

1:25:33

What do Zumba® and improvisation have in common? They're both very difficult when you try them for the first time(s), they're both creative outlets, and they're both tons of fun! Susan Wagner is an AFAA Group Fitness Instructor, and she teaches both in-person and virtual Zumba® classes and other fitness classes. The dance/gym floor is Susan's stage…

1
Taking the Leap of Faith...at Improv Camp and Beyond 59:34

1+ y ago59:34

59:34

In Fall 2022, I went to two weekend improv camps for adults (not adult improv camps because that's something different). I learned a lot about improv and myself at these camps. In this episode, I tell you all about my camp experiences. I share how the first camp allowed me to feel more freedom and permission in improv and in life, and the second ca…

1
Trust Your Gut and the Improv Net Below with Nick Armstrong 1:38:09

1+ y ago1:38:09

1:38:09

Nick Armstrong is an actor, improviser, director and writer, and he is the co-owner and Artistic Director of Rise Comedy in Denver, Colorado. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of Improv Utopia, which is a non-profit improv camp for adults held annually that gives back to the improv community and other arts related charities. On this epi…

1
Get through the Cringe 37:20

1+ y ago37:20

37:20

Have you ever tried something new and immediately sucked at it the first time(s) you did it? Well congrats, that's normal! Then you practice the new activity for months or even years, and you expect to see some major improvements. However, even after all that practice, it still feels hard, difficult, awkward, and uncomfortable, and it doesn't feel …

1
Improvly Slaying on Social Media with Madeleine Chalk 1:11:45

1+ y ago1:11:45

1:11:45

Madeleine Chalk is a digital creator, comedian, and singer, and she slays on social media with her "These Lyrics But..." videos. In this episode, Madeleine shares her comedic journey and how she improvised her first stand-up set. She also gives us the behind the scenes story of how and why she started her social media channels and how she continues…

1
Defeating Burnout through Expansive Intimacy and Improv (Improvacy?) with Jim Young 1:22:41

1+ y ago1:22:41

1:22:41

Jim Young is a Men's Burnout and Leadership Coach, and he just wrote a book called Expansive Intimacy: How "Tough Guys" Defeat Burnout. Jim is also an improviser, and he uses applied improv techniques to teach empathy skills to workplaces, organizations, and leadership teams. In this episode, we discuss burnout, how it can affect genders differentl…

1
Improvly Cooking with Chef Rebecca Klaskala 1:31:52

1+ y ago1:31:52

1:31:52

Chef Rebecca Klaskala joins this episode to discuss life in the kitchen and how cooking can be viewed as a performance. We also discuss how improvisation skills show up when cooking, planning menus, and following recipes and also how making mistakes in the kitchen can turn into happy accidents and learning moments. Chef Rebecca is the Culinary Scho…

1
Origin Story: From Terribly Speaking to Improvly Speaking 45:16

1+ y ago45:16

45:16

Every podcast needs an origin story to explain why the podcast host feels the need to create this podcast even though everyone and their mom has a podcast right now. Origin stories are full of plenty of details that are usually not necessary to the overall storyline, and this episode holds true to that with mentions of the D.A.R.E. program, flaming…

1
Using Improv to Conquer Public Speaking Fears with Victoria Koenitzer 1:07:37

1+ y ago1:07:37

1:07:37

Victoria Koenitzer is an Associate Attorney in San Diego, CA. During Law School, she realized she needed to get over her fear of public speaking if she was going to succeed in her law career. She decided to explore improvisation through Toastmasters and taking an Improv 101 class at a local theatre. And the rest is history! Not only has she conquer…

1
BONUS: Improvly Speaking Jingle 0:31

1+ y ago0:31

0:31

Check out the Improvly Speaking Podcast jingle here. It's super cute! Warning: It will easily get stuck in your head! This jingle was created by The Jingle Lady. Check her out on Instagram and Fiverr for all your jingle needs! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thejinglelady__/ Fiverr - https://business.fiverr.com/elosllc/create-the-best-jingle-…

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