In this episode of The Secret Improv Podcast, Kristian and Goose dive into one of the most vital elements of improvisational comedy: finding the game. They break down the subtle art of timing and why discovering the game early can transform a good scene into a great one. Whether you're playing a grounded character or someone completely unhinged, they explore techniques for heightening the funny while staying connected to the truth of the moment. Plus, learn how to recognize games that don’t just live in a single scene, but ripple throughout the entire show.
In this episode of the Secret Improv Podcast, we explore the age-old question: What's the real difference between long-form and short-form improv? Whether you're a seasoned performer or brand new to the stage, this discussion illuminates the strengths, challenges, and artistic nuances of both formats.
We talk about pacing, audience interaction, creative freedom, and the mindset shift that happens when switching between styles. Along the way, we share personal stories from the stage, reflect on what each form has taught us, and debate which one really gets the biggest laughs (and the deepest moments).
🎭 Expect thoughtful insights, a few laughs, and maybe even a mini identity crisis about your favorite improv style.
🎙️ Episode: Let's Talk Genres – Part 1
In this episode of The Secret Improv Podcast, Kristian and Goose continue exploring the challenges of fulfilling a genre's promises in the context of a short improv scene. Picking up from where they left off, they discuss comedy, Disney, and some film directors that audiences most commonly request.
They discuss the audience's expectations and knowledge and share the specific strategies they use to deliver the experience of a genre without preparation. This is the conclusion of the genre analysis started in the last episode.
🎭 Whether you're a genre nerd, a longform fan, or someone trying to stretch your improv muscles, this episode will give you insight, laughs, and a few new tools to try on stage.
In this episode of The Secret Improv Podcast, Kristian and Goose take their first deep dive into the wide world of genre-based improv. From noir to rom-com, sci-fi to horror, they explore what makes genre work so uniquely fun — and surprisingly challenging — for improvisers.
They break down how genre gives performers structure, tools, and a shared language with the audience, while also revealing the traps: overplaying tropes, forgetting the “scene," or getting lost in style over substance. Part one of this two-part convo covers their favorite genres to play in, how to build genre literacy, and why parody works best when it comes from love and knowledge.)
🎭 Whether you're a genre nerd, a longform fan, or someone trying to stretch your improv muscles, this episode will give you insight, laughs, and a few new tools to try on stage.
In this episode of The Secret Improv Podcast, Kristian and Goose dive into one of the most powerful (and elusive) skills in improvisation: presence. How do you stay fully tuned in to your partner, the scene, and yourself when your brain wants to jump ahead, look good, or edit in real time?
They reflect on what presence really feels like on stage, why it’s so hard to maintain, and how being present can change not just your improv, but your life. This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation about attention, ego, flow states, and how to stay awake in the moment — even when everything in your mind is trying to take you somewhere else.
🌀 Topics in this episode:
Recognizing when you’re “not here” in a scene
Grounding yourself without losing the fun
The tension between planning and improvising
How breath, body, and silence bring you back
Why presence is the real superpower of improv
🎭 Whether you’re on stage, in rehearsal, or just navigating a noisy world, this episode is an honest exploration of how to be here, now, and why it matters more than ever.
In this episode of The Secret Improv Podcast, Kristian and Goose take on one of the most essential — and misunderstood — improv skills: acceptance. What does it really mean to say “yes” in a scene? Is it about agreement, surrender, trust... or something more complex?
They explore the layers of acceptance in performance, from supporting your partner’s idea without judgment, to navigating moments when saying “yes” feels risky, unclear, or even wrong. Along the way, they reflect on personal stories from the stage, times they struggled with control, and why true acceptance often requires letting go of ego.
This isn’t just about improv — it’s about communication, vulnerability, and staying open even when your brain says “no.”
🌀 Topics in this episode:
What “yes, and” really demands of a performer
How to stay open while still shaping a scene
The difference between agreement and acceptance
Dealing with hesitation, doubt, and derailment
Why listening is the gateway to true yes-ing
🎭 For improvisers looking to deepen their practice — or anyone who struggles with control and collaboration — this is a grounded, wise, and relatable deep dive into the heart of improv.
🎙️ Episode: What Are the Limitations of Improv?
In this episode of The Secret Improv Podcast, Kristian and Goose zoom out and ask the big question: What can’t improv do? With decades of performance experience under their belts, they explore the boundaries of the art form — both technical and emotional — and dig into why those boundaries might actually make improv better.
Can you tell a complete story in five minutes? Can you truly play drama in an improv scene? Does “yes, and” have limits when the scene calls for a no? What happens when the format itself works against the depth you're trying to reach?
This week’s discussion is both analytical and reflective, offering a nuanced take on improv’s creative ceiling… and how to press right up against it.
🌀 Topics in this episode:
The myth of “limitless freedom” in improv
Emotional truth vs. game structure
Format fatigue and audience expectations
When improv isn’t the right tool for the job
How limitations can sharpen creativity
🎭 Whether you’re a longform nerd, a shortform pro, or somewhere in between, this episode delivers real insight into the edges of the improv world — and why it’s okay if some things stay just out of reach.
🎙️ Episode: How Do You Handle Offensive Subjects?
This week on The Secret Improv Podcast, Kristian and Goose tackle one of the trickiest elements of improvisation: dealing with taboo, offensive, or uncomfortable material in the middle of a live scene.
In a raw, thoughtful, and sometimes hilarious conversation, they unpack how experienced improvisers navigate jokes that cross the line, handle audience shock, and hold space for humor without harming the room. Drawing from decades of performing and directing, they dig into what makes something “offensive,” who gets to decide, and why intention, context, and trust are everything.
This episode doesn’t shy away — it wrestles with improv’s responsibility to be both bold and compassionate.
🌀 Topics in this episode:
What to do when a scene suddenly turns uncomfortable
The difference between edgy and lazy
Trusting your scene partner vs. calling a timeout
Satire, subtext, and the danger of punching down
Why “getting a laugh” isn’t always worth it
🎭 For performers, teachers, and fans of improv alike, this is an essential episode about maintaining creativity, respect, and courage in the unscripted space.
In this episode of The Secret Improv Podcast, Kristian and Goose crack open one of the most vulnerable questions in the craft: what actually scares improvisers on stage? From the fear of silence to the terror of tanking a scene, they dive into the psychology behind performance anxiety, the difference between “bad nerves” and “good adrenaline,” and why those scary moments are often the most transformative.
With over 50 years of combined improv experience, these two seasoned performers get real about bombing in front of crowds, trusting scene partners, and the haunting feeling of “going blank.” But it’s not just a therapy session — it’s a celebration of the risks that make improv worth doing.
Expect honest stories, a few self-roasts, and an improvised exploration of fear as fuel.
🌀 Topics in this episode:
Why silence is scarier than heckling
The ego trap of “needing to be funny”
That moment when your brain goes totally blank
Learning to stay present even when panicking
Why failure is a feature, not a bug, in improv
🎭 Whether you’re a performer, a student, or just love the art of making it up as you go, this episode offers insight, laughs, and maybe even a little catharsis.
