Dare To Be Human

In this episode of Dare to be Human we talk with Morgan Heyward who created Illuminate Theater, a monthly event that spotlights performers of color in the Capital District. After writing and performing her senior show at Russel Sage, DEAR LIL. Exploring the personal challenges she had faced being a black student, Morgan has set her post-graduation sights on becoming a trailblazer in the Capital community, creating a platform where other people of color can share their stories. We discuss the creation of Morgan's senior show, the importance of and the lasting impact of a good talkback, daring to share when your opinions change, and how to build a community. You can see Morgan in The Most Spectacular Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha WashingtonDirected by Patrick White, Sage College, Meader Little TheatreFor tickets call 518-833-2621 or pay at the doorYou can also catch Illuminate Theatre at Youth FX in Albany on June 25th at 7 pm! STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS ON OUR LIVE SHOW! Dare to be Human: LIVE! at the Mopco

In this marvelous episode with Micaela "The Other Baby" Blei, Ph.D. we explore what it means to fail early and to build frameworks to manage anxiety and risk. We discuss the power that stories have to heal and give the opportunity to heal as we discover why it is a particular story from our lives seems to be taking up space in our minds. From potential TED talk topics to the paradox of social connection producing and reducing anxiety for us to the way and how our stories change over time. About Micaela BleiAs a two-time Moth GrandSLAM champion storyteller and former Director of Education at The Moth, Micaela Blei, Ph.D., has been working for years with individuals, organizations, and communities to shape and share the important stories of their lives. In 2016, Micaela wrote The Moth’s storytelling curriculum, now used by over 1500 educators across the globe. Her acclaimed workshops are invitations to reflection, spaces for discovery, and most of all— fun. Her own stories have been called “heartbreak

As we all become more tangled by technology in the now, we discuss practicing mindfulness with an expert on the subject, Ted Des Maisons. From the difference between presence and mindfulness, eastern philosophy and the stories that pigs tell, we explore the benefits of practicing mindfulness and the assumptions that might be keeping you from giving it a try. Send us your questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to hello@daretobehumanpodcast.com, join the conversation on our facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! Check out Ted's book PLAYFUL MINDFULNESS™: a joyful journey to everyday confidence, calm, and connectionCheck out the Monster Baby podcast and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Ted DesMaisons has been synthesizing innovative approaches to collaborative learning and personal development for over 30 years.After earning degrees from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and Harvard Divinity School, Ted taught religious studies and philosoph

Amy Veltman shares life lessons in being human from her budding stand-up comedy career. A veteran of the improv world, we also discuss what it really means (and what our goals are) when we "celebrate failure" and how speeding up can slow us down. We also discuss the importance of listening for the unheard voices in the room and making visible the barriers that keep them from the spotlight. Send us your questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to hello@daretobehumanpodcast.com, join the conversation on our facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! Amy Veltman began her career as a professional screenwriter in NY and LA. To put her husband through medical school, Amy made a pivot to marketing in Portland, Oregon, where she started working with international improv consultancy On Your Feet, in which she became a partner. Currently, she produces and co-hosts the podcast 2 Moms on the Couch and is a stand-up comic in New York City. She lives with her husband, now

Kat and Alex are joined by Jeff Katzman, M.D. and Dan O'Connor the authors of the book Life Unscripted: Using Improv Principles to Get Unstuck, Boost Confidence, and Transform Your Life. They discuss why it is we can find ourselves stuck in performances that can feel scripted and limiting and how we can break out of them. Dan offers us some advice on turning our inner critics into internal cheerleaders. Jeff offers some insight into why improv can be a powerful tool for the medical profession and in what ways therapy and improv sessions reflect one another. Send us your questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to hello@daretobehumanpodcast.com, join the conversation on our facebook or leave us a message at 518-212-7886! JEFF KATZMAN, M.D.  studied at Stanford University where he received his BA, UC San Diego for medical school, and then UCLA for his psychiatry residency where he was on faculty for four years before moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a Professor o

Kat and Alex discuss the art and power of storytelling with a master of the craft, Matthew Dicks. A voice you may recognize from The Moth Radio, he's a 39-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 6-time GrandSLAM champion whose stories have been featured on their nationally syndicated Moth Radio Hour and their weekly podcast. We discuss what he's discovered about how to tell a winning story, the homework you should be giving yourself everyday, and how everyone has compelling stories to tell. Matthew's Podcast - SpeakUp Storytelling PodcastMatthew's Book - Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of StorytellingFacebookTwitterInstagramMatthew Dicks Bio Matthew Dicks is the internationally bestselling author of the novels Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, Something Missing, Unexpectedly, Milo, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs,  Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling, and the upcoming 21 Truths About Love,

Kat and Livia talk with our friend Janey Tanguay! Janet has been a fixture in the Capital Region's business community for years and has helped many people turn their business ideas into business reality. Her current two businesses, Hammock Way of Life and Business Idea Shower exemplify her commitment to helping entrepreneurs both get their businesses off the ground but to also have the foundation of vision beneath them. In this episode we discuss the process of invention and discovery and how it can be messy and painful. The importance of finding play in your life and unplugging from the daily grind. We also discuss representation and wearing your labels. Finally, Janet shares a story of Ellen Degeneres and coming out in the happiest place on earth and getting the grade you deserve. Biz Idea Shower Hammock Way of Life Get in touch at info@hammockwayoflife.comJanet on Twitter Hammock Way of Life on Facebook Hammock Way of Life on InstagramJanet TanguayThroughout her career, Janet has helped over 1000 entr

Kat is joined by one of our newest members and favorite humans, Mary Darcy! Mary shares a Dare to Be Human Story about celebrating failure and discovering that there can be gifts in our mistakes if we remain present enough to see them. Send us your questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to hello@daretobehumanpodcast.com or join the conversation on our facebook! Mary Darcy moved to Saratoga Springs from Brooklyn in elementary school and has recently made the migration back to the land of pizza and bagels with her husband, Peter. She graduated from The College of Saint Rose and spent most of her career in radio news. Before starting local news site and blog All Over Albany with partner Greg Dahlmann, she spent eight years producing nationally syndicated radio programs and creating National Science Foundation programs about women in STEM careers. Mary has been a regular presence in a number of area theaters, acting, producing and mentoring young artists.Original Music by Mar

Alex is joined by Livia Armstrong as she shares a Dare to be Human Story about speaking up on public transportation. We discuss stepping out of your comfort zone, group dynamics, and creating the world you want to live in. Send us your questions, episode ideas and DTBH stories to hello@daretobehuman.com and follow us on Facebook! Livia Armstrong, a senior facilitator at Koppett and program coordinator for the Mopco Improv Theatre, studied theater and psychology at SUNY Fredonia. As a Koppett facilitator, Livia has delivered programs for diverse clients including the New York State Governor’s Office for Employee Relations, Russell Sage College, Greene County Women in Business, GreenTech High School, and multiple clients in the SUNY system. Livia is a co-author of the TD at Work issue “Listen Up!” (ATD 2017) with Kat Koppett and Michael Burns. She is a member of the Mopco Main Stage company, the Mop & Bucket Co..

Alex is joined by Michael Burns (The Artistic Director and Co-Owner of Mopco Improv Theatre) as he shares a Dare to be Human Story about sailing in Maine. We discuss the power of daring to name the obvious thing and finding where it takes you. Send us your Maine waves, questions, episode ideas and DTBH stories to hello@daretobehuman.com and follow us on Facebook! Michael Burns is the Co-Director and founder of The Mop & Bucket Company .Before settling in the area, Michael studied theatre at SUNY Purchase, and then improv with David Shepherd in New York, where he directed for the American Modern Dance Theatre and the American Folk Theatre.  He was a member of The Big Apple Experience, a short-lived but cleverly named improv troupe. He has since worked for several upstate theaters including Home Made Theater, The Theatre Barn and Steamer 10 Theatre.Michael developed (with David Shepherd) the Compass Institution, an improv troupe touring senior centers and hospitals. He directed inmate-written plays for Very

We're starting our second season of Dare to Be Human! We've got some fantastic guests to tell you about and some amazing new members of our team to introduce you to!  Look for more bonus episodes coming out in the next two weeks featuring Dare to be Human stories by Michael, Livia and Mary as we approached the launch of our first official episode of Season 2 on March 25th! Send us your questions, comments, episode ideas or your very own Dare to be Human stories to hello@daretobehumanpodcast.com or join the conversation on our facebook! Original music by Mark S. MerittLogo by Derek Walker 

 Kat and Alex have a wonderful conversation with Melissa on a range of topics. We discuss the class Acting with Power, the impact it has on her students and the first time she taught it. Melissa shares some interesting insights into people's relationship to power and the difference between power, status, and authority. We talk about chasing those moments where everything just seems to click and things just seems to flow. Kat and I also delve into the role of status and status behaviors around gender with our guest and talks about what we can be more aware of in helping to shift those dynamics. We also discuss improv as a vehicle for personal experimentation and transformation before Melissa shares an awesome, insightful and somewhat heartbreaking Dare to Be Human story On Faculty at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) Melissa Jones Briggs works as a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior teaching Acting with Power. This popular second-year MBA and executive education elective uses perfor

Kat and Alex speak with Theresa Robbins Dudeck and Caitlin McClure the co-editors of the new book Applied Improvisation: Leading, Collaborating, and Creating Beyond the Theatre. This is an incredible new development in the field of Applied Improvisation that draws back the curtain on an exciting, innovative, growing field of practice and research that is changing the way people lead, create, and collaborate Despite some technical difficulties, we persevered in our quest to speak with Theresa and Caitlin and talked to them about how they first began collaborating on this book. We also discuss how they both began improvising, their experience keeping the magic of improv alive in the working world, Keith Johnstone, and of course, get them to share some Dre to Be Human Stories. Check out the links below to check out the book as well as some of their other works and where you can find them on social media! 'Applied Improvisation: Leading, Collaborating, and Creating Beyond the Theatre' 'K

Kat and Alex explore improv's therapeutic properties and why we're hearing more and more about improv's ability to help treat social anxiety, depression and more. We explore what therapy is, what's the difference between therapy and coaching and where improv may fit in. Dr. Koppett stops by to answer some questions in the Expert Game. This episode's exercise is all about trusting the connections you're inspired to make are legitimate and interesting. It's also about using your "smart person" voice. So Funny, It Doesn't Hurt 'Improv saved my life' 'Improv for Personal Growth ' Logo by Derek Walker Theme Music: Blue Dot Sessions - Planting Flags

In this episode Kat sits down for an interview with Carmen Duncan. Carmen is the founder, head coach and CEO of Mission Accomplished, an organization that helps aspiring young professionals prepare for the global economy by providing access to coaching, job training and professional development. They believe everyone should have access to the help and support so they can reach their fullest potential. Kat and Carmen discuss finding your team of cheerleaders to keep you spreading your truth in the face of naysayers. The role of mentors and coaching in helping people to develop and achieve their goals. The importance and power of bragging rights. “Learning to Adult” and the spaces where you are allowed to prepare, learn and make mistakes. They also explore sharing power and realizing your own power in your performance, whether you’re a millennial or an interviewee. Finally they talk about bringing your full self into whatever spaces you enter is the strong step toward achieving your goals. Carmen's L

In this episode we learn more about our intrepid hosts as they share personal stories inspired by their mantra: Dare to be Human. From their first experiences with improv, to framing siblings, defying parents, and tearful cover ups,  Kat and Alex explore why these stories stuck with them and discuss their greater implications to what it means to be human. At the end of the episode there's an improv exercise about exploring our innate ability to craft stories and a short tale of a determined Hawaiian detective. Check out daretobehumanpodcast.com for instructions on how to play along at home and stretch your storytelling muscles. Logo by Derek WalkerTheme Music: Blue Dot Sessions - Planting Flags

Tobey Fitch is a longtime pal, colleague and mentor to our very own Kat Koppett. He is the president and founder of Fitch Associates, a leadership and strategy consultancy, which works with all the coolest companies. He helped lead the establishment of Apple University and has prepped speakers for their Worldwide Developers Conference. Fitch's resume also includes working for Prezi, a dynamic presenting software company, which he helped guide through a rapid period of growth as its Head of Strategy and People.We discuss how Kat and Tobey first met in Portland and how improv principles have seeped into his personal life. There is also discussion of Tobey's spirit animal and his related personal mission of spreading friendship and connectedness. At the end of the episode Tobey shares an incredibly touching story about daring to be human in the most devastating times.Tobey Fitch BioLogo by Derek Walker Theme Music: Blue Dot Sessions - Planting Flags

Welcome to the first episode of Dare to Be Human!In this first episode you'll meet your hosts Kat and Alex as they discuss the performance of you! How and why do we inhibit our choices of how we show up and present ourselves? What can we do to be more aware of our performances choice and, with that knowledge, how can we stretch ourselves to better achieve our goals? We explore personality tests and the lessons to take away from an infamous experiment with marshmallows.There's also an exercise at the end of the episode about expanding your range of performance options. It's a whole lot of fun and you can find instructions to play along at home at daretobehumanpodcast.com. Reference Links:  When the Kids Crash Your BBC Interview  Prof Robert Kelly and Family  Invisibilia: The Personality Myth Logo by Derek Walker Theme Music: Blue Dot Sessions - Planting Flags