Hi, we’re Stormchaser! We’re an improv comedy team in Los Angeles, CA, and we are Anatasha Blakely, Travis Cox, and Andrew Pish. We’ve performed together for around eight years and 600 shows - that’s 0.22 shows a day! Come join us for our Artist’s Brain episodes where we pick the brains of a wide variety of artists and performers and try to find those nuggets of gold that we use to buy more bitcoin. Then listen to our Gametape episodes where we review our own shows to talk about our process, detail what we could do differently next time, and passive-aggressively judge Pish for his life choices. Lastly, check out our Stormchaserology episodes where we define some of the unique improv lingo we’ve come to use over the years - like "that's schmangin" and "rivulet" and "commonwealth".
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45: Artist’s Brain - Nick Armstrong - Trusting Your Gut, The Business of Improv, Rocky IV
Episode 45
Friday, May 12, 2023 • Duration 56:28
EVERYONE!!! It’s Nick Armstrong!!! NOT ONLY is he an incredible improviser (King Ten, Local 132) but he has also been an instrumental part of connecting and building the larger improv community with Camp Improv Utopia, theImprovNetwork.com, and Rise Comedy Theater in Denver, CO. Nick has strengthened the world’s improv community, and as a result, he’s helped cultivate the growth of improv as an art form. Nick Armstrong is a treasure.
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In this episode, we cover how trusting your gut might be the most important skill you can build, the challenges of managing an improv business, and how, believe it or not, improv is supposed to stay fun! Also, Nick and Andrew discover their shared love of Rocky IV.
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Connect with Nick on Instagram through Camp Improv Utopia @improvutopia and Rise Comedy Theater @risecomedy. And if you’re an improviser you should jump on The Improv Network at TheImprovNetwork.org - it’s a wonderful resource for improvisers to find coaches, festivals, and other improvisers.
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As always, thanks for joining us! This community of artists is an important part of our lives, and we’re glad you’re in it. Connect with us on the socials! We love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and insults. We’re on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube @stormchaserimprov. Tell your friends! Tell your family! And keep it a secret from your significant other because you're an individual and don’t need to share everything with them!
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PS: All our links including links to tickets for our live shows https://linktr.ee/StormchaserImprov
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PSS: If you would like to sponsor this beautiful podcast snowflake, or help in whatever way you can, please email stormchaserimprov@gmail.com and join us on our quest - to seek the holy grail of improv!
We have matching “We Love Greg Hess” tattoos. And it’s true - we always have. Always will. Greg is a core member of the legendary improv team Cook County Social Club, one of our favorite improv teams in the world, as well as a member of the ensemble of The Improvised Shakespeare Company. He is also co-host of the hit podcast MEGA, a serial comedy set in the world of a fictional megachurch. Greg is someone we’ve often turned to for inspiration and guidance, so it was a true delight to sit down and pick his brain.
In this episode, we cover Greg’s thoughts on Cook County’s electric style of play, something that’s kept audiences belly laughing for years. We talk about the challenges of continuing to surprise yourself on stage when you’ve been playing with the same people for as long as Cook County. And we even talk about ramifications of artificial intelligence on the future of art… because GREG IS AN AI BOT AND COULD YOU TELL?!
You can follow Greg on instagram @heygreghess and @megathepodcast. (You can check out Anatasha, Andrew, and Travis’ episodes on MEGA wherever you listen to podcasts!)
As always, thanks for joining us! This community of artists is an important part of our lives, and we’re glad you’re in it. Connect with us on the socials! We love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and insults. We’re on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube @stormchaserimprov. Tell your friends! Tell your family! And keep it a secret from your significant other because you're an individual and don’t need to share everything with them!
PS: All our links https://linktr.ee/StormchaserImprov
PSS: If you would like to sponsor this beautiful podcast snowflake, or help in whatever way you can, please email stormchaserimprov@gmail.com and join us on our quest - to seek the holy grail of improv!
35: Stormchaserology - “Throwing Daggers” by Travis Cox - Being Deliberate, Trusting, and Vulnerable
Episode 35
Monday, July 5, 2021 • Duration 10:48
Improv assassins unite! Travis has cooked up this bite-sized Stormchaserology episode to cover “throwing daggers.” He talks about how to make your improv more exciting by improvising more deliberately, how to treat you and your partner’s choices as important by trusting that those moves are exactly right, and how to be vulnerable and open yourself up to stabbing and being stabbed! So all you improv assassins better listen up because it’s time to sharpen up your improv!
You can connect with Travis on Twitter @TravLCox and on instagram @travislcox and you can connect with Stormchaser on instagram @stormchaserimprov and our website stormchaserimprov.com.
Before you go, if you’ve enjoyed the podcast, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts! Reviews are a great way for us to lure unsuspecting guests into our deadly podcast trap!
34: Artist’s Brain - Paul Vaillancourt - Mastering Fundamentals, Love of Teaching, Long Live iO West
Episode 34
Monday, June 14, 2021 • Duration 01:04:50
In this Artist’s Brain interview, we sat down with one of the GOATs - Paul Vaillancourt. For those who don’t know, Paul is a veteran improviser of over 30 years. His credits and credentials are too long to list here, but they include: being a member of the legendary improv team Beer Shark Mice; founding iO West and the Revolution Theater; writing not one but two books on improv (The Triangle of the Scene and 5 Things Improvisers can do to Stay Creative, Feel Inspired, and Have Fun!); and doing a show called Man vs Movie where he does a ONE-MAN IMPROVISED MOVIE!
Improv courses through Paul’s veins, and in our interview, you can feel how passionate he is about the craft of improv. We barely scratch the surface of his vast store of knowledge, but we do talk about the importance of remembering the basics; what Paul loves about teaching; and we get nostalgic about iO West - the house Paul built and that we were birthed in.
You can find Paul on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/whatsupwithpv
You can find his books on improv here:
The Triangle of the Scene at https://www.amazon.com/Triangle-Scene-practical-approaching-improvisation-ebook/dp/B00ZHV7BH2
5 Things Improvisers can do to Stay Creative, Feel Inspired, and Have Fun! at https://mailchi.mp/3a4915dcb396/free-guide-for-improvisers
And you can find his YouTube page for tons of great improv tips and tricks: https://www.youtube.com/c/pvimprov
And hey, while you’re on the old Instagram don’t forget to give us a follow @stormchaserimprov! You can also check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/stormchaserimprov and of course on our website at www.stormchaserimprov.com!
One last thing before you go. If you’re enjoying this show we’d be DELIGHTED if you could leave us a 5 star review on the old apple podcasts! It could be a review like this recent review from Maronati! Maronati gave us 5 stars and says: “Great Stuff.” Thanks Maronati!
This episode is brought to you by RY Originals - Whole Plant Vegan CBD Vitamins that are FULL of healthy and purposeful vitamins, minerals, and herbs! They’re double-lab tested and activated without extraction, which makes them truly original. RY Originals has crafted four unique blends - Better Mood, Pain Lift, Sleep Tight, and Original Blend all of which are available at shop.ryoriginals.com. And don’t forget to use our special discount code “Stormchaser” at check out to get $4.20 off of every bottle! Nice.
33: Gametape - “Kid Who Was Bullied” - How “Failing” is Fun, Playing Too Loose, Making Big Choices
Episode 33
Monday, June 7, 2021 • Duration 35:45
Let’s roll the tape from our show on May 26th! We watch “gametape” to get better. We discuss what worked in our shows and what definitely didn’t. (The only thing we want in life is to grow as artists and improvisers - ya know?) So here we are...just growing away. Life. Finds. A. Way.
(We recorded this episode without Anatasha. She was asked to come off the bench for the Utah Jazz in round two of the playoffs. Not even Kawhi can slow her down. (With Anatasha’s help, experts are predicting Jazz in 5. Andrew predicts the Clippers in 4.))
In this episode we talk about: the cost of playing “too loose”; how “getting it wrong” or “failing” can actually be a lot of fun; and how making big choices and bold statements can give your scenes enough momentum to go to the moon!
You can see Stormchaser improvise, live on facebook.com/stormchaserimprov. For show times and fun bits from the podcast, connect with us on Instagram @stormchaserimprov. If you want to join us for shows in our Zoom meeting and hang out before or after, send us a DM on Instagram and we’ll send you a link the week of the show! We’d love to see you and hear you, hopefully, laughing!
Lastly, if you’ve enjoyed the podcast, and you’re feeling generous, please consider leaving us an honest review on Apple Podcasts! Reviews are a great way for us to lure unsuspecting guests into our awesome podcast trap!
This episode is brought to you by RY Originals - Whole Plant Vegan CBD Vitamins that are FULL of healthy and purposeful vitamins, minerals, and herbs! They’re double-lab tested and activated without extraction, which makes them truly original. RY Originals has crafted four unique blends - Better Mood, Pain Lift, Sleep Tight, and Original Blend all of which are available at shop.ryoriginals.com. And don’t forget to use our special discount code “Stormchaser” at check out to get $4.20 off of every bottle! Nice.
32: Artist’s Brain - Kiff VandenHeuvel - Valuing Craft of Improv, Solo Practice, Training Confidence
Episode 32
Monday, May 24, 2021 • Duration 01:17:32
On this Artist’s Brain episode we had the pleasure to sit down with Kiff VandenHeuvel. Kiff’s an improv and sketch comedy veteran - he’s an alumni of The Second City comedy theatre and at Second City Hollywood, he’s directed sketch comedy and taught voiceover, improv, and directing. Kiff is also consistently working as an actor, and has appeared in hundreds of TV and radio commercials, and is well known in the video game community as the voice of Zachary Hale Comstock in Bioshock: Infinite, Walter in The Walking Dead video game series, and also from his work with Disney Infinity. He’s full of passion and his love of performance, and specifically improv, are inspiring.
In our interview, we talk to Kiff about the origins of the modern improv technique as developed by Viola Spolin, we talk about owning the legitimacy of your improv craft as a legitimate performance technique in an industry which doesn’t quite understand or respect the craft of improv, establishing a solo improv practice, how important it is to build confidence as a performer, and how it was working with Al Pacino. Kiff is passionate about improv and performing and this episode will inspire you to get out there with renewed energy.
You can connect with Kiff on Instagram @kiffvh on his website kiffvh.com - where you can find his demos, reach out for independent coaching, he coaches improv, voiceover, sketch, and all things performance. He also produces a podcast called All Over Voiceover, which you can check out on its website allovervo.com or on all your favorite podcast platforms.
You can see Stormchaser improvise, live on facebook.com/stormchaserimprov. For show times and other fun bits from the podcast connect with us on Instagram @stormchaserimprov. If you want to join us for shows in our zoom meeting and hang out before or after, send us a DM on Instagram and we’ll send you a link the week of the show! We’d love to see you and hear you, hopefully, laughing!
Lastly, if you’ve enjoyed the podcast, and you’re feeling generous, please consider leaving us an honest review on Apple Podcasts! Reviews are a great way for us to lure unsuspecting guests into our awesome podcast trap!
31: Stormchaserology - Growth Mindset by Andrew Pish
Episode 31
Monday, May 17, 2021 • Duration 17:12
In this episode, Andrew Pish (maybe you’ve heard of him: handsome, talented, smart, not quite as tall as Travis, and as you’ll hear in this podcast, profound and insightful) adds to our Stormchaserology collection with a great episode about growth mindset.
Inspired by psychologist Carol Dweck, Andrew digs into the difference between growth and fixed mindsets and how this can apply to improv and our lives in general. This understanding can help us to let go of comparison and people-pleasing, to enjoy success even while we’re risking on stage, and to defeat our shadow selves from alternate dimensions… You know, normal improv stuff.
If you want to - NO PRESSURE - please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. (We hate to pull this card, but Travis’ birthday is coming up in a couple weeks and a positive review is literally the only thing he wants. The heart wants what it wants.)
You can connect with us on instagram @stormchaserimprov and our website stormchaserimprov.com.
You can watch us do improv, live-streamed on Facebook, every other Wednesday at facebook.com/stormchaserimprov. If you want to join us to watch the show from inside our zoom meeting and hang out before or after our shows, send us a DM on Instagram and we’ll send you a link! We’d love to see you and hear you laughing (hopefully)!
30: Artist’s Brain - Keiko Agena - Creative Process, No Mistakes, Being Your Own Best Friend
Episode 30
Monday, May 10, 2021 • Duration 01:13:04
On this Artist’s Brain interview, Stormchaser sat down with actress and improviser Keiko Agena. Keiko’s improvised for years with Ham Radio, Aisian AF, and many other teams. You may know her from one of her many roles on television: she played Lane on Gilmore Girls, Pam Bradley on 13 Reasons Why, and she’s currently playing Dr. Edrisa Tanaka on Prodigal Son - which you still have time to catch up on season 2 on HBO Max before seeing the last couple episodes live on Fox.
If that isn’t enough creativity for one person, she’s also a skilled visual artist, and she wrote a creative journal based on mindfulness practices and the improv principle "no mistakes" called No Mistakes: A Workbook for Imperfect Artists (amazon link). On this episode, we dig into the specifics of Keiko’s process as an improviser, as a writer, and as an actor.
You’re free to go on with your life and leave us behind, but if you’ve enjoyed the show, could you leave us a review on Apple Podcasts? Help us get our show to the MOON!
If you want more of the Stormchaser drip - peep us on instagram @stormchaserimprov, on facebook.com/stormchaserimprov, and our website with links to the podcast www.stormchaserimprov.com.
This episode is brought to you by RY Originals - Whole Plant Vegan CBD Vitamins that are FULL of healthy and purposeful vitamins, minerals, and herbs! They’re double-lab tested and activated without extraction, which makes them truly original. RY Originals has crafted four unique blends - Better Mood, Pain Lift, Sleep Tight, and Original Blend all of which are available at shop.ryoriginals.com. And don’t forget to use our special discount code “Stormchaser” at check out to get $4.20 off of every bottle! Nice.
29: Gametape - “PQ” - Spinning Plates, Raising the Stakes, the Joy of Improvising w/o Travis
Episode 29
Monday, May 3, 2021 • Duration 35:50
There are a lot of similarities between athletes and improvisers: consistent practice, performing in the moment, and of course, the way we look with our shirts off. But we can also watch our gametape like our favorite athletes, and Stormchaser has found that watching shows and discussing what worked and what didn’t is an efficient way to strengthen our improv muscles. With our gametape episodes, we wanted to share some of those discussions so that you could learn from and possibly relate to our mistakes and our successes. Let’s get better together!
This episode was recorded without Anatasha (she’s currently deep undercover and if she told us any more she’d have to kill us) and covered a show that Travis missed because he had a hot date with traffic on the 405.
On this episode, Andrew and Travis talk about “spinning plates,” “throwing daggers,” raising the stakes of a scene, playing a “peas in a pod” scene, and the power of stillness. We say WAY too many nice things about Anatasha and WAY too many mean things about Travis. And stick around for the end of the episode where Travis gets his mind blown when Andrew talks about a unique and cool perspective for zoom improv.
You can also see Stormchaser perform live on facebook.com/stormchaserimprov. For show times and other fun bits from the podcast connect with us on Instagram @stormchaserimprov.
And before you go, if you’ve enjoyed the podcast, could you please leave us a bright, glowing, eloquent review on Apple Podcasts? We'd really appreciate it. KTHXBYE.
28: Artist’s Brain - Roy Janik - Narrative Improv, Building International Community, Owning an Improv Theater
Episode 28
Monday, April 26, 2021 • Duration 01:18:01
This is another episode in our Artist's Brain series where we interview improvisers and other artists about their creative process. Our guest today had an enormous impact on my (Andrew Pish’s) life, and first, let me set the stage…
In 2009, I was an engineering student in my first internship which was at a naval research laboratory in Austin, TX. My desk was directly across the hall from a door that had a sign that said “TOP SECRET” in big bold letters. The door also had a keypad with a code to get in. Scientists and engineers would quickly type in the secret code, rush in, and shut the door before I could lay my eyes on all those sweet, dark, naval secrets. This is the place where I began to have doubts that engineering was the right career path for me, and this is when, while I was checking my Gmail, I saw an ad for improv classes at the Hideout Theatre. That was the start of a journey that forever changed my life.
Enter our guest, Roy Janik, one of the owners of the Hideout Theatre and a member of the 16-year-old and internationally-renowned improvised theater company Parallelogramophonograph, or PGraph for short. Roy and PGraph were major influences on the narrative improv scene in Austin, TX when I started improvising, and he was my first improv team's coach. As you'll hear, Roy is a complete delight - positive and warm and insightful, and that's the character of improv that hooked me for life.
On this episode, we talked about the realities of being an improv theater owner, his narrative improv influences, lessons we all can take from narrative improv, how virtual improv can connect us with the international improv community (which has a lot we could learn from), and his book that he wrote with PGraph on narrative improv called Do It Now: Essays on Narrative Improv.
If you want to connect with Roy you can find him on Instagram @royjanik and you can find more about PGraph on their website www.pgraph.com where you can also order a copy of their book called Do It Now: Essays on Narrative Improv. It is jam-packed full of great insights and lessons to take into your improv.
Also, if you're in Austin, TX when the world opens back up, please check out the Hideout Theatre downtown, it's the place where I started improvising and I couldn't recommend it enough. The Hideout also has a twitch channel at twitch.tv/hideouttheatre where you can see Roy as well as a bunch of other hilarious improvisers perform.
You can also see Stormchaser perform live on facebook.com/stormchaserimprov. For show times and other fun bits from the podcast connect with us on Instagram @stormchaserimprov.
And before you go, if you’ve enjoyed the podcast, could you please leave us a bright, glowing, eloquent review on Apple Podcasts? We'd really appreciate it. KTHXBYE.
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