The Elise & John Show

It’s been one year since we started this podcast and like Biggie once said- THINGS DONE CHANGED. In this episode we talk about the importance of reflecting after such a jam packed and pivotal few years.

We connect on what it’s like to be the Directors of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at established improv theaters and the concept of this kind of role in general.

Reflecting on the past also leads us to think about the future and we share how we are discovering our new and changing relationship to improv and creative work going forward.

A huge thank you to all of our listeners, supporters and Patrons who have been with us for the last year and a big welcome to new listeners- WHERE YOU BEEN?!

Excited to share this episode featuring BS & J.Ellis from Freestyle Love Supreme Academy!

David “BS” Bradshaw has been an active emcee, beatboxer, and event host for the past decade. His primary focus for the better part of the last five years has been refining his craft as an educator, teaching artist, curriculum developer, and programming specialist. He has toured regionally, performed at the Apollo, been featured on BET's 106&Park, RedbullTV, Beatbox The Movie, and The Today Show. 

BS is a BEAT Global T3 certified instructor with a background as a Dual Language teacher. He currently facilitates freestyle rhyming, songwriting, and beatboxing workshops for learners of all ages and abilities including full-time emcees, hobbyists, incarcerated youth, and special needs learners. 

J.Ellis is an Ohio made & Harlem molded actor, improvisor, instructor and musician, who has coached, directed & performed on Broadway, for “America’s Got Talent”, in the historic main-stage of Carnegie Hall, and at Off Mic Comedy School. He most recently created and directed the fully improvised hip-hop musical “BARS”, produced by Playhouse Square & Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory. 

J.Ellis is grateful to be a proud advocate for LGBTQ+ artists’ perspectives in hip-hop! 

Speaking of Hip-hop- this episode is a big ol' geek out session on music. We get into how we as humans and artists can mold our communities by simply showing up to move tolerance and progression forward in the hip-hop genre and in all creative spaces.

Elise shares her own experience in Freestyle Love Supreme Academy and we all chat about how freestyle rap & psychologically safe spaces can bring about healing. We also get into experiences we’ve had having to code switch in different areas of our lives and how that parallels the duality we experience in hip-hop culture. We even address how masculine societal emphasis has impacted our willingness to be emotional, heart-led humans. LISTEN- this episode has it ALL!

Hello friend! 

Today we welcome the formidable Stephanie Rae, founder of The Black Improv Alliance. Stephanie has been studying traditional and musical improv for eleven years. She has directed a Boyz II Men themed show for UCB'S Del Close Marathon,  guest performed in tons of shows, and taught classes and workshops for improvisors from Louisiana to Liverpool. These days she directs the Black Improv Alliance, performs with International Players Club & Wakanda v Everybody, is an ambassador for Freestyle Love Supreme Academy, and runs the 100 black improvisors program. A program which has created scholarships for black improvisors at more than 60 theaters from around the world. She also has a law degree from Georgetown - but mostly uses it to win arguments online.

On this episode we ran a real life boundary check-in to illustrate how check ins and boundaries can be done before a show or in a classroom. We also chat about how those boundaries can shift depending on what kind of space we are in.

Stephanie shares the Black Improv Alliance’s journey from where it began to becoming the organization it is today- offering scholarships and enrichment to the black improv community.

We chat about social dynamics in the improv community including improvisers dating improvisers as well as navigating the social and interpersonal aspect of being both a performer and a leader.

We also get into finances, and what it’s like to run a nonprofit organization that… well… requires funds! That paper! 

You’ll need to play this episode back SEVERAL times cause C. Michael Menge is dropping that WISDOM and teaching us to discover ourselves into existence!

C Michael Menge is an actor, improviser, and devised theatre artist based in Minneapolis, MN. They currently have a naked stage fellowship through Pillsbury House + Theatre, co-starring Jay Owen Eisenberg. You can catch him there this December! Link to tickets below.

On this episode we discuss gendering (and NOT gendering) each other in improv and the importance of grounding scenes in emotion versus gender. We talk about the meaning of embodiment and of aligning ourselves with our values both as artists, and as humans.

C. Michael also shares his take on the necessity of resilience in a world that is constantly changing and evolving. Are you willing to change and evolve with it?! Let’s Go!

On "The Price of Peace" we welcome Toronto-based actor, comedian, and curator, COKO GALORE!

She is one half of the improv comedy duo Coko & Daphney, Director of Toronto’s Black and Funny Improv Festival, and founder of Toronto’s Asian and Funny comedy festival. She is also a co-producer of The Untitled Black Sketch Project. Her performance credits include headlining festivals across North America, and multiple other shows curated and written by Coko herself. Most recently, you can catch her on CBC's Tallboyz.

Coko is currently Artistic and Managing Director of Bad Dog Comedy Theatre, where she is instrumental in the creation of their YouTube Channel: Bad Dog Comedy TV.

On this episode Coko shares how she views everything including media and inclusion, through her sociology background. We explore Coko’s intersectionalities as a black, asian, & queer woman in the improv world; and discuss the importance of protecting and supporting BIPOC folk in positions of power. Plus so much more!

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On "Take the Red Pill" we welcome Minnesota-based rapper Nur-D!

Nur-D has won 95.3 FM’s “Shut Up & Rap” competition four times in a row and has performed at musical festivals and venues nationally- sharing bills with the likes of Jaden Smith, Tyler the Creator, and the Wu Tang Clan.

Nur-D’s musical content includes all of the things that make him who he is with everything from geek culture to activism. You can check out all FIVE of his albums on Spotify.

His Ted Talk addresses how the very pillars of his of music, storytelling, and origins of his success were forever altered after being thrust into the middle of the uprising that followed the murder of George Floyd.

On this episode we interrogate representation in media, how it can be skewed around racial lines, gender issues, and even mental health issues. We break down how the consumption of mainstream media affects our cultures and talk about the choices we make to take the red pill of truth and authenticity.

Nur-D also shares how the events of the last year have shaped his music and artistic expression and discusses using comedy to address injustice and the black experience.

Thank you for tuning into this episode. Here is how you can support Nur-D, watch his Ted Talk, and donate to his non-profit, Justice Frontline Aid:

On this episode we welcome our actual brother Will Luera.

Will is the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, Director of Big Bang Improv, incoming artistic director at Improv Asylum and serves as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston. He is the co-creator of Healing Moments for Alzheimer’s, a non-profit organization that provides education, advocacy, and ministry for persons with dementia and their caregivers. Will tours globally as an improv comedy actor, instructor, and director and performs and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

On this episode we discuss what it’s like to be performers who grew up in immigrant cultures and Will shares his experiences in traveling globally to teach and perform improv. He also shares his long term experience in the industry and what it’s been like to be a BIPOC professional, parent, and life-long learner.

And because we have the legend that is Will Luera with us- you better believe we have a well-rounded improv geek out session where we touch on everything from the Freeform format, the true and applied meaning of Yes &, and so much more.

Our premiere episode! On this episode we talk about how 2020 has affected our improv communities, our communities at-large, and our individual lives. We also get into the presidential debate and the upcoming election.

Big ups to our podcast friends who supported us and helped us get this podcast off the ground: