[Music] on April 1st 2014 my wife and I were
on April 1st 2014 my wife and I were
on April 1st 2014 my wife and I were engaged in the Oval Office now as a
engaged in the Oval Office now as a
engaged in the Oval Office now as a speaker at today’s event we are given
speaker at today’s event we are given
speaker at today’s event we are given some guidelines for our talk and item
some guidelines for our talk and item
some guidelines for our talk and item number 5 is don’t boast so I know I am
number 5 is don’t boast so I know I am
number 5 is don’t boast so I know I am directly flirting with violating the
directly flirting with violating the
directly flirting with violating the spirits of guideline number 5 right out
spirits of guideline number 5 right out
spirits of guideline number 5 right out of the gate now the details of this
of the gate now the details of this
of the gate now the details of this evening are better told over a drink it
evening are better told over a drink it
evening are better told over a drink it was through a series of incredibly
was through a series of incredibly
was through a series of incredibly thoughtful gestures from both close
thoughtful gestures from both close
thoughtful gestures from both close friends and new acquaintances that we
friends and new acquaintances that we
friends and new acquaintances that we felt completely backwards into this
felt completely backwards into this
felt completely backwards into this unique opportunity what makes that night
unique opportunity what makes that night
unique opportunity what makes that night relevant to our discussion today is when
relevant to our discussion today is when
relevant to our discussion today is when I asked the question how did that even
I asked the question how did that even
I asked the question how did that even enter the realm of possibility well I
enter the realm of possibility well I
enter the realm of possibility well I can trace that night back to a single
can trace that night back to a single
can trace that night back to a single decision I made 12 years earlier when I
decision I made 12 years earlier when I
decision I made 12 years earlier when I did the most terrifying thing I have
did the most terrifying thing I have
did the most terrifying thing I have ever done I signed up for an improv
ever done I signed up for an improv
ever done I signed up for an improv class the friend who gave us the White
class the friend who gave us the White
class the friend who gave us the White House tour I met on a job that I got
House tour I met on a job that I got
House tour I met on a job that I got when I was referred by another friend
when I was referred by another friend
when I was referred by another friend with whom I was on an improv troupe
with whom I was on an improv troupe
with whom I was on an improv troupe which I had an audition for garnering
which I had an audition for garnering
which I had an audition for garnering the requisite experience when a year
the requisite experience when a year
the requisite experience when a year earlier I had signed up for my first
earlier I had signed up for my first
earlier I had signed up for my first improv class the woman I was proposing
improv class the woman I was proposing
improv class the woman I was proposing to I was introduced to by her cousin
to I was introduced to by her cousin
to I was introduced to by her cousin with whom I was in a community theater
with whom I was in a community theater
with whom I was in a community theater production which I had the confidence to
production which I had the confidence to
production which I had the confidence to audition for having done improv for
audition for having done improv for
audition for having done improv for years leading up to that and that all
years leading up to that and that all
years leading up to that and that all started with that first class that class
started with that first class that class
started with that first class that class culminated in meeting the most important
culminated in meeting the most important
culminated in meeting the most important person in my life and it gave us the
person in my life and it gave us the
person in my life and it gave us the greatest memory of our life now I didn’t
greatest memory of our life now I didn’t
greatest memory of our life now I didn’t sign up for that class thinking it was
sign up for that class thinking it was
sign up for that class thinking it was going to open the doors to this type of
going to open the doors to this type of
going to open the doors to this type of experience I signed up for that class
experience I signed up for that class
experience I signed up for that class because I thought it would teach me how
because I thought it would teach me how
because I thought it would teach me how to be funny now unfortunately for
to be funny now unfortunately for
to be funny now unfortunately for everybody in this room it didn’t now I
everybody in this room it didn’t now I
everybody in this room it didn’t now I held this same narrow viewpoint of
held this same narrow viewpoint of
held this same narrow viewpoint of improv spur pused
improv spur pused
improv spur pused the first 13 years I practiced and
the first 13 years I practiced and
the first 13 years I practiced and performed it to get and have some laughs
performed it to get and have some laughs
performed it to get and have some laughs I don’t want to discount the importance
I don’t want to discount the importance
I don’t want to discount the importance of laughter its health benefits are well
of laughter its health benefits are well
of laughter its health benefits are well documented it increases our oxygen
documented it increases our oxygen
documented it increases our oxygen intake it stimulates the heart lungs and
intake it stimulates the heart lungs and
intake it stimulates the heart lungs and muscles and it increases the endorphins
muscles and it increases the endorphins
muscles and it increases the endorphins released by your brains on laughter
released by your brains on laughter
released by your brains on laughter alone I may be able to convince you that
alone I may be able to convince you that
alone I may be able to convince you that improv is something we should all try
improv is something we should all try
improv is something we should all try the benefits of laughter have been so
the benefits of laughter have been so
the benefits of laughter have been so widely accepted and for so long that it
widely accepted and for so long that it
widely accepted and for so long that it has been reduced to an old familiar
has been reduced to an old familiar
has been reduced to an old familiar cliche laughter is the best medicine it
cliche laughter is the best medicine it
cliche laughter is the best medicine it is undeniable that we feel better after
is undeniable that we feel better after
is undeniable that we feel better after a good laugh but for how long how long
a good laugh but for how long how long
a good laugh but for how long how long can a few laughs sustain us before what
can a few laughs sustain us before what
can a few laughs sustain us before what is truly a leonis resurfaces now it was
is truly a leonis resurfaces now it was
is truly a leonis resurfaces now it was not until I started teaching improv
not until I started teaching improv
not until I started teaching improv about two years ago when I first
about two years ago when I first
about two years ago when I first recognized that improv offered something
recognized that improv offered something
recognized that improv offered something far more profound than just laughter
far more profound than just laughter
far more profound than just laughter when asked our current students describe
when asked our current students describe
when asked our current students describe their experience with phrases like this
their experience with phrases like this
their experience with phrases like this truly has been one of the best
truly has been one of the best
truly has been one of the best experiences of my life and this is now
experiences of my life and this is now
experiences of my life and this is now my favorite effing thing to do and this
my favorite effing thing to do and this
my favorite effing thing to do and this has changed my life they are speaking to
has changed my life they are speaking to
has changed my life they are speaking to something far more impactful than just
something far more impactful than just
something far more impactful than just kidding and having some laughs
kidding and having some laughs
kidding and having some laughs if laughter is the best medicine
if laughter is the best medicine
if laughter is the best medicine then improv the act of creating laughter
then improv the act of creating laughter
then improv the act of creating laughter with others can be a cure over the past
with others can be a cure over the past
with others can be a cure over the past two years I have witnessed firsthand
two years I have witnessed firsthand
two years I have witnessed firsthand just how powerfully affecting and
just how powerfully affecting and
just how powerfully affecting and transformative the Improv experience can
transformative the Improv experience can
transformative the Improv experience can be the fear that would use from a
be the fear that would use from a
be the fear that would use from a students body the second they walked
students body the second they walked
students body the second they walked through that door would slowly melt into
through that door would slowly melt into
through that door would slowly melt into a puddle of mild nervousness and then
a puddle of mild nervousness and then
a puddle of mild nervousness and then ultimately evaporate into a cloud of
ultimately evaporate into a cloud of
ultimately evaporate into a cloud of genuine uninhibited joy the connections
genuine uninhibited joy the connections
genuine uninhibited joy the connections people made with people who were
people made with people who were
people made with people who were strangers merely minutes before was
strangers merely minutes before was
strangers merely minutes before was almost tangible after a few weeks
almost tangible after a few weeks
almost tangible after a few weeks people’s demeanors began to change and
people’s demeanors began to change and
people’s demeanors began to change and they started started to sharted
put that one in the TEDx Toledo blooper
put that one in the TEDx Toledo blooper reel that’s the beauty of improv
reel that’s the beauty of improv
reel that’s the beauty of improv mistakes are gifts right students may
mistakes are gifts right students may
mistakes are gifts right students may have been scared enough they may have
have been scared enough they may have
have been scared enough they may have charted on their way in the class I
charted on their way in the class I
charted on their way in the class I don’t know and if I riff too long on
don’t know and if I riff too long on
don’t know and if I riff too long on shardene I’m gonna go way over my time
shardene I’m gonna go way over my time
shardene I’m gonna go way over my time limit so after a few weeks students
limit so after a few weeks students
limit so after a few weeks students would start to share stories of their
would start to share stories of their
would start to share stories of their newfound ability to be bold and take
newfound ability to be bold and take
newfound ability to be bold and take risks outside of the classroom it was
risks outside of the classroom it was
risks outside of the classroom it was evidence that this discipline served as
evidence that this discipline served as
evidence that this discipline served as something far greater than solely as a
something far greater than solely as a
something far greater than solely as a comedic performance medium but why why
comedic performance medium but why why
comedic performance medium but why why was improv having this effect in an
was improv having this effect in an
was improv having this effect in an effort to understand it I began chatting
effort to understand it I began chatting
effort to understand it I began chatting down some of improv score principles
down some of improv score principles
down some of improv score principles patience kindness and humility it asks
patience kindness and humility it asks
patience kindness and humility it asks that we risk looking silly and leave our
that we risk looking silly and leave our
that we risk looking silly and leave our pride at the door improv requires that
pride at the door improv requires that
pride at the door improv requires that we honor what our scene partner has
we honor what our scene partner has
we honor what our scene partner has established an improv there are no
established an improv there are no
established an improv there are no mistakes only Discovery’s improv rewards
mistakes only Discovery’s improv rewards
mistakes only Discovery’s improv rewards being truthful and forthright improv
being truthful and forthright improv
being truthful and forthright improv demands trust perseverance and hope now
demands trust perseverance and hope now
demands trust perseverance and hope now these principles began echoing in my
these principles began echoing in my
these principles began echoing in my head until they turned into something
head until they turned into something
head until they turned into something very familiar there is something else
very familiar there is something else
very familiar there is something else that requires its practitioners be
that requires its practitioners be
that requires its practitioners be patient and kind to not envy or boast to
patient and kind to not envy or boast to
patient and kind to not envy or boast to not be proud to keep no records of
not be proud to keep no records of
not be proud to keep no records of wrongs to not delight and deceit but
wrongs to not delight and deceit but
wrongs to not delight and deceit but rejoice in the truth to protect trust
rejoice in the truth to protect trust
rejoice in the truth to protect trust hope and persevere love this is where
hope and persevere love this is where
hope and persevere love this is where improv takes us a step beyond laughter
improv takes us a step beyond laughter
improv takes us a step beyond laughter this is what was having such a lasting
this is what was having such a lasting
this is what was having such a lasting effect on our students in and out of the
effect on our students in and out of the
effect on our students in and out of the classroom this is improv overcurrent
classroom this is improv overcurrent
classroom this is improv overcurrent it is also its foundation and is
it is also its foundation and is
it is also its foundation and is scaffolding improv I’ve come to realize
scaffolding improv I’ve come to realize
scaffolding improv I’ve come to realize is
is
is routed in love now I reached out to some
routed in love now I reached out to some
routed in love now I reached out to some of the students we’ve had the last two
of the students we’ve had the last two
of the students we’ve had the last two years and asked if they would share with
years and asked if they would share with
years and asked if they would share with me how their decision to sign up for an
me how their decision to sign up for an
me how their decision to sign up for an improv class has impacted their life
improv class has impacted their life
improv class has impacted their life their answers were overwhelming both in
their answers were overwhelming both in
their answers were overwhelming both in their volume and their contents they
their volume and their contents they
their volume and their contents they were beautiful
were beautiful
were beautiful funny deeply personal and inspiring one
funny deeply personal and inspiring one
funny deeply personal and inspiring one student wrote until recently most of the
student wrote until recently most of the
student wrote until recently most of the decisions in my 45 years have been made
decisions in my 45 years have been made
decisions in my 45 years have been made as an avoidance of fear and failure I
as an avoidance of fear and failure I
as an avoidance of fear and failure I was in the throes of a divorce and I had
was in the throes of a divorce and I had
was in the throes of a divorce and I had isolated myself for such a long time
isolated myself for such a long time
isolated myself for such a long time that I didn’t really know how to
that I didn’t really know how to
that I didn’t really know how to communicate effectively anymore though I
communicate effectively anymore though I
communicate effectively anymore though I attempted to portray perfection I craved
attempted to portray perfection I craved
attempted to portray perfection I craved the ability to make mistakes without
the ability to make mistakes without
the ability to make mistakes without hating myself for them I knew I had to
hating myself for them I knew I had to
hating myself for them I knew I had to start facing some fears and getting my
start facing some fears and getting my
start facing some fears and getting my old self back i sat in the parking lot
old self back i sat in the parking lot
old self back i sat in the parking lot in the first day of improv class feeling
in the first day of improv class feeling
in the first day of improv class feeling my fear of walking in I had to walk in
my fear of walking in I had to walk in
my fear of walking in I had to walk in the door knowing I was ten minutes early
the door knowing I was ten minutes early
the door knowing I was ten minutes early I thought maybe I would be one of the
I thought maybe I would be one of the
I thought maybe I would be one of the first in the room I walked in and
first in the room I walked in and
first in the room I walked in and realized I was 20 minutes late I wanted
realized I was 20 minutes late I wanted
realized I was 20 minutes late I wanted to turn around and walk out but my
to turn around and walk out but my
to turn around and walk out but my teacher immediately welcomed me and told
teacher immediately welcomed me and told
teacher immediately welcomed me and told me to jump in and join the warm-up game
me to jump in and join the warm-up game
me to jump in and join the warm-up game with everyone my fear was immediately
with everyone my fear was immediately
with everyone my fear was immediately diffused I left my first day of improv
diffused I left my first day of improv
diffused I left my first day of improv class and I cried in my car I cried due
class and I cried in my car I cried due
class and I cried in my car I cried due to my pride of facing a fear and I had
to my pride of facing a fear and I had
to my pride of facing a fear and I had actual fun doing it now there’s nothing
actual fun doing it now there’s nothing
actual fun doing it now there’s nothing more powerful than fear and nothing more
more powerful than fear and nothing more
more powerful than fear and nothing more empowering than overcoming it’s the act
empowering than overcoming it’s the act
empowering than overcoming it’s the act of engaging in improv is itself an
of engaging in improv is itself an
of engaging in improv is itself an exercise in overcoming fear and as an
exercise in overcoming fear and as an
exercise in overcoming fear and as an art form it rewards those that follow
art form it rewards those that follow
art form it rewards those that follow that fear now the lessons continue well
that fear now the lessons continue well
that fear now the lessons continue well beyond those first few minutes
another student wrote I love that improv
another student wrote I love that improv gives you a place where your weirdness
gives you a place where your weirdness
gives you a place where your weirdness is fully accepted it’s honestly one of
is fully accepted it’s honestly one of
is fully accepted it’s honestly one of the coolest things about taking improv I
the coolest things about taking improv I
the coolest things about taking improv I can be as weird as I truly am and no one
can be as weird as I truly am and no one
can be as weird as I truly am and no one judges you if anything it’s celebrated
judges you if anything it’s celebrated
judges you if anything it’s celebrated and that feeling of acceptance sort of
and that feeling of acceptance sort of
and that feeling of acceptance sort of transfers to the rest of your life
transfers to the rest of your life
transfers to the rest of your life another cool thing is the relationships
another cool thing is the relationships
another cool thing is the relationships you build with your groups in some ways
you build with your groups in some ways
you build with your groups in some ways these people know me better than my
these people know me better than my
these people know me better than my lifelong friends and family my improv
lifelong friends and family my improv
lifelong friends and family my improv friends have quickly become some of my
friends have quickly become some of my
friends have quickly become some of my best friends you learn to trust these
best friends you learn to trust these
best friends you learn to trust these people quickly another testimonial
people quickly another testimonial
people quickly another testimonial succinctly hits on similar themes as our
succinctly hits on similar themes as our
succinctly hits on similar themes as our first two the student writes driving to
first two the student writes driving to
first two the student writes driving to class that first night I was super
class that first night I was super
class that first night I was super nervous and felt so inadequate I figured
nervous and felt so inadequate I figured
nervous and felt so inadequate I figured everyone else would be so much better
everyone else would be so much better
everyone else would be so much better than me well that first night was
than me well that first night was
than me well that first night was incredible our class connected so fast
incredible our class connected so fast
incredible our class connected so fast and I think it was because of the common
and I think it was because of the common
and I think it was because of the common love for laughing and shared experience
love for laughing and shared experience
love for laughing and shared experience I couldn’t have guessed how much these
I couldn’t have guessed how much these
I couldn’t have guessed how much these people and the art of improv would
people and the art of improv would
people and the art of improv would become such a huge part of my life
become such a huge part of my life
become such a huge part of my life well it’s empowering to overcome an
well it’s empowering to overcome an
well it’s empowering to overcome an individual fear it is monumental when a
individual fear it is monumental when a
individual fear it is monumental when a group of people come together and
group of people come together and
group of people come together and conquer a shared fear you still get that
conquer a shared fear you still get that
conquer a shared fear you still get that same sense of personal accomplishment
same sense of personal accomplishment
same sense of personal accomplishment but it’s built on a foundation of
but it’s built on a foundation of
but it’s built on a foundation of connecting with other human beings it is
connecting with other human beings it is
connecting with other human beings it is built on love now this person also
built on love now this person also
built on love now this person also touches on a very common obstacle people
touches on a very common obstacle people
touches on a very common obstacle people face when they’re contemplating whether
face when they’re contemplating whether
face when they’re contemplating whether or not to give improv shots that only
or not to give improv shots that only
or not to give improv shots that only certain people are preordained or good
certain people are preordained or good
certain people are preordained or good enough to do it
another student writes I have learned a
another student writes I have learned a lot about myself and have learned to
lot about myself and have learned to
lot about myself and have learned to live in the moment a lot more people who
live in the moment a lot more people who
live in the moment a lot more people who I’ve been close with for years are
I’ve been close with for years are
I’ve been close with for years are surprised that this is something I’m
surprised that this is something I’m
surprised that this is something I’m even involved with it feels good to
even involved with it feels good to
even involved with it feels good to break that mold challenge myself and
break that mold challenge myself and
break that mold challenge myself and have fun doing it
have fun doing it
have fun doing it telling an adult they shouldn’t engage
telling an adult they shouldn’t engage
telling an adult they shouldn’t engage in improv is like telling a child that
in improv is like telling a child that
in improv is like telling a child that they should not play make-believe
they should not play make-believe
they should not play make-believe I had forgotten that’s really what it is
I had forgotten that’s really what it is
I had forgotten that’s really what it is it’s just adults playing make-believe
it’s just adults playing make-believe
it’s just adults playing make-believe well improv impact can be simply
well improv impact can be simply
well improv impact can be simply profound improv can be profoundly simple
profound improv can be profoundly simple
profound improv can be profoundly simple as I reflect on my own experience and
as I reflect on my own experience and
as I reflect on my own experience and that of our students my perspective on
that of our students my perspective on
that of our students my perspective on improv has completely evolved it has
improv has completely evolved it has
improv has completely evolved it has evolved from once thinking I couldn’t do
evolved from once thinking I couldn’t do
evolved from once thinking I couldn’t do that to thinking
that to thinking
that to thinking anybody could do this to now knowing but
anybody could do this to now knowing but
anybody could do this to now knowing but everybody should do this now I
everybody should do this now I
everybody should do this now I understand that this is a lofty
understand that this is a lofty
understand that this is a lofty assessment of improv based at this point
assessment of improv based at this point
assessment of improv based at this point on anecdotal and observational evidence
on anecdotal and observational evidence
on anecdotal and observational evidence but in this assessment I’m not alone
but in this assessment I’m not alone
but in this assessment I’m not alone improv is already being used as a
improv is already being used as a
improv is already being used as a therapeutic tool for those suffering
therapeutic tool for those suffering
therapeutic tool for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and it is being studied
from Alzheimer’s and it is being studied
from Alzheimer’s and it is being studied by mental health professionals to
by mental health professionals to
by mental health professionals to identify and confirm its full range of
identify and confirm its full range of
identify and confirm its full range of mental health benefits as I was
mental health benefits as I was
mental health benefits as I was preparing for today’s talk this came
preparing for today’s talk this came
preparing for today’s talk this came across my facebook feed this conference
across my facebook feed this conference
across my facebook feed this conference took place two weekends ago in Chicago
took place two weekends ago in Chicago
took place two weekends ago in Chicago so stay tuned as our hypothesis
so stay tuned as our hypothesis
so stay tuned as our hypothesis continues to undergo the rigors of
continues to undergo the rigors of
continues to undergo the rigors of scientific examination as improv mental
scientific examination as improv mental
scientific examination as improv mental health benefits continue to be studied
health benefits continue to be studied
health benefits continue to be studied its practical purposes continue to
its practical purposes continue to
its practical purposes continue to expand Google McKenzie consulting and
expand Google McKenzie consulting and
expand Google McKenzie consulting and Pepsi are just a few examples of
Pepsi are just a few examples of
Pepsi are just a few examples of companies that now use improv as a part
companies that now use improv as a part
companies that now use improv as a part of their corporate training if you are
of their corporate training if you are
of their corporate training if you are getting an MBA at Duke Stanford MIT or
getting an MBA at Duke Stanford MIT or
getting an MBA at Duke Stanford MIT or Notre Dame you will have the option of
Notre Dame you will have the option of
Notre Dame you will have the option of taking a semester long improv elective
taking a semester long improv elective
taking a semester long improv elective improv applications are broad because
improv applications are broad because
improv applications are broad because its principles are universal now we’ve
its principles are universal now we’ve
its principles are universal now we’ve touched on a few of them today but I
touched on a few of them today but I
touched on a few of them today but I would be remiss in speaking about improv
would be remiss in speaking about improv
would be remiss in speaking about improv at this length if I didn’t introduce you
at this length if I didn’t introduce you
at this length if I didn’t introduce you to its most basic concepts and your
to its most basic concepts and your
to its most basic concepts and your slide had to be here
slide had to be here
slide had to be here two simple words yes and say it with me
two simple words yes and say it with me
two simple words yes and say it with me yessss and one more time yes and this is
yessss and one more time yes and this is
yessss and one more time yes and this is the notion that when an idea is
the notion that when an idea is
the notion that when an idea is introduced we say yes to it and then we
introduced we say yes to it and then we
introduced we say yes to it and then we add something to it if you approach
add something to it if you approach
add something to it if you approach creative problem-solving with a yes and
creative problem-solving with a yes and
creative problem-solving with a yes and mindset there is no limit to how far an
mindset there is no limit to how far an
mindset there is no limit to how far an idea can be explored and if you approach
idea can be explored and if you approach
idea can be explored and if you approach life with this mindset there is no limit
life with this mindset there is no limit
life with this mindset there is no limit to the experiences you may encounter it
to the experiences you may encounter it
to the experiences you may encounter it has been 15 years since I took my first
has been 15 years since I took my first
has been 15 years since I took my first improv class it is a decision that has
improv class it is a decision that has
improv class it is a decision that has led me to this very spot in this very
led me to this very spot in this very
led me to this very spot in this very moment in time and for that I am
moment in time and for that I am
moment in time and for that I am incredibly grateful I look at the
incredibly grateful I look at the
incredibly grateful I look at the students that I’ve met here in Toledo
students that I’ve met here in Toledo
students that I’ve met here in Toledo who are just a year or two and to their
who are just a year or two and to their
who are just a year or two and to their improv experience and I wonder 15 years
improv experience and I wonder 15 years
improv experience and I wonder 15 years from now what are they going to be able
from now what are they going to be able
from now what are they going to be able to look at in their life and trace back
to look at in their life and trace back
to look at in their life and trace back to their decision to face their fear to
to their decision to face their fear to
to their decision to face their fear to call to sign up to get in the car drive
call to sign up to get in the car drive
call to sign up to get in the car drive to class and walk in the door 20 minutes
to class and walk in the door 20 minutes
to class and walk in the door 20 minutes late thank you
”
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