What if becoming who you want to be has less to do with control and more to do with letting go?
In this insightful episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Anne Libera, longtime Second City director, educator, and author of Funnier: A New Theory for the Practice of Comedy. Together, they explore how improvisation offers a powerful model for personal growth, creativity, and identity transformation.
Anne’s work blends comedy, psychology, and human behavior. Drawing from decades at The Second City working with performers such as Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Tim Meadows, and Jordan Peele, she reveals that improv is not ultimately about being funny. It is about presence, awareness, emotional flexibility, and learning to respond to life as it actually is, rather than how you wish it would be.
This episode continues our December series, The Season of Becoming. It explores who we are in the moments in between when one version of our life is fading, and another has not yet taken shape.
Get the full episode show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/life-lessons-from-improv/
Listen, Watch, and Go Deeper
All episode links are gathered here, including my books You Matter, Luma, and Passion Struck, The Ignited Life Substack, YouTube channels, and the Start Mattering apparel store:
https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
Download the Companion Workbook
The Becoming Workbook: How to Let Go of Old Scripts and Step Into the Next Version of Yourself
Includes reflection prompts, identity exercises, and tools for loosening rigid thinking and building creative flexibility.
https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/improv-skills-for-personal-growth
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why improvisation is not about comedy. It is about attention, awareness, and responding to reality
- How humor helps us navigate discomfort, uncertainty, and identity change
- Why trying to control the scene often makes life harder
- How to practice Yes, and in real relationships
- Why reinvention requires play, curiosity, and emotional risk
- The psychology behind why we cling to scripts that no longer fit
- How to use comedic tools to expand your sense of identity and possibility
- Why becoming is not reinvention. It is responsiveness
- How to build creative confidence even if you do not consider yourself funny
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https://StartMattering.com
Disclaimer
The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed physician, therapist, or other qualified professional.
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