The Art of Charm is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/charm today to get 10% off your first month.

Nom Nom delivers fresh dog food with every portion personalized to your

dog’s needs, so you can bring out their best. Get 50% off your first two weeks at tryNom.com/artofcharm.

Working out is tough. And finding a workout program that sticks, even tougher. Peloton’s classes don’t feel like a regular workout class, they feel like entertainment. In fact, you’ll be craving your workouts. Get started and download the free Peloton App today.

Backed by a leading clinical trial where nine out of ten men experienced healthier and visibly improved skin, Caldera Lab has the tools to unlock your best first impression and confidence! Use code CHARM at calderalab.com for 20% OFF their best products.

Factor, America’s #1 Ready-To-Eat Meal Kit, can help you fuel up fast with ready-to-eat meals delivered straight to your door. Head to factormeals.com/charm50 to get 50% off your first box.

In today’s episode, we cover the importance of improvising with Kelly Leonard. Kelly's career in the theater industry began by accident. He was hired as a dishwasher at Second City in Chicago, where he met John Favreau. He realized improv was not magic, but a skill that could be practiced and applied in business, parenting, and relationships. Kelly established himself as an executive producer for Second City, coordinating performances for generations of comics, actors, and writers. Kelly has written a book, "Yes, And," outlining how he believes the core principles behind improvisation can be applied to spark and drive collaboration.

In this episode of The Art of Charm, we explore the world of improvisation and its many benefits in communication, comedy, and creativity. From empathy and collaboration to resilience through failure, our guest speaker shares his experiences using improv to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty. We discuss the importance of listening, reframing, and storytelling, as well as the concept of post traumatic growth.

What to Listen For

Introduction – 0:00
How did Kelly Leonard get started in improv?
Why is improv important for innovation?

The Core Principles of Improv – 10:58
What are the core principles of improv and why do they apply to many areas of life?
How do you lead a healthy conversation with someone you disagree with?

The Magic of Mistakes – 24:02
How do we leverage mistakes to create success or make progress toward your goals?
What simple exercise can you use to reframe negative events in your life to be positive?

Creating Comedy – 42:30
How do you formally create comedy?
How do you give status to people you’re talking to?
What simple tool can you start using today to make conversations easier, engaging, and more fun for anyone involved?

Many of us are familiar with improv comedy but did you know the principles of improv can be used in business, parenting, and relationships? Every time you have a conversation with someone, you are improvising because you can’t predict what the other person will say and so you must improvise every time the other person responds to something you say. The best conversations are fluid and dynamic, making both people feel comfortable and natural. But to be good at improvising, you must practice it just like you would any other skill.

Resources from this Episode

Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration by Kelly Leonard

Kelly Leonard on Twitter

Second City’s website

Check in with AJ and Johnny!

AJ on Instagram

Johnny on Instagram

The Art of Charm on Instagram

The Art of Charm on YouTube

The Art of Charm on TikTok

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Kill List: Living Ghosts

Embedded

How Have Families Protested Enforced Disappearances?

The AI-powered Podcast Player