Monster Baby: A Curious Romp Through the Worlds of Mindfulness and Improvisation

On the eve of a New Year, Lisa and Ted consider the value of fresh starts. They begin with some numerical musings (2:29) and warm up with a round of the classic improv game “New Choice.” (7:21) They explore how New Year’s resolutions and how improv heightens our awareness of newness in any given moment (13:35) before discussing how “imprinting” can make it tough to ever wipe the slate clean (19:22). Ted mentions some ways in which mindfulness invites us back to each moment (21:28) and they each share a target theme word for the year (22:14). They distinguish between everyday changes and momentous occasions (26:01) and mention how artist Andy Goldsworthy can help improvisors—and the rest of us—get “good” at newness. (28:20) That leads to a short discussion on the value of design thinking (33:55) and then carries into what Ted and Lisa have brewing on the horizon—think new Monster Baby PodKitten and Clown School! (38:18) The pair closes with a humorous riff on the wonders of octopi (or octopuses) and how they each could offer an apocalypse team. (44:21) The outro pulls it all together with some wrap-up reflections and invitations. Happy New Year, all! As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #37: A New Start appeared first on Anima Learning.

Just in time for a holiday season that so often leads to excess, Ted and Lisa return to extol the virtues of “Less is More.” They revisit an old standby version of Word-at-a-Time for a warm-up (1:39) and consider some general thoughts about how improv draws from life (5:42). Ted shares a few stories from the rustic portion of his childhood (10:16) and the pair recount humorous tales of Christmas past (15:09). They dig into the episode’s topic in full earnest when Lisa describes the value of staying with offers in improv, including examples from her recent “Bechdel Test” run in LA (19:05). Ted introduces the Raisin Exercise from mindfulness training and how it can help us savor what we already have (27:08) and then the two dig further into the notion of first offers in improv and conversation (30:30). They discuss the value of challenging a consumptive mindset and preventing “improv freakout” (34:26) and draw from the world of yoga to consider how support precedes action (42:05). Ted sneaks in an ACTUALLY funny story about his experience at a long-ago astrology conference (44:38) before the episode draws to a close. As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #36: Less is More appeared first on Anima Learning.

It’s Lisa’s birthday and Ted’s about to turn 50—time to talk about aging! Our Monster Baby duo starts with a challenging warm-up game of “Fifteen Things!” to keep their brains youthfully invigorated (2:07) and then chat about how age has affected their respective memories (9:47). Ted and Lisa consider the dating ramifications of getting older and why a Saturn return might represent an important marker of maturity (11:53). Lisa explains why and how she wears her age proudly (19:06) and then the two dig into the heart of the episode, exploring how age and aging show up in the worlds of improv (21:59) and mindfulness (32:12). Lisa talks about how she feels about seeming “cool” as she gets older and Ted muses on the notion of making peace with physical changes over time (36:28). Ted talks about how mindfulness can interrupt our tendency toward calcified reactivity and judgment (42:43) and Lisa notes the value of collecting healthy mindsets along life’s pathway (48:44). The episode closes with a playful question about elephants (50:45) and the usual outro (54:38). As we get closer to another calendar year moving along, we wish you well with your passing of time! As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #35: On Aging appeared first on Anima Learning.

Listen up, people! In Monster Baby #34, Ted and Lisa dig in to the nitty gritty of the world of listening. They start by defining the word itself and noticing how listening is like receiving (2:09) and then brainstorm ways to increase listening bandwidth (6:30). Lisa wonders if attention is a finite resource (9:32) and together they wonder what good listeners actually do (11:03). Ted introduces the notion of open, honest questions (14:12) and raises the idea of cultural and topical variations in listening style (19:12). The pair revels in the ambient sounds offered when recording outside (21:06) and how noticing the quality of those sounds links us to the truth that all things change (24:59). They add to the list of qualities for a good conversationalist (25:47) and explore how good listening helps us know ourselves (39:35). They close with some wisdom from colleague Ben Johnson and with a riff on Auto-Fill when listening (43:39). It’s a shorter episode than usual so make sure to put your listening caps on tight and buckle in. It’ll be over before you know it! As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #34: Listen Up! appeared first on Anima Learning.

What sorts of intriguing insights show up on a 10-day silent retreat? Ted and Lisa find out in Monster Baby Episode #33.  They start by acknowledging that Ted’s in a period of adjustment (2:23) before considering the benefits of practicing mindfulness in relationship with others (6:58). They note how sharper awareness can help us “lock in” to what we’re designed for (12:17) and then run through the six guidelines or principles of Insight Dialogue (14:45). They note some similarities between this kind of practice and some familiar improv games (21:47) until Lisa cries foul on whether we’re just navel-gazing (26:08). Ted describes how tension around results in meditation just creates more tension (32:53) and Lisa shares how moving her phone away from her bedside makes a difference (36:14). The two run through three cravings or hungers described by Buddhism and share some helpful analogies (41:15) before noting how such cravings can get in the way of healthy relationship with others (53:23). Lisa mentions why you’d put gold on the back of a Buddha (56:04) and Ted makes more analogies about awareness as a boat and the sticky nature of the self-generating mechanism in all of us (59:02). May you find greater awareness and joy in listening! As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #33: 10 Days of Insight appeared first on Anima Learning.

Regular Monster Baby listeners know that Ted and Lisa love to play. In their latest episode, you learn why. The intrepid pair discuss play as a connector (1:43), whether it makes sense to be playful in such tough times (5:02), and different types of play (7:49). They consider the impacts and qualities of a playful attitude (10:27) and how play evokes the sacred and creates intimacy (15:18). Ted acknowledges that he sometimes resists play (20:24) before exploring how play shows ups in mindfulness practice (26;42). Lisa and Ted consider how it might be worth prioritizing play in one’s life (31:12) and how the Universe invites us to dance along with it (34:08). They close with the importance of having fun in general, referencing rubber ducks, plastic flamingos, elves on a shelf and a pipe cleaner Jesus along the way (40:01). We hope you’ll enjoy! As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #32: Press Play appeared first on Anima Learning.

Glide down a river of insight as the Monster Baby podcast takes on the topic of flow. Despite her uncertainties, Lisa offers a great San Francisco-based analogy before Ted brings in the Buddhist image of the Windhorse (1:45). The two distinguish between autopilot and flow (9:26) and then dive into three main questions for the remainder of the episode (10:53). They ask “Where can we experience flow?” (11:43) and “What keeps us from flow or knocks us out of it?” (21:08) before riffing on the discipline of clearing such blockages (29:39). They get to their third inquiry, “What promotes flow or resets it?” (40:56) and close with a nod to flow in Taoism and Progressive Flo on TV (50:49). Step in to the stream and enjoy the ride! As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #31: Find the Flow appeared first on Anima Learning.

Coping with a wounded heart can be tough, but mindfulness and improvisation principles and practices can help. In this episode, Ted and Lisa process Ted’s meteoric rise-and-fall romantic connection (2:33), preparing with a little levity in an opening game of Three Things (6:28). Ted recounts the good times and the stunning news of reversal (9:56) before sharing his cycle of five feelings while waiting for further clarity (18:30). The pair discuss Kahlil Gibran’s image of joy and sorrow (23:09) and ask what’s the wise best choice to make when we get attached to someone (26:31). Ted briefly outlines four helpful questions for starting a new connection (29:15) before he and Lisa continue on the question of attachment (30:47). Lisa asks if Ted would choose differently, knowing what he now knows (38:08); he acknowledges that it’s tough to stop momentum once it’s moving (43:33). They close by sharing how poetry and music can help us stay open-hearted in such aching times (45:24). Stick around for the bonus track if you want to hear one of Ted’s original songs that provides some comfort during times of heartbreak (58:04). As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   I believe in all that has never yet been spoken. I want to free what waits within me so that what no one has dared to wish for may for once spring clear without my contriving. If this is arrogant, God, forgive me, but this is what I need to say. May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children. Then in these swelling and ebbing currents, these deepening tides moving out, returning, I will sing you as no one ever has, streaming through widening channels into the open sea. –Rainer Maria Rilke, Book of Hours (translated by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy)   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #30: Handling Heartbreak: A True Story appeared first on Anima Learning.

How does yielding at the right times serve creativity and collaboration? Ted and Lisa start with a game of Sound Ball (1:49) and catch back up after a summer apart (3:47) before jumping into this episode’s topic of “It’s Not You.” (11:02) They explore the connections between humility and humus (14:59) and delineate the difference between the Ego Self and the Eco Self (20:25) Lisa notes that a focus on others might actually be a self-focus in disguise (24:08) and Ted asks how power and privilege play into the topic (30:27). A discussion of the non-personal nature of mindfulness instruction generates a new term (32:11) and, shockingly, Lisa speaks from some notes she’s taken (34:52). The pair discuss how choosing to yield can actually foster group success (52:27) before closing up the rest of the episode. As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all!   To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com   San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #29: It’s Not About You appeared first on Anima Learning.

Lisa and Ted reach across the country to dig deeper into life’s offerings. Lisa shares some perspective from her time at Girl Scout camp and Ted relays a story or two from his trip across country on his way to a training program in Manhattan (1:56) and then the pair get into the topic of the day (8:27). They generate some perhaps forgettable quotations about savoring each moment (14:51) before exploring how mindfulness can help us dig deeper (16:51). Ted shares an example of working with poetry as a way of examining our lives more fully (21:08) and Lisa explains how the village life of summer camp helps keep her in the moment (27:02). The conversation gets even more real when the two ask what it means to dig deeper with professional and personal callings (30:33) and what makes it so hard to do so (39:28). As always, please send a note, question, or comment if you feel so inspired: info@monsterbabypodcast.com. Thanks so much for listening—we love you all! To subscribe, go to: http://monsterbabypodcast.com San Francisco improvisors Ted DesMaisons and Lisa Rowland explore the beautiful, surprising and unruly intersections between mindfulness and improvisation as they seek to befriend that oft-hidden and sometimes scary part of all of us that can lead to a life well-lived. The post Monster Baby #28: Dig Deeper appeared first on Anima Learning.