Improv Nerd With Jimmy Carrane

The Reckoning are one iO Chicago's most legendary Harold teams. In this episode, Charlie McCrackin, Beau Golwitzer, Jake Schneider and Eddie Pina join Jimmy and discuss the secrets of their success and evolution as artists. Then Jimmy joins them for a bit of Reckoning style improv. Don't miss it!

David Koechner returns for a special episode of Improv Nerd recorded live at Columbia College in Chicago. Dave opens up about his approaches to scene work, including his methods for never going into a scene empty handed. He also talks about working on Anchor Man 2 and developing his stand-up act. Please enjoy!

Maribeth Monroe plays Alice on ComedyCentral's Workaholics, is a veteran of The Second City, and will appear in the upcoming HBO series Brink. Maribeth discusses her time at Second City, getting hired on Workaholics, and how she has worked to become a confident, grounded performer. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do!

Barry Hite is one of the creators of the popular "I'm A Fan" webseries of NFL fan videos on The Second City Network, performed with the legendary Bullet Lounge at iO Chicago, and is a revered improv teacher. In this episode, he sits down with Jimmy to discuss how he has learned to keep his career fun, learning from Tiina Fey, and why Jimmy should stop using Facebook. Please enjoy!

Actor and comedian Jeff Garlin returns to Improv Nerd for a really fun interview and improv set. Jeff tells Jimmy about how he turns setbacks into comedy, his relationship with Julia Roberts, and how he manages to stay grounded despite his success. We hope you enjoy this show!

Denver Colorado has a thriving improv scene with multiple theaters providing training and performance opportunities for aspiring improvisers. Jimmy sat down with some of the leaders of that community, Justin Franzen of Comedy Voodoo Playhouse, Kerstin Caldwell of YES! Lab, and Eric Farone of Bovine Metropolis Theater. Listen in as they discuss how the Denver scene came to be and the different perspectives a performer can gain from their respective theaters. Then they join forces to improvise together, demonstrating how we all speak the common language of improv. Please enjoy!

Whirled News Tonight is a smart and topical improv show that is a mainstay of iO Chicago, gracing the main stage on Saturday nights for the past 11 years. In this episode, cast members Brook Breit, Padraic Connelly, and Megan O'Neill join Jimmy for a look at how they've been able to keep it hip and fresh for so long. We hope you enjoy this show!

Rebecca Sohn is among the great improvisers and improv teachers in Chicago, having performed legendary shows at both iO and The Annoyance Theater. Ted Tremper is best known for his two award winning web series Shrink and Break-ups. Rebecca and Ted were part of a dramatic improv show called Almost Atlanta that enjoyed successful runs across Chicago, including at The Annoyance Theater and The Steppenwolf Garage. Rebecca and Ted sat down with Jimmy at The Second City to talk about their process in creating Almost Atlanta and their storied careers.

Brian Posen is a beloved figure in the world of Chicago comedy. He is a wildly popular improv teacher for The Secondy City, is the founder and artistic director of the musical sketch troupe The Cupid Players, and is the artistic director of Stage 773 - one of Chicago's hottest new comedy venues. Brian is also the founder of the wildly successful Chicago Sketch Fest, where he sat down with Jimmy to talk about his fears, his triumphs and how improvisation changes lives. We hope you'll love this episode.

Dan Bakkedahl is one of the stars of FX's Legit and HBO's Veep, spent two years as correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and is a veteran of The Second City Chicago. Dan joins Jimmy for a frank discussion of his own securities and how they have effected his career, overcoming those securities, and what it takes to be a great improviser. Improv nerds, this is an episode you won't want to miss!