

The Backline
The Sonar Network
Canadian Comedy Award winners Rob Norman and Adam Cawley discuss weekly improv-based topics based on a theme.
Episodes
Mentioned books

30 snips
Dec 11, 2025 • 52min
Bulldozer
In this episode, Rob and Adam dive into the challenges of handling heavy offers, navigating information overload, and figuring out how to deal with unexpected “bulldozers” that can derail an improv scene. They break down practical strategies, share examples, and explore how to keep scenes playful, collaborative, and fun.
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 3min
Touch the Lamassu!
This week, Rob and Adam tackle a tricky question: does your improv teacher have secrets to share, or are they full of it? With countless improv styles—many of them contradicting each other—it can be tough to know what to believe. Rob and Adam explore how improv ideas get passed down, why some “rules” stick, and how performers can figure out what’s actually useful.
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

Dec 1, 2025 • 57min
From the Classroom to the Stage
This week Rob and Adam discuss the transitioning your skills from the classroom to the stage. Why is it so hard to do what works in an exercise, onstage in front of an audience?
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

Nov 21, 2025 • 51min
Spark-less
Rob and Adam talk about navigating your improv career, dealing with self-doubt, and having honest conversations with yourself about what’s possible and what is probable.
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

9 snips
Nov 14, 2025 • 46min
Intelligence VS. Integrity
This week, Rob and Adam dsicuss the time-honoured tradition of playing to the “Top of their Intelligence” by having a very dumb discussion about characters, point of view, and what amount of “smart” are you required to bring with you onstage.
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

Nov 4, 2025 • 58min
Offensive
Improv is not historically known for being offensive, but sometimes improvisers cross the line. Why is comedy so frequently associated with offense? Does comedy need to be provocative to be funny? What do you do if you offend your audience? All this and more.
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

Oct 21, 2025 • 54min
Who, What, Where – but When?
This week Rob and Adam chat about framing scenes prior, during, or after the action. Do scenes always need to start in the middle? What’s the best way to execute a tag-in? If you mention an event, does it always have to happen onstage?
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

Oct 21, 2025 • 1h 3min
Platforms, Tilts, and Improvising Action
This week Rob and Adam, discuss platforms and tilts for improv scenes, how sketch influences scenes, and how to create action without blindsiding their scene partner.
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

Oct 7, 2025 • 5min
Technique
The improv world is full of technique. What techniques help individual improvisers? What techniques benefit the theatre you play at? Are there techniques you should embrace? Or some that you should avoid?
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

18 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 53min
Tethering
his week Rob and Adam discuss tethering: the act of linking your emotional state to what your partner is doing. Also, some great questions about tethering from our friend Martin in Estonia.
Brought to you By: The Sonar Network


