The Backline

The Sonar Network
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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