I'm a psychotherapist/improviser and host Improv Interviews with some of the most interesting people in the world - improvisers. We discuss what improv comedy is and how they use it for helping others.
234 Improv Interviews Mary Lemmer - Improviser/Writer Researchers
Meet the fabulous Mary Lemmer. She is a brilliant person who has accomplished so much in her young life!
Our paths crossed at a meeting with improvisers who had conducted evidence based research on the neurological and psychological benefits of improv! We talk about her improv journey and the challenges she faced along the way.
She is definitely an entrepreneur , starting her own business as a young child!
Be sure to learn more about this remarkable improviser at
https://www.marylemmer.com
She conducted her own research on improv and physiology which can be found at
https://intellectdiscover.com/content/journals/10.1386/dj_00028_1
She is a prolific speaker and writer and her new book, "How to Handle Anything: Four Improv Principles for Navigating Life's Curveballs" is coming out soon.
Here are some other ways to learn about Mary and how improv has definitely improved her life!
https://howtohandleanything.com
The How to Handle Anything podcast
Life, Improvised Substack
https://lifeimprovised.substack.com
TED Talk: How improv can improve your leadership and life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViPxtXWgg98
27 Sept 2026
233 Improv Interviews Dr. Ron Harvey-Community Psychologist/Improviser
Meet Dr. Ron Harvey , an improviser and professor of Psychology at the American University in Bulgaria. He is also the faculty co-sponsor for the student improv troupe, the 1st English language improv club in the Balkans.
Dr. Ron studied improv in Chicago at The Second City as well as iO Chicago, The Annoyance Theater, and CiC Theater.
His love of improv started in the 1990s at the iO theater in Chicago, where he saw the very first Armando Diaz Experience.
Ronald grew up in America and he is currently living in Sofia, Bulgaria; his perspective on the international improv community is fascinating. Ronald and I chat about embracing failure, building trust and developing empathy. This is an amazing conversation about building communities and breaking through cultural boundaries.
He is the youngest of eight children, all boys. , born and grew up in Joliet, IL,. and got his Ph.D. in Community Psychology from DePaul University in Chicago in 2014.
He has published research papers that led to the implementation of Oxford House recovery centers in Bulgaria.
You can learn more about Dr. Ron at the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT_nDxILH7g
Facebook: @ronz8in
Instagram: @harvatronics
TEDx AUBG Talk: Why the Future Belongs to Community Research
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y04D7qAPFMM
18 Sept 2026
235 Improv Interviews Patrick Short-Musician, Comedy Sportz Portland
Meet the wonderful improviser/coach/facilitator/musician Patrick Short! We had a stimulating chat about his 39th year anniversary as a player with ComedySportz. For 32 years he served as co-owner (with his wife, Ruth Jenkins) and GM CSz Portland, the producers of ComedySportz. He's currently the Director of Client Services for CSz Portland, now part of Portland Comedy Theater. Patrick serves on the board of the Applied Improvisation Network, was the Associate Chair for the July, 2026 Global Improvisation Initiative Symposium in Portland and serves on the board of Access to Play (Nigeria). Patrick continues to play for ComedySportz, in the musical duo AlleyLoops (with Emily Larkin), is the Portland producer and music director of Vision♥︎Euro, an Improvised Söng Cöntest and composes/produces original pop and theatrical music - sometimes in a Dad Band! One of his great joys is improvising onstage with his wife Ruth and their adult improvisor children, Cowan and Fiona Jenkins.
Patrick is a beautiful soul and I plan on chatting with him again!
You can learn more about Patrick at the following links:
Portland Comedy Theater and ComedySportz: https://portlandcomedy.com
Our Applied Improv side: https://cszportland.com
Original Music: https://patrickshort.bandcamp.com
Vision♥︎Euro: https://portlandcomedy.com/vision-euro-program
AlleyLoops: https://portlandcomedy.com/alleyloops
Applied Improvisation Network: https://www.appliedimprovisationnetwork.org/
Global Improvisation Initiative: https://www.globalimprovisation.com/
Access to Play: https://accesstoplay.org/
Who has been a guest on Improv Interviews
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Tim Yeo
Ashton Keys
Rebecca Sohn
Rich Sohn
Matt Folliott
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