Inner Peace and Power

147. The Art of Improvising Your Life with Jonathan Pitts

• Rashmi Schramm, MD • Episode 147

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0:00 | 36:47

I got to sit down with award-winning international improviser and teacher Jonathan Pitts, co-founder of the Chicago Improv Festival and longtime Second City teacher, to explore what improvisation can teach us about being human.

I've experienced Improv as a way to connect to being more present, playful and intuitive, and mostly just alive. He shares his experience and wisdom on this. 

We talk about improv as a mindfulness practice, the healing power of play, why “accept and build” goes far beyond the stage, and how Jonathan’s own experiences with trauma and recovery shaped the way he understands connection, boundaries, and creativity.

We also explore the fascinating social-work roots of modern improv, why Jonathan believes improv can be therapeutic without being therapy, and what AI may never be able to replicate about human wisdom, intuition, empathy, and play.

At its heart, this conversation is about learning to meet life the way a great improviser meets a scene: present, curious, responsive, and willing to say yes to the adventure.

How to find Jonathan:

https://www.globalimprovwalkabout.com

Instagram @jpitts1028

Reference:

https://www.rashmischramm.com