Latest episode
Ep. 42 · Jun 18, 2026 · 15 min
Reframing
Flexibility, the ability to pivot, is a terrific skill to have on stage and off. Today, we look at reframing as a way to that.
Show notesThe SoCap Improv Comedy Podcast
Improv, on and off the stage.
Hosted by Ralph MacLeod. Owner and Artistic Director of SoCap Comedy Theatre in Toronto. A bite-sized, 5-20 minute show on improv. This show is less about improv as performance (though that will be in here) but more about how improv can improve every aspect of your life.
42 episodes · new episodes weekly
All episodes
42 total
Ep. 41 · Jun 11, 2026 · 15 min
Doubt
If your audience - be that your scene partner(s), the people watching, or the chap at the dinner partner - is in doubt as to your intentions, the way forward will often be more difficult for you.
Show notes
Ep. 40 · Jun 4, 2026 · 17 min
Why You Need Status
Status is great in comedy and in real life. You likely use it all the time and don't even know it. It's one of those things that once you see, you see everywhere. Once you understand it, it'll make your life much better.
Show notes
Ep. 39 · May 28, 2026 · 15 min
My Character Wouldn't Do That
Remaining open to 'who' your character is, what they stand for, what they love, what they hate, and more, keeps you open and alive to your audience (on stage and in the real world). You can be flexible, surprise yourself, and learn about points of view different from your own.
Show notes
Ep. 38 · May 21, 2026 · 13 min
Say Less, Seymour
Listening as a gateway to presence and reduced self-consciousness.
Show notes
Ep. 37 · May 14, 2026 · 14 min
Mistakes? We Don't Need No Stupid Mistakes
Mistakes scare the crap out of us, but they're usually only as bad as you think they are! They have wonderful upsides.
Show notes
Ep. 36 · May 7, 2026 · 15 min
In The Beginning
Starting a scene is one of, if not the most, difficult and critical things in improv. I discuss two of the ways to begin scenes and reveal my favourite!
Show notes
Ep. 35 · Oct 9, 2023 · 15 min
Letting Go of Self-Consciousness
Falling in love. Hanging with good friends. Being in a moment. These are all times when we tend to lose ourselves, get over our self-consciousness, and forget about our selfish needs and serve an experience.
Show notes
Ep. 34 · Oct 2, 2023 · 21 min
Avoid Gaslighting Others
Whether on stage or in life real, try not to gaslights others. In improv, it often leads into the argument trap. In life, it escalates tension, shows others you're not listening, and more. Instead, treat the opinions of others as legitimately theirs and deal with it except in one situation.
Show notes
Ep. 33 · Sep 25, 2023 · 18 min
Playing Strangers
Scenes in which the characters are strangers to each other come with an extra added level of difficulty. For that reason, I encourage improvisers to stay away from them. But, when they do happen to try and figure out what's at stake.
Show notes
Ep. 32 · Sep 18, 2023 · 25 min
The Process Scene
Having a process in a scene will help in a multitude of ways, however, there are also a couple major pitfalls with which to be aware.
Show notes
Ep. 31 · Sep 11, 2023 · 19 min
I Am A....
A discussion of the third exercise I use when starting almost every class I teach. I Am A... is a game of patterns in which three people are elements within a certain pattern, category, etc. The more recognizable the pattern and elements, the better it is received.
Show notes
Ep. 30 · Sep 4, 2023 · 21 min
Improv Rule For Life #4 - Be Process Oriented
Being process oriented, or systems based, allows one to make modifications if their goals aren't being realized. Conversely, relying on magical thinking to achieve a desired outcome can leave one at the mercy of a stochastic, unfeeling universe.
Show notes
Ep. 29 · Aug 28, 2023 · 11 min
Is Mocking Some People Okay or Not Okay - REPEAT Episode 8
Improv has changed a lot in the 35 years since I started. One thing is that we are much more sensitive to people different than us and no longer mock people based on generalities about them. However, two areas have escaped that scrutiny and I have no idea why.
Show notes
Ep. 28 · Aug 21, 2023 · 20 min
Dissonance in Comedy
Dissonance is a powerful tool that can grab your audiences attention and make them laugh whether that's on stage or at a dinner party.
Show notes
Ep. 27 · Aug 14, 2023 · 18 min
The Actor/Character Duality
When in scenes, there is the actor and the character the actor/improviser is portraying. Sometimes, their goals are aligned but often they are not.
Show notes
Ep. 26 · Aug 7, 2023 · 21 min
Why Is This So Boring?
There are many reasons a scene, or interaction, may be boring. Here are the top two reasons why scenes can be boring and make you want to gouge out your eyes.
Show notes
Ep. 25 · Jul 31, 2023 · 16 min
Don't Stop The Action
Stopping the action, or business of the scene, is generally destructive for a number of reasons. Even if your character doesn't like what they're doing or being asked to do, finding a justification to let it happen, will usually serve you well.
Show notesEp. 24 · Jul 24, 2023 · 15 min
Try the Opposite
If 'A' is true, the opposite is also, likely, true. Improv allows one an opportunity to role play different options to stimuli thus giving you a chance to 'try the opposite'. Maybe you'll like it better.
Show notes
Ep. 23 · Jul 17, 2023 · 14 min
Call People Out on Their ^&$%
If someone, or another character, says or does something that doesn't make sense to you - ask them to clarify it.
Show notes
Ep. 22 · Jul 10, 2023 · 15 min
Why Do We Laugh?
Laughter, especially laughter in your gut, is much more about bonding than appreciating the humour, or cleverness, of a line or situation.
Show notes
Ep. 21 · Jul 3, 2023 · 19 min
Yes, And...: A Deeper Dive
What does it mean to 'Yes, and...'? It goes with what we're trying to actually DO when we improvise on stage and in real life.
Show notes
Ep. 20 · Jun 26, 2023 · 14 min
Be a Benevolent God
As improvisers/storytellers, we get to create tertiary characters - people, animals, etc - and you will be judged based on how you treat your creations.
Show notes
Ep. 19 · Jun 19, 2023 · 16 min
Improv Rule for Life #3 - Serve the Relationship
Playing with other human beings requires us to get out of our heads - give up our selfish needs - and serve the interaction/moment/relationship developing between and among us.
Show notes
Ep. 18 · Jun 12, 2023 · 21 min
Creative Process - Part One
There are two general ways to create content whether in the format of the improv scene or 'out in the world'. There is a more solo act of invention or writing and the collaborative act of discovery or 'uncovery'. While both have their place, the latter usually leads to richer, more satisfying creations.
Show notes
Ep. 17 · Jun 5, 2023 · 19 min
Initiation - How to Begin
It's a good practice to start scenes - or interactions - with something already going on. One way, is to think up a line of dialogue or part of a context however these practices have certain pitfalls. A better choice is to pick something you can play and maintain independent of the situation in which you, or your character, find themselves.
Show notes
Ep. 16 · May 29, 2023 · 18 min
The Association Game
The Association Game is a great warm up game for groups of 2 to 20. It helps people listen, say yes, get out of their heads, and build community. Not bad.
Show notes
Ep. 15 · May 22, 2023 · 15 min
The Big Yes
The Big Yes, the overaccepting of your scene partner(s) offer, can have so many benefits especially at the start of scenes or interactions with friends and people in the real world.
Show notes
Ep. 14 · May 15, 2023 · 15 min
The Argument Trap
Falling into the argument trap (aka denial of reality, gaslighting, refusing to engage) is detrimental to improv and the act of playing and discovery with other players. What it is, why it is, and how to avoid it are the subjects of today's episode.
Show notes
Ep. 13 · May 8, 2023 · 19 min
The Three Types of Conflict
In stories, there are generally three types of conflict. Person vs person, US vs the world/environment, and internal conflict. All are useful but sometimes it benefits us to flip between them.
Show notes
Ep. 12 · May 1, 2023 · 12 min
Improv Builds Empathy
A great reason to take improv even if you never intend to perform is that it helps build empathy for your fellow human beings. Helps us to understand the journey of people completely unlike us with vastly different experiences.
Show notes
Ep. 11 · Apr 24, 2023 · 18 min
The Three Act Structure for Improv
There are many types of Duo Scenes. The most common is the Hero's Journey, Story Circle w. a Single Main Character, aka the Three Act Structure. What is it? How to recognize it?
Show notes
Ep. 10 · Apr 17, 2023 · 16 min
The Two Most Misunderstood Improv Concepts
What exactly do we mean by 'Yes, And' and what is 'positivity' in the improv sense of that word?
Show notes
Ep. 9 · Apr 10, 2023 · 13 min
The Second Improv Rule for Life: Love What You Get
In life, as in improv, we can't control what happens to us only how we react to it. In improv, with it's emphasis on low stakes, we can choose to love all the things our scene partners and our environments throw at us. Opening us up to find new experiences and grow through embracing them.
Show notes
Ep. 8 · Apr 3, 2023 · 11 min
Is Mocking Some People Okay or Not Okay?
Improv has changed a lot in the 35 years since I started. One thing is that we are much more sensitive to people different than us and no longer mock people based on generalities about them. However, two areas have escaped that scrutiny and I have no idea why.
Show notes
Ep. 7 · Mar 27, 2023 · 12 min
Learning to Love Your Fear
Do you struggle with fear? Do you try to beat it into submission? Are you great at thinking of all the things that can go wrong? In this episode, Ralph suggest that we make friends with our fear. Afterall, we're all on the same team.
Show notes
Ep. 6 · Mar 20, 2023 · 15 min
Using Humour and "Yes, And" to Dispel Conflict
Would you do anything to avoid conflict? Do you let other people push your buttons or get under your skin? In this week's episode, Ralph discusses how using humour and 'yes, and' can help handle some tricky situations.
Show notes
Ep. 5 · Mar 13, 2023 · 16 min
The Power of Play
In this week's episode, Ralph discusses the power of play. Play is something our bodies crave and it helps us overcome our self consciousness and raise our self confidence. It helps us get into a state of presence which can be mentally healing.
Show notes
Ep. 4 · Mar 6, 2023 · 13 min
The First Improv Rule for Life - Control What You Can Control
In this week's episode Ralph talks about one reason everyone should take improv even if they never plan to get on a stage. In improv, you can roleplay different scenarios from your real/imagined life but also practice techniques that will make you a more effective communicator. One of those is ceasing to try to control what you can't control.
Show notes
Ep. 3 · Feb 27, 2023 · 11 min
Clap Focus
In this week's episode Ralph discusses the improv exercise, Clap Focus. What is it? Why is it? What's the point? He talks about expanding our minds, putting limits on ourselves we don't even know we're doing, and how vulnerability makes people like us.
Show notes
Ep. 2 · Feb 20, 2023 · 17 min
Three Best Practices
In this episode Ralph discusses his three best practices to make your improv fly!
Show notes
Ep. 1 · Feb 13, 2023 · 16 min
What even is Improv?
In this inaugural episode, Ralph MacLeod, Owner and Artistic Director of SoCap Comedy Theatre discusses who he is, what is SoCap, what is improv, and why should anyone care?
Show notes