IN THIS EPISODE: Through an engaging conversation, Shannon Stott reveals how improv can be a transformative practice for personal growth, healing, and building empathetic connections across diverse experiences.

TOPICS: play, identity, Presence, healing, Improv, community

KEY FIGURES: Logan Kim, Shannon Stott, Yinka Freeman, Know Other Fest, Vivica C. Coxx, Jozie Clapp, Nika Cherelle, Kindman & Co.

SUMMARY:

In this episode, Logan Kim and Shannon Stott discuss the transformative power of improv as a healing and self-discovery tool. Shannon, the creator of 'Improv On and Off the Stage', shares her journey of discovering improv's potential through her experiences living in different cultures and learning to create worlds and connections quickly on stage.

The conversation centers around Shannon's workshops at Know Other Fest, a queer camping and wellness experience, where she led interactive improv exercises designed to help participants connect with themselves and others. They discuss specific games like the hand-raising awareness exercise and the clapping game, which illustrate how improv can help people learn to be present, make choices, and accept vulnerability in a low-stakes environment.

Throughout the episode, Shannon emphasizes that improv is more than just comedy-it's a method of communication, self-exploration, and building understanding between people. By creating imaginary scenarios and practicing acceptance through the principle of 'yes, and', participants can learn to be more present, accept different perspectives, and discover deeper aspects of themselves in a playful, supportive context.

KEY QUOTES:

• "You can connect with yourself. You're not as scary as you think. The depths of you aren't as scary as you think." - Shannon Stott

• "We're always sort of improvising... you don't even sort of like the signals. You're not aware sometimes of the signals your body's giving you." - Shannon Stott

• "If I can be vulnerable enough to get on stage and put my hand in the air and talk like a giraffe, where did that even come from? Who am I inside?" - Shannon Stott

• "You have to get comfortable with who you are, because who you are may be all you're ever going to be." - Logan Kim

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Shannon Stott uses improv as a healing practice to help people connect with themselves and others through playful, low-stakes interactions

• Improv can be a powerful tool for developing self-awareness by creating opportunities to tune into bodily sensations and make conscious choices

• Know Other Fest provides a unique queer community space where LGBTQ+ individuals can explore and express themselves freely away from external pressures

• The core principles of improv, like saying 'yes, and' and listening deeply, can be applied to real-life communication and understanding

• Connecting with oneself can be challenging, but play and improvisation offer a less intimidating pathway to self-discovery

• Presence and being in the moment are crucial skills that can be practiced through improvisational techniques

• Shannon's background of living in multiple cultures inspired her approach to improv as a method of world-building and mutual understanding

• Healing and personal growth can happen in spaces beyond traditional therapy, such as through creative practices like improvisation

This Episode is Bringing You To:

Community Highlight: Beyond the Binary Therapy Group

A therapist-led space for trans, nonbinary & gender-expansive folks seeking connection & community.

Decolonize Your Feed

@queerblackwomenallianceatx

A safe space centering wellness, community, and education for queer Black women in Austin.

@vivicaccoxx

Vivica C. Coxx (she/they) is a drag artist, activist, and speaker uplifting BIPOC & trans LGBTQ+ stories.

@nikacherrelle

Sex coach & host of The “It” Cast, Nika (they/them) breaks down shame & centers consent in sex ed.

IN THIS EPISODE: Therapists living with chronic illness share their personal journeys of navigating health challenges, emphasizing the importance of community, self-acceptance, and finding humor in the face of ongoing medical struggles. Find the transcript ⁠here⁠.

TOPICS: healthcare, chronic illness, Disability, Bodies, community, mental health

KEY FIGURES: Spoon theory, Christine Miserandino, Kindman & Co., L.A. Spoonie Collective, raíces therapy, Kaitlin Kindman, Gaby Teresa, Dani Marrufo, Anna Kim, Clarissa Santisteban

SUMMARY:

In this podcast episode, a group of therapists who identify as 'Spoonies' (people living with chronic illness) discuss their personal experiences navigating chronic health conditions. They explore the challenges of accepting and identifying with chronic illness, including the emotional journey of recognizing one's limitations, dealing with medical gaslighting, and the societal pressure to push through physical challenges. The participants share how they were raised to ignore bodily signals and the difficulty of learning to listen to their bodies and acknowledge their health struggles.

The group delves into the concept of 'Spoon Theory,' which explains how people with chronic illness have limited daily energy (represented by spoons) and must carefully manage their physical and emotional resources. They discuss the importance of community and finding support among others who understand the unique challenges of living with chronic illness. The conversation highlights the isolating nature of chronic conditions and the relief of finding a supportive network that validates their experiences.

Throughout the episode, the participants use humor and vulnerability to discuss the complex emotional landscape of chronic illness. They address topics such as medical challenges, the grief process of accepting ongoing health conditions, and the ways chronic illness impacts identity and relationships. The group emphasizes the power of finding humor, building community, and developing resilience while living with unpredictable and challenging health conditions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Spoon theory explains how people with chronic illness have limited daily energy, requiring careful prioritization of tasks and activities

• Finding community and support with other chronically ill people helps reduce isolation, shame, and provides validation of challenging lived experiences

• Accepting a chronic illness is a grief process that involves confronting medical gaslighting, societal disbelief, and learning to listen to one's body

• Chronic illness often requires unlearning cultural messages about 'pushing through' and instead developing new practices of self-care and energy management

• Humor and laughter can be powerful coping mechanisms for dealing with the challenges of chronic illness, allowing people to process difficult experiences

• Many people with chronic illnesses struggle with 'invisible' conditions that are not immediately apparent, making self-advocacy and medical validation difficult

• Chronic illness impacts multiple aspects of life, including mental health, relationships, work, and personal identity, requiring ongoing adaptation

• Online and in-person support groups provide critical spaces for chronically ill people to share experiences, resources, and feel less alone

This episode is bringing you to...

🔹 Chronic Illness Therapy Group – Led by Dani, this group offers a supportive space for folks living with chronic illness to process, connect, and be witnessed. Fill out the interest form here.
🔹 L.A. Spoonie Collective – A radical, abolitionist mutual aid collective created by and for chronically ill and disabled people in Los Angeles. They offer community care, political education, and tangible support rooted in disability justice.