Open to Suggestion

Legal Advice with Quinn Boyes and Derrick Hackett

Quinn Boyes and Derrick Hackett (of UCB’s Power of Attorney) join James and Mike to explore the world of Reddit’s Legal Advice. Using real posts as inspiration, they turn neighbor disputes, moving-day meltdowns, and paranoid smart-speaker dilemmas into fully improvised scenes Plus, over on backdrop.fm, the four dig into Harold auditions, the "before times" of UCB, and how teams decide which openings serve them, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Anthony Bourdain with Drew DiFonzo Marks and Toni Charline

Drew DeFonzo Marks and Toni Charlene join James and Mike for an episode inspired by the words and worldview of Anthony Bourdain. Pulling from his quotes on food, travel, and culture, the group turns observations about meals, missteps abroad, and everyday rituals into a series of scenesspanning disastrous vacations, questionable restaurant etiquette, and the strange intimacy of learning how other people live. Plus, on Backdrop.fm, they dive into international improv scenes and what it’s actually like teaching improv overseas—how different cultures approach comedy, what translates across borders, and what performing abroad reveals about listening, clarity, and connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Bartenders with Hannah Kanengieter and Colin McGurk

Hannah Kanengieter and Colin McGurk join James and Mike for an episode inspired by Bartenders of Reddit—specifically, overheard conversations and late-night bar stories that feel too strange to be true. From suspicious German whisperers and eco-friendly spies to disastrous family introductions and watchmakers with misplaced confidence, the group turns barroom eavesdropping into big, chaotic improvised worlds. Plus, over on Backdrop.fm, the conversation starts with a dive into improv teams... whether they’re fading out, finding a resurgence, or evolving into something new. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas with Lyndsey Frank and Ruha Taslimi

Ruha Taslimi and Lyndsey Frank join James and Mike for a holiday-themed episode inspired by the whimsical and often earnest world of Sufjan Stevens’ five-volume Christmas box set. From there, the group digs into the craft of improv, with a special focus on the art of the edit and how veteran players signal the end of a scene without killing its momentum. Plus, on backdrop.fm [https://backdrop.fm], they break down how to spot the comedic “half-idea," why playing a character who “doesn’t suffer fools” can be an improviser’s secret weapon, and the balance between team shorthand and mashup culture. The conversation also explores the importance of pulling from truth—and the joy-forward mission of the all-trans and non-binary team, Cuties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Wisconsin with Matt Newell and Dave Theune

Matt Newell and Dave Toy join James and Mike for an episode inspired by a children’s book of Wisconsin facts and symbols. After the scenes, they break down what worked, what didn’t, and how grounding allows absurdity to flourish. Plus, the group digs into playing inanimate objects, when (and when not) to embrace the absurd, and how to balance commitment, point of view, and audience trust to keep even the weirdest scenes human. Get more at ⁠backdrop.fm⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]