S2 Ep 18: Catharsis and Clarity

Good Dialogue Ep 1 w/ Niki Hatzidis Drops June 18th

Good Dialogue is a new conversation series from Playful Substance and The Imperfect Impulse w/Bree O’Connor, featuring artists discussing their latest work, creative practices, and the journeys that shape their art. Our first guest is Niki Hatzidis [https://nikihatzidis.squarespace.com/]—an award-winning playwright, actor, and dramaturg whose work often centers on real women caught in the midst of historical events. In this special three-part conversation, Niki shares insights into her artistic process and discusses the adaptation of her stage play, Setting the Sky on Fire, into an episodic audio play soon to be released by Playful Substance. Episode 1 premieres June 18. Follow along and stay tuned for more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Vacay Impulse

When the Impulse Don’t Stop, Mini-Episodes Gotta Drop! While cruising through my IG feed between rest areas on I-90 (don’t worry, it’s not my turn to drive) I am having thoughts about feminine desire and its evolutionary enmeshment with the male gaze, procreation, commodification, and resources (both physical and emotional). Is there a point when a lusty stare will fall out of fashion? Or would that be a denial of an inescapable, primal truth? Will we ever be able to tell truly nuanced vampire stories in which they wear sweatpants and listen to Adele while crying over their mortal lover’s gravesite? Will we ever be able to stage a Tennessee William’s play without lingerie? I dunno. That’s kind of up to us, isn’t it? Keep checking in. Mini-episodes will drop sporadically throughout the summer break and I’ll keep you up to date on all the Playful Substance shenanigans including our participation in Reading Resistance at The Old Stone House in Brooklyn on May 30th, the release date for our self-directed online courses, some exciting video interview drops including our first with playwright Niki Hatzidis who has just adapted her stage play, Setting the Sky on Fire , for audio release with Playful Substance! Keep creating. There’s room! Thanks for listening to The Imperfect Impulse. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

S 2 Ep 20: Your Feelings Make Me Uncomfortable

I went down a rabbit hole with a triggering Reddit post this week. It started me thinking about all of the backbends we have done to make people feel more comfortable in the theatre (in particular), how those efforts may have backfired and whether we might be negating the power and purpose of the form. Being vulnerable and/or accountable are big challenges for us as a society right now. Living a perfectly curated life behind the shield of a screen helps us avoid discomfort… and growth. It is the 20th episode of our 2nd season (That is 40 total episodes!) This means I will be taking a little break before jumping into Season 3. You can expect some mini-episodes along the way as I give some thought to what I may want to cover moving forward. Have thoughts or questions? You can always reach out to me here or by email at artisticdirector@playfulsubstance.com Thanks for listening to The Imperfect Impulse. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

S 2 Ep 19: The Squelched Impulse

The body doesn’t lie. This is why we need to acknowledge and incorporate the body into every single choice we make. To complicate matters, a cast is an entire network of bodies that are allergic to untruths and we must work together to find the winding (and often strange) path to truth. If you are interested in our Writers’ Groups or upcoming Memoir Programs, visit our website playfulsubstance.com. [https://www.playfulsubstance.com/artist-services] This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

S2 Ep 18: Catharsis and Clarity

We know it when we see it from another artist, don’t we? The work may be powerful but it makes us avert our eyes and leaves us with a nagging feeling that the artist rushed the work and perhaps exploited their own experience. Or the work possibly feels undercooked, defensive and petulant, maybe even whiny. How do we avoid these pitfalls in our own work? Today’s episode makes the argument for continual self exploration and self-knowledge to strengthen your artistic output. To find out more about our upcoming workshops, check out our Artist Services page on playfulsubstance.com. [https://www.playfulsubstance.com/artist-services] Unreliable Narrator is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe [https://breeoconnor.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]