What would PvI be with zero masculine energy? This episode features your usual co-host Mary Hynes and our frequent guest Jennifer Hansen (philosopher at St. Lawrence University). They have a one-on-one chat about being hot in a hostile world, interacting with AI, fighting with parrots, and they act out scenes involving the f*cks store and the actress who is too perfect. There … [Read more...] about PvI#119: Ms. Philosophy vs. Improv w/ Mary and Jenny
Psychology
PvI#118: Aphoristically w/ Andrea Roccella
Mark and Mary are joined by Andrea, an Italian teacher with a broad performing background who's written a book of philosophical, poetic aphorisms called Think Town: self-help reflections and directives about fear, ego, happiness, etc. There's a long history of aphorisms in philosophy (Nietzsche, Heraclitus, Confucius, Laozi), and philosophy invented the self-help genre (the … [Read more...] about PvI#118: Aphoristically w/ Andrea Roccella
PvI#117: Mark and Mary in the Triboobal Aftermath
We are REELING from our REDACTED episode, and so we talk about the lessons we learned from that and start thinking about what it is to be out of one's comfort zone: How do fear and ego issues interact? Is playfulness a lack of professionalism? Are both arrogance and humility products of fear? Plus, cutting-edge surgery reality shows, Schrödinger's hostile cat and Dr. … [Read more...] about PvI#117: Mark and Mary in the Triboobal Aftermath
PvI#115: Mary and Mark Astro-Logically
In this pitched, high-stakes battle, your hosts have it out about astrological biases, doing offensive accents, letting go of control in an improv scene, and group-based restrictions on who you feel you date. OK, actually, it's not a battle, but an illustration of how the dynamics of changing one's mind works: Despite what you might be reading or who might be lecturing at you … [Read more...] about PvI#115: Mary and Mark Astro-Logically
PvI#110: Memories of 2026 w/ Mark and Mary
To kick off the Year of Our Lord 2026, Mark and Mary talk about memory: memory care for the elderly, the relation between things and memories, what professional activities are worth preserving (improv performances?), being the tchotchke, womb nostalgia, puppets and percussion, plus a visit from the future. You can choose to watch the main part of this discussion on unedited … [Read more...] about PvI#110: Memories of 2026 w/ Mark and Mary
PvI#109: Choose Your Own Failure w/ Rich Baker
Rich runs the Dare to Fail improv school and is author of Improv Made Easier. He joins Mark and Mary to discuss contexts of failure, failing to meet your goals vs. "objective failure," how to react in an improv scene to some topic that's too offensive for you, graveyard humor vs. reverence. Featuring Steaks You Deserve, Robo-Carson, cancer torture, interactive cemetery, Sounds … [Read more...] about PvI#109: Choose Your Own Failure w/ Rich Baker
PvI#106: Heart Tchotchkes w/ Seth Stephon Brown
Seth is an improviser and aspiring professional "muse," which is a type of life coach that hangs out with you to see where you could be more in touch with your humanity so that you can then work out a coherent plan for your adult life. He discusses with Mary and Mark the conflict between authentic individual humans and a social structure filled with oppressive … [Read more...] about PvI#106: Heart Tchotchkes w/ Seth Stephon Brown
PvI#104: The Hippie Code w/ Vickie Hayley
Mark and Mary are joined by improvisor/comedian/actress/filmmaker/host Vickie to talk about code switching and authenticity. Can you be authentic and still work a day job? Can Problem Solvers, Inc. solve the office restroom schedule? Are authentic hippies really beatniks? Also, displaying comic America on Korean talk shows, ethical pornography, commerce vs. art, granola in your … [Read more...] about PvI#104: The Hippie Code w/ Vickie Hayley
PvI#103: Post-COVID Mary and Mark
How does your body talk to you? Your favorite hosts-of-a-philosophy-and-improv-comedy show Mark Linsenmayer and Merry Mary Hynes re-connect after both being sick to get a bit Halloweeny so as to talk about various food-related monsters, experiencing art by disgraced creators, inner homunculi a la "Inside Out," movie talk, Nietzsche's nose fetish, and more. Sponsor: Get 15% … [Read more...] about PvI#103: Post-COVID Mary and Mark
PvI#88: The Dark Side of Improv w/ Randy Fertel
Randy is a literature guy who has written a couple of books about improv and here joins Mark and Bill to talk about WINGING IT: Improv's Power and Peril in the Age of Trump, wherein he basically blames improv for giving us the orange man. Can one be an expert about philosophy, or improvisation for that matter? Is the essence of these activities in the historical … [Read more...] about PvI#88: The Dark Side of Improv w/ Randy Fertel
PvI#87: Mystic Toaster with Simon Critchley
Simon is a professor at New York's New School for Social Research and moderates the New York Times' philosophy offering, The Stone. He joins Mark and Bill to discuss his new book, On Mysticism: The Experience of Ecstasy, and we used the occasion to explore how art and mysticism might be connected, including engaging in improv rituals. You can watch this on unedited … [Read more...] about PvI#87: Mystic Toaster with Simon Critchley
PvI#82: LIVE in Personability w/ James Whittington
Chicago's iO Theater was graced on August 21 by Mark, Bill, and special guest theater educator James Whittington, who spoke about embodiment (see Maurice Merleau-Ponty), the possible disconnect between meaning and tone, and being in the physical presence of greatness. They acted out scenes (while still sitting!) about an unsuccessful party and Experiences-R-Us. Both audience … [Read more...] about PvI#82: LIVE in Personability w/ James Whittington
PvI#79: Edificial Intentions with Danny Mora
Danny was in a sketch troupe called Maximum Party Zone back in the day with your improv host Bill, and they've now revived that trio to create the MPZ Listening Party podcast, which workshops sketch ideas in real time as a fun form of conversation. So we try out some of their tricks, such as combining two properties (in this case nominally The Apprentice and Argyle to … [Read more...] about PvI#79: Edificial Intentions with Danny Mora
PvI#78: We Essence Merge with Tamler Sommers
Tamler teaches philosophy at The University of Houston and hosts the Very Bad Wizards podcast. He joins Mark and Bill to talk about personal identity and whether the "self" is necessarily co-extensive with a particular body. Plus: meditation, Daniel Day Improv's method acting, All of Me vs. Regarding Henry, what does "metaphysics" mean to YOU, dreams as improv, unstuck-in-time … [Read more...] about PvI#78: We Essence Merge with Tamler Sommers
PvI#74: A Psychedelic Embrace with David Peña-Guzmán (Overthink)
David is co-host of the excellent Overthink podcast, popular among the young people today, and so we have him monologue to children as an anti (?) drug speaker. How can drugs change us, our sense of self, and the ways we see the world? Can some drugs be considered "natural"? Also, legally defensible drug use at work, and Nancy Reagan the Heel. Follow David … [Read more...] about PvI#74: A Psychedelic Embrace with David Peña-Guzmán (Overthink)
PvI#62: Cutting Every Edge w/ Jeremy Richards
The author of The Accomplished Creative, a sort of anti-self-help book based around Jeremy's improv experience and what he learned as a philosophy major, joins Mark and Bill to talk impostor syndrome and benign violations, get real meta about Die Hard scenarios, and have a cheese intervention. Follow @JeremyRichards. Listen to Jeremy's podcast Think Like An Improviser. … [Read more...] about PvI#62: Cutting Every Edge w/ Jeremy Richards
PvI#53: XTREME BEEF Quicheticles w/ Zach Thompson
Zach is an improvisor who's written for MST3K, been a commentator for Resistance Pro Wrestling, and has been a recurring guest on Hello From the Magic Tavern. He joins Mark and Bill to discuss competitiveness in all its forms. Is strife part of utopia, or would all conflict be removed in an ideal political situation? Is the controlled competitiveness of sports or improv … [Read more...] about PvI#53: XTREME BEEF Quicheticles w/ Zach Thompson
PvI#39: Cutting Edge Post-Patternation
Mark and Bill break former patterns by each bringing in not a lesson but a question, which we knew about beforehand, and those questions are about pattern-breaking and about what current philosophers worry about. With special surprising scenes conveying cutting-edge podcasting/instructional techniques. Image snatched from this page. Edited by Tyler Hislop. Hear more PvI. … [Read more...] about PvI#39: Cutting Edge Post-Patternation
PvI#30: In Historica Res
...which, as I was saying, is right in the middle of a sentence or scene! Sheesh! How should our personal and family histories shape our behavior, both in real life and in improv scenes? Do these histories, these stories we tell ourselves, nail us down as people? Are we all old before our time? Are those your real parents? Hang on to your poser wallet! Image by Julia as … [Read more...] about PvI#30: In Historica Res
PvI#12: Stand by Me II
Bill gets really real, with his unlogical emotions. When we feel things, do we know why? Is there a why? Image found in a serious academic paper to reflect the seriousness (the snapped bra strap is merely implied). Audio editing by Tyler Hislop. Hear more PvI. Support the podcast to get bonus stuff and good karma! … [Read more...] about PvI#12: Stand by Me II
PvI#4: Death at Not a Doctor’s Office
Is death something to be feared? What's next? What are the DETAILS? Do not adjust your listening device or call an ambulance. That sound you hear is not ground hum nor tinnitus but is the sound of improvisation. Warning: We talk about suicide a bit. If you're feeling depressed, don't call the lava demon hotline, as it is a scam. We make a few references in this one that … [Read more...] about PvI#4: Death at Not a Doctor’s Office