Chef Shuai Wang was the runner-up on the 22nd season of Bravo’s Top Chef and is the force behind two standout restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina—Jackrabbit Filly and King BBQ—where he brings together the flavors of his childhood in Beijing and the spirit of the South in some pretty unforgettable ways. He grew up just a short walk from Tiananmen Square, in a tiny home with no electricity or running water, where his grandmother often cooked over charcoal. Later, in Queens, New York, his mom taught herself to cook—her first dishes were a little salty, but they were always made with love. And somewhere along the way, Shuai learned that cooking wasn’t just about food—it was about taking care of people. After years working in New York kitchens, he made his way to Charleston and started building something that feels entirely his own. Today, we’re talking about how all those experiences come together on the plate, the family stories behind his cooking, and what it’s been like to share that journey on national TV. For more info visit: southernliving.com/biscuitsandjam Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…
This week we welcome Sekki Tabasuares back to the show to discuss building a community in Improv. Sekki has co founded three different improv centric groups that are all thriving and this chat pulls back the curtain on exactly what it takes to build a community in the first place. So sit back, relax and enjoy this wonderful chat and who knows, maybe it may inspire you to start your own community. Afterall, if you build it, they will come.
This week we welcome Sekki Tabasuares back to the show to discuss building a community in Improv. Sekki has co founded three different improv centric groups that are all thriving and this chat pulls back the curtain on exactly what it takes to build a community in the first place. So sit back, relax and enjoy this wonderful chat and who knows, maybe it may inspire you to start your own community. Afterall, if you build it, they will come.
This week we return to our A–Z of Improv series and explore the letter ‘I’! Host Iain Luke Jones is joined once again by the brilliant Sekki Tabasuares for an insightful and entertaining chat all about what the letter I brings to the world of improv. From imagination to intent and everything in between, this episode dives into the ideas, instincts, and improvisational magic that make the letter I so important on (and off) the stage. So sit back, relax, and grab a brew—it’s time to journey through the letter I!…
This week, our host Iain Luke Jones peels back the layers of his writing journey, taking a pause from improv to shine a light on another major passion in his life. Ever wondered what the process of getting a book published really looks like? Then this is the episode for you. Don't just be that person who says, “I reckon I have a book in me.” Be the person who writes that book and gets it out into the world. Iain shares the highs, lows, rewrites, rejections, and little victories that shaped his path from idea to publication. Hopefully, his journey will help steer you toward your own. So now it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy Iain's true story of making stuff up — and then writing it down, editing it (a lot), and finally bringing it to life.…
This week we welcome Xavier Chan and Vince Clavel to the show to talk all about their journey into improv. From discovering LCI to the ways it's reshaped their lives, we dive into what brought them to the stage and where they see their improv paths heading next. It's another fantastic chat that you won't want to miss, so sit back, relax, and grab a brew as we discover Xav and Vince's true stories about making stuff up.…
This week, we’re delighted to welcome Codie Wright and Julie Anderson to the show. Both are relatively new to the improv scene, but they’re already brimming with enthusiasm and performing for live audiences. In this episode, you’ll hear how they each found their way to LCI, following very different paths, and how their recent completion of the Level 3 Introduction to Improv course has shaped their journey so far. What does the future hold for these rising stars? It’s another fascinating chat, full of variety—some improv-based, some not, but all thoroughly entertaining. So it's time to sit back, relax, grab a brew, and enjoy Codie and Julie's true story about making stuff up.…
This week on the Liverpool Comedy Improvcast, we're thrilled to welcome the brilliant Cheng Jun Cheong to the show! 🌟 Discover how watching Whose Line Is It Anyway? in Singapore a decade ago sparked a journey that led Cheng Jun to the heart of Liverpool’s improv scene. Now a regular at our drop-in sessions, Cheng Jun shares how improvisation provides a much-needed mental escape from the pressures of life as a resident doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology. It’s a heartwarming, hilarious, and inspiring conversation about finding joy, connection, and clarity through the art of Improv. Don’t miss this fantastic chat — hit play, sit back, grab a cuppa and enjoy Cheng Jun’s true story about making stuff up!…
In this special solo episode, Iain reflects on his one-person improv show, The You & Me Show, performed at the Liverpool Improvisation Festival. Sharing insights from the stage, he explores the challenges, surprises, and rewards of performing solo—and what it meant to connect with an audience in such a personal and collaborative way. So sit back, relax, and enjoy Iain’s true story about making stuff up… alone, but never truly alone.…
This week on the Liverpool Comedy Improvcast, we return to Improv Room 101! Joining us is friend of the show San George, who’s bringing her top three improv no-no’s—the things she’d most love to see banished from the improv world forever. But can she convince Iain to lock them away for good? Tune in to hear which improv frustrations San would happily say goodbye to, and whether Iain agrees they deserve to be sealed in the vault of doom. So, sit back, relax, pop the kettle on, and enjoy another fun-filled episode of improv rants, revelations, and righteous refusals!…
This week on The Liverpool Comedy ImprovCast, we're thrilled to welcome another fabulous member of the Pick N' Mix Improv Troupe — Rosie Sosic! Rosie has had a whirlwind first year in the world of improv, and what a journey it’s been. From nervously stepping into a room full of strangers to finishing the year as an award-winning improviser, Rosie’s story is one of courage, creativity, and growth. Join us as she reflects on the highs, the learning curves, and the unexpected joys of making stuff up on the spot. It’s a heartwarming, inspiring, and often hilarious conversation that’s sure to leave you smiling. So grab a cuppa, sit back, and enjoy Rosie’s true story of of making stuff up.…
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome back friend of the show, Sekki Tabasuares, for a fascinating conversation about the connections between public speaking and improv. Over the past year, Sekki has been building a strong foundation in the public speaking world and has discovered just how seamlessly improv techniques can enhance a speaker’s confidence, adaptability, and engagement. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights on how these two worlds intertwine. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the chat!…
In this episode of the Liverpool Comedy Improvcast, friend of the show Michael Ananins steps into host as our regular host Iain Luke Jones takes centre stage to chat about his brand new book, The Pundamentals—a celebration of puns, wordplay, and the joy of clever comedy! Iain dives into the inspiration behind the book, exploring how his love of improv and years of playing with language shaped its creation. He shares some of his favourite pun games, discusses the art of crafting the perfect wordplay, and reveals how The Pundamentals isn’t just about jokes—it’s about creativity, spontaneity, and the way language connects us all. If you love a good pun (or even a bad one), this episode is packed with laughs, insights, and plenty of groan-worthy moments! It's time to sit back, relax and find out Iain's true story about writing The Pundamentals.…
This week on the Liverpool Comedy Improvcast, we're diving into all things LIF 2025 with Mark Smith and Jen Hardy! 🎭✨ Find out all about this year’s exciting four-day lineup, the incredible shows taking the stage, and the fantastic workshops on offer. Whether you're a seasoned improviser or just curious about the festival, this episode has everything you need to get hyped for LIF 2025! So sit back, relax and get ready to be blown away by what LIF 2025 has in store.…
From childhood notebooks to the improv stage, Colleen Campbell's creative journey is full of surprises. This week, the Pick N' Mix Improv performer joins us to discuss how her passion for writing and drama led her to the world of short-form improv, with detours into stand-up and sketch. Join us for a fascinating conversation about finding your comedic voice. It's time to grab a brew, sit back, relax and enjoy Colleen's true story about making stuff up.…
We are kicking off 2025 by welcoming the wonderful Hollie White to the show! Hollie moved back to her home city of Chester a little over a year ago and has already had a massive impact on the improv scene. She qucikly became a regular at Flintshire Funnybone Improv just over the border in North Wales and has more recently started Chest Improv Sociecty, more commonly known as C.H.I.M.P.S. & you can find out all about it and about how Hollie discovered improv in the first place in our first episode of the year. So sit back, relax and enjoy Hollie's true story about making stuff up...…
We’ve had so many incredible guests on the Liverpool Comedy ImprovCast, and the show has grown and evolved so much since our very first episode. We thought it was about time to give our trailer a fresh update!
This Week we are bringing the year to a close with a look back at 2024. Iain reflects on all of the wonderful guests and specials that made this year so wondeful and we also tease a few exciting things coming up in 2025. So sit back, relax and enjoy a little walk down memory lane, destination 2024.
This week we are delighted to welcome Terje Brevik to the show! Terje talks us through his transition from 'IT Guy' to full time improviser after falling in love with improv when a friend persuaded him to join them at a beginners session. Terje has a huge improv brain and we can't wait for you to listen to his insight on some many fantastic improv topics. So what are you doing reading this when you could be listening to the episode right now? It's time to sit back, relax and enjoy Terje's true story about making stuff up. Find out more about Terje at www.terjebrevik.com…
This week we are delighted to welcome Sarah Hutchinson to the show. Sarah is a relative newcomer to the improv world, but has made huge waves in her rookie year. Hear all about how moving to Liverpool kicked off an exciting new time in her life and how improv fits in to the new chapter in her life. What started as a fun idea when lookinging for activites to do in the area very quickly became a whole new world of friends, laughter and in many ways family. Hear all about Pick 'N' Mix Improv and how it has grown from a beginners improv level one course to an award winning short form comedy troupe in a matter of months! Sarah is on a creative adventure full of spoken word, Documentary style longform and of course lots of short form improv fun and you can hear all about it in this fantastic chat. So sit back, relax and enjoy hearing all about Sarah's true story about making stuff up.…
In this episode, our host Iain Luke Jones sits down with UK improv pioneer Neil Mullarkey for an in-depth chat about his incredible journey through the world of improv comedy and beyond. We dive into how he first discovered improv, the origins of his long-standing friendship with Austin Powers star Mike Myers, and how the iconic Comedy Store Players came to be. Neil also shares fascinating stories from the early days of Whose Line is it Anyway?, and we explore his transition into using improv techniques to revolutionise the corporate world. Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with laughter, insight, and a peek behind the scenes of both the comedy stage and the boardroom. This is definitely an episode you don’t want to miss—so sit back, relax, and enjoy Neil’s true story of making stuff up!…
This week we return to our popular feature The A-Z of Improv. Returning to the show to help Iain break down all things 'H' is friend of the show and last minute super sub Dave Hodgson. Interested to find out what words made the list? Well there's only way way to find out! It's time to sit back, relax and enjoy another fun A-Z of Improv chat.…
This week we are delighted to welcome Porta Fahey from Broken Chair Improv to the show! It is a fascinating chat about improv, politics, friendhip and life and we know you are going to love it! So sit back, relax and enjoy Portia's true story about making stuff up.
This week we are delighted to welcome the fantastic Aree Witoelar to the show! Aree is a Norway-based improv teacher, director and performer from Indonesia & am the founder and artistic director of Impro Neuf International, Norway’s most inclusive international improv community with over 1,000 members! During this chat we find out how Aree ended up in Norway, how his improv journey unfolded and so much more! So it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy Aree's true story about making stuff up. For all things Aree, please visit his website: www.areewitoelar.no…
This week we are delighted to welcome Jayant Chopra to the show! Jayant is a prolific improviser both in person and online and his brillianlty authentic performances always make you feel like you are in very safe hands indeed. During this chat you will hear how he got into improv, where he is at with it currently and what his hopes and aspirations are for his improv future. It's a fun, frinedly chat that we know you are going to love! So sit back, relax and enjoy Jayant's true story about making stuff up.…
This week time is short and so is the episode! It says it all in the title and if you want to know exactly what the title means, then you are just going to have to listen! So sit back, relax and find out what on earth is on Iain's mind
This week Iain talks all things improv with ChatGPT! Yes that's right, you read that correctly... Can AI be a genuinly interesting guest? you may well be surprised. It's time to sit back, relax and enjoy a brew as we find out just how human AI can be.
This week Sekki Tabasuares returns to the show to chat all things longform with Iain. It's a really insightful chat that we know you will gain a lot from, so sit back, relax and enjoy the true story of making stuff up (lonform style).
This week we retun to our newst format 'Improv Room 101' and welcome back friend of the show Dave Hodgson to try and convince Iain to get rid of some of his improv gripes for ever more. Will he succeed? The only way to find out is to listen! So sit back, relax and enjoy this entertaining new episode.…
This week we are delighted to welcome Lilith Maya Welsh to the show! Lilith is an improv newbie with a huge passion for all things improv and this is a great insight into the mind of somebody that is still in that joyful process of discovering everything for the first time. There is a load of great chat about the LCI courses that are offered which may well get some of you excited to see what future courses are on offer and as Lilith works in education, Iain delves deep into some education chat too. It is a wonderful chat full of passion for improv and we know you are going to love it. So sit back, relax, grab a bew and enjoy Lilith's true story of making stuff up.…
This week we welcome LCI newcomer Chris Pope to the show! Chris and Iain have a good old natter about Chris' journey into improv and about how this new found passion is postiviely impacting his life in a multitude of ways. It's an informative and fun chat that we know you are going to love, so sit back, relax and enoy hearing all about Chris' true story about making stuff up.…
This week Iain Luke Jones talks a little bity about his recent experience at the wonderful Liverpool Improvisation Festival, but he mostly just talks about his recent illness which came to a head with a shockinglt long wait in A&E. Fortunately he will be fine and he wanted to use this show as a bit of an outlet to talk about his experience. Thank you for those that choose to listen. Normal programming will return in a couple of weeks. So now it's time to sit back, relax and find out all about what exactly has been making Iain cough his guts up for the last few months.…
This week we are delighted to welcome Su Jackson to the show. Su and Iain have a wonderful chat about improv which then goes down many a rabbit hole into topics such as Su's work as a drama therapist and the state of the british education sytem to name but a couple. It's a great chat that we know you are going to love, so sit back, relax and enjoy Su's true story about making stuff up.…
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