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In the very first episode of The Joy of Improv Podcast, I sit down with one of my favorite performers in Atlanta, Ana Bernot-Reilly. Ana shares how she discovered improv in high school, fell in love with long form scene work at SCAD, and moved to Atlanta with one mission: find a two-person improv partner. That search led to the creation of "Mom and Dad", one of the best independent improv teams to ever grace the Atlanta scene.

We get into the craft of grounded, narrative-driven improv and why acting is an underutilized skill for improvisers. We talk about what it means to truly believe in the world you're building on stage, the power of characters who care about each other, and how studying story structure can level up your performance.

The conversation also takes an honest turn into the realities of the community, including what it's like to be a woman at a jam, the importance of check-ins and boundaries, and why "yes and" doesn't mean you can never say no. We also dig into the unglamorous but essential work of producing indie improv shows.

With Ana preparing to move, this episode is both a celebration of her time in Atlanta and a love letter to the community that shaped us both.

Ana's plugs:
- @twobearsblowupinacar
- @momanddadimprov

Mentioned in episode:
- Countdown Improv Festival Website - Instagram
- ATL Ladies Jam - @atlladiesjam
- TWAG (The Working Actors Group) Website - Instagram

Follow us on Instagram - @thejoyofimprovpod

Support the podcast with a small tip - https://ko-fi.com/thejoyofimprov

Email any questions or ideas to joel@thejoyofimprov.com

Host: Joel Camargo - Insta - @joelc1225
Audio Editor: Matt Issacs - Insta - @mattisaacs20