In part one of this two-part episode, I sit down with Cole Wadsworth, one of the most unique and physical improvisers in Atlanta. Cole's energy is unlike anything you've ever seen on stage, and this conversation is just as unpredictable and joyful as his performances.

Cole shares how iIt started with a poetry slam where he was too nervous to read his own poem, and spiraled into auditioning for a college improv troupe as a gag, falling in love with it, and then taking acting classes just to become a better improviser. We talk about how his background as a football player shaped his approach to the stage, from the punt returner mentality of catching the ball and going forward to his belief that every performer should give a hundred percent every single time they step on stage.

We get into Cole's early days in Atlanta, meeting his best friend Hannah at a Dad's Garage class, going to jams four times a week during the first jam explosion, and years of losing cage matches that forged him into the improviser he is today. Cole opens up about Tommy Futch's impact on his confidence, why he believes knowledge raises your floor but not your ceiling, and his philosophy that improvisers should stop trying to be funny and start trying to be interesting.

There are also some deeply personal moments in this episode. Cole and I both share stories about our character arcs growing up, from jock culture and bullying to finding our way to kindness and creativity. Cole talks about his moral convictions as a vegan, and I make a commitment on the spot to consume less meat. We also both open up about past mistakes we carry shame about and how improv has helped us become better people.

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