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Open to Suggestion

Open to Suggestion

Written by: James Mastraieni and Mike McLendon
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About this listen

 What if one idea was all you needed to create something? Every week, we open the show by suggesting a new source of inspiration. Maybe it’s a word, a story, an interview, or something pulled from the strangest corners of the internet. From there, James Mastraieni, Mike McLendon, and a rotating cast of comedians take that spark and turn it into something completely improvised. No scripts. No plan. Just the joyful chaos of long-form improv. Plus, Backdrop.fm subscribers get even more: James and Mike aren’t just performers—they’re longtime improv teachers with distinct styles. Beyond the laughs, they’ll share exercises, games, and shop talk, sometimes pulling guest performers into the mix. It’s part show, part workshop, part resource: a peek into how improv works, and why it works.Backdrop.fm
Episodes
  • Bartenders with Hannah Kanengieter and Colin McGurk

    Bartenders with Hannah Kanengieter and Colin McGurk
    Jan 5 2026
    Hannah Kanengieter and Colin McGurk join James and Mike for an episode inspired by Bartenders of Reddit—specifically, overheard conversations and late-night bar stories that feel too strange to be true. From suspicious German whisperers and eco-friendly spies to disastrous family introductions and watchmakers with misplaced confidence, the group turns barroom eavesdropping into big, chaotic improvised worlds.Plus, over on Backdrop.fm, the conversation starts with a dive into improv teams... whether they’re fading out, finding a resurgence, or evolving into something new. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas with Lyndsey Frank and Ruha Taslimi

    Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas with Lyndsey Frank and Ruha Taslimi
    Dec 22 2025
    Ruha Taslimi and Lyndsey Frank join James and Mike for a holiday-themed episode inspired by the whimsical and often earnest world of Sufjan Stevens’ five-volume Christmas box set. From there, the group digs into the craft of improv, with a special focus on the art of the edit and how veteran players signal the end of a scene without killing its momentum. Plus, on backdrop.fm, they break down how to spot the comedic “half-idea," why playing a character who “doesn’t suffer fools” can be an improviser’s secret weapon, and the balance between team shorthand and mashup culture. The conversation also explores the importance of pulling from truth—and the joy-forward mission of the all-trans and non-binary team, Cuties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Wisconsin with Matt Newell and Dave Theune

    Wisconsin with Matt Newell and Dave Theune
    Dec 15 2025
    Matt Newell and Dave Toy join James and Mike for an episode inspired by a children’s book of Wisconsin facts and symbols. After the scenes, they break down what worked, what didn’t, and how grounding allows absurdity to flourish. Plus, the group digs into playing inanimate objects, when (and when not) to embrace the absurd, and how to balance commitment, point of view, and audience trust to keep even the weirdest scenes human. Get more at ⁠backdrop.fm⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr
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