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The Backline
The Sonar Network
42 episodes
3 days ago
This week Rob and Adam reflect on the year and give spread thanks to improv communities across the world: Ann Arbor, Chris the Cameraman, mentorship from Greg Yates, and never giving up on the dream of a Magnet House team. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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Education
Arts
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All content for The Backline is the property of The Sonar Network and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
This week Rob and Adam reflect on the year and give spread thanks to improv communities across the world: Ann Arbor, Chris the Cameraman, mentorship from Greg Yates, and never giving up on the dream of a Magnet House team. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
Show more...
Education
Arts
Episodes (20/42)
The Backline
Bulldozer
In this episode, Rob and Adam dive into the challenges of handling heavy offers, navigating information overload, and figuring out how to deal with unexpected “bulldozers” that can derail an improv scene. They break down practical strategies, share examples, and explore how to keep scenes playful, collaborative, and fun. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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1 week ago
52 minutes

The Backline
Touch the Lamassu!
This week, Rob and Adam tackle a tricky question: does your improv teacher have secrets to share, or are they full of it? With countless improv styles—many of them contradicting each other—it can be tough to know what to believe. Rob and Adam explore how improv ideas get passed down, why some “rules” stick, and how performers can figure out what’s actually useful. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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1 week ago
1 hour 3 minutes

The Backline
From the Classroom to the Stage
This week Rob and Adam discuss the transitioning your skills from the classroom to the stage. Why is it so hard to do what works in an exercise, onstage in front of an audience? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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2 weeks ago
57 minutes

The Backline
Spark-less
Rob and Adam talk about navigating your improv career, dealing with self-doubt, and having honest conversations with yourself about what's possible and what is probable. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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4 weeks ago
50 minutes

The Backline
Intelligence VS. Integrity
This week, Rob and Adam dsicuss the time-honoured tradition of playing to the "Top of their Intelligence" by having a very dumb discussion about characters, point of view, and what amount of "smart" are you required to bring with you onstage. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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1 month ago
45 minutes

The Backline
Offensive
Improv is not historically known for being offensive, but sometimes improvisers cross the line.  Why is comedy so frequently associated with offense?  Does comedy need to be provocative to be funny? What do you do if you offend your audience? All this and more. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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1 month ago
58 minutes

The Backline
Who, What, Where – but When?
This week Rob and Adam chat about framing scenes prior, during, or after the action. Do scenes always need to start in the middle? What's the best way to execute a tag-in? If you mention an event, does it always have to happen onstage? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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2 months ago
54 minutes

The Backline
Platforms, Tilts, and Improvising Action
This week Rob and Adam, discuss platforms and tilts for improv scenes, how sketch influences scenes, and how to create action without blindsiding their scene partner. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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2 months ago
1 hour 3 minutes

The Backline
Technique
The improv world is full of technique.  What techniques help individual improvisers? What techniques benefit the theatre you play at? Are there techniques you should embrace? Or some that you should avoid? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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2 months ago
5 minutes

The Backline
Tethering
This week Rob and Adam discuss tethering: the act of linking your emotional state to what your partner is doing.  Also, some great questions about tethering from our friend Martin in Estonia. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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2 months ago
53 minutes

The Backline
Questions Only – September 2025
The truth is out! After a tumultuous three weeks apart, Rob and Adam return to the podcast to air thier grievances, resolve differences, and answer your questions about improv. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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2 months ago
47 minutes

The Backline
Competition is the Thief of Joy
This week Rob sits down with one of the organizers of the Robin Hood Improv Festival in Nottingham, Lloydie, to discuss competition, inclusion, and finding community in the face of rejection. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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3 months ago
40 minutes

The Backline
Game Revisited
This week Rob and Adam debate the merits of Game of the Scene, pulling premise, and how to create meaningful patterns that bolster your longform show. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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3 months ago
1 hour

The Backline
Get Connected
This week Rob and Adam discuss connection, rapport, relationships onstage and offstage. Also, is it possible to have a meaningful connection with a stranger onstage? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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3 months ago
47 minutes

The Backline
Form Follows Function
This week Rob and Adam discuss improv forms!  What makes a good improv form? When does your improv format get in the way of your scenes? Also, the beloved format "Darwin's Christmas Tree" returns to the podcast! Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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3 months ago
54 minutes

The Backline
There’s Nothing More Boring Than Creativity
This week, Rob and Adam dive into where improv ideas come from, how to wrestle with creative blocks, and why the supposedly “whimsical” act of creating can be surprisingly… boring. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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4 months ago
56 minutes

The Backline
Do You Like Me?
There's nothing more unfair when an audience picks their collective favourite onstage.  How important is it to be likable onstage? What can you do to stay on the good side of a discerning crowd?  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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4 months ago
1 hour 2 minutes

The Backline
Classroom the to the Stage
This week Rob and Adam discuss the careful art of taking lessons from the classroom and applying them to the stage.  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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4 months ago
59 minutes

The Backline
How Do I Know If I’m Getting Better?
This week Rob and Adam discuss personal growth, improvement, and developing yourself throughout your improv career. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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4 months ago
59 minutes

The Backline
Active Choice VS. Action Choice
This week Rob and Adam discuss one of the foundational rules of improv, "Always make the active choice."  Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/
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5 months ago
56 minutes

The Backline
This week Rob and Adam reflect on the year and give spread thanks to improv communities across the world: Ann Arbor, Chris the Cameraman, mentorship from Greg Yates, and never giving up on the dream of a Magnet House team. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/