This episode provides general suggestions to comedians, especially neurodivergent ones like us autistic and ADHD actors in comedy and improv, to protect our minds while engaging in comedy and with others in the community.

Find the video for this episode (has my face, not just captions): YouTube video (you can leave your input here!)

Find the written article for this episode here: NeurodiversityImprov.com article (you can also leave your input here!)

Checking in on yourself, in whatever spaces you’re participating in, is pretty good for mental health. These ten suggestions should be relevant beyond comedy communities, and will apply to people who aren't neurodivergent too. So even if you aren't autistic, for example, these should be relevant and hopefully somewhat useful.

Some important notes about these suggestions for protecting your mind in comedy spaces:

1. Some of these suggestions might contradict themselves. Or they might leave out some important points. This is confusing stuff, highly personal/unique, and in this case of course limited to one person’s experience and brain wiring! I heartily welcome you to add your own observations in the comments (anonymously from a throwaway account is fine, too!)
2. Some of these suggestions might sound like I’m suggesting to “run away” from issues — but I am NOT advocating this and NOT suggesting we avoid addressing problems in comedy. Quite the opposite. These suggestions involve sticking within your community, but empowering yourself whilst doing so by forming new projects, outlets, or similar (as an option, or while addressing problematic stuff if it’s applicable). And as always: any suggestions are not universal!
3. All ten sections below are SUGGESTIONS (from an autistic brain) even though many are not worded as such. These are worded like demands, because it’s what I ask of myself, what I use to check in. But they aren’t demands for YOU. Take a suggestion if you think it's helpful and applies to you. Ignore it if it doesn't apply to you.
4. And as always, don’t replace this article or site for working with a professional. Also don’t use these resources for diagnosis of yourself or others. I’m not a mental health professional.

You deserve compassion and respect no matter where you are with either your mental health or whether you are autistic, ADHD, or another neurotype!

Ten Suggestions (as chapters!)

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:00 About the podcast and episode

02:22 Episode and topic overview - why I/we need these suggestions

07:16 Suggestion One: Be Yourself and don't compromise on it.

10:43 Suggestion Two: Take care of yourself first, for others

13:53 Suggestion Three: Find your source of joy, but be open to pivoting

16:17 Suggestion Four: Find the humans who value YOU

19:33 Suggestion Five: Ignore the gatekeepers, and find your confidence

22:31 Suggestion Six: Protect your value

23:34 Suggestion Seven: Communicate openly and in good faith

28:36 Suggestion Eight: Ask for or seek accommodations

31:02 Suggestion Nine: Analyze where value comes from, especially if depressed

33:33 Suggestion Ten: Value your mental health

35:50 Conclusion and links

42:42 Link to podcast (NeurodivergentComedy.com)

Comedy is wildly strange, and a beast of its own (despite giving retro-silicon-valley vibes). At least the tiny corner I've witnessed and participated in. Let’s keep our neurodivergent minds safer here.

Let me know what you...

This marks one year of making podcast episodes! There are some changes happening next week, and here's what those changes are. And the things not changing (most of it isn't change). Yeah, STUFF IS HAPPENING!

This kinda-but-not-really-an-episode talks about how this series started, and what I have planned with the name change for the podcast project.

Go here for the written essay of this episode.

Let me know what you have experienced as a neurodivergent in comedy! Answer three questions here!

Previous surveys are available here - do any of them at any time!

• This article (and website) has a podcast that accompanies it. You can find it at NeurodivergentComedy.com - and a link to the episode near the top of this page.
• For bonus content related to comedy and neurodiversity, you can become a supporter of NeurodiversityImprov.com. Or you can also support the work with one time tip here (use the “buy me a coffee” button).
• For FREE podcast and show updates, go to StereoForest.com. This is significantly delayed because of the personal crisis mentioned earlier in this article. But I’ll start releasing what I’ve made soon - I just want to do it properly and not rush things.
• For updates about improv you can find online, join the newsletter at ImprovUpdate.com

This podcast and website was created by Jen deHaan — an autistic + ADHD improviser and performer.

This episode was and produced by StereoForest.com. Join the FREE StereoForest newsletter for all podcast and show updates at members.stereoforest.com.

This podcast is released on Tuesdays, usually twice per month, at NeurodivergentComedy.com and wherever you find podcasts. Bonus content to support this podcast is available via NeurodiversityImprov.com.

Icebreakers. They're common in an improv class, at the top of a jam, or maybe when a team is just getting to know each other.

Some people love them.

Some people hate them.

Some of us have a love/hate relationship depending on the day or the icebreaker in question.

Many of the people who really dislike icebreakers are neurodivergent people, which is why such a seemingly simple thing is getting an episode.

But many students, neurodivergent or not, need icebreakers to feel comfortable in the scenes that are in their near future when they're in a room with strangers (or near-strangers). They might not know they kinda need them, either. Icebreakers might be needed to make a room feel a bit safer, a bit more beneficial, a bit more comfortable.

But some people, especially some of us neurodivergents with communication difficulties and differences and trauma history, feel uncomfortable doing them.

So what now?

References from episode

Find the written essay for this episode on NeurodiversityImprov.com.

Your Voice - Neurodiversity Survey

Please add your voice to this work! It’s better for the wider community when there is more input.

* Let me know what you have experienced as a neurodivergent improviser! Answer THREE QUESTIONS here!

* Check out this week's survey about icebreakers here.

Neurodiversity and Improv - Podcast & Articles is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Become a Supporter

Follow this podcast for free anywhere you find podcasts or join as a subscriber (free) on this site, NeurodiversityImprov.com, or you can also choose one time support here (buy me a coffee button).

Paid subscribers get access to the full written archive of articles. Going forward paid supporters will receive written versions of this content with some bonus references, the podcast will of course remain free. Nice!

If written article access is something you'd particularly need to access and cannot financially afford, please let me know and I'll help.

Your support of any kind directly helps this content exist and continue and supports newer diverse voices in improv! Thank you so very much!

OR — If you enjoy this podcast, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts!

About

This podcast was created, and the episode was written, by Jen deHaan — an autistic + ADHD improviser.

This episode was and produced by StereoForest.com. Join the free StereoForest newsletter for all improv podcast and show updates at members.stereoforest.com.

This podcast is released every second week on Tuesday, on NeurodiversityImprov.com and wherever you find podcasts. Subscribe to the website for free newsletter updates.

Transcript

Button near the podcast embed on the episode page, on Apple Podcasts, or on the episode page at StereoForest.

Thanks for reading Neurodiversity and Improv - Podcast & Articles! This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or...