Get better at improv by getting better at getting feedback (really! seriously!) episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 6, 2026 · 20 MIN

Get better at improv by getting better at getting feedback (really! seriously!)

from Your Improv Brain

OUT NOW! Get my latest guides, all about getting and giving improv notes! Find them and what's inside the guides at https://improvupdate.com/notes. 50% discount on your second guide if you grab them together.Getting improv notes can affect your nervous system, and your brain. We look at why your brain rewrites feedback and how you can separate the actual content from the emotional delivery (aka, the framing). When a coach gives you feedback after a scene, your brain often processes their tone and body language before the actual words.This means you might react to a perceived threat before you even hear the advice. We explore a metacognitive approach to receiving improv notes that helps you manage this early physiological response. You will learn an exercise to isolate objective facts, and we cover why writing down your feedback immediately can prevent rumination.Go here for links to ALL episodes in this series on metacognition: https://improvupdate.com/receiving-improv-notes-and-understanding-how-your-brain-rewrites-the-feedback/RESOURCES & LINKS: NEW! Student and Teacher Guides on Notes: https://improvupdate.com/notesContact BOC: https://www.instagram.com/b3ocBOC will travel to teach you! https://highwireimprov.com/boc-tour/Watch Billy Mai in this: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089491Free PDF note tracker: https://improvupdate.com/newsletterLink to podcast version: https://improvupdate.com/improvbrainEileen Gu clip mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bthfcm5R7EgEvidence based approach episode: https://improvupdate.com/why-just-be-confident-doesnt-work-and-what-to-do-instead/CHAPTERS:0:06 How your brain rewrites your improv feedback1:23 The Eileen Gu metacognition example2:56 Separating objective content from subjective emotional framing4:16 The first wave nervous system response to tone and body language6:09 Brian James O'Connell and sorting your feedback into categories8:18 Why vague notes cause stress and worst case scenario thinking10:03 How teachers and coaches control the feedback framing10:52 Preventing rumination by capturing the evidence on paper12:22 Rejection sensitive dysphoria and the physiological reaction to notes13:46 Buying your brain time for the second wave of cognitive processing14:56 A partner exercise to practice separating facts from delivery17:11 A solo exercise for spotting your own framing patternsHey so for whatever reason my audio editor decided to HATE my butt today, and I've re-rendered this episode five times now. I've never gone beyond two renders in nearly 50 episodes! "For sure this one will be fine, I'll just render it." Nope. Now I'm at five test listens and there was always some little blip blunder every time that I missed (something got shifted at the beginning and caused a cascading error). Usually in the second half. Fun. funfunfun So if I've missed a blip in this one? I'm sorry. But I can't re-render and listen to my darn voice any longer lol I'm done it is what it is. Downloadable contentDownload the Free Post-Show Reflection Guide: Sent to your inbox when you subscribe to either newsletter (and added to the footer to each message if you're already subscribed).NEW! Comprehensive guides all about getting notes as a student, or giving them as a teacher. Two guides, big discount if you get both! https://improvupdate.com/notesGet a booklet with six exercises to help you get reps in challenging scenes called "Exercises to Ruin You"Get more downloadable booklets here: https://improvupdate.com/downloadsReview the showPlease consider leaving a review wherever you review podcasts. Don't know where? Here are some options.Apple Podcasts | PodchaserIt helps out! Thanks!Support the showLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://learn.improvupdate.com/products/supportWe love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytzWe have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8nddTranscriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqkSchedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZRSupport the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2jAboutThis podcast was created, written, and is hosted by Jen deHaan. Jen has certifications related to healthy communities (Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy), nervous system regulation and soon teacher training certification on community resilience. She has a BFA in teaching creative arts to adults. You can find her full bio here.This episode was and edited and produced by StereoForest.com.This podcast was made in British Columbia, Canada by StereoForest Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:Student and Teacher/Coach Guides about NOTES in ImprovFind more information, Table of Contents and links to get the guides at https://improvupdate.com/notesWired DivergentFind the new show wherever you get podcasts, like this one, or at https://jendehaan.com/wired-divergentThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacyPodtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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Get better at improv by getting better at getting feedback (really! seriously!)

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This episode is 20 minutes long.

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This episode was published on April 6, 2026.

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OUT NOW! Get my latest guides, all about getting and giving improv notes! Find them and what's inside the guides at https://improvupdate.com/notes. 50% discount on your second guide if you grab them together.Getting improv notes can affect your...

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