Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas with Lyndsey Frank and Ruha Taslimi

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