Welcome to the feature where we sit down with hosts of podcasts and find out more about them!Today we speak to presenter David Escobedo about the improv podcast David is Curious.

Hello, nice to meet you! How did the idea of your podcast come around?

Hi, nice to meet you again. Always a pleasure. I love your inquisitive mind. To answer the question, I am studying improv in a PhD program. One of the elements that pops up a lot in the discussions surrounding improv is control, or the lack of control. I find that when people control things, they have a tendency to complete expectations rather than explore things. When people seek to control they stop exploring.

Now there is a difference between *having* control and *trying* to control something. When people TRY to control things, they may aggressively or passively dismiss or accept ideas which meet their expectations. They may also do so intentionally or unintentionally. I have found, in my improv journey, a certain gush with discovering things. I am changed when I learn things about myself. I am also changed when I discover things about my context.

So this podcast … is literally me giving up control, and just being curious. If there is someone I want to get to know better I interview them! I try not to control the interview or set up questions ahead of time. This podcast is driven by my curiosity. It is a great space to get to know someone I have never met, or get to know someone better.

Tell us about the team behind the show!

Just me.  I do everything. 

There are so many improv podcasts out there, how do you stand out from the rest?

That’s great to look at when you are marketing or packaging a commercial product.  But this project does not prioritize that.  As with most of my projects, it is not centralized in profit or visibility.  I don’t care if TONS of people hear it. I am less concerned with “sticking out” and more concerned with authenticity. Maybe that’s what makes it stick out?  I Don’t Know. Listen if you want. 

Who have been some of your favourite guests you have interviewed?

OH GOD. All of them. The point is to literally interview people I like!  I think the worst guest I ever had was Trent Davies.  He just droned on and on and on. Babbled. I didn’t care for him. But I didn’t like him before I asked him to guest. He literally called me a “dank w*****” during the interview. I almost ended the interview about 4 mins in. I also just made him up. I never interviewed (or even know) a Trent Davies.

How do you get improv suggestions for your show?

I don’t. I have a huge backlog of people I want to interview. Paul Vaillancourt, Whit Shiller, Katy Schutte, Tai Campbell … I mean, I do everything myself and produce other improv shows, multiple social media platforms, perform, teach, write Boost Performer blogs, and be a dad. It’s not that I don’t have ideas, it’s that I don’t have time. I want to interview Jay Sukow again.

Do you use any specialised equipment to record your show?

Not really.  Lack of control?

What are the challenges of running a podcast?

Finding time.  Really. Editing is tough.  I mean there are SO MANY people I want to interview. Because it’s not just “improv celebrities.” I want to interview people of all experience levels. It’s not about networking, it’s about being curious about people.

What are the highlights?

I really liked the episode with Jorin Garguilo and Jack Greenwood.  They said several things that blew my mind.

What other shows are you a fan of and why?

Podcasts?  I love Off Menu, How Did This Get Made, and No Such Thing as a Fish. I can’t think of a lot of improv podcasts I like. I like specific episodes of many improv podcasts, but I find that many improv podcasts are based more on the ego of the host than on the guest or exploration of improv. In that, there is no harm. Except that it tends to be performative of status.

I really liked the Improvcast with Jay and Landon. They hit regularly.  They also played or celebrated their guests. 

OH! You know which improv casts I LOVE?  The Super Legit Podcast, The Improv Blueprint, Yes But Why Podcast, Improv Comedy Connection.  I don’t know why I didn’t think of those ones!  Those are FANTASTIC.  Full of great information. The Super Legit Podcast is LEGIT. Not only are those people BRILLIANT in thought and experience, THEY play with their guests.

The Improv Blueprint is GOLDEN.  It is AMAZING with valuable content. Highly recommend to improvisers.  Improv Comedy Connection gets GREAT guests. Improv Chronicles is another good one. Geez. Now they’re all coming to me. I do like a lot of podcasts that use improv to make the podcast. 

Free Yorkshire Radio is awesome.  Such a great idea and execution. That could literally be made into a Netflix series. Mega the Podcast is such a good podcast. You know, one time I had someone ask me to be a guest on their podcast, then try to charge me to be a guest. Guests create your content. That’s like a painter invoicing the art store for using their paint. There is more to that story, but it was not a pleasant experience.  Here is a tip: you shouldn’t pay someone to create their content for them.

Three words why people

Listen If YouWant

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