In part two, Madeline and I dive into a packed round of community questions from friends and students across Atlanta. Madeline shares what she'd change about improv in Atlanta, the biggest mistake she sees new improvisers make, how she creates and casts her shows, and what's going on in her mind in the first ten seconds of stepping on stage.

We also get into what separates a decent improviser from a truly magnetic one, how to support a scene partner when you have no idea what's happening, and why intentionality is the secret ingredient to a great scene. Madeline talks about wanting to explore clowning, how diversifying your interests outside of improv makes you better on stage, and why she swears by The Artist Way for building creative confidence.

There's a whole section of the episode dedicated to positively shouting out members of the Atlanta improv community. We talk about Malik, Kim Richardson, Joseph Lopez, Cecil Walker, Forrest, Lauren Staten, Brad Lasky, Jessica Gansky, and so many more. Madeline also opens up about the unexpected journey that led to her solo show Always the Goat, from writing it after a breakup to selling out five shows at Dad's Garage.

She closes by reading her full list of 2025 accomplishments out loud as a reminder to all of us to track our wins, practice gratitude, and celebrate ourselves. And yes, we did eventually get to the Gollum impression.

Madeline's plugs:

Website
- https://www.madsjoy.me/

Instagrams:
- @madsimprov
- @roadtripimprov
- @noalibi_improv
- @albertonedgewood

Follow us on Instagram - @thejoyofimprovpod

Support the podcast with a small tip - https://ko-fi.com/thejoyofimprov

Email any questions or ideas to joel@thejoyofimprov.com

Host: Joel Camargo - Insta - @joelc1225
Audio Editor: Matt Issacs - Insta - @mattisaacs20

In part one of this two-part episode, I sit down with Madeline Evans, someone I truly consider the queen of Atlanta improv. Madeline shares her journey from putting on plays for her grandma as a kid to selling out the most popular improv show in Atlanta!

We talk about what it was like moving to Atlanta with the goal of building something big and how Madeline's philosophy of loving your partner so deeply has shaped the way she plays and teaches. She breaks down her approach to jams, how to stay present when your mind goes blank, and why the strongest improvisers are the most supportive ones.

Madeline also opens up about the creation and growth of Road Trip, which went from small audiences to consistently selling out 200 seats at Dad's Garage. We dig into all of her projects, how she casts rotating shows, and why Atlanta needs more teams alongside more rotating casts. She shares her path to becoming a teacher, the structure behind her foundational, continuous, and expanded programs, and why she believes improv is ultimately about making people feel seen and celebrated.

We also talk about the need for more spaces and opportunities in Atlanta, how independent artists can create their own doors, and how the community keeps lifting each other up.

Stay tuned for part two.

Madeline's plugs:

Website
- https://www.madsjoy.me/

Instagrams:
- @madsimprov
- @roadtripimprov
- @noalibi_improv
- @albertonedgewood

Follow us on Instagram - @thejoyofimprovpod

Support the podcast with a small tip - https://ko-fi.com/thejoyofimprov

Email any questions or ideas to joel@thejoyofimprov.com

Host: Joel Camargo - Insta - @joelc1225
Audio Editor: Matt Issacs - Insta - @mattisaacs20

In part two, Abel and I pick up right where we left off and go even deeper into the craft and philosophy of improv. We talk about why improvisers should stop serving the tools and start letting the tools serve them, and why space work is one of the most powerful and underused skills in the art form.

Abel shares the grilled cheese philosophy from the movie Chef and how it captures everything he believes about staying present on stage — nothing else matters but the thing right in front of you. We get into how curiosity and acceptance form the constant cycle of good scene work, and how those same principles show up in everyday life, from road rage to parenting.

We also dig into community questions about the differences between the LA and Atlanta improv scenes, what LA has that Atlanta doesn't, and tips for staying present without overthinking. Abel closes with a beautiful reminder for new improvisors.

Abel's Plugs:

Abel Brainz Digest (Newsletter/Blog) -
You can email Abel at abelarias81@gmail.com or subscribe via Substack, username is @abelarias

Your Favorite Improv Gym -
Come and get your reps while finding your process. The gym offers different membership for all levels. Whether you want notes or just out to get some reps, Your Favorite Improv Gym is the spot! Email Abel with any questions. 

Follow us on Instagram - @thejoyofimprovpod

Support the podcast with a small tip - https://ko-fi.com/thejoyofimprov

Email any questions or ideas to joel@thejoyofimprov.com

Host: Joel Camargo - Insta - @joelc1225
Audio Editor: Matt Issacs - Insta - @mattisaacs20

In part one of this two-part episode, I sit down with Abel Arias, an experienced veteran improviser in Atlanta, teacher at Dad's Garage Theatre. Abel takes us through his journey from watching Whose Line Is It Anyway as a kid, to children's theater, to training at UCB, Groundlings, and Comedy Sports in LA, to eventually finding his home in Atlanta's improv community.

We get into the differences between character-based and game-based improv, and why acting and improv are really the same thing. Abel shares what it's been like to navigate life as a working artist in a capitalistic world, from holding down multiple jobs to performing at Universal Studios Hollywood, where he met his wife and landed his first agent.

We also have an honest conversation about what success really looks like in improv and in art. Abel breaks down why success is subjective, why comfort matters more than being "better," and why the tools we teach in class are just that — tools, not rules. We talk about the importance of being present, the Michael Jordan quote that changed how Abel thinks about performing, and why the only real rule on stage is keeping each other safe.

Stay tuned for part two.

Abel's Plugs:

Abel Brainz Digest (Newsletter/Blog) -
You can email Abel at abelarias81@gmail.com or subscribe via Substack

Your Favorite Improv Gym -
Come and get your reps while finding your process. The gym offers different membership for all levels. Whether you want notes or just out to get some reps, Your Favorite Improv Gym is the spot! Email Abel with any questions. 

Follow us on Instagram - @thejoyofimprovpod

Support the podcast with a small tip - https://ko-fi.com/thejoyofimprov

Email any questions or ideas to joel@thejoyofimprov.com

Host: Joel Camargo - Insta - @joelc1225
Audio Editor: Matt Issacs - Insta - @mattisaacs20

In the very first episode of The Joy of Improv Podcast, I sit down with one of my favorite performers in Atlanta, Ana Bernot-Reilly. Ana shares how she discovered improv in high school, fell in love with long form scene work at SCAD, and moved to Atlanta with one mission: find a two-person improv partner. That search led to the creation of "Mom and Dad", one of the best independent improv teams to ever grace the Atlanta scene.

We get into the craft of grounded, narrative-driven improv and why acting is an underutilized skill for improvisers. We talk about what it means to truly believe in the world you're building on stage, the power of characters who care about each other, and how studying story structure can level up your performance.

The conversation also takes an honest turn into the realities of the community, including what it's like to be a woman at a jam, the importance of check-ins and boundaries, and why "yes and" doesn't mean you can never say no. We also dig into the unglamorous but essential work of producing indie improv shows.

With Ana preparing to move, this episode is both a celebration of her time in Atlanta and a love letter to the community that shaped us both.

Ana's plugs:
- @twobearsblowupinacar
- @momanddadimprov

Mentioned in episode:
- Countdown Improv Festival Website - Instagram
- ATL Ladies Jam - @atlladiesjam
- TWAG (The Working Actors Group) Website - Instagram

Follow us on Instagram - @thejoyofimprovpod

Support the podcast with a small tip - https://ko-fi.com/thejoyofimprov

Email any questions or ideas to joel@thejoyofimprov.com

Host: Joel Camargo - Insta - @joelc1225
Audio Editor: Matt Issacs - Insta - @mattisaacs20

Learn a little about who I am and what my vision is for this improv podcast!

Follow us on Instagram - @thejoyofimprovpod

Support the podcast with a small tip - https://ko-fi.com/thejoyofimprov

Email any questions or ideas to joel@thejoyofimprov.com

Host: Joel Camargo - Insta - @joelc1225
Audio Editor: Matt Issacs - Insta - @mattisaacs20