Improv Your Parenting Interview (Matt Larsen) - 2025_02_27 13_58 GMT - Recording

Improv Isn’t Parenting, but Helps: A Journey of Exploration and Connection with Matt Larsen



In this episode of Improv Your Parenting, we welcome Matt Larson, a veteran improv performer and father of two, to explore the intersection of improvisation and parenting. Matt shares insights from his extensive experience in improv at io Chicago, Second City, and more, explaining how the principles of improv—such as listening, emotional connection, and adaptability—translate into valuable parenting strategies. From balancing humor and discipline to navigating neurodivergence within the family, Matt offers practical advice and engaging anecdotes that highlight the importance of curiosity and non-judgment in both improv and parenting.



00:00 Introduction to Improv Your Parenting

00:05 Meet Matt Larson: Improv Veteran and Parent

00:42 Improv and Parenting: The Early Years

01:49 Lessons from Improv Applied to Parenting

04:03 The Importance of Listening in Improv and Parenting

07:46 Exploring and Heightening with Kids

10:10 Navigating Modern Parenting Challenges

18:07 Neurodivergence and Parenting

22:51 Conflict Resolution and Improv Techniques

29:36 Final Thoughts and Parenting Advice

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