Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

Episode 202: Connor Ratliff – How and Why To Do Improv

Release Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Mike Birbiglia | Guest: Connor Ratliff (with Chris Gethard)

Episode Overview

In this vibrant, improv-centric episode, Mike Birbiglia sits down with acclaimed actor, writer, improviser, and podcaster Connor Ratliff, joined by mutual friend and comedian Chris Gethard. They dive into Connor's journey from rejection by Tom Hanks to the success of his celebrated podcast "Dead Eyes," and his evolution as an actor and improviser. Packed with insights, anecdotes, improv philosophy, and practical advice, the conversation offers a masterclass in creativity, listening, and resilience—whether you’re an improv nerd or a curious outsider.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Connor’s Career: From “Dead Eyes” to Improv Cult Hero

• The “Dead Eyes” Story:
  • Connor recounts his infamous firing from Band of Brothers due to Tom Hanks allegedly saying he had “dead eyes,” how this setback haunted him, and how he turned it into the much-lauded podcast Dead Eyes.
  • “I treat [the podcast] as if it's like the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. …The comedic sort of premise is that most of the episodes are actually diversions from that.” (Connor, 06:21)
  • The comedic goldmine and real catharsis: Tom Hanks himself appeared on the podcast, and shared the brutally honest line:

  “Oh, if you had dropped [my friend’s] name, you would not have been fired.” (Connor retelling Hanks, 08:01)

• Hiatus and Reinvention:
  • After early career setbacks and a frustrating agent encounter (“You can own that” [12:40]), Connor stopped acting for a decade, retreated to working at Barnes & Noble, and only rediscovered performance through improv at UCB.

2. Connor’s Improv Philosophy & Tools

• The Power of Listening:
  • When asked what tools make an “elite improviser,” Connor’s answer is simple:

  “Listening to other people is the main one…You have to be responsive. You have to be paying attention to your scene partners.” (Connor, 17:24)
  • Chris and Mike riff, noting how listening sets great actors and improvisers apart—citing everything from Kazan’s approach to the overlap of improv and traditional acting.

• Being Yourself vs. Imitation:
  • True improv is about individual perspective:

  “If you’re just trying to imitate what you’ve seen other people do, it’s very different than if you’re really bringing your true, weirdest specific version of yourself.” (Connor, 19:35) • Standup and improv: once competitive, now more harmonious, and in Connor’s eyes, fundamentally about “bringing you.”

• Practicing Honesty and Directness:
  • Sometimes the most “plain and simple” move is the best (“You’re my dad.” “You’re my pediatrician.”). Trying to be clever can muddle a scene—clarity serves the ensemble and the audience.
  (Connor and Chris talk shop about in-scene adjustments and gifts, 22:14–23:36)

3. Improv as Life Training & Art Form

• Improv for the Joy, Not the Fame:
  • Both guests stress: don’t do improv to get famous—it’s a winding, rarely lucrative path.

  “It’s not a reliable stepping stone. Actual show business is a whole different world.” (Mike, 30:04)
  • Improv as a “creative outlet” and “life experiment”—say yes, enjoy the experience, let it improve your listening and life skills.

• Parental Support & Generational Connections:
  • Unique tidbit: Connor’s parents, especially his dad (an improv performer under Del Close), encouraged him to take classes:

  “I'm the only person I know whose parents were actively encouraging [improv]...” (Connor, 15:41)

4. Improv Pet Peeves and Common Mistakes

• Naming Names, Overused Moves:
  • Connor dislikes when improvisers break the scene by calling him “Connor” on stage, or default to hacky situations like courtroom scenes.

  “For me, the whole point…is make—unless there’s a real [in-world reason]…that’s not who I was being.” (Connor, 37:13) • Overly grand gestures (“the best picnic ever!”) can ring hollow unless the scene justifies the exaggeration.

• Fighting and Saying ‘No’ On Stage:
  • On “no” in improv, Connor clarifies:

  “Any improv rule is true until there’s a fun, interesting, or good reason to break it.” (Connor, 54:48)

• The Value of Mistakes:
  • (Via Jackie Marchie’s question) Connor and the group discuss “flubs”:

  “There are mistakes, but in the sense that those mistakes are…opportunities…The thing that goes wrong turns out to be the thing—if that hadn’t happened, it would have just been same old, same old.” (Connor, 40:30)

5. Memorable Improv Anecdotes

• Gethard’s Presidential Underwear Story
  • Chris Gethard recalls Connor’s multi-year commitment to a presidential candidate bit on Gethard’s show, culminating in a live reveal of custom “candidate” underwear (35:17).
• The Power of the Worst Idea
  • Mike and Connor agree: sometimes the joke you toss around as a bad idea ends up being the golden one.

6. Improv at Any Age & Turning Off Self-Criticism

• Never Too Late (& Judd Apatow’s Query):

  “I started late…I don’t think there’s any age where I wouldn’t be curious to see what you would get out of it.” (Connor, 51:40)

• Silencing Shame:
  • They share a neuroscience study: expert improvisers, like jazz musicians, actually “turn off” their brain’s voice of shame (DLPFC), freeing their creativity.

  “I think I might have turned mine off just generally.” (Mike, 57:06; laughter)

7. The Actor’s Lot & Detachment From Rejection

• On Casting and Rejection:

  “No matter how—like, I know I’m a good actor…But I also know I am not right for almost everything.” (Connor, 46:48) “99% of things that are made you and I are wrong for.” (Chris, 47:04)

• Movie Star vs. ‘Tweener’:
  • Connor humorously details scrubbing through video footage, noticing that onscreen, co-star Rachel Zegler always looks perfect (“keyframes”), while he appears in those awkward “in-betweener” moments (48:16).

8. Improv In Practice, As Process

• Examples & Mini Masterclasses:
  • Connor shares a “math of the scene” story about improvising as a thermometer salesman during a child’s poisoning scenario (41:31)—an improvisational “aha!” moment about making bold, relevant choices.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | | --------- | ----- | ------- | | 08:01 | “Oh, if you had dropped that name, you would not have been fired.” | Tom Hanks (via Connor) | | 17:24 | “Listening to other people is the main one…You have to be responsive.” | Connor | | 19:35 | “If you’re just trying to imitate what you’ve seen other people do…it’s very different than if you’re really bringing…your true, weirdest specific version of yourself.” | Connor | | 40:30 | “There are mistakes, but in the sense that those mistakes are…opportunities.” | Connor | | 54:48 | “Any improv rule is true until the moment that there’s a really good…reason to break that rule.” | Connor | | 51:40 | “I started late…I don’t think there’s any age where I wouldn’t be curious to see what you would get out of it.” | Connor | | 57:06 | “I think I might have turned mine [the inner critic] off just generally.” | Mike |

Important Segment Timestamps

• [06:21] – “Dead Eyes” and turning pain into comedy
• [12:40] – “You can own that”: Connor’s breaking point with agents
• [16:07] – Starting improv & Connor’s unique family support
• [17:24] – The only tool of great improvisers: listening
• [22:14–23:36] – How to handle confusion and “put out fires” in scenes
• [35:17] – Presidential underwear: epic commitment to a long bit
• [41:31] – The “thermometer salesman” story—embracing improv mistakes
• [51:40] – “Never too late” for improv, advice for late starters
• [57:06] – On shutting off the internal critic (the neuroscience of improv)
• [58:06] – Charity spotlight: Paws NY, providing aid for at-risk pet owners

Tone & Style

The conversation is open, self-deprecating, warm, and full of affection between longtime friends. The tone blends wry honesty, navel-gazing, creative wisdom, and a persistent sense of play—all in the spirit of “working it out.”

Additional Resources & Recommendations

• Connor Ratliff:
  • Instagram: @connorratliff
  • Watch The George Lucas Talk Show (YouTube)
  • Check out Connor Ratliff Presents: The Acting Class
• Charity: Paws NY — helping NYC residents keep their pets.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

If you’re passionate about improv, acting, creativity, or are just looking for fuel to get up after rejection, this episode is a gem. You’ll leave with real, applicable insights—whether your stage is the UCB, your living room, or life itself.