The SkyePod - What Improv Teaches Us About Faith

Host: Skye Jethani
Guest: Jeff Ash (Owner, Westside Improv Theater, Wheaton, IL)
Date: September 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Skye welcomes his friend and improv coach, Jeff Ash, to discuss the unexpected intersections between improv, life, faith, and community. Together, they recount personal stories, explore the core principles of improvisational theater, and reflect on how the lessons of the stage carry over into relationships, spiritual practice, and personal growth. The conversation moves beyond performance, focusing on connection, presence, relinquishing control, and rediscovering playfulness in faith and daily living.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jeff's Improv Journey & Origins

[02:20] – [08:24]

• Early Beginnings:

  • Jeff always had a knack for humor and storytelling, often asked to give toasts and entertain friends.
  • His big break into improv came after a boss in L.A. suggested he try comedy.
  • Initial class at Second City Hollywood was unexpectedly dull:

    “We stood in a circle, there were like eight of us, and we bounced a tennis ball back and forth … for three hours. It was really boring.” – Jeff Ash [04:19]

  • Almost quit after day one but returned (reluctantly) at his wife’s insistence, leading to a pivotal period of personal growth.

• Learning Through Practice:

  • Jeff describes how the initial “boring” exercises were, in hindsight, foundational—fostering connection and presence.

• Instructor Philosophy:

  • Jeff’s own experiences shaped his approach to teaching improv; he intentionally sought to make classes engaging and fun from the start.

2. Building Community at Westside Improv

[09:42] – [13:28]

• Westside’s Origins:

  • Jeff didn’t move to Wheaton with an improv theater in mind; he noticed local talent via Wheaton College and small local shows.
  • Expected the theater to be a three-year hobby, but it quickly became a vibrant community hub.

• Contrast with LA/Chicago:

  • In LA, improv is a career stepping stone; in Wheaton, people participate for enjoyment and connection.

  • Skye notes the unique diversity at Westside, likening it to a church in its cross-sectional representation of the community.

    “I can only think of one other place where I’ve seen that level of diversity, which is a church, it’s a congregation… Westside is an interesting cross section of this community.” – Skye Jethani [13:00]

3. Improv Fundamentals: Connection & Listening

[14:03] – [17:55]

• Long Form vs. Short Form:

  • Jeff explains Westside’s focus on “long form” improv—extended, open-ended exploration akin to a play rather than punchy games.
  • He values long form for its deeper dive into “exploration of humanity” and authenticity.

• Listening & Presence:

  • Improv’s key skill isn’t quick wit, but deep, judgment-free listening and synchronization with scene partners.
  • Practicing being “unprepared” is a form of spiritual and relational growth:

    “If we want to do anything well, we have to practice at it... So it’s weird, if we want to be unprepared well—we need to practice being unprepared, and that’s improv.” – Jeff Ash [16:18]

  • The act of relinquishing control and being okay with oneself translates into family and life as well.

• Personal Impact:

  • Skye reflects on how improv made him more present and responsive in his marriage:

    “I actually told [my wife], I think this is going to make me a better husband. She was like, ‘What?’” – Skye Jethani [17:55]

4. Faith, Fear, Control, and Trust

[18:00] – [22:59]

• Religion and Control:

  • Skye draws a powerful parallel between improv practice and religious attempts at control:

    “All religion begins with fear, and we sense the world’s a dangerous and threatening place. In our fear, we want control… Whatever your system of control is, it’s all rooted in fear.” – Skye Jethani [18:56]

  • Many come to religion (or improv) looking for a “script”—predictability and security. But real growth involves surrender and trust.

• Trust as a Spiritual Principle:

  • Improv’s demand to trust the process and your partner mirrors the leap of faith believers are called to make:

    “So what does it look like to go, ‘I’m just going to trust my partner here, and in this case, in a spiritual sense, my partner’s God.’ But it’s also the people I’m doing life with.” – Skye Jethani [20:17]

• Parental Wisdom & Presence:

  • Jeff shares how releasing control as a parent dramatically improved his relationship with his daughters:

    “When I released trying to manage everything and just showed up for them as a dad and as a human, everything changed.” – Jeff Ash [22:59]

5. Rediscovering Play & Childlike Wonder

[22:59] – [24:05]

• Childlike Discovery:
  • Skye and Jeff celebrate the idea of “playing” as adults, observing how children approach life with curiosity and flexibility—qualities improv aims to revive.
  • “Yes, and…” is identified as improv’s most famous rule, and a philosophical anchor for embracing the unexpected.
  • Skye hints at more lessons and stories to come in the subscriber-exclusive portion.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “$380. You’re going to go back.” – Jeff Ash, quoting his wife, on why he stuck with improv after a bad first class [05:14]
• “In Hollywood, everyone was there to grow, get better. But the thing here [at Westside]... people are really here to do this thing. Improv isn’t a stepping stone—it’s the thing they’ve fallen in love with.” – Jeff Ash [11:35]
• “Long form is the exploration of humanity… we’re going to do it in a way where we have complete creativity, and we can be really authentic in the moment.” – Jeff Ash [14:03]
• “How do you really connect with a person? We do a silly exercise… you can’t speak to somebody until you make eye contact with them. Just really being present.” – Skye Jethani [17:55]
• “We don’t have a script. When you wake up in the morning, you don’t pull a script out of your nightstand… you don’t know.” – Jeff Ash [19:46]
• “Having kids is waking up in the morning and thinking of all the things you want to do that day and not getting to do any of those.” – Jeff Ash [21:38]
• “When I released trying to manage everything and just showed up for them as a dad and as a human, everything changed.” – Jeff Ash [22:59]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction & Jeff’s Background: [00:00] – [08:24]
• Community at Westside & Comparison to LA: [09:42] – [13:28]
• Improv Fundamentals: Long Form, Listening, Presence: [14:03] – [17:55]
• Faith, Fear, and Surrender: [18:00] – [22:59]
• Play, Parenting, and “Yes, And…”: [22:59] – [24:05]

Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, warm, humorous, and reflective, matching the playful-yet-deep vibe of improv itself. Skye’s earnest curiosity and Jeff’s thoughtful insights make for an engaging listen that blends spiritual wisdom with practical, accessible life lessons.

To access the remainder of this conversation and more, listeners are encouraged to subscribe at holypost.com/skyepod.