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Speech Transcript

Unknown Speaker  0:00  

Hey, this is Julie cotton with next level improv, and if you really want to learn how to level up your life, you should be listening to the time to shine today podcast with my friend, Scott Ferguson.

Unknown Speaker  0:13  

Hey, time to shine today podcast squad. It’s Scott Ferguson and I am so excited to bring you my interview with my friend and an unofficial improv coach. For me, Julie cotton. And Julie is phenomenal. She’s I call her kind of a little Gypsy she never really stays in one place too long. But every place she goes she touches people in a way that helps them level up their life at all times. She’s going to tell us about her yes ands her yes buts. She’ll let you know the imperfect action is better than no action at all. And I’m just so excited to bring you my conversation slash interview with Julie. So without further ado, here’s Julie cotton. From next level improv

Unknown Speaker  1:09  

Hey, time to shine squad it is Scott Ferguson and I am an Uber CLOUD NINE stoked right now because I have my friend also Julie cotton, and she is a fantastic person not just to know but I get to bring on in interview her and pick her brains. I kind of unofficially call her my information, informational, improvisational improv coach. And she’s taught me stuff in just a few sessions that we’ve hung out about taking my improv to the next level. It’s just it’s just incredible. But Julie is an Arizona native and actor for 35 plus years, a wellness practitioner for 13 years plus, avid student of life with lots of letter certificates and things she loves. an MFA acting author, inventor of an Your active card game which we’ve played, which is fantastic. Founder of next level improv using improv to empower individuals, companies to create the highest and best realities. So she has some straight up savage street cred when it comes to improv and acting and I’m super privy to bring you Julie cotton. So, Julie, please introduce yourself. But first tell us your favorite color in Why?

Unknown Speaker  2:27  

Oh, well, Hello, everyone. Thanks for having me. Ah, Scott, my favorite color is blue. Maybe because my eyes are blue. The sky is blue ocean is blue. I feel like there’s so much blue and why not make what there’s so much of my favorite.

Unknown Speaker  2:42  

Love it. So in we’re also here, which with all full disclosure, Julia’s kind of a neighbor of mine that lives I don’t know, 20 minutes away. So we have this huge big Epsom salt II thing called the ocean that this time of the year is really blue and we grit so much energy and squad you’re gonna hear are going to hear a lot of energy coming out of my friend Julie. So Julie, that’s give us an origin of your story. Because you’re just you’re fantastic. And in squad she can like change characters on a whim. So Julie, why don’t you give us the origin of your story from a person of full authority?

Unknown Speaker  3:28  

Well, back in my day, it was barely.

Unknown Speaker  3:33  

So full authority. I love that because that’s really what I love to use improv for is to give people an experience of authorship of literally offering their moment to moment experience of life. And that started for me when I was a little girl, probably nine years old or so I saw this improv, well wasn’t an improv team. It was an actual rehearsed children’s theater came into my school and they I transformed our gymnasium into this other world and they had costumes and sets and music. And I was like, Oh my god, that’s so amazing. I want to do that when I grow up. And I did when I was, you know, 12 years later, I actually worked for that company for five years. And that was on the road, doing show after show after show for kids, is when I learned how to really unlock improv and the ability to be present moment to moment and playful.

Unknown Speaker  4:29  

Excellent. So you were, how old were you around what time of your life? I’m sorry, what time of your life were you? traveling around and kind of giving the improv improvisational

Unknown Speaker  4:40  

in my late teens? Early 20s.

Unknown Speaker  4:43  

Oh, wow. So it was like you said you started early. But then you you just kept the ball rolling. So where did you go from there then?

Unknown Speaker  4:51  

Well, I was fortunate to have parents that really supported me. They were like, you know, yeah, I’m super smart, but I didn’t have to be a doctor. You know, do whatever the color Real World said would make a lot of money. They’re like, Just be happy Julia. That’s all we care about. I’m like, good I want to play. I have been playing literally my whole life. So all of through grade school I did High School performances. I would be like the, the short young kids and the high school plays. And then when I got into high school, I had the leads and then I went to undergrad and theater education, graduate school. I have an MFA in acting. So my whole life has been acting theater, improv music, you know, all of us. So it’s I can’t remember a time when I did not have this.

Unknown Speaker  5:30  

So if you weren’t an improv or an actor, what would you be doing?

Unknown Speaker  5:36  

Well, I like a lot of side hustles because I have the attention span of a gnat sometimes so I get bored really easily, which I think serves as an actor. It’s important to be able to play many parts. So I like to try all things. And I love working out. I love wellness. I love healing arts, so I needed to be in shape or masters. program the guy that was in charge at the time was like, Hey ladies a size two is in fashion this year and gentlemen, it’s washboard abs. So do what you got to do to get there because the camera adds 10 pounds. So look, I was like, Oh, alright, so I went and worked out at a dojo started training in martial arts. I’ve done polities at home and stuff, but it was wasn’t really getting me to where I needed to be camera ready. And so yeah, I just fell in love with moving my body in in a very disciplined martial arts kind of way,

Unknown Speaker  6:27  

which probably kind of translates into your stage and film and everything else that you would do. And I’ve always wanted to ask you this, like, you’re so confident, and you’re so like, out, you know, outgoing and you’d like me, you have that puppy mind, where you’re just like, you know, back and forth. If you see us on the screen, I’m like moving my head back and forth, everybody, but what, in that world, intimidate you? In the world of improv, acting you So what in that world intimidates? Julie?

Unknown Speaker  7:05  

That is a really good question. I.

Unknown Speaker  7:09  

Okay, so I will speak to that for me, I get intimidated and shy away from locking down into one location. I love to travel and I love the freedom that improv provides. You know, I stepped away from doing rehearsals for legit shows a while back, because it was like sometimes three weeks of rehearsal, eight and an eight week run or something. So it was like you were committed to being in one location. So I shy away from that, because I love the freedom to move and travel and you know, now we have the freedom to do stuff online. So we’re all in one place. But yeah, just so committing to like a theater, whether it’s in Chicago or Miami or wherever I’ve been. Just being willing to set roots has been something that I haven’t really done.

Unknown Speaker  7:54  

Gotcha. But what about like when you’re on Is there any like people that you’ve acted with or Or did shows with or you’re like, oh, man, I’m on stage with so and so. Or like that kind of intimidation. Like, is there something that in your roles because squad Let me tell you something when I the day I met Julie face to face, we’re in Starbucks and we’re kind of acting out a scene and we were like, I was intimidated as hell with her because she can change characters in a heartbeat. And we were a couple that were breaking up. That was our role in those people were looking around and I was like, Oh crap, and then like, very intimidated because I’m around somebody that I don’t have that improv background and stuff. Is there people out there that are that you’re like, Oh, I’m gonna say Oh, shit, you know, I’m with so and so. Is there is that ever happened and if so, how did you overcome it because a lot of my squad that listens? Yeah, they’re sending me emails like man, I’m going up against this. This has happened and how did you overcome any you might even want to call it stage fright ever, you know? I mean, something like that,

Unknown Speaker  9:00  

yes, stage fright I can definitely speak to and for me, I don’t know if this helps your squad or not. I don’t necessarily get intimidated by the person. Because I do practice, you know, whether it’s martial arts or spiritual arts or what have you. I’m a yoga teacher as well. So now my state is a principle I live by the divine in me honors the divine in you. And so I don’t necessarily see people for their fame or their persona I look through to find their kind of inner child that’s gonna play with me on stage. So I’m not necessarily awestruck by them because I’m like, oh, you’re another human to like me. Let’s play human together, you know, right. And so that helps kind of level the playing ground a bit. And when I do get stage fright because it happens I made my very first webinar not long ago, introducing an online course that I’m offering and I was nervous and nervousness shows up like dry mouth for me. It shows up like increased heart rate, it shows up like sweating. And then I’m like, oh, cool if I take a moment and breathe in that second and say, I really care about what I’m about to do right now, I really want it to serve people. And I’m going to give over my ideas of it needing to be perfect. I’m going to just give it forth and show up and yes, and that I’m nervous, be like, I care about this people and I care about you. So it matters to me. My body’s giving me that feedback. That helps.

Unknown Speaker  10:26  

No, that’s, that’s perfect. So basically, what I what I tell you guys out there that are listening is that sometimes you just want to throw up all over everything. not try to be so perfect, but just like let it roll a little bit. You know, like especially I have a lot of bloggers that listen in and they’re like Scott, I’m stuck. I’m just like, just write just keep writing cares. Who cares about commas? semicolons any of that crap. Just write and it sounds like with you. Are you more of a when you get into a situation? Are you more of a slow it down? Or are you like a Tony Robbins where you’re Popping around and getting fired up, or does it differ upon your environment in this situation? Yes.

Unknown Speaker  11:05  

The last one, okay. I’m a bit of a chameleon. And because I practice awareness and I, in improv, we have a principle called, you know, make your scene partner look amazing. So my job is to match and lift you up, right? And that’s really where I get the most fun. Also, in improv, it’s a race to the bottom right. So whoever loses the scene first wins the affection of the audience. So if I can give you high status all the time, right, then I, in essence, win, but we’re both doing that with each other. So we’re looking to how can we give forth and be really generous to our partner? Okay, and that for me, so that might look like sometimes I share the stage with people that maybe have a softer, slower, more, like even keel energy, then I’m not necessarily going to come out and rile them all up, because I don’t want to upstage them if they’re the one kind of running the event. I will mute my energy to match them. Okay, make it look like this is the energy of this space, right? But then other times I would absolutely be doing cartwheels

Unknown Speaker  12:10  

in a row. I love it that you said it here, this everybody my squad, like, make your scene partner look amazing. And that could go not just onstage, but that could go in any aspect of life, whether it’s your spouse, whether it’s your boss, whether it’s a colleague, make that person look amazing, because that’s just going to lift you up as well. And I love your analogy about the race to the bottom. So the first one to the bottom wins and that that’s awesome because that just to me, shows pure service. That’s right. Period. You know what I’m saying? You’re not there to one oper or go above you’re there to provide service and I got to go through a class with Julie for two hours about a month ago, which she made me feel like I’ve been improvising for For years, and it was it was amazing. So along those lines, Julie, what do you think makes a great improv coach? For me it’s

Unknown Speaker  13:12  

listening. And listening isn’t just to the words that you’re saying. It’s also listening to the whole story that’s coming at me. Like your physicality, your energy, your volume, if you will, right. There’s a whole tambor about you, if we were all instruments in an orchestra, you would have your own specific sound and music that you bring, right. And so for me, if I’m going to be the conductor, or if I’m even going to do a duet with you, I need to know how you do you and what you’re great at. And so I have to listen in order to really know how to come in and meet you. And not unless we’re playing a song where there’s a lot of juxtaposition and I want to stand out or I want to take the lead or I have a really fun idea that I want to follow. And then you would follow me and learn how to make me look at me. Right? Like it’s so there is this kind of like, give and take. There’s an ebb and a flow just like life, right? Like for me, that’s my biggest thing with improv is improv is life. We’re always doing this.

Unknown Speaker  14:12  

Yeah, you guys say that in what I’m hearing a lot is there’s no such thing as balance. With that life. I’m thinking more it’s harmony. I’m thinking, like balanced to me. And I say this to my squad and I actually did a whole speech in Atlanta about harmony and not balance because balance equals zero, because when you’re a balanced, it’s 00. But harmony, like you said, there’s a jazz band, like there’s a trumpet, there’s another horn, there’s drums, there’s a guitar, and if one of them is out of sync, and each one of those while we say each one of those instruments is a pillar in your life, whether it’s your relationships, whether it’s your job, your finances, so if you can keep those harmony, those going together as the conductor, it’s harmonic. So I’m hearing that is an improv coach. Tell me if I’m wrong. improv coach, you’re really looking for harmony within what’s going on.

Unknown Speaker  15:05  

Right? Yes. So So yes, exactly and and then learning what you desires. So if I was going to coach somebody in improv when I coach people in improv, I want to know what they want. First of all right, I always say play the scene you want to play, play the character you want to play, follow your fun. Alright, so you tell me where we’re going. And then I will help you get there. And if helping you get there looks like maybe buffering up a skill set that you feel weakened that you want to feel stronger in for your own harmonics, then we’ll work on that. Whereas if you are someone who has a lot of really great things and you can’t see that then maybe I would work on having you see your own greatness, you know, like so there’s different ways that I would coach you depending on what you’re wanting to accomplish.

Unknown Speaker  15:47  

That’s awesome. It just kind of kind of dawned on me about the race to the bottom, but you had talked about it when you’re if you have another really experienced improve, it improves. You’re like yourself, and you’re racing to the bottom and makes some funny ass scenes. Doesn’t it? Make some like, you’re trying to lift this person up? This person is trying to so it’s like makes it fun for me. Now I’m learning squad as I’m going through this because I go in and watch improv shows and I’m really interested. And I’m starting my practice with it. And it’s like, that’s just kind of like it makes it fun. Right?

Unknown Speaker  16:22  

Yeah, exactly. It’s a we’re in. It’s a we, it’s a wee thing, right? Like, how can I we’re in this together, whether if it’s a duo, you and I are in the scenes together, we were a team. I’m constantly looking for ways to have you shine, and you’re doing the same for me and so if I know that you’re really good at like throwing down a beat and you I’m gonna pimp you out for that so that the audience can hear you go like, maybe like well, I want to hear that I want or if you know a lot about horticulture, gardening or something that I’m going to put that in the scene, because then you get to look like the expert and that you know that edifies you that lifts you up The more we can agree in the scene and be like on the same side and find things to love and appreciate and acknowledge about each other. It doesn’t mean our characters have to like each other necessarily. Although Why not? There’s another characters not liking each other in life that we probably see enough of it.

Unknown Speaker  17:17  

Here Yeah. So what do you think is the most misunderstood about people in the improv scene? Like, it’s a I didn’t want to have any part of it when I first heard about it, right. Not fear. You know, the thing is, is I have rejection with whom the audience Okay, you know, because I deal with enough of it in my day job with real estate business. But what do you think is the most misunderstood anything about improv?

Unknown Speaker  17:56  

Well, first you have to be funny because you know,

Unknown Speaker  17:58  

how strong So strong, okay.

Unknown Speaker  18:01  

Life is funny when we can’t help ourselves and, and as far as like needing to please or win over the audience when we’re not trying to be funny is why again, following your own fun, the audience will naturally have fun. If I’m trying to make you have a good time, like anything, the more I’m concerned about how I look to others, the more I will not I will block their appreciation of me, right. So the more I care about having fun, the audience will celebrate that they’ll see that I’m having fun and they’ll have fun with they’ll come along the ride with me. Whereas if I’m doing something to look good, or to, to control an outcome, right, like coming from more of these kind of like a scarcity or separation or fear or ego based thoughts systems, then I’m going to push my audience away. They’re going to feel like you’re gonna feel it. Something’s off here.

Unknown Speaker  18:53  

Right? Okay. So basically,

Unknown Speaker  18:57  

everybody that’s listening, like get into improv Cuz it’ll level up your game across the board and you don’t have to be funny. So that’s it. Okay, Miss Gypsy. All right. So, you travel, you’re everywhere. Okay. And I love that about you. But if you had if you had a minute to either travel back in time or write a letter to the 23 year old Julie cotton, what would you tell her or write to her?

Unknown Speaker  19:29  

Oh, keep doing it. You’re you’re right on track. You can’t get it wrong. Just follow your follow your bliss, right like that. She she did so much. And I would I would actually invite her to not care as much what other people thought about her because I feel like that was something looking good was something I very much wanted to please people. I wanted to earn approval at that age. Big time. I was like, Oh, I matter Look how much I matter and I was a star and all that. He shows I want a bunch of awards. And I was doing a lot of that stuff because I didn’t feel like I was worth it. Right. I feel like I had to earn, earn that love here, pour some love or approval into my cup so that I can, you know, keep living. I was living for the plot, I live all the blah, blah, blah,

Unknown Speaker  20:18  

right? Yeah, that’s crazy. You say that because I live my whole life. And like I said it in about four or five podcasts about what I call my duality of successes where we don’t like if you can live where you just don’t give a crap about what anybody thinks about you, as long as you’re not hurting them, are disrespecting them in any way. You don’t give a crap about it. But in the second part of that duality, you want to provide as much service and happiness to people as you can. So if you do those two things, that you go back and tell that young Julia that listen Yeah, you know, that’s, that’s strong. That’s that’s, that’s amazing. So what is, you know, Julie’s definition of a life well lived.

Unknown Speaker  21:00  

Oh, no regrets.

Unknown Speaker  21:03  

Yeah, showing up. Meeting. Yes ANDing I mean going back to improv How can I yes. And this moment complete and utter acceptance for what is right here and bringing the gift taking the next step that I feel called or LED or excited by?

Unknown Speaker  21:19  

Let’s dig into the Yes. And because people that are not in the world, they probably live Yes, Stan life in a sense, but they don’t know how it can help them. Give us a breakdown on the yes and please.

Unknown Speaker  21:32  

Yes. So with a yes. And you’re accepting what is so if you in in the scene where we were breaking up in the Starbucks. You Yes. And did that moment by agreeing to play the role of someone that would be breaking up with me? And and you had your own ideas on how you presented that right, like so. If I say Hey, Dad, can I borrow the cues so I can drive to practice? You’re going to Yes, and that moment by responding, and what is your response?

Unknown Speaker  22:06  

Right? Yes. And make sure your date doesn’t drive it.

Unknown Speaker  22:10  

Ah, perfect. Great. So now we know I’m your daughter. You’re my dad. You You weren’t like Julie. I, my name is Scott, you’re not my daughter. You know, we’re basically almost the same age, right? Like you didn’t, you didn’t deny the gifts that I gave you. You also didn’t Yes, but right. So there’s, we play a game. Yes. But versus Yes. And let’s go to a party. Right. Let’s go to a party. What kind of party Are we going to?

Unknown Speaker  22:32  

So let’s have a guess. And

Unknown Speaker  22:33  

so tell me the some kind of party you want to go to. What’s the theme of the party?

Unknown Speaker  22:37  

Oh, we’re going to a 80s party.

Unknown Speaker  22:40  

Right? Yes. So this Yes, but version of this game would be like what are we bringing to the to this 80s party? What do you want to bring Scott?

Unknown Speaker  22:49  

I want to bring twister.

Unknown Speaker  22:51  

Yes, but I want to bring DJ

Unknown Speaker  22:56  

Yes. And oh, you brings the keg with him. Great

Unknown Speaker  23:04  

for you. Yes. And did me which means now we have a DJ and the keg. Right. But we don’t have your first idea because I yes, but did you? We’re not we’re not doing Twister because I said yes, but I want to bring this. So yes, but is really a no. Okay.

Unknown Speaker  23:23  

All those people. Yeah, yes. But there’s no yes. And is there an agreement to keep the conversation going? In a, your feeling of a positive direction? Correct because it might not be the other person’s you know, okay. I love that. But yeah, that’s, that’s deep. So it’s the difference between

Unknown Speaker  23:39  

like, yes, and is expansive. It allows for all ideas. It’s, it’s divergent thinking it’s expansive. So it Yes. And we could this and we could this and we get this Yes. And we get this so so all ideas are accepted. And then you can Yes, but it later so maybe like when a company is working on building a new product line or marketing idea, or you’re going to accept all ideas, even your own inside your own mind. If your mind mapping or something at home alone, you’re going to let it all be there just free associate. Yes, yes. Yes. Yes. And, and then go back through with a more analytical comb. And throw some yes button. Yeah, but we have this under the budget is here and that and then you can convergently kind of move some of those ideas to another project. Have you ever seen?

Unknown Speaker  24:27  

Have you ever taken this? Sorry to interject? Because I have you ever taken this practice into businesses? I have? Yes. Okay. And how are they receptive to it?

Unknown Speaker  24:35  

They do. Well, I worked with a group of C suite executives, I was living in the Midwest. And it was how do we bring different kind of old regime new regimes and new hires would come on in the last three years and they weren’t really thinking up as a team. And we did a whole day they had a three days strategic planning session, and I came in on the last day once they had all their ideas, and we really did some team building. Yeah, a lot of improv is happening in companies. There’s so many applications of this.

Unknown Speaker  25:04  

So let me ask you something, what’s that gap? Or that one thing that you figured out to trans let your talents into other areas of your life to make you what you are now. So like, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a bodybuilder, like he’s a hero of mine, you know, no matter whatever. But he thinks but he was but he took that bodybuilding made himself a bodybuilder made himself champion there was at one time when the highest grossing actors ever married into American royalty. Like what for you’re successful, you’re successful, what you do, like what is that gap? That thing figured out as you start to get the experience that really translated into the areas of your life for success?

Unknown Speaker  25:47  

Well, I mean, I feel like I’m always minding the gap. Like it’s a forever gap right every time I reach a certain level, I can see for you know, as you go as far as you can go and when you get there, you can see further That’s where I’m at. So the gap is always there. And I can always use the skills that I’ve learned in improv to mind the gap or fill the gap right or jump over the gap or crawl into the gap or you know, because improv is so adaptive, flexible, it gives me the freedom to trust the moments and that there will always be solutions not just one right divisors everybody no matter the same scene to two different improvisers, we have a totally different scene, right, the same suggestion a different night in a different audience. And you and I could have a totally different scene and then the suggestion we might have had, you know, even three shows ago, so it’s there’s always a gap and with improv, I feel like I’ve learned to trust and lean in to the gap like trust that I can’t get it wrong. Like there’s no such thing as failure there’s only variations and I know that if we do yeah my partner’s got my back or my other my seen my troop, like my team. is going to let not let me fall and I’m not going to let them fall either. So the more that I, I lean into the team and for me I’ve been a solopreneur for a long time. So really allowing myself to be supported in the context of my business not just on stages, but but reaching out I mean, now is a perfect time with everything that’s going on in the world right now. Like a week, we’re in team right? We are. I don’t have toilet paper, maybe I have water and I can collaborate with my neighbors and have our needs handled, you know, like I have a garden in my backyard and I can grow some lettuce so we can all eat for a week we’re going to be fine. You know, like just how do we Yes, and each other in the world and that to me is the practice of minding the gap.

Unknown Speaker  27:40  

Love it. So I think that you can answer that with just Yes. And because I think that the gap any gap can be like crossed or into success with just just and in breaking it down. So what what music or album blew your mind You’re artsy. I love to ask artsy people this like, what album you’re young cuz you and I are basically the same age so yeah, what what is what’s that one that just blew your mind? I mean,

Unknown Speaker  28:12  

I had a soft spot in my heart for you to they’re all you know they were on the edge always like philanthropically oriented world peace oriented, you know, like there’s this bigger thing out there and I just loved something like didn’t and then and then when you get to the bottom you go back to the top right like so I just I would run to that stuff you know, right

Unknown Speaker  28:36  

no I love that I love that YouTube is fantastic mine was Seger you know, his Night Moves album I just, you know, not only just for me in Detroit, but is I just resonates it. Yeah, I hear that and just kind of like, kind of moves me, you know? So, we’re gonna remove your cell phone out of the equation. Okay. What are three things Julie cannot live without

Unknown Speaker  28:58  

water. Meditation. Okay.

Unknown Speaker  29:02  

And honestly,

Unknown Speaker  29:04  

three things I mean waters kind of a given that

Unknown Speaker  29:07  

it’s fair

Unknown Speaker  29:09  

I cannot live without that’s a good quote. I mean if I only get three

Unknown Speaker  29:14  

I think you would be people period because you are just that person you don’t meet strangers I’ve noticed that even from the day you and I became friends, but I mean give me a third one other than people.

Unknown Speaker  29:27  

Well it’s funny because I those were the two that came to mind one was alone time and one was people and I like Oh, if I have to pick one or the other, I mean, I guess I’m always with me so that meditation would be my alone time. But yes, people so like, I love I love human beings and I I love life. I feel like a muse you know, like, I like to turn lights on or, or shine light, you know, like if they’re already lit. You know, I’m like a little butterfly. I’ll fly up and I’m like, ooh, a light, a light. Look at the light.

Unknown Speaker  30:01  

I’m like, oh, that that light seems a little low. What’s up? Do you want some of my light?

Unknown Speaker  30:06  

always bringing people up. I love it, even the light. That’s beautiful. So we’re gonna move into what I call our leveling up lightning round. You and I could talk for 2025 minutes. On each one of these questions was four or five questions, but I’m giving you a five to seven seconds. Okay. And I want you to answer this question with what’s the best in an authoritative tone? What’s the best leveling up advice you’ve ever received?

Unknown Speaker  30:37  

Oh, best leveling advice. I would say go for it. Action. imperfect action is better than no action at all.

Unknown Speaker  30:44  

Love it. And I want a meek person to answer this. share one of your personal habits that contributes to your success.

Unknown Speaker  30:55  

I think it’s important to floss. You Bottom tea.

Unknown Speaker  31:02  

I love it. I love it. And how about an old person and serene other than your website next level improv calm in my website time to shine today calm, recommend to us an internet resource that we can go to level up our life.

Unknown Speaker  31:19  

Well, I’m a big fan of Abraham Hicks

Unknown Speaker  31:26  

all about the law of attraction.

Unknown Speaker  31:33  

Love it. Okay in a child that has just realized Christmas is a big deal. Recommend your favorite book.

Unknown Speaker  31:46  

So I really really really like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas because he realized that he had a heart.

Unknown Speaker  31:56  

Love it. Love it. Now back to just us What’s your favorite charity organization that you support?

Unknown Speaker  32:03  

i?

Unknown Speaker  32:04  

Gosh, I recently did something with the Girls on the Run. And that was Oh, yeah. So I, I made an improv comedy card game. And we did an Indiegogo thing and 10% of all the funds that we raised on that went to Girls on the Run, because I feel like we’re up to the same kinds of things as far as boosting confidence, getting people moving in their bodies and connecting people together.

Unknown Speaker  32:27  

Gotcha. And I think I know the answer this one, but what is your favorite? What’s your, your opinion, the best decade of music? 6070s 80s or 90s?

Unknown Speaker  32:37  

Oh, ouch.

Unknown Speaker  32:42  

I don’t like that question.

Unknown Speaker  32:46  

I would probably

Unknown Speaker  32:49  

maybe 60s. Okay.

Unknown Speaker  32:52  

Gotcha.

Unknown Speaker  32:53  

Perfect. I used to do cover banding in Vegas to some 60s tunes.

Unknown Speaker  32:57  

Oh, really. That was

Unknown Speaker  33:01  

So before we kind of exit and get into how we can find you in the product you have leave us with one Knowledge Nugget that you want our squad to walk away with to know please

Unknown Speaker  33:16  

okay lead with love

Unknown Speaker  33:19  

and you are enough

Unknown Speaker  33:20  

right Julie how how can we find you?

Unknown Speaker  33:23  

I am on Facebook a lot so you can Facebook slash next level improv you can go to next level improv comm you can check me out I’ve got that game at improv against normality calm as well. Also on Facebook at Facebook slash improv against normality. That’s pretty much where I hang out most of the time. Tell us a

Unknown Speaker  33:45  

little bit about that game, please, cuz I had a chance to play a little bit of it. So yeah, tell us a little bit about it.

Unknown Speaker  33:52  

So that game came to me in a meditation a little over a year ago

Unknown Speaker  33:59  

and It’s a way for people to play, make believe to play pretend, right? You basically pick up pick a scene, and then you choose from who, what, where, why cards. So it’s like what are the basics of storytelling. And you can have two people play out a scene you can have 20 people in the scene, you know, depending on the type of the scenario we had one that’s like, at a kindergarten graduation, you know, you had a whole bunch of people could be in that one. Whereas breaking up with someone that was a two person scene, right, and then you just literally take one of those suggestions we could have like fidget spinner, or I’m afraid of the color black or you know, like so you have like these random suggestions similar to what an audience would suggest in a live show. And then you can just play and play in the comfort of your own home you can use them as skill builders, you can use them in a like if you were practicing, making house calls and you know, knocking on doors or talking to clients potential real estate clients, let’s say and you wanted to spice it If you’re like, Alright, let’s pull a character card. How would Yoda offer this home to somebody? Let’s hear that one like how’s this yours? Is it gonna come in? Come in? Yeah, I don’t know. Like you just kind of figure it out. But it’s ways to like break it up. make life a little more fun and interesting. Yeah, so people can use it any way they want

Unknown Speaker  35:19  

in that game is called improv against normality. Yes. Okay. All right, Scott. I’m going to make an offer to you. So the first one that will go to facebook.com slash next level improv I will in post like her page and post on her timeline that you heard this interview on time to shine today podcasts you will be mailed out from myself and Julie of free card game from of improve. I’m sorry, in Providence normality. So it’s my gift and Julie’s gift to the listeners. Is that fair to you, Julie.

Unknown Speaker  35:55  

totally fair. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  35:57  

Awesome. And so squad you’ve heard the fantastic Julie cotton again, she’s like my unofficial improv coach, which I’m going to make her official, probably very soon. You know, she’s somebody that follows her fun that she leaves. She did. She wants you to know that you’re enough. She wants to make you look better than she wants you to make make her look better. And that is the kind of people that we want to vibe with. People that stay humble yet hungry, leveling up their health and leveling up their wealth. And just Julie, you’re part of our squad now. So I really, really, really appreciate you coming on.

Unknown Speaker  36:37  

Thanks for having me. Great to meet you all.

Unknown Speaker  36:40  

Hey, thanks so much for listening to this episode of time to shine today podcast, proudly brought to you by southern New Jersey real estate real estate excellence who can be reached at 561-249-7266 and online at www dot Sutter and Nugent comm if you’re a business owner or professional who would like to be interviewed Time to shine today. Please visit time to shine today.com slash guest. If you liked this episode, please subscribe on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, I Heart Radio or wherever you get your podcast. There’s a link in the show notes to our website. Also there you will see a recommended resources. We hope that you will support our show by supporting them. If you like what you’ve been listening to, it’d be great if you could just give us a five star rating and tell your friends to subscribe while you’re at it. I’m your host, Scott Ferguson. And until next time, let’s level up it’s our time to shine.

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