No Suggestion: An Improv Comedy Talk Show

Our first return guest! No Xavier this week, but for the first time on No Suggestion, we welcome back fan favorite, actor, comedy writer, and improv comedian, Rich Templeton (@richhunttemp)! This is actually an earnest, thoughtful, and vulnerable conversation that winds in an out of topics like the freeing power of performing, dealing with the parts of life that your don't understand gracefully, t...

Just in time for Christmas, one of my favorite comedians in NYC, Will Purpura (@willpurpura) is here! Xavier and I were so excited to have him on. We have such a fun little chat and we talk about about Will being a stand-up AND an improvisor, I describe the war I want to start between the two factions, Will and Xavier explain why they were both late for the podcast, we talk about Will's unsuccessf...

I'm going to let you know right now, don't listen to this episode on an empty stomach. There's a lot of sumptuous, mouthwatering talk about food. This week our guest was the great comedian, actor, and teacher Jay Rhoderick, who is a member of my favorite improv team of all-time, Centralia. As a matter of fact, this this show named no suggestion as an homage to Centralia who famously don't take sug...

This week Xavier and I welcome actor, model, marathon runner, and comedian Aaron Max Weininger (@aaronweininger)! I recently became friends with Aaron and was so taken by his vulnerability, candor, and quirky charm I had to have him on the show. We chatted on this episode about Cocaine Bear's potential for wholesomeness, how often people don't remember Aaron and how he's convinced people will forg...

This is easily our most inspiring episode, and that's saying a lot. Joining Xavier and I in the Radio Free Brooklyn Studio's is From Justin to Kelley, AKA Countdown Theater's Justin Peters and Kelley Buttermore (@jtkimprov). They are veteran NYC improvisors who perform mostly out of town. They've cultivated a deliberate, highly collaborative approach to improv they call "improv without ideas" that...

Was so grateful to have the poised and adventurous comedian, improviser, and podcast host Raquel Powell (@rockiixbalboa) on No Suggestion this week! Xavier and I got to chat with Rocky about her theory of cliques and channels and why Ralf is a ghost in the shadows, 3rd of July celebrations, growing up near in a Connecticut beach town, considering becoming a psychedelic therapist, and more! And we...

It was such a gift to Xavier and I this week to get to hang with improv comedian, and triple Scorpio, Maria Schroeder (@schroedernotstirred) at the Radio Free Brooklyn Studios! Maria gives us the scoop on the happiest place on earth: Marie's Crisis, she teaches us about nuanced the contention between straight theater and musical theater, we talk about never feeling like you're good enough, and we...

Xavier and I were so honored to welcome the articulate, thoughtful, and hilarious improv comedian, improv teacher, and talk -show host, Jake Joseph (@f00lish_b0y)! We chat about the bohemia of Baltimore despite the Wire being completely accurate, how bad luck leads to happiness, moving around a lot as a kid, deciding to leave Baltimore for NYC, living through change, living with alexatxymia, how J...

This week the great and powerful improv comedian and producer, Sydney Duncan (@sydneyduncanonem), joins Xavier and I in the studio! We chat about the actual format of the show which I've never revealed before, we discuss Sydney’s buzz in the improv scene, Sydney’s upbringing in Dallas doing theater and ballet, we appreciate Sandra Bullock, Vince Vaughn and Angela Bassett, Sydney talks growing into...

No Suggestion took the week off last week, but we're back! Xavier and I had a blast with the bright, enthusiastic ball of light that is Hannah Marias (@hannah_marias). I know Hannah from being the former producer and manager for my improv team, North Coast. Hannah loves to remain active and involved supporting the theater and comedy scenes, but I only recently discovered what gifted improvisor she...

Xavier and I had a big party with good-time gal, comedian Heather Harrison, (@heatherhahs) this week! We chat about Petey Pablo vs Eminem, the debauchery of Myrtle Beach Spring Break, comedy as a life-mission, having a partner who is comedian-adjacent, Heather's epic entrance into the NYC comedy scene, and more. And we get lots of fun, freaky improv scenes in about clubbing, and baby-doctors, and...

Another banner episode as Xavier and I welcome two guests for the first time, Jamie Graham and Amy Larimer, AKA, The Raving Jaynes (@ravingjaynes)! These two ladies are dancers, actors, clowns, and are one of the best improv duos in the city, bar none. We really have a deep, kind, thoughtful, silly chat about not hiding in improv, being a lone wolf versus a pack animal, we meditate on the nature o...

*Note: there's about 30 seconds of silence right at the top of the episode, don't be alarmed.* Xavier (@xavieroloi) and I had such an uplifting and hilarious conversation with statuesque comedian, actor, and content creator, Brad Stuart (@truetravelswithbrad). We chatted about Brad and I's harrowing trips to the studio to do the show, Brad's new life as a dancing person, about how he was able to o...

Xavier (@xavieroloi) and I had a lovely time with the fascinating and wide-eyed James Koroni (@JamesKoroni). We talk about his background as a dancer, wanting to get your ear-pierced and worrying if mom will get mad, loving Steve Urkel and Kimmie Gibbler, we wonder about the inner life of rich people, and we talk about the difficulties of going back to school. It's a lovely chat and we have a lot...

This is a heavy and absurd episode of No Suggestion. This week me and Xavier (@xavieroloi) talk to stand-up comic, improviser, and actor, Meghan O'Malley (@megsomalls). We talk about difference between Sally O’Malley and Mary Catherine Gallagher, apologizing for being from Long Island, being positive when it’s really really hard to be positive, hammock lurkers, the dream of moving to the big city,...

A banter-y and heartfelt one-on-one with a true improv lifer, Chicago's own Geoff Grimwood (@grimwoooo)! We talked about his harrowing run in with a mincing pick-pocket on the trains, wondered if NYC could revert back to its 80's and 90's self, Geoff gives an informative mini-lecture on vamping, and he told us about his fascinating journey through an improv life. We get in some special and absurd...

This week Xavier (@xavieroloi) and I talk to NYC improv's resident madman, the prolific and beloved Matt Vita (@bigdawgny1). We chat with Matt about his roadtrip listening habits, his prolificacy as a producer of comedy shows, how he lost 40 pounds, his legendary kegger, and we desperately try to remember the name of an actor with a podcast. We did like seven improv scenes in this episode because...

This week Xavier (@xavieroloi) and I had a delightful time hanging with comedian, writer, and host of The Bitch Seat podcast, Lyssa Mandel (@flockofsanwiches). Lyssa is such a vivacious, percolating mind, and warm spirit, so we touch on so many fun topics like Zabar's being mecca, the age old debate of Roundhouse versus All That for children's sketch show supremacy, Time Square being the possible...

*Note: There's about 20 seconds of silence at the top of the episode. Don't be afraid.* No Suggestion has made it to its tenth episode! This week we had a great time hanging with my dear old friend, and one of NYC's most unique comedy minds, the great Shawn Wickens. We chat about a few things like how people find music, the criteria of what makes a sandwich, but the heart of this episode is Shawn...

On this episode of Xavier Pearson and I have too much fun hanging out with the unique and brilliant improvisor, Pedro Lee. We talk about some of our adventures with homelessness, seals on Wall Street, disappointing Spanish grandmothers, we list different films with big black men and white saviors, and, for the first time on this pod, we get in some good hip-hop talk! And throughout it all we get i...

This week Xavier and I welcome one of my favorite improvisers in NYC, the formidable and sharp Elke Reid. We talk about how underrated Rosie Perez is, being a latch key kid, being ghosted by people who promised they wouldn't ghost us, about the time Elke was an extra on SNL, and much more. We get to a lot of really funny and lively improv scenes in this episode, and we laughed a lot making it. Ple...

This week's show I go one on one, mano y mano with my girlfriend, stand-up comedian and improvisor Anya Jones (anyaj0nes), and things get too real! Anya and I chat about our relationship, a love triangle she was once the dirty bottom corner of, hating improv, zen exercises, and grad school. This episode is chock-full of intrinsic sexual tension and many absurd improv scenes. It's gripping radio! H...

Me and co-host Xavier (@xavieroloi) had so much fun with this weeks guest, Dean Rule (@deanrulesinsta)! We chat about not wanting to go to sleep, the conspiracy theory realm of Youtube, how Adam Sandler movies have aged, and the late, great Norm MacDonald. It's a great chat, and we get a bunch of really rad improv scenes in. Check us out!

Co-host Xavier Pearson and I had a great time with long-time People's Improv Theater house-team member, Brian Jauch! We discover he might have the record for being on the most teams of any player at the theater ever! We chat about old-school cartoons, dating in the comedy scene, the Dungeons & Dragons boom, and we figure out who amongst us is best at math. And we jam a bunch of really fun improv s...

Veteran NYC improviser, stand-up comedian, actor, and teacher Chris Griggs joins Ralf and co-host Xavier in the Radio Free Brooklyn studio! We chat about karma, internet feuds, ego, his long-running improv team, The Baldwins, and his home-town of Memphis. Griggs is wise and rascally and we have a hoot chatting and getting into some improv scenes. Check us out!