Ali Farahnakian on Improvising as a Way of Life and the Source of Happiness

This week's episode features Ali Farahnakian.

Ali is an American actor, writer, and improvisational comedian. He is the founder of The Peoples Improv Theater in NYC. Ali studied improv in the 1990s at the ImprovOlympic and was a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade. He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award Nomination. Ali’s television credits include “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” “Special Victims Unit,” “All My Children,” “Third Watch,” “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” “30 Rock,” and numerous national commercials. He is an alum of SNL, The iO Theater, and Second City.

During this episode we discuss…

• Ali’s improv origin story
• His original career pursuit
• The feeling he had during his first improv class in Chicago
• The star studded fellow improvisers he performed with
• Improv isn’t public speaking
• How improvising impacted his life
• Yes, and no thank you
• Where saying “yes, and” has led him in life
• Ballet dancers in NYC
• How he keeps strengthening his improv muscle
• “What would you do if money didn’t matter?”
• Improvising with intention — having goals
• The most surprising thing improv has brought into his life
• Craft, community, career
• Happiness, gratitude
• A magic trick in the English language
• Improv, sports, walking as forms of meditation

From Ali, when asked how improv has improved his life offstage, “Improv has been a part of my life for over 33 years. It’s my way of life.”

Connect with Ali on Instagram @alialinyc and check out The People's Improv Theater in NYC.

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