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About This Podcast
Real news, improvised comedy.
Improviser and voice actor Alec Shea (@alecsheaimprov) and a guest host read and discuss interesting, weird, and completely true news stories from around the world, then improvise comedic scenes inspired by the story, the people involved, and the discussion that follows. They also discuss improv techniques and comedy styles.
Weekly episodes Alec, and very cool, funny, awesome special guests!
(Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee the news stories will be accurately depicted during the improv. In fact... they may be depicted somewhat inaccurately... Hmm... Actually its probably best to assume the improv doesn't represent these real world news stories at all...)
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Recent Episodes
S1E26 "Sorry Toad, A Bit of Friendly Fire" Summer Games Fest Special
In this episode, Alec and guest host Lara discuss the summer games fest, new game announcements, and video games in general.Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov and @laraschmidtvaLara Schmidt is a…
S1E25 "Philology, The Study Of A Guy Named Phil" French Academics, Philology, and Viral Advice
In this episode, Alec and guest host Nikhil discuss a French academic who gave himself an award, philology, and advice that spreads like a virus that goes viral. Adviral advirus. Follow them at…
S1E24 "Dear Sir, Would You Kindly Send Me Pictures Of Your Feet" Feet Pics, Self-Destructive Uteruses, and the Downfall of the Irish Economy
In this episode, Alec and Corinna discuss feet pics, self-destructive uteruses, and the downfall of the Irish economy, after reading a news story about a French teen who was criminally charged after…
S1E23 "Van Halen, Is He Dutch?" Planes, Socks, and Sombreros
In this episode, Alec and Ryan discuss Van Halen, taking your socks off on an airplane, and the fake news of the world's oldest tortoise dying as part of a crypto scam.Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov…
S1E22 "Your Bodily Fluids Add To The Thrill" Temecula, Pools, and Hot Air
In this episode, Alec and guest host Joe Bill discuss an emergency hot air balloon landing in a Temecula backyard.Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov and @joebillimprovJoe Bill is an OG Chicago improv…
S1E21 "A Fridge Full Of Sand" Modern Art, Pigeons and Human Meat Restaurants
In this episode, Alec and guest host Lara discuss the sausage art exhibition in the Belgian city of Bruges’s Biekorf centre, that was eaten by its visitors. They also discuss Amazing Digital Circus,…
S1E20 "Don't Break The Spaghetti" Criminals, Black Lung, and Furbies
In this episode, Alec and guest host Lara discuss the pasta-lego heist where lego was purchased, replaced with dry pasta, and returned. We also discuss children, make some specifically millennial…
S1E19 "OnlyMoons" Financial Strategies, Internet Names, and Actual Eyelids
In this episode, Alec and guest host Nikhil discuss the OnlyFarms agricultural strategy from the American government, internet naming sense, and the man in the moon.Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov…
S1E18 "This Is Hans Fortune Telling" Pickle Cake, Crohn's Disease, Speeding
In this episode, Alec and guest host Nikhil discuss a woman who attended a virtual court hearing while driving a car and German fortune telling. Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov and @ryan_stands_up…
S1E17 "Everything is Computer!" Milk, Food Plates, and AI Slop
In this episode, Alec and Ryan discuss the thing all podcasts featuring two white guys discuss all the time forever, generative AI! It was awful. Also there's a scene about a guy with a third…
S1E16 "Rat Vogue Does Sketchy Things" Chicken Fight, Wolf Kids, Poop Pocket
In this episode, Alec and Ryan discuss a fight between an old man and a chicken, a woman in Florida who refused to leave her hospital bed after being discharged, and a rat vogue photoshoot of a rat…
S1E15 "Umami Means Deliciousness" Doggie Strollers, Fillet Mignon, and Santa
In this episode, Alec and Ryan discuss doggie strollers, fillet mignon, the difficulties of doing stuff for other people, and the true meaning of umami.Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov and…
S1E14 "Glub Glub, He Whispered" Reindeer Race, Butt Burn, Moment Of Silence
In this episode, Alec and Ryan discuss Finnish reindeer racing, moments of silence, and Michelin Star restaurants. Glub glub, he whispered. Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov and @ryan_stands_up…
S1E13 "Erection Tax" Mexican Finger-Offs, Vegas, and Tax Evasion
In this episode, Alec, Ryan, and Ajay discuss a rescued toucan that was living in Vegas, Mexican Finger-Offs, and Tax Evasion.Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov and…
S1E12 "Flightless Birds and Inbred Cats" Kakapo, Mewgenics and Cute Choking
In this episode, Alec, Ryan, and Pax discuss the Kakapo, Mewgenics, Ryan's lack of knowledge of pop culture, and cute choking.Follow them at @AlecSheaImprov and…
S1E11 "Slalom Witch Curler" - New Emojis, The Sport of Curling, and the Salem Witch Trials
In this episode, Alec and Ryan discuss the planned release of new emojis, curling, and the Salem Witch Trials. Trust me, we're just as surprised by this combination of topics as you are.Follow them…
S1E10 "The Lizard in a Blizzard Who's a Wizard and Only Rhymes" - An Interesting Alert and an Explicit End to the Comedy Section
In this episode, Alec and Ryan discuss the lizard in a blizzard, share some "interesting alerts" and start explicitly stating when the "comedy section" of the show is over.Follow them at…
S1E9 "If They're My Cows, They Eat From My Mouth" Cyber-Farting and Cows ft. Pax
In this episode, Alec and Ryan once again invite improviser, comedian, PHD physicist and non-male presenting a-gender friend, Pax, to discuss cyber-farting in Britain, and whether animals not being…
S1E8 "Hi, Mrs. Charnoky!" Animals Eating Popsicles and Poop Jokes ft. Pax
In this episode, Alec and Ryan invite improviser, comedian, PHD physicist and friend, Pax, to discuss animals licking popsicles in Brazil, poop jokes, speaking a second language, and to bond over a…
S1E7 "Can You Hold That Camel Still?" Finding Dave Gorman ft. Adam Bloom
In part one of this episode, Alec and Ryan invite comedian Adam Bloom to chat about stand-up, improv, and comedy. He tells us some great stories from his life and time as a stand-up, including some…
Frequently Asked Questions
Heightening Headlines: Improvising The News has published 27 episodes since December 2025, covering topics in Comedy, Improv.
Heightening Headlines: Improvising The News is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 33m.
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