Open to Suggestion

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James Mastraieni and Mike McLendon

English Comedy Comedy Interviews Improv

Apple Podcasts Website RSS

Episodes 12

Avg. Duration 53m

Activity Moderate

Apple Rating ★ 5.0 (3)

Since Oct 2025

Latest Episode Feb 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule

Every 2 Weeks

Format

Episodic

Consistency

41%

Hosting

feeds.megaphone.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

What if one idea was all you needed to create something? Every week, we open the show by suggesting a new source of inspiration. Maybe it’s a word, a story, an interview, or something pulled from the strangest corners of the internet. From there, James Mastraieni, Mike McLendon, and a rotating cast of comedians take that spark and turn it into something completely improvised. No scripts. No plan. Just the joyful chaos of long-form improv. Plus, Backdrop.fm subscribers get even more: James and Mike aren’t just performers—they’re longtime improv teachers with distinct styles. Beyond the laughs, they’ll share exercises, games, and shop talk, sometimes pulling guest performers into the mix. It’s part show, part workshop, part resource: a peek into how improv works, and why it works.

Explore Statistics

English Podcasts Report Comedy Report Comedy Interviews Report Improv Report English Comedy Report

Recent Episodes

Legal Advice with Quinn Boyes and Derrick Hackett

Feb 23, 2026 53m

Quinn Boyes and Derrick Hackett (of UCB’s Power of Attorney) join James and Mike to explore the world of Reddit’s Legal Advice. Using real posts as inspiration, they turn neighbor disputes,…

Anthony Bourdain with Drew DiFonzo Marks and Toni Charline

Jan 19, 2026 42m

Drew DeFonzo Marks and Toni Charlene join James and Mike for an episode inspired by the words and worldview of Anthony Bourdain. Pulling from his quotes on food, travel, and culture, the group turns…

Bartenders with Hannah Kanengieter and Colin McGurk

Jan 05, 2026 1h 7m

Hannah Kanengieter and Colin McGurk join James and Mike for an episode inspired by Bartenders of Reddit—specifically, overheard conversations and late-night bar stories that feel too strange to be…

Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas with Lyndsey Frank and Ruha Taslimi

Dec 22, 2025 1h 2m

Ruha Taslimi and Lyndsey Frank join James and Mike for a holiday-themed episode inspired by the whimsical and often earnest world of Sufjan Stevens’ five-volume Christmas box set. From there, the…

Wisconsin with Matt Newell and Dave Theune

Dec 15, 2025 1h

Matt Newell and Dave Toy join James and Mike for an episode inspired by a children’s book of Wisconsin facts and symbols. After the scenes, they break down what worked, what didn’t, and how grounding…

Interview Etiquette with Suzi Barett and Ryan Rosemberg

Dec 08, 2025 49m

Susie Barrett and Ryan Rosenberg (Yes, Also) join James and Mike to try and pull inspiration from a list of celebrity interview tips—the kind of advice that’s equal parts earnest, confusing, and…

Monologues with Drew DiFonzo Marks and Rachel Van Nes

Nov 24, 2025 58m

Drew DiFonzo Marks and Rachel Van Nes join James and Mike for an episode inspired by monologues from none other than Will Hines. Summer jobs, strange bosses, and even stranger side hustles open the…

Pattern Game with Andrew Grace and Molly Kiernan

Nov 17, 2025 35m

Molly Kiernan and Andrew Grace (of UCB’s Logan) join James and Mike for a deep dive into one of improv’s most iconic—and intimidating—openings: The Pattern Game. Together, they explore how a single…

YouTube with Greg Gallant and Monte Montepare

Nov 10, 2025 54m

Greg Gallant (Firsthand, Haunted Hotel, Queen George) and Monte Montepare (The Moth, Ghost) join James and Mike to pull inspiration from the world’s favorite distraction: YouTube. Plus, Backdrop.fm…

Am I The A**hole with Nnamdi Ngwe and Monika Smith

Nov 03, 2025 48m

Monika Smith and Nnamdi Ngwe join James and Mike for an episode inspired by Reddit’s "Am I the Asshole," where moral dilemmas and petty internet debates spark a whole world of improv. After the…

Real Estate with Toni Charline and Ryan Meharry

Oct 27, 2025 51m

Toni Charlene and Ryan Meharry (of Bangarang) join James and Mike to see if they can turn the driest text on the internet—real estate listings—into improv comedy. After the scenes, they break down…