Marc Kaye calls himself a “restless creative”—a musician, writer, and comedian who loves to tell stories and make people laugh. He also, through his company, VitalConex, uses those skills to help develop the vital connections needed for focused, united teams and creative problem solving. Marc tells me how—and why—he took the leap into stand-up, how his comedy and his writing skills have influenced each other, and how he takes both of those, and his business partner’s therapy background, and creates programs to help teams create a sense of psychological safety that lets them do difficult work from a place of greater unity.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Childhood creativity shapes lifelong passion for creation.
05:37 Piano, writing, science, marketing, stand-up comedy.
07:49 Email to Gary Goldman about Last Comic Standing.
11:48 Got hooked on comedy, performed sporadically. Kids grew.
15:32 Song critique circle provides valuable but diverse feedback.
18:26 Improving character portrayal in writing and comedy.
21:41 An exercise in making unexpected connections.
23:45 Comedy, improv, and creativity in storytelling.
27:23 Adults miss suspending belief in harmless ways.
31:03 Comedy clubs are a past entertainment trend.
34:24 Challenges with DEI initiatives and team building.
36:42 Avoiding the “consultant” label
40:33 Using humor to build real interpersonal connections.
43:12 Identifying strengths and weaknesses through team activity.
46:24 Human experience involves shared emotions and perspectives.
52:26 Humor is crucial in navigating change.
54:38 Finding humor in life is a superpower.
Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.
Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us about a time when humor made something easier for you. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.
Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing and theatre.
Conservatory vs. College with D'Anna Fortunato
Aiming for Excellence with Dr. William Payn
Chasing Curiosity with Vicky Cook
Singing a Different Tune with Amber Petty
Making Mischief with David Spencer
Being "Good Enough" with Lela Rohrer Stech
Going Home Again with Adam Dietz
Transcending Creative Boundaries with Nina Hart
The Soul of Creativity with Dawn Kotzer
Modeling Disease Outbreaks with Robert Smith?
Coaching Call: Maggie B.
Valuing Every Attempt with André Jackson
My Own Creative Journey with Nancy Norbeck
Art's What's Gonna Save Us with Domenic Sciortino
Coaching Call: Jamie W.
Reclaiming Our Time with Maria James-Thiaw
Coaching Call: Emily T.
The Gifts of Creativity with Kelly Flanagan
Asking Ourselves "Why Not?" with Robert Shearman
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