SPONTANEANATION with Paul F. Tompkins

January 8, 2018

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes friends both far and near to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is Kristian Bruun of Orphan Black! Kristian chats about what movie universe would he most want to live in, thinking a practical joke was being played on him while watching the original Twin Peaks, and whether he will turn his back on Canada to become an American citizen. Then, they are joined by improvisers Matt Gourley, Chris Grace, and Tawny Newsome, to improvise a story set in A Corn Maze. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by HBO’s Crashing.

January 1, 2018

Paul F. Tompkins wishes all a Happy New Year on Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is stand-up comedian Joel Kim Booster! Joel chats about losing his virginity to a French man, the four bases of dating, and believing he was going to be a youth pastor. Then, they are joined by improvisers Matt Gourley, Colleen Smith, and Rebecca Delgado Smith, to improvise a story set at Church Camp. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Leesa (www.leesa.com/PFT).

December 25, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins wishes listeners a very Merry Christmas on Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guests are The WorkJuice Players aka Craig Cackowski, Mark Gagliardi, Marc Evan Jackson, Hal Lublin, Annie Savage, and Little Janet Varney. Everyone then shares which exotic pet they would choose between a Macaw, Tortoise, Boa, and Alpaca. Then, they all improvise a story set in an Airport. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Leesa.com (www.leesa.com/PFT).

San Francisco: Spontaneanation will be LIVE at the Marines Memorial Theatre on Friday, January 12th at 10pm as part of San Francisco SketchFest! For tickets go to www.paulftompkins.com/live

December 18, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes sweater weather loving listeners back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest/author/humorist is John Hodgman! John chats about whether he knows his neighbors or if he tries to avoid them, humor stories set in Maine “Bert & I”, and his new book Vacationland. Then, they are joined by improvisers Ego Nwodim and Jaime Moyer, to improvise a story set in Perry’s Nut House in Belfast, Maine. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

San Francisco: Spontaneanation will be LIVE at the Marines Memorial Theatre on Friday, January 12th at 10pm as part of San Francisco SketchFest! For tickets go to www.paulftompkins.com/live

December 11, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes time traveling listeners back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is comedian and fellow Earwolf podcaster Negin Farsad of Fake the Nation! Negin chats about whether she’s ever had a religious experience, a moment in which she was hysterically laughing with friends in Paris, and having car blindness. Then, they are joined by improvisers Mark McConville, Nancy Hayden, and Donna Brookbanks, to improvise a story set in A Dance Club In Reykjavik. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

San Francisco: Spontaneanation will be LIVE at the Marines Memorial Theatre on Friday, January 12th at 10pm as part of San Francisco SketchFest! For tickets go to www.paulftompkins.com/live

This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon, Second City Training Center, Improv Nation by Sam Wasson, and Leesa.com.

December 4, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes all back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guests are Beth Newell and Sarah Pappalardo, editors and co-founders of Reductress! Beth and Sarah chat about whether or not they’ve ever stolen anything, being propositioned by an older man while bagging groceries as a teenager, and the one time babysitting for a mother who got accusatory when she asked how they knew her child was constipated. Then, they are joined by improvisers Ryan Gaul, Amanda Lund, and Jordan Black, to improvise a story set in The Belly of a Whale. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

San Francisco: Spontaneanation will be LIVE at the Marines Memorial Theatre on Friday, January 12th at 10pm as part of San Francisco SketchFest! For tickets go to www.paulftompkins.com/live

November 27, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins uses the sound of his voice to welcome listeners back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is Matt Besser of improv4humans! Matt chats about what his favorite ancient civilization is and why, the thrill of looking for shards in Santa Fe as a child, and the abandoned theme park Dogpatch USA. Then, they are joined by improvisers Craig Cackowski, Little Janet Varney, and Maya Deshmukh, to improvise a story set in a Family Owned Bike Shop. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

San Francisco: Spontaneanation will be LIVE at the Marines Memorial Theatre on Friday, January 12th at 10pm as part of San Francisco SketchFest! For tickets go to www.paulftompkins.com/live

November 20, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes ladies, gentlemen, and everything in between back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guests are fellow Earwolf hosts Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino of Off Book! Jessica and Zach chat about what flaw in their character has been most beneficial to their life, meeting as part of a freestyle rap improv group, and Jess performing a concert version of Cats the Musical at midnight at The Rock at Northwestern University. Jessica, Zach, and Paul then improvise a story set in A Night Club In Chicago. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Leesa.com (www.leesa.com/PFT).

November 13, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins takes a pause to listen to the music before welcoming listeners back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is musician and composer Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder and The West Wing Weekly podcasts! Hrishikesh chats about who was his favorite author as a teen and why, recently letting go of all his childhood possessions, and what were his Lego masterpieces as a kid. Then, they are joined by improvisers Shaun Diston, Carl Tart, and Ego Nwodim, to improvise a story set in A Haunted Hotel. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: PFT) and Second City Training Center (www.secondcity.com/TC).

November 6, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes listeners from around the world back to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest Oscar Nunez of The Office and People of Earth! Oscar chats about the best gift he received from his mom, falling off a bike while training for a triathlon, and his parents telling him all about the movies they would go out to see. Then, they are joined by improvisers Shulie Cowen and Matt Gourley, to improvise a story set at a Hardware Store. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Indochino (www.indochino.com code: PFT).

October 30, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes listeners to a spoOoky edition of Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest return guest and first 4-time guest is Busy Philipps of HBO’s Vice Principals! Busy chats about the one kind of cuisine she would eat her entire life, her daughter Birdie’s admiration of cruises, and being overshadowed at her 10 year high school reunion by her high school rival. Then, they are joined by improvisers Ryan Gaul, Tawny Newsome, and Sarah Burns, to improvise a story set at a High School Reunion. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Leesa.com (www.leesa.com/PFT).

 

October 23, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins arrives a bit late but just on time to welcome everyone to Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is Ana Ortiz of Devious Maids! They chat about at what moment did Ana feel the most adult, hookers breaking into her apartment in Philadelphia, and her experiences being thrown out of bars. Then, they are joined by improvisers Carla Cackowski, Eugene Cordero, and Ryan Gaul, to improvise a story set at South Street Philadelphia. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

October 16, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins says hi, hello, and what’s up to listeners on this week’s Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special guest is Jensen Karp of Get Up On This and Drop the Mic! They chat about whether Jensen has ever gotten lost, the strange item he saved up for when he was 15 years old, and getting high to impress rappers. Then, they are joined by improvisers Carl Tart, Colleen Smith, and Mano Agapion, to improvise a story set at A Cast Reunion for the film The Net. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Second City Training Center (www.secondcity.com/TC) and Leesa.com (www.leesa.com/PFT).

October 9, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes music lovers to this week’s Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is Mary Holland of Wild Horses and Blunt Talk! They chat about what Mary believes is her finest and worst qualities, the moment she realized she should probably start doubting herself, and being a real cuddle bug. Then, they are joined by improvisers Colleen Smith, Mano Agapion, and Carl Tart, to improvise a story set at a Water Cooler Area At An Office. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Indochino (www.indochino.com code: PFT).

October 2, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes ladies, gentleman, and cats walking across any keyboards to this week’s Spontaneanation! This time out, Paul’s special return guest is singer-songwriter Aimee Mann! They chat about how many times Aimee googled herself this week, baby bangs, and phone etiquette at restaurants. Then, they are joined by improvisers Jordan Black, Hal Lublin, and Gary Anthony Williams, to improvise a story set at Splash Mountain at Disneyland. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by Leesa.com (www.leesa.com/PFT).