#1 Introduction & orientation
Issue #1 Introduction & orientation
16th March 2022
Hello. This is Chris Mead.
If you're reading this then you'll fall broadly into one of two camps:
You recently saw that I was leaving Facebook and signed up to this newsletter to keep in touch with me.
You were a subscriber to my previous newsletter, haven't heard from me since before the pandemic and are now only vaguely aware of who I am.
If you're in the second group then please allow me a moment to reintroduce myself.
I'm an improviser, writer and podcaster based in the UK. I live in the Surrey Hills with my wife, Laura and our newly-acquired cavapoo puppy, Radio.
This newsletter will now come out every Wednesday and contain the following sections.
Rule of three Three recommendations from me to you. Books, movies, TV shows, podcasts, computer games, articles, services, projects from my friends. That sort of thing. These will be genuine recommendations and not paid for advertorials. I am in no way an influencer.
Spotlight Highlighting something I'm proud of creating. Normally a class, a show or a podcast. I may ask you to book a place or buy a ticket (but you don't have to listen to me).
Longform thoughts Something I've written - probably about improv, my life or popular culture. I'll include a paragraph in the newsletter and also a link to the full piece on my Notion. I've plans to eventually start writing the eponymous Improv Fables here but that'll have to wait until I have more brain space.
Radio Days A weekly picture of my puppy pal, Radio H. Mead (because he is 1000% cuter than me).
ALSO, I won't normally write an introduction that's this long. This is a one-off orientation.
Hope that makes sense? Feel free to unsubscribe if you don't think this content will enhance your life.
Let's get at it.
Rule of three
[Newsletter] 3W3M
Love this "concept universe" from Jonathan Hickman & friends. I adore watching in real time as they create new systems for religion, economics and magic - opening up the normally hidden collaborative process between writers and artists.
[Music] Lawrence
No song has enhanced my life more in the past year than Lawrence's Don't Lose Sight. The link is to the epic live track but the album version on their latest, Hotel TV, is great too.
[Deep thoughts] The Holistic Mystic
This 2 minute video on Tiktok about the difference between confidence, arrogance, humilIty and self-doubt has totally changed how I perceive myself. PLUS - great use of post-it notes.
Spotlight
I'm teaching a new Improvised Doctor Who course starting at the end of the month. I've been running these all through lockdown and this version represents my ultimate take on the subject matter. It's taught online over 6 weeks and ends with a chance to perform a show together. I've spent a long time on the syllabus and there'll be tonnes of new exercises, creative use of the online space and general Whovian geeking out.
Longform thoughts
As I've progressed through life, I've become more and more drawn to the path of the fellow traveller. Someone who says "this looks exciting, let's explore it together". I think the discoveries you find when you adopt that attitude are revelatory. There's safety in teaching something the same way - over and over again - reaching for the same stories and examples, polishing them until they shine but, for me, the real work is walking into the unknown.
Read more of Leaders & fellow travellers here.
Radio days
Good boy, Radio!