Past Ventures
Comedy
From the late 1990s into the early 2000s, I did stand-up and improv comedy. It later shaped how I teach: humor as a clinical tool, and improv as a way to practice listening.
On stage
I trained at Stand-Up University and graduated from Chicago City Limits improv training. I performed with two improv groups: Random Acts in Riverhead, and Big Hair Bad Accents.
- Stand-up
- Graduate, Stand-Up University
- Improv
- Graduate, Chicago City Limits improv training
- Troupes
- Random Acts (Riverhead) · Big Hair Bad Accents
The Humor Practice
I co-founded The Humor Practice to teach health professionals the value of humor in medicine, and how to use it appropriately.
Issues Without Tissues
I hosted improv workshops for couples in crisis called Issues Without Tissues. They used the principles of improv to help couples understand the value of listening, being present for one another, trust, and communication.
The sets
She Called Me Lazy!
Nobody Runs in My Family
Now Everybody Runs in My Family!
Comedy sequence 2
Talking Scale
The “Old” Doc Russ, The Betterness Coach: “Shooting for Chubby”
No Fat Diet
Banana Guy in the Freezer
I was a 400 pound “Sleep Eater” and Stand-up Comic. Now I am a 200 pound Weight Loss Coach