How to Handle Anything

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In this very special episode of How to Handle Anything, we’re turning the tables! My friend, fellow improviser, and previous podcast guest Aniela McGuinness steps into the host seat to interview me about my own story and how practicing improv changed my life.From starting a business as a teenager and becoming an overwhelmed, overthinking entrepreneur to discovering improv and learning to navigate uncertainty with more ease, we explore how I went from trying to control everything to better trusting myself to handle whatever comes my way. Along the way, I share stories of living with unpredictable fainting episodes, the surprising ways that have helped me navigate them, and how these experiences ultimately inspired my work and forthcoming book, How to Handle Anything. Along the way, we share plenty of laughs, embarrassing stories, and a little improvising of our own!We discuss…* How growing up as a creative, sensitive kid and becoming a teenage entrepreneur shaped my relationship with control and uncertainty* The moment I realized I couldn’t keep trying to do everything myself, and how that eventually led me to signing up for an improv class* Why practicing improv helped me get out of my head, stop overthinking, and start trusting myself to handle the unexpected* What it’s like living with unpredictable fainting episodes, including some scary, embarrassing, and surprisingly funny moments* How practicing improv helped me respond differently to situations that once triggered fear and anxiety* Why we don’t need to control everything or have all the answers to develop confidence and resilience* How I’m reconnecting with my childhood creativity, embracing uncertainty, and learning to focus on what matters mostA bit about Aniela…Aniela McGuinness is an actress, improviser, and two-time cancer survivor with 19+ years of Chicago-trained improv experience. She’s appeared in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, led indie films, and spent years teaching improv, including with Improve, and to people impacted by cancer at Gilda’s Club South Florida. Somewhere along the way, she discovered that “Yes, and” is surprisingly useful when life hands you a very firm “No, absolutely not.”A bit about Mary…Mary Lemmer is an entrepreneur, author, TED speaker, and founder of Improve, where she empowers people and companies to bring new ideas to life and navigate uncertainty and change. Her book, How to Handle Anything: Four Improv Principles for Navigating Life’s Curveballs, is published by Bloomsbury on November 12, 2026.If you enjoyed this episode or found something inspiring or useful in it, share it with others so they can enjoy it too!This conversation is part of How to Handle Anything, my ongoing interview series with people about how they’ve handled uncertainty, change, and unexpected moments with more ease, flexibility, and humor. It’s also the name of my forthcoming book, How to Handle Anything, published by Bloomsbury and available for pre-order now.Each month I share Bonus Elixirs, audio guidance to incorporate the principles brought up in the podcast and the book into your life. To receive this and all bonus content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.When you pre-order How to Handle Anything, you get 100 days of a complimentary paid subscription to Life, Improvised. More about that and how to redeem in Complimentary Paid Subscriptions When You Pre-Order My Book! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lifeimprovised.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of How to Handle Anything, Brian and I talk injury, uncertainty, and what happens when life forces us into a scene we really don’t want to be in. Brian shares how an Achilles surgery that was supposed to have him on crutches for six weeks turned into five months of recovery, and how, even after more than three decades of practicing improv, it took time for him to stop fighting the situation and accept the scene he was actually in. From there, we explore how the skills Brian has developed as an improviser have helped him navigate uncertainty, make choices when there is no clear answer, manage anxiety, communicate more effectively, and find more room for joy along the way.We discuss…- How playing the scene you're in can help us accept circumstances we can’t immediately change- Why making a choice, even when you don’t know if it’s the “right” one, can help you move through uncertainty instead of getting stuck- How practicing improvisational principles and mindsets can help us become more comfortable with ambiguity, failure, and not knowing what comes next- Using emotional choices to shift how we respond when we’re feeling anxious, uncomfortable, or overwhelmed- Why giving ourselves a little grace, and lowering the stakes, can make it easier to try, fail, learn, and try again- How listening, expression, and a yes, and mindset can help us communicate and connect more effectively- Why playing isn’t just for kids, and how making space for it as adults can give us a much-needed break from the demands of everyday lifeA bit about Brian…Brian Palermo is an engaging actor and comedian with an impressive resume of performances in television, film, and top comedy venues. Brian grew up in New Orleans before spending 30 years in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry.He is perhaps best known for his longtime association with The Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles, where he has performed, directed, and taught for more than 25 years. Brian has guest-starred on a delightfully ridiculous range of Hollywood projects, including Friends, Modern Family, and all the way back to an episode of Baywatch.Today, Brian teaches internationally, facilitating workshops around communication skills for the science community as well as improv.If you enjoyed this episode, or found something inspiring or useful in it, share it with others, so they can enjoy it too! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lifeimprovised.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit lifeimprovised.substack.comWith less than two months til publication day of How to Handle Anything, and coming off the heels of sharing the conversation with content strategist and mom Alyssa Greenfield, and how she’s navigated life’s parental and work curveballs, I thought this is a better time than any to share an audio Bonus Elixir for those times when you’re facing a curveball.This Bonus Elixir, for paid subscribers only, is designed to help you try the ideas in your own life, not just hear about them. And, to celebrate my book coming out in COMPLIMENTARY PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS for 100 days to anyone who pre-orders my book, How to Handle Anything. So, if you want this Bonus Elixir and others, and other perks for paying subscribers, check out all the ways to pre-order and how to redeem your free 100 day subscription here.The Elixir: You Can Handle ThisIn this Elixir, I ask you to think of something you’re dealing with right now that you didn’t expect, plan for, or maybe just really wish wasn’t happening right now. It doesn’t matter how big or small. It could be a kid with lice, a client canceled a project. Or, a leak in your ceiling, a flight delay. Or, you got a “no” from someone when you hoped for a “yes”, or just simply something in life isn’t unfolding the way you hoped it would.Whatever the curveball is, think about it.And I walk you through it using the four principles I write about in How to Handle Anything.🔒 Bonus Elixirs are available to paid subscribers, and are released a couple weeks after each main episode as a space for deeper reflection and integration. To receive this and other Bonus Elixirs, and other paid subscriber benefits, join as a paid subscriber.

In this episode of How to Handle Anything, we talk parenting, entrepreneurship, and the many curveballs that come with trying to manage a life you can't fully control. Alyssa shares how she's learned to navigate the unexpected—from the ups and downs of building her own business to a particularly chaotic stretch of parenting that included a thrown-out back, a sick kid, an ER visit, and, yes, a household-wide case of lice. Along the way, she shares how community, humor, and learning to play the scene she's in have helped her find a little more ease amidst the chaos.We discuss…- Why finding your people can make life's unexpected moments easier to navigate- How to know when you need advice, a sounding board, or simply someone to listen- What "playing the scene you're in" looks like when you're dealing with a situation you really wish you weren't in- Focusing your energy on what you can control—and learning to let go of what you can't- Finding the humor in difficult moments without minimizing how hard they are- How parenting and entrepreneurship can challenge our desire to optimize, plan, and control everything- Why intentionally building your "ensemble" (at work and in life) can help you handle whatever comes nextA bit about Alyssa…Alyssa Greenfield is a business owner and trusted thought partner and ghostwriter to venture firms and startup founders. She helps leaders bring clarity to their stories and meaning to their message—building visibility without sacrificing substance. Her clients range from first-time founders to seasoned investors, and her approach blends editorial rigor with a deep understanding of how ideas move in the venture ecosystem.Before launching her own business, Alyssa led global content programs in-house and at agencies, and brings more than a decade of experience across complex industries. She’s also a parent, which means her days run on sharp time management, clear priorities, and a deep appreciation for the kind of work that matters. When she's not writing for leaders, you'll likely find her with her six-year-old daughter, crafting, playing outside, or having a dance party in the living room.If you enjoyed this episode, or found something inspiring or useful in it, share it with others, so they can enjoy it too!This conversation is part of How to Handle Anything my ongoing interview series with people about how they’ve handled uncertainty, change, and unexpected moments with more ease, flexibility, and humor. To receive bonus content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lifeimprovised.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit lifeimprovised.substack.comLorraine C. Ladish had a literal tree through her roof. The obvious responses are frustration, stress, dealing with insurance, getting the tree removed—all of which still had to happen. But alongside that reality, she asked, What can I do with the scene I’m actually in? She put boots on the tree. She danced with it. She joked that the hole in her roof was a skylight. That playfulness didn’t remove the problem, it just changed her experience of the problem.That’s such a perfect application of If it feels weird, do it, and inspires this month’s Bonus Elixir for paid subscribers. This Bonus Elixir, for subscribers only, is designed to help you try the ideas in your own life, not just hear about them.

During this episode of How to Handle Anything, we talk life’s literal and metaphorical hurricanes. During this episode Lorraine shares how she’s navigated life’s unexpected curveballs, from rebuilding her career after losing everything during the 2008 financial crisis to finding humor after a hurricane sent a tree through the roof of her home. Through stories of resilience, improvisation, and reinvention, she reminds us that while we can’t always control what happens, we can choose how we respond.We discuss…How an improvisational mindset helped Lorraine navigate life’s unexpected challenges with more flexibility, humor, and resilienceWhy the principle yes, and can help us move forward instead of getting stuck in resistanceHow a tree through her roof became an opportunity for creativity, connection, and millions of people to laugh alongside herThe importance of staying curious, embracing change, and letting go of rigid rules about how life “should” unfoldHow an improvisational practice has helped Lorraine become more authentic, take creative risks, and show up more fully in her work and relationshipsWhy listening is one of the most powerful skills we can practiceA bit about Lorraine…Lorraine C. Ladish is a lifelong communicator dedicated to helping women and others achieve their goals. She is the founder and CEO of Viva Fifty!, a bilingual community celebrating life after 50. Lorraine has worked as an editor, writer, content creator, and social media strategist, and is a regular contributor to NBC News, HuffPost, AARP, BabyCenter, and Mom.me. Her work has also appeared in People en Español, The Palm Beach Post, Purple Clover, Latina, and Redbook. Her latest book on embracing age was published by HarperCollins in 2017. Above all, Lorraine is a woman, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a writer, an entrepreneur, and a yogini. She also writes the Substack newsletter Aging Like a Legend, where she explores strength, reinvention, and aging boldly on your own terms.If you enjoyed this episode, or found something inspiring or useful in it, share it with others, so they can enjoy it too!This conversation is part of How to Handle Anything my ongoing interview series with people about how they’ve handled uncertainty, change, and unexpected moments with more ease, flexibility, and humor. To receive bonus content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lifeimprovised.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit lifeimprovised.substack.comBonus Elixir (Subscribers Only): How YOU Can Handle CrossroadsIn this Bonus Elixir, I share a way to literally pick a decision, which is a technique to use for actually making and taking a decision.This short, actionable episode introduces a simple decision-making technique that helps you move beyond overthinking and tune into your intuition. Whether you're navigating a major life crossroads or deciding what to have for dinner, this exercise helps reveal what you truly want by paying attention to your immediate emotional response.You'll practice:- Moving from analysis to action by making a choice- Using your emotional and physical reactions as valuable information- Letting intuition complement logic when making decisions- Building confidence that there may not be one "right" decision, but there may be a decision that's more right for youThis Bonus Elixir is designed to help you try the ideas in your own life, not just hear about them.🔒 Bonus Elixirs are available to paid subscribers, and are released a couple weeks after each main episode as a space for deeper reflection and integration.

During this How to Handle Crossroads episode Ben shares how burnout, unexpected career changes, and a season of deep self-reflection led him to reclaim his heart and rethink what it means to navigate life’s transitions. Together, we explore stillness, letting go of control, and how embracing uncertainty can open the door to a more authentic and fulfilling life.We discuss…How burnout became an invitation to reconnect with what mattered mostThe role of stillness, journaling, nature, and subtraction in navigating life’s transitionsWhy letting go of control can create space for unexpected opportunitiesThe masks we wear to achieve, perform, and please others—and how to begin letting them goThe importance of trusting the process, even when the path forward isn’t clearHow embracing uncertainty can help us live more authentically and align with who we truly areA bit about Ben...Ben Katt is a spiritual coach, meditation teacher, and author of The Way Home who has spent over twenty years accompanying proven leaders on the spiritual journey from role to soul. Ben serves as Faculty In Residence at Modern Elder Academy—the world's first midlife wisdom school. He holds a Master of Divinity degree, is a certified advanced meditation teacher, and served as an ordained minister for over a decade. Ben has accompanied the dying as a hospice chaplain, taught meditation in prisons to hundreds of incarcerated individuals, and served thousands of people experiencing addiction, mental illness, and homelessness as founder of Aurora Commons. When he's not guiding leaders on the journey within, Ben enjoys trail running, karaoke nights with friends, and walks, meals, and road trips with his wife and three children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Here’s a sneak peek, a clip of Ben sharing a tip about how to find time for things we don’t always find time for, but want to...If you enjoyed this episode, or found something inspiring or useful in it, share it with others, so they can enjoy it too!This conversation is part of How to Handle Anything my ongoing interview series with people about how they’ve handled uncertainty, change, and unexpected moments with more ease, flexibility, and humor. To receive bonus content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lifeimprovised.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit lifeimprovised.substack.comWe’ve been there - a delayed flight, missing a train, getting sick in another country, or sitting next to someone on a flight that seems to have to get up every four minutes when we’re on the aisle seat.Traveling is destined to bring up unexpected curveballs and situations outside of our control. The only thing we can control, in these moments, is how we handle them.So, today’s bonus elixir is especially for those moments when we’re facing one of those unwelcome, unpredictable travel curveballs. Listen before traveling, during traveling, or after traveling to equip yourself with the mindset and techniques you can use to handle anything that comes your way during your travels.In this Bonus Elixir, I share a simple but powerful technique inspired by the How to Handle Traveling conversation.The Elixir: Meet the MomentThis short, actionable episode invites you to practice techniques to meet the moment, and reminds you of the power within you to handle whatever comes your way when facing unexpected travel curveballs. Using the Core 4 Principles of The Improve Method™, you’ll practice:Focusing on what’s in front of you, by playing the scene you’re in.Choosing to affect what’s within your control, and let go of what’s not by saying yes, and.Reframing the curveball by taking everything as a gift.Finding joy or creating joy amidst adversity by practicing if it feels weird, do it.This Bonus Elixir is designed to help you try the ideas in your own life, not just hear about them.🔒 Bonus Elixirs are available to paid subscribers, and are released a couple weeks after each main episode as a space for deeper reflection and integration. So if you’d like to receive this bonus elixir and others, please join as a paid subscriber.