The Perfect Way to Do Small Talk

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Perfect Way to Do Small Talk
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The Pursuers (Ellen and Dennis, naturally) have a big conversation about small talk. And we hear from you, the listeners–I mean we really hear from you–in our first ever listener voicemail segment!

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

What did we learn this year?

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
What did we learn this year?
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It’s the end of 2023 and the Season 5 wrap, aka “The Big Finale”! The Perfectionists™️ (Ellen and Dennis, naturally) take a look back at the year, the season, and the evolution of PoP Pod as a whole, and share their (our) thoughts about what they (we) learned and where they’re (we’re) going.

So what have we learned? Listener–would you believe… quite a lot, actually?

Tell your friends about the show and rate us! All the stars, please.

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

Tidying

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
Tidying
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Do you struggle to keep your living space neat and clean? Welcome to the human race, bud!

This week, the Perfectionists (Ellen and Dennis) share their thoughts on tidying and reveal some hidden, dark truths about their own struggles with tidiness.

Also, PoP listeners share their own tips on how to keep your living space… kempt * (and how to deal when it’s not).

It’s the episode where we talk about tidying!

Rate us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, leave us a review! And tell your friends!

* Look, there aren’t a lot of great synonyms for “tidy.”

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

Time-Related Batman Villains

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
Time-Related Batman Villains
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The title says it all, folks! This week, Ellen and Dennis rank all the time-based Batman villains and crown a winner. All this plus listener emails!
If you like what you hear, please consider writing a review on Apple Podcasts. And tell your friends!

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

Richard Krysztoforski

Richard Krysztoforski
Richard is an internationally trained improviser, comedian, and professional development expert. His creative projects are focused around building community and rejuvenating outdated modes of creation. Most recently he founded the Let’s Hear It Network, an independent artist-owned podcast network (the network Pursuit of Perfectness is part of!). You can find out more about him at rjk.nyc.

Chris Deluca

Chris DeLuca smiling at camera
Chris is a writer, improvisor, and computer programmer. A graduate of the NYC UCB, he studied under such improv luminaries as Anthony Atamanuik, Amy Goerlich, and Joseph Stalin. He co-wrote and created the scripted comedy podcast, "The Pulp Tales Of Gwendolyn Gween", as well as contributing writing to the long running sketch shows "Terrorbird" and "Cliffnotes on the Human Condition", both performed at The PIT. He is a member of the Cat's Cradle Ensemble. You can find him at https://www.chrisdeluca.me

Cooking

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
Cooking
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Do you consider yourself a failure whenever you order food delivery vs. cooking a meal? Oh, sorry, a projection right out of the gate!

What we mean to ask is, what is your relationship like with cooking? Do you enjoy it? Do you feel like an artist making a beautiful piece of work? Do you view it as a chore that you must do? What emotions come up for you? How does it connect to your identity and how you view yourself? Does perfectionism get in the way? This episode we go deep!

All that plus readers respond with their own experiences and advice about cooking.

Like the show? Tell your friends!

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

Richard Krysztoforski

Richard Krysztoforski
Richard is an internationally trained improviser, comedian, and professional development expert. His creative projects are focused around building community and rejuvenating outdated modes of creation. Most recently he founded the Let’s Hear It Network, an independent artist-owned podcast network (the network Pursuit of Perfectness is part of!). You can find out more about him at rjk.nyc.

Chris Deluca

Chris DeLuca smiling at camera
Chris is a writer, improvisor, and computer programmer. A graduate of the NYC UCB, he studied under such improv luminaries as Anthony Atamanuik, Amy Goerlich, and Joseph Stalin. He co-wrote and created the scripted comedy podcast, "The Pulp Tales Of Gwendolyn Gween", as well as contributing writing to the long running sketch shows "Terrorbird" and "Cliffnotes on the Human Condition", both performed at The PIT. He is a member of the Cat's Cradle Ensemble. You can find him at https://www.chrisdeluca.me

Reading Books Perfectly

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
Reading Books Perfectly
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Perfect people read books, right? Man oh man, have the Perfectionists got some things to say about that. Ellen and Dennis talk about their experiences reading (and not reading) books, confess some embarrassing book-related secrets, and try to exorcise some of their guilt about not being perfect readers. All this and listener mail, too!

If you like what you hear, write us a review on Apple Podcasts and tell your friends!

Episode Guests

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Richard Krysztoforski

Richard Krysztoforski
Richard is an internationally trained improviser, comedian, and professional development expert. His creative projects are focused around building community and rejuvenating outdated modes of creation. Most recently he founded the Let’s Hear It Network, an independent artist-owned podcast network (the network Pursuit of Perfectness is part of!). You can find out more about him at rjk.nyc.

Chris Deluca

Chris DeLuca smiling at camera
Chris is a writer, improvisor, and computer programmer. A graduate of the NYC UCB, he studied under such improv luminaries as Anthony Atamanuik, Amy Goerlich, and Joseph Stalin. He co-wrote and created the scripted comedy podcast, "The Pulp Tales Of Gwendolyn Gween", as well as contributing writing to the long running sketch shows "Terrorbird" and "Cliffnotes on the Human Condition", both performed at The PIT. He is a member of the Cat's Cradle Ensemble. You can find him at https://www.chrisdeluca.me

Working Out

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
Working Out
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Exercise. It’s tough to get out there and do it sometimes! And if you’re a perfectionist who tends to be hard on yourself, it’s even harder. What’s a perfectionist to do? Ellen and Dennis share their tips, strategies, and strained metaphors to help you get back on the hamster wheel. Plus, listener responses!

Follow us on Instagram @pursuitofperfectness. If you like the show, give us a rating, subscribe, and tell your friends!

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

Improv!

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
Improv!
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It had to happen! For 4 seasons The Perfectionists (Dennis and Ellen) have danced around it, referenced it, alluded to it, even performed it… but they’ve never actually devoted an entire episode to it. Until now! Saddle up, improv nerds, ‘cuz this episode we are talking all! Things! Improv!

Ellen and Dennis sit down with a very special guest – internationally trained improviser (and PoP Pod producer extraordinaire) Richard Krysztoforski – and hash it out. Improv! What is it? Why do we do it? What are the rules? Are there any? Should there be? And is there such a thing as “the perfect improviser”? (SPOILER: there is not.)

Like the show? Leave us a review and tell your friends!

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

Richard Krysztoforski

Richard Krysztoforski
Richard is an internationally trained improviser, comedian, and professional development expert. His creative projects are focused around building community and rejuvenating outdated modes of creation. Most recently he founded the Let’s Hear It Network, an independent artist-owned podcast network (the network Pursuit of Perfectness is part of!). You can find out more about him at rjk.nyc.

Let’s Talk About Wordle! With Rob Penty

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
Let's Talk About Wordle! With Rob Penty
/

It’s the episode YOU demanded! Strap in folks, ’cause we’re talking about Wordle, the digital word game that’s taking America by storm! Fan favorite guest Rob Penty returns to gab about his essay on his complicated and sometimes heated relationship with our favorite daily word puzzle. The Perfectionists (Ellen and Dennis) commiserate… and maybe do a little bragging, too.

Tell your friends! It’s the WORDLE episode, baby! If this one don’t have it, you don’t want it! You paid for the whole seat, but you’ll only use… THE EDGE!!!

instagram.com/pursuitofperfectness

actuallyitsrobpentydotorg.com

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".

Rob Penty

Rob Penty
Rob Penty is an improviser, storyteller and writer from Brooklyn.

Richard Krysztoforski

Richard Krysztoforski
Richard is an internationally trained improviser, comedian, and professional development expert. His creative projects are focused around building community and rejuvenating outdated modes of creation. Most recently he founded the Let’s Hear It Network, an independent artist-owned podcast network (the network Pursuit of Perfectness is part of!). You can find out more about him at rjk.nyc.

Getting Perfect Sleep

The Pursuit of Perfectness
The Pursuit of Perfectness
Getting Perfect Sleep
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Is there anybody out there who regularly gets a perfect night’s sleep? Your hosts Ellen and Dennis sure don’t. This episode, we try to crack the code. We share our tips, tricks, and personal stories—plus we hear from our listeners about their experiences trying (and sometimes succeeding!) to get perfect sleep.

Subscribe, rate us, write a review and tell your friends!

Episode Guests

Dennis Pacheco

Dennis Pacheco is an improviser, actor, teacher, writer, director, and podcaster.

Ellen Matthews

Ellen is a performer and teacher of improv at Magnet Theater in NYC, and co-host of the Let's Hear It Network Podcast, "The Pursuit of Perfectness".