Where Improv and Learning Mix

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Sunday’s opening Mainstage session will feature freestyle+, a team of award-winning Broadway performers, TED speakers, and world-class coaches who will present an interactive, improv-inspired, neuroscience-backed session.

Sunday’s opening Mainstage session will feature freestyle+, a team of award-winning Broadway performers, TED speakers, and world-class coaches who will present an interactive, improv-inspired, neuroscience-backed session.

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Anthony Veneziale, cofounder of freestyle+, spoke with Conference Daily to provide insights on what ATD26 attendees can expect.

Anthony Veneziale, cofounder of freestyle+, spoke with Conference Daily to provide insights on what ATD26 attendees can expect.

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You mentioned that Sunday’s event will be an “un-keynote.” What does that mean, and what do you hope attendees will take from the session?

You mentioned that Sunday’s event will be an “un-keynote.” What does that mean, and what do you hope attendees will take from the session?

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An un-keynote isn’t a performance. It isn’t a lecture. It’s a live demonstration of what modern learning must become. Yes, it includes high-energy Broadway-level talent. Yes, it is fueled by audience participation. But what makes it different is that it transforms passive attendees into active learners within minutes.

An un-keynote isn’t a performance. It isn’t a lecture. It’s a live demonstration of what modern learning must become. Yes, it includes high-energy Broadway-level talent. Yes, it is fueled by audience participation. But what makes it different is that it transforms passive attendees into active learners within minutes.

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Our hope is that attendees leave not just energized, but primed. Primed to speak up in sessions. Primed to listen with curiosity and ask great questions of speakers. Primed to connect meaningfully with someone they don’t yet know.

Our hope is that attendees leave not just energized, but primed. Primed to speak up in sessions. Primed to listen with curiosity and ask great questions of speakers. Primed to connect meaningfully with someone they don’t yet know.

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The un-keynote isn’t just the opening session. It’s the warm-up for the entire conference.

The un-keynote isn’t just the opening session. It’s the warm-up for the entire conference.

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How did you develop the idea for the freestyle+ business model from your Broadway work—that is, to take improv to the workplace and teams?

How did you develop the idea for the freestyle+ business model from your Broadway work—that is, to take improv to the workplace and teams?

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Our company, freestyle+, was born out of our experience with the Special Tony Award-winning Broadway show, Freestyle Love Supreme (FLS), which I cofounded with Broadway director Tommy Kail and Lin-Manuel Miranda. FLS is the only fully improvised Broadway production. Every night on stage required deep listening, rapid adaptation, trust, and the willingness to step forward without certainty.

Our company, freestyle+, was born out of our experience with the Special Tony Award-winning Broadway show, Freestyle Love Supreme (FLS), which I cofounded with Broadway director Tommy Kail and Lin-Manuel Miranda. FLS is the only fully improvised Broadway production. Every night on stage required deep listening, rapid adaptation, trust, and the willingness to step forward without certainty.

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Around the same time, we began coaching executives in Silicon Valley ahead of major events such as Google I/O. What started as support for public speaking quickly revealed something deeper. These leaders weren't struggling with their slides; they were struggling with ambiguity, authenticity, and pressure—the same things that trip up every executive in a room when the stakes feel real. That’s when the parallel became impossible to ignore.

Around the same time, we began coaching executives in Silicon Valley ahead of major events such as Google I/O. What started as support for public speaking quickly revealed something deeper. These leaders weren't struggling with their slides; they were struggling with ambiguity, authenticity, and pressure—the same things that trip up every executive in a room when the stakes feel real. That’s when the parallel became impossible to ignore.

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The same capacities that allow improvisers to thrive on stage—presence, collaboration, and cognitive flexibility—are increasingly essential inside organizations facing constant change. Freestyle+ was built to translate those capabilities into structured, repeatable, practical learning experiences for teams.

The same capacities that allow improvisers to thrive on stage—presence, collaboration, and cognitive flexibility—are increasingly essential inside organizations facing constant change. Freestyle+ was built to translate those capabilities into structured, repeatable, practical learning experiences for teams.

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What began as communication coaching evolved to include programs focused on uncertainty tolerance, team dynamics, culture, and now AI-era readiness.

What began as communication coaching evolved to include programs focused on uncertainty tolerance, team dynamics, culture, and now AI-era readiness.

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What’s the neuroscience behind improv?

What’s the neuroscience behind improv?

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We’ve had the privilege of working with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Charles Limb at University of California, San Francisco, whose research explores the relationship between improvisation, creativity, and the brain. His TED Talk, “ Your Brain on Improv ,” lit us up and inspired follow-up work together exploring how improvisation affects cognition and creativity.

We’ve had the privilege of working with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Charles Limb at University of California, San Francisco, whose research explores the relationship between improvisation, creativity, and the brain. His TED Talk, “Your Brain on Improv,” lit us up and inspired follow-up work together exploring how improvisation affects cognition and creativity.

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In simple terms, improvisation quiets the brain’s internal critic while activating regions associated with creativity and flow. This matters enormously in organizational settings. When people are brainstorming, collaborating, or communicating under pressure, the last place they want to be is stuck in self-judgment. Practicing a BOLD mindset helps people shift into a more generative state—one where they can listen, build on ideas, and communicate authentically.

In simple terms, improvisation quiets the brain’s internal critic while activating regions associated with creativity and flow. This matters enormously in organizational settings. When people are brainstorming, collaborating, or communicating under pressure, the last place they want to be is stuck in self-judgment. Practicing a BOLD mindset helps people shift into a more generative state—one where they can listen, build on ideas, and communicate authentically.

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There is also an important evolutionary dimension to this. The human brain is designed to detect threats and ensure survival. In modern workplaces, however, that same threat response is often activated regardless of whether you are being chased by a bear or being asked to “rapid prototype” a new project.

There is also an important evolutionary dimension to this. The human brain is designed to detect threats and ensure survival. In modern workplaces, however, that same threat response is often activated regardless of whether you are being chased by a bear or being asked to “rapid prototype” a new project.

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We use improv exercises to retrain how people respond to those moments. Instead of defaulting to fight-or-flight, people learn to stay curious, collaborative, and engaged even when outcomes aren’t certain. That’s why improvisation is such a powerful training tool; it creates a safe environment where people can repeatedly practice operating in uncertainty, strengthening the neural pathways associated with creativity, collaboration, and adaptive thinking.

We use improv exercises to retrain how people respond to those moments. Instead of defaulting to fight-or-flight, people learn to stay curious, collaborative, and engaged even when outcomes aren’t certain. That’s why improvisation is such a powerful training tool; it creates a safe environment where people can repeatedly practice operating in uncertainty, strengthening the neural pathways associated with creativity, collaboration, and adaptive thinking.

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How can talent development teams use improv to improve productivity and innovation?

How can talent development teams use improv to improve productivity and innovation?

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If you watch great improvisers, you’ll notice a few consistent behaviors: They build on one another’s ideas, listen with curiosity, take risks, and recover quickly when something unexpected happens. They make space for creativity—and the most powerful things happen precisely when no one knows what comes next.

If you watch great improvisers, you’ll notice a few consistent behaviors: They build on one another’s ideas, listen with curiosity, take risks, and recover quickly when something unexpected happens. They make space for creativity—and the most powerful things happen precisely when no one knows what comes next.

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Those same behaviors drive productivity and innovation inside organizations.

Those same behaviors drive productivity and innovation inside organizations.

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Innovation rarely fails because of a lack of ideas. It stalls because people hesitate to share early thinking, conversations become positional instead of exploratory, or teams can’t adapt when assumptions change. Connection and trust are what move it forward. When people feel genuinely connected to those around them, they’re more willing to collaborate, experiment, and build on each other’s ideas.

Innovation rarely fails because of a lack of ideas. It stalls because people hesitate to share early thinking, conversations become positional instead of exploratory, or teams can’t adapt when assumptions change. Connection and trust are what move it forward. When people feel genuinely connected to those around them, they’re more willing to collaborate, experiment, and build on each other’s ideas.

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As for what TD teams need first: The same skills your participants will build, practiced ahead of time. Facilitated improv isn’t about performing on a stage; it’s about creating the conditions for psychological safety, which as Amy Edmondson’s research reminds us, cannot be mandated. It has to be practiced. Improv gives teams a low-stakes, high-engagement environment where that practice becomes visible and repeatable.

As for what TD teams need first: The same skills your participants will build, practiced ahead of time. Facilitated improv isn’t about performing on a stage; it’s about creating the conditions for psychological safety, which as Amy Edmondson’s research reminds us, cannot be mandated. It has to be practiced. Improv gives teams a low-stakes, high-engagement environment where that practice becomes visible and repeatable.

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At a time when AI is reshaping nearly every aspect of work, the human skills that let teams collaborate, listen, and adapt in real time matter more than ever.

At a time when AI is reshaping nearly every aspect of work, the human skills that let teams collaborate, listen, and adapt in real time matter more than ever.

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Read more about ATD26 at conferencedaily.td.org .

Read more about ATD26 at conferencedaily.td.org.