Laugh! Modern Family, Friends + Will & Grace Adj. Improv Comics of iMergence

Confidence grows fastest when play is allowed:

“Humor reveals truth before defensiveness can rise.”

“Lightness clears the room for real communication.”

“Laughter gives teams a shortcut to psychological safety.”

Practical creativity & cooperation expands when leaders...

A live improv session to improve teamwork—four performers, two leaders, and zero scripts—turns an interview into a working demo of team trust, timing, and better communication. This is improv inserted as a management tool, seen in real time and explained with precision.

Holly Mandel

Founder of iMergence. Groundlings alum and seasoned improv instructor. Coach to Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and Will Ferrell. Known for helping leaders unlock courage through play and spontaneity. See: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-mandel.

Brian Palermo

Working actor with credits including Modern Family, Will & Grace, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Veteran improv performer and communication trainer. Known for audience connection and fast-listening skill. Translates comedic flow into practical leadership behavior. See: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-palermo-improvtrainingforcommunicationskills/.

James Wilson

Longtime friend of Mark with natural storytelling presence. Steady, grounded, and sincere collaborator. Balances humor with warmth in ensemble settings. Anchors group energy with calm comedic intuition. See: linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-3869827.

Liz Coin

Actor, writer, and corporate facilitator. Blends precision and play in leadership workshops. Known for adaptive thinking and warm, sharp timing. Helps teams shift from rigid to responsive communication. See: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-coin/.

Sarah Hicks

Improviser and performance coach. Expert in emotional awareness and group facilitation. Combines behavioral insight with creative technique. Brings clarity, attention, and surprising comedic instinct. See: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hicks-corporate/.

Inside This Episode

What happens when an improv ensemble brings its full toolkit into a leadership conversation? They demonstrate it—live, unrehearsed, and with explosive clarity. Holly Mandel returns with the iMergence team—Liz Coin, Sarah Hicks, Brian Palermo, and Mark’s close friend, med-tech leader, James Wilson.

Together they show humor reveals valves for tension, resets communication, and makes collaboration safer. This episode blends laughter with insight, turning improv into a masterclass on presence, timing, and trust for any leader willing to loosen the grip and lead with play.

Go Deeper — Premium Action

Premium action at the end turns the group’s live improvisation into a framework leaders can apply immediately. Learn how to harness lightness to clear tension, develop timing without performing, and use strategic spontaneity to unlock stronger trust. This segment breaks each improv principle into a simple behavioral pattern you can practice daily.

Listen + Connect

iMergence: https://www.imergence.com

Mark S. Cook: BoldEncounters.TV / WindfallPartners.com.

Moments to Revisit

A spontaneous moment that reveals trust before words do. The exercise that exposes communication habits in under 10 seconds. A shift where lightness dissolves tension instantly. Why timing and expression, not content, carry more influence. The ensemble’s final insight on humor as a leadership lever.

Chapters — Free Episode (6)

0:00 Welcome and setup

3:40 Introducing the iMergence ensemble

9:15 First improv exercise and early leadership insight

16:22 How play exposes communication patterns

24:50 Translating improv principles to real teams

32:40 Final takeaways before the premium execution

Final Thought

When leaders allow play, communication opens—and people open with it. Humor isn’t the opposite of professionalism; it’s the catalyst for clarity, courage, and connection.