E53-Stevie Ray Podcast, Improv

 

NewTech High Podcast -- Stevie Ray

September 16, 2026

Our guest this afternoon was Stevie Ray, Improv and Comedian from the Twin Cities. Stevie Ray is also one of our keynotes at the Learning Omnivores Conference on October 30 at Resource Training and Solutions in Sartell. Stevie gives us a great view of performance, leadership and improvisation, as well as the interaction of those things.

Podcast

In addition to his role as Executive Director of Stevie Ray’s Improv Company, he has been a nationally recognized speaker and corporate trainer for over 35 years. The author of eleven books, he was also a national columnist for the Business Journal Newspapers for twenty-five years.

Stevie has traveled the country helping organizations master the art of influence and sharpen professional skills. His clients include Fortune 500 companies and small organizations alike.

Stevie performed his first comedy show at the age of nine. Touring the country as an improvisational and stand-up comedian, he has opened for such stars as Paula Poundstone, Marsha Warfield of Night Court, Rich Hall of Saturday Night Live, and “Weird Al” Yankovic. 

Key Outcomes

Stevie Ray shared his professional philosophy on "owning your space," drawing parallels between martial arts and improvisation to improve leadership and education 12. The discussion highlighted how these techniques foster psychological safety and adaptability in professional environments, specifically within school administration 34.

The Concept of "Owning Your Space"

• Definition: A mental and physical state of confidence that allows an individual to protect their team and create an environment for the best possible outcomes 2.
• Origins: Derived from Stevie's 50 years of martial arts (learning to not give up mentally before a fight) and 40 years of improv (learning to handle off-script situations) 15.
• Application: Effective leadership requires reading signals and adjusting on the fly rather than strictly adhering to a predetermined outline or PowerPoint 36.

Professional Background and Philosophy

• Education: Designed a unique college degree in Theory and Performance of Comedy at Morehead State University 7.
• Approach to Failure: Views failure as a learning opportunity rather than a problem, adopting a "say yes to everything" mentality 8.
• Authenticity: Argues that the most effective performers and leaders are those who are truly themselves and avoid wearing a "mask" 910.
• Improv vs. Theater: Defines theater as "recreating" a script, while improvisation is "instant theater" where the best moments come from genuine surprise 1112.

Educational and Leadership Impact

• Experiential Learning: Used to incorporate movement and kinesthetic experience into personal learning plans 13.
• School Administration: Bill Summers noted that improv strategies helped school staffs improve communication, creativity, collaboration, and conflict management 4.
• Psychological Safety: A leader's primary role is to create a safe space (a "safety net") so team members feel secure enough to challenge themselves and produce their best work 3.

Upcoming Event: Learning Omnivores Conference

• Date: October 30th in St. Cloud 12.

• Focus Areas:

  • Combining cognitive function (focused mental tasks) with whole brain function to lower stress and increase creativity 1415.
  • Analyzing cues that cause audiences to connect or disconnect 15.
  • Using interactive games to practice talking through challenging interactions 15.