YesBot Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/yesbot After finding an abandoned YesBot 5000 improv robot in the woods behind his house, improviser (and amateur roboticist) Chris Mead embarks on a mission to programme it to be the world's best improviser. Every week he speaks to a different improv guest, giving them the opportunity to input FIVE lines of code - FIVE rules, tips or behaviours that will make YesBot the perfect scene partner. At the end of the episode, when the programming is complete, he switches the robot on and stands back to watch the fireworks. Sometimes literally. YesBot. A podcast about improv and robotics. But mostly about improv. Chris Mead 488557a7-6232-5dc7-b42f-3752f4ffc52d no en-gb Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:34:25 +0000 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 23:12:08 +0000 http://www.yesbot.co.uk https://img.transistor.fm/VUMHBfQ3qOpENZbedtOHyHm0KaTTcmWF6sEqyckzUzA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzI0OTU4LzE2MzMx/MDgzNDAtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg YesBot http://www.yesbot.co.uk episodic Chris Mead After finding an abandoned YesBot 5000 improv robot in the woods behind his house, improviser (and amateur roboticist) Chris Mead embarks on a mission to programme it to be the world's best improviser. Every week he speaks to a different improv guest, giving them the opportunity to input FIVE lines of code - FIVE rules, tips or behaviours that will make YesBot the perfect scene partner. At the end of the episode, when the programming is complete, he switches the robot on and stands back to watch the fireworks. Sometimes literally. YesBot. A podcast about improv and robotics. But mostly about improv. After finding an abandoned YesBot 5000 improv robot in the woods behind his house, improviser (and amateur roboticist) Chris Mead embarks on a mission to programme it to be the world's best improviser. Chris Mead No Yes Heather Urquhart 12 12 Heather Urquhart full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=172 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/12 Guest Name: Heather Urquhart
Location: Brighton/London, UK
Years improvising: 18
Team affiliations: The Maydays, Showstopper, 10,000,000,000 Love Stories, The Playground, The Bumper Blyton Improvised Adventure
Improv style: Truthful, silly, connected, musical (when I’m allowed)
Website: www.heatherurquhart.com
Twitter: @musicimprov
Additional notes: Today’s robot is probably different to yesterday’s robot and tomorrow’s. Bit like improv I guess.

Here’s a Youtube video that sums up life for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGoTmNU_5A0

]]> Guest Name: Heather Urquhart
Location: Brighton/London, UK
Years improvising: 18
Team affiliations: The Maydays, Showstopper, 10,000,000,000 Love Stories, The Playground, The Bumper Blyton Improvised Adventure
Improv style: Truthful, silly, connected, musical (when I’m allowed)
Website: www.heatherurquhart.com
Twitter: @musicimprov
Additional notes: Today’s robot is probably different to yesterday’s robot and tomorrow’s. Bit like improv I guess.

Here’s a Youtube video that sums up life for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGoTmNU_5A0

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2017 22:45:22 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 1636 Chris talks to Heather Urquhart of The Maydays and Ten Thousand Million Love Stories about connection, relationships and singing if you're in any doubt. Chris talks to Heather Urquhart of The Maydays and Ten Thousand Million Love Stories about connection, relationships and singing if you're in any doubt. Yes Dylan Emery 11 11 Dylan Emery full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=168 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/11 Guest Name: Dylan Emery
Location: London
Years improvising: 16 – although my first improv was actually 32 years ago when my amazing English teacher would do impro classes once a week.
Team affiliations: The Showstoppers, Grand Theft Impro, The Crunchy Frog Collective, The School of Night, Ghost Couple, The London 50-Hour Improvathons, Extempore Theatre.
Improv style: Theatrical. Ambitious. Well-acted or well clowned. Unexpected.
Website: www.dylanemery.com
Twitter: @dylanemery
Additional notes: Something to watch – the brilliant Kurt Smeaton and his impro/sketch troupe Falcon Powder made a series of educational webcasts called The Whole Truths. First episode of six: Wolves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tND1J13xXH4

]]> Guest Name: Dylan Emery
Location: London
Years improvising: 16 – although my first improv was actually 32 years ago when my amazing English teacher would do impro classes once a week.
Team affiliations: The Showstoppers, Grand Theft Impro, The Crunchy Frog Collective, The School of Night, Ghost Couple, The London 50-Hour Improvathons, Extempore Theatre.
Improv style: Theatrical. Ambitious. Well-acted or well clowned. Unexpected.
Website: www.dylanemery.com
Twitter: @dylanemery
Additional notes: Something to watch – the brilliant Kurt Smeaton and his impro/sketch troupe Falcon Powder made a series of educational webcasts called The Whole Truths. First episode of six: Wolves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tND1J13xXH4

]]> Sun, 02 Jul 2017 23:34:03 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 2688 Chris talks to Dylan Emery of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and Ghost Couple about being a geek and being mostly Spanish. Chris talks to Dylan Emery of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and Ghost Couple about being a geek and being mostly Spanish. No Valerie Ward 10 10 Valerie Ward full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=164 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/10 Guest Name:Valerie Ward
Location: Austin TX
Years improvising: 16
Team affiliations: Parallelogramophonograph, Echo Lake
Improv style: Narrative, organic, stylized, playful, connected
Website: www.pgraph.com
Additional notes: What another would have done as well as you, do not do it. What another would have said as well as you, do not say it; what another would have written as well, do not write it. Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself — and thus make yourself indispensable. -Andre Gide

]]> Guest Name:Valerie Ward
Location: Austin TX
Years improvising: 16
Team affiliations: Parallelogramophonograph, Echo Lake
Improv style: Narrative, organic, stylized, playful, connected
Website: www.pgraph.com
Additional notes: What another would have done as well as you, do not do it. What another would have said as well as you, do not say it; what another would have written as well, do not write it. Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself — and thus make yourself indispensable. -Andre Gide

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2017 20:14:47 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 2158 Chris talks to Valerie Ward of Parallelogramophonograph about love, assumptions and not changing the subject. Chris talks to Valerie Ward of Parallelogramophonograph about love, assumptions and not changing the subject. No Joe Samuel 9 9 Joe Samuel full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=160 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/9 Guest Name: Joe Samuel
Location: Brighton
Years improvising: 40 on piano, 10 as an improviser musician
Team affiliations: The Maydays, The Dreaming, Theatre De L’Oignon, The Concept
Improv style: Music
Website: www.joesamuel.co.uk

]]> Guest Name: Joe Samuel
Location: Brighton
Years improvising: 40 on piano, 10 as an improviser musician
Team affiliations: The Maydays, The Dreaming, Theatre De L’Oignon, The Concept
Improv style: Music
Website: www.joesamuel.co.uk

]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:18:06 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 2339 Chris talks to Joe Samuel of The Maydays about life as an improviser musician and attempting to have no ego. Chris talks to Joe Samuel of The Maydays about life as an improviser musician and attempting to have no ego. No Naomi Petersen 8 8 Naomi Petersen full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=151 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/8 Guest Name: Naomi Petersen
Location: London
Years improvising: 4
Team affiliations: The Free Association, Sweet Fanny Adams, Nicely Turned Out, Wednesdays
Improv style: Playful, Committed, Big On Game
Website: www.thefreeassociation.co.uk
Twitter: @NaomiPetersen

]]> Guest Name: Naomi Petersen
Location: London
Years improvising: 4
Team affiliations: The Free Association, Sweet Fanny Adams, Nicely Turned Out, Wednesdays
Improv style: Playful, Committed, Big On Game
Website: www.thefreeassociation.co.uk
Twitter: @NaomiPetersen

]]> Mon, 29 May 2017 22:57:15 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 1851 Chris talks to Naomi Petersen of The Free Association about choosing to care and making your partner look good. Chris talks to Naomi Petersen of The Free Association about choosing to care and making your partner look good. No Adam Meggido 7 7 Adam Meggido full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=144 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/7 Guest Name: Adam Meggido
Location: London
Years improvising: FOREVER!!!!
Team affiliations: Showstopper, The School of Night, Rhapsodes, The Society of Strange, The London 50 Hour Improvathons
Improv style: LET’S PUT ON A SHOW!
Website: www.theshowstoppers.org and www.extemporetheatre.com
Twitter: @adammeggido
Additional notes: I’ve worked in theatre all my life

]]> Guest Name: Adam Meggido
Location: London
Years improvising: FOREVER!!!!
Team affiliations: Showstopper, The School of Night, Rhapsodes, The Society of Strange, The London 50 Hour Improvathons
Improv style: LET’S PUT ON A SHOW!
Website: www.theshowstoppers.org and www.extemporetheatre.com
Twitter: @adammeggido
Additional notes: I’ve worked in theatre all my life

]]> Mon, 22 May 2017 07:00:46 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 2279 Chris talks to Adam Meggido, creator of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical about putting on a f@#king show. Chris talks to Adam Meggido, creator of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical about putting on a f@#king show. Yes Rachel Parris 6 6 Rachel Parris full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=133 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/6 Guest name: Rachel Parris
Location: London
Years Improvising: 10 years
Team Affiliations: Austentatious, The Beau Zeaux, Monkey Toast
Improv style: Long form narrative (in Austentatious anyway). In other things: Harold, scenic short-form, musical…
Website: rachelparris.com
Twitter: @rachelparris

]]> Guest name: Rachel Parris
Location: London
Years Improvising: 10 years
Team Affiliations: Austentatious, The Beau Zeaux, Monkey Toast
Improv style: Long form narrative (in Austentatious anyway). In other things: Harold, scenic short-form, musical…
Website: rachelparris.com
Twitter: @rachelparris

]]> Mon, 15 May 2017 07:00:08 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 2228 Chris talks to Rachel Parris of Austentacious about how to be confident but also kind. Chris talks to Rachel Parris of Austentacious about how to be confident but also kind. Yes John Cremer 5 5 John Cremer full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=126 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/5 Guest Name: John Cremer
Location: Rural Sussex
Years improvising: 24 years
Team affiliations: The Maydays. Guest on Whirled News Tonight.
Improv style: Character led, emotional, provocative, absurd.
Website: www.johncremer.co.uk
Twitter: @johncremer
Additional notes: My main non-improv influences are Monty Python, Alan Partridge, Ivor Cutler, Van Morrison, George Gurdjieff, Beethoven, holocaust literature, Cheri Huber, Cormac McCarthy and salt water fly fishing.

]]> Guest Name: John Cremer
Location: Rural Sussex
Years improvising: 24 years
Team affiliations: The Maydays. Guest on Whirled News Tonight.
Improv style: Character led, emotional, provocative, absurd.
Website: www.johncremer.co.uk
Twitter: @johncremer
Additional notes: My main non-improv influences are Monty Python, Alan Partridge, Ivor Cutler, Van Morrison, George Gurdjieff, Beethoven, holocaust literature, Cheri Huber, Cormac McCarthy and salt water fly fishing.

]]> Mon, 08 May 2017 07:00:24 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 1466 Chris talks to John Cremer of The Maydays about how unhelpful improv rules are in the first place. Chris talks to John Cremer of The Maydays about how unhelpful improv rules are in the first place. No Ruth Bratt 4 4 Ruth Bratt full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=120 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/4 Guest Name: Ruth Bratt
Location: London
Years improvising: 17
Team affiliations: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, The Glenda J Collective, guest with Comedy Store Players, The London Improvathon, Panthercannon, Ghost Couple, Letts Vegas
Improv style: Narrative, fun, playful, generous. Good.
Website: www.ruthbratt.com
Twitter: @ruthbratt
Additional notes: If I’m ever feeling down, I watch these videos.

Reg Kehoe and his Marimba Queens
Way Out West

]]> Guest Name: Ruth Bratt
Location: London
Years improvising: 17
Team affiliations: Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, The Glenda J Collective, guest with Comedy Store Players, The London Improvathon, Panthercannon, Ghost Couple, Letts Vegas
Improv style: Narrative, fun, playful, generous. Good.
Website: www.ruthbratt.com
Twitter: @ruthbratt
Additional notes: If I’m ever feeling down, I watch these videos.

Reg Kehoe and his Marimba Queens
Way Out West

]]> Mon, 01 May 2017 07:00:33 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 3607 Chris talks to Ruth Bratt of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and Panthercannon about being fascinated and not being a dick. Chris talks to Ruth Bratt of Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and Panthercannon about being fascinated and not being a dick. No David Shore 3 3 David Shore full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=116 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/3 Guest Name: David Shore
Location: Toronto, Canada
Years improvising: 20 years
Team affiliations: Monkey Toast (Toronto and London), Bald (London), Alumnus Second City Mainstage (Toronto) & IO West
Improv style: Organic Chicago-Style (focusing on letting the scene happen)
Website: monkeytoast.com
Twitter: @thedavidshore
Additional notes: Taking risks in improv isn’t about making bold, big or crazy moves, it’s about trusting your ideas and yourself and not being afraid to suck or tank in front of an audience or your peers.

]]> Guest Name: David Shore
Location: Toronto, Canada
Years improvising: 20 years
Team affiliations: Monkey Toast (Toronto and London), Bald (London), Alumnus Second City Mainstage (Toronto) & IO West
Improv style: Organic Chicago-Style (focusing on letting the scene happen)
Website: monkeytoast.com
Twitter: @thedavidshore
Additional notes: Taking risks in improv isn’t about making bold, big or crazy moves, it’s about trusting your ideas and yourself and not being afraid to suck or tank in front of an audience or your peers.

]]> Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:52:21 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 2248 Chris talks to David Shore of Monkey Toast about taking risks and not letting your ego get in the way of your improv. Chris talks to David Shore of Monkey Toast about taking risks and not letting your ego get in the way of your improv. Yes Cariad Lloyd 2 2 Cariad Lloyd full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=106 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/2 Fri, 14 Apr 2017 14:28:53 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 3336 Chris talks to Cariad Lloyd of Austentacious about finding the joy and how you should always be makin' choices. Chris talks to Cariad Lloyd of Austentacious about finding the joy and how you should always be makin' choices. Yes Roy Janik 1 1 Roy Janik full http://www.chrismead.co/?p=86 https://yesbot.transistor.fm/1 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 10:30:15 +0000 Chris Mead Chris Mead 2320 Chris talks to Roy Janik of the Hideout Theatre and Parallelogramophonograph about having a playful and adventurous spirit. Chris talks to Roy Janik of the Hideout Theatre and Parallelogramophonograph about having a playful and adventurous spirit. No