The Backline
The Sonar NetworkCanadian Comedy Award winners Rob Norman and Adam Cawley discuss weekly improv-based topics based on a theme.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 207 | Founded | 12 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationArts | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
This week, Rob and Adam discuss “energy”. What is energy onstage? What should you do if your show is low energy and is that always a problem? Whether you’re trying to slow a scene down without losing momentum or wondering how to make silence, restrai... more
What makes improv in Toronto feel different from Chicago? Why does Los Angeles produce a different kind of performer than New York? And where do cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Mexico City fit into the larger improv landscape? In this episode, R... more
This week Adam and Rob discuss competition, egalitarianism, and how the politics of the classroom affect improv teams, shows, and theatres. Should improv delineate between amateur and professional? What’s the best way to transition students into show... more
This week on Backline, Rob and Adam break down their favourite longform openers and put them to the test, ranking different approaches based on flexibility, inspiration, ease of execution, and how well they serve the show that follows. From monologue... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Hosts
Reviews
- First review in a while
AC and Rob, you two are a dynamic duo. The Batman and The Robin of improv podcasting, The Cheech and Cong of improv philosophy, and The Luke and Darth Vader of improv lore (you can take all of these nicknames as you will). I have been reading Will Hines Substack and I found one key philosophy interesting Know, Care, Say to make every scene interesting. I noticed within my own scenes when I’m truly invested I can be vulnerable, open and find the funny in the scene quicker. I was wondering if y’al... more
Apple Podcasts5Jersey Boy Living
United States8 months ago - Yes
Basically a free coaching session whenever I want. (I try to listen to an episode in the hours before a show to get in the right headspace, set goals, find inspiration.)
Apple Podcasts5Erin with a K
Canada8 months ago - Best show ever for Improv Enthusiasts!
This show is absolutely wonderful. It is so rare to find a show that focuses on the improv craft, and especially a show that teaches the craft with a combination of fun and tangible practical knowledge.
The hosts have a lovely rapport. Their friendship and their love for improv makes this show a true joy. They are so funny, sincere, warm, smart, and full of practical improv wisdom.
Listening to this show brightens my day, and gives me confidence through my improv journey. I hope you get to l... more
Apple Podcasts5neba.United States2 years ago - Please come back!
I love this show and I’m working through the back catalogue…..hoping it will return one day!
(update) THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK! I’m kind of an easy crier (which works for and against me in improv since I also cry when I laugh) but….I think a tear came to my eye when the new episode dropped last week
Apple Podcasts5elizagsUnited States3 years ago - Please come back!
I love this show and I’m working through the back catalogue…..hoping it will return one day!
Apple Podcasts5elizagsUnited States3 years ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Top Education Podcasts
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | |
|---|---|
| Gender Skew | |
| Location | |
| Interests | |
| Professions | |
| Age Range | |
| Household Income | |
| Social Media Reach |
Frequently Asked Questions About The Backline
What is The Backline about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Two longtime improv performers host this weekly discussion focused on improv craft, teaching, and performance dynamics. Episodes cover topics like long-form structures, scene work, rehearsal realities, and audience engagement, often blending practical coaching tips with personal anecdotes from Toronto and Chicago scenes. Noteworthy is the duo's deep technical focus married to friendly banter, making it a practical resource for aspiring improvisers, teachers, and teams seeking craft improvement and actionable ideas for rehearsals, shows, and jam culture.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Backline?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Backline. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Backline and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Backline get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Backline, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for The Backline?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Backline, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does The Backline have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Backline has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to The Backline?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Backline:
1. Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out
2. Off Book: The Improvised Musical
3. Good One
4. Yes, Also
5. improv4humans with Matt Besser
How many episodes of The Backline are there?
The Backline launched 12 years ago and published 207 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact The Backline?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Backline?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Backline from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Backline?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Backline. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on The Backline?
Recent guests on The Backline include:
1. Susan Messing
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.