Yes, And! With Avish Parashar
Uplevel your life, team, organization and the world with the power of “yes, and!” Unlock the power of "Yes, And" to transform your life, your work, and your world. Hosted by Avish Parashar, a funny keynote speaker and leading expert in applied improvisation, this podcast dives deep into the principles of improv comedy and shows you how to apply them to real-life challenges and opportunities. Whether you're a leader looking to inspire your team, an individual aiming to elevate your personal and professional life, or simply someone intrigued by the art of improvisation, this podcast is for you. Why Listen? In each episode, Avish Parashar, a renowned speaker and trainer with years of experience in applied improvisation, shares valuable insights on how to bring the "Yes, And" mindset into your everyday life. Through engaging interviews, solo explorations, and even some improv games, you'll learn how to harness the power of positivity, creativity, and adaptability to navigate uncertainty, build stronger relationships, and achieve your goals. The "Yes, And" philosophy is more than just a tool for the stage—it's a way of being that fosters growth, connection, and success. By listening, you’ll discover how saying "Yes, And" can help you: Enhance your leadership skills by fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation within your organization. Unlock your personal potential by embracing challenges with a positive and adaptive mindset. Learn practical strategies for applying improvisational techniques to improve communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. About Avish Parashar Avish Parashar is not only a funny keynote speaker but also a passionate advocate for the power of "Yes, And." With a background in both performance and personal development, Avish brings a unique blend of humor, insight, and actionable advice to his listeners. His work in applied improvisation has helped countless individuals and organizations embrace change, drive innovation, and create a more positive, productive environment. What You’ll Get Interviews: Engaging conversations with thought leaders, business experts, and creative professionals who embody the "Yes, And" spirit. Solo Episodes: Avish dives deep into specific aspects of applied improvisation, providing you with practical tips and techniques to implement immediately. Improv Games: Fun, interactive segments where Avish demonstrates how improv principles can be used to tackle real-world challenges. Tune in to laugh, learn, and lead with the "Yes, And" Podcast. It’s time to embrace the unexpected, say yes to new possibilities, and take your life and work to the next level. Subscribe now and join Avish Parashar on a journey of discovery, growth, and joy!
Episodes
This week is my birthday—I'm turning 52! And to mark the occasion, I'm sharing something a little different: 52 things I would tell my 22-year-old self.
Over the years, I've made a lot of mistakes, learned a ton, and picked up a bunch of insights that would’ve helped me back when I was just starting out. In this fast-paced, fun solo episode, I share all 52 lessons—from career advice to dopamine management,...
In this episode, I sit down with one of my oldest friends and longtime ExxonMobil leader, Alexander Bolkhovsky, for a deep dive into leadership, motivation, and navigating organizational change. Over his 27-year career with ExxonMobil, Alex has held roles across engineering, technology, sales, and global strategy. But more than the titles, it’s his mindset—curious, adaptable, and people-first—that makes him a standout.
...
In this episode, I talk with Andrew Tarvin, a longtime friend and fellow improv enthusiast who has built a fascinating career at the intersection of humor and engineering. Andrew shares his journey from computer science to comedy, what it really means to be a “Humor Engineer,” and how he helps individuals and organizations use humor more intentionally.
We dig into the idea that humor isn’t just for class c...
In this episode of Yes, And with Avish Parashar, I sit down with creativity expert Melissa Dinwiddie. Melissa shares her journey from a Juilliard-trained dancer to a professional artist and creativity instigator. She introduces us to her Create the Impossible framework, which helps individuals and teams harness the power of play, take risks, and learn from failure to spark innovation. Melissa emphasizes that it’s not a...
In this episode, I chat with Sarah Ohanesian, a productivity expert and the founder of SO Productive. Sarah dives into the concept of purpose-driven productivity, helping us rethink how we manage our time and energy in both our personal and professional lives. She also shares her work around neurodiversity, a topic that’s been gaining much-needed attention in the workplace. Whether you're leading a team or trying to fi...
In this episode of Yes, And with Avish Parashar, I sit down with Greg Offner, a former dueling piano performer turned keynote speaker, to talk about his unique approach to leadership, employee engagement, and preventing burnout. Greg’s philosophy, highlighted in his book The Tip Jar Culture, draws from his background in music to create an experience where managers lead with a servant mindset, helping their teams thrive...
What if the difference between being a ‘best-kept secret’ and becoming a go-to authority in your industry came down to just three things?
In this episode of Yes, And with Avish Parashar, I sit down with David Newman, marketing expert, speaker, and author of Do It! Marketing, Do It! Speaking, and Do It! Selling. David is the founder of Do It! Marketing, where he helps executives, entrepreneurs, and thought ...
What does it take to create a culture of wellness in our workplaces and our lives? And how do we overcome the 'yes, but' resistance when it comes to making better choices?
In this episode, I sit down with the amazing Elaine Pasqua, a speaker who has spent the last 30 years working with universities, corporations, and professional sports teams on wellness, resilience, and responsible decision-making. We div...
In this episode of Yes, And with Avish Parashar, I sit down with Lisa Ryan, a gratitude strategist, speaker, and author of Gear Up for Greatness. Lisa shares her journey of transforming gratitude into a powerful workplace strategy and explains how organizations can use appreciation to retain top talent, build better relationships, and foster thriving cultures.
We dive into Lisa’s six gears of strategy, her...
In this episode of Yes, And, I dive into the idea of thinking in terms of experimentation, not execution, especially when it comes to reaching big, impossible goals. As professionals, we're often encouraged to follow rigid plans and execute them to perfection. But in a world of constant change, creativity, and uncertainty, sometimes we need to let go of fixed plans and embrace the process of experimentation.
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In this episode, I talk to Roger Courville, a virtual events pioneer with over 25 years of experience. Roger shares his journey from the early days of 'internet conferencing' to becoming a recognized expert on adapting in-person interactions to virtual settings. He explains the analyze, map, discover framework, a systematic approach for turning resistance to change into opportunities for innovation—whether you’re prese...
In this episode, I explore why setting “SMART” goals — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound — might actually be the thing holding you back. While SMART goals are great for achieving incremental progress, they can also make your goals feel like checklists, leading to disengagement and boredom. Instead, I challenge you to set an “impossible goal” — a goal so big and out of reach that it forces you t...
Happy New Year!
In this first solo episode of 2025, I dive into the powerful concept of overcoming the "persistent yes, but" that so often holds us back from pursuing our goals and dreams - how small mental roadblocks can prevent us from taking meaningful action and shares a framework for transforming those "yes, buts" into "yes, ands."
Learn how reframing your internal dialogue and taking sm...
In this holiday special of Yes And, I’m stepping away from the usual format to share something fun and festive. I’m dropping in a full episode of my old podcast, In a World of...Improvised Movie Homages, where we played improv games to parody different movie genres. This one’s all about the magic of Hallmark Christmas movies—their charm, predictability, and everything we love (or love to make fun of) about them.
In this episode of Yes, And with Avish Parashar, I dive into the critical yet often overlooked skill of being present. Whether you're in a leadership role, working with coworkers, or navigating personal relationships, being fully present in the moment is the key to effective communication, emotional management, and fostering positive outcomes in challenging situations.
This episode is a follow-up to my con...
In this episode of "Yes, And with Avish Parashar," I chat with David Dye, President of Let's Grow Leaders and co-author of "Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict." David shares his insights on how to transform workplace conflict into constructive conversations. We explore key phrases that can help you navigate difficult discussions, the importance of psychological safety, and how to foster a culture of i...
In this solo episode of Yes, And with Avish Parashar, I’m diving deeper into a key theme from my conversation with DEI expert Jess Pettitt: stepping into uncertainty. I’ll explain how embracing uncertainty—not only in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work but in life—can lead to creativity, growth, and positive change.
I also share an improv game I use, called Gibberish Translation, to demonstrate ho...
In this episode of "Yes, And with Avish Parashar," I welcome the insightful Jess Pettitt, a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) speaker, author, and consultant. With nearly two decades of experience, Jess has empowered countless individuals and organizations to embrace inclusivity while navigating the complexities of human interaction with humor and authenticity.
We dive into Jess's latest book, Almost ...
Do you consider yourself creative? Whether you’re an artist, a professional, or someone who thinks they “just aren’t creative,” this episode is for you. In this solo episode, I dive into the true essence of creativity and show how everyone can access their own creative genius. Building on last week’s conversation with Dan Nestle about AI, I share how creativity can make us more adaptable, resilient, and innovative—esse...
Are you using storytelling in your work? Are you using AI tools?
If you answered “no” to either of those question, you need this episode!
If you answered “yes,” to both of them, you should still listen as you may gain more insight and ideas on how you can do both more effectively.
My guest on this week’s episode is Dan Nestle. Dan is an award-winning communications executive...
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