Family Migration Stories, Cultural Roots, Physics, Improv, and Stand-Up Comedy: A Discussion with Will Luera!

Will Luera, a globally touring improv comedy actor, instructor and director, joins us for a lively conversation about the unique naming conventions within his family and his journey to living in Florida. Will takes us on a fascinating exploration of the origins of his family name and the Latino tradition of taking the mother's maiden name as a middle name. Learn how the vibrant Cuban culture has evolved over the years and why Sarasota is home to the 'number two beach in America'! From Mexico to Texas and beyond, our family migration stories take center stage as we delve into the rich tapestry of our shared connections, ancestry, and diverse cultures that make up our heritage.

In this episode, we explore the exciting world of improv and performance, with Will sharing how his background in physics and experiences in CrossFit and Yoga have influenced his teaching methods. We talk about the art of stand-up comedy and the process of crafting a set, as well as some of our favorite comedians. And if you're curious about the intersection of language learning and improvisation, Will shares his journey of learning Spanish and Portuguese, as well as his insights into the letter systems of Arabic, Russian, and Norwegian.

Our laughter, connection, and discovery don't end there! We discuss the idea of a road trip to the cities our families originated from and the possibility of opening up our own improv club. We also consider working in Latin America and the connection between our fathers' experiences as boxers (you know, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, etc). Plus, we celebrate our podcast's success of breaking the top 10 of independent comedy improv podcasts on GoodPods! Don't miss this incredible episode filled with humor, insight, and camaraderie.

Will Luera⁠ is the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, Artistic Director of Improv Asylum, Director of Big Bang Improv & serves as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston.

Will is the co-creator of Healing Moments for Alzheimer’s, a non-profit organization that provides education, advocacy, and ministry for persons with dementia and their caregivers. He sits on the board of CreArte Latino, a Latino-centric cultural community center in the Sarasota area.

Will tours globally as an improv comedy actor, instructor, director and perform and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe and Asia. ⁠Will-Luera.com⁠

CHAPTERS

(0:00:11) - Florida Living and Latino Name: Will and I discussed his family name, Cuban culture in Florida, and his love for Sarasota

(0:04:27) - Mexican-American Migration and Heritage: We discuss our family migration, the Bracero program, ancestry, cultures, and the stories behind them.

(0:15:22) - Improv and Physics in Performance: Will and I discuss physics, CrossFit, Yoga, his father's career migration, and the Bracero Program and how it applies to teaching improv.

(0:23:12) - Comedy, Comedians, Vegas Trip: We discuss crafting stand-up comedy, favorite comedians, evolution, and the romantic side of the cigar business.

(0:34:51) - Improvisation, Language Learning, and Personal Connections: Will and I discuss improv, stand-up comedy, South America, language systems, and DuoLingo.

(0:44:16) - Improv, DNA, Latin Opportunities: Will and I discuss road trips, improv clubs, Latin America, boxing, Mexico, stand-up comedy, and a Vato Cigars package for famous comedians.

(0:50:35) - Top 10 Comedy Podcasts: Will and I celebrate the podcast's success, discuss future projects, and appreciated support.

PAUL VATO

⁠⁠⁠Paul Vato⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is an actor, impro