Rooms & Reckonings: An Acting Podcast

Patrick Poole

Focusing on a different acting theory book every episode, a guest host and I will summarize it, highlight the big ideas, weed out what's outdated or problematic, and figure out if the theories are still useful for the 21st Century. There are a thousand acting techniques out there; this should narrow things down whether you're an actor, student, teacher, or just interested theatre.

Last refreshed: August 17th, 2025 at 5:27 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Improvisation for the Theater - Part 3 (Featuring Becky Fleckner)

The exciting conclusion to this three-part episode! This one is a little shorter than previous episodes, but we still cover a lot of ground, discussing Spolin's directory of games, objective stage reality, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Lorraine Hansberry. Becky also takes an opportunity to plug her group, Artists-in-Place, which she co-founded with her partner. I've also provided a link to the theatre where you can see Becky perform as Little Stone in Eurydice, directed by Shannon Hill. Thank you for ...

Sep 13, 2020•43 min•Ep. 8

Improvisation for the Theater - Part 2 (Featuring Becky Fleckner)

In the second part of my conversation with Becky Fleckner about Viola Spolin's Improvisation for the Theater, we discuss the application of this work in the classroom and in the rehearsal room. Becky shares more stories about her time as a teacher, and I go on another rant about Jared Leto. We mention a handful of artists connected to theatre and improvisation, and I've provided some links below with more information about them. The final episode of Improvisation for the Theater will be out next...

Sep 05, 2020•56 min•Ep. 7

Improvisation for the Theater - Part 1 (Featuring Becky Fleckner)

Part 1 of my conversation with Becky Fleckner about Viola Spolin's Improvisation for the Theater. We cover a lot of ground, but Spolin wrote a wealth of knowledge and so much of it is worth mentioning. We discuss some of the history and reasoning behind multiple publications and updates of this book. Later on, a lot of our conversation focuses on the teaching aspects of theatre, whether that means creating the right environment for students, encouraging their impulses, or making sure you don't l...

Aug 27, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 6

Improvisation for the Theater - Promo (Featuring Becky Fleckner)

The promo for the upcoming episodes for Rooms & Reckonings: An Acting Podcast! I talk to Becky Fleckner about Viola Spolin's Improvisation for the Theater. The first episode will be released next Wednesday, August 26th! Come join the conversation!

Aug 20, 2020•2 min•Ep. 5

Method or Madness - Part 2 (Featuring David Huynh)

Part 2 of the first episode of Rooms & Reckonings: An Acting Podcast! My guest host is David Huynh, actor, educator, producer, advocate, and good friend. We finish discussing Method or Madness by Robert Lewis. This book addresses the major ideas of the system developed by Konstantin Stanislavski along with many of the misconceptions that sprung up around it through the first half of the 20th Century. This part covers lectures 1 through 4. I also finally remember what true crime podcast I was...

Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 4

Method or Madness - Part 1 (Featuring David Huynh)

The first episode of Rooms & Reckonings: An Acting Podcast! My guest host is David Huynh, actor, educator, producer, advocate, and good friend. For the first episode, we're discussing Method or Madness by Robert Lewis. This book addresses the major ideas of the system developed by Konstantin Stanislavski along with many of the misconceptions that sprung up around it through the first half of the 20th Century. Since there's so much to talk about, this episode is Part 1 of 2 for Method or Madn...

Jul 30, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 3

Episode 1 Promo

The first promo for the first episode of my first podcast. So honored that David Huynh is my first guest and the first book we'll be talking about is Method or Madness by Robert Lewis! Whole lotta firsts! Episode drops on Wednesday July 29th!

Jul 23, 2020•2 min•Ep. 2

Trailer 1

The first trailer for Rooms & Reckonings: An Acting Podcast! First episode out near the end of this month.

Jul 18, 2020•1 min•Ep. 1

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