Episodes

  • Masked I Advanced: The Price & Power of Facial Expressions

    Masked I Advanced: The Price & Power of Facial Expressions
    Aug 24 2025
    Hosts: Matthew Ellenwood (EmoVerity, Ellenwood Studios) @Ellenwood Studios Berit Elizabeth (Emotive Agility Training) @emotiveagility Summary: In this episode, Matthew and Berit explore the price and power of facial expressions in both performance and everyday life. They discuss how nonverbal communication—especially facial expressions—can be used intentionally to connect with others, regulate emotions, and navigate complex social situations. Key Topics: • The three components of emotion: subjective experience, physiological response, and expressive response. • Emotional granularity: understanding and naming nuanced emotions. • The importance of emotional intelligence and regulation in both performance and professional contexts. • The concept of “masking” as a communication tool—not as inauthenticity, but as a strategic choice for effective interaction. • The three expression archetypes: Externalizer, Internalizer, and Equalizer/Generalizer. • How to “read the room” and align your expression with context and intent. • Recent neuroscience research on how our brains register others’ emotions, even subconsciously. • Practical exercises for warming up and training facial expressions, including “Making Faces” and exploring facial morphologies (broad/wide, tall/long, bunched/constricted). • The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) and its use in performance and motion capture. • The Rasaboxes technique and the concept of “emotional athleticism.” • The importance of autonomy and co-regulation in emotional communication. Practical Takeaways: • Practice facial warmups and morphologies to increase expressive range. • Use emotional “masking” intentionally to support your goals and the needs of the room. • Develop self-awareness of your own expressive style (externalizer, internalizer, equalizer). • Remember: emotional intelligence is a skill that can be trained, not just understood. Resources & Links: 🔔 Subscribe on You Tube for video version & more great content @theedgeofthestage 💻 “Making Faces” self-study course by Matthew Ellenwood 📗 Dacher Keltner’s Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. 📕 Brene Brown’s “Atlas of the Heart” 🔬 Neural signatures of emotional intent and inference align during social consensus 🎭 The Rasaboxes technique by Richard Schechner 🔎 FACS (Facial Action Coding System) 💗 Dr. Erika Rosenberg Next Episode Preview: Join us next time for a discussion on the “mixology” of emotions—how emotional “cocktails” and “mocktails” show up on stage and in everyday life.
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    52 mins
  • Navigating Boundaries with Performer Techniques: The Zero State - Part Two

    Navigating Boundaries with Performer Techniques: The Zero State - Part Two
    Jun 23 2025
    In the first episode of the Edge of the Stage Podcast, hosts Matthew Ellenwood and Berit Elizabeth dive into the concept of the Zero State, a centering technique originating from performance training that helps individuals connect with themselves and others with purpose and presence. The first episode focused on two of four physical elements of Zero: Eyes + Breath, and this current episode focuses on the next two elements: Face + Body. In this second episode, the hosts explore how the Zero State can be applied to hold boundaries in challenging situations, both in personal and professional contexts. The discussion includes real-life examples from acting, business, and fitness, as well as expert insights from psychology and self-defense methodologies. The episode also provides practical steps for achieving the Zero State and highlights the importance of understanding our emotional responses. Tune in to learn how performance training can be a valuable tool for improving everyday interactions. Follow Us on Instagram @emotiveagility @ellenwoodstudios LINKS & Show Notes 📄Zero State Handout 🧘‍♀️ Set Boundaries, Find Peace - Needra Glover Tawwab 🛡️ Verbal Self Defense - Lauren Roselle, President of ESTEEM 🚫🗣️ The Verbally Abusive Relationship 💬 Radical Candor - Kim Scott 🌡️ Dr. Dan Seigel’s Window of Tolerance 👶🪞 The "Still Face" Experiment by Dr. Ed Tronick 🪨Grey Rocking Resource 1Resource 2 Attractor States 🧲 The Role of the Body in Instrumental and Vocal Music Pedagogy: A Dynamical Systems Theory Perspective on the Music Teacher's Bodily Engagement in Teaching and Learning 🌀 Dynamic Systems Theory of Motor Development: The Complete Guide for Sports Rehab Professionals Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Edge of the Stage Podcast 00:44 Understanding the Zero State 00:59 Applying Zero in Difficult Situations 01:17 Boundaries in Performance and Life 05:45 Non-Verbal Boundary Setting 08:33 Zero State in Performance Context 17:36 Emotional Regulation and Zero 27:41 The Still Face Experiment 31:35 Understanding Zero Face in Adults vs. Babies 32:55 The Power of Grey Rocking 34:54 Verbal Self-Defense Techniques 36:19 Personal Experiences with Grey Rocking 38:56 Radical Candor and Zero State 40:52 Practicing the Zero State 48:37 Zero State Skill Drill 51:23 Applying Zero State in Real-Life Scenarios 58:55 The Transformative Power of Zero State 01:01:12 Conclusion and Call to Action
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Getting to Zero: Embodying the Pause - Part 1

    Getting to Zero: Embodying the Pause - Part 1
    May 4 2025

    Getting to Zero: Embodying the Pause (Ep. 1)

    Welcome to the first episode of 'The Edge of the Stage podcast: Life Lessons from Performance Training.' Hosts Berit Elizabeth and Matthew Ellenwood introduce the concept of 'Zero,' a state of focused readiness critical for both performers and professionals.

    Learn practical techniques for achieving Zero, hear the science behind it, and explore the emotional intelligence framework that makes it possible. Matthew demonstrates how to access this state quickly through breath and eye exercises, while Berit links it to professional and personal settings. This episode also delves into the significance of Zero in performance training and its distinction from the term 'neutral.' Join us to unlock the art of the full body pause and navigate intense emotions with composure and confidence.

    🔔 Subscribe for more great content - https://www.youtube.com/@TheEdgeoftheStage

    Follow us on Instagram:

    Matthew Ellenwood - Ellenwood Studios: @ellenwood_studios

    Berit Elizabeth - Emotive Agility: @emotiveagility

    LINKS and Show Notes

    📁 Establishing a Baseline handout - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rOwLz4bLsxyeahOoFKtMn-QReKfZbbvQ/view?usp=drive_link

    0️⃣ Challenging Actor's Neutrality - https://www.onstageblog.com/industry/2021/4/26/challenging-actors-neutrality

    🎭 Normalizing Non-Neutral: Towards an Inclusive Acting Pedagogy - https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/9989ba04-2e11-4922-9996-88618b9197b7/content

    ❤️ Resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia is related to emotion reactivity to social-evaluative stress https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032722011065

    🫁 Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00397/full

    👁️‍🗨️ Vision and Breathing May Be the Secrets to Surviving 2020 - https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vision-and-breathing-may-be-the-secrets-to-surviving-2020/

    👁️ Study reveals how breathing regulates pupil size and vision - https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250221/Study-reveals-how-breathing-regulates-pupil-size-and-vision.aspx

    🟪 Schechner's Rasaboxes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFPupoTR91o

    Time Stamps:

    00:00 Introduction to the Concept of Zero

    02:08 Defining Zero in Artistic and Professional Contexts

    06:19 The Importance of Training for Zero

    07:28 Understanding Zero vs. Neutral

    10:17 Assessing Your State Before Reaching Zero

    12:59 Practical Applications and Challenges of Zero

    19:02 Real-Life Scenarios and the Need for Zero

    21:38 Baseline State Exercise

    21:57 Assessing Your Environment and Social Context

    22:42 Body Awareness and Energy Levels

    23:25 Mental Focus and Curiosity

    24:08 Summarizing the Baseline

    25:10 Introduction to Zero State Components

    25:22 Breathing Techniques for Zero State

    27:41 Eye Techniques for Zero State

    30:50 Scientific Insights on Emotional Regulation

    38:00 Rasaboxes and Shanta: Performance Techniques

    43:32 Conclusion and Next Steps
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    45 mins
  • Trailer: The Edge of the Stage Podcast

    Trailer: The Edge of the Stage Podcast
    Mar 4 2025

    Introducing The Edge of the Stage: Life Lessons from Performance Training

    In this trailer episode, hosts Berit Elizabeth and Matthew Ellenwood introduce 'The Edge of the Stage,' a podcast blending performance training techniques with everyday life strategies. They discuss the importance of maintaining composure in high-stakes conversations at work, using a humorous clip to illustrate the concept of having a 'game face.'

    They emphasize emotional intelligence and the benefits of performance training for professionals and everyday scenarios. The episode also introduces the show's structure, which combines scientific evidence and philosophical insights, and teases the first full topic: zero, neutral, or greyrocking techniques.
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    7 mins