What if the secret to a better interview wasn't knowing all the right answers — but knowing how to handle any answer? In this episode, Kevin Cameron sits down with Jess Rogers of Tama Learning, a professional improviser and communication coach whose approach to interview prep will completely change how you think about conversation.
Jess introduces the "yes and" mindset from the world of improv and shows how accepting and engaging — rather than blocking or deflecting — can transform your presence in any high-stakes conversation. Whether you're dreading the curveball question or just freezing under pressure, this episode gives you a practical, repeatable framework to walk into any interview feeling ready for whatever gets thrown at you.
Key Takeaways
The "yes and" mindset means accepting someone's reality and engaging with it — even if you disagree.
You don't need the perfect answer, just an answer that moves the conversation forward.
Trust your brain to make connections — word association exercises are a powerful way to stay sharp.
Practice out loud, with a friend, with AI, or even walking the dog with headphones in.
Affirmations can help you stay calm when an unexpected question lands.
An interview is a two-way street — you are assessing them as much as they are assessing you.
Role play is not about getting it right — it's about getting comfortable with the unexpected.
Episode Highlights
Why improv isn't winging it — and why that matters for interview prep.
The "yes and" principle explained in plain terms with real examples.
How to buy yourself time when a curveball question lands without looking thrown.
The difference between a block and a yes and — and why it matters at work too.
Word association as a daily brain warm-up.
Why senior candidates and leaders are often the best yes anders in a room.
Jess's personal story of how a single moment with her mum shaped her entire career.
Timestamps
00:00 — Meet Jess Rogers and Tama Learning
01:45 — Why role play makes people nervous
02:27 — Improv: what it actually is and why it works
04:32 — The "yes and" principle explained
06:49 — Yes and as an internal mindset, not words
08:31 — How to handle curveball questions
09:44 — Accepting without agreeing
11:35 — Getting secure enough to yes and
12:06 — How to trust your brain under pressure
12:52 — Word association and how to practise it
14:26 — A to C thinking: making fast connections
16:04 — The callback technique
18:15 — Pausing as a power move
19:46 — Practical ways to practise at home
21:39 — Applying yes and across all of life
23:13 — Yes and when you actually disagree — live example
25:09 — Accepting reality vs denying it
26:03 — Practice, pride and talking to your dog
29:14 — Staying sharp: affirmations and mindset
30:23 — The interview as a two-way conversation
31:14 — Improv classes and where to find them
31:49 — How to know you're getting better
33:40 — Kevin Cameron's final thoughts on presence and leadership
34:04 — Jess's why
Connect With Jess
Email: jess@tamalearning.com LinkedIn: Jess Rogers If you're in London: Blanche Theatre — where Jess teaches improv
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Visit Talent Connect: Website: www.talent-connect.net LinkedIn: Talent-Connect Kevin's LinkedIn: Kevin Cameron PCC
Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/
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