31 Triggers: Phillip Galinsky

Philip Galinsky is a New York based actor, writer, and solo performer whose work combines humor, honesty, and movement. His original show 31 Triggers blurs the line between poetry, comedy, and improvisation. It feels alive, unpredictable, and deeply human.

At its core, 31 Triggers explores the small things that set something off inside us. The moments that make us laugh, remember, or reflect. It all started with one simple “trigger” — the birthday cake. “I hate birthday cakes,” Galinsky told me. “Still do.” He was the youngest in his family, and in an old photograph he’s the one sitting in front of the cake. That photo started it all. It captured a feeling that never quite left him, the strange mix of attention, discomfort, and memory that would later shape his work.

The number thirty one is more than a title. It is Galinsky’s favorite number and a reference to Baskin Robbins’ thirty one flavors. Just like their ice cream, his triggers change all the time. Each one offers something different to feel or think about.

31 Triggers has grown far beyond a single performance. Galinsky has written three books around the concept. The first was for adults, the second for parents and kids, and the third for parents, kids, and sports. He told me he loves the visual aspect of it all because triggers are not only verbal, they are visual.

That visual energy comes through on stage. At the start of each show, the audience scans a QR code that links to a slide deck of each trigger. As the topics appear, Galinsky shifts between humor, storytelling, and reflection. His voice, gestures, and expressions build on one another. You can feel how much his physicality drives the performance.

Beyond the stage, Galinsky teaches acting and voiceover to kids. He says they understand triggers better than most adults. “Kids get it,” he said. “Something will trigger them, and two weeks later it’s not even a thing anymore. Right now, the big one is the booboos. That’s a trigger for me too.” He even turned some of those conversations into podcast episodes, keeping that same sense of curiosity and playfulness alive.

Watching 31 Triggers felt uplifting and surprisingly intimate. Laughter and smiles filled the room, but it also left space for reflection. It was a reminder that humor and vulnerability can exist together, and that even the smallest moments have meaning when you look closely.

Full interview with Philip Galinsky available below.

–

“What was the first trigger that led to this work, the moment you knew you needed to create 31 triggers?”

Galinsky: “The birthday cake. The birthday cake. The birthday cake.
I hate birthday cakes, which I still do.”

“And then how did you decide on the number 31?”

Galinksy: “It's my favorite number, but. there's 31 flavors for Baskin Robbins ice cream. 
And the triggers change and so does their ice cream.”

“How many books have you done so far, and how is this one different?”

Galinsky: “This is my third. I like the visual concept because triggers are not only verbal, but they're visual. The first one was just adults, the second book was for parents and kids, and the third one is for parents, kids, and sports.”