LaughBox

This Special Edition of Laughbox is for Steve Wilson to hand off the Internatioinal Humor Month to Drew Tarvin. Enjoy the history of National Humor Month with Larry Wilde and others in the story of how humor was proven to be the best medicine (and continues to be ). Steve Wilson, known as the “Cheerman of The Bored” and the one and only “Joyologist”, is the founder of World Laughter Tour, Inc. and has trained 7,000 laughter therapists. He is the author of seven books and dozens of articles and blogs, and is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning humor expert. As one of America's top-rated professional speakers, Wilson offers popular programs on joy, motivation, teamwork, health and humor. He has also served as a design consultant and spokesperson for the SunChips Laughalizer campaign. In addition, he earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, and the Rire d'Or Award (Golden Laughter) from L'Ecole Internationale Du Rire et du Bonheur. He is President of the Laughter Arts & Sciences Foundation (501.c.3) and has been featured in numerous radio & TV talk shows and other media around the world.

Dani Klein Modisett is the Founder/CEO of the award-winning company bringing comic relief to those facing Alzheimer's, Laughter On Call. LOC was launched to help her mother who became depressed facing the disease. In the ensuing 6 years the company has grown to help all people feeling isolated. To date it has trained thousands of caregivers and worked with over 600 companies around the world including META, Amazon, Capital One, Bristol Myers and FEMA. LOC has been featured in The Washington Post, The London Times, The NY Times and AARP Magazine. Dani is also a comedian/actor and author of the books, “Afterbirth: stories you won't read in a parenting magazine (St. Martin's Press) “Take My Spouse, Please.” (Penguin Random House) a part-memoir, part how-to for creating shared laughter to keep your marriage happy and healthy. Dani taught Stand-Up at UCLA for 10 years and has coached keynote speakers, business leaders, and Congressional candidates to use more humor in their communication. She has been a keynote speaker at Women's Business Enterprise National Council, Dartmouth Entrepreneur Forum, CALA, ICAA and UCLA. She has run workshops at Stanford, MIT, Columbia, Duke's Fuqua and Harvard Business School where Laughter On Call is currently a case study. Her writing has appeared in AARP, NY Times, LA Times, Parents Magazine and many websites. Her many podcast appearances include Stanford's “When I'm 64,” and “The Tony Robbins Podcast.” Before becoming an entrepreneur, Dani was an actor who appeared on Broadway and many TV shows including “Law & Order,” “The Lottery,” and “Las Vegas,” for NBC. She was listed in Forbes 50>50 in 2023.    Dani Klein Modisett  Laughter On Call  Founder/CEO (213) 840-6798   Named Forbes 50 over 50   Author Take My Spouse, Please 

Andrew Tarvin is the world's first Humor Engineer teaching people how to get better results while having more fun. He has worked with thousands of people at 200+ organizations, including P&G, GE, and Microsoft. In 2025, Andrew became Director of International Humor Month for AATH. Combining his background as a project manager at Procter & Gamble with his experience as an international comedian, Andrew's program are engaging, entertaining, and most important, effective. He is a best-selling author, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TEDx, and has delivered programs in 50 states, 18 countries, and 3 continents. He loves the color orange and is obsessed with chocolate.   https://www.aath.org/humor-month https://www.humorthatworks.com/  

Dr. Sam Shay, DC, IFMCP is a functional medicine expert, speaker, and comedian who has helped countless individuals optimize their health through personalized, data-driven strategies. Specializing in energy optimization, brain health, and overcoming fatigue and stress, Dr. Sam combines his health expertise with his unique comedic perspective to make health transformation accessible, engaging, and empowering.   His 25+ years of experience have led him to create the Neuro-Harmony Model, a comprehensive framework designed to nurture and optimize mental, emotional, and physical health. He uses this model to provide clear, actionable strategies to help professionals manage stress, boost focus, and sustain high performance in demanding environments.   Dr. Sam also uses his platform to support professionals navigating the unique challenges of high-stakes careers, offering tools to maintain balance and resilience while achieving their goals. Drawing on his deep understanding of functional medicine, he blends humor and science to empower individuals to tap into their full potential in work and life.   Dr. Sam has been featured on over 100 podcasts and stages, sharing his transformative approach to unlocking human potential and helping professionals thrive through functional medicine. Dr. Shay also shares practical health insights in his stand-up comedy, making health transformation fun and relatable. His one-hour comedy special, "NeuroSpicy: Love, Life, & Comedy on the Spectrum", shares his journey and includes powerful insights on embracing neurodiversity.   Website: www.DrSamShay.com  Genetics program: https://go.drsamshay.com/sp-dna-decoded Facebook: www.DrSamShay.com/sam.shay.792  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tenpointwellness 

Mike Goodwin is a refreshingly funny comedian, keynote speaker, and content delivery coach. His signature bowtie represents his expectation-defying brand of comedy that leaves a variety of audiences - from churches to corporate events to swanky galas - laughing hysterically and completely inspired, without a foul or vulgar word spoken.  A native of Camden, South Carolina, Mike holds a master's degree in Education from the University of South Carolina, is a veteran of the U.S. Army, and a former primary and secondary education professional. He infuses his varied life experiences into his act, making him relatable to audiences from all walks of life.  Using his ability to merge leadership and laughter, Mike is a powerful communicator whose primary goal is to leave places and people better than he found them. The TEDx speaker has appeared on America's Got Talent, Dry Bar Comedy, Today Show, Lifetime, BET, Amazon Prime,TBN, Daystar, USA, the Word Network, Circle TV, and SiriusXM.  A southern gentleman with a curious mind, love for people, and heart for God, Mike Goodwin is in a class all his own. He resides in Columbia, SC with his beautiful wife Rozalynn and their two children.     mikegoodwin.com

We are so excited to welcome Chris Duffy, Creative Extraordinaire to the podcast! We had so much fun and we hope you get some giggles from this episode.    Chris Duffy is a comedian, television writer, and radio/podcast host. Chris wrote for both seasons of Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas on HBO, executive produced by John Oliver. He's the creator/host of the streaming game show Wrong Answers Only, where three comedians try to understand what a leading scientist does all day, in partnership with LabX at the National Academy of Sciences. Chris is both a former fifth grade teacher and a former fifth grade student.    contact: ChrisDuffyComedy.com

I am an Executive Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and Humor Ambassador.   I specialize in translating evidence-based techniques into actionable tools for teams. I have 25+ years of leadership experience in multinational companies and organizations. s and individuals, focusing on mindset shifts, communication, and leadership skills. I hold workshops integrating humor and improv with psychological research to enhance creativity, flexibility, and performance.   I hold presentations and workshops at international conferences. My passion is helping people laugh more and complain less.   As a speech coach, I supported 100+ presenters for TEDx and professional conferences. I am a member of the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor (aath.org), the Applied Improv Network (https://www.appliedimprovisationnetwork.org/), the International Society for Humor Studies (https://www.humorstudies.org/) and Toastmasters International.   My links: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bea-bincze-pcc-actc-dtm-4679bb13 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bea.bincze Company: https://businesscoach.hu/en/humor/

For over forty years, John Johnson (Simply Saint Nick) has been a character actor and historical presenter, notably bringing the role of Santa Claus to life in the most authentic way. His debut on stage (and as Santa no less) was at the age of six in an elementary school production of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Since then, John has gone on to study acting with the Alban Arts Academy in Saint Albans, West Virginia. He has also attended classes taught by such artists as Pam Chibora, Leah Turley, Sean Watkins, Adam Bryan, Marlette Carter, and Kelly Strom. He has performed regionally in such shows as “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” as Father Christmas (2011), “Miracle on 34th Street” as Kris Kringle (2012), “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” as Nicholas (2013), and “Adventures in Santa Claus Land” as Santa (2019). He has also performed the role on local television commercials and on various Christmas specials regionally. But it isn't his acting abilities that make Santa John unique. Rather, it is his great faith in Christ – the Reason for the Season. Yes, John has always portrayed the role from the Christian perspective which goes all the way back to Nicholas of Myra (270-343AD). Nicholas was the prototype of the Santa we know and love today. Santa John has studied carefully over his lifetime both the history and the traditions of the character that he portrays. His portrayal emphasizes service to Christ, love, joy, peace, and hope – the bedrocks of the season. Couple these things with the fact that Santa John truly loves children, maintains a jolly demeanor, and a deep love of the role and you have something special in him. The additions of real whiskers, custom tailored suits, and real accessories make Santa John someone to believe in. In 2023, Santa John even wrote a book about his life, his faith, and role as Santa Claus. It is available at Westbow Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbooks.com. Click the title to get a copy of “Simply Saint Nick: My Life as a Real-Life Christian Santa Claus.” Amazon link https://a.co/d/97qKnNo Interview with the Christian Chronicle, December 2023 https://christianchronicle.org/peace-on-earth-and-goodwill-to-men-christian-santa-professes-christ/ https://simplysaintnick.com/  

Marco was born in Chicago but has also lived in Mexico City and San Antonio. He holds two bachelor's degrees in English and Psychology, as well as a Master of Jurisprudence. With 15 years of experience in the corporate sector, his roles have spanned product management, operations, governance, and call center positions. In 2011, after the birth of his first daughter, Marco began to feel ill. For nine years, he was told it was anxiety, but nothing seemed to help. It wasn't until 2020 that he was finally diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. From 2011 to 2022, Marco struggled with agoraphobia, but with the help of medication, therapy, and supportive friends, he was able to overcome these limitations. During his time at home, Marco began writing a collection of fictional short stories. Originally, he intended to gift the stories to his daughters, the youngest of whom was born in 2013. However, after sharing the stories with friends, he was encouraged to consider publishing them. In 2023, the stories were published as a novel titled Within Normal Limits. Shortly after its release, the novel became an Amazon Best Seller in the Multiple Sclerosis category. The novel follows a fictional version of Marco as he navigates struggles with religion, relationships, fatherhood, and connecting with others who are also dealing with their own solitude. After the publication, Marco began doing readings. Though the book is quite sad, Marco (the author) is not, which led to the readings evolving into comedy routines. This eventually opened the door for Marco to participate in stand-up comedy around town.     Book Synopsis:   This gripping collection of stories tells the story of Marco, a young man diagnosed with multiple sclerosis who must confront the harsh reality of his prognosis. Set against the backdrop of a life being slowly taken away from him, the reader is taken on a journey of strength, courage, and resilience as Marco learns to appreciate the beauty of life. With his relationships pushed to the limit, Marco must find the courage to face his illness and discover the weight of hope.   https://www.wnlmarco.com https://www.instagram.com/wnlmarco https://a.co/d/8ITF5BA (Amazon link to purchase, although folks can get it through Target, Barnes and Noble, and a ton of other online retailers).

Since his first open mic in 1999, Marc Yaffee has turned his love of stand up in to a thriving career. Stand up comedy has led Marc to perform in diverse locales far and wide around the globe. Marc's 20 year comedic career has taken him across four continents, 11 countries and 43 states.  Marc's past performance venues includes a tool shed in Iraq, atop a large rock in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for a Tribal celebration, and on board an Alaska Airlines flight to Fairbanks. Whether it's a Las Vegas showroom, a cruise ship theater, or a tribal gymnasium, Marc Yaffee comes ready to connect with his audiences and deliver all-out laughs.   Marc Yaffee's Career Marc Yaffee was the founder and co-star of the Pow Wow Comedy Jam. It featured performers at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), and top tribal casinos across the land. In 2010, Pow Wow Comedy Jam was named NIGA Entertainers of the Year. Additionally, it was also feature that year on the Showtime special Goin' Native. This was a ground-breaking achievement, as it was the first-ever cable special showcasing an all Native American lineup. Marc Yaffee's TV appearances also include; PBS, The Latino Laugh Festival, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen and FNX Network's, First Nations Comedy Experience. His comedy special, Marc My Words, is a mainstay on the streaming site Nativeflix.com. Recently, his new Dry Bar Comedy Special, Mid-Laugh Crisis showcased his “funny, not filthy” comedy style that has earned him a growing appeal among stand-up fans. Additionally, the special recently went viral and has garnered much attention as well. Marc Yaffee has performed six times overseas for Armed Forces Entertainment. This includes the Pacific, Europe, the Far East and Middle East. He won the Ventura Comedy Festival in 2012 and is a former writer for laugh.com. Marc's wide experience has made him a hit with audiences of all types. His fans range from comedy club Millennials to casino showroom Baby Boomers. Marc skewers sacred cows, dissects societal stupidities, and confronts our common frustrations, all with humanity and humor.   Marc's Podcast “How Does That Happen” Marc Yaffee created the How Does That Happen Podcast in late 2018. How Does That Happen came about from Marc'c fascination with extreme people. More importantly, it came from those driven to seek out or survive record breaking behaviors that most people would never consider doing, and others many couldn't imagine existed. How Does that Happen spotlights not only the craziest record holders but  wannabe-record holders and should-be record holders. Marc Yaffee and his co-host, Dave Mencarelli, interview men and women who've claimed some of the most unusual records. Additionally, the podcast highlights people whose “achievements” aren't in any record books, but in Marc's opinion, should be. Examples of guests include a comedian who performed stand-up shows 1002 consecutive nights in a row. Most recently, a female competitive eating champion came to chat. Marc Yaffee has also interviewed a man trying to become the worst rated Uber driver. Marc Yaffee's How Does That Happen podcast is two extremely regular guys interviewing some not-so-regular people. It's a ton of fun and we hope you'll check it out here.   Website: https://laughwithmarc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaughWithMarcYaffee/ Twitter: https://x.com/MarcYaffee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcyaffee/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MarcYaffee Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcyaffee/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marcyaffeecomedy   Book Marc for your event! https://laughwithmarc.com/contact-marc-yaffee

Dr. Brad Miller on the Cancer and Comedy Podcast.     A month after retiring from a 43-year career as a pastor Dr. Brad Miller was diagnosed with cancer.  His reaction was to laugh to keep from crying.  He responded by combining his ministry experience with his doctoral degree in life transformation and his love of comedy to create the Cancer and Comedy Podcast designed to help people impacted by cancer (and other diseases) to heal with hope and humor.  Dr. Brad launched the Cancer and Comedy Podcast in August 2023 and received the Best faith-based Comedy Podcast for 2023 Award by Spark Media. Dr. Brad Miller is available for speaking, consulting and coaching in matters related to leveraging humor and hope in the healing process.     Dr. Brad Miller Brad@DrBradMiller.com https://cancerandcomedy.com/follow https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbradleymiller/ https://www.facebook.com/cancerandcomedy https://www.youtube.com/@CancerandComedy https://www.facebook.com/bradmiller2000 Blog Post from Senior Living Guide Podcast where I was a guest https://www.seniorlivingguide.com/i-will-not-let-cancer-define-me/   PodINDY.com is a one day conference on the topic "How to Profit from Podcasting: Amplified with AI" and features presentations by Podcast Hall of Famer Dave Jackson, the author of "Profit From Your Podcast," and Dr. Craig Van Slyke, Technology Professor from Louisiana Tech University, and creator of the "AI Goes to College Podcast."    The live event is 9AM ET November 9, 2024 and virtual tickets which include the replay recordings are available for $27 at PodINDY.com.   As Brad mentioned, here is The Five-Day FREE "Healing through Hope and Humor" Course will Help You Cope with Cancer on Your Terms! https://cancerandcomedy.com/free Please share with your friends or anyone in need.

Wolf Brown is a native american stand-up comedy from the village of Bapchule located on the Gila River Indian Community. His style of comedy includes one-liners, story telling, and roasts. Being versatile in both comedy club and reservation humor. He is has become a rising star in the Arizona comedy scene as well as becoming a casino favorite.    His jokes are relatable to everyone, telling the struggles of a rezzy native in a modern world. He recently went viral on tiktok. You can follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Tictok @gilariouswolf. His comedy album Gilarious (pronounced "hilarious") was just released Sept 30th 2024.    Link to all socials  https://linktr.ee/gilariouswolf Link to steaming of album  https://wolfbrown.hearnow.com/

Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE is an international speaker, successful author, master neuroplastician, brain-based coach, and neurohumorist (she lives at the intersection of humor and the brain). Karyn is the global authority on high performance humor and her undertakings include her TEDx talk—How Humor Saved the World. As a neurohumorist, Karyn's career resides at the intersection of humor and the brain, helping high performers achieve greater influence and optimum health through the art and science of applied humor. Karyn is one of 275 professionals (and one of only 62 women) in the world to be inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame. Karyn speaks internationally to organizations that grasp the important role that humor plays in business, health, and life. Among her 800+ clients over 35 years are the Mayo Clinic, AARP, NASA, and the Million Dollar Round Table. Website: https://www.karynbuxman.com/

Chris Palmer is an author, speaker, wildlife filmmaker, conservationist, educator, professor, and grandfather. He dedicated his professional career to conservation but now devotes his life to end-of-life activism. Bloomsbury will publish his 10th book, Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life, on October 1, 2024. He is a trained hospice volunteer and founded and runs an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village. He serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Montgomery Hospice & Prince George's Hospice (MHI), is vice president of the Board of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maryland & Environs (FCAME), and serves on the Advisory Council for the Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight (OCO). He also serves on the Boards of Final Exit Network, Hemlock Society of San Diego, and Funeral Consumers Alliance. He is on the Bethesda Metro Area Village Board and, until recently, was a Board member of the Green Burial Association of Maryland. Chris and his wife, Gail Shearer, created and funded the “Finishing Strong Award” with the Washington Area Village Exchange (WAVE) to encourage villages to hold more discussions about end-of-life issues. WAVE is the largest regional village organization in the nation. He frequently gives presentations and workshops to community groups on aging, death, and dying issues. Chris is also president of the MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation, which produces and funds IMAX films on science and conservation issues. MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world's largest and most successful producer of IMAX films. For over thirty-five years, he spearheaded the production of more than 300 hours of original programming for prime-time television and the IMAX film industry, which won him and his colleagues many awards, including two Emmys and an Oscar nomination. He has worked with Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Jane Fonda, Ted Turner, and many other celebrities. His IMAX films include Whales, Wolves, Dolphins, Bears, Coral Reef Adventure, and Grand Canyon Adventure. During his filmmaking career, he swam with dolphins and whales, came face-to-face with sharks and Kodiak bears, camped with wolf packs, and waded hip-deep through Everglade swamps. His books include Finding Meaning and Success: Living a Fulfilled and Productive Life, published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2021. Proceeds from all of Chris's books fund scholarships for American University students. Starting in 2004, Chris served on American University's full-time faculty as Distinguished Film Producer in Residence until his retirement in 2018. While at AU, he founded and directed the Center for Environmental Filmmaking at the School of Communication. He also created and taught a popular class called Design Your Life for Success. Chris and his wife, Gail, have lived in Bethesda, Maryland, for nearly 50 years and raised three daughters. They now have nine grandchildren. Chris was a stand-up comic for five years and has advanced degrees from London and Harvard. He has jumped out of helicopters, worked on an Israeli kibbutz, and was a high school boxing champion. Chris is currently learning to juggle, draw, dance, play tennis, and play the piano. He loves standing on his hands for exercise, keeps a daily gratitude journal, and has a 30-page personal mission statement. More information on Chris: Chris's filmmaking career began in 1983 when he founded National Audubon Society Productions, a nonprofit film company and part of the National Audubon Society, which he led as president and CEO for eleven years. In 1994, he founded National Wildlife Productions, a nonprofit multimedia company and part of the National Wildlife Federation, which he led as president and CEO for ten years. His first two published books were on wildlife filmmaking: Shooting in the Wild in 2010 and Confessions of a Wildlife Filmmaker in 2015. They were followed by Raise Your Kids to Succeed: What Every Parent Should Know in 2017 and Now What, Grad? Your Path to Success After College (First Edition in 2015 and the Second Edition in 2018). In 2019, he wrote College Teaching at its Best: Inspiring Students to be Enthusiastic, Lifelong Learners, and in 2021, he wrote Finding Meaning and Success: Living a Fulfilled and Productive Life. Rowman & Littlefield published his last five books. His next book, for Bloomsbury Publishing, is Achieving a Good Death. Bethesda Communications Group published Love, Dad in 2018, a 700-page book of his letters to his daughters, and Open Heart: When Open-Heart Surgery Becomes Your Best Option in 2021, a book co-written with his daughter Christina (a family doctor). Chris and Christina have written half a dozen books for children on health-related issues. Chris gives pro bono presentations and workshops on various topics, including how to live a meaningful and successful life, aging well, achieving a good death, living well to die well, medical aid-in-dying, decluttering and death cleaning, completing advance directives, writing memoirs, composing legacy letters and ethical wills, funeral planning, green ways of body disposition, and hospice care. In 2015, Chris spoke on wildlife filmmaking at TEDxAmericanUniversity. While teaching at AU, he was a stand-up comedian and performed regularly in DC comedy clubs for five years. In 2017, he founded and now directs a group on aging and dying well as part of the Bethesda Metro Area Village, where he serves as a Board member. Chris was honored with the Frank G. Wells Award from the Environmental Media Association and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Media at the 2009 International Wildlife Film Festival. In 2010, he was honored at the Green Globe Awards in Los Angeles with the Environmental Film Educator of the Decade award. In 2011, he received the IWFF Wildlife Hero of the Year Award for his “determined campaign to reform the wildlife filmmaking industry.” In 2012, he received the Ronald B. Tobias Award for Achievement in Science and Natural History Filmmaking Education. In addition, he received the 2014 University Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching at AU, the 2015 University Film and Video Association Teaching Award, and the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Wildlife Film Festival. In his twenty years before becoming a film producer, Chris was an officer in the Royal Navy, an engineer, a business consultant, an energy analyst, an environmental activist, chief energy advisor to a senior U.S. senator, and a political appointee in the Environmental Protection Agency under President Jimmy Carter. Chris holds a B.S. with First Class Honors in Mechanical Engineering, an M.S. in Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture from University College London, and a master's in Public Administration from Harvard University. He was also a Kennedy Scholar and received a Harkness Fellowship. Born in Hong Kong, Chris grew up in England and immigrated to the United States in 1972. He is married to Gail Shearer and is the father of three grown daughters: Kimberly, Christina, and Jennifer. He and Gail have endowed a scholarship for environmental film students at AU to honor Chris's parents and encourage the next generation to save the planet. christopher.n.palmer@gmail.com www.ChrisPalmerOnline.com

Shelia M. Kennison is Professor of Psychology. She earned her Ph.D. in Psycholinguistics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and bachelor's degree in linguistics and psychology from Harvard University. She is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Psychonomic Society. She has authored numerous works including academic journal articles and a textbook on the development of language. Her psycholinguistic research has focused on sentence processing in English as well as a variety of other languages, including Arabic, Spanish, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Finnish. Buy her book on Amazon https://amzn.to/3X4Ytwg More about Shelia https://experts.okstate.edu/shelia.kennison

Kyle Edgell started drawing caricatures in a bar.  For fun.  She never considered the talent she had to capture a likeness and connect with people a product to be “sold”…until a life-changing request to draw at a company picnic as entertainment allowed her to gift the drawings to her subjects and be paid for it.  Her insight and ability to encourage others through her art and humor grew into a career that has spanned over 20 years. Edgell has a gift for presentation that instigates laughter, whether in a homeless shelter or attending conferences at 5 star Resort Hotels.  Her philosophy of life and art has helped her meet the daily and unexpected challenges of cancer, the death of loved ones and ADD. She now creates multifaceted presentations that incorporate live drawing, speaking, message visualization that will help your team translate obstacles into opportunities.  When optimism is rekindled using humor and creativity it will inspire practical strategies that will energize your corporate culture. Kyle Edgell is an Artist, Speaker and Entertainer with a little bit of wit. She received her BFA from Syracuse University and lives in Roanoke Virginia. She is on the Board of Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and is a member of the Association for Applied Therapeutic Humor.   https://www.kyleedgell.com/

Funny Man Mike Cotayo   is a comedian who knows how to take the stage by storm. His unique blend of silly, smart and dark humor leaves audiences in hysterics, while making others snarf drinks through their nose. Funny Man Mike promises to have you coming back for more. Mike Joins Jim-Bob Williams and Katy BEE to discuss comedians with disabilities, what's funny about a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and his amazing history of standup. Have a listen to this wonderful guy! He's pretty funny!   @mikecotayo on the socials www.funnymanmike.com

Combining tax & humor? No tax authorities and practitioners implement that in the world, until Danny Septriadi starts it out!   As a tax practitioner & academia, Danny has been using humor in his 30 years professional life.    Experiencing humor as a resilience tool himself, he then founded the first world-record library of humor studies & Indonesian humor institute (IHIK3). Danny wants more Indonesians use humor as a life skills, also to enhance their creativity, critical thinking, communication, & leadership skill.   Joining with Danny is Ulwan Fakhri, IHIK3's humor researcher. Both of them are the pioneers and Certified Humor Professionals from Indonesia.   Danny, Ulwan, & IHIK3 have been publishing humor studies books in Indonesian language, like Humor at Work (bit.ly/HumorAtWorkIHIK3) & "Humor is a Serious Thing" (bit.ly/humorituserius). More titles coming -- like on leadership and so on!   Get to know IHIK3 (and how it's pronounced, PS: it sounds like laughing) here: - ihik3.com - linkedin.com/company/ihik3 - instagram.com/ihik3 - x.com/ihik3

Christiana Frank is a certified speaker, coach, consultant, program developer, and mentor. Since 1999, she has been helping corporate teams, educational institutions, and mental health facilities connect to themselves, each other, and the world at large.  Founder of KidScape Productions and with a strong passion for helping all ages, you can typically find Mrs. Frank in areas of wellness and empowerment, applying evidence-based approaches that draw from modern-day neuroscience and psychology. Since 1999 she has been designing and leading training's with a mindful approach to collaboration, communication, and creativity.  Mrs. Frank's passion is deeply rooted in facilitating teams and individuals to communicate effectively and feel confident with ambiguity and change.   https://christianafrank.com/ christiana@christianafrank.com Facebook Linkedin

Meet Stefano Iaboni, a comedic performer from Rome who turned his love for the arts into a global adventure. Starting in circus school in Holland, Stefano soon found the weather and cuisine lacking. He relocated to Barcelona, where he immersed himself in the vibrant scene of nouveau clowning, collaborating with legends like Johnny Melville and Jango Edwards.   For a decade, Stefano thrived in Barcelona, engaging in theater, film, and street performances. He even launched his own sketch comedy cabaret. Ever eager to learn, he studied stage and film acting and taught at the "Nouveau Clown Institute-Barcelona."   Today, Stefano splits his time between Portland, USA, and Europe. He leads team-building, experiential training and workshops, in a way that allows fun, laughter and discovery so that teams can boost creativity, bonding and over all well being.   www.stefanoiaboni.com 971-276-5109 info@stefanoiaboni.com     Linkedin Instagram

Known for his singing voice and impressions, Joey Gaynor is an actor, comedian and writer living in Los Angeles via Newark, New Jersey. After eight years on the road, Joey's break through came in the concert movie, "Comedy's Dirtiest Dozen" with Bill Hicks, Chris Rock and Tim Allen. A regular at the Comedy Store, Joey's performed with Richard Pryor, the Smother's Brothers, Sam Kinison, George Lopez, Billy Gardell and many many others.   He's also appeared in the films "The Five Heartbeats", "All I Want For Christmas" with Leslie Nielson, the documentary "I am Sam Kinison" and the most popular episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" 'The Ghosts of the Comedy Store'. He's appeared on numerous sitcoms, "The Parenthood" with Robert Townsend and "Boy Meets World". He's also appeared on drama series like "ER" & "House MD".   As a writer Joey wrote for the Tom Joyner Morning show and he co-wrote with Charles Kaufman the cult hit "Ferocious Female Freedom Fighters" and his recording of Frank Sinatra singing the theme from "The Addams Family" for Rhino Records is still is played on digital and terrestrial radio for over 35 years!

"After spending most of his life raising kids and working in the financial industry, Roland is spending the  rest of the time here on earth focused on the Heart of the Fathers Foundation project.  The foundation is focused on helping grandparents to have an effective connection with their grandchildren. Just like FDR says, "We cannot always build a future for our youth, but we can always build our youth for the future."   Roland's favorite place to hangout is Facebook. Follow him at the Connection Grandpa Facebook group and join him in his journey to being a very effective grandpa. "

Join us as we chronicle the 2024 AATH Conference with first hand interviews, sounds from the actual conference and some opportunities to giggle and guffaw!  Hear from some of the keynote speakers, breakout rooms and takeaways from this year's conference! We are unable to name all of the amazing folks that are on this, and we would like to thank all of the organizers for making this amazing conference happen! Special thanks to INSYNC Photography and Design for their amazing photography! Our AV crew was also spectacular as usual!  For images and more info about the conference head to  https://www.aath.org/ https://www.facebook.com/healthyhumor  

Ros Ben-Moshe is a Laughter, Wellbeing and Positivity author, academic and practitioner. She is Adjunct lecturer at the School of Public Health and Psychology at La Trobe University, Melbourne, where she coordinates the Australian-first Laughter, Resilience and Wellbeing online short course for professionals. Her latest book, The Laughter Effect – How to Build Joy, Resilience and Positivity in Your Life will be translated into 8 different languages. It follows her highly acclaimed first book, Laughing at cancer – How to Heal with Love, Laughter and Mindfulness. Ros is frequently sought after for her expert opinion on radio, TV and mainstream media. She has written for publications such as The Canberra Times, Huffington Post, and Wellbeing Magazine. More: https://ros-benmoshe.com

Richard Hawk The Leading Expert on Making Safety Fun It's rare to find someone who is both a safety professional and an entertaining speaker and trainer. Richard Hawk has been in the safety and health field for more than 30 years. He spent 15 of them as a safety professional in the nuclear industry and as a safety advisor on constructions projects. Richard's background also includes theater, where he toured with acting companies and wrote a musical which was produced by Emerson College in Boston. His depth of knowledge and extensive experience make for content-rich, behavior-changing learning programs that are truly “fun.” Safety Expert Richard holds numerous safety and technical certifications from various organizations including the National Safety Council (NSC), the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), and The National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists (NRRPT). He stays on the leading edge of the safety industry through his interactions with thousands of leaders in hundreds of organizations in a wide array of industries. These include energy, manufacturing, chemical, construction, healthcare, technology, retail, food services, transportation, government, and education. Safety Industry Author Since 1999, Richard's bi-weekly Safety Stuff e-zine acts as a clearinghouse for the best ideas from thousands of safety professionals around the globe. He is the author of four popular books: Spice It Up! 52 Easy Ways Turn Your Safety Meetings From Bland to Grand, The Safety Leader's Guide Book, Just Imagine!, and 250 Super Bright Safety Meeting and Promotional Ideas. His articles are regularly published in safety magazines, and he is a monthly columnist for the U.S. national safety magazine —Safety & Health. Safety Speaker, Trainer, and Coach Richard has a talent for connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and industries. His experiences as a union and nonunion employee, manager, safety leader; and now successful business owner, give him the insight to relate to people at all levels, from new employees to CEOs, truck drivers to scholars. He has been a featured speaker at international conventions for Fortune 500 companies' safety leaders; he's presented to engineers and plant managers in India and Dubai, Canadian CEO's as well as Japanese technicians. He has been a popular keynote speaker three times at the NSC's Annual Congress & Expo, the largest annual safety convention in North America. Richard is an avid pool player and an accomplished musician and songwriter. He lives in Southern New Jersey with his wife, Jackie. Email: richard@makesafetyfun.com Website: https://www.makesafetyfun.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/makesafetyfun Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makesafetyfun #safety #humor #funny # educational #Podcast #play

Gina Ramsey, based in Superior, WI, is passionate about making a difference through humor, inspiration, and connection. Her book, "Burnt Gloveboxes: Embracing Life When It Goes Up In Flames," humorously navigates life's unexpected moments. Celebrated for her on-demand singing impersonations and love of screaming rubber chickens, Gina infuses her presentations with memorable charm. Let's go on a journey of blending humor, positivity, and actionable strategies for manifesting success and well-being.   LINKS:  Website: http://www.ginaramseyauthor.com Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/ginaramseyauthor429

Mike Lukas grew up in Cleveland and was a successful internationally touring comedian and improvisor (NBC, Comedy Central, Second City, CBS Radio, A&E) for twenty-four years before he decided to hang up his clown shoes and give writing a full time go.   Now hammering his keyboard out of Dallas, Mike co-raises his two babies when he's not pumping out sports blogs, short stories, novels, and non-fiction books that unlock the secrets of the universe.   Website: https://funnymuscle.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeLukas4 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikelukas Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mike.Lukas4/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-lukas-writer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlukas1111/  

Paul Osincup, CHP  is a Keynote Speaker, Humor Strategist, and Past President of AATH. Paul's global mission for workplace happiness has provided him the opportunity to work with hundreds of organizations like the U.S. Airforce, Google, Discover, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Leadership. He's also the author of the forthcoming book The Humor Habit: Rewire Your Brain to Stress Less, Laugh More, and Achieve More'er which is available for preorder now and releases on April 23! Paul's work has been highlighted in the New York Times, Forbes, and on his mom's refrigerator.   Preorder The Humor Habit now!   Connect with Paul on:    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn X TikTok  

Our New Year Episode is a repost of Adam Williams of the Live a Beautiful Life Podcast interviewing Katy BEE about Joy First Foundation. https://www.liveabeautifullifepodcast.com/ photo by Nick Le A place to explore the many paths that lead to living a beautiful life. For more information on Joy First Foundation - head on over to https://www.joyfirst.org/ Adam is a musician and vocalist who created this podcast to study emotions in an in depth way with high empathy and understanding. His podcast covered subjects like death and dying, self-doubt, addiction and recovery, trauma recovery and more. His new song Healing is out and can be found here: YouTube link: https://youtu.be/dN-7ge0voro Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3hkulId6joIUevsb0ESeLE?si=78e8449d82164a12 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/healing/1606394176?i=1606394177 If you feel you need a healing, listen to the song! His YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@adamwilliamsmusic9928?si=f9tNy-drj9bJiy7i He has an amazing voice, and a deep interest in the human condition and connecting us. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamreedwilliams/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adamreedwilliams

In the name of FUN and PLAY we repost Jess Ruggieri from episode 47 with Chip Lutz, Enjoy!! "Just play.  Have fun.  Enjoy the game." - Michael Jordan Are you ready to have some fun?  I am but, then again, I'm always up for having some fun.  But did you know that fun can be functional in improving employee productivity and engagement?   This episode's guest, Jess Ruggieri, is the Director of Inclusion at the Fun Department and she specializes in helping organizations do just that...using play to enhance the culture and create places where people want to be.  We talk about a lot of cool stuff in this episode but, more importantly after listening to it, you're going to walk away with some strategies you can employ RIGHT NOW to make a difference for you and your team. This is our last episode of the calendar year.  Thanks for being a great audience and please don't forget to register for the AATH conference, April 4-7th 2019 in Chicago Illinois.  You'll get more information on how to use humor and meet cool people like Jess.  Check us out at www.aath.org. More on Jess.... Jess Ruggieri has found her place as the ambassador of inclusion at the fun dept., a training and coaching company driven by the implementation of "innovative solutions for a happier, healthier, more connected workplace.”  Featured on various news and media outlets, the fun dept.'s clients range from Fortune 100 companies to those with as few as 10 employees and is partnered with Zappos's training company, Delivering Happiness. Jessica's history with the fun dept. goes back nine years when the founder, Nick Gianoulis, went out of his way to work from her coffee shop. “I simply wanted to create a fun and welcoming environment for both my staff and my customers,” she said.  It took Jessica nine years to make a career jump.  With her extensive experience in management, psychology, interpersonal communication, organizational processes, training & development, and having received her Master's in Health Promotion and her certification as a Health & Fitness Coach, Jessica landed her dream job—utilizing her passions and skill sets to impact company culture. “It is a simple and unique systematic approach where we teach companies how to design appropriate ‘play' techniques to connect and de-stress employees.” Jessica and the fun dept. team have been “playing it forward” to improve work environments for customers, employees, and the bottom line! Connect with her direct! jess@thefundept.com cell 302-383-9934 thefundept.com @jdruggieri www.linkedin.com/in/jdruggieri

Roberta is the 2023-2024 president of AATH! Hail to the Chief! LOL Sign up for her free weekly newsletter, Laughter Rocks! at: www.laf4u.com Roberta Gold is a Recreation Therapist and a Certified Humor Professional who founded Laughter for the Health of it in 1985 with one mission: To empower everyone to have a more positive outlook by seeing the humor instead of the horror in our world. Roberta's Background Roberta Gold is a Recreation Therapist and uses humor therapeutically. Her proprietary program, Laughter for the Health of it has helped countless businesses, healthcare facilities, schools, organizations, and many others to realize that laughter truly can be the best medicine for whatever ails you, your colleagues, your associates, your family, your staff and your friends. She is a Certified Humor Professional (CHP) with more than 30 years of experience as a keynote and breakout speaker, as well as a consultant which many have come to rely on, for her insight and instruction on how to invoke humor into personal or professional settings in order to improve communication. Roberta facilitates interactive staff retreats, and has served as a de facto conflict resolution assistant for dozens of organizations. Roberta is an advisor for the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor's Humor Academy (www.aath.org). Roberta also: Teaches classes for domestic violence survivors providing ways to laugh again. Custom tailors her presentations to the specific needs of each organization, such as: Life Is An Attitude Game Changing Tactics For Life Changing Moments The Family That Laughs Together Stays Together Humorizing Ways to Resolve Classroom Conflicts and Build Self Esteem Too Many Hot Peppers? Use Humor to Cool the Fire and Improve Communication Fear Factor Breakthrough: Using Humor to Face your Fears and Phobias Roberta's Writings Her book: The Family that Laughs Together… A Quick Guide to Sanity When You Feel Like Screaming Laughter Rocks! Tips & Tools to Keep Your Cool and Have a More Positive Mindset A published author of numerous articles and a contributing author in over 12 books including: The Power of Transformation: Reinventing Yourself The Community Book Project – 20/20 Vision Your Glasses Are on Top of Your Head: Tales of Life, Longevity and Laughter See more books she is a contributor in on her author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/robertagold To learn more about Roberta, or more importantly learn how to nurture your own “Humor Bone” contact us today.

Dave, an award winning film and television writer, cartoonist, author, musician and voice actor, has had his writing compared to the likes of Ray Bradbury and David Lynch and his cartoon work to that of Charles Schulz, one of Dave's idols. As senior writer and head of cartoons at National Lampoon, he put out two best-selling cartoon collections while handling writing and cartooning for the flagship magazine. He was also involved with Comic Relief. His early work includes art for Tim Allen and Robert Wuhl's HBO specials and, as cartoonist and writer for Tiger Beat's Superteen Magazine he created the popular cartoon Toon Groupies©. Dave's character Snuggy Bear© was licensed for multiple brands including children's eyewear by Crystal Clear Vision Group, selling out worldwide after a highly successful premiere in NYC at the International Vision Expo. Dave is also the creator of the popular Hackidu characters for Everybody Loves Raymond. Dave has illustrated several popular children's books including Bellaboo, the Purple Princess written by General Hospital star Nancy Lee Grahn and The Lemming Shepherds, distributed throughout China and Taiwan and is being adapted into a feature film. He illustrated and helped edit the book Full Frontal Tenudity from famed comedienne Judy Tenuta. Dave's own book, Brain Explosion (Bear Manor Media Publishing), a collection of his cartoons and writings from his National Lampoon days has become a best-seller and is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Dave's kids show, Professor Creepy's Scream Party(c) had huge premieres at the 2013 Phoenix Comic Con and Son of Monsterpalooza convention in Burbank, CA. It has been receiving rave reviews and was written up in iconic Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine (April, 2013). Professor Creepy won the Bronze trophy at the 2014 International Independent Film Awards and was an official selection in the 2014 R.I.P. Horror Film Festival. The pilot was picked up for airing on the Monster Channel, August, 2017 and in 2018 was the top show on Roku's Around the World in 80 Screams, airing on 28 networks on Halloween. Dave's documentary, From Cheesecake to Cheesecake: The Joy Harmon Story (WGAw), about the life of 1960's film/TV icon Joy Harmon, won the 2013 Hollywood & Vine Film Festival and was a top five finalist in the prestigious 2014 Taste Awards and won the Silver trophy at the 2014 International Independent Film Awards. Dave's sitcom pilot Against Type, starring Roland Kickinger (Terminator Salvation), Stephen Furst (Animal House) and ICarly's Jennette McCurdy, aired domestically in over forty US markets and was picked up for international distribution by the Global Broadcasting Company in Spring, 2010, CETV (Chinese Entertainment Television) and The Dish Network's Simply Kids channel in 2011. It was also a finalist in the 2015 Taste Awards. Dave is a successful infomercial writer/director in China and his voice work can be heard on the SyFy Channel films Path of Destruction and Lake Placid vs. Anaconda and in the animated series Alien House, co-starring Kim Possible's Christy Carlson Romano and the new series Cozmo's.  Dave was also a celebrity judge on ICN TV China's top rated talent competition show, American Stars. He is in the classic rock documentary What is Classic Rock (2018) and entered his documentary Ask Me if I C.A.R.E. into festivals. In October, 2016, Dave's song, I am A Zombie, charted on kids syndicated radio network JenniRadio. In June, 2018, Dave's script for the short film, Selfie, was selected for the 2018 AT&T Create-A-Thon, beating out over 500 scripts to get into the finals. The film was shot at Warner Bros. In 2019, Dave played guitar on the single, Running, by actor Larry Thomas (Seinfeld's The Soup Nazi). Dave's weekly national horror radio show, Cemetery GoGo, began airing on WRSG 91.5 FM December 14th, 2019. In December, 2020, and was picked up in June, 2021 by WAKI FM radio. Dave's children's book, Bag Boy and Sweet Slob(c) was released by Headline Books Inc publishers and is now available worldwide on Amazon and wherever books are sold. In February, 2021, Bag Boy and Sweet Slob won the Reader's Favorite 5 Star Award and honorable mention at the 2021 San Francisco Book Festival in June. Against Type and Professor Creepy's Scream Party were picked up by Amazon Prime TV in December, 2020. In September, 2021, Bag Boy and Sweet Slob won the Bronze Medal at the 2021 International Book Awards sponsored by Readers' Favorite. UPDATE: Dave's syndicated hit radio show, Cemetery GoGo(c), airs on radio stations around the country including WAKI Radio out of Anapolis, Maryland, Classic WJEG in West Virginia, WBNY 91.3 FM out of Buffalo, NY and WCMO 98.5 FM out of Marietta, Ohio. His hit Spotify podcast, Bitching with Bitchy the Clown(c), is on multiple platforms and is being adapted into a TV talk show. Brain Explosion is being adapted into a TV sketch comedy show. Dave's original songs, The Visitor and Elementary in the Cemetery (recorded by Bitchy the Clown) are included in the soundtrack of the indie horror movie, Slice, which premiered at the legendary Chinese Theatre in Hollywood November 16, 2022. Other credits: Wrote theme song for Special Olympics, which named several of their teams after Snuggy Bear©. His cartoon work is part of the Charles M. Schulz (Snoopy) museum in Santa Rosa, CA and the Haig Museum of Cartoons in New York. Former song writing partner of the late Albert Hague (Fame, How the Grinch Stole Christmas). A direct descendent of Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Dracula). An avid golfer, Dave has been sponsored by Roger Dunn Golf Shops. On the board of the prestigious Environment of People Foundation. Coached basketball with legendary UCLA coach Jim Harrick and former LA Lakers and Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy. website and more info: https://psychedelia1.wixsite.com/snuggybear

Katy has always used humor to diffuse stress and anxiety of patients but was intrigued to learn more of the practice of Laughter Yoga when her work started an Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. She traveled three hours to participate in several programs before taking the leap into becoming a Laughter Leader, and then after a few years to become a Laughter Teacher. Katy is known as the Laughing Nurse. With a quick wit that creates laughter, patients and staff feel welcomed and engaged in their own journey. With a magnetic, captivating and high spirited style, participants after a session comment on how they feel calm but energized through the use of this Mirthful Medicine. Katy believes in education and that stress management is important as stress is a risk factor for job satisfaction. Working in healthcare has always been stressful but since COVID started it has elevated the stress and disconnect to new levels never seen before. For this reason, healthcare teams are currently at high risk and needing tools in order to survive these trying times. Laughter is a simple and fun tool for reconnecting teams, reenergizing staff, and reducing stress for health professionals in the workplace. Three separate studies have shown that regular laughter sessions increased Workplace Wellbeing by connecting people. It increases oxygen in our lungs by 25% which when distributed to the body cells improves energy levels and also to the brain which helps us think more effectively. And a 45 minute session of Laughter Yoga decreased participants' stress by up to 65%. A Sgori study on using comedy to make participants laugh and be happy showed that they work more productively due to improved morale. Katy Maag BSN, RN, CCRP is a Registered Nurse in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit where she assists heart patients in stress management and heart health education. She is a Stress Management Coach, Laughter Therapist and Teacher, a Member of the American College of Cardiology, American Association of Cardiac Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and active in advocating for Heart Health and Mental Health for healthcare teams and patients at a national level. She has been nominated as a Nurse of Hope and presented several times for The Ohio American Association of Cardiac Pulmonary Rehabilitation. https://www.kmwellnessconsulting.com/

“We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” —Joseph Campbell Steve Wilson returns to LaughBox with Katy BEE and Jim-Bob Williams to talk about the inception and history of laughter clubs and what “Good Hearted Living” can do for us with six practices! Since its inception, World Laughter Tour has been recognized as a significant global influence in the practical applications of laughter and humor for health and world peace. Steve Wilson is a very popular and talented Certified Speaking Professional, experienced educator of mental health professionals, member of key professional organizations such as Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH), International Society for Humor Studies (ISHS), and the American Humor Studies Association (AHSA), as well as having been the 2010 recipient of the Doug Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award, and Rire d'Or Golden Laughter Award in 2007 from the French School of Laughter and Well-Being. He still maintains a very active presence in WLT and will often answer phone calls and inquiries, as well as making himself available to trainees, attendees, the media, or other interested parties who wish to speak with him personally. Connect with him at:  www.worldlaughtertour.com

Megan Bendtzen is the CEO and Founder of TheDoctorofFun.com. A former Fortune 100 Work Zombie

Allen Klein is a Jollytologist® and “Ambassador of Light” who shows audience's worldwide how to use humor and positivity to deal with life's not-so-funny stuff. He is a TEDx presenter on the power of intention and the author of over 30 books including the best-selling book, The Healing Power of Humor, as well as  Embracing Life After Loss, and The AWE Factor, which SpiritualityandPractice.com called “One of the Best Spiritual Books” the year it was published. (https://www.allenklein.com/books.htm) Comedian Jerry Lewis has said that Klein is “a noble and vital force watching over the human condition.” More information about Klein can be found at www.allenklein.com

Nancy Norton is an award winning comedian and keynote speaker who presents  "The Power of Humor" She is the first woman to win the Boston Comedy Festival, then the very next year, placed first in the Seattle International Comedy Competition, the first woman to win that since 1985 and then, for Humility,  placed 3rd in South Dakota. (LOL) She is a former Nurse who now heals with humor, her new Podcast:  Tromedy, spelled TROMEDY.  (I like to spell it for obvious reasons)...is Transmuting Trauma using Comedy.   Find Tromedy online wherever you find your podcast. https://open.spotify.com/show/749BXG5Z0uWTQjsJIi35Kd No Matter What, Keep Laughing! Nancy Norton Stay AWAY from Home Mom NEW DRY BAR Comedy Special - SUPER DORK 2021 Best of the Fest Show with Jay Leno at The Burbank Comedy Festival 2019 Champion of the Seattle International Comedy Competition 2018 Winner of the Boston Comedy Festival FIRST WOMAN TO EVER WIN IT! 2016 Grand Slam Storytelling Champion of Truth Be Told www.nancynorton.tv nancy@nancynorton.tv Phone:  303-803-8824 Standup Comedian for Clubs and Corporations with over twenty years Headlining experience Professional Speaker: The Power of Humor   Laugh and Grow Rich Enjoy the many benefits of Humor for business, stress management and health enhancement... WHILE learning and laughing Team Building Improv workshops May You Be in the Present Moment...for Now.

Tim is a firefighter and a curator of side jobs. From operating a Paleo bakery to implementing an electric powered, residential landscaping company, there are a lot of things he has said, "Yes, and!" to.    Adding something is important to him, so is his passion to expand access to improv comedy and improvisational creativity. He is currently performing with Daniel Lee White's Bring Your Own Improv in Warwick, RI. This performance group allows volunteers in their short form games. Come and Play! https://bringyourownimprov.com/   Another project is an Instagram account called Potato Based Economy. Subjects like economics, industry, nutrition, community, and more, are explored through the lens of the potato. Also, food. https://instagram.com/potatobasedeconomy?utm_source=qr&igshid=NGExMmI2YTkyZg%3D%3D   Tim thanks you for reading this, and hopes that you get a chance to care for yourself today. You are a resilient human being, and thank you for the hard work that you do!   For more information on Tim's current projects check out his Medium profile at timothykillilea.medium.com and at Instagram @timothykillilea   Cheers!

This episode, we revive the Chip Lutz interview with the one and only Allen Klein! Yes, Allen, Jim-Bob and I would love to do a follow up interview with you! Meanwhile, enjoy this vintage episode one more time!  Go back in time in this episode to the humble beginnings of Chip Lutz as he just started the Laughbox Podcast.  Enjoy the intro, and the deep velvet voice of Chip as he interviews Allen Klein. Allen Klein!?  Yes!  This week I got to talk the THE Allen Klein, CSP and AATH Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.  Allen is (what I consider) a humor pioneer.  His classic book, The Healing Power of Humor, has been a staple for anyone interested in humor as a study for the past 30 years. It was that book and Allen himself, that first brought me to AATH.   In this episode we talk about how Allen first got interested in humor and how his application of humor has evolved over the years.  We share some laughs and strategies that can be used right now for YOU to make a difference in your own life using humor.   A little more about Allen….   Allen Klein, MA, CSP* (aka "Mr. Jollytologist®") is an award-winning professional keynote speaker and best-selling authorwho shows audiences worldwide how humor can help them deal with everyday trials and tribulations as well as triumphing over tragedy. Klein's books have been published in eight different languages (English, Spanish, Danish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Hungarian, and Turkish) with over 500,000 in print.   Make sure you check out more about Allen at http://www.allenklein.com/.

For a complementary Humor Journal with ten humor prompts to help recognize the fun and funny in daily life so that you can grow your humor muscle and experience more joy, go to https://joy.funandfunnier.com   website:  https://bonitajoyyoder.com  https://www.facebook.com/bonita.yoder.5 https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonitajoy/ youtube handle : @bonitajoy    full youtube link:  https://www.youtube.com/@bonitajoy            https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN_Ypu7rOnkzEPIKrWaUs8w Instagram handle: @iambonitajoy           https://www.instagram.com/iambonitajoy/   Bonita Joy's vision is for people to experience moments of joy in their work, relationships and daily lives regardless of their circumstances.  A“recovering attorney" turned conference weaver, she emcees events along with her ventriloquist puppet friends to enliven events so that attendees are engaged and have fun. She is also a Company Culture Crasher who helps businesses bring more humor into their culture. Bonita Joy is the author of the forthcoming book:  Tickle Their Funny Bone:  Use Humor to Leverage Your Presentations.  You can reach Bonita Joy at: BonitaJoySpeaker@gmail.com  or call her at (785) 550-4944

Helloooo, I am Lynn Perreault, Ph.D., Founder of Laughter Business Academy (2010), Positive Business/Community/Health/Social Psychologist (2005), Qualified Uppiness Trainer (2022),  Certified Laughter Yoga Leader & Teacher (2008), and Applied Improvisation Practitioner (1990).  My mission is to raise the economy for laughter, humour and improv practitioners all around the globe.   Laughter Business Academy is an online business incubator and accelerator for therapeutic humourists, applied improv trainers, happiness consultants, freelance humourists, and laughterpreneurs who want to make a good 6-figure living. Since 2010, our programs have helped thousands of clients in 20 countries. How to make money as a humour or laughter professional:  https://www.laughterbusinessacademy.com/moneyflow-intro  Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/lynnperreault   Book a meeting with me if you want help with how to make $10,000 at a time in your work!   Book here: https://calendly.com/laughterbusinessacademy/15min  or reach out by email: dr.lynnperreault@gmail.com.

Bobby Benavides has been doing comedy for several years in West Virginia. He has a wife and four kids, all of which, he practices his material on, regularly. When he isn't doing comedy he is an air guitar enthusiast. He mainly specializes in slow jams, and will perform at weddings. He enjoys reading a good book, and drinking great coffee, but has settled for books about bears who live in a tree house, and instant coffee, as of late.    https://bobbybcomedy.com/ https://www.facebook.com/bobbythoughts https://www.instagram.com/bobbybcomedy https://twitter.com/thebobbybcomedy https://www.youtube.com/@BobbyBComedy https://www.tiktok.com/@bobbybcomedy Email: thebobbybcomedy@gmail.com Merch: https://bobbybcomedy.square.site/ Bobby's Podcast: Taking Up Your Time with Bobby Benavides Comedy podcast

Frank began his media career in writing and production at SNL.  He's won 30+ awards for writing/producing comedy videos for HBO, Showtime, CBS, PBS, Comedy Central and more. He launched the world's first mobile comedy channel, featured on the front pages of Forbes, the LA Times, and in the Wall Street Journal and the NY Times. Former Adjunct Professor in Web Video at USC, UCLA and Chapman University. Certified Humor Professional through the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.   https://www.laughmd.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/laughmd/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054551585386

Doug Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award We reposted the very first Laughbox episode to honor Chip Lutz as the recipient of the lifetime achievement award in 2023 Thank you, Chip!   Are you wondering about AATH? This is a brief descriptive episode about the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor and the pilot episode of Laughbox!  The Doug Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to either a member or non-member in recognition of his or her Dedication and service to AATH, and/or A significant contribution to the understanding and application of humor and/or laughter over an entire career with a definable body of work through one or more of the following: speaking, teaching/training, research, publications, and professional practice. Stay Tuned for new episodes starting in June! Sending a big thank you to all the organizers of the 2023 conference in Mesa, Arizona! What an amazing experience! https://www.aath.org/ If you have ideas about how we can fund this podcast, please send an email to: info@aath.org

Join Jim-Bob Williams and Katy BEE as they chronicle the 2023 AATH Conference with first hand interviews, sounds from the actual conference and some opportunities to giggle and guffaw!  Hear about some of the keynote speakers, breakout rooms and takeaways from this year's conference! For images and more info about the conference head to  https://www.aath.org/ https://www.facebook.com/healthyhumor  

Carla H Brown is a dynamic force for laughter, levity and joy on the planet! A self-proclaimed, recovering serious person, Carla chose to seek out more joy, after experiencing an auto-immune illness, which left her temporarily paralyzed. This slowing down gave her the opportunity to be fully present with the fear, worry, self-hatred and suffering going on in her mind, affecting her body. The experience gave her a passion and joy for living life to its fullest, knowing that life can turn on a dime. The intention of her company, Living From Joy Coaching and Training, is to offer practices and tools to cultivate more joy in the body and less fear. Through her grief counseling, she offers opportunities to welcome the disowned parts of oneself that become emotionally abandoned and rejected, through the hardships of life. She calls this Emotional Hygiene, encouraging her students and clients to meet the cast out parts, tend to the grief, embrace the darkness and step into greater embodiment of love and joy, while releasing the habit of fear.  As a joy coach, grief counselor, health advocate and transformational teacher, Carla  offers therapeutic, dynamic and fun in-person and online events, trainings and workshops, focusing on cultivating more joy, authenticity and connection within.  Her recent claim to fame was winning the 2022 American Laughing Championship, and coming in 4th place in the world!    She facilitates weekly online laughter classes, GriefYoga®, and the popular Joy Reboot, as well as working with clients one-on-one to liberate fear and embody more joy. Her next class series, due out later this summer, offers group support for those going through health challenges, to cultivate more joy and resiliency. Her infectious laughter and humorous spin on life's transitions will leave you giggling with delight!  https://www.facebook.com/carlajoygirl https://www.instagram.com/laughterjoycoach/ https://livingfromjoy.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUrKyn8DnetRfQgAueGHwOA/videos https://linktr.ee/laughterjoycoach

Robin Phoenix Johnson President, HEAL*ARIOUS, Founder Best Medicine Brigade After more than 20 years of military service, Lieutenant Colonel Robin  Johnson, USA, Ret., discovered her new mission in improving people, organizations, and communities with humor. Level II Certified Humor Professional (Association for the Applied & Therapeutic Use of Humor Comedy Bootcamp Instructor, Armed Services Arts Partnership Volunteer at Charleston VA Hospital  HEAL*ARIOUS programs facilitator Stand-up Comedian/Voted Best Charleston Comic 2022 Motivational Speaker CEO, Best Medicine Brigade Executive Producer Manager for Ashley Gutermuth https://healarious.org/ https://bestmedicinebrigade.com/ https://www.facebook.com/bestmedicinebrigade/ https://www.instagram.com/bestmedicinebrigade/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-johnson790/  

Izzy Gesell is an “organizational alchemist” who helps people navigate their internal logjams and emerge more confident, spontaneous and effective. Through keynotes, workshops and coaching sessions, Izzy delivers meaningful material in an enjoyable way. His unique approach to personal and organizational development is rooted at the intersection of Improv, Facilitation and Coaching. Among the first to use Improv Theater concepts as tools for personal and organizational learning, he is the author of “Playing Along: Group Learning Activities Borrowed From Improvisation Theater,” Instructional Moments: Facilitating with Applied Improv The Resilient Caregiver: A Path to Manage Stress & Change Through Humor & Play & a co- author of Humor Me: America's Funniest Humorists on the Power of Laughter, His video course for LinkedIn Learning, “Leading With Applied Improv,” was their first on the topic and their first shot as a live-action workshop. His other LinkedIn courses are “Humor in the Workplace” and “Building Your Team.” Izzy has earned the CSP (Certifed Speaking Professional) designation from National Speakers Association. Less than 15% of NSA 4,000 members are CSPs. He also has a BA in Psychology, an MS in Education and a P…. that's 1/3 of a PhD. Offer for Listeners: Use coupon code 15offreads for 15% off any book in my shop: Let's Connect! Linkedin Izzy Gesell Facebook IzzyG & Co Twitter: @improvizzy

This episode is a flashmob game show starring Mary Kay and Don Morrison and members of the Humor Academy and graduate Certified Humor Professionals.  Mary Kay Morrison - Founder Jim-Bob Williams - CHP Katy BEE - Level 1 Don Morrison - Level 2 Fatima Ahmed - Level 1 and Peace Scholar Roberta Gold - CHP and Advisor Kyle Edgell - CHP Cathy Grippi - CHP and Recruitment Mary Jo Neil - Level 2 Joy Baldoz - Level 3 Colleen Cook - CHP Bea Bincze - Level 1 Florence Ditlow - New Candidate Roland Thompson - New Candidate Amy Standridge - Level 2 - helping with advertising  At the Humor Academy, you'll take a deep dive into all things humor with an inclusive and supportive cohort of professionals, and you'll learn from some of the finest experts and comprehensive texts in the field. The Humor Academy uses a collaborative learning environment with participants representing a variety of occupations including (but not limited to) health and wellness, business, education, mental health, spirituality, performance, writing, speaking, and training. The Humor Academy is a one-of-a kind, three-year, college-level program focused on the science, benefits, and application of humor. Each level of the Humor Academy lasts one year, and those who complete all three years earn the distinction of Certified Humor Professional (CHP). Continuing education credits are available through the Humor Academy, as well.   What's it like? At each level, you'll: Attend the 1-day Humor Academy pre-conference meeting and the 3-day AATH conference Participate in at least 8 video meetings with your cohort over the course of the year Complete other assigned work, based on the syllabus​ You'll also complete various readings, and at Level III, you'll get to participate in monthly calls with global humor thought leaders. You'll enhance your knowledge, refine your humor skillset, and can even get funnier! At each level, you'll focus on a central theme: Level I:   Study of the theory and application of humor Level II:  Develop and execute a humor project - check out recent projects here Level III: Demonstrate leadership in the field of applied and therapeutic humor

Kate McGlynn, aka Katy BEE is a first year Humor Academy student with AATH and the founder of a new Non-profit Joy First Foundation - https://www.joyfirst.org/ - which is dedicated to bringing, evoking, creating, and offering joy to all living beings. Joyful Moments are online and in-person spontaneous moments appreciating and being grateful to others with standing ovations, surveys, gifts, like noses, kazoos, awards, certificates, and more. Joy FIrst also offers donated clown visits to organizations supporting families, and kids in need, like senior centers, shelters, police stations, veterans services, and random people because EVERYONE needs a Moment of Joy. The Tour of Joy is ongoing and you can support the tour as spontaneous moments are being offered from her trailer, on the road, or with Joy Ambassadors. You can also be a host, or a joy ambassador and collaborate with Joy First Foundation. She also offers Laughter Yoga, Juggling and Hula Hoop Shows, Joy Coaching and more! Scroll down for all the Joy First Links to Follow   Cathy Grippi - Joy Ambassador - Laughter Yogi  https://laughteryogavenice.com/ I am living proof that the application of applied and therapeutic humor can help to heal the mind, body and soul! At the age of 60, while feeling depressed, physically unwell and living in a new state, I needed to find ways to be of service and to find joy - seemingly an impossible situation to change having a negative mind set. And then I found Laughter Yoga! Olivia Vo - Joy Ambassador - Laughter Yogi and Social Strategist https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviavo-savvysocialpro/ Olivia Vo is a heart-centered entrepreneur and founder of Savvy Social Pro Enterprises, where she infuses her joyful energy, humor style, and savvy strategies for online collaborations and livestream events and productions. She credits the LinkedIn platform with providing her very first career in staffing as a recruiter and now as her livelihood as a social media content creator.  She is a graduate of the USA Women Entrepreneurship Cooperative, received her Laughter Yoga Certification, a professional member of the Association for Applied Therapeutic Humor, and volunteers with Harmony Mind Body Spirit Wellness Nonprofit in Jacksonville, FL. Olivia facilitates hands-on trainings and workshops both for in-person and online virtual events and available to speak on entrepreneurship, laughter for well-being, and LinkedIn profile optimization. She is known for her ability to connect and energize groups through her infectious laughter, empathy, and winsome smile.  Her favorite collaborations are book anthologies and she is the bestselling author of several including, The Cinderella Monologues, The Impact of One Voice, Live Life in W.O.W!, and The Stories of Us. You can follow Olivia's YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/@oliviasavvypro JOY FIRST FOUNDATION LINKS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoyFirstFoundation/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/makejoyfirst Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfirstfoundation/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joyfirstfoundation Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joyfirstfoundation Paypal donation link:  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XG4FTEZUKTZXW Venmo donation link: https://account.venmo.com/u/KateMcGlynn EMAIL: info@joyfirst.org OR katy@katybeellc.com  

Forget flying, invisibility or teleportation – the best superpower to covet is humor. Jennifer Keith's superpower has been and always will be humor – in many forms.   As a certified Humor Professional and current president of the international Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, Jennifer discovered the brain remembers two things – trauma and humor. Using her G.R.I.T. method of using humor to process trauma and loss, Jennifer finds ways to fix the funny bone and find the funny faster when surrounded by disappointing and upsetting events. If your brain is remembering the difficult times anyway, why not cushion them with a little bit of light, levity, and laughter?   Jennifer has degrees in English, journalism, theatre, technology, and educational leadership, proving that she doesn't want to nor should any of us grow up or stop learning. This published author and newly-TEDx'd speaker encourages you to take funny bone breaks – integrating humor into daily life, career, and family situations which can transform situations from barely tolerable to memorably positive.    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferjkeith/ https://www.facebook.com/jenniferjkeithauthor/ Fixingthefunnybone.com Jenniferjkeith.com   Daughter - E.G. Keith - age 12, author of Havoc and Serenity in The Magics series egkeith.com