Podcasts about laughbox

Jill Knox was a light to the world and had a positive impact on everyone she met.  She not only served as President and board member of the Association but also was critical in the development and continuation of AATH's Humor Academy.  On this episode of Laughbox,  AATH remembers Jill.  We share some stories, some memories and even some laughs. Jill Poole KnoxAugust 1, 1948 - January 16, 2021Jill Poole Knox, 72, of Oceanside, CA, passed away on January 16, 2021 from complications related to type 1 diabetes. Jill was born on August 1, 1948 in Pittsburgh, PA, where she lived until 2007 when she moved to Oceanside. She graduated from Edinboro University (PA) with a Bachelor of Science in Education, and taught in public schools for 18 years with a specialization in special education. She dedicated her life to service and took on leadership volunteer roles at church, school and community organizations throughout her life. In her second career, Jill forged a path focusing on the therapeutic and healing dimensions of humor and laughter, and became active in the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH), for which she served as president from 2013-2015. She was a Certified Humor Professional and Certified Laughter Leader, and she passionately believed in the important role that therapeutic humor and laughter can play in building a more peaceful world.Her contagious joy and zest for life continue on in her loved ones and the many lives she touched. She is survived by her mother, Anna Lou Poole; her siblings Craig Poole and Wendy Devlin; her husband of 46 years, Charley Knox; their daughter, Stephanie Knox Steiner, Stephanie's husband, Greg Steiner, and their daughter, Daphne Steiner; and her son, Will Knox and his wife, Shalee Sucher. She was predeceased by her father, David James Poole and her brother, Mark Poole.Celebrations of her life will be held in Pittsburgh and San Diego when it is safe to gather again. In the meantime, the family is inviting donations to be made in her name to the AATH Jill Knox Peace Scholarship Fund. Music from https://filmmusic.io"Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength."—Maya Angelou Are you as tired of watching the news as I am?  Then....we've got something completely different to approach on this episode of Laughbox! On this episode, I get to talk to my good friend, Lisa Koenecke...."The Inclusion Ally!"  Within our association, we do a really good job of bringing everyone into the fold but, as you know, we are a bit different as a group.  Most organizations are still playing by the playbook they were given in the 80's and Lisa's mission is to change that with humor and education. I had a great time talking with Lisa and I know you'll like her too! ENJOY! More on Lisa... As an experienced and energetic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professional speaker and facilitator, Lisa specializes in counteracting unconscious bias and LGBTQ+ inclusion in business. Her impact is amplified through strengthening each person’s allyship. With a demonstrated history of working in secondary education and a passion toward community and social services, she is an expert in counseling, crisis intervention, educational leadership, and program development. After receiving her Diversity & Inclusion certification from Cornell University, Lisa launched her Inclusion Ally business. Being an expert in LGBTQ+ issues has allowed her to present in 20 states and keynote numerous school counseling conferences. Lisa’s speaking style can best be described as dynamic, energetic and interactive.  After 12 years of being a middle school counselor, she is now an adjunct instructor at Lakeland University training the next generation of school counselors.  Connect with Lisa HERE! Music from https://filmmusic.io"Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The energy of the mind is the essence of life. - Aristotle I always make it a point to never trust an atom....they make up everything.  But we're not making anything up on this episode of Laughbox!  We're talking Energetic NLP with the master himself, Art Giser! This interview was particularly enlightening for me.  I had heard a bit (here and there) about NLP but really didn't k now much detail.  Art shares some real wisdom on what it is, how it applies to you, and what may be holding you back.  Further, he made it so simple even I could understand it. If you haven't registered for the conference, NOW IS THE TIME!  Don't do anything else (EVEN LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE) until you've gone over to the AATH website and made that investment in yourself.  Here's the link:  www.aath.org.  There's never been a better time to start living a happier, healthier, and more joyful life.  That can start with coming to the conference! I know you'll love this interview with Art as much as I did.  ENJOY! More on Art... Art Giser was awed by how many people could transform their lives using NLP, and he was awed how people could transform their lives using transformative energy work, intuition development, and spiritual development. He began to explore combining these different areas in order to create something that was more powerful than any one system alone.  The result is Energetic NLP. Over the last 32 years, Art has continued to develop Energetic NLP into the wonderful field that it is today. Infamous for his innate sense of fun, his mischievous way of training and his light-hearted approach, your days with Art will be full of light, joy and a lot of laughter! Art is known for his ability to make complex matters simple and easy to understand. This probably comes from his 11 years managing a research lab for the University of California San Francisco Medical School, 33 years as a life and executive coach, and his 32 years helping corporations develop leaders and high performing teams. Art has over 33 years experience in and study of NLP, science, psychic development, and energetic and spiritual healing. He studied with all of the major developers of NLP including Richard Bandler, John Grinder, Leslie Cameron-Bandler, Michael Lebeau, David Gordon, Robert Dilts, and Steve and Connie Ray Andreas. He was also part of the NLP research team headed by Leslie Cameron-Bandler, David Gordon, and Michael Lebeau that developed Imperative Self Analysis. He was one of the first two trainers certified by them to teach Imperative Self Analysis. Art is a Member of “The Association for NLP (ANLP)” – A UK based organization which upholds standards within the field of NLP. He was in the first NLP and Health workshop with Robert Dilts in 1985 and has completed Robert’s health certification program. Art has been an NLP trainer and taught energetic transformative work & intuition development for over 33 years. He currently lives in Los Angeles and San Francisco and has clients in the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, India, Russia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Brazil Art leads workshops in London, Paris, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. For the last 33 years, Art has studied intensively with a diverse group of spiritual teachers, intuitives, and healers including John Friedlander – author and teacher, John Fulton – founder of Aesclepion, Joseph Martinez – former president of the Philippine Psychic Healers Association of America, and John Norman. Art has had the amazing good fortune to have had two empowerments directly from the Dali Lama of Tibet. The internationally renown Brazilian healer, John of God (known as “the Miracle Man of Brazil”), has been helping Art to increase his healing abilities for the last 14 years. He studied with incredible energy practitioners who taught from Western, Indian, Philippine and Brazilian traditions. Art is based in San Fransisco and Los Angeles. He offers Energetic NLP™ programs in the United States, Canada, Brazil, London, and Paris. Check him out on his website:  https://energeticnlp.com/  

"Of course, I can get a hell of a good look at a T-Bone steak by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it." - Big Tom Callahan Here we are at Episode 50 and starting our second year of the Laughbox podcast!  It's cause to celebrate and so I watched the movie, Tommy Boy (thus, the quote at the top).  You should celebrate too!  How?  By coming to the AATH conference in April.  Go to www.aath.org and check it out.  The investments we make in ourselves pay big dividends! On this episode we're exploring the inner workings of the improv brain with Lisa David Olson and her book, Laughs On Wry: An Improvisor's Memoir. I had the opportunity to meet Lisa about 5 years ago and I've enjoyed that connection so much.  She's fun, funny and has some great things to share in how to find the humor in everyday life and make a choice to be better. I know you'll enjoy listening as much as I did.  Yes, I listened to the interview several times before airing it. If you have a guest idea for the show or something you'd like to hear about, email me direct at chip@unconventionalleader.com.  I'd love to hear from you. More on Lisa... Speaker, author, improv ninja and owner of an award winning sketch comedy troupe - The Heart of La Crosse. “Laughs On Wry; an improviser’s memoir” has been called “smart, insightful and hilarious! She takes the ordinary and turns it into hysterical and relatable stories.”  Originally from Wisconsin, love brought her over the Mississippi bridge to her current home in La Crescent Minnesota. Olson is a self proclaimed harvester of humor, a goofy friend, embarrassing mom and mega-prankster.  A speaker for nearly two decades, she lights up a room and connects attendees through humor. Presenting to companies about infusing improvisation is her passion, as is speaking to groups about the message of her book “Laughs On Wry”, which is that life is made of choices, not excuses.  For Olson, strength was found when sharing laughter, it’s a healthy way to connect with people and share the buzz of joy! Join her facebook page for a daily dose of giggles!  By day, Olson is an assistant at the La Crescent Police Department, handling the public, records and dispatch duties. www.lisadavidolson.com Instagram and Twitter:  #improvbuddy

Suicide isn't something we talk about in our society.  There's a stigma associated with it that keeps most of us from having the conversations that need to be had. This special episode of LHH was actually recorded for my other podcast, Laughbox, but I thought it was so important to share that I decided to air it on this one too. Frank King is the guest and suicide is the topic.  Frank is a comedian and former writer for the tonight show but don't let the funny man business fool you.  He's struggled with his own bouts with this topic.  He shares his own journey but also dispels the myths surrounding suicide.  Most importantly, he shares about how about getting the conversation started and where to go for help when it's needed (links are at the bottom). I hope you get as much from our conversation as I did.  Please share it. More on Frank... Frank King, aka The Mental Health Comedian, is a Suicide Prevention and Postvention Public Speaker and Trainer who turned a lifelong battle with depression into a keynote worth spreading.After writing for the Tonight Show for 20-plus years and performing corporate comedy, Frank’s attention…His mission is to end the stigma surrounding mental health by share his insights with anyone and everyone who will listen in an effort to “start the conversation.” Frank has thought about killing himself more times than he can count. Like many of us, depression and suicide run in his family. He addresses his own trials and tribulations using a tool people from all walks of life can relate to, humor. With his TED Talk A Matter of Life or Death” he openly addresses topics considered taboo in today’s society. As a Motivational Public Speaker and Trainer who travels the world, Frank uses comedy and personal life lessons to help break the ice and start an engaging conversation amongst those struggling with mental and emotional stability. This act of faith helps those struggling to find a voice to express themselves. Additionally, it helps create a pool of common knowledge where those who suffer, and those who care about them, can swim. He believes that where there is humor there is hope. And where there is laughter there is life… Nobody dies laughing. Frank is originally from North Carolina and now spends his off days in the Pacific Northwest. He travels the United States and beyond spreading his message, hoping to end the stigma surrounding mental health, and influencing the general public to start the conversation. LINKS FOR HELP: https://www.nami.org/ https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ https://www.thementalhealthcomedian.com/

Yes, she’s a bit saucy (and so is this interview) but you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who is as smart and funny as this Laughbox episode’s guest, Joyce Saltman.  I first had the pleasure of meeting Joyce at one of our conferences and I’ve been a fan ever since.  She shares the work she is doing in applied humor, her history and a nicely told risqué joke (that I particularly enjoyed…and retold several times).  ENJOY!   Joyce Saltman is Professor Emeritus of Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University. She holds four graduate degrees in the fields of special education and counseling, and chose to receive her doctoral degree at Columbia because “she loved the color of their gown.” It was no small feat that she managed to persuade her mentor to allow her to write her dissertation on her true passion: “Humor in Adult Learning.” Joyce’s innovative teaching style led to the development of a graduate course entitled “The Enhancement of Learning Through Humor,” as well as a summer institute, “Healing Education Laughter and Play (HELP).” Her experience in the areas of education, therapy and comedy has provided an outstanding background for her research on the therapeutic value of laughter.

Her enormous brain is only matched by her quick wit and her dance moves when the Bee Gee’s start playing.  Dr. Melissa Mork shares it all with us in this episode of Laughbox.  Enjoy! More on Melissa... Dr. Melissa Baartman Mork is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement at the University of Northwestern.  She is a Certified Humor Professional and the former director of the Humor Academy, the three-year college-level Humor Studies program for the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. She is the mother of two beautiful children and the widow of one hot Norwegian. At Northwestern, Dr. Mork teaches courses in General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Psychology of Counseling, Psychological Ethics, and How to Diagnose Your Family and Friends without Their Knowing.  Although her kids don’t think she’s very funny, Dr. Mork makes herself laugh. A lot. She even has “FUNNY” on her license plate. Her one claim to fame is when Jimmy Fallon read her tweet on “#hashtags”.

Have you ever eaten a Guinea Pig?  No?  Me either (although I would try it).  How about...have you ever wondered how to create a better working environment?  Yes?  Me too!  You're in luck!  This week's guest, Paul Osincup, has got the intel on how to do it and he shares it (free of charge) with us!  This is a REALLY FUN and content packed episode of Laughbox so make sure you've something to write with.  ENJOY! More on Paul... Paul Osincup is an International Speaker and Positive Workplace Strategist who helps companies create engaging work climates. From his experience in Higher Education Leadership & Administration, Paul’s previous roles had him addressing high-risk behaviors and threats to college campuses. A conflict resolution specialist, he was a consultant at the U.S. Department of Education’s Center for Alcohol, Drug, and Violence Prevention and still consults for several non-profit agencies. Despite the serious nature of his work, It’s Paul’s background in comedy that fuels his interest in humor as a competitive advantage in business. His TED Talk on Humor in Leadership has been viewed over 140,000 times, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, and occasionally he even makes his wife laugh. Paul’s worked with hundreds of organizations from school districts and police departments to companies like NASDAQ and Kaiser Permanente. His work has been highlighted in SUCCESS Magazine, Training Magazine, and on his mom's fridge.  Check out Paul on his website:  www.paulosincup.com 

He’s amazing and amazingly funny!  Jim Pelley has been a part of AATH since nearly the beginning and this week on Laughbox he shares a lifetime of humor strategies that are destined to help you bring more humor to your and other’s worlds.   More on Jim...   For more than 30 years, Jim Pelley has brought the power and value of humor in the workplace to hundreds of thousands of people at top corporations and organizations worldwide.   Jim enlightens his audiences on the art and science of bringing effective humor into their lives to become more creative, more productive, and less stressed. Recent clients include some of the world's most creative and innovative companies - Intel, Disney, Southwest Airlines, Marriott, American Express, Motorola, Hewlett Packard, and PepsiCo, to name just a few.   Jim's finely tuned ability to customize his programs delights audiences in such diverse fields as high tech, healthcare, banking, manufacturing, and government. From executives to production and service personnel, his listeners are amazed at the depth of his insight into their environment.   You can connect with Jim (and find out more about his work) on his website:  http://laughterworks.com/

Where does superman go to change now that all of the phone booths are gone?  Great question, eh?  That’s what you get when you get to spend some time with speaker and comedian, Izzy Gesell.  Izzy shares his insights on how to mine the humor from your everyday life to connect with others and cope with the crap going on around you in this week’s Laughbox!   More on Izzy... Izzy Gesell is an organizational alchemist who helps individuals and organizations transform their thinking from commonplace to extraordinary. Through his keynotes, trainings, coaching and facilitated sessions, Izzy offers imaginative, intuitive and immediately useful insights and programs. He is skilled at delivering meaningful material in a way that makes participants enjoy their time with him. One of the first to use Improv Theater concepts as tools for personal and organizational learning, Izzy is the author of Playing Along: Group Learning Activities Borrowed From Improvisation Theater,  The Resilient  Caregiver, a co-author of Cancer & the Healing Power of Play, a co-author of Humor Me: America’s Funniest Humorists on the Power of Laughter.  His has authored 3 video courses on Linkedin Learning  & Lynda.com: “Essentials of Team Building”, “Humor in the Workplace”, & “Leading with Applied Improv.” Recognized by his peers, he has earned a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association. Less than 15% of NSA’s 4,000 members are CSPs A former stand –up comedian and public school teacher, Izzy was raised in Brooklyn NY. He has earned a BA in Psychology, an MS in Education and a P…. that’s 1/3 of a PhD and now lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. Check out Izzy’s website at:  https://www.izzyg.com/

You loved him on the stage and big screen and now you’ll love him at the AATH conference! What a treat it was for me to spend a little time talking with Yakov Smirnoff on this week’s Laughbox podcast!  Admittedly, I was a little nervous going into it but he quickly put me at ease as he shared some of his insights on laughter, love, and relationships.  I can’t wait to hear more in San Diego!  Listen in!   More on Yakov…   Fans who loved the comedy of Russian born entertainer Yakov Smirnoff throughout his expansive career on television, the silver screen and Broadway can experience the hilarity once again in “Happily Ever Laughter: The Neuroscience of Romantic Relationships.” In this new show, audience members are left in stitches as they enjoy Yakov’s insightful and laughter-filled philosophies on love, relationships and the differences between men and women. The New York Times called Yakov, “Warm-hearted, delightful and splendidly funny.”   A mainstay on the entertainment scene since the late 1970’s, Yakov co-starred in movies with Robin Williams in “Moscow on the Hudson“, Tom Hanks in “The Money Pit“, Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson in “Heartburn” and Richard Pryor in “Brewster’s Millions.” Yakov has also given command performances at the White House for several presidents and honored guests. President Ronald Reagan called Yakov, “a national treasure.” Smirnoff was a regular guest star on the award winning NBC sitcom, Night Court. He has been a popular guest of numerous national TV shows including the Tonight Show. You’ve seen him on HBO and enjoyed his humor in his critically acclaimed Showtime special, “Yakov Smirnoff from Moscow…Idaho.”  From 1993 to 2015, Yakov performed at his own two-thousand-seat theater in Branson, Missouri where he entertained over four and a half-million people and produced several outstanding award-winning shows. His comedic style is firmly grounded within his mission statement, “to experience happiness and teach it to the world with passion through comedy and sensitivity.“   Yakov’s quest to understand the science of happiness took him to the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a master’s degree in psychology in 2006 under the supervision of Dr. Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology. Today, in addition to being a comedian, Yakov is also an adjunct professor at Missouri State University where he teaches a course on happiness and laughter and is currently earning his Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education & Psychology in Los Angeles, CA. In “Happily Ever Laughter”, Yakov takes his comedy to a new level to showcase laughter’s effects on relationships and envisions a world where sadness and tears are replaced with love and laughter. Whether on stage or in a classroom, Yakov’s audiences love him. He is passionate about helping people extend the honeymoon stage of their relationships and “fall in love and laughter all over again.”   Check out Yakov on his website:  http://www.yakov.com/

The Power of Levity After Gravity:  An Interview With Patty Wooten   Laughing through a disaster?  Does that seem ludicrous?  Perhaps…but humor always finds a way.  From the treachery and turmoil or being a prisoner of war to the devastation that the recent natural disaster have wrought, humor finds a way.  On this week’s episode of Laughbox, I have the distinct honor of talking with someone who knows the power humor can have in helping you overcome the obstacle, get perspective, and gain strength….Patty Wooten!  I’ve been a long time admirer of Patty and her work.  Some people talk about humor and some get out there and try to use it’s power to make a difference in the world.  Patty has been making a difference for nearly 40 years and, today, she can make a difference for you!     More on Patty…   From hospital clown to humorist & professional speaker to nurse retention and renewal specialist, Patty has  made her living for more than 20 years studying, applying and sharing the many ways humor and laughter provide therapeutic benefits to individuals and groups.   Even more on Patty in her own voice…    Since the mid-1980s, I have been speaking, writing and, in general, serving as an advocate and spokesperson for the therapeutic benefits of humor. At the bedside, in the workplace, and at conferences of every kind, I have seen humor work magic and have shared what I’ve learned with hundreds of thousands of people.   I have been on a television panel with humor scholars, such as Dr. Vera Robinson, and Dr. Bill Fry. I’ve clowned with Patch Adams long before the hit movie about his work. And I’ve even been the mystery guest on the hit TV game show, To Tell the Truth. It’s been a fun ride!   While involved with the early leaders of the modern therapeutic humor movement, I have had the pleasure of being a charter member of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, and a long-time member of the International Society for Humor Studies. These two organizations are invaluable for helping our field promote important and accurate information about the many humor and laughter work their magic. In 1999, I was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by my AATH peers.   I have spoken in nearly every state in the U.S. and in 11 foreign countries. I guess being a leader in a field for more than 20 years does result in quite an accumulation of knowledge and some element of notoriety.   Okay, I guess it’s true. Somehow, my life’s journey has earned me the title, “The Icon of Therapeutic Humor.” I’ll humbly accept the title and will continue to work hard to bring humor and laughter to deserving audiences around the world.    You can get EVEN more on Patty on her website:  www.pattywooten.com

“If you lean in, will men just look down your blouse?”  is the new book and this week on Laughbox we discuss that and a lifetime of laughter with Dr. Gina Barreca!  What an honor it was for me to spend some time talking to someone who isn’t afraid to tackle the tough issues and is able to get people to listen because of her smart humor.  You’re not going to want to miss this episode! More on Gina… Dr. Gina Barreca has appeared on 20/20, The Today Show, CNN, the BBC, NPR and Oprah to discuss gender, power, politics, and humor. Her earlier books include the bestselling They Used to Call Me Snow White But I Drifted: Women’s Strategic Use of Humor, It’s Not That I’m Bitter, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Visible Panty Lines and Conquered the World, and Babes in Boyland: A Personal History of Coeducation in the Ivy League. Of the other six books she’s written or co-written, several have been translated into to other languages–including Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, and German.  Called “smart and funny” by People magazine and “Very, very funny. For a woman,” by Dave Barry, Gina was deemed a “feminist humor maven” by Ms. Magazine. Novelist Wally Lamb said “Barreca’s prose, in equal measures, is hilarious and humane.”   Gina’s weekly columns from The Hartford Courant are now distributed internationally by the Tribune Co. and her work has appeared in most major publications, including The New York Times, The Independent of London, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Cosmopolitan, and The Harvard Business Review. She’s Professor of English and Feminist Theory at the University of Connecticut and winner of UConn’s highest award for excellence in teaching. Gina has delivered, often as a repeat guest, keynotes at events organized by The Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop, the National Writers Workshop, the Women’s Campaign School at Yale and the National Association of Independent Schools, The Chicago Humanities Festival, Women In Federal Law Enforcement, Chautauqua and The Smithsonian–to name a few.   Her B.A. is from Dartmouth College, where she was the first woman to be named Alumni Scholar, her M.A. is from Cambridge University, where she was a Reynold’s Fellow, and her Ph.D. is from the City University of New York, where she lived close to a good delicatessen. A member of the Friars’ Club and the first female graduate of Dartmouth College invited to have her personal papers requested by the Rauner Special Collections Library, Gina can be found in the Library of Congress or in the make-up aisle of Walgreens. She grew up in Brooklyn and Long Island but now lives with her husband in Storrs, CT. Go figure.   You can get more info on Gina and BUY HER BOOKS here: http://ginabarreca.com/

Did you hear about the stand-up comedian from Canada?  It’s no joke…she’s on this episode of Laughbox!  Sit back, plug in and listen as we talk to Pam Wener.  A Laughter Leader and longtime member of AATH, Pam decided a few years ago to try her hand at stand-up comedy.  In this interview, she shares what she does, how she does it and how she’s working to make a difference for those around her. Connect with Pam on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/pam.wener?fref=ts

Look out…up ahead…A DETOUR! This week, on Laughbox, I have the great pleasure of talking with Amy Oestreicher. She’s funny, she’s talented, and she knows about the detours in life. She shares her story and how she’s learned to shift mindset and be more resilient. I think you’ll enjoy the interview…she’s VERY high energy! A little more on Amy… Amy Oestreicher is a PTSD peer-to-peer specialist, artist, author, writer for The Huffington Post, speaker for TEDx and RAINN, health advocate, award-winning actress, and playwright. As a survivor and “thriver” of multiple traumas, Amy eagerly shares the gifts of life’s “beautiful detours” her educational programming, writing, mixed media art, performance and inspirational speaking.  Amy has headlined international conferences on leadership, entrepreneurship, women’s rights, mental health, disability, creativity, and domestic violence prevention. She is a SheSource Expert, a “Top Mental Health” writer for Medium, and a regular lifestyle, wellness, and arts contributor for over 70 notable online and print publications, and her story has appeared on NBC’s TODAY, CBS, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen Magazine, Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, MSNBC, among others. To celebrate her own “beautiful detour”, Amy created the #LoveMyDetour campaign, to help others cope in the face of unexpected events.  Her passion for inclusion, equity and amplifying marginalized voices has earned her various honors, including a scholarship from the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor Professionals, the first annual SHERocks Herstory National Performing Artist Honoree, a United Way Community Helper award, and a National Sexual Education Grant honor. To creatively engage student advocacy efforts, Amy developed a trauma-informed program combining mental health education, sexual assault prevention, and Broadway Theatre for college campuses, organizations and conferences.  She has designed a creative curriculum for “Detourist Resiliency,” an outreach program taken to schools, hospitals, and at-risk youth.  She also has launched Detourist peer-led chapters on college campuses, Detourist creative arts workshops, and an online community to creatively fight stigma in society through storytelling. “Detourism” is also the subject of her TEDx Talk and upcoming book, My Beautiful Detour, available December 2017. As the 2014 Eastern Regional Recipient of Convatec’s Great Comebacks Award and WEGO Health 2016 “Health Activist Hero” Finalist, and WeGO Health Expert, Amy is a passionate voice in the ostomy community, founding the online community Fearless Ostomates, speaking for National and Regional WOCN conferences, and writing for the official print publication of the UOAA.  Her presentations on alternative medicine and patient advocacy and healthcare have also been accepted to international conferences on patient care, internal medicine, medical trauma and therapeutic humor in hospitals.  She has devised workshops for the Transformative Language Arts Network National Conference, the Eating Recovery Foundation, the 40th Anniversary New England Educational Opportunity Association Milestones Conference, the Annual National Mental Health America Conference,2016 American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, and others. She was the 2016 keynote speaker for the Hawaii Pacific Rim International Conference on Diversity and Disability. and will be the featured keynote speaker at the 2018 International School of Social Work Conference in Ohio. As a playwright, Amy has received awards and accolades for engaging her audiences in dynamic conversation on trauma’s effects on society, including Women Around Town’s “Women to Celebrate” 2014, BroadwayWorld “Best Theatre Debut,”  Bistro Awards “New York Top Pick, and the “Singular Award” at the Sarasolo Theatre Festival, presented annually for a “performance that is exceptionally uncommon, groundbreaking, original and inventive.” Amy has written, directed and starred in a one-woman musical about her life, Gutless & Grateful, touring theatres, schools, festivals, conventions and organizations since it’s 2012 New York debut.  Gutless & Grateful is currently being licensed to students across the country for academic projects and competitions.  Amy spent Fall of 2015 participating as a playwright and performance artist in the National Musical Theatre Institute at the world-renowned Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, where she helped to develop the full-length multimedia ensemble piece, The Greeks Are Trying to Tell Us Something, and was a writer, actress, composer and set designer for “Playwrights and Librettists” – a festival of 27 30-minute plays in five days.  Her original, full-length drama, Imprints, exploring the physical and psychological impact of trauma, premiered at the Producer’s Club in 2016, and is currently in development for a full New York production as Flicker and a Firestarter.  Her short plays have been published by the Eddy Theatre Company and finalists in Manhattan Repertory Theatre’s Short Play Festival, as well as NYC Playwright’s Women in the Age of Trump.  Her theatre education essays and monologues have been published in Creative Pedagogy journals, as part of a theatre curriculum for high school students in the Philippines, and as a teaching artist, she is a strong advocate for arts integration and education. Amy’s collaboration with Beechwood Arts on the immersion salon, “Resilience and the Power of the Human Spirit”, has traveled around the world to health and arts facilities as a public installation, incorporating her monologues, art, writing and recipes to express the life-altering detours and ultimately the invaluable gifts of her resilient journey.  Amy is also an active artist and teacher in the Jewish community, being honored by United Way in 2005 for her music programs at Hollander House, completing artist residencies at Art Kibbutz, and delivering “Hope, Resilience & Biblical Women” keynotes for synagogues and religious schools.  After studying Theatre of the Oppressed in her studies at Hampshire College, she helped to train ACTSmart, a Playback Theatre troupe in Amherst, MA.  She is also a passionate arts education advocate, a successful mixed media visual artist, a continuing education studio arts teacher, and an active member of the League of Professional Theatre Women, League for Advancement of New England Storytellers, Fairfield County Cultural Alliance, Alliance for Jewish Theatre, Theatre Artist Workshop, and several art guilds throughout Connecticut and New York.   Amy is currently developing a multimedia performance project incorporate her original music compositions with the oral histories of her grandmother, a holocaust survivor with musical director David Brunetti, and developing a new multidisciplinary solo musical based on er second TEDx Talk this year: healing from trauma through the archetypal hero’s journey.  She is also working on a full-length play with music, LEFTOVERS with director and dramaturge Susan Einhorn, based on her life after the surgical ICU.  She is leading mixed media creativity and solo performance workshops to promote creativity as a mindset, an essential survival skill.  Amy also offers creative coaching and consulting services help others navigate their own “life detours,” and prides herself most on ending each night with a gratitude list.  

You don’t need to burn incense and meditate to be practice mindfulness…you just need a focus to calm all the crap being flung around in your head!    On this week’s Laughbox, I get to interview mindfulness expert, Nick Mosca, as he shares simple strategies to decrease your stress and live with more mindfulness. Drawing on over ten years of experience as an educator, Nick Mosca empowers people to align mindfulness practices with their interests, reduce stress, and reclaim their lives. Nick currently serves as a Mindfulness Coach/English & Public Speaking Teacher at The George Jackson Academy. In this capacity, he offers over 175 staff and underserved youth practical curricula for using personalized mindfulness to enhance their lives. In 2015, The Atlantic featured Nick’s mindfulness-based Selfless Love Act Project that he co-authored for both educators and students at this institution. Nick also co-hosts on WABC Radio and has presented at Yale University, Squarespace, Columbia University, New York University, Share Fair Nation, The HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, The Milken Scholars Program, and Molloy College. Moreover, Nick’s writing has appeared in Psychology Today and he is the elected Research Chairperson of The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, through which he earned a scholarship for using mindfulness and comedy to advance world peace. Nick holds a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University where he won The Billings Prize for inspiring behavioral change through positive humor. During his undergraduate studies, Nick earned a B.A. in English (Magna Cum Laude) from Georgetown University. He is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).  During his free time, Nick composes music, runs, and plays baseball. You can get more on Nick and his work here:  http://www.nickmosca.com/

She’s an author, she’s an educator, she can leap tall buildings in a single bound….it’s Mary Kay Morrison! Few people have done as much to further the cause of therapeutic humor than Mary Kay. In this episode of Laughbox, Mary Kay shares some insights into the Association and how our Certified Humor Professional Program (which she gave birth to) took shape. Mary Kay is a great friend and has dedicated a great part of her life to AATH (and her husband’s too). Take a listen to this interview with one of our own. More on Mary Kay: Mary Kay Morrison, a professional educator, has dedicated her professional and personal life to researching the benefits of humor and play. She has shared her message with groups as diverse as hospice caregivers, education administrators and bank executives. Through her workshops and publications her quest for humor has assisted others to achieve significant positive change in their lives. She is the teacher for the Humor Academy a graduate program offered through AATH (The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor).  More on Mary Kay can be found on her website at: http://www.questforhumor.com/

Knock knock! Who’s there? Heidi Hanna! And that’s no joke! What a great experience it was to get to share some of Heidi Hanna’s brain this week on Laughbox. I say some because she’s so smart I don’t think I could handle the full Hanna. Heidi shares what’s going on in your brain when you’re stressed and what you can do to calm the monkey on this week’s Laughbox episode. She also shares about her upcoming Global Stress Summit and how you can be a part of this incredible event. Take a listen in, you won’t be disappointed. More on Heidi…. As an experienced speaker, Dr. Heidi Hanna has been featured at many national and global conferences, including the Fortune Magazine Most Powerful Women in Business Summit, ESPN Women’s Leadership Summit, and the Million Dollar Round Table. She is founder and Chief Energy Officer of Synergy, a consulting company providing brain-based health and performance programs for organizations, the Executive Director of the American Institute of Stress, and a frequent lecturer at Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Hanna’s publications include the NY Times bestseller The SHARP Solution: A Brain-Based Approach for Optimal Performance (Wiley, Feb 2013), Stressaholic: 5 Steps to Transform Your Relationship With Stress (Wiley, Jan 2014) and Recharge: 5 Shifts to Energize Your Life (Synergy, 2015). Dr. Hanna is a National Board Member for Blessings in a Backpack, a Fellow with the American Institute of Stress, and she currently serves as editor of their quarterly publication, Contentment. Recently, Dr. Hanna created The Beyond Funny Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing resources and education related to the benefits of healthy humor. Dr. Hanna holds a bachelors degree in communications from Penn State University, where she competed on the Big 10 softball team and received academic All-American honors. She holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Rollins College and a Ph.D. degree in holistic nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health. Clients have included Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, Cisco, Dell, Intel, Boeing, Proctor & Gamble, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Merrill Lynch, ESPN and Starbucks, as well as professional and amateur athletes. Still need more? Check her out at: https://www.heidihanna.com/

What do you get when you cross a tech savvy entrepreneur with a person that wants to make a difference for others? FRANK CHINDAMO! In this episode of Laughbox, Frank shares about his humor roots and how LaughMD got started and where they want to go. Take a listen in as Frank makes me laugh a LOT!More on Frank… More on Frank… Frank created Fun Little Movies in 2003, the first U.S. company to produce comedic films for mobile phones worldwide, and launched the still-running top-deck channel of comedy videos on Sprint phones in 2004. In 2007, he was nominated by Ernst & Young for Entrepreneur of the Year. Frank is LMD’s Founder and Content Curator, and has experience ranging from the Sprint Channel to Babelgum.com, (achieving 1 million subscribers in under two months) to the current Christian content site. Truli.net. FLM produces web video series for big brands including Walmart, Petco and Kingston Technologies. FLM has been a cover story or featured in Forbes Magazine, the L.A. Times, the NY Times, USA Today, The NY Post, the BBC, Washington Post, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, AdAge, Mashable, CBS and Wired Magazine. FLM has also won over 30 awards for the the videos they have produced, including the Grand Prize at Mobile Content World in Barcelona at the MoFilm awards, given by Kevin Spacey. FLM was also a finalist at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Short Film. In 2010, Frank produced a video for TED with Titanic and Avatar producer Jon Landau. He has lectured at numerous colleges and universities and is currently an Adjunct Professor in Web Video at USC, UCLA and Chapman Universities. Frank created LaughMD because of the experiences he saw when he was with his family in hospitals. His father suffered from heart attacks and cancer and was in the hospital 17 times. His brother passed away after months in a hospital. And other family members have spent weeks in hospitals. Frank saw that most of the time, patients were doing nothing but watching TV, and the TV channels available to them made them more anxious, aggravated and sicker. There had to be a better way! Frank received his Film B.F.A. from N.Y.U. and his Screenwriting & Producing M.F.A. from Columbia University. Want more on LaughMD? Visit their site: http://www.laughmd.com/

Mirthologist and psychologist, Dr. Steve Sultanoff, is the founder of Humor Matters.  He also is the Past-President of AATH and also the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.  In this episode of Laughbox, he shares his personal strategies for incorporating more humor into your life and how he used humor strategically as a psychotherapist with his patients.  You’ll get some real strategies you can use right away in this episode!  Grab a pen, paper and be prepared!   Steve’s website is FULL of resources for anyone serious about adding a little more mirth to their lives. Please check it out at www.humormatters.com.

This week on Laughbox we talk to Dr. Ed Dunelblau, Past President of AATH and Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Ed shares very candidly about strategies he used to cope recently with his own bout with cancer. Listen in. You’ll laugh and learn some things to make a positive impact for yourself and others. More on Ed... Dr. Dunkelblau is a licensed clinical psychologist and nationally known speaker on the topics of social-emotional intelligence, humor, and health. Dr. Dunkelblau has two master's degrees from Columbia University: one in psychology and the other in vocational and rehabilitation counseling, and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Kansas, where he was recently recognized as a distinguished alum. Even more on Ed... He has been in clinical practice for 25 years, is past president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH), is approved supervisor for the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and director of the Institute for Emotionally Intelligent Learning. Ed was recently selected as a primary speaker by the US Department of Defense's Yellow Ribbon Program. This honor is conferred on a select group of speakers whose talents assist members of our armed forces and their families in dealing with the challenges of military service. Want more on Ed? http://www.teacheq.com/welcome.html

This week on Laughbox we talk to “Cheerman to the Bored” himself, Steve Wilson!  Steve is a psychologist, self-proclaimed Joyologist, and a Lifetime Achievement Award Winner with AATH.  In this episode of Laughbox, he shares his own humor journey and how he started the laughter movement in the United States.  You won’t want to miss this episode with this iconic humor professional.   More information on Steve and his work can be found at www.worldlaughtertour.com.

What’s a neurohumorist? You’ll find out in this episode of Laughbox as we talk to Karyn Buxman about what happens in our brain when we encounter humor and when we laugh. Karyn is in the National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame and is a Diplomat at the American Institute of Stress.  She is a proud recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. She serves on the advisory boards of the Invisible Disabilities Association and the American Happiness Association. She’s the co-founder of World Laughter Tour. That’s why Karyn Buxman is the best person to teach your team how they can lead with laughter! More on Karyn can be found at www.karynbuxman.com.

In Episode 1, of Laughbox, we get to talk with Julie Ostrow on incorporating humor into everyday life as well as how all of life is Improv! As the Humor, Laughter, and Improv Coach, American Laughing Champion and Second City-trained Julie Ostrow teaches organizations and corporate teams to use improv skills to improve Creativity, Communication, Team Building, Problem Solving, and Productivity with their clients and within their organizations. She teaches the benefits of using humor, laughter, and improv in all aspects of our lives, including in the workplace. More on Julie can be found at www.julieostrow.com

In this pilot episode of LaughBox, I introduce the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH). AATH is a nonprofit, member-driven community of laughter and humor professionals and enthusiasts. The organization was formed in 1987 by Allison Crain, R.N., and provides members with education, cutting edge resources and the supportive community they need to excel in the promotion of healthy humor. I found my people when I came to my first conference over a decade ago. They get the joke and appreciate the humor. And it’s an eclectic group that includes doctors, lawyers, educators, anybody that has an appreciation and a use for humor in their life. Humor can help us communicate better. It helps us cope. It helps us deal with anything that comes up if we can find the humor in the situation. In future episodes of LaughBox, I’ll be talking with laughter and humor professionals that can help you make the rapid mental adjustment you need to just get over the hump sometimes and get down to business. When we need just that one thing to make us laugh or smile, even when the clouds are gray and it’s hard to find that silver lining, for me, humor is the one thing that has always helped me do it Find more information at AATH.org.