LaughBox

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

Reverend Artist Barbara Ann Michaels. Jester of the Peace, is a clown theater performance artist and Ordained Interfaith Minister. Her mission is to put humor, art and love back in the medicine cabinet for generations to come. She founded an online town for humor and wellness including House of Holy Humor, the non-religious congregation for humor for wellbeing, Humor Arts Museum, for uplifting humorous art in all media, the It's Funny Now Library, a global video story bank of true tales were hard when they were happening, yet are funny to the tellers now, the Love Letter Lounge Post Office and more to come. She has been an audience-interactive performing artist for over 30 years, presenting and educating at the nexus of humor, art and love at most places people gather for a good purpose: Museums, Universities, Galleries, Galas, Festivals, Trade Shows, Conferences, Theaters and in the Streets - around the world. She also is an award winning wedding officiant, performing over 550 ceremonies for creative couples. She is a graduate of Brown University, Massachusetts College of Art, and One Spirit Interfaith Seminary. At the time of this recording, House of Holy Humor is in residence through Chashama at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, uplifting commuters with positive participatory arts experiences, Humor Arts Museum is going into its fourth online show, on contemporary humorous sculpture and photography, and It's Funny Now is being studied at Lahore Leads University in Pakistan, with story sharing programs launching with Let The Girl Be in Uganda, and high schools in New York, USA. Join at http://JesterOfThePeace.com Contact: [email protected] Jester of the Peace IG: https://www.instagram.com/jesterofthepeace/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/JesterOfThePeace LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesterofthepeace/ TW: https://twitter.com/JesterOfPeace House of Holy Humor: IG: https://www.instagram.com/HouseOfHolyHumor FB: https://www.facebook.com/HouseOfHolyHumor Humor Arts Museum: IG: https://www.instagram.com/humorartsmuseum/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/HumorArtsMuseum LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/humor-arts-museum TW: https://twitter.com/HumorArtsMuseum

Dr. Lois Holzman and her East Side Institute colleagues and associates bring human and community development to the forefront of culture and social change through grassroots, performance activism worldwide. Trained as a developmental psychologist at Columbia and Rockefeller Universities, Lois is a leading proponent of a social therapeutic psychology of becoming —which she’s dubbed “non-knowing growing.” She has written 8 books, including Performing Psychology: A Postmodern Culture of the Mind and The Overweight Brain: How Our Obsession with Knowing Keeps Us from Getting Smart Enough to Make a Better World. Her most recent project is a “different kind of advice column,” she calls “Dear Developmentalist.” She invites letters from all feeling stuck, stymied and wanting to grow. LoisHolzman.org LoisHolzman.org/the-developmentalist/ EastSideInstitute.org #TheDevelopmentalist #LoisHolzman #PerformanceActivism #SocialTherapeutics

The Lead with Levity Podcast shows leaders (like you!) how to create space for humanity in business so you can have a fun, safe, and supportive company that people love. If you want to create the kind of work environment that your team can get excited about, where people feel valued and connected, then this is the show for you. Dr. Walker has dedicated her career to helping organizations revamp their cultures to improve morale, productivity and profit. After doing this work for 10+ years, she noticed a core cultural differentiator in organizations that truly thrived…. Levity—those moments in the day that are uplifting. Now, she works to instill levity in every organization. With the help of the Lead with Levity team, Dr. Walker will help you build a magnetic culture that people love with the REVEAL|EMPOWER approach. Our approach will help you REVEAL hidden stressors and opportunity zones in order to EMPOWER your people to thrive personally and professionally. https://leadwithlevity.com/

AATH's Sue Stevenson returns to the Laughbox podcast with a new book! Sue is a certified brain-based coach working with decision-makers, C-suite executives, professionals, solopreneurs, speakers, and coaches. She uses a varied and effective neuroscience-based skill set, that includes positive intelligence, applied and therapeutic humor, social learning, and peak performance strategies. Sue is best known for facilitating learning and positive change through brain-based coaching and consulting by utilizing the latest research in neuroscience, strategic humor management, and positive psychology to help leaders realize their full potential and success. Her new book: "Impossible to Possible: Neurostrategies for Healing, Humor, and a Reimagined Life," describes her personal journey for success. Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/eJbhXb5 Sue serves as an Ambassador for The Academy of Brain Health and Performance (Harvard) and she has achieved an International Coaching Federation (ICF) Credential as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). She also serves on the board for The Invisible Disabilities Association and The Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor and is a Certified Humor Professional. She is also the co-founder of The San Diego Brain Club, which is now in its 13th year. Buy her book on Amazon! https://a.co/d/eJbhXb5 Listen to Episode 31 with Sue here: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-xi3ap-864f4e Sue Stevenson, B.ED, FCIPD, PCC, RPCC CEO/Founder, Lifted Fog LLC Global Executive Coach, Brain-Based Facilitator, and Consultant 858 344 4632 www.liftedfog.com

Based out of Chicago, Raghu has been making people laugh all over the country since 2010 with his saucy comedy. He shamelessly shares the humorous side of the various roles he plays as a husband, father and son. From being an Indian American to all the nuances ( or pile on) that life brings he leaves no stone unturned. He also recently taped his first comedy special with Dry Bar Comedy. Upcoming shows: 12/15 - 12 Comics of SNF - 8:00 pm Free Show Two Brothers Roundhouse 205 N. Broadway Aurora, IL 12/22 - Big break Comedy Holiday Club - 8:00 pm Free show 4000 N. Sheridan Rd. Chicago, IL 12/23 - Digs on Canal - 7:00 pm 316 Canal St Lemon, IL Get tickets and more info here - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/473720850817 Comedy special: https://www.drybarcomedy.com/raghua

Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame speaker who travels the world researching, writing, and speaking about inspiring workplace cultures and businesses that leverage their humor resources to create outrageous results. He is also the author of eight books including The Jerk-Free Workplace: How You Can Take the Lead to Create a Happier, More Inspiring Workplace and The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank. You can sign up for Michael’s weekly newsletter Inspiring Workplace at www.MikeKerr.com. Inspiring Workplaces YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeaRB1AE5C_RWBjK87wwRYg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelkerr3/

Kathy Laurenhue heads Wiser Now, Inc., a multi-media publishing and staff development company focused on wellbeing in aging that aims to be practical and lighthearted in everything it produces, including her award-winning e-newsletter, Wiser Now Wednesday. Wiser Now also provides dozens of online courses, webinars, and other services to a variety of clients in the U.S. and, in the past, Australia. Her brain-stimulating writing includes more than a thousand trivia quizzes, word games, discussion topics, and imaginative/ reminiscence exercises that are available in both downloadable print and themed slide show formats. She is the author of five books, including, Creating Delight – Connecting Gratitude, Humor, and Play, which essentially sums up her life and work goals. Learn more at www.WiserNow.com or email [email protected]

Trained as an actress and theatrical director, Marian has spent over 30 years designing and delivering playful social therapeutic workshops and programs. An accomplished improvisational actor, Marian has performed improv comedy with This is Your Ridiculous Life and The Proverbial Loons, stand-up comedy at Caroline’s Comedy Club (NYC), and traveled to Central America exploring humanitarian clowning with her clown mentor, Dr. Patch Adams. A lifelong community organizer, and longtime builder of the nonprofit All Stars Project, Marian has taught improvisation to non-actors of all ages from the poor communities of color at the All Star’s free university-style school in New York City. She is a co-founder and Artistic Associate of the Castillo Theatre. As a faculty member of the East Side Institute, her joyful and philosophical sessions during International Class residencies have impacted activists, educators and scholars from around the world who are looking for ways to infuse their work with the power of performance. She is the co-author (with Carrie Lobman) of “Playing Around with Changing the World,” a chapter about this work in The Applied Improvisation Mindset, Bloomsbury Press (2021). Her website: https://www.marianrich.com Her next workshop - Collage Play: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/collage-play-tickets-429349735617 Info about Nippy Bottoms Is Not Going Back to Normal: https://www.marianrich.com/blog/nippy-bottoms The East Side Institute International Class https://eastsideinstitute.org/study/international-class/ The Global Play Brigade https://www.globalplaybrigade.org/

AATH Interviews Naomi Shafer of Clowns Without Borders Where other resources are scarce, Clowns Without Borders makes laughter abundant. These professional clowns and circus artists perform in refugee camps, conflict zones, and sites of natural disaster. Read our take on if Laughter is the Best Medicine (https://clownswithoutborders.org/is-laughter-the-best-medicine-these-clowns-say-absolutely/ Visit our website to learn more about the transformative power of play. https://clownswithoutborders.org/ Take our Laughter Challenge to experience for yourself why laughing matters Follow along Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clownswithoutborders.usa Instagram https://www.instagram.com/clownswithoutborders/?hl=en Of coure, you can give the giggles to a child fleeing from war by making a donation Better yet, make it a habit by joining the Joymaker's Club. https://clownswithoutborders.kindful.com/?campaign=1207434 Link for the laughter challenge: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/RXudxI8/laughterchallenge

Introducing the CHIN group, Creative Humorists Inspiring Noodling. These are a bunch of AATH members of all levels joining together as a result of wanting to connect creatives, humor, and community! Listen as they describe the feeling of an AATH conference, discuss their experience in the Humor Academy, try and come up with ways to solve problems with humor, and just laugh and have fun. Giggle with the CHINS!

Dick Hardwick, Corporate Comedian, and Clean Comedy! He has won the Gong Show twice, was a Star Search winner for one week and he talks with us about his history as an entertainer. Discussing his experience with such legends as Jerry Van Dyke, Jimmy Buffet, Reba McEntire, performing with Disney and at the Grand Ole Opry! Have a laugh and have a listen!

Serhiy Velichanskyi is a Ukrainian professional improviser and started Improversity as a way to help ESL teachers use improv and humor in teaching English. His plans were interrupted by the invasion of Ukraine. Here he discusses how to improvise with war and find humor in difficult situations. Katy BEE and Jim-Bob are very grateful for this interview and learned some Ukrainian language in the process! Follow the link to learn more about Improversity! https://improversity.org/

Jim-Bob Williams and Katy BEE interview Dutch Martin this month about his history as a comedian and all of his other amazing talents. Dutch Martin is in year 2 of the Humor Academy and started out running! He has studied improv, and taken many stand up classes and even added some humor to his yoga classes! He is a talented DOD professional in Northern Virginia, as well as a licensed hypnotist, yoga instructor, NLP practitioner (almost) and a great stand up comedian with an international way of looking at life.

For the past five years or so, Chip Lutz has driven the AATH into some amazing places, as past president, founder of the Humor Round Up and the man who made this Laughbox Podcast! In this episode he hands off the reigns of this glorious audio experience to Jim-Bob Williams and Katy BEE. Chip Lutz, who is he? Well, we stole this directly from his website (link below). Listen as he describes his next life steps during this podcast! Who is this Guy? Lieutenant Commander Chip Lutz, USN(Ret), MSEd, CSP, is the President and founder of Unconventional Leader, LLC and has 30 years of solid leadership experience. A retired Navy Officer, he has had two command tours and also served as the Director of Security for Naval District Washington, DC during September 11th 2001. In that capacity, he was responsible for the safety and security of 25,000 people on 6 different Naval Installations in the National Capital Region during one of our Nations most trying times. A seasoned educator and trainer, he is currently adjunct faculty for two different universities and has taught over 20 different classes in leadership, management, human resource development, and organizational behavior. He is the author of 5 books, is the father of 4 children, has 2 grandchildren, is the youngest of 6 children and remains, to this day, his mother’s favorite child. Having spoken professionally full time since his retirement from the Navy, Chip has travelled all over the United States, sharing his message of leading unconventionally to organizations, associations, and military units. One of his favorite engagements was when he had the privilege of speaking to the team members at Sargento Foods (because he got a cheese gift basket). Chip is a leader who has been there, done that, and has the uniform to prove it! He works with leaders who WANT to lead better, get more done, and leave a legacy. He is where theory meets application. “If you want others to follow…GO FIRST!” -Chip Lutz https://www.unconventionalleader.com/ Jim-Bob Williams Hi, I’m Jim-Bob Williams. Executive Humor Advisor at Jimusho LLC Jimusho = Japanese word often used for office, especially a talent office. I’m kind of a one-man show and Jimusho LLC allows me to use those skills professionally. I try to build bridges between people and between organizations. If you came to my house you would find prints of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Wheeling suspension bridge, and the I-64 bridges over the Kanawha River in Charleston WV. https://jimushollc.com/ Katy BEE - Clown, Life Coach, Play Specialist, Humor Academy Noobie, Improvisational Pro, and Aspiring Funny Person - And Jane of All Things Joyful Katy BEE is so excited to join the American Association of Therapeutic Humor as a multi-lingual, heartfelt, performance activist, presenter, public speaker, video creator, avid traveler, and joy facilitator, with a background of experiences ranging from traditional acting to professional clown, circus artist, mime, and improviser. She is seriously interested in the benefits of humor for survivors of trauma, team building, facilitation, and creating safe spaces for expression and collaboration in any language for all ages. In case you didn’t know, She’s a certified Laughter Yoga Practitioner, Life Coach, Neurolinguistic Programming Coach, Aerial Yoga Instructor, Social Media Marketer, has a BFA in Performance Art, and soon to be a certified yoga instructor. She just graduated from the "International Class" with the East Side Institute out of NYC and creates with The Global Play Brigade, and Clowns of America International. She also is working with the Purpose Alliance to create support sessions for Ukrainian Refugees and Hosts. She invites others to join her in co-creating an amazing world of love, fun, play, joy, and wellness in every possible aspect of life. https://katybeellc.com/

We all have a story but sometimes we might not think that anyone wants to hear it OR we're scared to tell it. There's power in your story...for you and those around you. On this episode I get to talk with story telling maven, Johanna Walker, about how to step up, step out, and step into sharing you....and your story. ENJOY! More on Johanna.... Johanna is the fear-blasting, storytelling maven for coaches, consultants, leaders and change-makers. As a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, she’s presented for corporations, non-profits, start-ups and community organizations, helping audiences develop authentic presence as speakers, find the ideas they want to be known for, and craft those ideas into compelling presentations. She’s also the founder of Craft Your Talk, a transformational speaker coaching program for emerging speakers, and The Speaker’s Playground, an unconventional training program where entrepreneurs and community leaders become confident and memorable speakers. She is the co-founder of Boulder’s Story Slam, where audience members come to the stage to tell true stories about their lives. In addition to her work as a speaker and coach, Johanna has written and performed solo theater pieces that she’s toured throughout the US and Canada. Check her out on her website here: https://www.johannawalker.com/ Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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 Knox August 1, 1948 - January 16, 2021 Jill 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/)

If you're like me, you've had those experiences in your life where you were sure that something BIGGER was happening but it was difficult to wrap your head around it. Those are the moments were AWE was a factor...it took your breath away...it made you think...it put you in the moment that you needed to be in (perhaps at that moment). On this episode, I talk to my good friend, Allen Klein, about his new book, The Awe Factor, and we talk about all of those moments. More importantly, we talk about how those moments can contribute to a better life, better well being, and better relationships. I LOVE THIS GUY...and YOU will too! Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from a master...and garner your AWE! Make it a factor in your life! More on Allen... Allen Klein, MA, CSP* (aka "Mr. Jollytologist®") is an award-winning professional keynote speaker and best-selling author who shows audiences worldwide how humor can help them deal with everyday trials and tribulations as well as triumphing over tragedy. Allen is the 2009 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. 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. Get the AWE FACTOR HERE! Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

WOW! What a great time I had talking with Kathy Klotz-Guest on this episode. We talk improv, we talk comedy, we talk leadership...we talk about it all! I think you'll dig her too...Check it out! More on Kathy... Kathy Klotz-Guest, MA, MBA combines her business and comedy backgrounds to teach leaders, teams, and professionals how to use humor to enhance their business and personal lives. A former Silicon Valley marketing executive and improv comedian for over 20 years, she has been featured in Forbes and The Huffington Post. Inc.com named her last book, “Stop Boring Me!” a CMO must-read on improv and humor for storytelling and creativity. A bay area native who trained at ComedySportz and at LA’s Second City, Kathy has also performed stand-up all over the country (now on Zoom) including at The Improv, Funny Bone and Flapper’s. She teaches improv (virtually), and loves doing storytelling slams whenever she can. Kathy still makes her kid laugh, though that window is closing rapidly. Socials: Twitter / LinkedIn: @Kathyklotzguest Facebook: fb.com/kathy.klotzguest Insta: @klotzguest Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

First, let me apologize for not putting more episodes up as of late. I started a full time school program and have been trying to get a good rhythm down on life. But....I don't get paid for this so....here we are. This episode is rock solid. Jeff Harry is a man after our own heart. He believes in the lighter side and you'll find that out as we delve into the inner workings of his work. ENJOY! More on Jeff: Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled — all by playing. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Jeff is an international speaker who has presented at conferences such as INBOUND, SXSW, and Australia’s Pausefest, showing audiences how major issues in the workplace can be solved using play. Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers of 2020 for his organizational development work around dealing with toxic people in the workplace. His play work has most recently been featured in the NY Times article: How Do We Add More Play To Our Grown-Up Life - Even Now. He has also been featured on AJ+, SoulPancake, the SF Chronicle, and CNN. While we spend most of our time pretending to be important, serious grownups, it's when we let go of that facade and just play, that the real magic happens. Fully embracing your own nerdy genius — whatever that is — gives you the power to make a difference and change lives. Jeff believes that we already have many of the answers we seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn, help to create a better world. SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES: Website: RediscoverYourPlay.com Instagram: @jeffharryplays Twitter: @jeffharryplays LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-harry-6991a94/ Medium: @jeffharryplays YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jchuche TikTok: @jeffharryplays

“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/)

"To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain and play with it." - Charlie Chaplin If you're like me, you've been in the house for about a month and maybe finding the funny to cope is becoming a little harder to do. Don't fret....we at AATH have your back and have decided to bring another expert on the show to share his wisdom on how to cope during the coronavirus! This episode brings the wit and wisdom of Dr. Steve Sultanoff. Steve has been on the show before and, if you've heard him, you know that HE HAS GOT THE GOODS! We talk about how to deal with anxiety, hope, despair and (of course) humor. I know you're going to get as much out of this episode as I did so ENJOY!! More on Steve... Steven Sultanoff, PhD is a psychologist, professor (Pepperdine University), professional speaker, past president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH), and internationally recognized expert on therapeutic humor. He has offered over 300 live continuing education and training workshops as well as creating numerous online programs on a variety of clinical topics including clinical supervision, cognitive behavioral therapy, humor, and emotional intelligence. With over 30 years in the therapeutic humor field, he has authored many innovative articles and written a pioneering chapter on Humor in Psychotherapy. Dr. Sultanoff has appeared on The Morning Show, STARZ, Lifetime, and PBS and is frequently quoted in publications such as Time, Prevention, USA Today, Forbes, etc., and has received the AATH “Lifetime Achievement Award.” He provides live and online therapeutic humor continuing education (www.aatbs.com), and his web site (humormatters.com) offers a wealth of information on therapeutic humor. Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

I have four children and love them all, however, I usually loved them more when we had some time apart. I couldn't even imagine if I had to teach them something.....they'd still be in remediation. If you're in that boat, DO NOT FRET! We, at AATH, have brought together some experts on how to get the job done, have fun, and make the learning stick (and keep your sanity in the process). If you'd like more resources on using humor, play or laughter in the learning process, contact us on our website: www.aath.org. We've got your back! Our panel in this discussion... Mary Kay Morrison http://www.questforhumor.com Jennifer Keith www.facebook.com/keithtec Jana Greco Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"He who laughs, lasts." –Mary Pettibone Poole Yes, my friends, we are living in interesting times. What does the future look like? None of us know and that can be very disconcerting. One thing we know will remain is our ability to laugh. Although life right now is anxious and uncertain, one of the interesting byproducts is how humor is helping people cope. We, at AATH, have always known that humor is the great emotional equalizer and so we've brought together some of our best and brightest to discuss not only the how of humor but also the why. I hope you get as much from our panel of experts as I did and keep sharing those memes! ENJOY! Our Guests: Dr. Ed Dunkelblau http://teacheq.com/ Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CHP https://www.karynbuxman.com/ Dr. Melissa Mork www.melissamork.com Dr. Heidi Hanna https://heidihanna.com/ Paul Osincup https://www.paulosincup.com/ Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin I've titled this episode "It's About Time" because it is about time that I aired it! My own mistake. David and I had a great conversation at the conference last year and then I lost the interview. Well, actually, I misplaced it. Then....the other day...I found it! YAHTZEE!! David and I discussed a lot of interesting humor related topics but what was most interesting is how he uses humor to engage his students and help them learn. Fascinating conversation with a very smart guy! ENJOY! More on David (in his own words).. Howdy! I lecture at Texas A&M University in the Department of Communication. I have been dubbed both the ‘humor guy’ and the ‘intercultural dude’ by our course coordinator, and I am proud to embody that persona. My goal as an educator is to make learning a fun and worthwhile experience. Using humor, graphic facilitation, and my personal (and sometimes embarrassing) experiences, I help students retain information and remain engaged in the class. Check out David's website at: http://www.davidtarvin.com/ Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" – Hippocrates I love to eat! What can I say? Most days, I wake up thinking about what I'm going to eat the rest of the day and (quite possibly) tomorrow! I'm really excited to share the interview with this episode's guest, Dr. Glenn Livingston. Glenn shares his own journey with food addiction and binge eating and how you can get past that to never binge again! I know you'll love Glenn as much as I did! ENJOY! More on Glenn... Glenn Livingston, Ph.D. is a veteran psychologist and is the Author of the hugely successful book Never Binge Again, with over 600,000 Amazon Kindle downloads. Glenn hs incredible leadership experience, he was the long time CEO of a multi-million dollar consulting firm which has serviced several Fortune 500 clients in the food industry. Disillusioned by what traditional psychology had to offer overweight and/or food obsessed individuals, Dr. Livingston spent several decades researching the nature of bingeing and overeating via work with his own patients and a research program with more than 40,000 participants. This has transformed the lives of many individuals. He is not promoting a specific diet, rather helping people to develop a mindset that allows them to overcome what leads to overeating and avoid it! Having himself once been obese, this is a journey Glenn knows well. Glenn is has a daily bloggers post with Psychology Today and you've likely seen his work in many major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Sun Times, The Indiana Star Ledger, The NY Daily News, American Demographics, ABC, WGN, and/or CBS radio, or UPN TV and many more. Connect with Glenn here: http://www.NeverBingeAgain.com Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"Follow your inner moonlight; don’t hide the madness.”– Allen Ginsberg Here we go! Are you ready? Did you know we're in the fourth year of the podcast? I learn a LOT from my guests...just like you do. And, this episode is no different! On this episode, I had the great privilege to talk with David Rendall. He's the author of four books and, although we don't talk about just one in particular, he shares his philosophies that are intertwined in them all. If you've been told to be something you're not, you have to listen to this episode. Be you and shine! ENJOY! More on David... During the last fifteen years, David Rendall has spoken to audiences on every inhabited continent. His clients include the US Air Force, Australian Government, and Fortune 50 companies such as Microsoft, AT&T, United Health Group, Fannie Mae, and State Farm. Prior to becoming a speaker, he was a leadership professor and stand-up comedian. He also managed nonprofit enterprises that provided employment for people with disabilities. In between presentations, David competes in ultramarathons and Ironman triathlons. David has a doctor of management degree in organizational leadership, as well as a graduate degree in psychology. He is the author of four books: - The Four Factors of Effective Leadership - The Freak Factor - The Freak Factor for Kids - Pink Goldfish Connect with him.... David Rendall +1 919 222 6295 [email protected] Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"Laugh as much as possible, always laugh. It's the sweetest thing one can do for oneself & one's fellow human beings." –Maya Angelou WOWZA! I love talking to people that stretch my brain and that's what happened on this episode. It's not a surprise because our guest, Dr. Heidi Hanna, is one of the smartest people I know! Heidi and I talk about some of the new research she is doing in the world of humor and the brain so grab something to write with and on....you're going to want to take notes! We didn't talk about it on the show but Heidi has a special offer for those who sign up for her Stress Summit. If you sign up and email her, she'll donate some money back to AATH and you'll also get a copy of the book, What's So Funny About Stress (which she co-authored with Karyn Buxman). We'll have a link to sign up here later but you can reach the destination from her website listed at the bottom of the show notes. ENJOY! More on Heidi... Dr. Heidi Hanna is the Chief Energy Officer of Synergy Brain Fitness, a company providing brain-based health and performance programs to individuals and organizations, a Founding Partner of the Academy for Brain Health and Performance and a Fellow and Advisory Board Member for the American Institute of Stress. She is a NY Times bestselling author who has written seven books, including The Sharp Solution, Stressaholic, Recharge and What’s So Funny About Stress? Heidi has been featured at many global conferences including the Fortune Magazine Most Powerful Women in Business Summit, ESPN Leadership Summit and the Million Dollar Round Table. Her clients have included Google, Starbucks, Microsoft, Principal Insurance, Morgan Stanley, Ameriprise and WD40 as well as the PGA Tour and the National Football League. Heidi is also a National Board Member and Certified Humor Professional with the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor although she won’t admit she’s funny. Connect with her at: https://heidihanna.com/ Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"A person’s maturity consists in having found again the seriousness one had as a child, at play." -Frederic Nietsche First things first.....are you registered for the conference? If not, WHY NOT!? If not today, WHEN!? Get it done! You don't want to miss out on the opportunity to laugh, learn, and connect! In this episode, I had the great pleasure to talk with Marcey Rader and discuss her book, Work Well, Play More! She shares some great tips on integrating health, wellness and PLAY into your everyday life. I know you'll like it! ENJOY! More on Marcey.. Marcey Rader is an Amazon best-selling author, sought-after productivity coach, accredited health and wellness expert, and renowned keynote speaker. As the founder of Marcey Rader Coaching and the Work Well. Play More!® Institute, she helps individuals and businesses kick their lifestyles back into balanced gear – without sacrificing health. Marcey knows first-hand that self-management is essential to success in life and business. After a case of high-stress, high-performance, corporate burnout triggered three autoimmune diseases, Marcey established her productivity coaching business. Her unique expertise has turned the spotlight on the intersection between business productivity and wellness, making better use of our most valuable asset – our health. Working with a diverse range of businesses and individuals, she applies proven health and wellness principles to help clients find real balance, purpose, and success in work and life. As a high-impact speaker, she packs presentations with actionable advice and real-world wisdom. Her speaking roster's alive with engagements for Fortune 100 companies, startups, and everyone in between. From North Dakota to Dubai, manufacturing to biotech. Audiences learn to escalate their energy, conquer the calendar, master tasks, and extinguish email. She is the author of Beyond Travel: A Road Warrior's Survival Guide and Hack the Mobile Lifestyle: 6 Steps to Work Well and Play More! Her latest book, Work Well. Play More! Productive, clutter-free, healthy living - one step at a time goes beyond the inspirational narrative to focus on simple, tangible tools and practical steps for gaining time and decluttering the body and mind. To learn more about Marcey Rader, visit https://www.marceyrader.com/ Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"The human brain is a most unusual instrument of elegant and as yet unknown capacity." - Stuart Seaton One of my New Year's goals was to spend more time in the present.....but my brain keeps getting in the way! How about you? Do you want to be mindful, meditate or just calm the monkeys in your head? If so, this episode will get you there! This episode's guest is Ariel Garten. She is the creator of a product called, Muse, and it can help YOU train your brain. Ariel and I talk about Muse but we hit a lot of other reasons you should train your brain. Take a listen...she's amazing! ENJOY! More on Ariel... Ariel Garten is probably one of the most interesting people you will meet. She is a psychotherapist, Neuroscientist, mom, former fashion designer, and the female founder and visionary of an amazing and highly successful tech start-up Muse. Muse tracks your brain during meditation to give you real-time feedback on your meditation, guiding you into the “zone” and solving the problem most of us have when starting a meditation practice. Muse lets you know when you are doing it right. When Ariel is not reading brains (literally) or investing in, inspiring and advising other start-ups and women in biz, you can find her on stages across the world, from TED to MIT to SXSW. She inspires people to understand that they can accomplish anything they want by learning what goes on in their own mind. Check out MUSE and get a discount with the Ambassador club here: https://muse.getambassador.com Connect with Ariel here: www.choosemuse.com Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

So the server asked me what I wanted and I said that I'd take a full order of happiness. It's what is on today's menu! On this episode, I had the great pleasure to talk with Sean Webb about his books on mind hacking happiness. I won't bore you with my version of what we talked about because it PALES in comparison to the actual interview. But....you can take this to the lavatory, it is pretty awesome. He has done the research and we get to benefit from it! ENJOY! More on Sean... As the author of a book that was used to influence millions of voters in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election through social media disinformation campaigns (without his knowledge), Sean Webb probably knows the human mind as well as anyone can. From his work in logically modeling human emotions for the world of Artificial Emotional Intelligence, to his real-world practice as an author, speaker and guide to helping individuals supercharge their minds and lives with the knowledge of how their mind works, Sean pushes the bleeding edge of mind sciences to the next level. Over the last 20 years, Sean has become one of the world’s leading experts in how the human mind works, particularly in the area of human emotions, the driving force and motivation of all human actions globally. His work is used by universities and engineering firms to teach emotional intelligence, the foundations of artificial emotional intelligence, and his discoveries have proved so effective, that his work is currently being turned into programs to address addiction management and the mitigation of PTSD after early amazing successes within those applications. As an alumnus of Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technologies Development Center, Sean has spent years solving complex systems problems for cutting edge technology and supercomputing companies. His latest complex system solve is associated with the mind; how to model mind processes, how to manipulate mind output, and how to use those disciplines to our collective human advantage. His heart lies in this last portion of the project; teaching individuals about our minds so as to understand the thought processes that steal our happiness and block our ability to enjoy life. He loves sharing the practical neuroscience of how to hack the mind to generate happiness from within without any strings attached, and without changing any of life’s external conditions. He has indeed discovered a new door into the deep mind manipulation, where only practiced meditation and psychedelics have been able to take us before. Sean has spoken at Science of Consciousness, Science and Nonduality, UNC, UGA, ASU, Emory, Georgia Tech, for numerous multinational corporations, and at NASA. Check out Sean’s work at MindHackingHappiness.com. Sean and his wife are licensed foster parents, and are active in numerous children’s and animal charities. Check Sean out HERE! Music from https://filmmusic.io "Run Amok" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

“We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” —Joseph Campbell We're back for season three and kicking it off strong! New intro, new outro and a great line up of guests....starting off with Steve Wilson! Steve and I have a great conversation about his journey from psychologist to Joyologist and what joyology is all about. He shares some history about how far therapeutic humor has come and how far we have to go. I know you'll dig it as much as I did! Also, I must give a big SHOUT OUT to my brother, Pete Lutz, for re-doing the intro/outro for me. He has his own podcast called the Narada Audio Radio Drama. If you like old time radio shows, check it out on iTunes here! ENJOY! More on Steve... World Laughter Tour, Inc., is the brainchild of psychologist and self-proclaimed “Joyologist” Steve Wilson, who describes his role as “Cheerman of The Bored.” The creation of World Laughter Tour was an idea that came to him during a 1998 lecture tour to India, after participating in the Juhu Beach Laughter Club at the Arabian seaside in Mumbai. In India, Laughter clubs were referred to as ‘Hasya Yoga’. Nevertheless, for Steve Wilson, this first introduction was the spark to initiate a clear vision of bringing Laughter Clubs to the United States, of course with certain adaptations to suit the Western mentality. As he imagined, certain laughter and attitudinal practices could be systematized and taught as a means to influence health and peace, while promoting happiness and longevity. Hence, he sought out to connect with these gurus, recognizing the enormous potential that existed in applying a systematic approach to laughing without using jokes, under the guidance of a trained leader and motivator. Struck by a noble impulse, Steve flew an Indian physician to the United States, whereupon he delivered a series of lectures and demonstrations. The reaction to a laughter exercise program in the U.S. was both startling and telling, growing instant curiosity and support from the participants and the media. With the encouragement of his wife, Pamela, the World Laughter Tour was officially launched in July of 1998. It took about a year to put together the first laughter tour in the USA. Thanks to the generosity and sponsorship of Dr. Valeriana Moeller, president of Columbus State Community College, The World Laughter Tour had a very successful kickoff on May 27, 1999 in Columbus, Ohio. The tour traveled to 14 cities for the next 7 weeks, demonstrating the method to diverse audiences. 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 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 in games that many men discover their paradise." - Robert Wilson Lynd Here it is...our last episode of the season. I take the summer off so I can play a bit more, which is AWESOME because we're hitting a bit of that in this episode. In this episode, I had the great pleasure to talk with Mary Couzin. Mary is a super cool person and has it going on. She invented (yes, invented) the Chicago Toy and Game Fair and is a game developer herself. We talk about her journey in the world of toys, games, and play as well as why it's such a passion for her. I know you'll dig this episode as much as I did! CHEERS! More on the Toy and Game Fair... Chicago Toy & Game Group We promote play and innovation through events listed below (over 2 Billion media impressions in Nov); monthly e-newsletters reaching over 250,000 people - industry, consumers, educators, inventor, bloggers, Scouts, traditional and social media. www.chitag.com. Join our Toy, Game & Play Innovators Network here on LinkedIn! ChiTAG Events: Chicago Toy & Game Fair Largest public toy/game fair in North America. Meet your consumers! The biggest and most cost effective focus group anywhere. The traditional/social media and bloggers love this event - they attend to report what's hot for the holidays. Early open to media/trade. Emphasis on interactive/hands-on and meeting inventors at Navy Pier the weekend before Black Friday. www.chitag.com Inventor & Innovation Conferences with top industry executives. Learn, network, pitch your ideas to dozens of companies. www.chitag.com/conferences Toy & Game Innovation Awards Dinner, the TAGIEs, celebrating inventors www.chitag.com/tagies PlayCHIC pairs haute couture fashion designers with toy and game brands to create media worthy playful runway looks. www.chitag.com/playchic Educator Conference for teachers to incorporate play in the classroom. www.g4ed.com Star Wars Character Breakfast Young Inventor Challenge www.chitag.com/yic ChiTAG year round activities include: Hosting Pub Events/Get-Togethers around the world. Play in Education, PIE, website, newsletter and conference www.playineducation.com Specialties: Connecting people, helping toy and game inventors, promoting inventors and play to the public anywhere and everywhere we can, bringing play and games into the classroom and libraries, quality fundraising (www.gamesforfundraising.com)

“Life keeps throwing me stones. And I keep finding the diamonds.” – Ana Claudia Antunes Once in a while you get the opportunity to meet people whose joy is so genuine it can't help but inspire you. That's how it was when I first met this week's guest, Shauna Bruce-Hamburger. Shauna doesn't let anything in life hold her back. She and I talk about overcoming life's challenges and how you can bounce back and live a life filled with real joy. I had so much fun with Shauna that I didn't want the conversation to end...and neither will you. ENJOY! Shauna has always been known as a person who inspires many with her life through her contagious joy, encouraging spirit and positive attitude. Shauna's experiences have given her the heart, desire and wisdom to help others become free from the limitations that hold them back from living a life of their highest potential. Shauna is a life-coach, teacher, author and inspirational speaker. She holds a B.S. in Wellness Management, is a Certified Health Minister, as well as a Certified Conscious Body Coach. Shauna owned “A Touch of Life” Massage Therapy & Wellness Center for over 8 years and teaches various health/wellness classes all around her area. Shauna's abilities as a life-coach, teacher, author and inspirational speaker, bring healing, hope and truth to those around her everyday. Because of the issues she has faced around living with Spinabifida, as well as how she learned to live above those circumstances, Shauna is committed to promoting greater purpose and fulfillment in life by helping her clients uncover their highest potential and bring balance of body, soul and spirit. Check her out on her website: https://www.divinepotential.com/

“The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.” - Eckhart Tolle Are you really busy? Do you spend most of your time thinking you don't have enough time to do all the things you want to do? Do you wish you could just take a moment to enjoy a moment when you have that moment? YOU'RE NOT ALONE! We all live busy lives and it is becoming increasingly difficult to be present when you have the opportunity. In this episode of Laughbox I had the opportunity to talk about all of life's distractions and how to get past them with mindful leadership expert, Daphne Scott. Daphne is an incredible guest with great energy! She shares some great strategies on how to be mindful, less stressed, and really connect with the team members around you. I know you'll put this one at the top of your replay list. CHEERS! More on Daphne... Dr. Daphne Scott brings two decades of real world coaching and corporate development experience to her work with organizations. She combines strong leadership abilities with highly-trained facilitation skills to bring individuals and teams into greater relationship, creativity, and ultimately, success. Daphne is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), certified Hendricks Coach, a founding member of the Conscious Leadership Group, and a member of the International Coaching Federation. She has studied with top-level executive coaches, consciousness experts, and organizational psychologists. She also holds a Masters Degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctorate of Science in Physical Therapy from Andrews University. Daphne was previously the Director of Leadership Development at Athletico Physical Therapy and is the Chief Cultural Officer at Confluent Health. Some of Daphne’s strongest skills come from her training with the Second City Improvisational Conservatory Program. She draws from her unique background in theater and physical therapy to bring engaging embodiment and team-building elements to her coaching. Daphne is no stranger to the perceived daily challenges that stall teams and delay leaders. Responsible for team success herself, Daphne understands the fear that grips leaders, taking them into stagnation and stress. She enjoys working with clients who are committed to leaving old paradigms behind and who are willing to allow themselves to experience life as a journey for their highest learning. Daphne currently facilitates quarterly and monthly trainings for clients around the world and works closely with team leaders in various organizations. Check her out at: http://daphne-scott.com/lhh

"Laugh as much as possible, always laugh. It's the sweetest thing one can do for oneself & one's fellow human beings." - Maya Angelou Have you got a big thought? Have you ever contemplated taking your big thought and putting together a TEDx talk? I've mulled over both of those questions (but usually stop at the first). On this episode, I talk to long time friend, Debra Joy Hart, about her journey with designing and delivering a great TEDx talk last fall. She shares the trials, tribulations, triumphs and how you should go about putting it all together. We had a great time and I know you'll enjoy it as much as I did. CHEERS! More on Deb.. Debra Joy juggles her skills as a humorist, author, TedX speaker, nurse, clown and minister speaking around the world to corporations, colleges, healthcare settings and religious/spiritual organizations. Her infectious spirit, laughter and wit are just a few of the tools she has in her clown medicine bag. Watch her TEDx HERE!

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” — Lyndon B. Johnson We are just a little over a week post conference and I'm still reeling from all of the great information I learned and relationships that were built! It's hard to go back to regular life after a life altering experience like the AATH conference! In this episode, I'm talking to my good friend, Dr. Tina Hallis. Tina is a scientist who turned her focus towards positive psychology and hasn't turned back since. We talk about her journey, easy tools you can use to improve your life and what the positive edge means to you (and the people around you)! ENJOY! More on Tina... Tina Hallis, Ph.D. is excited to help people and organizations be more positive so they can enjoy better lives and more success. She is a professional speaker, author, and founder of The Positive Edge. Tina is certified in Positive Psychology through the WholeBeing Institute, an Authorized Partner for Everything DiSC®, and a Professional Member of the National Speakers Association. She is the author of Sharpen Your Positive Edge: Shifting Your Thoughts for More Positivity & Success. Tina worked for 20 years in biotechnology before discovering a new science in 2011 called Positive Psychology that focuses on how we can all live our best, most meaningful lives. Seeing the powerful impact this information has on improving people and organizations, Tina decided to create her own company, The Positive Edge so she can improve the quality of people’s lives and their workplaces. Connect with her here: Tina Hallis, Ph.D. Positivity Expert, Speaker, Author The Positive Edge p: 608.448.3576 f: 608.355.0800 w: ThePositiveEdge.net e: [email protected]

HOORAY FOR HUMOR MONTH! What are you doing to celebrate Humor Month? Me? I'm going to the AATH conference AND I'm talking with cool humor people...like my guest this week, Andrew Tarvin. Drew has been on the show before and in this episode we talk about his new book, Humor That Works. This is, honestly, one of the best books I've read on the application of humor in the workplace. It's smart, research based, and has stuff you can use right now to make a positive difference for yourself and your team. ENJOY! Get his book HERE! More On Andrew.... Andrew Tarvin is the world’s first Humor Engineer teaching people how to get better results while having more fun. Through his company, Humor That Works, Andrew has helped more 25,000 people at 250+ organizations—including P&G, GE, ESPN, Microsoft, the U.S. Navy, PepsiCo, and the International Association of Canine Professional—learn to be more productive, less stressed, and happier. Combining his background in business with his experience as an international comedian, his programs are engaging, entertaining, and effective. Prior to starting his company, Andrew was a top-rated project manager at Procter & Gamble, managing million dollar projects for a $350 million business. He is also an accomplished comedian, having performed in more than 1,000 shows all around the world. Andrew is the best-selling author of Humor That Works: 501 Ways to Beat Stress, Increase Productivity, and Have Fun at Work, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and FastCompany, and his TEDx talk has been viewed over 100,000 times. He has delivered programs in 50 states, 18 countries, and 1 planet (Earth). He loves the color orange and is obsessed with chocolate. Check him out on his website (and bring him in to speak!): http://andrewtarvin.com/

"That's your best friend and your worst enemy - your own brain." -Fred Durst What's holding YOU back? If you're like me (and I'm guessing you are) it's you. I can be my own worst enemy in doing what I need to do and getting where I need to go. As luck would have it...my guest this week, Michele Molitor, specializes in getting at the root of the issue and helping people rewire their brain FAST...some would say rapidly. We hit a lot during the course of our conversation and I know you'll dig every minute of it! ENJOY! More on Michele... Michele is the founder and CEO of Nectar Consulting Inc., and co-author of the best-selling book “Breakthrough Healing”. She works with executives and entrepreneurs bringing over 25 years of experience, intuitive insights and strategic business savvy to their success. She is an expert at enhancing the capacity of leaders, to build high performing teams and exponentially increase bottom-line results. Michele’s unique Rapid RewiringTM approach is a culmination of years of study in the realms of emotional intelligence, neuroscience, organizational psychology and Rapid Transformational Therapy. She helps catalyze shifts in thinking and eliminate mental/emotional blocks to rapidly rewire your brain for greater con dence and success. As a nationally recognized speaker, certi ed executive coach, Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) practitioner, change management consultant, trainer, and writer, Michele’s passion for helping amplify natural talents and expand leadership is conveyed through all aspects of her work and writing. Connections and FREE STUFF! Michele's Contact Details: Email: [email protected] Phone: 510.731.8725 Skype: mcmolitor Website: https://www.nectarconsulting.com Blog: https://www.nectarconsulting.com/brain-candy/blog/ Latest Best Selling Book: “Breakthrough Healing” - http://bit.ly/BreakthroughHealingBook Social Channels: Twitter: @michelemolitor https://twitter.com/michelemolitor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicheleMolitorCoach LinkedIN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/michelemolitor/en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/michelemolitor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rapidrewire/ Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/michelem2629/rapid-rewire-coach/ FREE GIFT OPTIONS FOR YOUR LISTENERS: Free TRAINING: 5 Steps To Confidently Excel In Your Career (Without Ever Feeling Like A Fraud) http://www.nectarconsulting.com/free-training/ Free EBOOK: Saying No With Grace and Grit lead page: http://bit.ly/SayingNoWithGraceandGrit Free eBOOK: Tapping Into Your Power & Presence lead page: http://bit.ly/TappingYourPowerNPresence

“When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.” – Jack Kornfield I spend a lot of my time around technology. I've never considered myself a techno-guy but I am a consistent user. As a user, technology can also be a distraction. This week, we learn about leveraging it! My guest on this episode is Robert Plotkin. Robert has not only a tech background but also a martial arts background, which make him uniquely qualified to put the two concepts together to show how we can use technology to actually increase our mindfulness practices. I had so much fun talking with Robert and learned a whole lot in the process. Take some time to listen to this episode so you can learn to integrate technology into your mindfulness practices rather than having it distract you. ENJOY! More on Robert... Robert is the Founder of Technology for Mindfulness, a leading blog and Top 40 iTunes podcast on science, technology, and mindfulness. In his Tap Into Mindfulness program, he teaches people how to be less distracted by their smartphones and how to retake control over their time to be more focused, productive, and creative. His unique approach to technology and mindfulness stems from his combination of expertise in technology (as an MIT-educated computer scientist), decades of experience with Japanese martial arts, and training in Mindfulness- Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). He has written seven books on the social impact of computer technology, is a co-founder of the Hack Your Mind program at MIT, and the host of the Technology for Mindfulness podcast. Connect with him on his website: http://technologyformindfulness.com/

“I am a brain, Watson. The rest of me is a mere appendix.” - Sherlock Holmes We are rolling quick into the last few weeks that are available to register for the AATH annual conference. You won't want to miss out on this opportunity to learn, laugh, and be around people who get the joke! You can get details about the conference at www.aath.org. It's the 4th through the 7th of April so hurry up and get it done! Are you ready to get your mind blown? Then prepare....because on this episode I'm talking with the incredible Ann Betz about humor, your brain, and your brain on humor. Is that a duplicate or two different topics? You'll have to listen to find out! Ann is one of our AMAZING speakers at the conference this year. She doesn't share her keynote in this interview but gives us a teaser about what you can expect from her in solid content. ENJOY! More on Ann.... Ann Betz, CPCC, PCC, CNTC, is the co-founder of BEabove Leadership and an international speaker and trainer on the intersection of neuroscience, coaching and human transformation. Ann served as the neuroscience consultant to The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) for many years, and provides neuroscience, leadership and coaching consulting to many other corporations and non-profits. Ann is also the co-developer/leader of BEabove Leadership’s popular training program for advanced coaches: Neuroscience, Consciousness and Transformational Coaching, which has been offered in the U.S, Canada, Mexico, Turkey, China, Norway, and the United Kingdom. A certified professional coach for over 15 years, Ann is the author of a groundbreaking white paper on brain research and coaching. She contributes to Choice Magazine, Coaching at Work, Coaching World, the ICF and CTI’s blogs, and other coaching and HR publications. Ann is the lead author of Integration, the power of being Co-Active in work and life, an exploration of consciousness and the future (John Hunt Publishing, 2015), as well as a ground-breaking white paper on the neuroscience of the International Coach Federation coaching competencies. She is also a published poet, using her understanding of the brain and consciousness to bring to life the wonders of the human soul. Ann speaks internationally on neuroscience, leadership and coaching (and occasionally poetry as well), and she excels at making the complexities of the brain come to life with depth, humor and simplicity. Ann lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her partner Will Sharon, their angelic border collie Jack, and two very enlightened cats named Paz and Luz. Read Ann’s blog on the brain at www.yourcoachingbrain.wordpress.com and on poetry at www.eccentricspirit.wordpress.com.

What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. -Helen Keller How lucky am I? I'll answer that for you....pretty darn lucky! Not only am I going to the AATH conference in April but I also got to spend some time interviewing this week's guest, Allen Klein, about his new book, Embracing Life After Loss. Available on Amazon here: HERE Allen is a past president of AATH and also a Lifetime Achievement Award winner! Yes, he's done it all and in this interview he shares it! You can meet cool people like Allen if you register for the AATH conference. It's coming up fast, the 4th through 7th of April, 2019...just outside of Chicago. Go to www.aath.org to check it out and get signed up. It's not too late. Here's a bit more on Allen... Klein is an award-winning speaker who shows audience’s worldwide how to use humor and positive thinking to deal with life’s not-so-funny stuff. (www.allenklein.com) He is a recipient of: a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, a Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association, and a Toastmaster’s Communication and Leadership Award, Klein is also a best-selling author of 27 books including The Healing Power of Humor. His most recent books are Embracing Life After Loss, and, Positive Thoughts for Troubling Times. In addition, his TEDx talk can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/z4hfsx5 Connect with Allen on his website: www.allenklein.com

Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand. — Mark Twain Why did Julie Ostrow cross the road? To get to the AATH conference! Yes, on this episode I'm talking with Julie Ostrow about our conference experiences over the past decade AND what we're looking forward to in going to this year's conference! This year's conference? It's the 4th through the 7th of April in Oak Brook, IL. That's right outside of Chicago. You can fly into O'hare, grab a slice of DEEP DISH pizza and then get ready to learn with your new tribe! Get onboard now and don't miss out! Go to www.aath.org and let's get our laugh on! Here's a little more on Julie. For the record, Julie was my first guest on the show and continues to be one of my favorites. She's always fun and insightful! Julie... As the Humorous Speaker and Communication Coach, The Second City-trained and First-Ever American Laughing Champion 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. Having more than 20 years of corporate marketing communications experience including five years with SmithBucklin, the world’s largest association management firm, Julie is able to identify the trigger points of miscommunication and low morale in the corporate culture and among team members. By infusing her corporate experience with her humor, laughter, and improv tools, she is able to guide organizations to communication, connection, and creativity. Resulting in re-inspired teams and increased productivity. Julie conducts her interactive and transformative workshops for corporations, healthcare organizations, conventions, and schools. Julie's enthusiasm and passionate spirit, combined with her comedic insight, help to make her a warm and engaging presenter and workshop facilitator. Her personal motto, "find the funny," helps her to find humor in everyday moments and in life's seemingly most difficult situations...and she'll help your teams do the same! She also performs improv and stand-up comedy for a variety of events. Find out more about Julie at www.JulieOstrow.com Connect with Julie… Twitter: @JulieOstrow Instagram: Julie_Ostrow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gofindthefunny/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieostrow/

“The water was not fit to drink. To make it palatable, we had to add whisky. By diligent effort, I learned to like it.” – Winston Churchill What do you do in Wisconsin on the coldest day ever recorded? You get warmed up by talking to another Wisconsinite about humor! That's right! That's how we roll in the land of beer, brats, and cheese! On this episode I have the pleasure of spending some time with my good friend, Liysa Callsen. She shares her own humor journey, her brand of comedy and what she do if she was stuck in an airport with me. Don't miss out on this year's conference! It's rolling up fast and you won't want to miss out on what we've got going on April 4th through 7th in Chicago, IL! Check it out at www.aath.org. Here's what's up with Liysa... Callsen trained at Second City, and currently performs her solo improv show U&I for anyone that wants to hear her go on and on. Teaching improv tools for business, she speaks to companies and organizations across the country. She has performed and produced comedy for over 10 years. Dear in the Headlights, Cupid Comedy, Ginger Snaps Improv. Also, she does what she needs to do and joined her husband's carpentry business, so sometimes she holds a mic, sometimes she holds a hammer! Someday she aspires to do both. Check out her website at: liysacallsen.com and MAKE SURE YOU EMAIL HER AT: [email protected]

"A clown is like an aspirin...only he works twice as fast." -Groucho Marx When I go to the AATH conference it's almost like sensory overload. There are so many wonderful people doing extraordinary things that's it's hard to get it all in during such a short time frame. That's what's awesome (for me) about doing this podcast. It gives me the opportunity to have the conversations that, sometimes, I don't get to have. And (lucky for you), you get to listen in! This episode's guest is Guy Giard. He is an incredible human being. You'll hear that through and through during the interview. He's very representative of all the people we have in the association and that you can meet when you come to the AATH conference! Are you registered? NOW IS THE TIME! Go do www.aath.org and let's get your laugh on! ENJOY OUR TIME WITH GUY! A little on Guy... Guy Giard is a Gardener of the Soul. Born in the French speaking province of Quebec, Canada, he lived for many years in Europe. Professional artist his artworks are exhibited across Canada and The Netherlands; and has a singer he’s given dozens of concerts. After teaching for twenty years in major art museums he becomes a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and joins the real Dr. "Patch" Adams as a humanitarian clown caring in hospitals and orphanages in Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, India and Russia. He is a dynamic and engaging speaker and an inspiring consultant. He believes that anyone can plant his own life’s mission, grow his life’s purpose and sow a legacy. Dr. "Patch" Adams writes about Guy Giard: “I truly feel his passion to live radiant, using clowning as a tool to help midwife a loving world. To hear of his own transformation to being a loving soul will inspire others to try it on." My website: www.guygiard.com My youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/guygiard Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guygiard/

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/

“Health is the greatest gift.” - Buddha Is one of your 2019 goals to live a healthier life? If so, you can do two things immediately... Listen to this episode of the podcast Register for the AATH conference. www.aath.org (Those two things can be done in any order but must be done before you leave the house today). On this episode I had the great pleasure to talk to THREE TIME natural body building champion Wade Lightheart. Within AATH, we talk a lot about how humor and laughter impact health but (as well all know) there's more to health than laughing (although it is my preferred workout). Wade opened my eyes about a lot of health prevention issues and strategies. AND...he gives a special offer at the end of the podcast for those who care to partake. I really enjoyed the candor that Wade shared on the show and also his ability to take some complex issues and make them easy to execute. ENJOY! More on Wade.. Wade T. Lightheart, host of the AWESOME Health Podcast, is a 3-time All Natural National Bodybuilding Champion, advisor to the American Anti-Cancer Institute and Director of Education at BiOptimizers Nutrition, one of the world’s most innovative nutritional supplement companies. He is also the author of several books including the best-selling books, “Staying Alive in a Toxic World” and “The Wealthy Backpacker.” The AWESOME Health Podcast is a big part of his mission to help others x their digestion and transform their health with the daily practice of positive principles, rituals and optimizers. Few alive have traveled farther or crusaded harder on behalf of helping individuals transform their digestive health, wellness and overall lives than Wade T. Lightheart. A er competing in Mr. Universe and his health failing him following a competition victory, Wade began to search for answers. In the process, he learned so much about what makes digestion work, along with other principles that form what he calls the AWESOME Health system. Wade’s journey into vegetarianism and bodybuilding took his health to new heights, empowering him to help others with a unique perspective. Wade also serves as an advisor to the American Anti-Cancer Institute, and is the Co-Founder and Director of Education at BiOptimizers, a digestive health company. Check him out at: https://bioptimizers.com/ AND http://www.wadelightheart.net/

"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 [email protected]. 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

Are you ready to communicate better this year? Then this is the episode for you! Mallori DeSalle is my guest and she's the expert on integrating humor to make the conversations go a little bit smoother. I had the great pleasure of spending some time with my her at the conference last year and her energy is contagious! What conference you ask? Well...the AATH conference of course! This year's conference is in Chicago and is being held from the 4th through the 7th of April. Check it out at www.aath.org! Mallori and I talk about a lot of topics in this interview so you're going to want to have some paper around to take notes. Enjoy! More on Mallori.. Mallori DeSalle is a licensed mental health counselor, nationally certified counselor, a medication-assisted treatment specialist and an internationally certified prevention specialist. Over the last 15 years working in mental health, substance abuse and prevention fields, she has provided services as a community prevention coordinator, therapist, health-educator, professor and professional trainer. Since 2008, Ms. DeSalle has been a faculty member within the Department of Applied Health Science in the School of Public Health at Indiana University, Bloomington. Within her appointment at the university, Mallori serves Prevention Insights (a university institute) as the Outreach Coordinator and Lead Motivational Interviewing (MI) Trainer. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and listed on the National ATTC SBIRT Trainers’ Registry. Ms. DeSalle provides MI and SBIRT training to multidisciplinary audiences across the world. Mallori has been a member of AATH since 2018 and is currently in Humor Academy Level 1. She uses humor to engage learners, to poke fun at the process of learning and to make it easier to learn by laughing.

Happy 2019! Are you ready to make this the best year ever? I am and I know what the tipping point is going to be.....GOING TO THE AATH conference in April! You can come too! Just go to www.aath.org and get the details...then sign up. Make the investment in YOU! We're talking testicles this time on the show. WHAT!? Yes, and I'm glad we are. My guest is Justin Birckbichler and, after getting diagnosed with testicular cancer, educating men is his mission and humor is the medium. I know you'll enjoy Justin's sense of humor and his approach to applying humor. Let's talk about a ballsy sense of tumor! More on Justin... Justin Birckbichler is a men’s health activist, testicular cancer survivor, and the founder of aBallsySenseofTumor.com. In November 2016, he was diagnosed with stage II testicular cancer at the age of 25. Throughout his diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, and being cleared in remission in March 2017, he has been passionate about sharing his story to spread awareness about testicular cancer and promote open conversation about men's health. In addition to his work through ABSOT, Justin's writing has appeared in Cure Magazine, I Had Cancer, The Mighty, The Good Men Project, Stupid Cancer, and more. His work with men's health awareness has been featured by British GQ, Healthline, The Mayo Clinic, The Movember Foundation, National Foundation for Cancer Research, and various other organizations. See this page for a complete listing of all media appearances/features and guest posts about ABSOT. In 2017, ABSOT won an award for the Best Advocacy and Awareness Cancer Blog in 2017and Justin was recognized as one of 15 People Who Raised Cancer Awareness in 2017. In 2018, Justin was selected as the winner of the Hilarious Patient Leader Category in the 2018 WEGO Health Awards. Justin also serves as a member of the Strategic Advisory Board for the Cancer Knowledge Network and on the Board of Directors for the Crush It For Curtis Foundation. He also supports testicular cancer patients and survivors through his role as Testicular Cancer Squad Captain on CancerBro and as the Testicular Cancer Hive Leader on HealthBeMe. Outside of the “cancer world,” Justin is an instructional technology coach, amateur chef, technology aficionado and avid reader. He lives in Fredericksburg, VA with his wife, cat, and dog. Connect with him on Instagram (@aballsysenseoftumor), on Twitter (@absotTC), on Facebook (Facebook.com/aballsysenseoftumor), on YouTube, or via email ([email protected]).