LaughBox

You’re guaranteed the pursuit of happiness but, as Don Draper (from the hit TV series Mad Men said), “What is happiness but that moment before you need more happiness?”  This week on our podcast, I had the great pleasure to talk with Dr. Kristin Layous, happiness researcher and expert.  In the interview she shares what we can do to make ourselves less happy, more happy and the number one thing that we do that sabotages our efforts to stay in our happy place.  

 

More on Kristin…

 

Kristin Layous has a Ph.D. in Social and Personality Psychology from University of California, Riverside and is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at California State University, East Bay. Her research primarily focuses on activities that promote happiness like expressing gratitude and performing kind acts. Specifically, she explores how and under what conditions these activities boost happiness, as well as who they are most likely to help.

 

Check her out on her website: http://www.kristinlayous.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/

A trial lawyer, a pastor, and and a comedian walk into a bar…. That may sound like a great set up for a joke but it’s what actually happens when our guest, Susan Sparks, goes out on Saturday night ALL AT ONCE!  She’s been (or is) all of those things all wrapped up into one FABULOUS, FUNNY, AND FORTHCOMING person (okay, the last was just me needing another “F” word that wouldn’t make my mother blush).  Sit back and enjoy this interview with a person that is out there making a difference one laugh at a time!

 

More on Susan (in her own words)...

Hi y’all, I’m Susan Sparks—a trial lawyer turned preacher, comedian, speaker, author, and Harley-riding cowboy boot addict. I help people regain their grit and reclaim their joy.

We all know life has curves.
Things we never expect.
Things that throw us into the wind or down to the ground.

Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve lived through a divorce, survived cancer, lost both parents, traveled solo around the world for two years and left a ten-year law practice to create a career as an ordained minister and a standup comedian. I know a bit about curves.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Bends in the road are inevitable. But they are also where life takes flight. They are the places where we have the opportunity to face down our fears, accelerate through and become something more.

After significant gambles and spectacular falls, I’ve learned to lean into the curves. Now thousands take inspiration and hope from the laughter and wisdom I lead with.

Join me every week as I share The Shiny Side Up – my weekly journal pages where you’ll get infectious inspiration that will lift you up, make you smile and leave you stronger!

Sign Up for The Shiny Side Up

Want to take a walk on the wilder side? Tune in to my motorcycle YouTube broadcast: “Rev It Up!” where you’ll to lean into the curves and live full power.

You can also connect with me live stream through my sermons via Madison Avenue Baptist Church, and live in person via my keynotes, comedy shows and workshops.

Hey, we’re all on the same road. Why not face the curves and accelerate out together!

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.“

 

 

More on Patty…

Even more on Patty in her own voice… 

Are we there yet?  I have to go to the bathroom!  I’m hungry!  Yes, I’ve been on enough road trips with my kids to know that they’re not as fun as you imagine before the trip begins.  But that’s because I travelled with them and NOT Drew Tarvin!  Drew’s a comedian, speaker, author, entrepreneur and spent a year traveling to ALL 50 states and sharing a laugh with the residents there.  On this week’s episode, he shares a little about his travels and how you can curate the comedy in your own life to make a positive impact for yourself and those around you.  Take a listen….but have a pen and paper ready ahead of time (you’re going to want to take notes)!   

 

More on Drew…

 

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.

 

You can get more on Drew on his website:   http://andrewtarvin.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!

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/

A funny CPA?  It could be an oxymoron or it could be Julie Ann Sullivan…or both?  This week I had the pleasure of talking with Julie Ann about her work in helping people practice gratitude and live healthier, more fulfilled lives.  We laughed a lot and I learned a lot.  I think you’ll get some strategies you can put into practice right away.

 

More on Julie Ann…

Julie Ann Sullivan speaks from experience. Many people consider her “a revolutionary.” She does not shy away from that title! She believes when people are given a new way of thinking they have a better attitude towards work and life. Julie Ann seeks to bring a more positive and productive environment into every business she visits. She is an author and a professional member of the National Speakers Association.

Julie Ann was a CPA and spent decades involved in the financial services industry.  Now speaking full time, she is a professional member of the National Speakers Association and a member of the World Laughter Tour, Inc. and the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor.

She has a diverse educational background which includes a BA in Psychology and an MBA in Accounting. She also has a Certification as an Expert Level Practitioner as a Certified Laughter Leader.

Julie Ann is also an accomplished writer. Her newest book is titled, “A Little Bit of GRATITUDE Goes a Long Way.”

You’ve seen her.  You’ve probably received a card or phone call from her.  She’s smart, she’s funny and, yes, she used to be a hair model…she’s Barbara Grapstein!  Yes, this week I get to talk to Barbara Grapstein.  Barbara shares her own humor story and how it spurred an international quest to make a difference through her non-profit organization, Healing Headbands.  Take a listen and find out how Barbara is making a difference at home and abroad through laughter and art!  

 

More on Barbara…

Barbara Grapstein is the founder and CEO of Healing Headbands Project Inc. As a Global Laughter Ambassador, Certified Laughter Leader and Laughter Yoga Instructor, Barbara's passion is her never ending devotion to helping others through philanthropy complemented by her entrepreneurial spirit. Barbara is actively involved with several organizations including the Association of Applied Therapeutic Humor(AATH), Steve Wilson's World Laughter Tour and Comedy Cures. Barbara is a featured guest on WCWP 88.1 N-Joy show and is well traveled.

Barbara has had the privilege of engaging with many influencers and leaders in the field including the "Guru of India", Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of Laughter Yoga. Barbara is a corporate consultant for holistic health, stress management and serves to help children and families living with cancer. The program currently runs in child life centers, universities and hospitals in the North East.