LaughBox

“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: liysa@liysacallsen.com

"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...  

1. Listen to this episode of the podcast
2. 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..

"Of course, I can get a hell of a good look at a T-Bone steak by sticking my head up a bull's ass, but I'd rather take the butcher's word for it." - Big Tom Callahan

Here we are at Episode 50 and starting our second year of the Laughbox podcast!  It's cause to celebrate and so I watched the movie, Tommy Boy (thus, the quote at the top).  You should celebrate too!  How?  By coming to the AATH conference in April.  Go to www.aath.org and check it out.  The investments we make in ourselves pay big dividends!

On this episode we're exploring the inner workings of the improv brain with Lisa David Olson and her book, Laughs On Wry: An Improvisor's Memoir.

I had the opportunity to meet Lisa about 5 years ago and I've enjoyed that connection so much.  She's fun, funny and has some great things to share in how to find the humor in everyday life and make a choice to be better.

I know you'll enjoy listening as much as I did.  Yes, I listened to the interview several times before airing it.

If you have a guest idea for the show or something you'd like to hear about, email me direct at chip@unconventionalleader.com.  I'd love to hear from you.

More on Lisa...

Speaker, author, improv ninja and owner of an award winning sketch comedy troupe - The Heart of La Crosse. “Laughs On Wry; an improviser’s memoir” has been called “smart, insightful and hilarious! She takes the ordinary and turns it into hysterical and relatable stories.”

 Originally from Wisconsin, love brought her over the Mississippi bridge to her current home in La Crescent Minnesota. Olson is a self proclaimed harvester of humor, a goofy friend, embarrassing mom and mega-prankster.  A speaker for nearly two decades, she lights up a room and connects attendees through humor.

Presenting to companies about infusing improvisation is her passion, as is speaking to groups about the message of her book “Laughs On Wry”, which is that life is made of choices, not excuses.  For Olson, strength was found when sharing laughter, it’s a healthy way to connect with people and share the buzz of joy!

Join her facebook page for a daily dose of giggles! 

By day, Olson is an assistant at the La Crescent Police Department, handling the public, records and dispatch duties.

www.lisadavidolson.com

Instagram and Twitter:  #improvbuddy

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.