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Fresh Ideas, Real Stories, and a Lot of Laughs

Insights on laughter, leadership, and team culture direct from our founder

January 26, 2024

5 Reasons Why Laughing When You’re Sick Is No Joke!

I’m down for the count again - darn sneaky COVID - testing negative but it’s the gift that keeps giving. More like a horror movie. Cue V/O: “Just when you thought it was safe to go to spin class again….”

January 19, 2024

Kidding Aside, We Need to F’ing Laugh

Snowstorms, below freezing temperatures, horrifying news stories, the fact is if we’re going to truly make this a “happy” new year, we have to be proactive about our laughter. Fortunately, it’s a very cool time for TV comedy. Here’s a handy list if you want to pop some corn, throw in some Raisinets and escape this weekend.

January 12, 2024

Five Ways You Can Approach Your Resolutions with Joy Instead of Angst

It’s the new year and I don’t want to be tense. I don’t want to already be anxious about my “resolutions.” The ones I forgot to make, or the ones I made at 1 am on the 31st. I’m convinced the first step in finding joy at the start of a new year is taking the word resolution out of the equation.

January 5, 2024

Finding Laughter with Family!

Now I know why those National Lampoon Chevy Chase Vacation movies are so popular. Watching them before, during or after a week with family doing your best to relax and have “fun!” delivers exactly the comic relief you need.

December 29, 2023

Laughter on Call: Igniting Performance through Connection and Joy

Someone recently asked me what the “I” in R.O.I. is for Laughter On Call. I thought they were kidding. But apparently a new definition has been added to the acronym. We all understand the “I” to mean investment, but in an historically challenging atmosphere, it can now also mean impact.

December 22, 2023

Happy Holidays from Laughter On Call!

You know those updates that people send out during the holiday season? Where you get to read about family trips, milestones and engagements? I don’t send those personally, but as 2023 wraps I decided to go back through the LOC calendar to be reminded of the hits, if you will.

December 15, 2023

We’re never gettin’ younger, so I’m gonna have some fun...

This title of this post is a quote from P!nk's latest hit. That is what it’s come down to for me, quoting pop songs. I was on a spin bike in the dark this week, hiding from the news when her new song, “I’m Never Gonna Not Dance Again,” came on.

December 8, 2023

Tis the Season for Self-Care

At Laughter On Call, we focus a lot on employee wellbeing. When we show up to an event or training we always read the room, get a sense of who’s an introvert, who’s game to get out of their comfort zone, and who we’re going to have to pull off their phone.

December 1, 2023

Did Someone Say “Affiliative Humor”?

Probably not you! Unless you’re a comedy scholar. Even though I’ve written about this before, with the holiday season upon us, full of socializing and “partying,” it feels like a great time to review the value of humor that makes people feel good.

November 18, 2023

Giving Thanks for the Chance to Help

Even in challenging times there is much to be grateful for. I don’t talk about gratitude per se in my training, but I do present appreciation as a self-care tool. I suggest getting in the habit of expressing it not just for others but for yourself. Pointing out something you appreciate about a person or something they did is free! And it helps people feel valued.

November 10, 2023

Have You Thanked a Carepartner Today?

November is Alzheimer’s awareness month! Who knew? Not me before my mother was diagnosed 8 years ago. This is the month the Alzheimer's Association recognizes the more than 11 million family members and friends who are currently caring for a person living with Alzheimer's nationwide.

November 3, 2023

Why You Shouldn't Fear Improv

Twenty five years ago when I took a Stand-up class at UCLA, the teacher Shelley Bonus, one of Richard Prior’s ex’s, said to me after the first class, “You’re a comedian. You may never do it, but it’s who you are.”