In this kickoff to the 3rd season of the podcast, I chat about what it means to be a Seriously Funny, how it is strategic and the cake - not just the frosting! - and why it matters for your company's (and peoples') adaptability, resilience and innovation.

She has called herself an "Unlikely Comedian." In 2020, Megan Jeffrey didn't just hit pandemic burnout like all of us, her mother had terminal cancer, she found out her then-husband was unfaithful to her and she found herself a single mom of 3 young kids. Then...she lost her job.

She then turned to social media, posting videos of her doing accents, particularly Trinidadian ones (her ex-husband is), and exploring comical clashes being an American woman in its culture. She expected to find an outlet for her creativity and ease the burnout; then she 'blew up' as posts went viral.

It was unexpected. She wasn't trying to be a comedian.

What she learned was a lot more about redefining herself and bouncing back. In this convo, Megan and I chat about:

• The power of betting on yourself
• The ridiculous standards that women have to adhere to (and why we gotta laugh!)
• Why 'tone it down' is the call to do the exact opposite (it's cool; it often takes time to realize it)
• Letting of perfection

Want more? Check out past episodes

Be sure to Visit

meganjeffrey.com

keepingithuman.com

On Insta

@klotzguest, @kathyguestcomedy, @themeganjeffrey

"Funnier" is the title of Anne's Upcoming book.

Comedy is WAY bigger than jokes. It's our words, our voice, our humanity and how we show up.

I was not going to release the whole hour at once. Originally I was going to break it up into sections.

I just couldn't break the convo in two because it was TOO GOOD. And it's worth many listens.

Anne is a woman after my own heart. I studied sketch writing at Second City. And comedy changed how I think, show up and create. Yes, I perform. And humor matters in business. Comedy teaches us skills of connection. And we need it.

Anne is funny, brilliant and thinks and teaches deep stuff: what makes things funny and how can we be funnier.

I connected with her when she said, "I get asked, 'Can you make me funny?" Her response, "I can make you funnier." And I relate. I get asked that and I think the answer is 'Funnier.' I can't make anyone funny. We can all be funnier.

This convo is not only funny; it will make YOU funnier.

Grab a cup of coffee and sit down with pen, paper or computer. We talk about:

-Thick humor (vs thin humor)

-Humor and comedy are more than jokes (preach, Anne!)

-Humor and AI (chat GPT writes bad jokes!)

-Narrative (story arcs matter!) and characters

-Humor as recognition (starts with a truth - audience must recognize it)

-Distance (time)

-Improv and the power of discovery - being present in the moment

Take notes. Laugh. Rinse and Repeat. Please check out Anne's work and her upcoming book, "Funnier."

About Anne

Anne Libera is Director of Comedy Studies at The Second City where she also serves as Artistic Consultant. She is an Associate Professor at Columbia College Chicago where she created and coordinates the Comedy Writng and Performance BA. Northwestern University Press which will also publish her upcoming book Funnier: A Theory of Comedy With Practical Applications. Contact her: Alibera(at)secondcity.com

About Kathy

Kathy Klotz-Guest, MA, MBA is a stand-up and improv comedian, author and speaker. A former tech exec for two decades while doing improv and stand-up comedy at night, she is the Founder of Keeping it Human℠ and the Seriously Funny podcast. Her mission: to help companies, leaders and teams think differently and get bigger results through improv and comedy concepts. Her last book, "Stop Boring Me!" was a top 10 selling book on Amazon in Creativity and Humor. Kathy(at)keepingithuman.com

Principles of comedy can help you become a more powerful, confident and connected speaker and presenter. Anyone can add more humor and playfulness...without having to be a comedian.

If you can laugh, you have a sense of humor and that's different from being funny. Think playful, humorous and improvisational and you can use all these approaches. And yes, even a bit of stand-up if you like. It's not required.

In this episode, I break down the following concepts that I use with clients and you can, too, to add more playful humor to your speaking that is true to you (hey, it should be fun and natural):

Comedy v. Improv v. Humor (they're different)

How to think about what's funny

Big talk points, then punch up

Ways to heighten storytelling

Rehearsing and Planned Spontaneity

Your body and voice as an instrument

Have fun. You got this.

Interested in working with me?

I use comedy concepts for creative, connected communication and innovation. I offer workshops, transformational programs and keynote talks. Reach out at keepingithuman(dot)com.

You effed up.

We all do. I have. You have. We're all human.

Watching the Golden Globes made me think of times I didn't perform well or things could have gone differently.

Don't beat yourself up. Making mistakes, failing - all part of learning. Don't wait too long to get back on the horse.

Give yourself grace, understand lessons and move forward.

Here are 3 big life and leadership lessons on letting disappointment and failure drive your growth, being kind to yourself, your team AND how to use humor to lift people up.

What did you learn from the Golden Globes? I'd love to hear.

Be sure to reach out and visit me on linkedin.com and keepingithuman.com

I am on a mission to change leaders, teams and workplaces through laughter, lightness of being and levity. Yes, humor.

I've said it many times and I'll say it again: humor > funny and jokes.

Humor is embracing our imperfections, our awkwardness and making it safer for others to do the same around us. It builds trust and connection and courage - all the things companies need for innovation, better stories and all that big, juicy creativity.

And imagine reducing all that stress and burnout, too? Upside.

Leadership isn't 'gravitas.' It's trust and it starts with de-armoring and showing up more human.

It starts with us. Me and you. So, join me. Make the decision to embrace the lighter you. The laughter, the levity.

It will change how you show up, how others show up around you and your life.

May this be your best year yet.

Want talks or workshops that transform your work with a lot of fun and brave fuel for big ideas? Reach out.

Kathy Klotz-Guest, keepingithuman(dot)com

I've spent almost 25 years on comedy stages and for 17 years of that, I was in tech by day (comedy by night). Here's why humor IS the ultimate algorithm for innovation:

• Innovation of any type needs trust, courage, connection
• Humor fosters trust, courage, connection
• Laughter measure company health (say ahhh...haha!)
• Humor is not unprofessional. It's not professional v. humor; it's understanding that humor is celebration of human imperfection

I work with leaders and teams through talks to create mindset shifts and through programs that build skillset shifts.

Happy Holidays!

Reach out at keepingithuman.com

Andrea Vahl and I go way back to speaking and marketing.

She is a social media consultant, speaker, comedian and host of Late Starters Club Podcast. Hey, she and I know it’s never too late to change your life.

Andrea and I laugh and chat about some big lessons for all of us about the healing and connecting power of humor. One of the biggest reminders for all of us is the resilience and power behind accepting all of yourself: the good, the OMG and the hard stuff.

Because it's completely human. It's where the good stuff is.

You will definitely want to check this one out. We touch on:

• Comedy as healing and a way to help us get over the fear of failure (I can confirm!)

• Humor is showing our fears and being willing to laugh

• Leadership needs vulnerability and imperfection and humor helps us be more human

• When you learn to fail well, which comedy helps with, you learn resilience - there is nothing you can’t get over

• Comedy-thinking helps us get over judgment of ourselves and others

• Confidence comes from giving and owning your point of view (POV)

• Bombing and turning into the spiral (riding it down with laughter!) 

  
  

  
  

Follow Kathy 

Follow Andrea

If you love the show, give us a review and share. TY.