Resources
Unbeatable, re-tweetable resources packed with all the whys, how-tos, and those all-important what-not-to-dos.
It’s All in Your Mind
- Comedy is Translation
TED Talk by Chris Bliss
Every act of communication is, in some way, an act of translation. How great comedy can translate deep truths for a mass audience. - WSJ: It’s Funny How Humor Works
Essay by Scott Weems
As Groucho knew, it’s a form of mental exercise that expands our flexibility and stamina. - NPR: An Anthropologist Walks Into A Bar And Asks, ‘Why Is This Joke Funny?’
Story by Shankar Vedantam - Hey! What Are You Laughing At?
Article by Tania Lombrozo
How do scientists explain what differentiates the humorous from the unhumorous? Includes a link to what *may* be the world’s funniest YouTube video. - Why We Laugh
Article by Alex Lickerman M.D.
How laughter can help build resilience. - Happiness 101
Article by Melissa Breyer
Laughter as a key material to building social confidence and culture.
Storytelling
- What Makes Content Compelling?
Written by Andrea Lehr
A walkthrough of the six principles outlined in Chip and Dan Heath’s SUCCESS model from “Made to Stick: Why Some Content Ideas Survive and Others Die” - Making Food and Family Funny as… Heck
The Comedy of Jim Gaffigan
This family-friendly comic doesn’t rely on shock value for a laugh; but routinely fills stadiums with stories about raising five children in NYC, what it’s like to be a “fat dad” and of course, Hot Pockets. - The Voice of Generation X
Comedian, Writer, Actor and Genius, Patton Oswalt
Though the above clip of Oswalt aired on Conan, most of his stand-up is NSFW, and completely worth looking up outside the firewall. For us forty-somethings, Oswalt holds a sorely-needed mirror up to pop culture, parenting, and politics; routinely sending us careening off our chairs laughing. - Making an Impression (May be NSFW)
Comedian Maria Bamford
Robert deNiro. Christopher Walken. Katherine Hepburn. Maria Bamford does none of these character. Her impressions are dead-on reflections of her mom, the Target cashier, and business women as she manages to shine a humorous light on her own “otherness” and battles with mental illness.