114. 5 Ways to Use Humor to Connect at Work with 7× Emmy Winner Beth Sherman | How to use humour in presentations

In this episode, comedy writer and humour strategist Beth Sherman, a seven-time Emmy Award winner known for her work on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Letterman, and The Tonight Show shares how humour can transform communication in professional and personal settings.

We explore how to use humour not to entertain, but to connect, build trust, and communicate with impact. Beth explains why “truth is funny,” how to find your authentic comedic voice, and the importance of reading the room. She also breaks down what makes humour inclusive, how to balance professionalism with playfulness, and why humour truly is a love language.

Together, we discuss practical ways to use humour as a communication tool, from leadership to public speaking and how anyone (even non-comedians) can develop a more relatable, engaging style at work.

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Humour in Professional Settings

04:40 Beth Sherman's Journey to Comedy Writing

08:03 Inside the Writer's Room: Collaboration and Competition

12:03 The Pressure of Deadlines in Comedy Writing

17:09 Finding Humour in Truth and Specificity

24:49 Using Humour as a Love Language in Communication

29:52 The Power of Acknowledgment in Communication

34:19 Choosing the Right Humor for Professional Settings

38:02 Using Humor as a Tool for Connection

41:22 Finding the Balance: How Much Humor is Too Much?

44:15 Quickfire Humour Tips and Misconceptions About Comedians

Key Takeaways

takeaways

• Humor should be used to connect with others.
• The best humour reflects truth and authenticity.
• In a writer's room, collaboration is key to success.
• Deadlines can foster creativity in comedy writing.
• Self-awareness enhances the effectiveness of humor.
• Humor can diffuse tension in professional settings.
• Truth is the foundation of effective storytelling.
• Humor is seasoning; it should complement the main message.
• Understanding your audience is crucial for humor.
• Using humour can demonstrate resilience and approachability.

Patreon thanks!

Shout out to the amazing Patron supporters for keeping this podcast going; thank you Ant Howe, Jasmine Barnes, Chloe Wilmot, Sara Kay, Cheri Brenton, Steve McDermott, Chris Lovett & Rory Barnes! You are all amazing!

Come Join the UNLOCKED community where you can receive...

• Early access to episodes
• Patron shout outs and recognition at the end of every episode
• Exclusive backstage content and bonus episodes
• Ask me anything - have your questions answered online
• Shape the future of the podcast with your requests.
• (Optional - become a sponsor of the show!)
• Exclusive giveaways and HUGE Discounts off my online courses and so much more...

To be a Patron and support the podcast just head to this link or head to https://www.patreon.com/theunlockedpodcast

I can't wait for you to be a part of this journey!

Free Resources

• FREE Ebook 10 SIMPLE STEPS TO SELL WITH CONFIDENCE
• FREE Ebook 10 tips to improve your productivity
• Free Workbook : Understanding Your Values
• FREE EBOOK : Improve your confidence and create awesome videos with a smartphone
• Follow me on Instagram & Facebook at: @rickylockemagic
•  For more about me and what I do, check out my website

PODCAST MERCHANDISE!!!

It's officially here! Woohoo! You can now buy your own UNLOCKED podcast notebook. The perfect addition to share your thoughts, ideas, and inspiration from the podcast.

Available here!

A new episode is out every Wednesday. So make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any episodes coming soon.

And, if this episode brought some value to you, or even a smile, then please leave a review or a rating. That would be amazing!

Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy this episode and I'll join you next week for another episode of UNLOCKED!

TRANSCRIPT