Humor is all around us— you only need to be intentional about seeking moments of laughter and joy in your life. In this special compilation episode on humor, Chris shares six short snippets from his conversation with thoughtful guests such as TikTok forager Alexis Nikole Nelson, meditation and happiness journalist Dan Harris, peace activist Aziz Abu-Sarah and more on how they flex their laughing muscles. From foraging mugwort to drawing a stranger for 60-seconds, Chris and his guests encourage you to practice mindfulness and embrace the spectacle of life.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guests:

Alexis Nikole Nelson (Instagram: @blackforager | TikTok: @alexisnikole | YouTube: @blackforager)

Dan Harris (Instagram: @danharris | Website: danharris.com)

Wendy MacNaughton (Instagram: @wendymac)

Laurel Braitman (Instagram: @laurel_braitman | Website: laurelbraitman.com/)

Lear deBessonet (Website: lct.org/shows/people/lear-debessonet/)

Dave Nadelberg (Instagram: @davenadelberg | Website: getmortified.com/)

Neil Katcher (Instagram: @neilkatcher | LinkedIn: @neilkatcher | Website: getmortified.com/) 

Aziz Abu-Sarah (Instagram: @azizabusarah | Website: azizabusarah.com/)

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We often think donating clothes is a sustainable act, but when tons of garments are shipped to places like West Africa, it creates environmental waste and disrupts local artisans’ livelihoods. Diarra Bousso, a mathematician and sustainable fashion designer, joins Chris to unpack the hidden cost of global textiles waste and how she founded her lifestyle brand Diarrablu. She shares how she designs with emotional sustainability in mind – creating clothes that adjust to our changing body while showcasing Sengalese’s bold colors and prints. They also discuss how mathematical concepts influence her work, how technology and AI might help designers reduce waste, and why it’s important to make clothes that make you feel good.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Diarra Bousso (Instagram: @thediarrablu | LinkedIn: @diarrabousso | Website: diarrabousso.com/) 

Links

diarrablu.com

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Sarah Jaffe is the author of Work Won’t Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keep Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone. She and Chris discuss the emotional toll of modern work culture and the importance of community. They also dive into Sarah’s newest book, From the Ashes: Grief and Revolution in a World on Fire, and explore the idea that between pandemics, climate change, and economic inequality, many of us are feeling a huge (and often unacknowledged sense of grief. Sarah explains the concept of “disenfranchised grief” and how collective mourning can invite meaningful social connections.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Sarah Jaffe (Instagram: @sarahljaffe | Website: sarahljaffe.com/) 

Links

From the Ashes: Grief and Revolution in a World on Fire

Work Won’t Love You Back: How Devotion to Our Jobs Keep Us Exploited, Exhausted, and Alone

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Widely recognized as a musical genius and once-in-a-generation talent, Jon Batiste is one of history’s most brilliant, prolific, and accomplished musicians. The Grammy, Emmy, and Oscar-winning star joins to discuss his legendary career, connecting people through a shared love of music. This episode originally aired on Design Matters March 31, 2025.

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What is the aspect of being you that you cling to most tightly? Why are you you and not somebody else? How do you understand and make sense of your experiences? These are questions studied by Anil Seth, Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience and the University of Sussex. Anil and Chris reflect on the limitations in describing the brain as a “supercomputer,” the ethical and morally grey areas of technological advancements and brain computer interfaces, and how hallucinogenic drugs affect consciousness.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Anil Seth (Instagram: @profanilseth | LinkedIn: @anilseth | Website: https://www.anilseth.com/) 

Links

Being You: A New Science of Consciousness

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Austin Kleon thinks stealing inspiration is a good thing — because it requires you to pay attention to the world. Austin is a self-proclaimed “creative kleptomaniac” and the author of five books, including Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative. In his conversation with Chris, they discuss “scenius,” or the creative genius of a group, how children are invaluable creative teachers, and why he thrives in the tension between discipline and spontaneity.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Austin Kleon (Instagram: @austinkleon | Website: https://austinkleon.com/) 

Links

Austin Kleon’s Substack

Steal Like an Artist (Book)

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“If you’re a good designer in five or ten years, you’re gonna want to look back on your portfolio with horror and nostalgia and somewhat amusement… because you want to be growing,” says illustrator Debbie Millman. Debbie is the host of the longest running podcast, Design Matters, and the author of the book, Love Letter to a Garden. In this episode, authenticity and growth are at the forefront. Debbie talks about the loss of humanity with the rise of personal branding, how her fascination with origin stories and the universe led her to gardening, and her advocacy with the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization working to help sexual assault victims heal and reclaim their lives.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Debbie Millman (Instagram: @debbiemillman | LinkedIn: @deborahmillman | Website: debbiemillman.com/) 

Links

Love Letter to a Garden (Bookshop.org)

joyfulheartfoundation.org/

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Ethan Lindenberger never got vaccinated as a kid. So one day, he went on Reddit and asked a simple question: "Where do I go to get vaccinated?" The post went viral, landing Lindenberger in the middle of a heated debate about vaccination and, ultimately, in front of a US Senate committee. Less than a year later, the high school senior reports back on his unexpected time in the spotlight and a new movement he's leading to fight misinformation and advocate for scientific truth.

After the talk, Shoshana interviews Dr. Jennifer Reich, a sociologist, and asks the question, “Where has vaccine mistrust come from?” -- and how transparency in clinical trials and federal advisory boards are key in gaining community trust.

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Heather Havrilesky is the author of the book Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage. She’s also the writer behind the advice columns “Ask Polly,” and “Ask Molly,” which is written by Polly’s mischievous alterego. In this episode, Heather and Chris navigate how to showcase your whole self – even if it means embracing the messy parts – and how leaning into contradictions can make you happier and healthier. They also discuss how most people’s twenties are a disaster, how to write in a way that feels true, and why it’s necessary to laugh at your own ridiculousness.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Heather Havrilesky (Instagram: @heatherhav) 

Links

ask-polly.com

Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage

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Dawn Burrell is a celebrated long jumper, an Olympic athlete, and a chef’s whose cooking made her a semifinalist for a James Beard Award — and these are just a sampling of her many accolades. In this episode, Dawn talks about how she navigated the career shift from athlete to chef, redefining success for herself, and finding joy and fulfillment in the kitchen cooking for others. She and Chris also discuss ways to grow from failure, build confidence, and the creative process of starting something new – whether it’s a career or a recipe.

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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Dawn Burrell (Instagram: @chefdawnburrell | Facebook: @chefdawnburrell | LinkedIn: @dawnburrell) 

Links

chefdawnburrell.com/

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