Laugh or Death with Paul Osincup | Humor, Resilience, Humanity

Want people to actually remember what you say? Tell them a better story.

In this episode of Laugh or Death, Paul sits down with John Livesay—aka The Pitch Whisperer—to break down how to craft compelling stories that make people care, connect, and remember you.

John has helped sales teams transform boring case studies and statistics into stories that win business, and his approach applies far beyond sales. Whether you're interviewing for a job, asking for a promotion, giving a presentation, pitching an idea, leading a team, or speaking on stage, you're constantly communicating your value.

John shares his Three Cs of storytelling—Clear, Concise, and Compelling—along with real-world examples of how changing the way you tell a story can completely change its impact.

Paul and John also dig into humor, origin stories, rejection, resilience, the "meeting after the meeting," and why the stories people can retell after you've left the room may be the ones that ultimately get you hired, promoted, or chosen.

In this conversation:

• How to craft a compelling story • Why stories are more memorable than facts • How to turn statistics into emotional stories • The 3 Cs of great storytelling • How to create your origin story • Storytelling for job interviews, sales and presentations • Using humor to become more relatable • How to make your message memorable • The "meeting after the meeting" • John's 5-5-5 method for handling rejection • How storytelling builds trust and connection

If you want to become a better storyteller—and a more memorable communicator—this one's for you.

Subscribe to Laugh or Death for more conversations about humor, communication, leadership, resilience, and creating more human workplaces.

Guest Socials & Website:

• Website: http://johnlivesay.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlivesay
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchwhisperer

Episode Minute-By-Minute:

• 00:00 Meet "The Pitch Whisperer" John Livesay
• 01:00 The Weird Thing That Makes John Happy
• 04:00 How John Became The Pitch Whisperer
• 05:50 Turning Boring Statistics Into Great Stories
• 08:00 The Story That Helped Win Over Investors
• 11:00 Why Everyone Needs Storytelling Skills
• 13:00 Why Stories Are More Memorable Than Facts
• 14:00 Using Humor to Make Your Stories Better
• 16:30 Does Being Fun Actually Help You Win Business?
• 18:00 Why You Need an Origin Story
• 20:00 John's Lifeguard Origin Story
• 23:00 Using Humor During Difficult Times
• 25:00 The 3 Cs of Great Storytelling
• 27:00 The "Meeting After the Meeting"
• 28:45 The 5-5-5 Method for Handling Rejection
• 30:00 Humor, Grief and Staying Present
• 32:00 Why Salespeople and Comedians Are Optimists
• 33:30 Finding Work That Makes You Feel Alive
• 35:00 How John Became "The Pitch Whisperer"

Life rarely goes according to plan.

A job falls through. A relationship ends. A diagnosis changes everything. Or maybe it's just one of those weeks where every little thing seems to pile up.

So how do you stay calm when life throws you a curveball?

In this conversation, resilience expert Nina Sossamon-Pogue shares one of the most practical frameworks I've heard for navigating difficult seasons. She explains why putting your challenges into perspective, focusing on what's actually happening right now, and surrounding yourself with the right people can completely change the way you move through adversity.

If you're in the middle of a hard chapter—or you know someone who is—I think this conversation will give you a little more perspective and a few tools you can use immediately.

If you enjoyed this video, be sure to subscribe for more conversations on leadership, resilience, communication, and finding humor in life's toughest moments.

Links:

Thanks to our Sponsor! Download Caveman to Casanova: https://www.cavemantocasanova.com

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FREE GIFT! Download the Fun Over Funny Guide For Leaders! https://www.paulosincup.com/freegift

If you enjoyed this episode and want to build your own humor habit, make sure to follow the podcast and share it with someone who could use a little more levity in their life.

To learn more about Paul's work, book him for speaking engagements, or explore the science behind humor and resilience, visit: 👉 https://www.paulosincup.com You can also dive deeper into the tools discussed in this episode in Paul's book: 👉 The Humor Habit

All Links For Paul: https://stan.store/PaulOsincup

How do you stay resilient when life doesn't go according to plan?

In this episode of Laugh or Death, Paul sits down with Nina Sossamon-Pogue—former USA Gymnastics team member, Emmy Award-winning news anchor, tech executive, author, and keynote speaker—to explore what it really takes to navigate change without losing yourself.

After experiencing Olympic disappointment, a career-ending injury, public setbacks in television, and multiple career pivots, Nina shares the lessons that helped her build resilience through every season of life.

Together, Paul and Nina discuss the power of perspective, why humor helps us carry stress, how to stop letting setbacks define us, and Nina's practical TIPS Framework for handling uncertainty.

Whether you're facing a career transition, leadership challenge, unexpected setback, or simply feeling overwhelmed by change, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom you can apply immediately.

• How to navigate major life changes • Building resilience through uncertainty • Why humor is a powerful stress management tool • The TIPS Framework for handling adversity • Perspective shifts that reduce overwhelm • The importance of co-regulation and community • Lessons from elite athletics and live television • How the stories you tell yourself shape your future

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who could use a little encouragement today.

Links:

Thanks to our Sponsor! Download Caveman to Casanova: https://www.cavemantocasanova.com

App Store: Caveman to Casanova App - App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/caveman-to-casanova/id6752959430

Google Play: Caveman to Casanova - Apps on Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pash.c2c&utm_source=na_Med

FREE GIFT! Download the Fun Over Funny Guide For Leaders! https://www.paulosincup.com/freegift

If you enjoyed this episode and want to build your own humor habit, make sure to follow the podcast and share it with someone who could use a little more levity in their life.

To learn more about Paul's work, book him for speaking engagements, or explore the science behind humor and resilience, visit: 👉 https://www.paulosincup.com You can also dive deeper into the tools discussed in this episode in Paul's book: 👉 The Humor Habit

All Links For Paul: https://stan.store/PaulOsincup

Guest Socials & Website:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninasossamonpogue/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nina_sp.eaks/?hl=en
• Website: https://www.ninasossamonpogue.com

Episode Minute-By-Minute:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:10 Meet Nina Sossamon-Pogue
• 03:45 Missing the Olympic team
• 05:55 Reinventing your identity after setbacks
• 06:30 Humor in elite gymnastics
• 09:00 Behind the scenes of live television
• 14:35 The Mardi Gras newsroom story
• 18:00 Reinvention and career changes
• 20:10 The TIPS Framework for resilience
• 21:55 T — Put it on a Timeline
• 27:00 I — Isolate what you're actually facing
• 28:15 P — People and co-regulation
• 33:25 S — The story you tell yourself
• 35:00 Humor as a resilience tool
• 37:45 Final thoughts
• 39:15 Where to connect with Nina

Most people think confident speakers are just naturally gifted.

They're not.

After more than 20 years performing comedy and 15 years as a professional keynote speaker, I've learned that confidence doesn't come from talent—it comes from preparation.

In this clip, I explain why the more prepared I am, the more relaxed, adaptable, and spontaneous I become on stage. I also share a story about the time my presentation completely fell apart in front of 7,000 people—and why preparation allowed me to keep going.

Whether you're giving a presentation at work, speaking at an event, leading a meeting, or creating content online, this mindset can change the way you prepare.

If you enjoyed this clip, check out the full episode of Laugh or Death for more practical tips on overcoming public speaking nerves.

Does public speaking make you nervous?

You're not alone.

After 20+ years performing comedy and 15 years as a professional keynote speaker, I still get nervous before almost every presentation.

In this episode, I'm sharing the exact strategies I use to calm my nerves before stepping on stage—from the mindset shifts that changed everything to the practical routines I still use before every keynote.

You'll learn my "Three Ps" for preparation, why confidence comes from repetition, how to prepare without overthinking, and what to do in those final moments before your name is called.

Whether you're speaking at work, presenting in school, leading a meeting, or giving a keynote, these tips can help you feel more prepared and less anxious.

If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who's preparing for their next presentation.

Links:

Thanks to our Sponsor! Download Caveman to Casanova: https://www.cavemantocasanova.com

App Store: Caveman to Casanova App - App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/caveman-to-casanova/id6752959430

Google Play: Caveman to Casanova - Apps on Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pash.c2c&utm_source=na_Med

FREE GIFT! Download the Fun Over Funny Guide For Leaders! https://www.paulosincup.com/freegift

If you enjoyed this episode and want to build your own humor habit, make sure to follow the podcast and share it with someone who could use a little more levity in their life.

To learn more about Paul's work, book him for speaking engagements, or explore the science behind humor and resilience, visit: 👉 https://www.paulosincup.com You can also dive deeper into the tools discussed in this episode in Paul's book: 👉 The Humor Habit

All Links For Paul: https://stan.store/PaulOsincup

Episode Minute-By-Minute:

• 00:42 Why I made this episode
• 02:00 The #1 way to overcome speaking nerves
• 03:00 Why everyone fears public speaking
• 04:30 The First P: Purpose
• 09:00 The Second P: Preparation
• 17:45 The Third P: Perspective
• 21:00 Understanding your personal nerves
• 24:30 Creating your pre-talk routine
• 27:00 My game-day rituals
• 30:10 Starting strong on stage
• 32:20 Should you acknowledge your nerves?
• 34:35 One final piece of advice

What if your team's biggest untapped advantage is already sitting in the room?

In this clip from Laugh or Death, Broadway performer, keynote speaker, and emcee Wendee Lee Curtis shares one of the most powerful lessons she learned from performing on Broadway: go full out.

On Broadway, performers are encouraged to bring every gift, every strength, and every ounce of creativity they have to the stage. Wendee believes the same should be true in the workplace.

Too often, employees hold back ideas, talents, and abilities simply because no one has given them permission to use them.

Paul and Wendee discuss how great leaders create environments where people feel safe to contribute, why psychological safety unlocks better performance, and how organizations can uncover incredible talent that's been there all along.

Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or simply looking to become a better leader, this conversation will change the way you think about bringing out the best in people.

🎙 Watch the full episode of Laugh or Death with Wendee Lee Curtis for more lessons on leadership, teamwork, and the Broadway mindset that can transform your organization.

All Links For Paul: https://stan.store/PaulOsincup

What can Broadway teach us about leadership, teamwork, psychological safety, and high performance?

A lot more than you might expect.

In this episode of Laugh or Death, Paul Osincup sits down with Wendee Lee Curtis, a Broadway performer turned broadcaster, live event emcee, moderator, and keynote speaker.

Wendee made her Broadway debut in Play On, toured with Mamma Mia, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and Lincoln Center. Today, she helps Fortune 500 teams connect, perform, and bring more of their unique gifts to work.

Wendee shares the story of auditioning for Mamma Mia even though she believed she was completely wrong for the production—and then being asked to understudy a major comedic role despite not believing she was funny.

When the moment came to perform, she was terrified. But a director's belief in her helped Wendee step onto the stage and discover a part of herself she had never fully recognized.

Paul and Wendee also explore the Broadway principle of going "full out": bringing everything you have to the performance instead of holding your best gifts in reserve.

They discuss what that principle can teach leaders about:

• Unlocking overlooked talent • Creating psychological safety • Helping employees work in their zone of excellence • Building a strong and resilient bench • Supporting people through first-time experiences • Taking imperfect action during uncertainty • Replacing "That's not my job" with "The show must go on" • Creating cultures where everyone contributes to the team's success

Wendee also explains why Broadway gives understudies tremendous respect, how casts support someone performing a role for the first time, and why the success of one person ultimately belongs to the entire ensemble.

And yes, the conversation ends with the unexpectedly intimate reality of completing a 57-second Broadway costume change before rising onto the stage like a rock star.

Learn more about Wendee Lee Curtis and her keynote, emcee, and moderation work at WendeeLeeCurtis.com.

🎙 Subscribe to Laugh or Death for more smart, meaningful, and actually funny conversations about humor, leadership, resilience, workplace culture, and human connection.

00:00 Meet Wendee Lee Curtis 00:54 What Makes a Theater Kid Weird? 01:32 True Crime, Homicide Detectives, and Wendee's Dark Side 03:35 Wendee's Gift for Seeing Other People's Genius 05:25 Growing Up Destined for the Stage 08:18 Training for a Career in Musical Theater 09:12 Why Wendee Never Needed to Be the Star 10:55 The Mamma Mia Audition She Was Completely Wrong For 13:12 Discovering a Talent She Didn't Know She Had 14:14 Terrified to Perform as the Understudy 15:01 "You're Hilarious"—The Belief That Changed Everything 17:06 Why Commitment Beats Confidence 18:01 Testing the Limits of What You Can Do 20:12 Using Physicality to Get Out of Your Head 21:54 Sponsor: Caveman to Casanova 23:14 How Improv Helps Us Take Imperfect Action 25:10 The Broadway Principle of Going Full Out 26:33 Your Employees Are Waiting for Permission 28:00 How Leaders Can Unlock Hidden Talent 29:07 Working in Your Zone of Excellence 29:57 What Broadway Understudies Teach Us About Resilience 30:39 "I've Got Your Back"—The Power of Ensemble Teams 32:02 Why Your Teammate's Success Is Also Yours 33:24 Every Employee Shapes the Customer Experience 35:46 The Broadway Ritual Every Workplace Should Borrow 37:30 Supporting People Through Their First Time 38:13 Why Talented Employees Eventually Leave 39:57 Stop Giving People a Muted Version of Their Job 40:46 Clarity, Collaboration, and Creative Freedom 44:11 How Great Teams Take You Beyond Your Limits 44:42 The Most Humbling 57 Seconds on Broadway 47:08 Connect With Wendee Lee Curtis

Are you reacting to life... or leading it?

In this clip from the Laugh or Death Podcast, Paul Osincup shares one of his favorite lessons from positive psychology:

Be a thermostat, not a thermometer.

A thermometer simply reflects the temperature around it. A thermostat changes the environment.

The same is true for us.

Instead of letting difficult circumstances, challenging people, or stressful situations dictate your attitude, you can learn to intentionally influence the atmosphere around you.

Whether you're a leader, parent, entrepreneur, or simply trying to become a happier person, this simple mindset shift can change the way you approach work and life.

Subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday on leadership, humor, happiness, and living a more resilient life.

LINKS

Thanks to our Sponsor! Download Caveman to Casanova: https://www.cavemantocasanova.com

App Store: Caveman to Casanova App - App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/caveman-to-casanova/id6752959430

Google Play: Caveman to Casanova - Apps on Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pash.c2c&utm_source=na_Med

FREE GIFT! Download the Fun Over Funny Guide For Leaders! https://www.paulosincup.com/freegift

All Links For Paul: https://stan.store/PaulOsincup

Can you actually train yourself to become happier?

According to science, the answer is yes.

In this solo episode of Laugh or Death, keynote speaker and comedian Paul Osincup shares three science-backed happiness habits that can help increase your overall happiness—not just for a moment, but over the long term.

Drawing from years of work with Delivering Happiness and research from experts like Shawn Achor, Sonja Lyubomirsky, and Harvard's Study of Adult Development, Paul explains why happiness is more like a climate than today's weather and how small daily habits can completely change the way you experience life.

You'll learn:

• Why happiness is more within your control than you think.
• The three habits that consistently increase wellbeing.
• How to overcome your brain's negativity bias.
• Why gratitude and connection matter so much.
• How celebrating progress creates momentum.
• The lessons Paul learned after losing nearly everything in a house fire.

Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to enjoy life a little more, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can start using today.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe for new episodes every Wednesday.

Being funny isn't enough anymore.

Today's comedians have to be performers, marketers, business owners, and content creators all at the same time.

In this episode of Laugh or Death, Paul sits down with David Uribe, founder of The Comedy Branding Agency, to explore how comedians can build a memorable brand that gets them booked, grows loyal fans, and creates income beyond the stage.

Along the way, they share stories about bombing on stage, writing jokes for pastors, finding your authentic voice, and why humor is one of the most powerful marketing tools available.

Whether you're a comedian, speaker, creator, or entrepreneur, you'll leave with practical branding strategies that apply far beyond comedy.

• How to stand out in a crowded industry

• The five branding foundations every comedian needs

• Why social media isn't enough

• How to create superfans instead of casual followers

• Ways to monetize your audience beyond performing

• Why your unique personality is your greatest competitive advantage

Links:

Thanks to our Sponsor! Download Caveman to Casanova: https://www.cavemantocasanova.com

App Store: Caveman to Casanova App - App Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/caveman-to-casanova/id6752959430

Google Play: Caveman to Casanova - Apps on Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pash.c2c&utm_source=na_Med

FREE GIFT! Download the Fun Over Funny Guide For Leaders! https://www.paulosincup.com/freegift

If you enjoyed this episode and want to build your own humor habit, make sure to follow the podcast and share it with someone who could use a little more levity in their life.

To learn more about Paul's work, book him for speaking engagements, or explore the science behind humor and resilience, visit: 👉 https://www.paulosincup.com You can also dive deeper into the tools discussed in this episode in Paul's book: 👉 The Humor Habit

All Links For Paul: https://stan.store/PaulOsincup

Guest Socials & Website:

Connect with David: https://comedybranding.com