You Can't Laugh At That

Washington DC-based comedian Matt Bergman (DryBar, Comedy Central) proves you CAN laugh at the obituaries by framing them in a way that gets the audience to discover the nuance in the things we do and say about people after they die.

There is a push and pull between fear and acceptance that exists when discussing death, but when it's discussed within a non-threatening context, a conversation about death can turn lighthearted and hilarious.

We also talk about:

-Steve’s new credit.

-Approbation Constante; Matt’s album title.

-Matt’s bit proving you CAN laugh at the obituaries.

-Why older people enjoy reading the obituaries so much.

-Honest obituaries.

-Adding a fun framework to make a dark premise more approachable.

-Print newspaper.

-The impersonal cliches of most obituaries.

-When an obituary doesn’t match the reality.

-Writing our own obituaries.

-The perfect age to die.

-Finding humor in the word ‘obituary’ itself.

-The word ‘slaughter’

-The afterlife.

-Dying while performing.

- Putting a memorial in the spot where someone dies vs. where they loved going.

-Diving deeper into fears and what makes us uncomfortable instead of avoiding it.

-Being buried alive.

And more!

Buy Matt's album, Approbation Constante: https://music.apple.com/us/album/approbation-constante/1565172412

Learn more about Matt at mattbergmancomedy.com

Follow Matt on Instagram & Twitter: @bergmancomedy

Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage from most of our episodes at patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorning

Follow Gheramy on Twitter: @demerygheramy

Follow Gheramy on Instagram: @gheramy_demery

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Produced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.com

Music: Producedbyzip

NYC Comedian and Tonight Show writer Chloe Radcliffe proves you CAN laugh at your own insecurities by saying the thing that's on everyone's mind, but is being left unsaid as a way to release the tension.

The birthmark on Chloe's face is an obvious distinguishing feature, so she has multiple hilarious bits about the awkward way she dealt with it as a kid, the things she can't do because of it, and why she knows what it's like to be a supermodel.

We also talk about:

-How stand-up experience could help improv, rather than the other way around.

-Chloe’s history in speech and debate impacting her stand-up.

-Addressing her birthmark at the beginning of a set and if it’s starting to get tiresome.

-Getting catcalled.

-Chloe’s bit about the naïve way she countered being called “a freak” as a kid.

-Being a specific brand of nerd in high school.

-Getting a laugh on a joke that isn’t done yet.

-The inauthenticity of manufacturing body language and intonation onstage.

-Dealing with being so recognizable because of a distinguishable facial feature.

-Chloe’s perfect response to trolling comments on TikTok.

-The mean comments that DO get to Chloe.

-Why people are mean on the internet.

-Releasing the tension by saying the thing that is unsaid.

-The phoniness of false confidence.

And more!

Learn more about Chloe at chloeradcliffe.com

Follow Chloe on Instagram & Twitter: @chloebadcliffe

Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage from most of our episodes at patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorning

Follow Gheramy on Twitter: @demerygheramy

Follow Gheramy on Instagram: @gheramy_demery

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Produced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.com

Music: Producedbyzip

6AM City is a media company focused on activating communities through daily email newsletters that aggregate the most positive, impactful local stories.

No politics, no murders, no toxicity.

And that's exactly the kind of culture that co-founder Ryan Heafy has built (murders at work tend to do a number on morale).

In this episode, we talk about disrupting the media and how that impacts the culture of 6AM City, how his company has maintained a low turnover rate, and how they're managing with massive amounts of sudden growth.

In fact, it was announced the day of our conversation that they were selected as one of the country's Best And Brightest Places To Work, which is proof that if you want to build a company like 6AM City, you CAN laugh at work.

Oh, and did I mention they're hiring?

In this episode, we talk about:

-How 6AM City is disrupting the doom and gloom style reporting of traditional media.

-How focusing on uplifting stories has impacted the culture at 6AM City.

-The secret to retaining nearly 100% of your staff.

-The fun ways you can use Slack to communicate, contribute ideas, and feel connected even if they’re working remotely.

-Making space and time to really listen to employees.

-Learning to build a top workplace culture by watching other people fail.

-Building credibility by owning up to mistakes.

-When a poop emoji goes wrong and being able to laugh.

-Managing exponential growth.

-The types of applicants 6AM City is looking for.

And more!!!

Find out more about 6AM City: 6amcity.com

Apply to work for 6AM City: 6amcity.com/jobs

Follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/6am-city/

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/6amcity

About The Podcast:

You Can't Laugh At That is a podcast launched by comedians David Horning and Steve Mers to prove that anything can be funny in a world that often takes itself too seriously. David and Steve are obsessed with the art and science of comedy and why we laugh, so this podcast was started to prove that when approached with the right intent, perspective, and delivery, you CAN laugh at that.

You Can't Laugh At Work was started as part of David's mission to prove that having a sense of humor is not only nice to have, it's crucial, so he invites leaders of top workplaces to share their stories of disruption, failure, and thinking outside the box to prove that with the right culture, you CAN laugh at work.

Support the podcast and our guests by visiting watercoolercomedy.org/podcast and purchasing an album, book, or your own podcasting equipment

Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod and become a Patron for exclusive access to bonus content.

Follow us on social media for updates, clips, and comedy tips:

twitter.com/youcantlaughpod

facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavidhorning

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedavidhorning

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercoolerdavid

Produced by Water Cooler Comedy - http://watercoolercomedy.org​

Music by Producedbyzip - https://producedbyzip.bandcamp.com

NYC Comedian Brian Parise (JFL, Last Week Tonight, Patriot Act) proves you CAN laugh at immigrants by layering his bit with jokes about his Italian immigrant father, parodying absurd perceptions of immigrants, and discovering the true meaning behind a classic American folk song.

We also talk about:

-Moving to New York with 6 years of comedy experience and a JFL credit.

-Brian’s decision to release his album on Election Day 2020.

-Brian’s bit about his Italian dad.

-Doing the bit in liberal and conservative rooms.

-When a joke distracts from a bit.

-Dads sleeping during movies.

-Getting touchy about Italian pride.

-Gheramy’s theory as to why Italian immigrants are more widely accepted than Mexican immigrants.

-Humanizing instead of painting immigrants with broad strokes.

-Brian’s bit about the meaning behind a classic American folk song.

-When an audience member falls asleep and has night terrors during your album recording.

-Finding the balance of framing a bit around making a point and hitting punchlines.

-Being honest vs. telling the truth onstage.

-Forcing jokes just to be edgy.

And more!

Learn more about Brian at brianparise.com

Follow Brian on Instagram & Twitter: @parisecomedy

Get Brian's album: https://amzn.to/3A6UCkH

Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage, including 10 extra minutes from this episode at patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorning

Follow Gheramy on Twitter: @demerygheramy

Follow Gheramy on Instagram: @gheramy_demery

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Produced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.com

Music: Producedbyzip

After David got COVID a second time and wasn’t in the mood to laugh, he, Steve, and Gheramy ask and attempt to answer the question “How can we get through to those with fixed beliefs on ‘the other side’ when it comes to vaccinations and masks?” and discover that a sense of humor, or thinking like a comedian, may be vital in building that connection.

David even finds a joke, albeit simple, in his current situation by the end of the episode.

We discuss:

-The irony interwoven in anti-vaccine/anti-mask arguments.

-Lack of nuance in COVID discussions.

-Empathy as an evolutionary technique, and how lack of empathy has led to many of today’s conflict.

-The powerful reframing act of questioning beliefs.

-Why conservatives and liberals think differently.

-The limited worldview of the theocratic mindset.

-Making the shift from making judgments to asking questions.

-Using the scientific method as the joke writing process.

-Mind hacks that can trick our brains into performing better.

-The fallacy of coming to a solution.

-And more!

Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage at patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorning

Follow Steve on Twitter: @merscomedy

Follow Steve on Instagram: @stevemers

Follow Gheramy on Twitter: @DemeryGheramy

Follow Gheramy on Instagram: @gheramy_demery

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Produced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.com

Music: Producedbyzip

When it comes to white people, Chicago comic Sohrab Forouzesh doesn't want to have to keep making jokes, but when there seems to be an eternal fountain of content coming from the same group of people, it's hard to resist.

Joking about white people has been a recently touchy topic, whether it's being offended by the comedian's perspective, it feels unfair, or it's perceived as hack, there is definitely a wrong way to approach the topic.

Sohrab proves that there are so many right ways you CAN laugh at that.

In this episode, we talk about:

-Moving to the US from Iran as a kid.

-The endless fountain of funny that is white people behavior.

-When white people make jokes about other cultures without doing any research.

-How tonality and intent can turn an edgy joke into something more palatable for audiences.

-Sohrab’s bit about white people recorded at The Laugh Factory in Chicago.

-Discovering new jokes through riffing at shows, vs. at open mics.

-White people’s obsession with their dogs.

-The meaninglessness of pride in genealogy.

-Storytelling.

-A trick to disarm a white audience before telling white people jokes.

-A secret for winning a crowd over when a consistently killer joke doesn’t work.

-LaCroix, lacrosse, and LaCoste

-Comics challenging Sohrab’s white people jokes.

-Fake crowd work.

-Doing new jokes vs. getting bored with old material.

-Sohrab’s 2 thematic rules in stand-up.

-Working silliness into a bit about race as a disarming technique.

-The importance of doing research to improve your stand-up.

-When people approach you about not liking your jokes.

And more!

Learn more about Sohrab at sohrabisbrown.com

Follow Sohrab on Instagram & Twitter: @sohrabisbrown

Subscribe to Sohrab's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKD86zu2lgWrGtXZH0v9EnQ

Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage at patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorning

Follow Steve on Twitter: @merscomedy

Follow Steve on Instagram: @stevemers

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Produced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.com

Music: Producedbyzip

When you name your company "Fully Accountable," you've given yourself some big expectations to fill, from both clients and employees.

Enter Vinnie Fisher, CEO of Fully Accountable, a fast growing outsourced accounting and finance firm based out of Fairlawn, Ohio, who lives up to the name he's given his company. From owning mistakes and failures, (including the closing of an 8-figure company), to upholding company values, to making sure any wisecracks are delivered at the right time with the right intent, Vinnie's leadership has made Fully Accountable a top-rated workplace, including being recognized in the Inc. 5000.

Looking at their continued success and rapid growth, if there were ever doubt that it's okay to laugh at yourself as a CEO, Fully Accountable is proof that you CAN laugh at work.

Find out more about Fully Accountable: fullyaccountable.com

Follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fully-accountable/

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FullyAccount

Follow Vinnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinniefisher/

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VinnieFisher

Get Vinnie's book, "The CEO's Mindset: How To Break Through To The Next Level:" https://amzn.to/3gqLzTQ

About The Podcast:

You Can't Laugh At That is a podcast launched by comedians David Horning and Steve Mers to prove that anything can be funny in a world that often takes itself too seriously. David and Steve are obsessed with the art and science of comedy and why we laugh, so this podcast was started to prove that when approached with the right intent, perspective, and delivery, you CAN laugh at that.

Support the podcast and our guests by visiting watercoolercomedy.org/podcast and purchasing an album, book, or your own podcasting equipment

Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod and become a Patron for exclusive access to bonus content.

Follow us on social media for updates, clips, and comedy tips:

twitter.com/youcantlaughpod

facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavidhorning

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedavidhorning

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercoolerdavid

Produced by Water Cooler Comedy - http://watercoolercomedy.org​

Music by Producedbyzip - https://producedbyzip.bandcamp.com

Our first live recording is in the books, and we featured 3 hilarious comics from DC, Minneapolis, and Detroit respectively.

On this episode, Franqi French joins to prove you CAN laugh at white women (mostly the Jens), Alex Avery proves you CAN laugh at one-liners (and self-discovery), and Connor Meade proves you CAN laugh at being bi-curious (and the fears that arise from self-discovery).

We also talk about:

-Franqi French’s start in comedy.

-The art of NOT writing and remembering.

-Franqi’s psycho white friend Jennifer Beaver.

-White girl wasted vs. black girl up for work

-Creating a mental picture for the audience in just one sentence.

-Franqi’s worst bomb.

-Opening with 30 minutes of new material.

-Franqi’s parents meeting Jeffrey Dahmer’s parents on a plane.

-Alex Avery starting as a one-liner comedian.

-Jim Gaffigan being a one-liner comic.

-Growing into the acceptance of being dumb.

-Falling into the trap of impersonating well-known comics.

-Balancing building connection with the audience or getting to the funny part more quickly.

-Connor Meade’s bit on being bi-curious.

-Overcoming fears through the use of humor.

And MORE!!!

Learn more about Franqi at franqifrench.com

Follow Franqi on IG & Twitter: @FranqiFrench

Follow Alex on IG & Twitter: @AlexSavoryJokes

Follow Connor on IG & Twitter: @connormeadian

Check Out Connor's podcast, Each Other's Mothers: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80YjBkMzJlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwj4jsbunLfyAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAg&hl=en

Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage at patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Brought to you by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.com

Produced by Golden Ox Studio | Music: Producedbyzip

A 4-day workweek.

Embracing patience while still being a disruptor.

Being openly manipulative to build a great workplace culture.

Upon first look, these things feel like they'd be detrimental to a growing company, but at web-based marketing software company Feathr, they're a key cog in the growth.

CEO Aleks Levental joins David to discuss Feathr's mindset and culture, as well as his approach to leadership that isn't all too different from the way a great comedian approaches their audience with an edgy topic: meeting them where they are, making sure the messaging connects without ruffling feathers too much, and being openly self-deprecating.

Looking at Feathr's success and growth is proof that you CAN laugh at work.

Find out more about Feathr: feathr.co

Follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/feathr/

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Feathr

Follow Aleks on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alevental/

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alevental

About The Podcast:

You Can't Laugh At That is a podcast launched by comedians David Horning and Steve Mers to prove that anything can be funny in a world that often takes itself too seriously. David and Steve are obsessed with the art and science of comedy and why we laugh, so this podcast was started to prove that when approached with the right intent, perspective, and delivery, you CAN laugh at that.

Support the podcast and our guests by visiting watercoolercomedy.org/podcast and purchasing an album, book, or your own podcasting equipment

Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod and become a Patron for exclusive access to bonus content.

Follow us on social media for updates, clips, and comedy tips:

twitter.com/youcantlaughpod

facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on IG and Twitter: @THEdavidhorning

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercoolerdavid

Produced by Water Cooler Comedy - http://watercoolercomedy.org​

Music by Producedbyzip - https://producedbyzip.bandcamp.com

Do you run consistently late?

Do you hate when other people run consistently late?

It's stressful, it's annoying, it's rude, but could it also be... funny?

Comedian Sam Evans has a bit on his album, Sweet Baby Boy, that proves when you're running late, you can laugh at that.

In this episode, which IS getting released on time, we talk about:

-Hustle culture.

-Existential angst that comes from being late.

-Being late for work.

-Excuses to justify lateness.

-Having a favorite part of a joke when you can FEEL the audience connect with it.

-The pain points of being late: embarrassment, letting people down, self-identity, ego

-Using an old stand-up clip for being late.

-The time David was 5 hours late for work.

-Steve’s job where he CAN’T be late.

-The motive behind self-identifying as a piece of shit.

-Leaning into the freedom of being late for work.

-The 4-day work week.

-A world where being late for work for positive reasons.

-Simone Biles and calling off for mental health.

-If Jess Bezos is self-aware enough to know that the world hates him.

-What Sam would do if he's ever met with an audience offended by his bit about being late.

-And more!!!

Learn more about Sam at reallysamevans.com

Buy Sam's album, Sweet Baby Boy: https://amzn.to/3ykMs7l

Follow Sam on social media:

Instagram & Twitter: @reallysamevans

Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage at patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Produced by Golden Ox Studio | Music: Producedbyzip