You Can't Laugh At That

In the beginning, David Horning and Steve Mers created a podcast to prove that anything can be funny. Then they said "Let there be laughs," and there were laughs, and they saw that it was good.

56 episodes later, former religion major and comedian Geoffrey Asmus (JFL, "Laughs," LOL Network) joins the podcast to share his revelation that you CAN laugh at that sacred text over 2 billion people around the world have attached themselves to: The Bible.

From the obscure characters, to the absurd rules, and the belief systems based off of the human interpretations of this sacred text, laughing at a book that set the course of history for nearly 2 centuries may seem sacrilegious in itself. At one point, people would be executed for simply questioning the dogma of it. In reality, challenging the fixed beliefs that come with the book by pointing out the absurdities within it and creating new perspective has moved society forward by leaps and bounds, so in this episode, we talk about:

-Getting away with more onstage by visibly having fun.

-Getting a religion degree.

-The Qur’an.

-Going to a Catholic school.

-Geoffrey’s start in stand-up.

-The laziness of comics pontificating against religion onstage.

-Geoffrey’s bit breaking down if Jesus were white.

-The origin of Christianity.

-Red flags when a religion claims to be the only one with THE right answers.

-Geoffrey’s bit about Shamgar, a Bible character who deserves his own book.

-Why people get offended when comics joke about The Bible.

-A trick for connecting an obscure bit with the audience.

-Bible absurdities and obscure rules.

-And more!

Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod for exclusive access to bonus footage.

Visit whitecomedian.com to learn more about Geoffrey.

Follow Geoffrey on Social Media

Twitter: @geoffreyatm

Instagram @geoffreyatm

You can also get Geoffrey's album, The Prodigal Little Bitch, here: https://amzn.to/3giMZjN

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

Podchaser link: OTLws079LXAgaosxcn9w

"You can't say anything anymore!" is a lament repeated by many a seasoned stand-up comedian in a cancel culture-obsessed world, but are they right?

On this episode of the podcast, joke-writing savant and eccentrically hilarious Martin Urbano (Kimmel, Comedy Central, Vulture's Comics To Watch) breaks down how to make the audience "feel something interesting" with his unique delivery of edgy one-liners that weave in and out of edgy topics like pedophilia, Hitler, and murder.

In this episode, we talk about:

-Steve and Martin’s comedic influences.

-Martin’s set from Kimmel.

-Listening to the audience so you can tell what’s too far.

-Following a joke-writing format.

-Martin’s set from Comedy Central.

-Twisting hack premises to turn them into good jokes.

-The importance of educating yourself to be a better comedian.

-Tension and release.

-Why people laugh at edgy jokes.

-The definition of comedy.

And more!!!

Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod for exclusive access to bonus footage.

Visit martinurbanocomedy.com to learn more about Martin.

Follow Martin on Social Media

Twitter: @MartinUrbano

Instagram @MartinUrbanoJr

Check out "Who Wants $2.69?": https://www.planetscum.live/269

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

Being an effective leader and being a great comedian, believe it or not, take many of the same skills, and that's why David Horning is setting out to prove that you CAN laugh at work, one leader at a time.

Trent Kocurek is the co-founder and CEO of Airship, a growing Birmingham, Alabama-based app developer that consistently appears on top workplace lists. Though not funny in and of itself, their passion for their people is evident in their creative culture, where they stress the importance of asking questions, connecting in new ways, and laughing at their mistakes as a team. How does Trent support this culture as its leader?

By using some of the same skills as a stand-up comic.

Sure, Trent is no comedian, but his willingness to openly share his mistakes, focus on what he can control, and consider fresh perspectives of problems are part of both a comedic and leadership skillset that is vital to creativity, connection, and collaboration.

In this episode we talk about:

-When to look at the big picture vs. when to tinker and focus on the details.

-Connecting employees with their purpose, even remotely.

-The 3 words Trent would use to describe his mantra over the past year.

-Connecting with the human side of his employees.

-Being "selectively detailed."

-Airship's creative process with clients and the power of asking questions.

-Being comfortable laughing at your own mistakes.

-The innovative way L&D is build into Airship's time.

Follow Trent on social media

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/trentkocurek

Find out more about Airship: teamairship.com

Follow Airship on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamairship

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teamairship

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airship-llc/

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.

https://you-cant-laugh-at-that.captiv...​

patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

twitter.com/youcantlaughpod

facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Follow David on IG and Twitter: @THEdavidhorning

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercool...​

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

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

Getting rejected is never easy, and there are any number of ways to deal with it, but referring to it as "getting friend zoned" might be one of the most toxic, self-victimizing ways of doing it.

Comedian Brendan Sagalow (Sirius XM, MTV, New York's Funniest finalist) joins the podcast to break down his bit on getting "friend zoned" as we poke holes in this stupid defense mechanism to prove that you can DEFINITELY laugh at that.

In this episode, we talk about:

-Learning to deal with rejection.

-Brendan's bit on the ways women "friend zone" guys.

-Side hugs.

-Recording his album outside.

-Our personal rejection stories.

-How badly insecure men handle rejection.

-Forcing friendships with exes.

-Getting "friend zoned" AFTER getting laid.

-Sexual tension power dynamics.

-The toxicity of dating apps.

-Future projecting rejection.

-Taking being funny too far when trying to impress women.

-The standards of joking about exes.

-Comedian Alex Falcone's bit on getting "friend zoned."

-The unfortunate transactional perspective some people have toward relationships.

And more!

Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod for exclusive access to bonus footage.

Visit brendansagalow.com to learn more about Brendan.

Follow on Twitter & Instagram @Brendansagalow

Get Brendan's album, "Not Now More Than Ever:" https://amzn.to/3cLDnvU

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

Corporate comedy can get a bad rap in the club circuit, but just like not all jokes are for all people, not all comedy gigs are for all comedians.

Keynote speaker, corporate comedian, author, and podcaster John Garrett joins the podcast to dispel misconceptions about all things corporate, and proves that you CAN laugh at that.

In this episode, we talk about:

-John’s start in comedy.

-Stories from the road.

-Dealing with hecklers.

-Incorporating your passion into your material to connect with your audience.

-Transitioning to corporate gigs.

-Comparing a corporate show with a Friday late show.

-Working out new material as a speaker or corporate comedian.

-Telling the difference between joke helpers vs. hecklers.

-Bombing at corporate gigs.

-The business side of being a corporate entertainer.

-Tips for making the most out of your experience working a corporate gig.

-Making yourself marketable by writing clean.

-The stigma of clean and corporate comics by some comedians.

-Writing truthfully.

-David’s initial failures doing characters as a corporate speaker.

-Making the transition from stand-up to corporate comedy to becoming a speaker.

-The importance of having friends outside of comedy.

-Translating the finding of your voice as a comic to finding your message as a speaker.

-Learning through stand-up how to deliver a challenging message as a speaker.

-Paralleling comedy with winemaking.

And more!

John Garrett is a nationally recognized speaker and emcee who draws on his condition as a recovering Big Four CPA to deliver messages that hit home with corporate audiences. This professional member of the National Speakers Association is on a mission to shatter the definition of “stereotypical professional” and in the meantime, show organizations how to create a stronger culture that increases engagement and reduces turnover.

John has performed for leading companies ranging from “Big Four” accounting firms to banks and technology companies to professional associations seeking an outside-of-the-box way to engage their audiences.​

Learn more about John: thejohngarrett.com

Follow on Twitter @The_johngarrett

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohngarrett/

Get John's book, "What's Your And?" https://amzn.to/3ctrkDe

Listen to John's podcast: https://thejohngarrett.com/podcast/

45 minutes of additional bonus footage with John available if you become a Patron. Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod for exclusive access.

Improve your audio and lighting for Zoom calls and for YOUR podcast and support our guests:

https://watercoolercomedy.org/podcast

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

Being an effective leader and being a great comedian, believe it or not, take many of the same skills, and that's why David Horning is setting out to prove that you CAN laugh at work, one leader at a time.

Reid Carr is the founder and CEO of Red Door Interactive, a marketing agency in San Diego and Denver known for its 100% jerk-free culture. Though not funny in and of itself, this cultural cornerstone lays out an expectation of openness, creativity, and trust where employees are free to be themselves and apply what they're best at to their work, without fear of judgment. How does Reid support this culture as its leader?

By using some of the same skills as a stand-up comic.

Sure, Reid is no comedian, but this skillset that is vital to top-notch writing and performing becomes even more crucial when it's used as a leadership tool.

In this episode we talk about:

-The definition of meaning.

-Identifying when an employee isn't connecting meaningfully to his or her work.

-Humanity in the workplace and building trust and connection to retain and inspire employees.

-Adapting creativity for commercial purposes.

-When "Yes, and..." goes too far and how to constructively get creative conversations back on the rails.

-Transparency during crisis.

Follow Reid on social media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rdicowboy

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/icowboy

Check out Reid's TED Talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsuCaYvJeMA

Find out more about Red Door Interactive: reddoor.biz

Follow RDI on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reddoorinteractive/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/reddoor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reddoorinteractive/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/red-door-interactive/

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.

https://you-cant-laugh-at-that.captivate.fm

patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

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

Racial and religious stereotypes are low-hanging fruit when it comes to comedy, but it doesn't take 8 days to realize there's a better way to address cultural differences in a joke, even if it's your own culture. All it takes is one listen to NYC comedian Raanan Hershberg's perspective on how to make sure your Jewish jokes are funny, relatable, and authentic.

Though the episode is centered around proving you can laugh at Jewish jokes, we tackle so many other topics that can be applied to that theme. We also discuss:

-Metaphors that lower the stakes.

-Raanan's “offensive to Jews” joke.

-Roald Dahl’s anti-Semitism.

-Interpretations of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

-The unintentional harm of trigger warnings.

-Intent of a joke or bit.

-Religion serving as a connection to the immortal to make us feel safe or powerful, and the ironic consequences of it.

-The comedy advice that has stuck with Raanan his whole career.

-How specifics can be more relatable than generalizations.

-The fear of being a hack comedian.

-Raanan’s bit on his experience being Jewish.

-Personifying punchlines to connect something unrelatable with certain audiences.

-The fun of using callbacks.

-Switching from screenwriting to stand-up.

-And more!

Raanan has been featured on The Late Late Show With James Corden, comedy festivals across the country, and his album "Downhill Ever Since" is available wherever you get your albums.

Improve your audio and lighting for Zoom calls and for YOUR podcast and support our guests by purchasing their albums:

https://watercoolercomedy.org/podcast

25 minutes of additional bonus footage with Raanan available if you become a Patron. Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod for exclusive access.

Visit raananhershberg.com to learn more about Raanan.

Follow on Twitter & Instagram @Raanancomedy

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

Times are tough.

Millions of people are out of work, the income gap continues to widen, and a worldwide pandemic rages on, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel: comedy is starting to make a comeback, and with it... getting paid with drink tickets and well wishes.

Comedian Carmen Lagala (The Late Show) joins David and Steve to find the funny in the very real experience of being broke, including perceptions of money hoarders, some of the crafty ways we get by, wasting money, and so much more. Turns out, being broke as a joke isn't as bad when being broke IS a joke since being able to laugh is a step toward doing something about it.

In this episode, we also talk about:

-Starting comedy in Vermont.

-Carmen’s process for getting to the punchline.

-Preparing for her set on The Late Show.

-Dynamics of performing in different sized rooms with different sized audiences.

-If money buys happiness.

-Having panic attacks and overcoming nerves onstage.

-Carmen’s bit about eating at an expensive restaurant.

-Meal hacks if you're broke.

-The difference between poor and broke.

-Dave Chappelle’s bit about poverty mindset.

-Spending money like you have it.

-Sharing tags with fellow comics.

-And more!

Improve your audio, get the Samson Q2U mic:

https://amzn.to/3vqNqO8

Additional bonus footage available if you become a Patron. Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod for exclusive access.

Produced by Golden Ox Studio | Music: Producedbyzip

Visit carmenlagala.com to learn more about Carmen.

Follow on Twitter @carmenlagala

Follow on Instagram @carmstagrams

Become a Patron for exclusive access to bonus footage: patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org

Both stand-up comedy and leadership involve embracing change and connecting with an audience. In this case, the change is COVID-19 and the remote working that comes with it, and the audience is the team at Paycor.

Karen Crone is the CHRO of the 2,000 person HR tech company, and is one leader who is passionate about building stronger connections between all 2,000 people there. From recognition and appreciation, to open communication, to her own outside-of-the-box ideas, Paycor is widely regarded as a great place to work, and much of that has to do with Karen's mantra of living in the future in order to build emotional intelligence for when sudden change and conflict arise.

Though Karen may not be a comedian, this skillset is vital when it comes to writing and performing, but it's even more crucial as a leadership tool.

In this bonus episode, we chat about:

-The analogy of leadership being like performing stand-up comedy.

-Paycor's concept of “Living in the future” to adapt more quickly to change.

-Creating the connective cultural energy of working in the same building while people are working from home.

-The value of bonding over the human condition as part of work.

-Karen’s outside of the box idea to guide her 2,000 people into making connections with one another across hierarchies.

-Recognition and gratitude at Paycor.

-Pushing to keep things moving.

-Making change palatable by reaching out to the people on the front lines.

-And more!

Follow Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlcrone/

Follow Karen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/klcrone

Check out Karen's articles on Forbes:

https://profiles.forbes.com/members/hr/profile/Karen-Crone-CHRO-Paycor-Inc/e1be3e86-2128-4e3d-8652-91498adffba0

Find out more about Paycor: paycor.com

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.

Follow David on IG and Twitter: @THEdavidhorning

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-horning-7b636176/

patreon.com/youcantlaughpod

twitter.com/youcantlaughpod

facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

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

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

Now that we have 50 episodes in the bag (not counting the bonus episodes), producer Gheramy Demery joins David and Steve for a look back at what we've learned. We've had 49 hilarious and insightful guests who have helped us fine tune our writing and improve as comedians, so we discuss some of the more poignant pointers, perspectives, and pieces of advice over the past year.

Whether you're a comedian learning to step up your game, you're interested in what's behind the curtain when it comes to stand-up comedy, or you're interested in learning how to find the humor in a specific topic, there's 50 episodes that prove you CAN laugh at that.

In this episode, we talk about:

-Why Steve even agreed to do the podcast.

-Cursing.

-Tips for starting a podcast.

-Pivoting to virtual.

-The topics we haven’t covered yet.

-The things we’ve learned.

-Body language and confidence.

-Why the Cleveland comedy scene should explode after the pandemic.

-Trans jokes.

-Jokes about the power of words.

-The most important relationship a comedian can have.

-Joking about politics without being political.

-Using humor to cope with addictions.

-Tips for overcoming writer’s block.

-Looking back on 50 episodes.

And more!!!

Additional bonus footage available if you become a Patron. Visit patreon.com/youcantlaughpod for exclusive access.

Produced by Golden Ox Studio | Music: Producedbyzip

Follow us on Twitter @Youcantlaughpod

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthat

Brought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.org