Feb 19, 2026: Laughter is the Best Medicine..... [BY ZOOM]

Meetup is by Zoom in Dec-Jan-Feb and in person the rest of the year

# We gather at 8:00pm by Zoom for 90 min of informal, facilitated discussion based on the 4 assigned podcasts listed below

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Readers Digest use to have a joke section called Laughter is the Best Medicine. But is it true?

1. How important is laughter/humor in your daily life/ in your relationships?
2. How do you feel after having a good laugh? What benefits do you derive from laughing out loud?
3. Do you have less laughter, as much laughter, or more laughter in your daily life as you have gotten older?
4. Are there places where you can readily incorporate more humor and derive the benefits of humor compared to what you are doing now and is that a change that you think might be important to make?

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[1]
TED Health
The Science of Laughter (7 min)
Isn’t it odd that, when something’s funny, you might show your teeth, change your breathing, become weak and achy in some places, and maybe even cry? In other words, why do we do this bizarre thing that is laughter? Since there’s no archaeological record of laughter, it’s impossible to say exactly how and why it evolved, but scientists have some theories. Sasha Winkler digs into the reflex
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-science-of-laughter-sasha-winkler/id470623173?i=1000654324162

[2]
Ideacast
The kind of humor that helps leaders build trust(30 min)
Leading an organization is a serious job, but Adam Christing argues that humor is a shortcut to building trust at an organization - and without it, you might be missing out on an important leadership tool. Christing is a comedian, speaker and author and he walks through five main kinds of humor that are most effective at work. It's not about knock-knock jokes, he says, but finding a style that's authentic to you. Christing is author of the book The Laughter Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift, and Lead
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hbr-ideacast/id152022135?i=1000723592576

[3] TED
The health benefits of clowning around (7.5 min)
As a medical clown, TED Resident Matthew A. Wilson takes the old adage that laughter is the best medicine very seriously. In this heartwarming talk, he shares glimpses of how clowning around can help patients (and medical staff) navigate stressful situations -- with no side effects.
https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_a_wilson_the_health_benefits_of_clowning_around

[4]
10 Seconds to Air
Why Laughter Is Good For You and How to Get More of It (55 min)
There’s nothing like getting together with some friends and having a good belly laugh.
Or watching a show and just laughing out loud.
Laughing is more than a physical response to something funny, laughter is an antidote for anxiety, stress, and other health issues. Studies show that people who have a sense of humor actually live longer!
Laughter is also a way for us to communicate with each other. It breaks social barriers and builds connections with others even when we don’t speak the same language or have the same views.
How do you know if you’re laughing enough, and what about laughing more? Is there such a thing as a laughing practice?
Today’s guest is Ros Ben-Moshair. She has spent over 2 decades researching, writing, and teaching about the benefits of laughter. She is the author of The Laughter Effect.She is an adjunct lecturer in the School of Public Health and Psychology at La Trobe University in Australia, where she teaches Positive Psychology and the world’s first Laughter, Resilience and Wellbeing short course for professionals
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why-laughter-is-good-for-you-and-how-to-get-more-of/id1618359237?i=1000663924322

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Only sign up if you plan to show up (or risk being tarred and feathered in the town square).
If you can't make it-- please change your RSVP from YES to NO as early as possible so that others who might be waitlisted can still join