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This episode is a review of a research paper by Angus James McLachlan of the Federation University, Australia. The basis of the research explored in today's episode was to examine how laughter is used by people as a marker in conversation to show that the meaning of the words aren’t meant to be serious in the context that they’re spoken (when accompanied by laughter) and also how the person doing the laughing is essentially trying to be friendly with the people they are chatting and laughing with ..read more

Why is it that we laugh at stuff that's not 'funny', like walking straight into a pole? What kind of person does it make us if we laugh at someone else walking into a pole, but it's not funny when we do it?  In this episode I explore how laughter is but one of a variety of tools that we use in our everyday lives to help us to cope with the unexpected - like watching our friends get chased by a grizzly bear.  This episode also deals with the definitions of 'negotiate' and discord' in terms of how we negotiate the discordant aspects of life with laughter. In the next episode I'll be ex ..read more

Since the last episode (It's been a while), I've done the research on the ways in which people use laughter to help them get through the trials and tribulations of life and I earned a PhD for my troubles.  I've also lived through a number of life changing challenges, including breaking my spine, and laughter has served me well.  Now it's time to put these lessons into the magical format of audio and get back on the podcasting saddle. This episode marks the relaunch of the podcast and outlines the themes of resilience and recovery that are going to guide the future episodes.  ..read more

My guest in podcast episode #15 is Merv Neal. Merv has a lengthy background in business, but a life threatening challenge to his health instigated a transformation in his approach to life. His goals switched from making money to improving the health of others and himself through the use of laughter. In this episode we explore Merv’s journey from Merv the businessman to Merv the Laughing Man and we learn about Merv’s involvement in medical and psychological research which involved laughter therapy. We also talk about the attitude to laughter in the business world and how Merv ove ..read more

Today I speak with Evan Jordan of Oklahoma State University in the U.S. about her research in to the contagiousness of positive emotions in infants, through the use of infant laughter as a stimulus.  If you would like to hear about how psychologists get babies to laugh and why it is that they want them to laugh, then you'll find this episode to be fascinating.  Enjoy, Glen.    ..read more

Professor Sophie Scott is the deputy director for the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in UCL (University College London). While the main focus of her research is the neurobiology of speech perception, her work also includes the study of the neuroscience of laughter. She also dabbles in stand-up comedy. Sophie believes that laughter is one of the most complex and nuanced things that we do. She feels that we should take laughter more seriously, both in terms of science, but also in terms of our experience, because very often, our laughter is telling us a lot more about how we feel ..read more

The main focus of my conversation with Prof. Billig was the topic of his book Laughter and Ridicule: Towards a Social Critique of Humour (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society) in which he explores the important role which ridicule and laughter play in shaping social behaviours. In his book, Michael takes a critical approach to the topics of laughter and humour and he questions the common assumptions which are made, in particular by popular and academic psychology.   ..read more

Steve Cummins is an author, a broadcaster, a stand-up comedian, as well as being the resident host in the Laughter Lounge, Dublin's premier comedy venue. In this podcast episode (which was recorded in my kitchen - hence the echo) myself and Steve chat about his relationship with laughter and comedy and Steve proves that he can hold a conversation without cursing...much ..read more

Susan Cross is a director of and a partner in a company called TellTale. TellTale is a company which helps the management and staff of cultural and heritage sites to create days out, which visitors to the sites will remember and want to return to.  Susan's consultancy, mentoring and advisory service in this area has resulted in her becoming one of the best known specialist in the field of enhanced visitor experience in the U.K. as well as in Ireland. Susan's extensive experience has resulted in her having a keen eye for the critical factors which make visits to heritage sites memorable an ..read more