You Can't Laugh At That

If you were to make a mockumentary for your company, what would it look like?How would you poke fun at workplace norms, demotivating leaders, and most importantly, yourselves?Many leaders scoff at the idea of getting their teams together to create content rooted in irreverence, but PDQ.com did just that (3 times, actually) with tongue-in-cheek documentary-style videos on their website. Where most companies post self-inflating videos about how awesome it is to work there, PDQ.com takes the opposite route, while somehow proving that it's a place where you CAN laugh at work.Co-founder Shawn Anderson joins the podcast to talk about these videos, the value of irreverence in leadership, creating content for HUMANS, and his "Grandpa Story" that asks the question "Do you cartwheel into work AND backflip out?"Check out the mockumentary videos below:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezZg3ZC_-5g&t=316shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7HKpgT42Ewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl63Vz9Lo3ULearn more about PDQ.com at... well... pdq.comAbout 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 equipmentVisit 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/youcantlaughpodfacebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavidhorningInstagram: https://instagram.com/thedavidhorningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercoolerdavidProduced by Water Cooler Comedy - http://watercoolercomedy.org​Music by Producedbyzip - https://producedbyzip.bandcamp.com

Even if you're the CEO of a software company that saves lives, a little bit of humor goes a long way as a leader.Inspired by a freak incident involving his daughter, a cancer scare, and Sour Patch Kids, Rod Reasen founded Springbuk, a company that helps other companies prevent disease with data. Through radical people-first acts like honesty (gasp!), recognition (shock!), and natural curiosity (wha-??), Indianapolis-based Springbuk has built a culture of innovation that incorporates the elements of humor in unexpected ways.There's a reason they're consistently on top workplace lists, and it's because they've proven time and again that you CAN laugh at work.Find out more about Springbuk: https://springbuk.comFollow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/springbuk/Follow Rod on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodreasen/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 equipmentVisit 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/youcantlaughpodfacebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavidhorningInstagram: https://instagram.com/thedavidhorningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercoolerdavidProduced by Water Cooler Comedy - http://watercoolercomedy.org​Music by Producedbyzip - https://producedbyzip.bandcamp.com

Welcome to Callbacks, a special episode of You Can't Laugh At That where six previous guests return to the show to prove each others' topics are funny. Each guest was given 24 hours to write a brand new joke about a topic from another episode, proving that there is more than one way to find the humor in any given situation, no matter how dark it may seem.Recorded live at the 14th annual Cleveland Comedy Festival. In this episode:-Tim Cornett takes on curse words (From Episode 2 with Dave Flynt)-Dave Flynt sets his sights on suicide (From Episode 10 with Joe Graham)-Ryley Nezballa approaches assassinations (From Episode 26 with Tim Cornett)-Joe Graham wrangles relationships (From Episode 4 with John Armstrong)-Brett Thomas comes for Catholic priests (From Episode 12 with Ryley Nezballa)-John Armstrong deals with death (From Episode 7 with Brett Thomas)Listen to Episode 2, Curse Words, with Dave Flynt: https://bit.ly/2ZWEOUCFollow Dave on IG: https://instagram.com/daveflyntListen to Episode 4, Relationships with John Armstrong: https://bit.ly/3pxIrsKFollow John on IG: https://instagram.com/johnarmstrongcomedyListen to episode 7, Death, with Brett Thomas: https://bit.ly/3IhbA4hFollow Brett on IG: https://instagram.com/brettthomas1896Listen to Episode 10, Suicide, with Joe Graham: https://bit.ly/3DoL8BXFollow Joe on IG: https://instagram.com/joesdumbjokesListen to Episode 12, Catholic Priests, with Ryley Nezballa: https://bit.ly/3IkVQgDFollow Ryley on IG: https://instagram.com/ryleyjohnphilipFollow Ryley on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RJP_comedyListen to Episode 26, Assassinations, with Tim Cornett: https://bit.ly/3lBUwvYFollow Tim on IG: https://instagram.com/timcornettusaFollow Tim on Twitter: https://twitter.com/timcornettusaSupport our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage from most of our episodes at https://patreon.com/youcantlaughpodFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/YoucantlaughpodLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on IG: https://instagram.com/thedavidhorningFollow David on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@horningallthetime?Follow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavidhorningFollow Steve on Twitter: https://twitter.com/merscomedyFollow Steve on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevemersBrought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - https://watercoolercomedy.orgProduced by Golden Ox Studio - https://goldenoxstudio.comMusic: Producedbyzip

Whether you're on the red team, the blue team, both teams, or you hate the fact that there are teams in the first place, you've got an opinion on politics. And typically, to each person, that opinion is gospel. Yet, a vital role of comedy in society is to challenge the authority of gospel -- especially the people who perpetuate an us-vs.-them status quo: politicians.Comedian Andrew Rudick joins us to prove that, even if it's one with whom you agree, you CAN laugh at politicians.In this episode, we discuss:-Andrew’s bit about politicians on his album, “A Well-Behaved Young Man.”-Why Andrew approached the topic in the first place.-Level-setting with the audience before approaching political material.-Turning fear of politicians into funny.-Being hard to joke about politics if you have rigid beliefs.-Getting in your own head and overthinking onstage.-Reading a room without catering your material to the audience.-The incongruity of dealing with comedy being both art and entertainment.And more!Learn more about Andrew at https://andrewrudick.comFollow Andrew on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewjrudick/Follow Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewRudickGet Andrew's album: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B09FS1KT2D?Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage from most of our episodes at patreon.com/youcantlaughpodFollow us on Twitter @YoucantlaughpodLike us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorningFollow David on TikTok: @horningallthetimeFollow Steve on Twitter: @merscomedyFollow Steve on Instagram: @stevemersBrought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.orgProduced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.comMusic: Producedbyzip

They unite and divide, distracting from what’s important while being equally important. Sports are integral to the fabric of our society, but there are some fans who take it too far. Comedian Jessica Keenan (HBO, Netflix) joins us to discuss the humor that's built into sports fandom, her perspective of how passionate her husband is about sports, and how sports can impact our relationships, all while proving that you CAN laugh at sports fans.In this episode, we talk about:-Dating men that happen to be really into sports.-Writing about the things that annoy you.-Starting a bit by introducing conflict to create tension with the audience.-Jessica’s writing process.-Thinking about sports as a religion.-Fantasy football.-Taking the risk of letting the audience deliver a punchline for you.-Growing up with sports.-Holiday traditions centered around the guys watching football.-Leaving people out of conversations by talking sports.-Superfans.-Getting violent over sports.And More!!!Learn more about Jessica at jkeenancomedy.comFollow Jessica on Instagram & Twitter: @jkeenancomedySupport our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage from most of our episodes at patreon.com/youcantlaughpodFollow us on Twitter @YoucantlaughpodLike us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorningFollow David on TikTok: @horningallthetimeFollow Steve on Twitter: @merscomedyFollow Steve on Instagram: @stevemersBrought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.orgProduced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.comMusic: Producedbyzip

Infotech is the rare 40+ year-old tech startup that is not only still open for business, but they're still growing.What is it that makes this company's culture so special? Tara Blythe (VP Of Talent, Strategy, And Communications) and Darcy Herlihy (Communications Specialist) share how InfoTech is a family (no eye-roll), how they've been able to create a safe space for human conversations, and how they've broken down barriers across all levels of the company.On this episode, Tara, Darcy, and I talk about the qualities that great leaders and great comedians share, proving that you CAN laugh at work.We chat about:-Having a message about WHO Infotech is and being proud to be a great workplace.-Figuratively building bridges while literally building bridges.-Boiling down what they do to keeping the promises they’ve made to their people.-How Infotech is actually a family, rather than that being a platitude.-Creating space to have human, personal conversations, and the barriers they’ve overcome by approaching it from a place of vulnerability.-Having open dialogue at company-wide town halls.-How Tara would approach a new CEO resistant to the people-first culture Infotech has built.-What challenges are ahead for Infotech.-Hackathon and the last time the team laughed together.-The unique, human way Infotech breaks down silos.And more!Find out more about Infotech: infotechinc.comFollow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/infotech-inc/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 equipmentVisit 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/youcantlaughpodfacebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavidhorningInstagram: https://instagram.com/thedavidhorningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercoolerdavidProduced by Water Cooler Comedy - http://watercoolercomedy.org​Music by Producedbyzip - https://producedbyzip.bandcamp.com

As president of Indiana-based perennial top workplace BLASTmedia, Lindsey Groepper's emphasis on storytelling has set the tone for a culture filled with people who enjoy their work and the people they do it with.Storytelling in comedy is obvious, but it’s an often overlooked aspect of leadership.What stories are you telling yourself as a leader? What stories are you communicating with your team?ARE you communicating with your team?On the inverse: what stories are your employees telling themselves about their work? Your leadership?On this episode, Lindsey and I talk about the qualities that great leaders and great comedians share, proving that you CAN laugh at work.We chat about:-Using creativity through storytelling.-Teaching creativity by reducing employees’ fear and being genuinely curious.-The north star of creating a place of work where people enjoy the work they do and the people they do it with, and using transparency and trust to build that togetherness.-Balancing managing the business while keeping it people-over-profit.-Creativity as figuring out how to pivot and present ideas in new ways.-Overcoming creativity roadblocks.-Knowing when and when not to trust people for feedback.-When high performers are no longer a cultural fit.-Building a culture where people matter.-And more!Find out more about BLASTmedia: blastmedia.comFollow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blastmedia/And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BLASTmediaListen to Lindsey's podcast, SaaS Half Full: https://saashalffull.comAbout 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 equipmentVisit 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/youcantlaughpodfacebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavidhorningInstagram: https://instagram.com/thedavidhorningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercoolerdavidProduced by Water Cooler Comedy - http://watercoolercomedy.org​Music by Producedbyzip - https://producedbyzip.bandcamp.com

Cleveland comedian and resident Dave Chappelle expert John Armstrong fills in for Steve to break down Chappelle's 5th Netflix special "The Closer" to prove that you CAN laugh at that.Instead of asking the simple binary questions that everyone else is asking like "Is it offensive or not?" "Should Dave be 'cancelled?'" "Is it funny or not?" we address it from a nuanced angle of curiosity about Dave Chappelle the man, the joke writing, the topic of trans rights, the societal constructs that limit these kinds of conversations and more.Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage from most of our episodes at patreon.com/youcantlaughpodFollow us on Twitter @YoucantlaughpodLike us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorningFollow John Armstrong on Instagram: @johnarmstrongcomedyFollow Steve on Twitter: @merscomedyFollow Steve on IG: @stevemersFollow Gheramy on Twitter: @demerygheramyFollow Gheramy on Instagram: @gheramy_demeryBrought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.orgProduced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.comMusic: Producedbyzip

David wanted to take a moment while on the road and share why this podcast exists and to offer one bit of advice when it comes to taking risks or trying something new: do it - even if it isn't perfect.Before we start a new chapter in this podcast, browse through the 101 episodes we DO have, find a topic that connects with you on some level, give it a listen, and get to work finding the opportunities to laugh that surround you.Support our podcast and gain access to hours of bonus footage from most of our episodes at patreon.com/youcantlaughpodFollow us on Twitter @YoucantlaughpodLike us on Facebook: facebook.com/youcantlaughatthatFollow David on Twitter & Instagram: @thedavidhorningFollow Steve on Twitter: @merscomedyFollow Steve on IG: @stevemersFollow Gheramy on Twitter: @demerygheramyFollow Gheramy on Instagram: @gheramy_demeryBrought to you by Water Cooler Comedy - watercoolercomedy.orgProduced by Golden Ox Studio - goldenoxstudio.comMusic: Producedbyzip

A stand-up comedian will often take a pain, stress, or life tragedy, frame it as a setup, and eventually create a punchline that connects with their audience. Robert Herzog, the founder and CEO of ZogSports, isn't a comedian, but LIKE a comedian, he was able to take a massive tragedy, discover his why, and then transform that into a company that brings joy to countless organizations from tech companies to law firms.Though not a traditional punchline, Robert's discovery has led to many laughs in workplaces all over the country through team sports and team building.In this episode, we talk about Robert's surviving of 9/11 and how it inspired his life's work, how the pandemic has led to massive growth, and how having a clear grasp of your why can drive your success in the face of adversity, uncertainty, and even tragedy.We also discuss:-Redefining play in the realm of doing your job.-Ideas to facilitate connection at work through something as simple as a conversation prompt.-Using your core values as a starting point for creating positive energy for coworkers and clients.-Gauging an applicant's fit through a less formal interview process focused on connection, communication, and play.-The importance of knowing your why in turning bad luck into positive returns.And more!!!Find out more about ZogSports: zogsports.comFind out more about ZogCulture: zogculture.comFollow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zogculture/https://www.linkedin.com/company/zogsports/And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZogSportsFollow Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-herzog-994615/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 https://watercoolercomedy.org/podcast and purchasing an album, book, or your own podcasting equipmentVisit https://patreon.com/youcantlaughpod and become a Patron for exclusive access to bonus content.Follow us on social media for updates, clips, and comedy tips:https://twitter.com/youcantlaughpodhttps://facebook.com/youcantlaughatthatReframe Retention And Create A Killer Culture Webinar Sign-Up: https://watercoolercomedy.org/whatsakillerFollow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavidhorningInstagram: https://instagram.com/thedavidhorningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/watercoolerdavidProduced by Water Cooler Comedy - http://watercoolercomedy.org​Music by Producedbyzip - https://producedbyzip.bandcamp.com