Laughter is a physiological reaction that involves rhythmic vocal sounds, facial muscle contractions, and often even whole-body movements. It usually occurs in response to humor or social interactions, but it can also arise from surprise, joy, or even nervousness. While it seems like a simple reflex, laughter is surprisingly complex, engaging different parts of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, which governs decision-making and social behavior. Our Experts in this area of the site explore how crucial the role of laughter is in bringing us together.
One of the most fascinating aspects of laughter is its universality. No matter your culture, language, or background, laughter is understood and experienced by all humans. Even babies who are just a few months old laugh, proving that it’s not a learned behavior but a fundamental part of being human. Whether you’re in Tokyo or Toronto, laughter connects people in ways that words sometimes can’t. This shared human trait goes beyond just communication—laughter is a form of bonding, of bridging gaps between people who may have little else in common. It has a unique power to disarm, soothe, and bring joy, even in the darkest of times.
By asking, “Why won’t I get hearing aids?” there’s probably a little voice in your head whispering excuses, fears, or doubts. You’re not alone. Millions of people across the globe struggle with hearing loss — and just as many resist getting help. The irony? Hearing aids have never been m…
By asking, “Why won’t I get hearing aids?” there’s probably a little voice in your head whispering excuses, fears, or doubts. You’re not alone. Millions of people across the globe struggle w…
By asking, “Why won’t I get hearing aids?” there’s probably a little voice in your head whispering excuses, fears, or doubts. You’re not alone. Millions of people across the globe struggle with hearing loss — and just as many resist getting help. The irony? Hearing aids have never been more advanced, more discreet, or more beneficial. And yet, people wait 5 to 7 years on average before they do anything about it. The stakes are higher than you think. Untreated hearing loss isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s a serious quality of life issue. It can impact relationships, work, me…
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the roles you are carrying — mother, caretaker, entrepreneur, friend? This episode will give you permission to put yourself back on the list.
Janet Taylor, your Life Organizer, sits down with Karen Taylor Bass — dynamic keynote speaker, award-winning media s…
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the roles you are carrying — mother, caretaker, entrepreneur, friend? This episode will give you permission to put yourself back on the list.
Janet Taylor, your…
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the roles you are carrying — mother, caretaker, entrepreneur, friend? This episode will give you permission to put yourself back on the list.
Janet Taylor, your Life Organizer, sits down with Karen Taylor Bass — dynamic keynote speaker, award-winning media strategist, corporate wellness trainer, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, and morning radio host of Soulful Sunrise on WURD 900 AM. Karen's journey from
bitter to better is one of resilience, laughter, and the radical act of
choosing yourself.
In this conversation you will learn:
-Why women keep…
50+ and feeling invisible some days? Gracefully and Frankly is here for you. Once a week for 30 minutes, Queenagers, pals and big city radio survivors Erin Davis & Lisa Brandt talk about their lives and yours: from current hot button topics to mental wellness, and what our bodies are up to – a…
50+ and feeling invisible some days? Gracefully and Frankly is here for you. Once a week for 30 minutes, Queenagers, pals and big city radio survivors Erin Davis & Lisa Brandt talk about their liv…
50+ and feeling invisible some days? Gracefully and Frankly is here for you. Once a week for 30 minutes, Queenagers, pals and big city radio survivors Erin Davis & Lisa Brandt talk about their lives and yours: from current hot button topics to mental wellness, and what our bodies are up to – all with a big side of laughter. Plus, it's free, thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com.
Gracefully & Frankly is free, thanks to our wonderful sponsors: enVy Pillow and SierraSil. Both of them have been kind enough to offer discounts on all online purchases when you use the code GF. You ca…
The stadium they've seen a hundred times looks completely different through a stranger's eyes.Rick and Clancy talk World Cup fever in Dallas, from Rick's first match in 1994 to watching tourists fall for ranch dressing and a screen they stopped noticing years ago.The conversation moves through ticke…
The stadium they've seen a hundred times looks completely different through a stranger's eyes.Rick and Clancy talk World Cup fever in Dallas, from Rick's first match in 1994 to watching tourists fall …
The stadium they've seen a hundred times looks completely different through a stranger's eyes.Rick and Clancy talk World Cup fever in Dallas, from Rick's first match in 1994 to watching tourists fall for ranch dressing and a screen they stopped noticing years ago.The conversation moves through ticket prices, FIFA's reputation, and how different the sport felt before the US started hosting. It lands on something simpler: hosting gave them a reason to look at their own city again.📖 Our book is here! The Loud Quiet – Love, Laughter and Life in the Empty Nest. https://www.theloudquiet.comHas …
Free in Ep 182: Lisa has 2 encounters in the grocery store, and one of them was good. The other...? Maureen Holloway spills the tea on torontomike.com and fair winds to Marilyn Denis! Happy Giving Birth Day to Lisa’s new book Little Voices (a must-read!!!), other stuff to take on trips (lookin…
Free in Ep 182: Lisa has 2 encounters in the grocery store, and one of them was good. The other...? Maureen Holloway spills the tea on torontomike.com and fair winds to Marilyn Denis! Happy Giving …
Free in Ep 182: Lisa has 2 encounters in the grocery store, and one of them was good. The other...? Maureen Holloway spills the tea on torontomike.com and fair winds to Marilyn Denis! Happy Giving Birth Day to Lisa’s new book Little Voices (a must-read!!!), other stuff to take on trips (looking at you, special socks), a hot question about calling late on your mom’s birthday, and calling out slimy influencers on Threads. Thanks to enVypillow.com and SierraSil.com - as Canadian as we are, and equally proud! Visit us at gracefullyandfrankly.com. #hotgoss #CanadianAuthors #podcast #ra…
You had a great first date. There was connection, laughter, maybe even a kiss. He followed up afterward… and then suddenly, he went quiet.Now you’re left wondering: Do I reach out? Do I wait? Did I do something wrong?Before you spiral, take a breath. This moment isn’t about decoding him. It’…
You had a great first date. There was connection, laughter, maybe even a kiss. He followed up afterward… and then suddenly, he went quiet.Now you’re left wondering: Do I reach out? Do I wait? Did …
You had a great first date. There was connection, laughter, maybe even a kiss. He followed up afterward… and then suddenly, he went quiet.Now you’re left wondering: Do I reach out? Do I wait? Did I do something wrong?Before you spiral, take a breath. This moment isn’t about decoding him. It’s about how you show up for yourself.Here are five grounded, empowering ways to handle when a man goes silent after a great first date.►Please subscribe/rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts http://bit.ly/lastfirstdateradio or Spotify https://tinyurl.com/lfdradio ►If you’re feeling s…
I have saved the best for last.
Laughter is not just medicine. It is proof
that you are still alive. Still present. Still able to find joy in a world that
often seems determined to hide it.
When you laugh, something shifts. The tension
in your shoulders releases. The knot in your stomach loosens…
I have saved the best for last.
Laughter is not just medicine. It is proof
that you are still alive. Still present. Still able to find joy in a world that
often seems determined to hide it.
When y…
I have saved the best for last.
Laughter is not just medicine. It is proof
that you are still alive. Still present. Still able to find joy in a world that
often seems determined to hide it.
When you laugh, something shifts. The tension
in your shoulders releases. The knot in your stomach loosens. The voice in your
head that says "you cannot" gets drowned out by the simple,
undeniable fact of your own delight.
Healing happens non-stop. It is always
happening. The body wants to heal. The heart wants to heal. The spirit wants to
heal. Sometimes we just need to get out of the way.
Laughter i…
On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about humor and the power of laughter with Amber J. Lawson, Cathy Nesbitt, and Steve Waverly. Amber J is founder of Grown Ass Woman and co-founder of Comedy Gives Back, Cathy Nesbitt teaches Laughter Yoga, and Steve Waverly is a screenwriter, …
On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about humor and the power of laughter with Amber J. Lawson, Cathy Nesbitt, and Steve Waverly. Amber J is founder of Grown Ass Woman and co-foun…
On this episode of GoalChat, host Debra Eckerling talks about humor and the power of laughter with Amber J. Lawson, Cathy Nesbitt, and Steve Waverly. Amber J is founder of Grown Ass Woman and co-founder of Comedy Gives Back, Cathy Nesbitt teaches Laughter Yoga, and Steve Waverly is a screenwriter, whose films include Broken Diamonds.
The panel discusses the value of humor in life and work, the draw of fun and positive energy, and simple ways to bring more joy and lightness into everyday life.
Goals
- Steve: Run around the block, get some exercise, change your perspective: not everything is …
Three years into running a podcast together, Rick and Clancy are together constantly. That didn't stop them from arguing about cottage cheese, a dinner reservation in Spain, and a birthday gift for their son.None of those arguments were actually about the thing they were about.In this episode, Rick …
Three years into running a podcast together, Rick and Clancy are together constantly. That didn't stop them from arguing about cottage cheese, a dinner reservation in Spain, and a birthday gift for th…
Three years into running a podcast together, Rick and Clancy are together constantly. That didn't stop them from arguing about cottage cheese, a dinner reservation in Spain, and a birthday gift for their son.None of those arguments were actually about the thing they were about.In this episode, Rick and Clancy walk through three real arguments unrehearsed, raw, on mic, in real time. What comes out underneath all three is the same: they hadn't been feeling heard by each other. And the deeper they go, the more they find the actual root cause. They've been going out, traveling, staying busy... but…
Expanding the Blue Zone Concept Through NeuroArts and Everyday Creativity
What if wellness was not something you had to work so hard to achieve?
What if the path to greater wellbeing could be found in the simple acts of moving your body, listening to music, spending time in nature, creating ar…
Expanding the Blue Zone Concept Through NeuroArts and Everyday Creativity
What if wellness was not something you had to work so hard to achieve?
What if the path to greater wellbeing could be fo…
Expanding the Blue Zone Concept Through NeuroArts and Everyday Creativity
What if wellness was not something you had to work so hard to achieve?
What if the path to greater wellbeing could be found in the simple acts of moving your body, listening to music, spending time in nature, creating art, sharing stories, and gathering with others in meaningful ways?
At the Greenwell Center for Holistic Health, we believe that wellness is not simply the absence of illness—it is the cultivation of a life that feels connected, purposeful, creative, and joyful. This perspective aligns beautifull…
David B.
June 29, 2026
Janet Taylor 
Lisa Brandt 
Rick Denton 
Sandy Weiner 
Royce Shook 
Debra Eckerling 
Michelle Greenwell