Kay:

Hey there, Questers! It is July 24th, and today’s episode is number 145! Now, it is Friday, which means we’ve got a fabulous, fierce female coming at ya. And, today’s fabulously fierce female is the one and only Tina Fey…

Shi:

…who says, “You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.”

Kay & Shi:

*(Giggle)*

Shi:

Well, Tina Fey is a hilarious comedian, writer, producer, author, and a former Saturday night live character! She is an amazing woman that we really admire a lot, and have followed for a long time. And so, this is such a perfect quote from her to end our week and to celebrate one of the ladies that we think is so amazing in this space.

Kay:

Well, Tina Fey has definitely done a lot of groundbreaking work, which has been neat to see. But, what she does is, she finds ways to make people laugh. And so, what she has been able to see is the spectrum of what is going to make somebody laugh and what isn’t. And, I’m sure that she has just the funniest, wittiest, most layered jokes that have landed without anything on a crowd of people. And then, she’s probably made a fart joke and everybody roared in laughter. So, this is coming from someone who’s really seen the spectrum!

Shi:

Right? She’s in the industry of comedy. And, I’m glad you brought up that spectrum because it’s one of those things that I think she’s hinting at here. Because, funny stuff is funny stuff, but not everything is “funny” to everyone. And, you can really judge a lot about someone by what they do find funny. There are certain things that are going to be universally funny, and certain things that are going to be funny to only a very small group of people, and some that are going to be controversially funny as well! We all have our different styles of humor that we like or don’t like, but, when we unpack it a little bit more and dig a little bit deeper, it helps us to identify things about ourselves. So, what do you find funny? Is it nuance? Is it wordplay? Is it puns? Is it sex jokes? Is it cussing?

Kay:

Is it laughing at other people’s misfortune? Is it laughing when you see someone who is differently abled? Is it laughing when somebody else does something that you don’t agree with? Sometimes people laugh at things that might show a little bit more of their true colors. And, I think that that can really play into the intelligence of a person as well…

Shi:

You know, that’s one of the big reasons why I am NOT a fan of America’s Funniest Videos – which is a longstanding, fun argument between Kay and I!

Kay:

Shila hates it…I love it 🙂

Kay & Shi:

*(Laughter)*

Shi:

I hate AFV, man! I do not find that funny. But, you know…the pet videos…they’re okay! My husband loves animal videos. Like nothing makes Chad laugh more than animal videos. He’ll bring them to the family and he’ll just be crying laughing!

Kay:

Which is funny because he’s such a serious human!

Shi:

So, if you guys know Chad, you’re laughing so hard right now because he loves animal videos. So, the animal videos in AFV I can kind of get behind, as well as some of the kids ones. But, it feels like most of the videos are people getting hurt, or accidents happening, or pranks on kids…and that stuff is just not funny…

Kay:

Right? Or, being mean to other people, or laughing when you know that you should be standing up against something that’s happening…So, laughter can come in a lot of forms that aren’t just like “ha ha” funny laughter. Laughter can also come in some fairly destructive forms. It can come in a passive form. It can come in nervous form. Or, an, “I’m not going to acknowledge that form” – form. But, whatever form your laughter comes in, there’s a lot we can learn from it! Take the nervous laughter for example. Because, when people get nervous and laugh excessively, they might not get the words across that they want out there. And so, being aware of this is super important and helpful! Because, it might not have to do with how smart you are, and it may just be a nervous thing that you do. But, understanding that, allows us to say, “Hey, when I am nervous, I tend to laugh a lot – and that makes me sound like I’m not very serious about the topic that I’m wanting to come across with, at that time. So, I’ve got a little awareness to check in on that, and maybe to adjust some of the dials when I need to!”

Shi:

I think that’s a really smart reflection on how we can interpret laughter, and maybe see how it can work for and against us. And, I think that this is also really good networking advice! You know, in the instance where you’re trying to get to know someone, asking them, “What are some of the things that you find funny?” can be really telling! Like, “If you have to pick out the comedy, what’s it going to be?” Because, Chad’s going to tell you animal videos and that’s going to tell you he’s got a heart for nature, and that he’s a very innocent person. Whereas, someone who says, “Oh man, I just love that raunchy comedy!” – doesn’t mean that they’re less of a character, but it does let you know a little bit more about that character, and who they are! So, it can be a really good networking tool to put into your pocket. And, just to remind you of what Tina Fey’s quote is, “You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.”

Kay:

So, today’s quest is a little bit of a funny quest for you this weekend! Get out there and just notice what makes you laugh! Notice the things that you are using humor to express, and, if humor isn’t what you’re attempting to express – tune in to the fact that you may need to adjust those dials! Are you ready?

Kay & Shi:

Let’s quest!