What if laughter at work could help your team work better, increase psychological safety, and reduce stress at the same time?

In this conversation, Jess Brain, a Certified Brain Trainer and Laughter Leader, shares her superpower of laughter and the neuroscience-informed power of laughter at work.

Together, we’ll unpack how practicing laughter as a team can:
➡️ Reduce stress and burnout
➡️ Build psychological safety at work
➡️ Increase creativity, resilience, and trust
➡️ Improve individual and team dynamics
➡️ Help teams work better without forcing humor or telling jokes

This conversation is especially relevant for people leaders, team leaders, coaches, and organization development professionals looking for practical, science-backed ways to improve team wellbeing and team performance.

Jess explains why laughter isn’t just a “nice to have,” but a powerful tool for:
⬇️ Reducing stress in teams
💚 Creating safer, more connected relationships
😆 Helping leaders model vulnerability and playfulness
✅ Strengthening team relationships over time

You’ll also hear real examples of how laughter:
☑️ Breaks down hierarchy
🎓 Encourages learning from mistakes
📈 Creates the conditions for innovation and engagement

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a team work better, especially during stressful or uncertain times, this episode offers a surprisingly simple (and human) starting point.

In this episode, Jess answers the following questions:
▶️ How to find laughter now?
▶️ Why is laughter important for emotional and physical health?
▶️ How does laughter contribute to psychological safety in teams?
▶️ Why do children laugh more than adults?

Resources mentioned in the episode:
▶️ Jess’ website: https://www.thebrainbar.com
▶️ Jess’ Instagram: @TheBrainBar
▶️ Book: The Internet is a Playground by David Thorne

Chapters
0:00 Intro & Welcome
1:05 Why Laughter Creates Psychological Safety at Work
3:40 The Neuroscience of Laughter and Stress Reduction
6:45 Why Adults Stop Laughing, and How It Costs Teams
10:30 How Laughter Builds Trust and Team Connection
14:15 Laughter vs. Humor: Creating Safety Without Jokes
18:45 Practical Laughter Exercises for Teams and Meetings
24:10 Using Laughter to Improve Creativity and Resilience
29:20 How Leaders Can Model Playfulness and Safety
34:40 Laughter as a Tool for Long-Term Team Wellbeing
39:30 What Jess Brain Knows to Be True About Laughter
43:10 Lightning Round

Music in this episode by Ian Kastner.

"What Do You Know To Be True?" is an invitation to be inspired to discover your superpower, unlock your potential and possibilities, and make meaningful impact in the world.

This podcast is for people leaders, coaches, org development practitioners, and anyone who works with people who want to be inspired to discover their superpower, unlock their possibilities, and make meaningful impact in the world.

For more info about the podcast or to check out more episodes, go to: https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com/

"What Do You Know To Be True?" is hosted by Roger Kastner, is a production of Three Blue Pens, and is recorded on the ancestral lands of the Duwamish and Suquamish people. To discover the ancestral lands of the indigenous people whose land you may be on, go to: https://native-land.ca/

Keywords 
#LaughterAtWork, #PsychologicalSafety, #Resilience #Howtoreducestressinteams #Howto makeateamworkbetter #DiscoverYourSuperpower #UnlockYourPossibilities #MakeMeaningfulImpact