Jess Brain shares the health benefits of laughter and its impact on our mental health, highlighting how laughter reduces our stress levels and builds resilience within us, while fostering psychological safety in teams. 

You’ve probably heard the saying, “laughter is the best medicine,” but would you believe that is true for teams as well as individuals?

Today’s guest, Jess Brain, the certified brain trainer and laughter leader, shares that while laughter has the power to heal you emotionally, spiritually, and physically, it also has the power to increase creativity, resilience, and psychological safety amongst teams.

We’ve talked on previous episodes how laughter is a critical factor for accessing joy, and in this conversation we discuss if laughter is the language of joy.

From the moment I saw Jess on Dr. Krystal Culler’s “Let’s Talk Brain Health” podcast, I knew I wanted to meet Jess and learn more about her experiences with her superpower of laughter.

Jess brings a neuroscience view on the power of laughter to this conversation, sharing the research and shocking deficit of laughter amongst adults. 

Can you recall the last time you laughed for more than five minutes straight? 

Ask a kid the same question, it’s likely been within hours. For you?  Probably more like weeks if not months.

In addition to working with corporate teams to reap the benefits of practicing laughter together, Jess also leads individuals in her laughter classes where the goal is to increase levels of serotonin and oxytocin, and after attending a class, I felt that elevated feeling of joy for over 48 hours.

I love Jess’ journey to becoming a laughter leader, from an accidental party trick to starting online laughter classes during the pandemic when all of us needed connection and a laugh. 

By the end of this conversation, I’m sure you will agree, when you laugh, the world will laugh with you.

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?

My favorite quote from the episode: “Life is always going to have its ups and downs. Laughter gives you this force field that protects you so you can balance your emotions and feel an inner sense of calm.”

I love this because what Jess is calling out is how the act of laughter can help us become more resilient and fuel our ability to bounce back better.

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

Music in this episode by Ian Kastner.

"What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent or superhero power and the meaningful impact it has on others. The intention is to learn more about their experience with their superhero power, so that we can learn something about the special talent in each of us which allows us to connect more deeply with our purpose and achieve our potential. 

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
Laughter, Psychological Safety, Trust, Vulnerability, Resilience