5: Why Does Comedy Matter When Everything Feels Broken?

Episode InformationHuge thank you to everyone who helped bring this episode together. After we wrapped, I realized I forgot to shout out a few absolute legends like Carol Burnett and Mary Tyler Moore. I also didn’t get to name some of the incredible women in comedy I love and admire so much, including Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Kristen Wiig. And Catherine O’Hara deserves special love too. While she isn’t a stand-up comedian, her ability to make me and so many others laugh is truly unmatched.There are honestly too many brilliant people to list, but I hope you have someone in your life who makes you laugh whether that’s a comedian you love, a family member, a coworker, or a friend. We all deserve a little more laughter. Guest Information Belinda Carroll (She/Her), Comedian, ActivistIMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6509199/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belinda_Carroll_(comedian)Instagram: @belindacomedyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@belinda_comedyRecording and ProductionRecorded at: XRAY.FM StudiosOriginal Music: Rainezra @rainezra and Vews @pointofvewsAudio Editing by: Kye Gilmer @residual_audioLearn More/SourcesThe following materials were referenced or informed this episode. Links are provided for transparency and further reading.Proverbs 17:22 (Bible)https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17%3A22&version=NRSVUENorman Cousins, Anatomy of an Illnesshttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/32961/anatomy-of-an-illness-as-perceived-by-the-patient-by-norman-cousins/Laughter and stress hormones, Berk et al., American Journal of the Medical Scienceshttps://journals.lww.com/amjmedsci/Abstract/1989/12000/Neuroendocrine_and_Stress_Hormone_Changes_During.1.aspxMayo Clinic on stress relief from laughterhttps://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times (1936)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027977/Great Depression unemployment data, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticshttps://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2012/10/art1full.pdfMel Brooks, The Producers (1967)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063462/Mel Brooks on making Hitler ridiculoushttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/mel-brooks-on-making-hitler-ridiculous-180962498/Mark Twain lecture tours and humorhttps://www.pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/writings_humor.htmlDick Gregory biography and civil rights comedyhttps://www.biography.com/performer/dick-gregoryDick Gregory: Beyond the Laughter documentaryhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101688/Lenny Bruce obscenity trialshttps://www.aclu.org/documents/trials-lenny-bruceLenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth documentaryhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120715/Bob Hope USO historyhttps://www.uso.org/stories/1942-bob-hope-and-the-usoGeorge Carlin on political languagehttps://www.openculture.com/2013/02/george_carlin_on_soft_language.htmlGeorge Carlin bookshttps://www.georgecarlin.com/books/Richard Pryor documentary Omit the Logichttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt2486682/Eddie Murphy Delirioushttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085478/Eddie Murphy Rawhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093855/I Love Lucy “Job Switching” chocolate factory episodehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0609194/I Love Lucy “Lucy Does a Commercial” Vitameatavegamin episodehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0609186/Joan Rivers documentary A Piece of Workhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt1558250/Robin Williams Live on Broadwayhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303781/Mrs. Doubtfirehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107614/The Birdcagehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115685/SNL returns after 9/11https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/snl-returns-after-9-11-flna1c9462991Jon Stewart “Can we be funny?” storyhttps://www.vulture.com/2016/09/jon-stewart-snl-911-oral-history.htmlThe Daily Showhttps://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-showFull Frontal with Samantha Beehttps://www.tbs.com/shows/full-frontal-with-samantha-beeLast Week Tonight with John Oliverhttps://www.hbo.com/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliverThe Colbert Reporthttps://www.cc.com/shows/the-colbert-reportHave I Got News for Youhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mkw3The Golden Girlshttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088526/Broad Cityhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt2578560/Parks and Recreationhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt1266020/Support the showAll American Why is independently produced and listener supported.If you value conversations that center nuance, critical thinking, and honest inquiry, you can support the show here:https://www.allamericanwhypodcast.com/supportAnother great way to support the podcast is by sharing this episode, leaving a review, or sending it to the Excessive Thinkers in your life who love asking “why” and thinking deeply.