On this episode of Laughing Matters, Carmella Glover joins Paul Merchan and Steve Cody to tackle one of today’s most loaded topics with intelligence, candor and yes, a sense of humor. As President and CEO of the Diversity Action Alliance, she shares why leaders should not be afraid of clarity, why innovation depends on different perspectives and why silence can sometimes speak louder than words.

From her early days as a chemical engineer explaining complex manufacturing challenges to leading conversations around inclusion in a polarized climate, Carmella makes the case that strong leadership is less about buzzwords and more about precision, courage and humanity.

Tune in to hear Carmella talk about:

• Why “diversity” is not a controversial word and how leaders can say what they actually mean
• How innovation multiplies when different perspectives are truly in the room
• The multitasking email moment that proves even seasoned executives should proofread twice

We also wanted to flag a great virtual event on 2/24 co-hosted by the DAA, “Leading With Credibility in a Fractured Media World,” featuring Congressman Jim Clyburn. You can find more details linked here.

Entrepreneur, author, professor, podcaster and business humorist David Mammano joins Paul Merchan and Steve Cody on this episode of Laughing Matters to explore why humor and wit can take business culture to the next level. From winning comedy contests in college to advising business leaders on culture, David shares why there is inherent wisdom in bringing fun back to the workplace - and why having dance moves like Seinfeld’s Elaine didn’t stop him. Tune in to hear David talk about:

• Why AI can never replace humor, experience and wit
• His affinity for humorous insurance company campaigns
• A story from his best-selling book about a 20-something business owner who had every one of his employees reapply for their positions
• An embarrassing personal story that proves it’s important not to skip human anatomy class

From FedEx to ITT to the classroom, Tom Martin has built a career on authenticity, wit, and mentorship. Now Executive-in-Residence at The College of Charleston, Tom joins Laughing Matters to share how humor helped him navigate global rebrands, ease the tension during meetings, and inspire the next generation of communicators.

Tune in for:

• The story behind his eponymous mentorship program for up and coming professionals
• How listening (and laughing) led to iconic rebrands
• Example of some of Tom’s favorite examples of humor in brand campaigns

What do laughter and learning have in common? According to Tony D’Angelo, Professor of Practice in Public Relations at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, they’re both essential to building trust, engagement, and resilience in the classroom and beyond. In this episode of Laughing Matters, Tony shares how humor helps educators connect with students, why civility is in crisis, and how a self-deprecating joke turned a stressed-out student into a creative powerhouse.

Tune in for:

• How humor lowers the temperature in high-pressure classrooms and encourages productive disagreement.
• Insights on how colleges and universities can differentiate themselves in a sea of sameness and deal with disruptive challengers like LinkedIn Learning.
• His insights on a recent study on civility in America… shameless plug, Tony will be on a panel discussing this topic at the PRSA Icon Conference on 10/29; fellow panelist and IW Chairman Bill Imada also did a recent podcast on civility.

In this episode of Laughing Matters, recent college graduate Emilia Feltner shares how her generation is shaping the workplace, why leaders should never underestimate the power of a well-timed joke, and what she’s learning as AI reshapes the career ladder.

Tune in to learn:

• Her amazing experience interning in her mother’s native Lithuania
• What’s new with AI, Gen Z’s entrepreneurial spirit and using humor as “medicine”
• Why you should probably not leave your phone with her!

In a 24/7 newsroom, pressure is high and the headlines can be serious, but David Gaffen, Editor-in-Charge at Thomson Reuters, believes humor is essential to surviving it all. In this episode of Laughing Matters, David shares how he keeps his team grounded, why smart wordplay still has power, and what it takes to stay sharp in a chaotic media landscape.

Tune in for:

• How gallows humor keeps newsroom teams resilient under pressure
• The art of writing witty headlines without crossing the line
• A MasterClass in keeping journalism rigorous, relevant, and human

Laughing Matters will be taking a summer hiatus—we’ll be back in September with a new season full of lessons, learnings, and laughs.

What do stand-up comedy and marketing have in common? A lot more than you'd think. Just ask Matthew Bryan, Head of Marketing at Resource Capital Funds, part-time comic and full-time Steve Cody’s Nephew™. In this episode of Laughing Matters, Matthew shares how bombing on stage taught him to fail forward, how humor builds creative safety in teams, and the time he accidentally hit Reply All to make a major personal announcement.

Tune in for:

• The surprising connection between punchlines and performance marketing
• Why self-deprecating humor = professional superpower
• A workplace email snafu that taught him to think carefully before hitting send

Can a leader who embraces self-deprecating humor also help grow a company from four employees to 120? Mikayla Hopkins is laughing while she leads marketing at Tracksuit (the word also happens to be what New Zealanders call sweaters). She joins Laughing Matters to share her journey of building a brand from the ground up and finding humor in the process. Among her insights:

• The unique contrasts between self-deprecating Kiwi (New Zealand) humor and the direct, punchy style of American comedy
• Growing Tracksuit from 4 to 120 employees and maintaining a light-hearted company culture throughout this massive expansion
• A hilarious story of a melatonin mishap, subway confusion, and a wardrobe malfunction during an important meeting in New York