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.