Ya Might As Well Laugh: Comedian Will Durst, Storyteller Linda Levine, and Professor Hilton Obenzinger

Show #148 | Guests: Will Durst- the New York Times calls him “possibly the best political comic in the country.” Fox News agrees “he’s a great political satirist,” while the Oregonian hails him as a “hilarious stand-up journalist.” This former radio talk host, oyster shucker, and margarine smuggler currently writes a nationally syndicated humor column, and his scribblings have appeared in Esquire, George, the San Francisco Chronicle, National Lampoon, The New York Times and scads of other periodicals. Hilton Obenzinger teaches writing and American Studies at Stanford. He writes fiction, poetry, history and criticism, has studied the uses of humor, and taught stand-up comedy. He’s taught on the Yurok Indian Reservation, operated a community printing press in San Francisco’s Mission District, co-edited a publication devoted to Middle East peace, worked as a commercial writer and instructional designer. Linda Levine’s career blends academia, performance, and coaching. She’s been a San Jose State University instructor for over 20 years, while performing, mime, magic, and juggling as “Rainbow the Clown”. She explores the value of humor into her work in grief counseling, personal coaching, and motivational speaking, through her company Surprise Enterprise. | Show Summary: An examination of what makes us laugh in even the darkest times. Delving with us into what’s funny, what’s not, when, and why.