PODCAST · health
The Laughing Mind
by The Laughing Mind Podcast
A podcast about comedy, mental health, humor and psychology, hosted by psychotherapist and amateur comedian Ethan Tuxill. Episodes explore mental health concepts such as body awareness, consciousness, trauma, and the connected self, while others nerd out in the comedy universe to unpack stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy and how they all connect! Guests from the world of comedy. mental health and creativity come on to discuss their own experiences and expertise in comedy and mental health.
Episodes
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Ep. 43: Just talk about it
In the final episode of season 2, this solo episode digs into the simple, psychological experience of taking something out of your brain, and saying it out loud. Unburdening when you hold close to the chest sounds easy, but in practice many of us suck at it (myself included)! E If you'd like to...
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Ep. 42: What are we aiming at?
What is mental health and well-being? The conversations around mental health are often about what's wrong with us, or what is our diagnosis or symptoms, which can be helpful but once we know what's "wrong with us", what do we aim towards? This episode takes a quick look at Tina Payne Bryson's...
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Ep. 41: Acceptance is not approval
Acceptance is a gateway to moving through all the crap life has to throw at us. We often get acceptance mixed up with approval, and that by accepting something hard and painful or even just boring, we're saying "I'm ok with that." This episode takes a quick look at making the distinction between...
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Ep. 40: Gretchen Winterkorn
Welcome to the podcast clinical therapist, writer, and content creator Gretchen Winterkorn! Gretchen and Ethan discuss how authenticity and honesty from a therapist can impact people in the therapy room, neurodivergence, and post-apocalyptic farming! For more Gretchen, check out the links below:...
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Ep. 39: Cash Levy returns
Cash Levy (Comedy!, Cashing in with TJ Miller Podcast) returns to the Laughing Mind! Cash and Ethan discuss the role of balance in mental health and happiness, the overwhelming cost of greatness, and how many therapists become therapists to try and heal themselves—and that's just the tip of the...
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Ep. 38: Dan Decristofaro
Welcoming to the show singer-song writer, musician, and producer Dan Decristofaro! This episode is chock full: how music and creativity bring about community, connection and well-being, the ups and downs of being a professional musician, and the anatomy of resilience when it comes to failing and...
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Ep. 37: My brain thinks anxiety is productive
Here's another solo episode in the mental health series where Ethan does a quick deep dive. This one is all about the #1 most talked about and prolific mental health concern: Anxiety! Ethan unpacks the evolutionary benefits of anxiety, the way anxiety sounds in our minds, and how we can change…
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Ep. 36: The unsexy work of maintenance
Maintaining things is never a sexy topic, but it's what the richest things in life are built upon! Ethan keeps it short while exploring how mental, physical and relational well-being is found and sustained when we consistently attend to these areas of life. If you'd like to support the show…
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Ep. 35: Katherine Sikma Wadsworth
The lovely and talented Katherine Sikma joins Ethan for a barn burner. They dig into how to make sustainable changes (personal and organizational), cognitive flexibility, Internal Family Systems (IFS/parts work) and getting unstuck when you're life is in a rut. If you want more of Katherine…
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Ep. 34: The fuel of core beliefs
What are your core beliefs about yourself and the world? How do they shape how you experience emotions, thoughts, and even your behaviors? And can negative, unrelenting core beliefs be fuel for us to become successful? Get into it! If you'd like to support the show, please leave a review on...
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Ep 33: Roman Empire Alpha Masculinity
Does how we all define masculinity actually impact our mental health? Yes! Do men actually think about the Roman Empire every day? You'll have to listen to find out as Ethan unpacks "toxic" alpha masculinity, the possibility of all humans experiencing both masculine and feminine traits, and Dan...
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Ep. 32: Morgan Tuxill
The lovely and talented Morgan Tuxill (Therapist!) returns to the pod! This episode explores how storytelling and reading can positively impact our mental health, pregnancy, parenthood and the resiliency of the human spirit. So open them ear holes and get cozy, this one's a doozy. If you'd like…
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Ep. 31: The need for friendship
A quick solo episode where Ethan gets into the sometimes embarrassing yet powerful need for human connection and friendship. Friendship, community, and connection all play major roles in physical and mental wellness, and the truth is, everyone feels lonely sometimes! So if you're feeling lonely...
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Ep. 30: Ellen Lundie
A chock full hour with comedian and pastor Ellen Lundie. Ellen and Ethan dug into the nature of dealing with uncertainty and suffering and humor's role in both. They tackle questions like "Is Jesus Funny" and "How do you go to your first open mic?" All the big players came out for this episode:...
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Ep. 29 Perfection is the enemy of the good
Kicking off season 2 with a quick solo episode! Ethan pulls apart the myth that the perfection standard is motivating, and how stagnant focusing on "where we aren't" can leave us. So sit back, lean back, fall back and spend 20 minutes enjoying an entertaining and meaningful take on the power of...
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Ep. 28: Jason Clark
For the season finale of season 1, Ethan is joined by Jason Clark (Arcade Comedy Theater's General Manager and Stand Up comic). This one's got everything: OCD, ADHD, the evolution of comedy, remaining mentally and emotionally flexible throughout your life, generational differences, and so much...
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Ep. 27: Morgan Mitchell (Tuxill)
You asked and we did it! I had the pleasure of having my wife Morgan Mitchell on the show, who is also a practicing mental health therapist. What is it like for two therapists in a relationship? Listen and you'll find out! We also got into how humor is a strength, as well as a possible defensive...
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Ep. 26: Carlos Smith
Co-owner of Total Peace and Wellness CBD (the newest sponsor of The Laughing Mind Podcast!) Carlos Smith joins Ethan for a deep dive into CBD, mental health and comedy. Whether you use CBD regularly or have never even heard of it, this episode covers the basics of CBD, as well as topics like...
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Ep. 25: Wendy McSparren LCSW
Ethan's dear friend Wendy McSparren LCSW (EMDR therapist, consultant, and master therapist!) joins Ethan for a deep dive into the world of therapy. Wendy has deep wisdom and presence that comes through and they get into all of these: healthy guilt vs. unhealthy guilt, working as hard for yourself...
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Ep. 24: Cash Levy
Stand-up comedian and long-time podcaster Cash Levy (Cashing in with TJ Miller Podcast!) joins Ethan for an absurd, at times sobering, and rip-roaring episode. These two dig down deep into topics like handling rejection, death and aging, parenthood, and adult friendships, then come up for air…
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Ep. 23: Drink, Breathe, Move
This one is short, sweet, and obvious! Ethan gets into how we can overcomplicate our mental health sometimes, and coming back to simple, concrete basics of self-care can be the most helpful thing for our mental health. The three simple grounding points to come back to this week are: Drink(water),...
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Ep. 22: Danny Berrios
Holy Hog, what an episode! Comedian Danny Berrios is young, hungry, and hilarious. Danny and Ethan get into his comedy career, imposter syndrome, and dealing with the inner critic. Danny shares his hard-won wisdom of keeping your eyes on the road in front while still looking back in the rear view...
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Ep. 21: Playing the Trauma Card
A hot new solo episode where Ethan tackles people playing the trauma card. We are finally seeing our culture move towards more acceptance and legitimacy for mental health, trauma and PTSD! But now, we have people playing the trauma card like it's a "be an asshole then get-out-of-jail-free card"....
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Ep. 20: Danii Kaufman
Comedian and podcaster Danii Kaufman joins Ethan for a barn-burner of an episode. These two discuss how comedy can be a balm and healing tool in the face of pain and catastrophe, and quickly pivot to how direct mail has a better response rate than unsolicited dick pics! If you are looking for…
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Ep 19: Get all vulnerable and whatnot
Comedy, humor, and vulnerability are what this episode is allllll about. Vulnerability, that is, "uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure" (according to New York Times best-selling author Brene Brown) is not a natural instinct for us but is one of the direct gateways to a meaningful and rich…
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Ep. 18: Dr. Val Stacy
Another amazing guest episode with mental health clinician Dr. Val Stacy! Val is a hilarious, gifted clinician and she brought her wisdom and humor to this episode. Ethan and Val explore the psychological concept of self-compassion, how humor serves both clients and therapists in the therapeutic...
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Ep 17: Fear vs Excitement
The anatomy of fear and excitement are incredibly similar, and in this episode, Ethan looks at how being able to name and identify each can change how we relate to them. One of our big tasks as humans is to find a balance between certainty and uncertainty, stability and instability, peace and...
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Ep 16: The Certainty Trap
Do you often find yourself getting stuck before you begin, feeling anxious about how you should know what to do and all the things that could go wrong if you do step forward and make a decision? You're not alone! This episode looks into the certainty trap, the unhelpful belief that we must know...
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Ep 15: Alex Kraemer "Famous Overthinker"
Fellow improviser and podcaster Alex Kraemer joins Ethan for this episode! These guys get into humor's double edge sword with mental health, vulnerability, finding community in comedy, what beginning therapy is like, and being honest with ourselves. If you'd like to support the show, please leave…
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Ep 14: Suzanne Lawrence "All Laughs are Delight"
Stand-up comedian Suzanne Lawrence joins Ethan for an uproar of a guest episode! Suzanne has also spent many years working in the mental health field. In this episode, they get into her comedy career, how practicing being mindful and aware has changed her life, and how some hunters will shoot…
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Ep 13: Treat your thoughts like house guests, not God's Truth
In this episode, Ethan finally covers how impactful the wild, untamed jungle of our thoughts can be when we treat each thought like truth, rarely than simply a thought. Rather, you can think of your thoughts as waves in the ocean; coming in then going back out. If you'd like to support the show,...
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Ep 12: How to survive and enjoy the holidays
In this solo episode, Ethan gives a couple of quick mental health tips and tricks for how to not only survive the holidays but find some joy in them. So buckle up, dip your ass in some eggnog and enjoy! If you'd like to support the show, please leave a review on iTunes! To stay connected make…
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Ep 11: Just get over it and don't say anything
Here's a new solo episode where Ethan shows just how unhelpful telling each other and ourselves to "just get over it and don't say anything" is to our mental health. This episode is packed with what makes cults work, the genetic impact of trauma, and some silly silly fun stuff too! If you'd like…
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Ep. 10: Annie Monaco LCSWR "Do you want more laughter in your life?"
Trauma specialist, EMDR trainer and psychotherapist Annie Monaco joins Ethan for this guest episode! Annie has decades of experience in the field of psychology and trauma, and somehow she still finds a way to be playful and laugh! Tune in to hear them discuss the body-brain connection, the power…
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Ep 9: Tyler Ray Kendrick "All the best people are in hell"
Stand-up comedian and improviser Tyler Ray Kendrick (Comedy!) joins Ethan for a laid-back episode. Tyler shares about how to handle fear and failure in comedy, being your authentic self, having fun with white privilege in PlayStation VR and his own mental health journey. He's not only hilarious,...
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Ep. 8: The Science of Laughter
In this solo episode, Ethan unpacks what is happening in our brain and our bodies when we laugh. He also goes into all the physical and psychological benefits of laughter. There is even a rant about marines using a baby voice, something for everyone! Polyvagal theory:...
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Ep. 7: The Victim Triangle and Highway Shit-blasting
In this solo episode, Ethan uses a real-life story of a couple stuck on the highway shit-blasting down the slope as a metaphor for the three archetypes on the psychological concept of the Victim Triangle. Each archetype, the rescuer, persecutor, and victim, each has subconscious core beliefs that...
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Ep. 6: Tammy Pescatelli
Stand-up comedian and actress Tammy Pescatelli (That's Amore, Women of a Certain Age) joins Ethan to talk about how comedy saved her life, the power of knowing who you are, and the meth-like high come down after her first tonight show appearance. https://www.facebook.com/TammyPescatelli1...
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Ep. 5: Mental Flexibility and Corn Husks
This episode is all about the concept of mental flexibility, a mind that doesn't drag you down the same pathways without even allowing room for new experiences and new thoughts. Ethan explains what neural pathways are and why they matter, and how comedy can help break our mental expectations and...
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Ep. 4: Robin Hitchcock
In this episode, Ethan hosts guest Robin Hitchcock (Comedy!), improviser, improv coach, and Arcade Comedy's academy director. This episode covers all things comedy and mental health: improv as a gateway drug to therapy, finding community in comedy, viewing past medications like ex-boyfriends, and...
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Ep. 3: You say it, I can't
In this solo episode, Ethan explores the power of saying unacceptable and uncomfortable truths in the presence of others and how doing so on the comedy stage and in the therapy room can help lead to greater psychological integration. Hold on to your hats because he gets into some grimy and tragic...
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Ep. 2 Dr. Krista Boyer
Guest Dr. Krista Boyer (Psychologist and Professor of Counseling Psychology) joins Ethan for the first-ever guest episode! Krista pulls back the curtain and shares stories of testifying as an expert witness while bugs infest her office, goof and gaffs with her clients, and how to be playful each...
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Ep. 1: “Yes, and” your anxious brain
In this episode, Ethan looks at the popular improv comedy rule of “Yes, and” and how it can bring relief to much of the mental suffering in our daily lives.
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What is The Laughing Mind Podcast?
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast about comedy, mental health, humor and psychology, hosted by psychotherapist and amateur comedian Ethan Tuxill. Episodes explore mental health concepts such as body awareness, consciousness, trauma, and the connected self, while others nerd out in the comedy universe to unpack stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy and how they all connect! Guests from the world of comedy. mental health and creativity come on to discuss their own experiences and expertise in comedy and mental health.
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The Laughing Mind Podcast
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Laughing Mind have?
The Laughing Mind currently has 44 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Laughing Mind about?
A podcast about comedy, mental health, humor and psychology, hosted by psychotherapist and amateur comedian Ethan Tuxill. Episodes explore mental health concepts such as body awareness, consciousness, trauma, and the connected self, while others nerd out in the comedy universe to unpack stand-up,...
How often does The Laughing Mind release new episodes?
The Laughing Mind has 44 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Laughing Mind?
You can listen to The Laughing Mind on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Laughing Mind?
The Laughing Mind is created and hosted by The Laughing Mind Podcast.
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