The Power of Laughter with Jenna Goodhand

Towards the end of the twelfth century, powerful images of laughing kings and saints began to appear in texts circulating at the English royal court. At the same time, contemporaries began celebrating the wit, humour, and laughter of King Henry II (r.1154-89) and his martyred Archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Thomas Becket (d.1170). Taking a broad genealogical approach, Laughter and Power in the Twelfth Century traces the emergence of this powerful laughter through an immersive study of medieval intellectual, literary, social, religious, and political debates. PeterJones exposes how twelfth-century writers came to connect laughter with spiritual transcendence and justice, and how this connection gave humour a unique political and spiritual power in both text and action. Ultimately, Jones argues that England's popular images of laughing kings and saints effectively reinstated a sublime charismatic authority, something truly rebellious at a moment in history when bureaucracy and codification were first coming to dominate European political life.Then a few years ago, Peter was teaching medieval history at a university in Siberia when living through his third icy winter tipped him into a dark place. Luckily, he knew something few of us know: that The Middle Ages were the golden age of self-help.In Self-Help from the Middle Ages, history professor Peter Jones makes the case that never in history has so much energy and talent gone into studying how the mind works. In this charming and illuminating guide, he reveals a lost map of our passions and impulses that can help us understand our own human struggles in new and powerful ways. Because although we now think of the Seven Deadly Sins as a catalog of forbidden behavior, in the Middle Ages, when they were at the height of their popularity, they were a path to self-knowledge. A psychological map that laid out seven basic patterns of thought, showing how our thinking can go astray and how we can find our way home.

Laughter Leader Trainer Lora Pesant, and founder of Adventures in Wellness, handout the power of laughter in managing anxiety and mental health. We also touched on how leading and joining laughter yoga sessions has been a confidence booster and has allowed us to show up fully as our neurodivergent selves. To learn more about Lora, Adventures in Wellness and the North American Laughter Conference, go to: https://www.adventuresinwellness.ca/ or find Lora on IG at: adventuresinwellness

Note: This episode talks about themes of death, as it can also be found on the "We Are All Dying" Podcast, where we talk about death in order to live bigger, braver and more joyful lives. Lotte Mikkelsen is a true pioneer in bringing laughter, joy, and holistic wellbeing into workplaces and everyday life.Lotte is the founder of UnitedMind, an organisation she launched back in 2002 that now has over 20 years of experience delivering bespoke Laughter Yoga and wellbeing workshops to teams and businesses across the UK. At the heart of UnitedMind’s work is empowering people to embrace positive change, improve communication, reduce stress, and support mental health — all through the transformative power of laughter.Lotte’s own journey is remarkable. From her early entrepreneurial ventures to becoming a Laughter Yoga Master Trainer in 2012, she has dedicated her life to making laughter accessible to everyone, regardless of background, age, or ability. She’s pioneered daily laughter sessions by phone, coached countless individuals and teams in confidence and stress management, and trained teachers who continue spreading laughter’s benefits around the world.Her mission is simple but powerful: to enrich lives through laughter and joyfulness. And today, we’re diving into her story, her work, and how laughter can profoundly shift the way we live, work, and connect — especially in the context of life’s biggest realities.

In this uplifting episode, I sit down with Rachel Amar, a former corporate professional who rediscovered her purpose through the healing power of laughter. During the pandemic, Rachel found Laughter Yoga at a time when she felt deeply disconnected from her work and herself. What began as a moment of self-reflection quickly turned into a life-changing path. After completing her training online, she became a certified Laughter Yoga instructor and committed to spreading joy as a way of life.Now based in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Rachel teaches Laughter Yoga both in person and online, helping people around the world reconnect with joy, presence, and well-being. In 2023, she was crowned first place winner of the Canadian Laughter Championship, earning recognition for having the most contagious laughter in the country.In this episode, Rachel invites us to live, laugh, and show up as our fullest selves. She shares powerful insights on letting go of what others think, choosing your life for you, and allowing yourself to be a source of joy in the world. Most importantly, she reminds us that no matter where you are in life, it’s never too late to choose joy and create meaningful change.Want more of Rachel? Of course you do! Rachel's WebsiteRachel's Instagram