Laughter Revolution

Marla Simlett
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Daily

What if personal growth didn't have to feel like another item on your to-do list? Each week, we blend real stories, professional insight, and practical tools with the transformative power of laughter — to help women get unstuck, build deep self-love, and reclaim their spark. Because transformation doesn't have to be all grit and no grin. Come for the giggles. Stay for the growth. And leave ready to send a little joy out into the world."

  1. Oct 22

    Who needs words when you have laughter? Building bond across cultures with Laughter Intelligence®

    Four months into my trip, I still can’t speak Georgian (or Czech, or Romanian, or...). But I’ve made friends anyway, with two train station guys, an 80 year old guesthouse host, and a late arriving waitress. Laughter did the heavy lifting. Once, it bit me back. I’m going to tell you all the stories about how I am putting the SMILE framework of Laughter Intelligence® to work on the road! In This EpisodeWhat I'm learning about laughterHow Mako, last episode’s guest, put laughter into her café Wi-Fi passwordWhat happened when I tried to convince Georgia to eat mchadi with jam, and how I stopped taking being laughed at personallyHow a smile, a silly face, and a very long Google Translate lesson built trust with two train station guysHow one word made my guesthouse host laughA Russian dad’s joke about a priest, a taxi driver, and the Pearly GatesThe story I’m not proud of - when my laughter backfired, and why shame needs extra care Episode Highlights With Timestamps[00:10] Four months on the road, and a twist: today I’m sharing what I’m learning about laughter[02:10] The S.M.I.L.E. framework goes travelling[03:35] Mako changes her café Wi-Fi password to “Ha ha ha ha ha” (and you have to say it out loud)[08:00] My mission to convince Georgia that mchadi belongs with jam[10:30] Being laughed at, and the best teacher stare in the business[13:15] The train guys, a $1.19 ticket, and a ten-minute Google Translate lesson[15:50] Lilia, a honking car horn, and the one word that built a bond[20:35] Family dynamics and a spot on joke[22:05] The story I’m not proud of: when my laughter backfired[27:05] Repairing trust, and why shame needs extra care Links and Resources MentionedEpisode 12 with Mako Tkabladze of Runa Café in Kutaisi, Georgia: Come have a seat at a Georgian café where laughter is always on the menuGoogle Translate (my travel sidekick and occasional disaster averter)Laughter Revolution Digest, every two weeks: marlasimlett.comReels from the road on Instagram and Facebook, including the mchadi and jam missionEmail me: info@marlasimlett.com Hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen, so the next episode finds you while your coffee is still hot. Then join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com for more photos, more stories, and more of what I'm learning and laughing about on the road. Your inbox could use a giggle. And please, follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see more high, and low, lights of my trip - I share them all!

  2. Oct 7

    Come have a seat at the Georgian café where laughter is always on the menu

    Picture a café with a chicken on the bathroom wall, a table that says "If you like to talk, sit here," and a Wi-Fi password that is HaHaHaHaHa. That's the fabulous Runa Café in Kutaisi, Georgia and its owner, Mako Tkabladze, is my guest. She is quick, dramatic, and just cheeky enough to tease me on air. We talk about Georgian humour, building connections beyond coffee, and how laughter helps reset hard times and bad days. By the end of our conversation, both our cheeks were hurting from laughing so much! In This Episode Mako explains why she built a café to get strangers talking, from the table sign that says "If you like to talk, sit here" to the box of stickers by the door.A bathroom chicken asks, "I poop breakfast. What's your superpower?" and you'll hear why Mako tucks humour into her café.Kutaisi humour gets a full breakdown: quick, dramatic, and full of teasing that means "I love you."You'll hear how Kutaisi poets once answered each other in rhyme, and why Mako thinks it made the city's humour sharper.Mako takes us back to the '90s, when neighbours shared eggs and onions around the supra table and laughed more than they do now.I share my rainy, no-cash travel day and how hunting for things to laugh at turned it around.Plus, my Georgian "thank you" that earned me an "I love you," Mako's dentist story, and a live giggle from her internal giggle generator (IGG). Episode Highlights With Timestamps [00:11] - Welcome, and my very honest attempt at saying Tkabladze[04:01] - The bathroom chicken sign: "I poop breakfast. What's your superpower?"[05:02] - Why Mako built her café as a place for people to talk[08:23] - Mako's sense of humour: quick, dramatic, and full of loving teasing[12:22] - Laughter is a reset, and my rainy day with no cash[21:01] - Mako says her country laughed even more in the hard years[25:01] - My "thank you" mix-up that turned into "I love you"[31:36] - The dentist story: who forgot how to clean teeth?[34:15] - Laughter Revolution lightning round[37:29] - Mako activates her internal giggle generator on command Links and Resources Mentioned Runa Cafe, in Kutaisi, Georgia - owned by Mako TkabladzeLaughter Revolution Digest (the chicken sign photo is in a recent issue): marlasimlett.com If this made you smile, hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen. Then pop over to marlasimlett.com and join the Laughter Revolution Digest. It's fun. It's informative, and it's cheaper than coffee.

  3. Sep 23

    Who do you think you are Missy? What your judgement is telling you.

    I came to this solo trip determined to travel independently. No tour groups. No following somebody around with a little sign. No letting someone else tell me where to go or what to see. I was going to prove that I could do this my way. Then Romania started poking holes in that plan. A couple of unexpected encounters made me realize that maybe my strong opinions about how people “should” travel were telling me more about myself than they were about anyone else. And that got me thinking about judgment, how sneaky it can be, and how laughter can help us get off our high horse when we catch ourselves doing it. You’ll hear about:What solo travel has taught me about independence and opennessWhy your judgments about other people might actually be telling you something about yourselfHow to recognize when a preference has turned into a judgmentUsing laughter to catch yourself, lighten up, and get unstuckWhy being willing to try something different can open up experiences you never expected Episode Timestamps[00:27] Hello from Tbilisi, Georgia![01:15] What it took to get here[02:46] Today's topic: Judgment[03:19] My travel rules - my way or the highway[05:24] Two encounters that shifted my perspective[10:42] The big reveal: judgment is information about you, not the other person[11:29] The grad school blow-up 25 years ago that launched this lesson[13:14] Unpacking my travel judgement[15:54] Doing it different for the next three months[18:03] Bringing in the laughter - Missy, bike boy, and travel friends make it so much better![21:94] Your invitation Links and Resources MentionedLaughter Revolution Digest, Marla's newsletter, out every two weeks: marlasimlett.comEmail Marla directly: info@marlasimlett.comFollow along on Instagram and Facebook for travel reels If this episode hit home, hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode. And if you want more of my travel adventures, and what I am learning and laughing about on the road, subscribe to my Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. It lands in your inbox every couple of weeks, judgment-free.

  4. Sep 10

    Lost in Translation (And Kinda Loving it)

    I used to think I was a pretty good talker. Turns out, solo travel and a language barrier will make you question everything, including whether you actually know your OWN language, let alone another. This episode is about the growing distance between my brain and my mouth, the mistakes I made trying to connect with strangers, and why I decided those mistakes were worth making anyway. In This EpisodeI unpack (pardon the pun) why solo travel turned me into someone who talks to cats, chickens, and cobblestonesI admit the real reason I sometimes avoid conversations with strangersTell you what might happen if you ask for 'twisted chicken potatoes' in a pharmacyShare what using the wrong word for a full year taught meI tell you about a conversation with a stranger that ended in one perfect piece of grandmotherly wisdomI make the case for why connection matters more than getting the words exactly right Episode Highlights with Timestamps[00:55] — Episode ten kicks off with balloons, streamers, and some sobering podcast statistics[03:53] — Why I have started talking to myself, and to every cat and chicken I pass[06:04] — Talking is hard. I blame the growing gap between my brain and my mouth on menopause[08:33] — The “valley of language melting pot,” where French, Spanish, and the local language end up in the stew[09:47] — Why I start avoiding conversations, and the fear underneath it[11:47] — What if your attempt to speak in another language is an epic fail (dental floss anyone?)[13:07] — Free plums, and what happens when you take the risk anyway[14:06] — Visibility is hard; so in English[16:57] — Michel calls me out, and is annoyingly right, again[17:49] — A conversation with a stranger - "relax" Links and Resources MentionedGoogle Translate (used throughout the trip to have real conversations across language barriers)info@marlasimlett.com If this one made you laugh, or made you think about the conversations you avoid, I would love for you to subscribe wherever you listen, Spotify, Apple, or anywhere else podcasts live. That way you never miss an episode, and honestly, we need to take the pressure off my husband as the one person who I know will always listen! And if you want more of the behind-the-scenes travel moments, come join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. It is the fun stuff that does not make it into the episodes.

  5. Aug 26

    Cheese Blocks, Czech Humour, and the People Who Make Us Laugh

    I met Monika Stodůlková on a train to Vienna, and by the time we said goodbye we had talked about cheese blocks, Sarah McLachlan, and of course, we laughed! This episode is proof that laughter shows up in every country, every language, and every hard moment, if you go looking for it. Grab your tea (or your pickled egg) and settle in. In This EpisodeMeet Monika Stodůlková, a Czech traveller I met by chance on a European trainHear what makes Czech people laugh (spoiler: it involves fun making and siblings)Appreciate how self-deprecating jokes can land differently across culturesThink about why some people make us laugh more than others - what's the secret ingredient?Hear the story of a man who kept laughing his way through a serious illness, and what that taught Monika about healingTry the Internal Giggle Generator live with Monika, and see why faking a laugh can turn into a real oneGet six rapid answers in the Laughter Revolution Lightning Round, including Monika's very Czech answer for "laughter is cheaper than..." Episode Highlights With Timestamps[01:25] The mystery of the "cheese blocks" that Marla still can't explain[03:31] Monika describes what can make Czech people laugh[04:43] And what makes her laugh[07:00] Moving to the US during COVID and learning humour in a new language[10:03] The Tinder joke that could have gone wrong, and didn't[11:55] Changing moods can be THAT easy[15:15] Czechs and Canadians - not so different[16:20] Being exhausted by laughter - AI and pickled eggs[21:13] Epic Lilith Fair fail[23:17] The coffee shop friend who kept laughing through a serious illness[27:22] The Laughter Revolution Lightning Round begins[29:31] Monika's live Internal Giggle Generator performance Links and Resources MentionedSarah McLachlan and the Lilith Fair music festivalLaughter Revolution Digest - marlasimlett.com If this episode made you smile, hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode. And if you want more laughter in your inbox, join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. It's free, it's short, it has pictures from my trip. And it might just make your Tuesdays better.

  6. Aug 12

    The "Copenhagen Crash" & 5 Lessons From 2 Months Alone

    Two months into my six-month solo journey, I’ve found myself in Vienna, Austria—a completely unplanned stop following what I'm calling my "Copenhagen crash." In this episode, I’m reflecting on what happens when your body forces you to slow down, the art of going with the flow, and the surprising self-discoveries that come with wandering the world on your own. From realizing I’m actually my own favourite travel partner to uncovering how my self-deprecating humour might actually be keeping me stuck, I’m sharing five key lessons I’ve learned so far as I navigate the unexpected as learning, laughter, and luggage collide. Key Topics CoveredThe Copenhagen Crash: What happened when my body and spirit told me it was time to slow down.Loving My Own Company: Overcoming my initial fears of loneliness and discovering how much I enjoy solo travel.Living in "Spirit Being": Moving away from the "coulda, shoulda, wouldas" and finding quiet joy in the present moment.The Power of Intentional Joy: How actively looking for humour and laughter changes my daily experience.When Humour Keeps Us Stuck: Shifting my neural pathways and changing the way I talk about my own perceived flaws. Timestamps00:11 – Welcome to Laughter Revolution & my Vienna check-in01:05 – The "Copenhagen Crash": Learning to slow down01:53– Lesson 1: Realizing I love my own company04:18 – Lesson 2: What it feels like to be in "Spirit Being" vs. mental noise07:07 – Lesson 3: The challenge (and gentleness) of slowing down09:10 – Lesson 4: Looking for laughter and wonder as a game changer11:41 – Lesson 5: Realizing when my humour is keeping me stuck13:33 – Reframing "being lost" to building directional competence15:23 – Wrap-up & a sneak peek at my next episode from the Czech Republic Links and resources mentionedMarla Simlett: https://marlasimlett.comLaughter Revolution Digest: Subscribe at https://marlasimlett.comInstagram: Follow Marla for ongoing laughter-and-learning posts.Facebook: Follow Marla for more laughter, learning and travel.

  7. Jul 30

    Gallows Humour, Grief, and Grandma's Zingers

    I met Lina Karlsen while I was stuck waiting for my suitcase Gertrude to catch up with me in Tromsø, Norway. Turns out a delayed bag led to one of the best conversations of my trip so far. Lina is a social worker who grew up steeped in Sami culture, and her approach to laughter can teaches all the lessons of the value of humour in hard places. Her stories of will make you think, laugh, wince, and maybe call your grandmother. In This EpisodeMeet Lina Karlsen, a Sami social worker with a gift for perfectly timed dark humourHear why northern Norway's gallows humour does not always land in the south of the countryGet the real story behind a snowboard joke that made a grieving friend laugh harder, not lessSee how one family uses gentle teasing to keep a grandmother with Alzheimer's part of the funFind out what happens when a joke about inheritance money completely bombsCompare notes on humour across Norway and Canada, including a bus story starring Marla's husband MichelPlay along with the Laughter Revolution Lightning Round as you hear Lina's fast, funny answers Timestamps [00:10] — Marla kicks off the "on the road" series from Copenhagen and introduces Lina - where the heck IS Guovdageaidnu?[02:43] — What role does laughter plays in Lina's life?[03:48] — Lina explains northern Norway's dark humour and why it does not always land in the south[06:46] — Lina talks about humour in her Sami community[07:22] — The snowboard story: a tale of dark humour going right[09:45] — Marla's own dark humour story - the dead mother card[10:12] — How Lina's family uses laughter to keep her grandmother with Alzheimer's in on the fun[12:15] — The grandmother's affair scare, and how humour worked when nothing else did[14:22] — Why does laughter work as a intentional tool?[15:00] — Humour gone wrong - how do you fix it?[17:06] — Recipe for humour - finding laughter in a new language[20:19] — How to find that uncontrollable laughter - trust is the "golden ticket"[27:26] — Marla introduces Laughter Intelligence™ and tells a tale of laughter in Turkey[28:44] — Lessons on laughter for managers - from The Office?[30:30] — The Laughter Revolution Lightning Round begins Links and Resources MentionedLaughter IntelligenceTM Self-Assessment If this one made you think differently about dark humour, laugh, wince, or immediately call your grandmother, hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. And if you want more from this trip, including the stories and photos that did not make the cut, join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. Gertrude and I would love to have you along for the ride!

  8. Jul 16

    Laughing Your Way Through Life, Orkney Island Style

    Jenny Drever has a fantastic Scottish accent, a gift for storytelling, and a philosophy she lives by: if you are not laughing, you are probably doomed. My Airbnb host from Orkney joins me for my first on-the-road interview, and she is Laughter Revolution in human form - proof that a good attitude and a well-placed laugh really can transform how you move through your life. In This Episode Meet Jenny and her dog PeaksLaugh through one of Jenny’s funniest, most chaotic Airbnb guest storiesLearn about Jenny’s simple philosophy: if you are not laughing, you might just be doomedHear the real story behind Scotland’s strange tradition of putting traffic cones on statuesSee why self-deprecating humour is a sign of confidence, not insecurityListen to her hilarious tale of her most mortifying moment at a ferry ticket boothCatch Jenny’s answers in the Laughter Revolution Lightning RoundGet ready to order your new ringtone - the Snortly! Timestamps [00:58] - Introducing Jenny Drever and her Airbnb in Finstown, Orkney[02:45] - Meeting Peaks, Jenny’s rescue dog, who loves every guest equally, though Jenny’s still her favourite, for now[04:55] - The chaotic guest story that still makes Jenny wince[07:55] - What’s life without laughter?[10:34] - Laughter as a defense[11:46] - Self-deprecating, with confidence – The pantsuit story[13:26] - Describing Scottish humour with a little wine[15:22] - The mystery of the traffic cones on Scottish statues, solved[17:10] - The silliness of gooseberries[20:36] - Siblings and laughter – a sure combination[23:29] – Laughing through word muddle mortification[25:49] — The Laughter Revolution Lightning Round[27:42] — Monetizing the “signature giggle”? If this episode made you laugh out loud even once, do me a favour and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts - Spotify, Apple, all of it. And if you want more stories like this one landing in your inbox every two weeks, come join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. I promise it is more fun than your average newsletter!

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About

What if personal growth didn't have to feel like another item on your to-do list? Each week, we blend real stories, professional insight, and practical tools with the transformative power of laughter — to help women get unstuck, build deep self-love, and reclaim their spark. Because transformation doesn't have to be all grit and no grin. Come for the giggles. Stay for the growth. And leave ready to send a little joy out into the world."

Information

  • Creator
    Marla Simlett
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Marla Simlett
  • Show Website
    Laughter Revolution

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