Laughing Matters

Paul

5.0 (1)
BUSINESS
UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Welcome to Peppercomm's Laughing Matters! A podcast that explores how great minds from the world of business, journalism and beyond are using the incredible power of humor to boost morale, engagement and productivity. Hosted by CEO Steve Cody and Senior Vice President Paul Merchan.

MAR 7

Episode 39: Switch the Suit for a New Zealand Sweater: Mikayla Hopkins, Tracksuit

Can a leader who embraces self-deprecating humor also help grow a company from four employees to 120? Mikayla Hopkins is laughing while she leads marketing at Tracksuit (the word also happens to be what New Zealanders call sweaters). She joins Laughing Matters to share her journey of building a brand from the ground up and finding humor in the process. Among her insights: The unique contrasts between self-deprecating Kiwi (New Zealand) humor and the direct, punchy style of American comedyGrow...

22 min
JAN 22

Episode 38: How many cows would your colleagues trade for you?: Sally Susman, Pfizer

You’re a leader at a global pharmaceutical company and a once-in-a-lifetime worldwide pandemic hits. How do you manage that with bold leadership and resilience - all while maintaining a sense of humor? Sally Susman, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Pfizer, shares how she navigated the unprecedented, along with some hilarious stories from her career: The power of admitting you’re wrong and sharing your biggest mistakesHer future boss’ witty answer when someone offered to trade her for a coup...

26 min
JAN 10

Episode 37: Life is a highway riding in the back of a self-driving truck: Andrew Culhane, Torc Robotics

When we think of autonomous vehicles, many of us may envision the Terminator, Transformers or some other sci-fi flick. But they’re a reality on our roads today, and having a job in this field can require a unique perspective on humor. Andrew Culhane, Chief Commercial Officer at autonomous trucking company Torc Robotics, joins Laughing Matters to share some of his experiences in nearly two decades espousing self-driving tech: Navigating vastly different approaches to humor – from truckers to m...

20 min
10/25/2024

Episode 36: Things to say (and not to say) in a job interview: Jamie McLaughlin, Monday Talent

Thinking of cracking a joke next time you’re in a job interview? Jamie McLaughlin, CEO of recruitment firm Monday Talent, tells Laughing Matters that while this could be a good approach, you should take a step back and make sure you read the room! He also goes into details on: The importance of the right humor in interviews, especially as most today are virtualWhy sarcasm can be a quick way to humor but isn’t always the best way to help people relaxAn embarrassing story of an interviewe...

23 min
07/08/2024

Episode 35: Put off adulting and don’t worry about your SATs: Sage advice from Pat Fitzgibbons, M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust

Join us on this episode of Laughing Matters as we chat with Pat Fitzgibbons, Senior Public Relations Manager at M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust, whose career journey is filled with humor, from newsroom antics to his family’s political legacy in New Jersey. Pat shares: · Tips on how to prepare for a career in communications and how to infuse a daily dose of LOL in college · How his father and grandfather used laughter to forge connections...

27 min
06/21/2024

Episode 34: Let that 18-wheeler merge! How Jenni Ruiz finds humor in trucking

Life is a highway for most of us, but especially for Jenni Ruiz, the Bronx native who works as a senior marketing manager for trucking software company Transfix. Jenni is our latest Laughing Matters podcast guest, where she talks about why humor is essentially a job prerequisite in trucking & freight, as well as: · Why her first career was tough and the importance of working somewhere you can be yourself · How she learned to watch ...

23 min
05/14/2024

Episode 33: How To Be a Baddie in PR- A Discussion with IBM’s Brandi Boatner

On today’s episode of Laughing Matters, Brandi Boatner, Manager of digital and advocacy communications at IBM, joins us to talk about how she uses humor as a dynamic public speaker and advocate for her profession. Her insights include: How she linked an IT infrastructure campaign with yoga poses. How humor can play a role in attracting students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds into communications. A hilarious cringeworthy moment in Grand Central Station that taught her val...

28 min
03/27/2024

Episode 32: Bringing Latino Humor to PR and to the President of the U.S: Gloria Rodriguez, Founder of Comunicad

In this episode of Laughing Matters, Paul Merchan and Steve Cody interview Gloria Rodriguez, the founder and president of Comunicad, a Ruder Finn company, and a pioneer in multicultural communications and advocacy for the Latino community. She shares some of her amazing stories and insights from her career, such as: ● The time she took clients to Puerto Rico to help support Hurricane Maria relief efforts and helped expand the aid to our furry friends ● ...

26 min

See All (39)

Creator

Paul
Years Active

2021 - 2025
Episodes

39
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Laughing Matters

Laughing Matters

Episode 39: Switch the Suit for a New Zealand Sweater: Mikayla Hopkins, Tracksuit

Episode 38: How many cows would your colleagues trade for you?: Sally Susman, Pfizer

Episode 37: Life is a highway riding in the back of a self-driving truck: Andrew Culhane, Torc Robotics

Episode 36: Things to say (and not to say) in a job interview: Jamie McLaughlin, Monday Talent

Episode 35: Put off adulting and don’t worry about your SATs: Sage advice from Pat Fitzgibbons, M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust

Episode 34: Let that 18-wheeler merge! How Jenni Ruiz finds humor in trucking

Episode 33: How To Be a Baddie in PR- A Discussion with IBM’s Brandi Boatner

Episode 32: Bringing Latino Humor to PR and to the President of the U.S: Gloria Rodriguez, Founder of Comunicad

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Laughing Matters

Episodes

Episode 39: Switch the Suit for a New Zealand Sweater: Mikayla Hopkins, Tracksuit

Episode 38: How many cows would your colleagues trade for you?: Sally Susman, Pfizer

Episode 37: Life is a highway riding in the back of a self-driving truck: Andrew Culhane, Torc Robotics

Episode 36: Things to say (and not to say) in a job interview: Jamie McLaughlin, Monday Talent

Episode 35: Put off adulting and don’t worry about your SATs: Sage advice from Pat Fitzgibbons, M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust

Episode 34: Let that 18-wheeler merge! How Jenni Ruiz finds humor in trucking

Episode 33: How To Be a Baddie in PR- A Discussion with IBM’s Brandi Boatner

Episode 32: Bringing Latino Humor to PR and to the President of the U.S: Gloria Rodriguez, Founder of Comunicad

About

Information