My guest is Tom Segura, renowned comedian, writer, actor and director. We discuss the “how-to” of comedy writing and storytelling, and what the science of humor and the creative process reveal about human emotion and memory. We explore why surprise and the act of "saying the unspoken truth" activate the brain’s reward circuits, as well as the subconscious mechanisms that shape our sense of what is funny. The episode also examines the bi-directional influence between comedy and cultural standards. It will interest anyone curious about the science of humor, the art of performance and emotional contagion.
Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
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Timestamps
00:00:00 Tom Segura
00:01:45 Family, Sports, Running
00:09:35 Sponsors: Maui Nui & Helix Sleep
00:12:37 Ideas, Running, Sleep & Brain, Tools: Exercise for Energy; Phone Outside Room
00:20:16 Capturing Ideas, Cannabis, Storytelling, Experimentation
00:27:28 Ideas & Set List, Performance
00:31:52 Wife, Jokes, Reframing Content; Cancel Culture, Audience Reaction
00:40:56 Jokes, Self & Amusement; Evolution & New Material
00:48:26 Sponsors: AG1 & David Protein
00:51:24 Surprise, Hidden Thoughts; Acting
00:59:02 Voice Impersonation, Kids, Strength Training, Activities
01:05:40 Repeating Jokes; State Changes, Crowds & Energy
01:13:11 Silly Mindset; Audience, Emotional Contagion; Humor & Subconscious Mind
01:27:44 Sponsor: Function
01:29:32 Crowd Work, Comedy Clubs; Original Comedy
01:38:13 Comedy & Social Context; Dark Comedy
01:47:51 Drugs, Overdose, Comedian Deaths, Mental Health; Cynicism, Hope
01:54:21 Audience, Twin Comics; Vulnerability; Stand-Up & Performance
02:01:49 Comedy & Passion, Complaints; Childhood Struggle, Insecurities, Therapy
02:10:53 “Bad Thoughts” Show, Upcoming Projects
02:14:44 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
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