What if laughter wasn’t just a reaction to something funny, but an intentional tool for changing your mindset, strengthening culture, and navigating difficult moments?

In this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary and Ben sit down with Kim Coleman, a laughter strategist, laughter yoga instructor, TEDx speaker, keynote speaker, and performer. Kim shares how her background in theater, education, writing, stand-up comedy, and improvisation ultimately led her to recognize the power of intentional laughter.

Kim explains that she wants people to remember her as someone who listens, makes others feel comfortable, and helps them laugh. For her, laughter is something that can be intentionally introduced into everyday life to help shift your mindset and change the atmosphere around you.

• Why laughter can be an intentional part of your daily routine

• How leaders influence the emotional atmosphere of their workplace

• Using humor to create connection and make people feel more comfortable

• How Kim’s theater and improvisation background shaped the way she reads people and communicates

• Kim’s journey through writing, stand-up comedy, and laughter yoga

• Giving yourself permission to experience difficult moments instead of forcing positivity

• Why failure and bombing on stage can become powerful opportunities to learn

• How business owners can become more comfortable experimenting, failing, and trying something new

• Using music, art, meaningful objects, and relationships to intentionally influence your mindset

• Why the people you surround yourself with can have such a major impact on your energy

• Learning to take yourself a little less seriously

Kim also shares an important lesson from her own difficult seasons: sometimes the right response isn’t trying to make someone laugh. It’s listening, being present, and meeting them where they are.

For entrepreneurs and leaders, Kim encourages creating intentional moments throughout the day that help reduce stress and bring more joy into both work and life. She also emphasizes being willing to experiment and recognizing that failure is often where some of the biggest lessons are found.

The conversation ends with a simple challenge: find small things—music, people, art, memories, routines, or even laughter itself—that you can intentionally place into your day to help move your mindset in the direction you want it to go.

LinkedIn: @KimColeman Instagram: @kcolemanlaughs