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Humor In The C-Suite

Humor In The C-Suite

Hosted by Kate Davis | Keynote Speaker & Stand Up Comedian showing Leaders how to Leverage Humor

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Episodes

63

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Hi this is Kate Davis I’m a comic and keynote Speaker, and thanks for checking out my Podcast Humor in the C-Suite where I interview leaders, executives and business owners on how they use humor and levity to create an extraordinary work culture. I want to ask the questions that we all want answers to like… Does humor help us or harm us at work? Does humor change our perception of a problem? And how do our leaders use humor to inspire curiosity, success and innovation. I want to be a fly in their chardonnay, I mean a fly on their wall. Honestly, I’m as curious as you are…So join me and a guest every week for Humor in the C-Suite

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60 recent
July 28, 2026Episode 1134 min

The Skill of Vulnerability: How Executive Coach Amy Green Smith Quiets Inner Critic & Builds Trust

This week, Kate sits down with Amy Green Smith, executive leadership coach, master hypnotherapist, and keynote speaker, for a conversation on vulnerability, trust, and communication that's equal parts practical and funny.Amy explains why vulnerability is one of the most disarming tools a leader has, how humor-based communication systems help teams say the hard things without the blowup, and why confrontation avoidance always comes with a hidden cost. She also talks about her background as a master hypnotherapist, breaking down what hypnosis actually is at a scientific level and why it's able to quiet the inner critic, the internal guard that usually blocks new beliefs from sticking.Themes covered: authentic leadership, psychological safety, trust building, hypnosis, the inner critic, workplace culture, and humor in leadership. Plus, the story behind "q-tip stick," a phrase that will make sense once you hear it.Connect with Amy Green Smith Website  LinkedIn Instagram  Free Private Podcast Series: Boundaries Over BurnoutOther episodes You'll Also LoveThe Trolley Scenario: Neuroinclusive Leadership and the Hidden Cost of Masking with Ron SosaTwo Truths and a Lie: How Heart-Led Leadership Beats Burnout with Isabelle TremblayWork Happy: Why Humor is the Gateway to Mental Health at Work with Greg KettnerAdditional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

July 14, 2026Episode 1038 min

Know the Room, Own the Room: How Michael Earls Uses Humor to Keep Leadership Human in the Age of AI

Key topics: Leadership development in the age of AI · humor as an icebreaker in corporate IT leadership · Who are the "new zombies"? · why empathy and emotion are what AI still can't replicate · AI hallucinations and the limits of large language models · curiosity as a leadership trait · knowing your room before you use humor · storytelling as the key to retention.Guest advice: "Own the room. Know the room." Michael's guiding principle for using humor as a leader, learned from a mentor years ago.Standout quotes:"I am copying and pasting, copying and pasting now. I'm a machine now. And that's not what we were built for... We were built for critical thinking. Emotions... And empathy." —Michael Earls"It doesn't have a heart. It's like a tin man." —Kate Davis, on AI and empathyConnect with Michael Earls: https://www.michaelearls.com/books/finding-direction-in-the-age-of-ai/Finding Direction in the Age of AI Wired for Purpose The Digital Compass Additional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

June 23, 2026Episode 933 min

The Reframe: Jeff Arnold, Bestselling Author & RightSure Founder, on Humor as a Leadership Strategy

This week I’m joined by Jeff Arnold: five-time bestselling author, founder of RightSure (North America’s most awarded insurance firm), and a guy who somehow turned standing next to a serious CEO at a drink fountain into a leadership lesson. We talk about why self-deprecating humor is the best humor, why “yes, and” belongs in your boardroom and not just your improv class, how Jeff kills his own ego every time he writes a book, and the story behind the most expensive speeding-ticket photo in Arizona history. Bring tissues. You’ll need them for laughing.Key TopicsSelf-deprecating humor as a leadership trust-builderThe “yes, and” philosophy from improv, applied to businessReframing failure as forward motionUsing humor to deliver hard news without losing authenticityWriting 12 books and learning to kill your own ego on the pageHumor and AI: deploying technology without losing the human side of leadershipRebranding insurance agents as “famously friendly humans”Knowing your audience: when to dial humor up, and when to dial it downThe line between self-deprecating humor and “punching down”Guest AdviceLead with self-deprecating humor before anyone else gets the chance to make you the joke. It signals confidence, not weakness, and it’s the fastest way to build trust with a team.Resources MentionedRightSure InsuranceJeff’s book, AI Forward LeadershipJeff has written 12 books total, 5 of them bestsellers https://jeffarnold.com/books/Jeff Arnold's Website Additional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

June 9, 2026Episode 836 min

The Trolley Scenario: Neuroinclusive Leadership and the Hidden Cost of Masking with Ron Sosa

Imagine a trolley hurtling down the tracks toward five people. You can pull a lever and divert it — but there's one person on the side track too. Most people pull the lever. And according to Ron Sosa, that's exactly how most workplaces are built: systems designed for the majority, with everyone else quietly getting run over. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with Ron to talk about what it really costs to lead while masking, why humor is one of the most powerful tools for self-advocacy, and what becomes possible when leaders are finally given permission to lead as themselves.Key Topics CoveredRon and Kate explore the Trolley Scenario as a framework for understanding how workplace systems are designed — and who they leave behind. They dig into what masking actually costs neurodivergent leaders: the identity erosion, the accelerated burnout, the exhaustion of contorting yourself to meet an expectation that was never built with you in mind. Ron talks about how humor functions as a genuine tool for self-advocacy — not self-deprecation, but the ability to laugh at yourself in a way that makes the hard stuff lighter and the conversations easier. They cover the RISE framework, values-based leadership, and why Ron always starts coaching with personal values rather than professional ones. Kate shares her own experience with ADHD and anxiety, and Ron drops a stat that stops her mid-conversation: neurodivergent children receive an average of 20,000 more corrective comments than their neurotypical peers before the age of ten — and what that does to a person's relationship with humor, validation, and people-pleasingStandout Quotes"The ability to laugh at yourself makes the ability to advocate for yourself less heavy." — Ron Sosa"Nobody is truly toxic. People just have unmet needs they don't know how to express — or needs we don't know how to meet." — Ron Sosa"You conform to society, put on the leadership mask, and everything becomes heavier. You erode your own identity — and then you burn out faster." — Ron SosaAdditional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

May 26, 2026Episode 732 min

Coding with Humor: Leadership Lessons from Tech CEO Jeroen Derwort

What does it look like when a shy kid who hated networking accidentally builds a game with 200 million players, survives corporate lawsuits, charms tax inspectors into forgetting why they came, and learns to lead by doing? That's Jeroen Derwort's story. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with the former CEO of Gamebasics to explore how humor, humility, and a very healthy relationship with imperfection built one of the most unlikely success stories in gaming history — and what every leader can take from it.Key Topics CoveredJeroen and Kate explore how humor functioned as a genuine survival mechanism through the most stressful periods of building and scaling two tech companies simultaneously. They talk about the culture Jeroen created at Gamebasics — informal, creative, and rooted in shared laughter — and how that culture attracted people who genuinely wanted to be there. Jeroen shares how he handled the legal battles and corporate pressure that threatened to end the game entirely, and why having a light-hearted lawyer was one of the best leadership decisions he ever made. They dig into what it felt like when employees left and why Jeroen was genuinely hurt every time — a vulnerability Kate notes in 55+ episodes of the podcast she has never heard a leader admit before. And they cover Jeroen's philosophy on perfection: that doing something and seeing what happens will always beat waiting until everything is right.Additional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

May 12, 2026Episode 637 min

The Flight of Authenticity: How Lisa Pagotto Leads with Humor in the World's Most Extreme Destinations

What does leadership look like when your boardroom is a remote jungle and your team is scattered across time zones navigating geopolitical complexity? For Lisa Pagotto, founder of Crooked Compass, it looks like authenticity, resilience, and a finely tuned sense of humor. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with Lisa to explore how the principles that make Crooked Compass extraordinary — cultural respect, genuine connection, and bold decision-making — translate directly into a leadership philosophy that any leader in any industry can learn from.Key Topics CoveredLisa and Kate explore how humor functions as a genuine leadership tool in high-stakes, high-complexity environments — not as performance, but as a way of managing expectations, building trust, and keeping teams grounded when the terrain is genuinely unpredictable. They dig into the cultural intelligence required to know when humor works and when it doesn't — how some cultures welcome levity while others require a more measured approach, and why reading that distinction correctly is a core leadership skill. Lisa talks about how sharing mistakes and failures with humor makes her more relatable to both her team and her clients, and why that vulnerability is actually one of her greatest strengths as a leader. They also cover what Crooked Compass by Air taught Lisa about pivoting under pressure, how she leads a remote team with authenticity and openness, and why she believes the future belongs to those who dare to do things differently."Sharing failures or mistakes or errors and turning them into humor just makes it more relatable." — Lisa PagottoAbout Crooked CompassCrooked Compass is a multi-award-winning experiential travel company specializing in immersive journeys to remote and lesser-known destinations across the globe. Every experience is designed to prioritize cultural integrity, authentic connection, and meaningful exploration — free from the constraints of mass tourism. Visit https://www.crooked-compass.comConnect with Lisa Pagotto 🌐 Crooked Compass Website 📼 YoutubeAdditional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

April 28, 2026Episode 534 min

Work Happy: Why Humor is the Gateway to Mental Health at Work with Keynote Speaker Greg Kettner

What if one joke — sent on a Friday morning — could remind someone they matter? What if three words from a stage could stop someone from ending their life? Greg Kettner has seen both happen. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with her old comedy circuit friend turned keynote speaker to explore the unexpected intersection of humor and mental health — and why the leaders who get this right are the ones their teams never forget.Greg's Advice for LeadersStart small and start safe. If you're nervous about using humor with your team, test it at home first — with your partner, your kids, your friends. Look to late night TV for clean material that's already been vetted. Send a funny Friday email. Share a meme. You don't have to be a comedian to show you have a sense of humor. And when it comes to mental health specifically: ask the question twice. "How are you doing?" gets you the polite answer. "How are you really doing? I've got time" — that's where the real conversation starts. That's where trust is built. That's where leaders earn the loyalty that no bonus structure can buy.Additional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

April 7, 2026Episode 433 min

Two Truths and a Lie: How Heart-Led Leadership Beats Burnout with Author Isabelle Tremblay

Episode SummaryWhat happens when the person who's been protecting everyone else forgets to protect herself? For Isabelle Tremblay, the answer was burnout so complete she couldn't draft a simple email. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with Isabelle to trace the arc from 24 years of high-pressure global brand leadership to a full reinvention — and the role humor, empathy, and heart played in every part of that journey. This is a conversation about what it really costs to lead inside hustle culture, and what becomes possible when you decide to lead differently.Key Topics CoveredIsabelle and Kate explore how humor was a cornerstone of Isabelle's leadership style long before burnout entered the picture — including the Two Truths and a Lie meeting exercise that consistently turned into genuine laughter and connection. They dig into how hustle culture systematically squeezes humor and humanity out of leadership, and what Isabelle wishes she'd done differently to protect not just her team but herself. Isabelle speaks candidly about how burnout eroded her ability to laugh — and how consciously rebuilding a humor-filled environment was part of her healing. They also cover why Isabelle believes humor is a genuine leadership superpower, how it moves leadership from transactional to human, and why authenticity and levity together create what she calls a love story in business. Kate brings in the broader cultural shift happening in leadership — more heart, less hustle — and why that's exactly what the next generation of employees is asking for."A leader's job is really to serve their team — so all of it, the authenticity, the humor, the transparency, will become a beautiful love story in business." Isabelle's Advice for LeadersKeep humor authentic to who you are and always be respectful — never punch down, never make it about a person. The Two Truths and a Lie exercise is a simple, low-stakes way to bring playfulness into any team setting without pressure. Set boundaries not just for your team but for yourself — protecting only others while neglecting yourself is a fast track to burnout. And if the environment is truly toxic and damaging your health, give yourself permission to leave. Life is too short, and you have unlimited potential — at any age.Connect with Isabelle Tremblay 🌐 Eyenovating  💼 LinkedInAdditional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

March 24, 2026Episode 333 min

The Power of Asking the Right Questions with CEO Scott Burgmeyer

What happens in the silence when nobody laughs? That question sits at the heart of this conversation between Kate Davis and Scott Burgmeyer, founder and CEO of the Become More Group. Scott has spent over three decades moving through manufacturing, technology, HR, and consulting — and in all of it, he's learned that humor isn't decoration. It's infrastructure. Used well, it builds trust, opens people up, and makes it possible to have conversations that actually matter. Used carelessly, it collapses the very relationships it was meant to strengthen. This episode is about knowing the difference.Key Topics CoveredScott and Kate cover how humor functions as a pressure valve in high-stress environments and why that matters more than most leaders realize. They explore the five levels of trust and why humor only becomes truly available at levels three and four — when people feel safe enough to risk a little vulnerability. Scott speaks candidly about the loneliness that comes with being a CEO or business owner, the weight of decisions that affect people's livelihoods, and why humor can be one of the only tools that cuts through that isolation. Kate brings up dark humor in high-stakes professions — nurses, military, firefighters — and Scott digs into why it works, why it's powerful, and why it can never be targeted at a person. They also talk about how humor shifts depending on group size, how to use it to soften an uncomfortable message without losing credibility, and the critical difference between laughing at someone versus laughing about something.Standout Quotes"It's lonely as hell at the top. You're making decisions that impact the lives of everyone in the company — their families, their livelihoods. And who do you have to talk to?" — Scott Burgmeyer"Your delivery is not allowing people to hear your message." — Scott Burgmeyer"It's like going to the symphony and living in those moments of silence." — Kate Davis"Take your work seriously. You don't have to take yourself too seriously." — Kate DavisScott's Advice for LeadersBuild a relationship first. Humor without trust is a gamble you'll often lose. Scott breaks trust down into five levels — and meaningful humor, the kind that actually opens people up, doesn't really become available until you're in levels three and four. Start small, test the waters, and pay close attention to how people respond. Know your audience — not because some people don't deserve humor, but because humor lands differently for everyone, and what works for one person can alienate another. And when it comes to dark humor specifically, it can be a genuine survival tool in high-pressure environments, but the moment it becomes targeted, it stops being humor and starts being harm.Additional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

March 10, 2026Episode 232 min

Summer Camp: How Playground Leadership Builds Workplace Trust with Camp Director Matt Kaufman

What does summer camp have to do with building a high-performing workplace? According to Matt Kaufman — everything. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with Matt to explore how the conditions that make camp transformational — safety, humor, vulnerability, and shared challenge — map directly onto what the best workplace cultures are built on. From managing 500 employees to raising a two-year-old at home, Matt brings a warm, scientifically grounded perspective on why joy isn't a distraction from great work — it's the engine of it.Key Topics CoveredMatt and Kate cover a lot of ground in this conversation, touching on how humor functions as a neurological tool for reducing stress and building energy, why vulnerability is the foundation of trust — and how humor creates the conditions for it, the "X Words" morning meeting tradition that gets leadership teams laughing before the day even starts, the "Fun Professional" core value that Matt's team uses to hold the balance between culture and accountability, what teams that lack psychological safety look like from the outside, why former campers-turned-counselors always lean too far toward fun (and what to do about it), and the parallel between a runner's high and the endorphin-fueled energy of a great camp summer.Standout Quotes"I think people often think you have to look like you're not enjoying work. But the best employees I've ever worked with are having a good time when they're doing their jobs." — Matt Kaufman"When you tell a joke, it's extremely vulnerable. And a first step towards building trust is to create vulnerability." — Matt Kaufman"People have to feel safe before they can thrive." — Matt Kaufman"Kids laugh 300 times a day. Adults laugh about 15. When do we lose that?" — Kate DavisMatt's Advice for LeadersStart small. When you're new to a team, use humor gently and build from there. As trust deepens, so does your ability to push the edges. Know your audience — humor that works in a tour for prospective parents won't land the same way in a hard conversation. And when humor misfires? Admit it fast, apologize genuinely, and move on. Nobody's perfect, and pretending otherwise only makes it worse.The BooksThe Summer Camp MBA — Ideal for anyone leading, hiring, or developing teenagers and young adults. Draws directly from camp management and culture.The Campfire Effect — A broader exploration of what makes camp so transformational, and how those same principles apply to families, schools, and workplaces. This is the book for leaders, parents, and educators who want to build environments where people become the best version of themselves.Both available on Amazon. Links above.Additional Links & Resources:Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate!Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.caThank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate DavisEdited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

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