Seriously Funny: Women Who Humor and Change the Rules
This podcast explores how humor can improve work and leadership, featuring stories of women who use their own unapologetic humor to blaze new paths and challenge the status quo. Part comedy, part interview, it showcases conversations with women leaders about the lessons they've learned and what they find funny. The host, Kathy Klotz-Guest, aims to change how we talk about better work, humor, and funny women.
Episodes
Ep 5: Failure is the Sex Talk of Leadership: How to Have That (and Any) Awkward Convo
Awkward. Necessary. Avoided. Sometimes Until it's Too Late. We can change that story and the results. And yes, humor is a guide.“How many of you have honest conversations abut failure at work?"I asked 500 leaders in my audience a simple question during a keynote in Ohio: Fewer than 10 hands went up.Then came the half-raises. Which was hilarious...we all feel a little conflicted. They look
Stop Being 'Professional' and Start Being "Real': The Power of Shared Laughter
We’ve been lied to. We’ve been told that being 'Bold' means having answers and being tough. Whatever THAT is. No expression. You know, "Professional.""Professional" isn't serving us.2026, that ‘professional’ mask isn’t a shield; it's a prison. It’s why we’re all exhausted, lonely, and 'Quietly Cracking' behind Zoom.I am Kathy Klotz-Guest and 20+ years in
Laughter and Trust: Why Humor Is the BIGGEST Culture Signal Leaders Miss
"If they're not laughing, you are already losing."I know it up close.When the world feels uncertain, most workplaces default to performance and acting like they “have it together.” Pretending.We kind of forgot how to be human.performance 'theater' is quietly killing creativity, trust, and honest leadership.In this episode, Kathy Klotz-Guest—former Silicon Valley leader, longt
Building Bolder People ....and Rooms
We're back! Happy New Year.This season we're exploring seriously funny cultures - because when cultures laugh more, show up more, embrace imperfections, people show up bolder.Humor and levity are not just icing; they're the whole cake! It changes the DNA of how we operate.So what if we dealt with the hecklers, the rigidity, the performance theater where talk all day because it's ea
S3, Ep 1: What is a 'Seriously Funny' Company and Why it Matters
In this kickoff to the 3rd season of the podcast, I chat about what it means to be a Seriously Funny, how it is strategic and the cake - not just the frosting! - and why it matters for your company's (and peoples') adaptability, resilience and innovation.
S2, Ep 9: Unlikely Comedian? My Convo with Megan Jeffrey About Rewriting Possibilities After Burnout
She has called herself an "Unlikely Comedian." In 2020, Megan Jeffrey didn't just hit pandemic burnout like all of us, her mother had terminal cancer, she found out her then-husband was unfaithful to her and she found herself a single mom of 3 young kids. Then...she lost her job.
She then turned to social media, posting videos of her doing accents, particularly Trinidadian ones (her
S2, Ep 8. Funnier: A Funny, Practical Convo About Using Comedy (Way Bigger than Jokes) with Second City's Anne Libera
"Funnier" is the title of Anne's Upcoming book.
Comedy is WAY bigger than jokes. It's our words, our voice, our humanity and how we show up.
I was not going to release the whole hour at once. Originally I was going to break it up into sections.
I just couldn't break the convo in two because it was TOO GOOD. And it's worth many listens.
Anne is a woman after my own he
S2, Ep 7: Comedy Concepts for Better Speaking, Stories and Stage Presence - Without Being a Comedian
Principles of comedy can help you become a more powerful, confident and connected speaker and presenter. Anyone can add more humor and playfulness...without having to be a comedian.
If you can laugh, you have a sense of humor and that's different from being funny. Think playful, humorous and improvisational and you can use all these approaches. And yes, even a bit of stand-up if you like. It
S2, Ep 6: You Failed. Now What? Get Up, Give Yourself Grace, Go Forward. 3 Lessons from The Golden Globes
You effed up.
We all do. I have. You have. We're all human.
Watching the Golden Globes made me think of times I didn't perform well or things could have gone differently.
Don't beat yourself up. Making mistakes, failing - all part of learning. Don't wait too long to get back on the horse.
Give yourself grace, understand lessons and move forward.
Here are 3 big life and leader
S2, Ep 5: Why Every Leader - YOU - Should Embrace Lightness, Laughter and Levity in 2024
I am on a mission to change leaders, teams and workplaces through laughter, lightness of being and levity. Yes, humor.
I've said it many times and I'll say it again: humor > funny and jokes.
Humor is embracing our imperfections, our awkwardness and making it safer for others to do the same around us. It builds trust and connection and courage - all the things companies need for innova
S2, Ep 4: Humor is The Ultimate Algorithm for Better Work
I've spent almost 25 years on comedy stages and for 17 years of that, I was in tech by day (comedy by night). Here's why humor IS the ultimate algorithm for innovation:
Innovation of any type needs trust, courage, connection
Humor fosters trust, courage, connection
Laughter measure company health (say ahhh...haha!)
Humor is not unprofessional. It's not professional v. humor; it&
S2, Ep 3: Humor, Comedy and the Resilient, Life-Changing Power of Accepting All of Who You are: My chat with Andrea Vahl
Andrea Vahl and I go way back to speaking and marketing.
She is a social media consultant, speaker, comedian and host of Late Starters Club Podcast. Hey, she and I know it’s never too late to change your life.
Andrea and I laugh and chat about some big lessons for all of us about the healing and connecting power of humor. One of the biggest reminders for all of us is the resilience and power beh
Ep 2, S 2. Your Brain on Improv, Tiny Behavior Changes and Why Your Inner Critic Needs to Play Way More - A "FunVo" with Fellow Play Advocate, Jocelyn Brady
This episode is pure magic because I get to talk to my friend, Jocelyn Brady of BetterBrainStories.com. She is a fellow storyteller and play advocate who has been called the Bye Nye of The Brain and wears a brain cap in her vids. In this amazing episode, we talk about:
Why we NEED stories of productive play
Tiny wins matter - little victories are so important
Elevating KPIS that are hard to
S2, Ep 1: Mistakes, Bloopers, Taking Up Space in Your Life and Why Fun is a HELL YES for Measuring Success: My Juicy Convo with Erin Diehl
Two improv comedians, speakers and business owners
Tons of laughs
1 podcast
I got to talk to Erin Diehl, fellow improviser after my own heart. Whew! And the fun, laughter and AMENs kept going. Grab some wine, some friends and lean into this convo. You won't want to miss it.
A few Highlights from our convo....
Why we love bloopers and when sketch comedians 'break character' (it'
Ep 1: Mistakes, Bloopers and Why Fun is a HELL YES for Measuring Success: My Convo with Erin Diehl
Two improv comedians, speakers and business owners
Tons of laughs
1 podcast
I got to talk to Erin Diehl, fellow improviser after my own heart. Whew! And the fun, laughter and AMENs kept going. Grab some wine, some friends and lean into this convo.
Highlights
Why we love bloopers (it's all about showing up real)
How improv skills in life and business are about taking up space and acceptin
Ep 7: Pitch, Please! The Clarifying Power of Not Overthinking and Why We Need Fun (not BS) Pitch slaps: My Convo with Mavens of Merch Founder, Zineb Layachi
In this episode I talk to my fun friend, Mavens of Merch founder, Zineb Layachi. She's a GIF Queen, too, all.
Her whole brand is about getting people to hear your message - not the pitch slaps we're used to. Rather, her whole brand is about fun connections people remember: like comical sayings on merch.
Highlights of this episode include:
Why recognizing that 'limited space' for anything
Episode 6: How Laughter is the Key to Shared Connection Between Human Beings and Why Magic Happens When You are Unencumbered by Being Right
Dani Klein Modisett is the Founder and CEO of Laughter On Call. She is a woman after my own heart.
We're both comedians, improvisers, business women, moms, have 3 names and we both believe in the power of laughter. This conversation was one of my favorites (they all are!) because we both believe in the message of joy. We know that Covid created a profound sense of isolation that led to
Ep 5: We're all a Bit Bat Shit, Women Still Get Mixed Messages About How they Show up, and Why Women Leaders Can Use More Comedy
This was pure joy. Lalita Dee is a friend and fellow comedian. A leader at Stanford, she also hosts a podcast with fellow friend and comedian, Smita Venkat, called "We 💖 Mom Jokes!" Want unfiltered truth? Talk to a comedian. At least one who's Dutch. She's not rude...she's from Amsterdam! (A call back will make sense as you listen).
In this episode, we chat about:
-The definition of mom jokes: Fun
Ep 4: Stop Waiting to be Invited to Your Own Prom. Why We Need the Courage to be Imperfect Now
In this 15-min episode (no guest), I talk about imperfection. One of the threads coming up so far in conversations with guests is being imperfect and why we need more joy.
Women are judging themselves way too much and too harshly. So what if we didn't?
What if we gave ourselves the power to be imperfect, have more humor and joy?
What do you think?
Ep 3 My Convo with Punk Rock HR's Laurie Ruettimann: "You may be an imposter; so is everyone else! The way to fix work is to fix yourself first" and why funny means owning your stuff
In this episode I talk to someone I've listened to for a while and, whew! ...she delivers. Laurie Ruettimann is lightening in a bottle. Part funny, part changing the world, and a whole lot of F YES! She is on a mission to fix work AND that starts with you. And me. And us. Her book is "Betting on You" and her podcast is "Punk Rock HR."
The big takeaway from our convo: You fix Work by Fixing Yourse
Ep 2 with Alessandra Wall, PhD: Can a funny woman be taken seriously in the boardroom AND why women lose that inner 'goofy girl' in adolescence
Hi,
I am Kathy Klotz-Guest, ex-tech leader, speaker and comedian, and the Founder of Keepingithuman.com.
My friend, Alessandra Wall, PhD, one of my fave friends to chat shop with, works with companies and women as do I. Her first job was as a child psychologist and we nerd out as we always do about women, humor and how it plays out at work. The first time we did, we both laughed because aft
Ep 1: Why this podcast, why now, and why comedy saved my life
In this intro to my brand new podcast, I share my story, my mission, why this is exactly the right time for these stories and why and how comedy helped me heal a fragmented soul. I talk about a few upcoming guests. This is the beginning of a labor of love. I had the idea for years. So here it is My new baby i the world. The next episode will be up next week. We'll talk about girls humor and the ps
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