Stefano Iaboni: Games

What if laughter could be your secret weapon for better leadership? International comedy expert Stefano Iaboni has spent over 20 years proving that humor isn't just entertainment—it's a powerful business tool that drives innovation, reduces stress, and builds stronger teams.

As founder of Smile Solution, Stefano works with tech companies and startups to transform workplace culture through strategic humor. His approach using physical, non-verbal comedy transcends cultural barriers, making it perfect for diverse teams. Drawing from his personal experience using humor during his cancer battle, Stefano brings both expertise and authenticity to this conversation.

Discover why laughter engages both sides of your brain, how self-deprecating humor builds trust as a leader, and practical ways to reduce workplace stress through intentional comedy.

Key Takeaways

• Universal Connection: Physical humor transcends cultural and language barriers, making it invaluable for global teams.
• Brain Science: Laughter is one of the few activities that engages both brain hemispheres simultaneously, optimizing creative problem-solving.
• Leadership Strategy: Self-deprecating humor builds psychological safety and reduces hierarchy barriers.
• Stress Management: Intentional humor transforms high-pressure environments and improves team well-being.

Notable Quotes

• "Work is serious, but you don't have to be serious all the time. That can change everything."
• "When you laugh, it's one of the few times both sides of the brain work together."
• "Start with self-deprecation; it's the best way to inject humor into leadership."

Episode Resources:

• Smile Solution - Stefano Iaboni’s Website
• Stefano Iaboni on LinkedIn 

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.ca

Thank 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 Davis
Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

Transcript

0:00:03 - (Kate Davis): Hello, I'm Kate Davis and this is Humor in the C Suite, a show about how leaders use humor to create an extraordinary work culture. Hi everyone and welcome to this week's episode of Humor in the C Suite. My guest this week is Stefano Iaboni, internationally recognized speaker and trainer, passionate about harnessing the power of laughter to transform workplaces. With over 20 years experience in comedy, he has the privilege of performing and facilitating in 15 countries. Countries creating experiences that leave audiences energized, connected and inspired. In his keynote, From Stress to Success, the Power of Laughter in Business, he shows how humor is more than just fun. It's a tool that boosts creativity, strengthens connection and reduces stress in professional settings.

0:00:48 - (Kate Davis): As a founder of Smile Solution, he's partnered with tech companies, startups and HR leaders to bring laughter into the workplace, helping teams bond, think more creatively and tackle challenges with a fresh perspective. His approach is deeply personal. It shaped by his journey and his own experiences using laughter to navigate life's toughest moments. I loved our conversation today. He is so playful.

0:01:13 - (Kate Davis): We do speak about the same thing, but he really has a lens of it as part of a lot of team building, a lot of games. I'm so excited for you to hear this episode and to really be inspired to bring some of these techniques into your workplaces. So please welcome Stefano Ibon. I am so excited to have you here because you are the chief laugh officer of your own company and I'm. I'm always so inspired when people speak and coach to something so similar and so dear to my heart.

0:01:50 - (Kate Davis): And I feel like this is such important work. So I thought we would just start off by telling everyone, getting you to tell everyone your story and how you got to be into all this.

0:02:02 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yeah. So I am originally from Italy. I'm from Rome, Italy. I apologize in advance. Okay. Nobody's perfect. So I moved to the United States 11 years ago now. Funny enough, why? Because my wife is American, she's from the Bay Area, but we, we met in Barcelona, Spain. Isn't that interesting? That's where we used to live before we moved here. And around 2013 we decided one and like, oh, maybe. Well, we go to the States for a little, you know, a little bit. It's turning to 11 years.

0:02:37 - (Stefano Iaboni): So I do what I do because I've been involved in comedy for more than 20 plus years of my life and I was lucky enough to perform in more than 15 countries around the globe. And when I say comedy, my type of comedy, it's mainly non spoken. It's Mainly physical, visual. So I don't, I'm not a stand up comedian because I think a lot of time, you know, when you say, oh, I do comedy, people. Oh, you're a stand up, you tell jokes? No, not necessarily. I am the joke.

0:03:05 - (Stefano Iaboni): So that means, like, I create either a character or a situation that is funny, right? So, and because of that, in my opinion, my type of comedy, it's more international in a way because, you know, I don't really use language. So, you know, people, you can still get it, you know, sort of like. Like Mr. Bean, sort of. Okay, not exactly, but sort of. So I, you know, through there, I once. One thing that I learned and I discover is like, that's, that's a universal language, right? Laughter. Laughter is universal language. Humor is different, yes, they do go together, but not the same. So humor, maybe it's more, you know, personal culture, something that is funny in Italy. Maybe it's not funny in the US or the other way around. Laughter, we all know how to do it.

0:03:54 - (Stefano Iaboni): And so I realized, I was like, oh, this is a very fast and direct way to have people connect. Now, despite the language, the economical status, whatever color of the skin, boom. You laugh, you connect, right? Instant, instant connection. And, and when I had, like, when I went through some difficult times in my life, around 2015, 2016, I was diagnosed with cancer. Laughter and humor played a major role in my healing journey.

0:04:23 - (Stefano Iaboni): Now, I'm not going to say that that was the cure. No, I mean, surely he helped a lot, you know, because basically when I went, when I was through there, I. I started doing my own research because I was really, like, I was doing chemo, but I was also producing a show at the same time and I still wanted to continue. I was like, you know, if I die, might as well do die doing what I like, you know. So I did a show and at the moment, you know, I was like, very tired. I was like very feeling very down, you know, I had no energy, no hair.

0:04:58 - (Stefano Iaboni): Anyway, I went on stage and everything and something incredible happened. So I was like, I, you know, people were laughing, I was laughing, we were all having a great time. Then I walk off stage and I was feeling amazing for like days, you.

0:05:12 - (Kate Davis): Know, wow, what happened?

0:05:14 - (Stefano Iaboni): You know, like, this is crazy. It's like I was feeling terrible and all of a sudden I'm feeling great. So that's when I started. Like that kind of like the, you know, curiosity, you know, got me into, like, oh, I want to know. I want to investigate what is happening here. What is Going on. So I discover all these things that happen that we laugh, you know, that we all know about now. You know, it's like the neuroscience behind it, all the things that happen in your brain and you laugh. Right. So I was like, oh, wow, this is very incredible.

0:05:39 - (Stefano Iaboni): So, basically, lately, what I've been doing, I've been speaking and doing, you know, workshops and training for company to help them. The main thing that I do, I help them deal with stress, you know, because a lot of people out there are dealing with stress nowadays. So, yeah, I help them through. Through that, through laughter and humor. But doesn't mean, like, I teach them how to tell jokes.

0:06:05 - (Kate Davis): It's more like, yeah, absolutely. For me, it's just, first of all, I love your story. I love the fact that I do love Barcelona, by the way, one of my favorite cities in the world. I'm. And I'm glad you beat CANC or got through it anyway. It. It really lends to your spirit and who you are and the fact that you are able to find humor in those moments. I actually know of a mime comedian in Canada who.

0:06:38 - (Kate Davis): He's not with us anymore. He was older, but he was an incredible. Like, he just can. It's amazing how the physical realm of humor can really connect people. So I love that. And that you found humor in those moments is so incredible. I mean, one of. They say one of the first things that all humans do, or the commonality, no matter what country or what language we all speak is, you know, as babies, we all cry and we all laugh, and it's such a common language. And the fact that you're bringing that to places is incredible. And that you found.

0:07:15 - (Kate Davis): How do you find when you're doing your keynotes? Are you.

0:07:22 - (Stefano Iaboni): Are.

0:07:22 - (Kate Davis): Are they like. Do you do a lot of physical stuff? I've seen your workshops where you're getting people to play games and really connect and stuff like that, which is amazing. But are there ways that you find the physical is different from the words when you're running these keynotes and workshops?

0:07:39 - (Stefano Iaboni): I, you know, it's a very good question. I. I always try to incorporate that in my presentation. I don't want to just talk. I don't want to just show you facts or numbers. I like to get. So I like to explain my story a little bit.

0:07:53 - (C): Yeah.

0:07:54 - (Stefano Iaboni): Then how these things help workplaces. How can that change the work culture? And then I'm like, let's practice that. Let's put it all together.

0:08:02 - (C): Yeah.

0:08:03 - (Stefano Iaboni): So why don't we do it? And then I like to usually, you know, like, maybe step 30% or 40% of my presentation. Is that. So we play games. I do things that, like, people can participate, you know, interact, and then, you know, get to connect.

0:08:19 - (C): Yeah.

0:08:20 - (Kate Davis): And it's. It is, as you said, such a great stress buster. And. And life is stressful for so many people. And, you know, and not even just at the workplace, but we're all dealing with children and aging parents and this and that, and life is really busy. Do you find because you're so physical about it? It really does, because I find a lot of leaders that I've spoken to, especially when it's international companies, they are dealing with many different types humor within different cultures.

0:08:52 - (Kate Davis): Right. And really, do you find the physical aspect of humor is really knowing your audience as well? Because I find when it's jokes, I really have to know my audience or who they are.

0:09:02 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes, yes, I know. I think being visual and being physical might help, you know, like, breaking down that barrier. It might be easier because. Yes. As you said, you know, with humor, you got to be careful. Right?

0:09:15 - (C): Yeah.

0:09:15 - (Stefano Iaboni): It's like, oh, the type of humor you're using when you're using it, you know, because some people might have a sense of humor, some people don't, you know, But I think, like, maybe the being physical and being visual, it's easier because in a way, it's easier to relate.

0:09:32 - (Kate Davis): Right?

0:09:33 - (C): Yeah.

0:09:34 - (Stefano Iaboni): Or if I'm, you know, if you see a situation or character that is like, oh, you know, that. I don't know, it's. It's just ridiculous. You might, in a way connect because it's like, you feel like, oh, I know that person. I've seen it before. Oh, I've been in that situation, you know. Yeah. It's easier than, like, the verbal stuff. Right.

0:09:53 - (Kate Davis): Because you've been an artist for so long and traveled, you know, a comedian for so many years. Do you find. When you go into these companies, can you tell whether they're, you know, using humor within that? And is there, like, a lot of attachment to innovation and being able to be their authentic selves when they're learning from you?

0:10:17 - (Stefano Iaboni): I love this question. I. I feel like there is maybe a little bit of misconcept.

0:10:26 - (Kate Davis): Okay.

0:10:27 - (Stefano Iaboni): Because sometimes people feel like, oh, you know, because I'm working, I have no time for this, or because this is business. We don't laugh here. This is not funny. Right. That's a. That's a misconcept, which is actually part of my keynote. It's like, yeah, work Is serious, but we don't have to be. Okay.

0:10:46 - (C): Yeah.

0:10:47 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes, we work seriously. Yes. We. Hi. We're all professional here, but you don't have to be serious all the time. Okay?

0:10:54 - (Kate Davis): Yes, absolutely.

0:10:55 - (Stefano Iaboni): That. That can really change everything, right?

0:10:58 - (C): Yeah.

0:10:59 - (Stefano Iaboni): The culture, the atmosphere, the energy. If you're able to bring a little bit of lightness in the heavy stuff. Right?

0:11:06 - (C): Yeah.

0:11:06 - (Stefano Iaboni): If you can just have a little bit of play in the. In the stress. Right?

0:11:12 - (C): Yeah.

0:11:13 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yeah. No, yeah.

0:11:14 - (Kate Davis): Are you finding it really helps collaboration? Because you said on. On your website it says, or one of your keynotes that I read, laughter connects two ideas that apparently don't coincide with each other.

0:11:27 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes.

0:11:27 - (Kate Davis): Can you explain that a bit more?

0:11:29 - (Stefano Iaboni): I love that. Okay, first of all, when you laugh, it's one of the few times that, like, in your brain, both sides are connected.

0:11:37 - (C): Yeah.

0:11:37 - (Stefano Iaboni): The right side and the left side, they work together. Okay.

0:11:41 - (C): Yeah.

0:11:41 - (Stefano Iaboni): And then actually, this is one. It's a game that I do sometimes. I. In the workshops, I do the. The most ridiculous idea, right, to solve a problem. So say, you know, your company or people are dealing, they're stuck with something, they're stuck with an issue. And sometimes, you know, what happened is interesting, especially in big companies, you know, maybe you have a department that is struggling with something and there is another department, but they, yes, they do know each other, but not necessarily so they don't really know what. What they do. They don't really know each other. Right.

0:12:13 - (Stefano Iaboni): So even switching roles helps a lot. And having people come up. So one game that I play is like, hey, how about we come up with the most, the silliest, the most ridiculous, the most, the stupidest idea ever about this problem that you're dealing with. You'd be surprised. You'd be surprised what people come up with. And sometimes. And so first of all, that's like, Creates psychological safety. People feel like, oh, I can be silly, I can be weird. Okay. This is just a game. Okay.

0:12:43 - (Stefano Iaboni): So I can come up with something that I might not say in a regular, you know, meeting or normal, say, environment. Right. So. And then. And then they start, like, whatever, playing things around, and sometimes they get surprised about. Oh, well, actually, that thing that you just said might actually work. And he came out of something like. That was supposed to be a game, silly, you know, just for fun. Right? So that's. That's what I'm trying. What I say. Yes. Sometimes that helps you create something that doesn't make any sense. Right.

0:13:18 - (Stefano Iaboni): So you think about something. It's like, oh, no, that would Never work. But then you'd be surprised.

0:13:23 - (C): Yeah.

0:13:23 - (Kate Davis): I actually used that in my keynote where I'm like. Because there was a great study done where at an advertising firm where they had two groups and they said, we want you to come up with the best ideas for this campaign, and the other group, we want you to come up with the worst ideas. Right. And the worst ones were way more playful and better and connected more and, and all those. So I love that. It's so important.

0:13:46 - (Kate Davis): And you know, also getting people to, you know, that grown up little switch in the top of our heads. Let's switch it off for the next hour. And all of a sudden it sounds like a schoolyard. And it's so. Everyone's just being a kid and having so much fun and, you know, and, and that is really what I find connects people. I'm not taking ourselves too seriously and bringing that levity into the workplace.

0:14:11 - (C): Yeah.

0:14:11 - (Kate Davis): In, in your own life, how have you found humor has helped you, you know, build relationships or collaborate?

0:14:20 - (Stefano Iaboni): I think so. You know, it's like so many different settings and so many different situation.

0:14:27 - (C): Yeah.

0:14:28 - (Stefano Iaboni): Just so helpful. Right. Well, first of all, what happened, you connect. Okay. And you just said that. So there's a moment that you, you, you play, you know, you're starting to play. And then, you know, people look at each other. Okay. They make eye contact, they smile. You know, they relax, they drop the shoulders like. Oh, they can breathe right. Instant. So if I, I try everywhere I go, every. Whatever I do is I.

0:14:53 - (Stefano Iaboni): Can I make a joke about it? Can I do something silly? Can I, Can I, can I? You know, how can I make this person laugh? Whatever they're doing? Okay. You know, not just in, not just like when I'm working on, like, companies or when I'm doing. No. But in general out there.

0:15:10 - (C): Yeah.

0:15:11 - (Stefano Iaboni): That changes everything, in my opinion. You know? Oh, people relax. They connect. They. They like, they might, like, you might get extra thing because of that. Okay.

0:15:21 - (C): Yeah.

0:15:22 - (Stefano Iaboni): I don't know. One thing that I talk in my keynote, like, when I was working, I had this comedy duel. And once we had international gig, we were like flying from Rome to Canada. Our flight got canceled. Okay. We got stuck at the airport for two days. No, it didn't just cancel twice. Once it got canceled three times. We got stuck there. Okay. They gave us food vouchers, okay? Food vouchers. 20 bucks a day.

0:15:49 - (Stefano Iaboni): There's nothing in the airport. What do you get with 20 bucks?

0:15:51 - (Kate Davis): You get a bowl of water. Half a bottle. Exactly.

0:15:54 - (Stefano Iaboni): So I went up to the cafeteria. And I said, hey, listen, this food voucher, what is it? What do I get with this? And this is verbal. Okay. I said, what do I get with this? Do I just get existential crisis and a sandwich or just an existential crisis?

0:16:07 - (C): Yeah.

0:16:07 - (Stefano Iaboni): Person on the other side, smile. You know what? Oh, how about I give you an extra sandwich and a free banana? Wow. Okay.

0:16:14 - (Kate Davis): There you go.

0:16:15 - (Stefano Iaboni): We sleeping on the floor. Two o' clock in the morning. Two a.m. in the morning. Security comes by and says, hey, you guys cannot sleep here. Okay. Luckily, I dealt with somebody that had a sense of humor because I said, no, no, no, no, we're not sleeping, man. We are, you know, we are performer. We're just rehearsing. Stillness. Laughed. Okay. Well, I was lucky that that person has a humor. They laugh and they say, okay, listen to you. What if you just go around the corner, there is a place that you guys can go and nobody will bother you.

0:16:44 - (Kate Davis): I love it.

0:16:45 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yeah. I mean, yeah. Or so whenever you do, if you.

0:16:48 - (Kate Davis): Try, it's like defenses.

0:16:51 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes.

0:16:51 - (Kate Davis): And it makes them.

0:16:52 - (C): Yeah.

0:16:53 - (Kate Davis): More.

0:16:53 - (Stefano Iaboni): And if. Sometimes it's like, if, like. Okay, these are like kind of verbal jokes. Right. But there is one. We know this. Right. So when, if I laugh, I activate. There's a mirror neurons in my brain. Right.

0:17:05 - (C): Yeah.

0:17:05 - (Stefano Iaboni): This is one thing that we do. We imitate each other facial expression. So if I approach somebody and this is generally speaking, I also like read studies about that if you approach somebody, a stranger. Someone. And you smile.

0:17:17 - (C): Yeah.

0:17:18 - (Stefano Iaboni): Generally speaking, they're going to smile back.

0:17:19 - (Kate Davis): Smile back.

0:17:20 - (C): Yeah.

0:17:22 - (Stefano Iaboni): Interesting. Right? So they say that. I was read. I read about that. Like one of the few culture that doesn't. It's like, I think it's like Scandinavians. Right. They, or, or like, I remember they say they might think like, oh, there's something wrong with you. Right. Why are you smiling? Interesting, right? I mean, that's cultural. Right. But generally speaking, if you do that, that changes everything.

0:17:43 - (Kate Davis): How many languages do you speak?

0:17:46 - (Stefano Iaboni): I speak three. I speak English, Spanish and Italian.

0:17:49 - (Kate Davis): Wow. And do you do your keynote in all three languages?

0:17:52 - (Stefano Iaboni): So far? I only done it in, in Spanish and English.

0:17:55 - (Kate Davis): Okay. I love that. Oh, amazing. Yeah, it really does just, you know, other than it just lowers people's defenses and their own. Right. It makes them more playful and look at things differently instead of. But I love that.

0:18:12 - (C): Yeah.

0:18:12 - (Kate Davis): Smile really does beget a smile. And you know, and it can just start with something as simple as that. Have you ever had the humor misfire and then you're having to sort of go back on it or.

0:18:26 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes. I mean, of course, I guess especially with the verbal, maybe, you know. Yeah, it could be like. And, you know, it always depends. You know, some folks are more open to it. Some. Some people have a sense of humor. I personally struggle, and it's my own thing when people don't have a sense of humor. I struggle with it. Right. It's like.

0:18:44 - (Kate Davis): Right.

0:18:44 - (Stefano Iaboni): Difficult. It's like, why can't you laugh about that? Right? So, yes, I did have moments. I was like, oh, okay. How do I, you know, get out of this situation?

0:18:53 - (Kate Davis): Yeah, it's so funny because I was doing a coaching thing and I was talking to a friend before, and it was a very intimate coaching session. There was only going to be about 10 people there. And I said, well, what if none of them? Because I can't really do stand up for 10 people. It's more conversational, more interactive. And I was just like, well, what happens if they don't want to participate or laugh? And it's so intimate.

0:19:18 - (Kate Davis): And she's such a great coach. And she said, that's perfect. It's like going to a mechanic and your car is a rattle, and you drive your car with the mechanic, and it doesn't make the rattle. They can't fix it. So if someone's gonna be serious within our workshops or our keynotes. Right. It's sort of the perfect learning moment to say, okay, this is. This is what we need to fix, you know, or need to.

0:19:43 - (Kate Davis): Yeah. So it was such a great. It just lowered my, like, anxiety about it and my stress about it because I was like, okay, those are teachable moments. Those are the moments we actually want, you know, going into, you know, companies that are. Do take themselves too seriously, and I've lost that. Their morale and their fun and, you know, really collaboration and all those things that humor can really lend to.

0:20:09 - (Kate Davis): So I just.

0:20:10 - (Stefano Iaboni): And I feel sometimes it's like the status, you know, the higher the status, maybe you feel like you got to be, you know, oh, serious. Because I'm like, it depends. It depends.

0:20:21 - (Kate Davis): Not all the time, but I find it the opposite. I find, like, the young kids, like young adults coming in take it very seriously. And the older people are like, oh, no, I've already done that. I know that doesn't work.

0:20:39 - (C): Hi, it's Kate.

0:20:40 - (Kate Davis): I can't believe you made it halfway through the show. Look, if you or anyone you know, would like to be a guest on Humor in the C Suite, I would love to have you, so email me. Kate Davis, ca.

0:20:53 - (Stefano Iaboni): I Like the analogy about the mechanic. Right. I had this experience a lot sometimes with like. Like being on stage or doing comedy. Right. Because there is always going to be somebody in the crowd that's going to look at you like this.

0:21:08 - (C): Yes.

0:21:08 - (Stefano Iaboni): All right, so. So that always. Right. No matter what you do, you know, no matter if you like. And it's not about them, you know.

0:21:15 - (Kate Davis): And those are just your kids. No, I'm kidding. Yeah.

0:21:18 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes. Oh, yeah. No. Okay. I got interested. I'll tell you more about it, but please. But the thing is, like. So what do you do? In my. In my experience, like, I try to find people that are like. Like my friends.

0:21:29 - (C): Yeah.

0:21:30 - (Stefano Iaboni): Okay. Not necessarily, you know, like. Like people that like, oh, they're smiling, they get it. Eventually this thing is going to spread. This thing is contagious. Okay. They might somehow by the end of it, that person is like, that might be, you know, included in that. You know, they might be like, oh, everybody else is having a good time. Why am I struggling? Why? What is it here? You know, or sometimes, you know, the people, like, they. Oh, no, I'm not gonna. I'm gonna. I'm not gonna laugh.

0:21:56 - (Stefano Iaboni): I just.

0:21:57 - (C): Yes.

0:21:57 - (Stefano Iaboni): No, I'm just going to come in. I'm going to resist to the. Very interesting. Yeah.

0:22:02 - (Kate Davis): I. I actually had a comedian give me great advice many years ago where he was like, he was sort of having a rough show, but he just focused on the people who were laughing. And then exactly what you said happened. All of a sudden it was contagious because he wasn't trying to please the people who weren't connecting. You know, just. And you just always, you know, focusing on the positive is so important.

0:22:27 - (Kate Davis): Do you have a fav game you play in your workshops that you find really helps bring. Maybe people can play with their families or people listen to.

0:22:36 - (Stefano Iaboni): I. So the. The silly ideas contest. I love that I usually like when I open one of the thing. Plus that's easy thing that I do at the beginning. I either there is depends like on the. If I feel like, oh, yes, those people are into this, I can play.

0:22:52 - (C): Yeah.

0:22:53 - (Stefano Iaboni): I say, hey, listen, why don't you introduce yourself to the person next to you and. And go like, just. Just say, hi, my name is Stefano. And say one thing that you like. Okay. That could be a food that you enjoy eating, an activity, anything. Okay.

0:23:07 - (C): Yeah.

0:23:07 - (Stefano Iaboni): Hi. Hi, I'm Stefano and I liked hiking. Okay. And then the other person says, ah, my name is such and such. And I like such and such. And then it depends if I Feel like, oh, they're very open and they probably can do this. I say, okay, why don't you do the same thing, but this time with the tongue sticking out of your mouth? Try.

0:23:24 - (C): Yeah.

0:23:24 - (Stefano Iaboni): So you say.

0:23:29 - (Kate Davis): Okay, let's do that.

0:23:30 - (Stefano Iaboni): Exactly. You see? So simple. You look ridiculous, you laugh, you connect. And it's not about humor. It's not about, oh, I need to tell a joke. Yeah, you know, it depends. Some folks might be a little bit more resistant about it. Or another thing that I do at the very beginning. I say, okay, introduce yourself with your name. And then say, my name is Stefano. But people also call me. And. And for me, I really have to read it. Like, yeah, say your name backwards.

0:23:57 - (Stefano Iaboni): Okay. Can you say your name backwards? So for you would be right?

0:24:04 - (C): Yeah.

0:24:04 - (Kate Davis): Yes, sure.

0:24:05 - (Stefano Iaboni): Sometimes, like, when you say your name backwards, sometimes it's like it sounds so ridiculous that people just laugh and it's just like, what is it? It's nothing.

0:24:13 - (Kate Davis): It's nothing. But it's something so simple, can bring people together, you know? Yeah, it's so true. One of. One of the games that I like to play, which I saw at another conference, was because, you know, I actually don't use any slides or anything within my presentations because I just find comedy. So about connecting, I'm not. I'm not using stats or anything like that. You know, there's a few in there. But.

0:24:40 - (Kate Davis): But what I really like to do is get everyone to pull out their phones, open their photos, scroll four times, and point to a random photo and tell the person beside them about it. And I find all of a sudden, I love that. It's just. Yeah, it's. You can use it.

0:24:55 - (Stefano Iaboni): I'm gonna steal it.

0:24:56 - (Kate Davis): Yeah, steal it, please.

0:24:57 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes.

0:24:58 - (Kate Davis): It's all about.

0:24:59 - (Stefano Iaboni): That's a great idea.

0:25:00 - (Kate Davis): Yeah. And you just. Because everyone's, you know, got their phones out anyway, and then I asked them to put them away. You know, hopefully you're not going to scroll down on a dirty photo, but other than that, pretty good. But yeah, it's just a fun way to sort of, you know, crack them all open and, and get everyone talk. If they're at a conference where they might not know each other and they've never met. You know, sometimes I'm at a company and they all know each other. They were with each other for years, but it's.

0:25:27 - (Kate Davis): It's. It's pretty amazing. And. And how it can really leverage a company to bring in more money, make more sales, like all those things that everyone, you know, really wants to accomplish. Within an organization. So you know, it's always about the bottom line. But this can really leverage a company to create that. If I have two guys selling me a car, I'm always going to go with the one who connects with me with humor.

0:25:51 - (Stefano Iaboni): Sure.

0:25:51 - (Kate Davis): Right.

0:25:52 - (Stefano Iaboni): So now. Thank you. So now I have, I have a question for you.

0:25:55 - (Kate Davis): Okay.

0:25:56 - (Stefano Iaboni): Do you feel that sometimes you deal with like, you know, people in charge, you know, maybe executive or manager or CEO, they have their resistance. You know, when you come in and say, oh, you know, I, I do. I talk about the power of humor. I talk about the power of laughter or I do presentation keynote about this do like that some people might be like, huh, what do you mean?

0:26:20 - (Kate Davis): I feel like it's because mental health is such, is so present and relevant nowadays that companies are, are definitely more open to it. And I find that people within organizations or like people with high risk jobs like you know, EMS or military or doctors or you know, always have a great sense of humor because that is coping mechanism.

0:26:51 - (Stefano Iaboni): Abs. Oh, fantastic. Yes.

0:26:54 - (C): Yeah.

0:26:54 - (Stefano Iaboni): The higher the stress, like the usually, you know.

0:26:58 - (Kate Davis): Yes, absolutely. So I, I do find that, I also find that people can be swayed and it's okay to be nervous about using humor. I get it, you know, you have to be. But there are ways to bring humor into your lives without, as you do, without telling a joke joke, you know, where we can de. Risk it, where we can just, you know, it's about building up a team in the good times so they work better in the hard times.

0:27:24 - (Kate Davis): And yeah.

0:27:25 - (Stefano Iaboni): And I think it's really about. It's like being the moment, right? Because like when you laugh, right. You're in the moment. You have to be in the moment. You, it's. You're not thinking of something else. You laugh, you're just being there. Right?

0:27:37 - (C): Yeah.

0:27:37 - (Stefano Iaboni): And then it's like afterwards you always feel better, generally speaking, right?

0:27:41 - (C): Always.

0:27:41 - (Stefano Iaboni): And then it's kind of the same with the crying of sadness if you allow yourself to experience that emotion, you know.

0:27:48 - (C): Yeah.

0:27:49 - (Stefano Iaboni): Fully like, oh, I cry. Oh, but after I feel better, right?

0:27:53 - (Kate Davis): Yeah, that really ugly cry.

0:27:55 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes. Right. And you feel so good about it afterwards, right?

0:27:59 - (Kate Davis): Yeah.

0:27:59 - (Stefano Iaboni): But it's like having that sort of like courage, right. To allow yourself to do it. And especially if you're in front of other people. People or with other people, you know, it's not easy for everybody, you know, to like. No, absolutely funny. Be silly, crack a joke or be vulnerable. Right. Because yes, we wanna always, we want to look a certain way. I think. You know, nowadays There's a lot of pressure, like, oh, you've got to be a certain way. You've got to look a certain way.

0:28:24 - (C): Yeah.

0:28:25 - (Stefano Iaboni): Behave a certain way. Right. So I think that's very brave and courageous when people are able to let.

0:28:30 - (Kate Davis): Go and be themselves.

0:28:32 - (C): Yeah.

0:28:33 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes. And that is. This is how. But I'm. If you're able to do that, I will appreciate you even more. The connection we're going to have is going to be deeper.

0:28:42 - (Kate Davis): Well, I always find it's so funny when people. It's like running into a childhood friend. You know, you're always going to be that kid to each other. Even though you're grown up, you always have a different, like, you know, sort of connection with those people.

0:28:59 - (C): Yeah.

0:29:00 - (Kate Davis): So. And, you know, and that's. I mean, I. We all know that kids laugh way more than adults laugh and, you know, and all the stats on that. How has humor, like, personally benefited you in your. And you're actually, like, in your life.

0:29:16 - (Stefano Iaboni): Good. Because, you know, I feel like sometimes I. I, like, I'm very hard on myself.

0:29:22 - (Kate Davis): Yeah, me too.

0:29:23 - (Stefano Iaboni): Like. Like, sensitive, eh? Right. Very sensitive. And also, like. Yeah. And then I want to be the best. I wanted, like, oh, I want my thing to be good, you know, but not because of the ego.

0:29:34 - (C): Oh, yeah.

0:29:35 - (Stefano Iaboni): Okay. Easy to say, right? But it's because generally I can.

0:29:38 - (C): Yeah.

0:29:39 - (Stefano Iaboni): Okay. Because generally I want to offer a good product. Whatever that is, whatever is a keynote, wherever is a show, wherever that is. I try to, like, you know, so sometimes I'm. It's. It's interesting to. Can I look at myself from a different perspective? I wish I could. Like, oh, can I look at Stefano from a different eye? It's like, yes, look. Why are you doing that? Right. So I, I. Yes. I. Sometimes I really need to stop and pause and say, go away. Why am I, you know, why am I behaving like that? You know, can I just have some.

0:30:11 - (Stefano Iaboni): Just look at the ridiculous side of this. Right? Because everything, you know, even the most tragic sometimes it's like, oh, man, this is so tragic. That is almost ridiculous.

0:30:19 - (C): Yeah.

0:30:20 - (Stefano Iaboni): This is so. It's so over the top. It's all. It's too much, right?

0:30:23 - (C): Yeah.

0:30:24 - (Stefano Iaboni): What can I do? I think, like, with cancer, for me, was like. Like when I got diagnosed, of course it was very scary and everything. But then now looking back, I'm just like, you know, that was one of those situation that you can either cry or laugh because there's nothing else you can do.

0:30:38 - (C): Yeah.

0:30:38 - (Stefano Iaboni): You have no control, right?

0:30:40 - (Kate Davis): Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, and life will. We all have lessons within that. So it's, you know, how we adapt and cope with the stress that it's causing that counts.

0:30:50 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes.

0:30:50 - (Kate Davis): You know, and humor can just be such a huge part of that. You're in the, on the West Coast.

0:30:56 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yeah. I mean, Portland, Oregon.

0:30:58 - (C): Yeah.

0:30:58 - (Kate Davis): When you go into organizations, do you find that, are you doing big groups, small groups? Do you find like the humor changes within those atmospheres or, or what you're doing?

0:31:10 - (Stefano Iaboni): So the last thing I did it was for a company. It was a group of like, I think it was like 45 to 50 people.

0:31:16 - (Kate Davis): Oh, wow.

0:31:17 - (Stefano Iaboni): Which is like, you know, it's interesting because sometimes it depends on the game that you play. You might have to split them in groups. Yeah, but, but I think because of that. Because laughter is contagious.

0:31:27 - (Kate Davis): Yes.

0:31:28 - (Stefano Iaboni): I think it's beneficial, you know.

0:31:30 - (C): Yeah.

0:31:30 - (Stefano Iaboni): Maybe larger, you know. Well, if you have hundreds, it's, well, it's another beast. Right?

0:31:36 - (C): Yeah.

0:31:37 - (Stefano Iaboni): Somehow it helps because, because of that. Because maybe, you know, like, oh, let's play a game and then I'll pay you up. And then some, you know, two people go up and, and share something and everybody else is laughing. That creates that, that moment of like, oh, okay, it's okay. Oh, we can be. Oh, we feel safe. Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay. Then I want to do that too. You know, even the person that at first was like, maybe kind of resistant or kind of shy, my.

0:32:04 - (Stefano Iaboni): Maybe that helps them, you know, relax.

0:32:06 - (C): Yeah.

0:32:06 - (Stefano Iaboni): Like, well, actually, yes, I have a story that I want to share and yes, I do it.

0:32:11 - (C): Yeah.

0:32:11 - (Stefano Iaboni): Even if, like, if I, you know, I don't know, sometimes it can be like scary to like, oh, I don't want to be on the spot. But if you have other people do it before you then. And then see, like, oh, you see how easy that is? You know, and you don't have to be an actor, you don't have to be a performer. Somehow it helps, I think.

0:32:29 - (Kate Davis): Yeah, no, I think it helps in everything. Do you find, like, like, if someone was to ask you how is humor important to you? What would you tell them?

0:32:39 - (Stefano Iaboni): Oh, it's vital.

0:32:40 - (C): Yeah.

0:32:42 - (Stefano Iaboni): I would say it's essential. Right.

0:32:44 - (C): Yeah.

0:32:44 - (Stefano Iaboni): And also because I feel the nature of the things that we do. We're like self employed entrepreneur. Right.

0:32:50 - (C): Yeah.

0:32:51 - (Stefano Iaboni): Which is, you know, it's like to me, I feel like I work, I don't know, 200 hours per week.

0:32:58 - (C): Yeah.

0:32:59 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yeah. I never stop because.

0:33:01 - (C): Yeah.

0:33:01 - (Stefano Iaboni): My head is always, you know, I mean, so I need to have that, yeah, it's, it's.

0:33:07 - (Kate Davis): I love what you do, and it just resonates and helps so many people. It really does. And you know what? Usually I do have. I, you know, I mean, you are in the C suite because you're the chair chief, laugh officer. But, you know, but a lot of times, you know, I have very serious people on here and it's, it's always amazes me how they do find humor in those situations to lead their people and, you know, and it really does. Do you have any strategies or techniques you could like in. To inject humor into someone who is a leader?

0:33:40 - (Kate Davis): Give them some advice?

0:33:42 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yeah. I say start with yourself. Start with you. Start with self deprecation. That's the best way to do it, right?

0:33:48 - (C): Yeah.

0:33:49 - (Stefano Iaboni): Because sometimes, you know. Yeah. Because of that, because of humor. You've got to be careful how you say what you say. You don't want to put anybody else down.

0:33:57 - (C): Yeah.

0:33:57 - (Stefano Iaboni): But if you start with you, that, that kind of like shows everybody that it's okay. You know, it gives everybody else permission. So if I say one thing that I always say, I'm always like, I'm almost sick of repeating this, but it always works. Groups.

0:34:14 - (C): Yeah.

0:34:14 - (Stefano Iaboni): I say, hi, my name is Stefan, I'm from Italy. I apologize. Nobody's perfect. Okay. It's in my. Some people might laugh about it, you know, some people that have Italian background, I feel, hey, what do you mean?

0:34:25 - (Kate Davis): Yeah, what do you mean? I. I don't know.

0:34:28 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yeah, exactly. But, but in a way, it's like I'm making fun of myself. I'm making fun of my culture, you know?

0:34:34 - (C): Yeah.

0:34:34 - (Stefano Iaboni): Not in a way that I'm putting myself down. I'm putting my culture down. It's just a little something, you know, I can make fun of. I don't know. Or my physical appearance, I can make fun of. Look, the white stuff here that I have on my beer, I don't know. Start. I would say my, My suggestion, my advice is that start with. With making fun of yourself.

0:34:54 - (C): Yeah.

0:34:55 - (Stefano Iaboni): Don't put yourself down. But look at things that you do that are the things. Do you. Yes, silly.

0:35:00 - (C): Yeah.

0:35:01 - (Stefano Iaboni): Do you have some nervous things that you always do or is there something that you always do before you talk or before you do something?

0:35:08 - (C): Yeah.

0:35:08 - (Stefano Iaboni): You know, can you pay attention? Can you see that within yourself? So can you make a something about you first start there and then, oh, People like, oh. Feel like, oh, that's funny. And also feel like, oh, then that is okay to be, to make fun, Right?

0:35:23 - (C): Yeah.

0:35:23 - (Kate Davis): And to be myself.

0:35:24 - (Stefano Iaboni): If that comes from a leader, then everybody will follow. Right?

0:35:28 - (Kate Davis): Yes, absolutely.

0:35:30 - (Stefano Iaboni): Needs to come.

0:35:31 - (Kate Davis): Starts at the top.

0:35:32 - (Stefano Iaboni): Yes. It has to start there.

0:35:34 - (C): Right.

0:35:34 - (Stefano Iaboni): If you want to make real changes. If you want to create a, you know, a workplace and a work culture that's like joyful, you know.

0:35:41 - (C): Yeah.

0:35:42 - (Stefano Iaboni): To start from the top. Right. Because you have the example here. Right. It's like, you know, going back to like, oh, being a parent. Right.

0:35:49 - (C): Yeah.

0:35:49 - (Stefano Iaboni): So it's like when, you know, if you, like, you know, I. I know. Like, I understand that, like, for my kids, somehow I'm. I'm the role model. Right. You know, I mean, because of course. Especially for the. The little one. Right. Like, I was like, so they look at me the way I do things and it's like, oh, I do this because my father does this.

0:36:06 - (Kate Davis): Right, Right.

0:36:07 - (Stefano Iaboni): This is how I learn at first. Right.

0:36:09 - (C): Yeah.

0:36:10 - (Stefano Iaboni): Copy or what they do or they say. This is very interesting to me, especially with, like my little. My Mila. She's eight, you know, she has. She has come to many of my shows.

0:36:19 - (C): Yeah.

0:36:20 - (Stefano Iaboni): Now she takes. She says the lines. Now she does the thing that I do. It's so interesting to me to watch it.

0:36:25 - (Kate Davis): So I mean. Right.

0:36:26 - (Stefano Iaboni): She's recreating her own. She does things. The strategies of things that I do in the show that she knows because she's seen it and then she saw the response or people laugh about it or people. There was a react. Right. So I'm the example there. So if you are a manager, if you are an executive CEO, allow yourself to be silly, to be, I don't know, joyful, because your company, everybody else will follow.

0:36:52 - (Kate Davis): Yes.

0:36:54 - (Stefano Iaboni): You're the role model here.

0:36:55 - (C): Yeah.

0:36:55 - (Kate Davis): I love that. I love that so much. Okay, so we always. I could talk to you forever, by the way. We could do it. Maybe I'll do a follow up episode, but because sometimes I have people email me questions about humor. So we could do like. Let's answer this. That might be.

0:37:13 - (Stefano Iaboni): Oh, I love that.

0:37:14 - (Kate Davis): Yeah. But so I always like to end the episode with, what's the funniest thing that's ever happened to you? Do you have a short story you can share?

0:37:24 - (Stefano Iaboni): Okay. Yes. A Tired of my cancer. Okay.

0:37:27 - (Kate Davis): Okay.

0:37:27 - (Stefano Iaboni): And because it's funny, I think it was perfect timing. I started chemotherapy October 31st, Halloween.

0:37:36 - (Kate Davis): Okay.

0:37:38 - (Stefano Iaboni): So I'm like, listen, you know what? I'm just gonna go to the hospital, to the clinic. Clinic. Dress up like an idiot. Okay. So I got my funny outfit on the way there. I was concerned. I Was like, oh, maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe this is not appropriate. Maybe people might think this is totally out of touch. I walk into the clinic, I open the door, everybody's dressed up, everybody's in costume. The doctor, the nurses, the patient. Everyone is like this bizarre Halloween party. This is the best part. And then this figure approaches me. She's wearing this, this long, dark cape. She's a vampire. Okay. Dresses a vampire.

0:38:13 - (Stefano Iaboni): She comes up, says, hi, my name is Atsuko. I'm your nurse. I need to draw your blood. Like, I went like this. Like here? Yeah. You know, I mean, it's like perfect timing, right?

0:38:26 - (Kate Davis): Yeah.

0:38:26 - (Stefano Iaboni): Because to me it's like, oh, I don't know what to expect. This is probably one of the hardest things I'm gonna be doing in my life. But that moment, man, you know, I mean, oh, that was so great. We laugh. We all laugh, right? Oh my God, this is so silly. You and. And I know that she did it. She wasn't trying to make me laugh. She genuinely said that because that's what she does every day. She didn't even. It was like, you know, dress as a vampire.

0:38:52 - (Stefano Iaboni): Exactly. She comes up, I need to draw your blog. Cuz that's probably the first thing they do when you go in for chemo the first time. That's what they do, right?

0:38:58 - (Kate Davis): Of course.

0:38:59 - (Stefano Iaboni): She just went and said, God, this is so funny, right?

0:39:02 - (C): Yeah.

0:39:02 - (Stefano Iaboni): Laugh and then realize, oh, yeah, you're right, of course it's funny. I'm a vampire. I'm asking for your blood.

0:39:06 - (Kate Davis): Oh my gosh. Thank you so much for coming on Humor in the Sea Suite. I so appreciate it.