I loved this conversation with Andrew Tarvin—the world’s first “humor engineer.” Andrew trained as a computer science engineer, worked at Procter & Gamble as an IT project manager, and then discovered a powerful truth: you can’t be efficient with humans; you have to be effective. He started sneaking tiny moments of humor into meetings and emails and watched engagement, memory, and relationships skyrocket. Today he runs Humor That Works, helping teams use humor deliberately to get better results at work.In this episode, Andrew breaks down how to start (even if you’re not “the funny one”), why humor is a learnable skill, and a practical framework—MAP (Medium, Audience, Purpose)—to choose the right kind of humor for your context. We talk subject-line puns, image-rich slides, “shepherding” humor when you’re not ready to create your own, how improv reps make facilitation easier, and why sustained, light-touch humor changes behavior over time (people actually look forward to your meetings!).What we coverEfficient vs effective: why humor saves time in the long runThe Humor MAP: Medium, Audience, Purpose—pick your humor on purposeEasy starters: open with an interesting question; hide a playful image “Easter egg” in slides; end emails with a themed punOnline delivery: use visuals + association to keep attention and boost recallBuilding the habit: keep a humor notebook, apply the “Rule of 90,” and test ideas in low-stakes ways (tweets, friends, stand-up, improv)Facilitator edge: improv as the best practice for thinking on your feetTakeawaysTiny, consistent humor shifts expectations and attendance: people opt in because your sessions feel human and enjoyable.You don’t have to be a comedian—be a shepherd of humor: curate images, stories, or clips that fit your message and audience.Quotes“You can’t be efficient with humans—you have to be effective.”“Humor is a skill. That means it can be learned.”Resources mentionedAndrew Tarvin / Humor That Works (training + newsletter)TEDx talks by Andrew Tarvin (Ohio State; Texas A&M)Podcasts for studying comedic craft: WTF with Marc Maron, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Bill Burr’s Monday Morning PodcastBook: Humor That Works (500+ ways to use humor at work)Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.comP.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. Let's connect on all the channels:Leanne Hughes on LinkedInLeanne Hughes on InstagramVisit my website: leannehughes.comEmail me: [email protected] you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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