Episode 24: Interview with Patty Wooten

The Power of Levity After Gravity:  An Interview With Patty Wooten

 

Laughing through a disaster?  Does that seem ludicrous?  Perhaps…but humor always finds a way.  From the treachery and turmoil or being a prisoner of war to the devastation that the recent natural disaster have wrought, humor finds a way.  On this week’s episode of Laughbox, I have the distinct honor of talking with someone who knows the power humor can have in helping you overcome the obstacle, get perspective, and gain strength….Patty Wooten!  I’ve been a long time admirer of Patty and her work.  Some people talk about humor and some get out there and try to use it’s power to make a difference in the world.  Patty has been making a difference for nearly 40 years and, today, she can make a difference for you!  

 

More on Patty…

 

From hospital clown to humorist & professional speaker to nurse retention and renewal specialist, Patty has  made her living for more than 20 years studying, applying and sharing the many ways humor and laughter provide therapeutic benefits to individuals and groups.

 

Even more on Patty in her own voice… 

 

Since the mid-1980s, I have been speaking, writing and, in general, serving as an advocate and spokesperson for the therapeutic benefits of humor. At the bedside, in the workplace, and at conferences of every kind, I have seen humor work magic and have shared what I’ve learned with hundreds of thousands of people.

 

I have been on a television panel with humor scholars, such as Dr. Vera Robinson, and Dr. Bill Fry. I’ve clowned with Patch Adams long before the hit movie about his work. And I’ve even been the mystery guest on the hit TV game show, To Tell the Truth. It’s been a fun ride!

 

While involved with the early leaders of the modern therapeutic humor movement, I have had the pleasure of being a charter member of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, and a long-time member of the International Society for Humor Studies. These two organizations are invaluable for helping our field promote important and accurate information about the many humor and laughter work their magic. In 1999, I was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by my AATH peers.

 

I have spoken in nearly every state in the U.S. and in 11 foreign countries. I guess being a leader in a field for more than 20 years does result in quite an accumulation of knowledge and some element of notoriety.

 

Okay, I guess it’s true. Somehow, my life’s journey has earned me the title, “The Icon of Therapeutic Humor.” I’ll humbly accept the title and will continue to work hard to bring humor and laughter to deserving audiences around the world. 

 

You can get EVEN more on Patty on her website:  www.pattywooten.com