426: Every Talk Needs Humor: Here are 5 Ways to Make Your Audience Laugh

Have you ever wondered if you really need to add humor to your business presentations, keynotes, or conference talks?

Maybe you think, I’m just here to share valuable information - why should I try to be funny?

Well, in this episode, I’m joined by our lead speaking coach, Diane Diaz, to show you exactly why humor isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s a must-have.

We’re diving into how to use humor effectively in your talks, without forcing corny jokes (unless that’s your thing!).

From situational storytelling to physical comedy, sarcasm, self-deprecating humor, and even well-placed memes and GIFs, we cover it all.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why humor makes your audience feel more connected and engaged

• How to plan humor in your talk (even if you don’t think you’re funny)

• The power of physical comedy as a speaker

• Diane’s hilarious story about her mom teaching her to be a petty thief

• The one type of self-deprecating humor to avoid

Even if you don’t consider yourself a comedian, there are so many ways to add humor that feel natural and authentic to you. Your audience will thank you - and they’ll definitely remember you!

Action Step: The next time you’re working on a presentation, pick one of the humor techniques we talk about and try incorporating it. Let us know how it goes!

You’ll also want to watch the video version at https://youtu.be/nVDRqerIlxQ.

We’ve included funny clips from stand-up comedians and sitcoms to illustrate our points - you won’t want to miss them!

This episode was filmed in one of the beautiful studios on the campus of Full Sail University, where Diane and I have been teaching business and marketing classes since 2009.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/426/

Watch the video of this episode at https://youtu.be/nVDRqerIlxQ

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 376: Use the Secrets of Comedy for Better Storytelling and Delivery in Your Talks

• Episode 422: How to Create a 10-Out-of-10 Keynote that Leaves Your Audience in Awe

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable