Laughter Revolution

About Laughter Revolution

What if personal growth didn't have to feel like another item on your to-do list? Each week, we blend real stories, professional insight, and practical tools with the transformative power of laughter — to help women get unstuck, build deep self-love, and reclaim their spark. Because transformation doesn't have to be all grit and no grin. Come for the giggles. Stay for the growth. And leave ready to send a little joy out into the world."

Publisher

Marla Simlett

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Apr 2026

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Come have a seat at the Georgian café where laughter is always on the menu

   Picture a café with a chicken on the bathroom wall, a table that says "If you like to talk, sit here," and a Wi-Fi password that is HaHaHaHaHa. That's the fabulous Runa Café in Kutaisi, Georgia and its owner, Mako Tkabladze, is my guest. She is quick, dramatic, and just cheeky enough to tease me on air. We talk about Georgian humour, building connections beyond coffee, and how laughter helps reset hard times and bad days. By the end of our conversation, both our cheeks were hurting from laughing so much! In This Episode Mako explains why she built a café to get strangers talking, from the table sign that says "If you like to talk, sit here" to the box of stickers by the door. A bathroom chicken asks, "I poop breakfast. What's your superpower?" and you'll hear why Mako tucks humour into her café. Kutaisi humour gets a full breakdown: quick, dramatic, and full of teasing that means "I love you." You'll hear how Kutaisi poets once answered each other in rhyme, and why Mako thinks it made the city's humour sharper. Mako takes us back to the '90s, when neighbours shared eggs and onions around the supra table and laughed more than they do now. I share my rainy, no-cash travel day and how hunting for things to laugh at turned it around. Plus, my Georgian "thank you" that earned me an "I love you," Mako's dentist story, and a live giggle from her internal giggle generator (IGG). Episode Highlights With Timestamps [00:11] - Welcome, and my very honest attempt at saying Tkabladze [04:01] - The bathroom chicken sign: "I poop breakfast. What's your superpower?" [05:02] - Why Mako built her café as a place for people to talk [08:23] - Mako's sense of humour: quick, dramatic, and full of loving teasing [12:22] - Laughter is a reset, and my rainy day with no cash [21:01] - Mako says her country laughed even more in the hard years [25:01] - My "thank you" mix-up that turned into "I love you" [31:36] - The dentist story: who forgot how to clean teeth? [34:15] - Laughter Revolution lightning round [37:29] - Mako activates her internal giggle generator on command Links and Resources Mentioned Runa Cafe, in Kutaisi, Georgia - owned by Mako Tkabladze Laughter Revolution Digest (the chicken sign photo is in a recent issue): marlasimlett.com If this made you smile, hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen. Then pop over to marlasimlett.com and join the Laughter Revolution Digest. It's fun. It's informative, and it's cheaper than coffee.

2. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Who do you think you are Missy? What your judgement is telling you.

   I came to this solo trip determined to travel independently. No tour groups. No following somebody around with a little sign. No letting someone else tell me where to go or what to see. I was going to prove that I could do this my way. Then Romania started poking holes in that plan. A couple of unexpected encounters made me realize that maybe my strong opinions about how people “should” travel were telling me more about myself than they were about anyone else. And that got me thinking about judgment, how sneaky it can be, and how laughter can help us get off our high horse when we catch ourselves doing it. You’ll hear about: What solo travel has taught me about independence and openness Why your judgments about other people might actually be telling you something about yourself How to recognize when a preference has turned into a judgment Using laughter to catch yourself, lighten up, and get unstuck Why being willing to try something different can open up experiences you never expected Episode Timestamps [00:27] Hello from Tbilisi, Georgia! [01:15] What it took to get here [02:46] Today's topic: Judgment [03:19] My travel rules - my way or the highway [05:24] Two encounters that shifted my perspective [10:42] The big reveal: judgment is information about you, not the other person [11:29] The grad school blow-up 25 years ago that launched this lesson [13:14] Unpacking my travel judgement [15:54] Doing it different for the next three months [18:03] Bringing in the laughter - Missy, bike boy, and travel friends make it so much better! [21:94] Your invitation Links and Resources Mentioned Laughter Revolution Digest, Marla's newsletter, out every two weeks: marlasimlett.com Email Marla directly: info@marlasimlett.com Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for travel reels If this episode hit home, hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode. And if you want more of my travel adventures, and what I am learning and laughing about on the road, subscribe to my Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. It lands in your inbox every couple of weeks, judgment-free.

3. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Lost in Translation (And Kinda Loving it)

   I used to think I was a pretty good talker. Turns out, solo travel and a language barrier will make you question everything, including whether you actually know your OWN language, let alone another. This episode is about the growing distance between my brain and my mouth, the mistakes I made trying to connect with strangers, and why I decided those mistakes were worth making anyway. In This Episode I unpack (pardon the pun) why solo travel turned me into someone who talks to cats, chickens, and cobblestones I admit the real reason I sometimes avoid conversations with strangers Tell you what might happen if you ask for 'twisted chicken potatoes' in a pharmacy Share what using the wrong word for a full year taught me I tell you about a conversation with a stranger that ended in one perfect piece of grandmotherly wisdom I make the case for why connection matters more than getting the words exactly right Episode Highlights with Timestamps [00:55] — Episode ten kicks off with balloons, streamers, and some sobering podcast statistics [03:53] — Why I have started talking to myself, and to every cat and chicken I pass [06:04] — Talking is hard. I blame the growing gap between my brain and my mouth on menopause [08:33] — The “valley of language melting pot,” where French, Spanish, and the local language end up in the stew [09:47] — Why I start avoiding conversations, and the fear underneath it [11:47] — What if your attempt to speak in another language is an epic fail (dental floss anyone?) [13:07] — Free plums, and what happens when you take the risk anyway [14:06] — Visibility is hard; so in English [16:57] — Michel calls me out, and is annoyingly right, again [17:49] — A conversation with a stranger - "relax" Links and Resources Mentioned Google Translate (used throughout the trip to have real conversations across language barriers) info@marlasimlett.com (mailto:info@marlasimlett.com) If this one made you laugh, or made you think about the conversations you avoid, I would love for you to subscribe wherever you listen, Spotify, Apple, or anywhere else podcasts live. That way you never miss an episode, and honestly, we need to take the pressure off my husband as the one person who I know will always listen! And if you want more of the behind-the-scenes travel moments, come join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com (http://marlasimlett.com). It is the fun stuff that does not make it into the episodes.

4. 

   26 Aug 2026

   Cheese Blocks, Czech Humour, and the People Who Make Us Laugh

   I met Monika Stodůlková on a train to Vienna, and by the time we said goodbye we had talked about cheese blocks, Sarah McLachlan, and of course, we laughed! This episode is proof that laughter shows up in every country, every language, and every hard moment, if you go looking for it. Grab your tea (or your pickled egg) and settle in. In This Episode Meet Monika Stodůlková, a Czech traveller I met by chance on a European train Hear what makes Czech people laugh (spoiler: it involves fun making and siblings) Appreciate how self-deprecating jokes can land differently across cultures Think about why some people make us laugh more than others - what's the secret ingredient? Hear the story of a man who kept laughing his way through a serious illness, and what that taught Monika about healing Try the Internal Giggle Generator live with Monika, and see why faking a laugh can turn into a real one Get six rapid answers in the Laughter Revolution Lightning Round, including Monika's very Czech answer for "laughter is cheaper than..." Episode Highlights With Timestamps [01:25] The mystery of the "cheese blocks" that Marla still can't explain [03:31] Monika describes what can make Czech people laugh [04:43] And what makes her laugh [07:00] Moving to the US during COVID and learning humour in a new language [10:03] The Tinder joke that could have gone wrong, and didn't [11:55] Changing moods can be THAT easy [15:15] Czechs and Canadians - not so different [16:20] Being exhausted by laughter - AI and pickled eggs [21:13] Epic Lilith Fair fail [23:17] The coffee shop friend who kept laughing through a serious illness [27:22] The Laughter Revolution Lightning Round begins [29:31] Monika's live Internal Giggle Generator performance Links and Resources Mentioned Sarah McLachlan and the Lilith Fair music festival Laughter Revolution Digest - marlasimlett.com If this episode made you smile, hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode. And if you want more laughter in your inbox, join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. It's free, it's short, it has pictures from my trip. And it might just make your Tuesdays better.

5. 

   12 Aug 2026

   The "Copenhagen Crash" & 5 Lessons From 2 Months Alone

   Two months into my six-month solo journey, I’ve found myself in Vienna, Austria—a completely unplanned stop following what I'm calling my "Copenhagen crash." In this episode, I’m reflecting on what happens when your body forces you to slow down, the art of going with the flow, and the surprising self-discoveries that come with wandering the world on your own. From realizing I’m actually my own favourite travel partner to uncovering how my self-deprecating humour might actually be keeping me stuck, I’m sharing five key lessons I’ve learned so far as I navigate the unexpected as learning, laughter, and luggage collide. Key Topics Covered The Copenhagen Crash: What happened when my body and spirit told me it was time to slow down. Loving My Own Company: Overcoming my initial fears of loneliness and discovering how much I enjoy solo travel. Living in "Spirit Being": Moving away from the "coulda, shoulda, wouldas" and finding quiet joy in the present moment. The Power of Intentional Joy: How actively looking for humour and laughter changes my daily experience. When Humour Keeps Us Stuck: Shifting my neural pathways and changing the way I talk about my own perceived flaws. Timestamps 00:11 – Welcome to Laughter Revolution & my Vienna check-in 01:05 – The "Copenhagen Crash": Learning to slow down 01:53– Lesson 1: Realizing I love my own company 04:18 – Lesson 2: What it feels like to be in "Spirit Being" vs. mental noise 07:07 – Lesson 3: The challenge (and gentleness) of slowing down 09:10 – Lesson 4: Looking for laughter and wonder as a game changer 11:41 – Lesson 5: Realizing when my humour is keeping me stuck 13:33 – Reframing "being lost" to building directional competence 15:23 – Wrap-up & a sneak peek at my next episode from the Czech Republic Links and resources mentioned Marla Simlett: https://marlasimlett.com Laughter Revolution Digest: Subscribe at https://marlasimlett.com Instagram: Follow Marla for ongoing laughter-and-learning posts. Facebook: Follow Marla for more laughter, learning and travel.

6. 

   30 Jul 2026

   Gallows Humour, Grief, and Grandma's Zingers

   I met Lina Karlsen while I was stuck waiting for my suitcase Gertrude to catch up with me in Tromsø, Norway. Turns out a delayed bag led to one of the best conversations of my trip so far. Lina is a social worker who grew up steeped in Sami culture, and her approach to laughter can teaches all the lessons of the value of humour in hard places. Her stories of will make you think, laugh, wince, and maybe call your grandmother. In This Episode Meet Lina Karlsen, a Sami social worker with a gift for perfectly timed dark humour Hear why northern Norway's gallows humour does not always land in the south of the country Get the real story behind a snowboard joke that made a grieving friend laugh harder, not less See how one family uses gentle teasing to keep a grandmother with Alzheimer's part of the fun Find out what happens when a joke about inheritance money completely bombs Compare notes on humour across Norway and Canada, including a bus story starring Marla's husband Michel Play along with the Laughter Revolution Lightning Round as you hear Lina's fast, funny answers Timestamps [00:10] — Marla kicks off the "on the road" series from Copenhagen and introduces Lina - where the heck IS Guovdageaidnu? [02:43] — What role does laughter plays in Lina's life? [03:48] — Lina explains northern Norway's dark humour and why it does not always land in the south [06:46] — Lina talks about humour in her Sami community [07:22] — The snowboard story: a tale of dark humour going right [09:45] — Marla's own dark humour story - the dead mother card [10:12] — How Lina's family uses laughter to keep her grandmother with Alzheimer's in on the fun [12:15] — The grandmother's affair scare, and how humour worked when nothing else did [14:22] — Why does laughter work as a intentional tool? [15:00] — Humour gone wrong - how do you fix it? [17:06] — Recipe for humour - finding laughter in a new language [20:19] — How to find that uncontrollable laughter - trust is the "golden ticket" [27:26] — Marla introduces Laughter Intelligence™ and tells a tale of laughter in Turkey [28:44] — Lessons on laughter for managers - from The Office? [30:30] — The Laughter Revolution Lightning Round begins Links and Resources Mentioned Laughter Intelligence (https://marlasimlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Laughter-Intelligence-Self-Assessment.pdf)TM (https://marlasimlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Laughter-Intelligence-Self-Assessment.pdf)Self-Assessment (https://marlasimlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Laughter-Intelligence-Self-Assessment.pdf) If this one made you think differently about dark humour, laugh, wince, or immediately call your grandmother, hit subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. And if you want more from this trip, including the stories and photos that did not make the cut, join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. Gertrude and I would love to have you along for the ride!

7. 

   16 Jul 2026

   Laughing Your Way Through Life, Orkney Island Style

   Jenny Drever has a fantastic Scottish accent, a gift for storytelling, and a philosophy she lives by: if you are not laughing, you are probably doomed. My Airbnb host from Orkney joins me for my first on-the-road interview, and she is Laughter Revolution in human form - proof that a good attitude and a well-placed laugh really can transform how you move through your life. In This Episode Meet Jenny and her dog Peaks Laugh through one of Jenny’s funniest, most chaotic Airbnb guest stories Learn about Jenny’s simple philosophy: if you are not laughing, you might just be doomed Hear the real story behind Scotland’s strange tradition of putting traffic cones on statues See why self-deprecating humour is a sign of confidence, not insecurity Listen to her hilarious tale of her most mortifying moment at a ferry ticket booth Catch Jenny’s answers in the Laughter Revolution Lightning Round Get ready to order your new ringtone - the Snortly! Timestamps [00:58] - Introducing Jenny Drever and her Airbnb in Finstown, Orkney [02:45] - Meeting Peaks, Jenny’s rescue dog, who loves every guest equally, though Jenny’s still her favourite, for now [04:55] - The chaotic guest story that still makes Jenny wince [07:55] - What’s life without laughter? [10:34] - Laughter as a defense [11:46] - Self-deprecating, with confidence – The pantsuit story [13:26] - Describing Scottish humour with a little wine [15:22] - The mystery of the traffic cones on Scottish statues, solved [17:10] - The silliness of gooseberries [20:36] - Siblings and laughter – a sure combination [23:29] – Laughing through word muddle mortification [25:49] — The Laughter Revolution Lightning Round [27:42] — Monetizing the “signature giggle”? If this episode made you laugh out loud even once, do me a favour and subscribe wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts - Spotify, Apple, all of it. And if you want more stories like this one landing in your inbox every two weeks, come join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. I promise it is more fun than your average newsletter!

8. 

   2 Jul 2026

   Built to last: What a dodgy knee taught me in Scotland

   Somewhere between Edinburgh Airport and a set of stairs I had no business descending with a suitcase, I had a reckoning with my body. Specifically, with the part of me who thinks pain is just the price of doing business. Her name is Patty Pusher, and she and I are currently in negotiations. In This Episode • Why so many of us experience our bodies as the enemy — and where that actually comes from • What objectification theory has to do with the way you feel in your own skin • The moment a set of stairs and a suitcase named Gertrude forced a real reckoning • Meet Patty Pusher: the alter ego who pushes past every limit — and the new motto that's keeping her in check • A laughter toolbox tool for when things go sideways: how to find the funny and then find the opportunity • The Fort William Bus Driver story — which involves wrong directions, a cryptic warning, a near-mugging, and a Jamie Fraser sighting Episode Highlights with Timestamps [00:10] — Introduction: solo travel, week one, and a question worth asking [00:36] — "I have been at war with my body" — Marla opens up about a lifetime of pushing too hard [01:25] — Eating disorders, injuries, and the cost of not listening to your body [02:40] — Objectification theory: why we experience our bodies as something we watch, not something we live in [03:28] — Social media, impossible standards, and being between a rock and a hard place [05:46] — Gertrude, 25 stairs, and a knee that said absolutely not [07:32] — Meet Patty Pusher: the alter ego with a motto that would make a physiotherapist weep [08:19] — The new motto: built to last, not to trash [09:21] — The Laughter Lounge opens: shout-outs, feedback, and the Fort William bus driver story [9:55] — Laughter toolbox tool: how to find the funny when things go wrong [10:44] — The Fort William bus driver story begins (brace yourself) [14:54] — Finding the opportunity: what a disastrous bus ride gave Marla instead [15:07] — Jamie Fraser's grandson. That is all. Links and Resources Mentioned Objectification theory — Marla references this concept in passing; no specific source cited in episode Outlander by Diana Gabaldon — referenced for the Jamie Fraser moment marlasimlett.com — episode page, newsletter signup Laughter Revolution Digest — newsletter, subscribe at marlasimlett.com Let's connect If any of this landed for you — the body stuff, the Patty Pusher stuff, or finding yourself going in the wrong direction - I'd love to hear from you. Reach out at info@marlasimlett.com or find me on Instagram and Facebook. And if you haven't yet, hit subscribe on your podcast platform so you never miss an episode. You can also join the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com. It's where I share the stories that don't quite make it into the podcast, plus pics of trip sights and things that make me laugh!

9. 

   18 Jun 2026

   Quitting My Job + Two Naps a Day = Less Doing, More Being.

   Most of us have had that moment. Sitting at your desk, calendar full, inbox worse, thinking: surely this cannot be it. After almost 20 years in corporate HR, I decided to find out. So I left. What followed was two naps a day, a lot of body listening, and eventually, a six-month solo trip to Scotland with almost no plans. This episode is about spirit being versus human doing, with your body as your best guide. And why the Dastardly Das are probably running more of your life than you think. There is also a truly terrible hotel in Turkey, an underwhelming Mona Lisa, and a whole lot of Laughter IntelligenceTM. Come for the stories. Stay for the mindset shift. Hit play at marlasimlett.com.

10. 

    4 Jun 2026

    Your Suitcase Is Full: Unpacking the Shame We Carry

    Have you ever felt completely paralysed by something that should be simple? Packing a suitcase. Choosing an outfit. Showing up as yourself. If you’ve ever spiralled over what other people might think of you, this episode is for you. Marla is packing for a six-month solo adventure, which sounds exciting, until Polly Packer shows up. Polly is that relentless inner critic who turns packing a bag into a full emotional workout. In this episode, Marla traces that anxiety all the way back to its roots: shame. Through two wonderfully mortifying stories, Marla unpacks how our brains turn moments of what should be just embarrassment into beliefs we carry for decades. She explores where shame comes from, why it has such a grip on us, and most importantly, how to loosen that grip with some honesty, a reality check, and a healthy dose of laughter. Key Insights: ·Shame is not the same as guilt. ·Shame has ancient roots. ·Naming it takes away some of its power. ·Shame shrinks in the light. Have a Polly Packer of your own? I’d love to hear about her. Send me a message at info@marlasimlett.com or find me on Instagram. And if this episode hit close to home, share it with someone who needs it. When you’ve got a revolution, the more the merrier. Subscribe to the Laughter Revolution Digest at marlasimlett.com to follow along on Marla’s six-month solo journey, including what she’s learning and laughing about along the way.

11. 

    21 May 2026

    Why "Being Responsible" Might Just Be Fear in a Trench Coat

    Got a very convincing list of reasons why you can't do the thing you want? This episode is for you. Hit play. You have a list. A very convincing list of reasons why you can't, shouldn't, or aren't ready to go after the thing you want. And here's the wild part - your brain built that list on purpose. It thinks it's keeping you safe. Spoiler: it's not. In this episode, I dig into one of the stickiest places people get stuck - fear. Not the bear-chasing-you kind of fear. The quieter, sneakier kind that shows up as procrastination, perfectionism, overthinking, and a very logical-sounding list of reasons why now just isn't the right time. I introduce Little f - my name for perceived fear - and walk you through my five-step Laughter Toolbox process for dealing with him. I also share how a good doom and gloom improv session (yes, really) can help reset your nervous system and get you back in the driver's seat. This one is funny, practical, and might just change the way you think about courage. Key Topics Covered Why your very logical list of reasons is probably just fear in a trench coat The Marla Fear Rule - and why 98% of the things you're afraid of don't qualify as real danger Meet Little f: the sneaky, quieter fear that masquerades as procrastination, perfectionism, and decision paralysis The five-step process for recognising fear, welcoming it in, and moving through it anyway Why laughter isn't just fun - it's a legit nervous system reset that makes courage possible Some hilarious Canadian humour in the Laughter Lounge – Handyman Hints from Red Green (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X8H6LSvEYN4) Try the five-step Little f Process this week and let me know how it goes! Drop me a message on Instagram, post in the comments, or send an email to info@marlasimlett.com (mailto:info@marlasimlett.com). Subscribe to the Laughter Revolution newsletter at marlasimlett.com (https://marlasimlett.com/). And if this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a little nudge — and a laugh. New episodes drop every second Thursday. Subscribe so you never miss one.

12. 

    7 May 2026

    From Panic Attacks to Purpose: How Laughter Changed Everything

    What if laughter wasn't just something that happened to you, but something you could use on purpose to change your life? In this first episode, host Marla Simlett shares the origin story behind Laughter Revolution. Three years of crisis, a full-blown anxiety disorder, and one unforgettable moment involving bleach and a fan cord that sparked everything. This is where the Laughter Intelligence™ framework was born. And it might just change how you think about laughter forever. Welcome to the Revolution.

13. 

    24 Apr 2026

    Come for the giggles. Stay for the growth

    What if growth felt lighter? Hosted by counsellor and speaker Marla Simlett, Laughter Revolution blends insight, real-life stories, and practical strategies to help you unstick your stuck with more ease, energy, and resilience. New episodes every other Thursday starting May 7.

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