Fake Laughs Are Not Funny — And Listeners Know It

There’s a big difference between being funny and trying to be funny — and between genuine laughter and manufacturing laughs.

How many shows have you heard where there’s always that one person faintly laughing in the background… as if every single word spoken is a punchline worthy of a comedy outburst? Forced laughter isn’t funny. It’s uncomfortable.

Dr. Jerry Boulding  taught me something powerful:
You only need to make people think, laugh, or chuckle — not all three at once.

Every moment on the mic does not require a gut-busting laugh. If you’re swinging for the comedic fences every time you talk, you’re going to strike out a lot with your audience.

Just be your natural self.

Your truth…
Your lived experience…
Your personal stories…
—that’s where real connection and real humor live.

Trust me: your life up to this point has been incredibly interesting. If you start sharing what you’ve actually lived, people will find themselves thinking, laughing, and nodding in recognition. That’s the sweet spot where common experiences and comedy meet. You don't have to force it.

So here’s the bottom line:

Stop trying to be funny.
Just be you.

That’s where the magic is.