I love being a guest on podcasts. I’m not joking! And I’m definitely not joking about the fun I had being a guest on the I’m Not Joking Podcast.

An honor to talk with behavioral scientist Peter McGraw about pop culture; comedy; when is #toosoon when it comes to joking about tragic events; comedy lessons for leadership; grief writing and so much more. Here’s a sample from the transcript (link to audio is below):

Peter McGraw:  I do like this idea that we’re all supporting actors. The best improvisers embrace that idea is that if we all take on that role, we create something special where everybody has a chance to stand out, but it comes from someone else.

Esther Kustanowitz: “Also in life and community building, that’s the ideal as the feeling. It goes back to a Jewish concept, which I always have to arh back to because, hi, I’m me: the idea that we’re all responsible for each other. This is something that I’ve used when I’ve taught some improv workshops that are very basic improv rules in the context of short-form games, but also juxtaposed with principles of Jewish community building. Like, “we are all responsible for each other,” or you shouldn’t take yourself outside of the community. You should feel that you’re always a part of it. You don’t rely on a miracle. You give everything you can to a scene so that it goes. You don’t just wait for somebody to rescue you.

If we all viewed ourselves–whether we are the leaders or the followers, depending on whatever your community is, whether it’s an office environment or if it’s a youth group or social group–the idea that everybody’s an equal part of the group is not always assumed, and not always the operating point for a lot of people. The idea that there’s no leader of the group that like you’re part of the group, that everybody’s bringing their own stuff and their own brains to the group. Improv has also taught me if you have an idea for something and you’re working in a group context, it’s fine to have an idea but you also have to be open to other people’s ideas. If the idea that emerges that is better is not yours, you have to let go of your ego and go along with it.”

For more listen below.

Ignoring The Pettiness with Esther Kustanowitz