Elise Hu

Journalist, author and podcast host who hosts TED Talks Daily. A former NPR international correspondent and Seoul bureau chief, she is also co-founder of the podcast production company Reasonable Volume.

Humor Works Best as Attention, Honesty, and Shared Relief

Comedian Chris Duffy argues in a TED Talks Daily conversation with Elise Hu that humor is less a gift for performers than a practice of attention, self-awareness and small social risk. Drawing on his book Humor Me, Duffy makes the case for keeping a literal list of what makes you laugh, noticing ordinary absurdities, and treating laughter as a way to stay present and connected. He is careful to distinguish that from forced optimism: humor, in his account, can release pressure without denying pain, cruelty or uncertainty.

TEDMay 31, 202618 min read