Learn how to navigate humor in professional settings with guest Naomi Bagdonas, co-author of Humor, Seriously!, and Michael Terry, a hilarious hedge fund guy. They discuss jokes that flop at the office, handling tense situations, and avoiding offending your boss with humor.
33:54
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Managing a Five-Year-Old
Amanda Ripley bombed a toast at a work happy hour.
She learned that making fun of the people you manage is not cool.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Inception Joke
Naomi Bagdonas used humor to diffuse a tense situation with an executive named Craig.
Her joke, though lame, shifted the room's energy positively.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ready to Be Programmed
Michael Terry made a joke about being "programmed" on his first day at Bridgewater.
It bombed with the CIO and taught him the importance of reading the room.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Last week we learned about using the four different styles of humor to your advantage, and who makes a good target for a joke. But what if you read the room wrong and absolutely bomb? On this episode of How To!, the second in a two-part series, we resume our conversation with Naomi Bagdonas, co-author of Humor, Seriously!, and Michael Terry, the most hilarious hedge fund guy we’ve ever met. They swap stories about office jokes that fell flat, how to navigate a suddenly tense situation and what to do if your humor accidentally offends someone (especially your boss).
If you liked this episode, check out “How To Be Funny” with comedian Gary Gulman.
If you want to discover your own humor style, take the test on Naomi and Jennifer’s website.
Do you have a joke that killed at the office, or totally bombed? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001.
Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus.
How To!