The Science & Art of Comedy & Creativity | Tom Segura

My guest is Tom Segura, renowned comedian, writer, actor and director. We discuss the “how-to” of comedy writing and storytelling, and what the science of humor and the creative process reveal about human emotion and memory. We explore why surprise and the act of "saying the unspoken truth" activate the brain’s reward circuits, as well as the subconscious mechanisms that shape our sense of what is funny. The episode also examines the bi-directional influence between comedy and cultural standards. It will interest anyone curious about the science of humor, the art of performance and emotional contagion.Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanMaui Nui: https://mauinuivenison.com/hubermanHelix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/hubermanDavid Protein: https://davidprotein.com/hubermanFunction Health: https://functionhealth.com/hubermanTimestamps00:00:00 Tom Segura00:01:45 Family, Sports, Running00:09:35 Sponsors: Maui Nui & Helix Sleep00:12:37 Ideas, Running, Sleep & Brain, Tools: Exercise for Energy; Phone Outside Room00:20:16 Capturing Ideas, Cannabis, Storytelling, Experimentation00:27:28 Ideas & Set List, Performance00:31:52 Wife, Jokes, Reframing Content; Cancel Culture, Audience Reaction00:40:56 Jokes, Self & Amusement; Evolution & New Material00:48:26 Sponsors: AG1 & David Protein00:51:24 Surprise, Hidden Thoughts; Acting00:59:02 Voice Impersonation, Kids, Strength Training, Activities 01:05:40 Repeating Jokes; State Changes, Crowds & Energy01:13:11 Silly Mindset; Audience, Emotional Contagion; Humor & Subconscious Mind01:27:44 Sponsor: Function01:29:32 Crowd Work, Comedy Clubs; Original Comedy01:38:13 Comedy & Social Context; Dark Comedy01:47:51 Drugs, Overdose, Comedian Deaths, Mental Health; Cynicism, Hope01:54:21 Audience, Twin Comics; Vulnerability; Stand-Up & Performance02:01:49 Comedy & Passion, Complaints; Childhood Struggle, Insecurities, Therapy02:10:53 “Bad Thoughts” Show, Upcoming Projects02:14:44 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network NewsletterDisclaimer & DisclosuresLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works.
Huberman has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function, and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills, and cognitive functioning. He is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017.
Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell, and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover, and other top media outlets.
In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 10 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.

• No. of episodes: 303
• Latest episode: 2025-05-22
• Health & Fitness Science Life Sciences

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