What if humor isn’t just a personality trait—but a survival strategy?

Kate Bowler sits down with writer Jenny Lawson and entertaining YouTuber Rhett McLaughlin to talk about the strange, often dark roots of comedy. From childhood anxiety and taxidermy-filled homes to lifelong creative friendships and faith that evolves, they explore how silliness, honesty, and absurdity help us live with what hurts. This is a conversation about being “too much,” laughing at what’s not funny, and finding connection in the weirdest parts of being human.

SHOW NOTES


Tour dates & tickets: katebowler.com/joyfulanyway


Watch the live conversation on YouTube


Let’s Pretend This Never Happened— Jenny Lawson


Furiously Happy— Jenny Lawson


Broken (in the Best Possible Way) — Jenny Lawson 


How to Be Okay (When You’re Not Okay)— Jenny Lawson 


Rhett & Link / Mythical Entertainment


Good Mythical Morning 


James and the Shame (Rhett McLaughlin’s music project)

What if humor isn&rsquo;t just a personality trait&mdash;but a survival strategy?
Kate Bowler sits down with writer Jenny Lawson and entertaining YouTuber Rhett McLaughlin to talk about the strange, often dark roots of comedy. From childhood anxiety and taxidermy-filled homes to lifelong creative friendships and faith that evolves, they explore how silliness, honesty, and absurdity help us live with what hurts. This is a conversation about being &ldquo;too much,&rdquo; laughing at what&rsquo;s not funny, and finding connection in the weirdest parts of being human.
SHOW NOTES
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Tour dates &amp; tickets:<a href="https://katebowler.com/books/joyfulanyway/">&nbsp;katebowler.com/joyfulanyway</a>
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Watch the live conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@katecbowler">YouTube</a>
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<a href="https://nowherebookshop.com/book/9780425261019jl?ic_referral=xWg7mZ7ues77Gmqe5wHg9HMvLsZIChQdQ6fPeCMqZdEwMzcsENX9o1JcXo7x6fJ7QzMj62KKStm7CA9pYIEh93hpnPrx4_su5VldxDA">Let&rsquo;s Pretend This Never Happened </a>&mdash; Jenny Lawson
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<a href="https://nowherebookshop.com/book/9781250077028jl?ic_referral=_8ycVA8R-Z1mU04BOlqORfKUKpvz3VnHm98g1WMgyfUwM1q7BSjgvjcFiWO6OWR3xBqHfgRWG1eOk5X_W-5I6khdDauI-6lzHq3vII0">Furiously Happy </a>&mdash; Jenny Lawson
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<a href="https://nowherebookshop.com/book/9781250812483nb?ic_referral=wzOvWtQhh8CDizRK3Cx6-bI7qHo1u7UW2qtLou8pLr4wMxqzheN6dVfVTnEqAdMQFM48MQXWmoCDWak5Hq1da04q1tx_te0Bg4d2hkM">Broken (in the Best Possible Way)</a> &mdash; Jenny Lawson&nbsp;
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<a href="https://nowherebookshop.com/book/9780593833216nb?ic_referral=3uOkFQMQ10a0n2RRidkBo4mp00th532B62WlV3yKdJcwM9WKpC_e1hyAfPZq-Tz_7oyCAbO4_hmAJux25UULbvnrhVQopdtnjEKBYcU">How to Be Okay (When You&rsquo;re Not Okay) </a>&mdash; Jenny Lawson&nbsp;
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Rhett &amp; Link / <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=mythical+entertainment&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8">Mythical Entertainment</a>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@GoodMythicalMorning">Good Mythical Morning&nbsp;</a>
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Ezyyu77f1fqfuYmwaogfe?si=_SUyxfjXRRKoE4fn6cusMw">James and the Shame</a> (Rhett McLaughlin&rsquo;s music project)
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</ul>

Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an expert in the stories we tell about success and failure, suffering and happiness. She had Stage IV cancer. Then she didn’t. And since then, all she wants to do is talk to funny and wise people about how to live with the knowledge that, well, everything happens.  Find her online at @katecbowler.

Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an expert in the stories we tell about success and failure, suffering and happiness. She had Stage IV cancer. Then she didn’t. And since then, all she wants to do is talk to funny and wise people about how to live with the knowledge that, well, everything happens.  Find her online at @katecbowler.
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-stringify-link="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://lemonadamedia.com/</a>

Honest conversation about life's less-shiny moments.