Humor, Neuroscience and Positive Psychology

Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE is a research-based thought leader on applied humor, whose undertakings are her TEDx talk—“How Humor Saved the World” and an upcoming certification program on therapeutic humor. As a neurohumorist, Karyn’s career resides at the intersection of humor and the brain. She is masterfully funny, but her passion and calling are sharing the practical benefits of humor, neuroscience, and positive psychology for influence and well-being.

Karyn is one of 270 professionals—and one of only 60 women—in the world to be inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame. Karyn speaks internationally to organizations that grasp the important role humor plays in business, health and life. Among her 800+ clients over 30 years are AACN, AORN, ENA, Cigna and the Million Dollar Roundtable.
 

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Healthcare Program Topics & Descriptions

for Onsite AND Virtual Presentations 2023

Karyn Buxman presents keynotes, breakouts, and training for healthcare leaders, their staff, and their community. Programs are designed using the power of positive psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, neuroscience, and applied humor to generate maximum engagement, well-being, and fun. Neurohumorist and TEDx speaker Karyn Buxman translates cutting-edge brain research into practical and easily implementable strategies for work and life.
 

NEW FOR 2023:

“Crisis Management with Humor: A Serious (But Not Solemn) Approach to Survive & Thrive”

Alternate title: “What’s So Funny About a Crisis? Distract, Reframe, Relate & Refuel with Humor”

A crisis can occur on a personal level, a family level, a community level, a regional level, a national level—and as we’ve experienced with CoVid19—a global level. As leaders, we must leverage all the resources we can to take care of those we serve, as well as ourselves. One of the most powerful—and yet underestimated—resources is humor. Discover how to harness the power of humor to rewire your brain to boost resilience and enhance influence, so that you can not only endure, but rise above any crisis in your life.

In this 1 to 3-hour keynote/breakout/workshop, Karyn Buxman will cover:

• How to overcome an amygdala hijack and access better problem-solving abilities
• How to empower yourself through the art of reframing
• How to build resilience to withstand a crisis that is ongoing

ALSO NEW FOR 2023:

TRAINING/WORKSHOP

“And Now I’d Like to Present!” Brain-based Presentation Skills for Influence

Whether you’re inspiring or motivating followers; educating or training students; or selling a concept or a product to clients—your ability to communicate will determine how effective you are. Discover how a brain-based approach, which includes stories and humor, can make presenting more effective—and fun—for you and your audience.

In this half-day or full-day training, Karyn will cover

• How to utilize your brain to work with you instead of against you while preparing and presenting
• How to employ the power of story to make your message memorable
• How to harness the power of humor to connect with your audience

LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE

“Lead with Levity: Strategic Humor for Healthcare Leaders”

Healthcare is in a state of crisis and many professionals report feeling as if their brains are on fire—and in a sense—they are. Yet when brains are on fire people get sicker, dumber, and make more costly mistakes. Properly used, strategic humor can squelch these fires resulting in a greater ability to predict, plan and respond to potential disruptions in the healthcare setting. Karyn uses (hysterical) anecdotes, (solid) research, and (practical) tips to help professional leaders in healthcare leverage humor to enhance their influence, decrease their stress, and experience greater happiness.

In this 1 to 3-hour keynote/breakout/workshop, Karyn Buxman will cover:

• How to build trust and influence through strategic humor
• How to manage risks and avoid landmines that could potentially undermine your leadership
• How to leverage humor—even especially if you’re not funny

STRESS/RESILIENCE/CHANGE KEYNOTE

“I’ve Got One Nerve Left… And You’re Standing on It: High Performance Humor for the Tired, Frustrated & Stressed-Out”

(alternate title: What’s So Funny About…Stress?)

Expanding responsibilities, shrinking budgets, cranky clients, family demands, too much to do and not enough time to do it! Is it any wonder that we’re all a little edgy? Find out how taking care of yourself can affect your sanity, your success and everyone’s bottom line. Learn how to get through the toughest of days and still remain smiling. Discover how to survive and thrive in a world of change.

In this 1 to 3-hour keynote/breakout/workshop, Karyn Buxman will cover:

• How to lower your emotional stress and build your psychological bandwidth through strategic humor
• How to harness humor and your brain to boost physical resilience
• How to add humor to your life without adding more stress to your life (even if you’re humor-impaired)

MOTIVATIONAL KEYNOTE

“Amazed & Amused: Success, Significance and Happiness—Even in Challenging Times”

Successful people—in healthcare, business, politics and life in general—have something in common: they understand that success is not measured only in dollars and cents, but also in the moments that you live amazed and amused. Balance is achieved not by see-sawing between opposites, but by accepting your place in the scheme of things, and by seeing it all as amazing and/or amusing. Surviving without thriving is not good enough, and we can only do our best when we self-create an attitude of amazement, and a perspective that encourages amusement.  Hall of fame speaker, neurohumorist, and observer of the human condition Karyn Buxman will take you on a life-changing journey toward your success, significance and happiness.

In this 30 to 75-minute keynote Karyn Buxman will cover:

• How the philosophy of living Amazed and Amused can help you experience success, significance and happiness
• Three strategies that you can implement immediately to change your circumstances for the better
• Resources that you can tap into now—no matter your level of talent or your level of wealth

INTERACTIVE BREAKOUT/WORKSHOP or GENERAL SESSION

“Funny You Should Say That! A New Approach to Building Relationships”

Get your attendees to relate better with one another despite differences in age, gender, cultures or work experiences. This brand-new and highly interactive presentation (based on Karyn’s new game, Funny You Should Say That) combines the power of story and the power of humor, to connect your audience through their common experiences and their laughter. Additional benefits: your people will increase their emotional intelligence, boost their resilience and build their communication skills.

In this 1 to 3-hour keynote/breakout/workshop, Karyn Buxman will cover:

• How to use humorous stories to connect with clients, employees, and coworkers
• How to engage others in conversations that create positivity and goodwill
• How to skillfully use humor—even if you’re not funny—to experience a better quality of life

SALES KEYNOTE (Can be provided as a “Thank You” for vendors at healthcare conferences)

“Funny Means Money: High Performance Humor for Sales Professionals”

You don’t need to use humor in sales…unless you want to be successful! Any salesperson worth his or her salt knows humor is an important sales skill. But knowing it and doing it well can be the difference in closing that sale—or not. Neuroscience reveals that “Logic tells, but emotion sells.” Humor is a fast, simple and cost-effective route to the emotions. When used strategically, humor helps the seller break down objections, hold the buyer’s attention, open the buyer’s mind, increase the seller’s likability, and strengthen rapport. When used incorrectly… well, don’t go there. Instead, join neurohumorist Karyn Buxman and laugh all the way to the bank.

In this 1 to 3-hour keynote/breakout/workshop, Karyn Buxman will cover:

• How to leverage brain-based humor to attract and convert more clients
• How to avoid humor landmines that could potentially blowup a sale
• How to skillfully use humor—even if you’re not funny!