The Laughter Clinic

CONTENT WARNIING: Stories 8 & 9 discuss the topics of suicide and suicide prevention, listener discretion is advised. In this PULSE episode I run through ten timely mental health stories, pulling out the practical bits you can use straight away and the research that shifts how we think about wellbeing. We move from coping with disappointment and the science of laughter to policy updates, suicide prevention resources, and why Sweden's social prescribing research matters. No. 1....

On this day a year ago, I hit publish on the first ever Laughter Clinic Podcast episode. This anniversary wrap-up is me being honest about the wins, the numbers, the standout conversations, and the parts of producing these first 40 episodes that have been harder than I expected. I walk through the guests who made the year what it is, from comedians sharing stories about illness, bullying, balance, and the craft of stand-up comedy, to suicidology and suicide prevention leaders digging ...

This week I chat grief, humour, and family love as Dane Hiser shares the story of his brother Trent and the decades of care that helped him live a full life with Prader-Willi syndrome. We also get honest about anxiety, OCD, medication, loneliness, and why connection through comedy can be a real path back to ourselves. • why “laughter is the best medicine” still holds up in dark seasons • what Prader-Willi syndrome looks like day to day at home • routines, safety planning, an...

CONTENT WARNIING: This episode does discuss the topics of suicide and suicide prevention, listener discretion is advised. This week host Mark McConville chats with Buddy Up Australia CEO Craig Heslop, about how laughter, community, and practical decompression keep first responders and defence personnel well during service and after it. We break down what Buddy Up offers, why evidence-based prevention matters, and how connection can beat isolation when the job gets heavy. • Craig’s...

This week I catch up with Australian comedian Danny McGinlay. We unpack Danny's comedy career, acting gigs, his behind the scenes work as a TV audience warm-up guy, along with his role writing the banners for his beloved Western Bulldogs. We also talk weird gigs, footy culture, why following sport is good for your mental health, and fundraising for Ukraine. • from open mics to paid gigs • why audiences need a reset after heavy stories and serious speeches • weird gigs, from strip clubs to fu...

In this episode, Mark chats with filmmaker Medhavi Fernando about her upcoming docuseries Seriously Unserious, a project exploring the real-life power of humour and laughter. They discuss documentary storytelling, therapeutic humour, comedy as craft, the science of laughter, and why being unserious might be one of the most serious things we can do for our wellbeing. • what “laughter is the best medicine” means in real life • Medhavi’s mix of tech, journalism, and self-taught filmmaking&...

In this episode, host Mark McConville speaks with Australian comedian and writer David Smiedt about laughter, cancer, stand-up comedy, resilience and mental health. David discusses his journey from South Africa to Australia, his early days in Sydney comedy, the lessons comedians learn from bombing, his throat cancer diagnosis and treatment, and his show Finding Chemo. Mark and David also explore bedside comedy in hospitals, humour in cancer treatment wards, healthcare worker wellbeing, dark h...

In this episode Jodi Allen joins me to unpack the first ever Australia and New Zealand Moral Injury Conference that we both attended recently. We get clear on what moral injury is and what it is not. We talk through how betrayal, guilt, shame, and “stuckness” can show up in service and everyday workplaces, then map out what moral repair can actually look like in real life. • Why moral injury is different from normal moral distress • The ADF definition and the three common moral i...

"The evidence is no longer the problem. The problem is political will." The central message in this solo episode is clear: Australia now has a government-commissioned national feasibility study showing that social prescribing is evidence-based, internationally validated, economically sensible, and aligned with the real world social drivers of health, yet the 2026-27 Australian Federal Budget appears to have ignored it entirely. • Social prescribing explained • Link workers as the bridge betwe...

Content Warning: This episode discusses the topic of suicide, and suicide prevention, listener discrection is advised. This week I chat with Sue Murray OAM - Practice Leader of the Zero Suicide Institute of Australasia and former CEO of Suicide Prevention Australia and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. We discuss the Zero Suicide Healthcare framework, workforce training gaps in mental health and suicide prevention, the importance of lived experience in suicide prevention, the...

ANZAC Day always makes me slow down and reflect. I’m up before dawn, standing with thousands of strangers, all joined by a common goal, to pay our respects and honour the fallen. Listening to words like the Requiem and the Ode, being moved by the sound of the Last Post being played, and remembering that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. In this solo episode I also share a personal milestone, why I’m heading back to the Suicide Prevention Australia National Conference as a ...

This week I sit down with Mathew De Goldi, aka GOLDIE the Clown, to unpack what it really takes to make kids and adults laugh. We talk craft, character, clown fear, and why humour can be a genuine support for mental health when life gets heavy. For 35 yrs he's been a crowd favorite around Australia. Things we chat about: • Clowns in pop culture and how scary clown myths spread • GOLDIE'S origin story from country Victoria to joining the circus at 12 • Dreamworld roving...

What happens when one of Australia's most forward-thinking exponential technology experts sits down with a comedian-turned-suicidologist to talk about AI, mental health, and the future of being human? You get one of the most thought-provoking conversations on the The Laughter Clinic Podcast. In this episode, Mark McConville welcomes Dr Clarence Tan, former Singularity University Asia Pacific Ambassador, exponential technology educator, angel investor, and self-described "wannabe Chinese come...

In this latest Pulse Episode I share ten interesting stories from around the world that sit at the intersection of mental health, suicide prevention, humour & laughter research and everyday self-care. From big system changes like free Medicare Mental Health support and defence reform in Australia, to personal strategies like safety plans, nature connection and even what chocolate does to your brain, this ep covers a lot. The 10 stories: • Free Medicare Mental Health Check-In and what it ...

The series finale of the Life Skills Masterclass. Mark and Jodi bring together the WHO's 10 life skills framework — augmented with mindfulness and lifestyle medicine — into one cohesive, daily-ready integration. In this episode they cover the "Integration Trio": managing emotions, mindfulness, and lifestyle medicine, weaving in personal stories, clinical experience, evidence-based tools, and genuine warmth throughout. At 2 hours and 11 minutes, this is the longest episode of the series and a...

In the 3rd instalment of the Life Skills Masterclass series Mark and Jodi break down how clear language, presence, and empathy turn daily talk into deeper levels of connection. We share simple moves like I statements, active listening, and repair attempts, then zoom out to relationship audits, love languages, and finding your tribe beyond home and work. In this episode: • Using I statements to reduce defensiveness • Choosing calls over text for tough topics • Active listeni...

In Part 2 of our Life Skills Masterclass Series Mark and Jodi break down the thinking trio, Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking and Decision Making. Learn how you can evaluate information, spark creative ideas, and choose with intent. Along the way we unpack bias, sleep, and a simple matrix that turns overwhelm into action. In this episode: • Defining critical thinking and why evidence and sources matter • Spotting confirmation and availability bias in social feeds • Curio...

In Part 1 of this 4-Part Life Skills Masterclass Series we talk about the foundation trio: Self-Awareness, Coping with Stress, and Problem Solving. Mark McConville and Jodi Allen share lived experience, research-backed tools, and a five-step framework to move from reactivity to calm, clear action. In this episode: • Defining self-awareness and reading body signals • Autopilot, avoidance, and micro check-ins • Good stress vs chronic stress and burnout risk • The bell c...

In this rich, wide-ranging conversation, Mark McConville sits down with Jodi Allen— Former member of the RAAF (14 yrs) , clinical nutritionist, trauma-sensitive yoga teacher, and lead facilitator of the 4 Aussie Heroes Foundation's Triumph Over Trauma program. This is a very compelling episode. Jodi's story is extraordinary. She joined the Air Force at 17, suffered a spinal fusion at 24, stayed in service for another decade, and was eventually medically discharged. Now Jodi works on the front...

Have you ever felt disconnected from a conversation, unable to contribute because you weren't following the news? That's what happened to host Mark McConville at a social gathering with mates, and it sparked a profound question: Is avoiding the news helping or hurting me? In this vulnerable solo episode, Mark explores the complex dilemma we all face: How do we stay informed about the world around us without sacrificing our own mental health? So much news is negative, do we really need it? &nb...

What if the root cause of disadvantage isn't a lack of money—it's a lack of love? In this deeply moving episode, Mark McConville sits down with John Godwin, founder and CEO of Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation, to unpack a values-first mentoring model that is changing lives. John shares the story of how his organisation has grown to over 600 volunteer mentors across Queensland, working with at-risk youth, domestic violence survivors, ex-offenders, and long-term unemployed individual...

In one of the most significant episodes in The Laughter Clinic Podcast's short history, host Mark McConville welcomes his mentor, Associate Professor Jacinta Hawgood (AISRAP, Griffith University), for an intimate and wide-ranging discussion about suicide prevention, research, and the integration of lived experience into clinical practice. This powerful conversation explores the evolution of suicide prevention. Topics include: the STARS needs-based assessment protocol, integrating lived experi...

Kicking off 2026 with essential workplace wellness strategies! Stephen Woods, founder of Employee Wellness Australia joins The Laughter Clinic Podcast to share practical, evidence-based tools for beating burnout and building trust at work. Whether you're a team leader, manager, employee, or solo business owner, this episode delivers actionable strategies you can implement TODAY to reduce workplace stress and improve mental wellbeing. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: For Leaders & Managers: How ...

In this final episode for 2025 I reflect on a year of big decisions, both personal and professional. From leaving cruise ships to going off my ADHD medication and growing the Laughter Clinic, it's been a year of significant life changes. I also take a moment to hold space for a national tragedy. • acknowledging the Bondi Beach victims • stepping away from cruise ships to prioritise The Laughter Clinic • delivering 53 Laughter Clinic presentations nationwide • collaborations wit...

Out of the studio and on the road, in this episode I'm chatting with seasoned stand-up comedian Bev Killick. Hear how making people laugh can change your life. Bev shares raw stories of rowdy comedy venues, performing for the troops, and caring for a family member with schizoaffective disorder. Bev also offers great insights in regard to practical advice for carers. We share lived, practical guidance for supporting someone through psychosis and reduce stigma with clear, useful steps any...

This week I catch up with B105 breakfast radio host Stav Davidson. We chat about how he has built a 20‑year career on honesty, quick wit, and mindfulness, and why laughter still works as medicine when the world feels heavy. Stav provides a masterclass in being yourself on air and how that has contributed to his longevity. Stories range from an honorary Knighthood, skydiving cash storms to interviews gone sideways and the quiet wins that have meant the most. • positive mindset as a resilience...

This week I chat with comedian Mike Van Acker and we take a trip down memory lane talking about the origins of stand up comedy in Brisbane and touring road trips. We also explore how Mike enriched his comedy career by running multiple trivia nights that keep people entertained and connected. • from open mic to headlining, the early days of stand up in Brisbane • lessons from the golden era of Australian stand-up • being a good MC and the art of stagecraft • bombing, crutches, and wantin...

In this episode I break down why humour and laughter work differently and how self‑enhancing humour helps reduce stress and build resilience. I also offer a simple three‑step plan to help you bring more laughter into your life and the lives of those around you. • physical effects of laughter • limits of one‑size‑fits‑all comedy in research • four humour styles and why self‑enhancing is the best • how to find what genuinely makes you laugh • building a personal laughter library • micro‑...

Ash opens up about how laughter became a shield, a craft, and a calling. We chat about how laughter boosts immunity, compare cruise-ship crowds with comedy club audiences, and talk candidly about drugs, faith, and the changing face of the comedy industry. How stress harms wellbeing and why laughter mattersBullying and self-deprecating humour as early survival toolsFirst cruise gigs, brutal bombs and the first big winMentors, comedy life, and the toll of drugsChoosing Australia, love, an...

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide and suicide prevention. Listener discretion is advised. Insight 1 • Pressures facing Australian mental health nurses and the need for formal support beyond AI Chatbots. https://360info.org/australias-mental-health-services-are-buckling-due-to-rising-demand-staff-shortages-and-patient-violence/ • Early evidence for AI chatbots supporting clinicians mental health. https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2025/1/e67682 Insight 2 • Adolescent menta...

Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide and suicide prevention. Listener discretion is advised. In this ep Mark chats with Dr Nikki Jameson—social worker, suicidologist, and founder of Moral Injury Australia—to unpack how a mother’s loss of her son Daniel to suicide ignited a national push for reform, shaped a Royal Commission, and gave people a new way to understand suffering that doesn’t fit neatly under PTSD. Nikki shares Daniel’s story—his loyalty, humour, and s...

A good joke can change a room; the right night can change a town. That’s the pulse of this conversation with Ellen Briggs—mother of twins, touring comedian, and co-creator of the hit show Women Like Us. We chat about the craft behind creating an “alive silence,” and the hidden workings of a sustainable comedy career that doesn’t rely on festivals or TV appearances. Ellen walks us through a decade of building shows that bring people together across Australia. There are stories that land...

In this ep I catch up with Ivan Aristiguieta, award winning stand-up comedian, writer, and now he's just added acting to his already impressive CV. Originally from Venezuela, Ivan now proudly calls Australia home, and the audiences have been returning the love all around the country. Ivan talks about walking the famous Camino De Santiago, a brutal, beautiful route that ends with the important reminder: we’re all on borrowed time. From there, we peel back common myths about comedi...

Sport is often sold as fitness and fun, but the deeper, quieter gift of sport is its power to bring people back into community. In this episode Mark dives into the hidden mental health superpowers of sport, from the jersey effect that sparks instant connection to the weekly rhythm of seasons that gives us structure, hope, and a reason to reach out. Mark also explores the deeper psychology of fandom and belonging, identity, and how rivalry paradoxically binds communities with resp...

Insight 1 Australia's National Mental Health Commission's 2024 Report Card reveals increasing financial strain affecting mental healthcare access, with one in four Australians avoiding mental health services due to cost. The proportion of Australians struggling financially has doubled in recent years. https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/34/insights-from-the-national-mental-health-commissions-2024-report-card/ https://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/publications/national-report-card-20...

Australian comedian Mick Meredith shares his remarkable journey through 25+ years in the comedy industry and reveals how finding the right balance in his life changed everything. Growing up influenced by his mother's joyful personality and sense of humour, Mick began his performing career in bands before transitioning to stand-up comedy. While he's entertained audiences across Australia and internationally for decades, it was discovering the power of physical exercise that truly transformed ...

Unlock the transformative power of journaling with comedian and suicidologist Mark McConville as he explores a simple practice that's been embraced by history's greatest minds—from Marcus Aurelius to Oprah Winfrey. Drawing from personal experience and scientific research, Mark introduces the WATT Framework—What Action Taken Today—a powerful approach that transforms traditional journaling into a catalyst for meaningful life change. This isn't just about writing down your thoughts; it's about ...

This first TLC Pulse Episode unpacks five developments reshaping our understanding of mental health and wellbeing. Insight 1 Laughter truly might be the best medicine according to groundbreaking research from Japan showing that just four minutes of comedy viewing can significantly reduce stress and improve focus in adults. https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-025-04863-5 Insight 2 The alarming state of teacher mental health in Australia demands urg...

Loneliness and isolation contribute to various mental health conditions, but day-to-day community interactions can significantly improve our wellbeing. Research from Blue Zones—regions with high numbers of healthy centenarians—shows social connectedness is a primary driver for living a long, happy life. • Belonging to a community decreases loneliness, lowers stress, and provides crucial support during challenging times • Contributing to community activities fosters purpose, empathy, and enha...

An unexpected birthday barbecue with over 30 friends becomes a powerful reminder of the critical importance of social health alongside mental and physical wellbeing. Mark shares his personal experience of reconnecting with friends after months apart and explores how these connections provide essential emotional support, reduce loneliness, and create a meaningful sense of belonging. • Social health involves building and maintaining interpersonal relationships and effectively navigating differ...

What would you do if doctors told you that you had just 18 months to live? For Craig Coombes, the answer came in an unexpected form. When Craig received his terminal cancer diagnosis in 2012, he made a simple yet profound decision: "Make the rest of your life the best of your life." What followed was an extraordinary journey that has defied medical expectations and inspired countless people along the way. In this deeply moving conversation, Craig shares how humor transformed his relat...

Comedy meets science in this groundbreaking exploration of how both humor and laughter can transform mental health. Comedian and suicidologist Mark McConville takes us on a deeply personal journey that began with a profound encounter – a soldier who hadn't laughed in three years found more healing in one comedy show than years of traditional therapy. Through the Laughter Clinic Podcast, Mark bridges his two worlds: decades of stand-up comedy experience across Australia's comedy clubs, and hi...