In our last episode with Christie Buchele, we learned the mechanics of comedy and received a crash course in how to construct a joke. We’re going to continue to celebrate Humor Appreciation Month with our next guest, Maria Ross, marketing maven. Our focus today is not so much on how to be funny, but how to appreciate the humorous aspects of what’s going on in your life right now, no matter what is going on in your life right now.
In this episode, Heather and Maria discuss:
* Does humor in advertising really work
* Importance of understanding the humor of your ideal audience
* How humor can be the secret weapon
* What is Humor in the workplace?
* Importance of using authentic humor
This is the third time that Maria has appeared on the Lead with Levity podcast. If you like this episode, you’ll love the others too:
- Episode 24: Why employees need storytelling and marketing too
- Episode 61: Will customers still like you?
About Maria Ross
Hello! I’m Maria Ross, the founder of RED SLICE.
As a brand strategist, author, speaker, podcast host, and actress (when I have time!) I believe cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive.
My infatuation with the power of storytelling started young. From dominating my kindergarten classroom to delighting theatre patrons to directing brand strategies, I’ve been entertaining and educating audiences from the moment I could walk.
I’ve authored multiple books, including my most recent, The Empathy Edge (named by Forbes as a Top 11 book redefining leadership), and I’m the host of The Empathy Edge podcast.
See, empathy is at the root of all successful brands, movements, and stories. It’s a key competitive advantage. And I understand the power of empathy on both the brand and personal levels: In 2008, shortly after launching my business, I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that almost killed me and inspired my best-selling memoir, Rebooting My Brain. It tells the story of my brain aneurysm and near-miraculous recovery—with tongue-in-cheek humor and levity (yes, really).
As a brand and empathy expert, my insights have been featured in many media outlets such as MSNBC, NPR, Entrepreneur, and Forbes.com – and a slew of podcasts and video shows. As a keynote and workshop speaker, I’ve delighted live and virtual audiences ranging from TEDx to Women in Tech Regatta to BlogHer to The New York Times to Salesforce – and livened up many conferences and company events. My writing has appeared in media such as Entrepreneur.com, Newsweek, MarketingProfs, Life By Me, and The Huffington Post. I’m based in the San Francisco area with my husband, young son, and the memory of my first Chief Morale officer, Eddie the Wonder Dog, but I work with clients all over the world. (Email, phone, and Zoom make everything possible).
