Comedy as Medicine
JANUARY 17TH, 2024
EPISODE 25: Comedy as Medicine
What is the true price of admission for laughter that moves you to tears?
This episode’s guest isn’t just a comedian; she’s a force of nature in the world of entertainment and advocacy. In today’s episode, Dr. Scott sits down with Margaret Cho, a five-time Emmy nominee and a trailblazer for underrepresented groups who is reshaping the landscape of American comedy.
Together, they explore the curious, subversive edges of Margaret’s comedy, where she addresses the absurdity of culture, life during the pandemic, her love for TikTok and reality shows, and even her fascination with pimple popping. They’ll also dive into how she navigates Asian hate through her humor, her journey of healing from addiction, and the transformative power of choice and finding agency on the road to belonging.
Are you ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even squirm a little? Join us for a rollercoaster ride of insight and revelations with the incomparable Margaret Cho!
Topics We Break Down:
The role of humor in healing.
Navigating social boundaries in comedic storytelling.
Approaching life as an evolving work of art.
How subversive humor develops from the realm of curiosity.
Using storytelling as a tool to process personal and generational trauma.
Overcoming addiction through medication, physical activity, and animals.
Finding agency on the road to belonging.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
Show Notes
Episode Links:
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir by Matthew Perry
Discount Codes:
Save 10% at Omala with offer code DRSCOTT10
Save 10% on The Embody Lab’s live and online workshops and certificate programs* with the offer code GENTLYUSED10
*Does not apply to in-person events or best-sellers.
Special Guest
MARGARET CHO
Comedian. Actor. Musician. Advocate. Entrepreneur. Five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee. Margaret Cho’s strong voice has been lighting the path for other women, other members of underrepresented groups, other performers, to follow. Her recent television appearances – guest star on Season 2 of The Flight Attendant (HBO Max), guest star on Season 2 of Hacks (HBO Max) and two Netflix is a Joke comedy specials: Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration and Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin: Ladies Night Live – have expanded an already wide-ranging career, and her role as the ‘mother hen’ in the well-reviewed movie Fire Island solidifies why we all love Margaret in the first place.
As a comedian Margaret has been named one of Rolling Stone magazine's 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time, one of Vogue magazine’s Top 9 Female Comedians of all time, while CNN chose her as one of the 50 People Who Changed American Comedy. Thankfully, Margaret has more stories to tell, and her production company, Animal Family Productions, has multiple scripted shows in development for 2022 and beyond.
Your Host
DR. SCOTT LYONS
Dr. Scott Lyons is a licensed holistic psychologist, educator and author of the book Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others, with Hachette publishing. Scott is also the host of The Gently Used Human Podcast, a delightfully depthful and often hilarious exploration of what it is to be human, to have lived life, and come out gently used.
As a renowned body-based trauma expert, Doctor of Osteopathy (Spain) and Mind-Body Medicine specialist, Scott helps people to break free from cycles of pain, limited beliefs, and trauma. Scott is an innovator in transformative wellness and trauma therapy, teaching over half a million people internationally over the past twenty years how to relieve stress and restore vitality. Scott has worked with many of the country’s top leaders and CEOs as an executive coach and wellness consultant.
Scott is the creator of The Embody Lab—the largest online learning platform for body-based trauma therapies—and developer of Somatic Stress Release™, a holistic process of restoring biological resilience, taught in over 20 countries. Scott is also the founder and progressive designer of Omala, a wellness brand dedicated to creating sustainably sourced tools for transformation.
About the Podcast
THE GENTLY USED HUMAN
Dr. Scott Lyons and his world renowned guests take us into the delightfully depthful and often hilarious exploration of what it is to be human, to have lived life, and come out gently used. From passion to pain, glory to defeat, comedy to drama to tragedy, we’ve all been through it. This show unpacks the psychology and humor needed to keep you thriving on the roller coaster of being human.