Contagious laughter is a hidden universal language that can change your nature and your behaviour

An interview with
Albert Nerenberg

Dr. Frank and Dr. Fred asked Albert about his work as an expert in laughter and stupidity. He talked about the beneficial health and psychological properties associated with regular laughter, and about his writing on the new positivity.

Dr. Frank Albert, besides being a filmmaker, actor, journalist, you call yourself a "laughologist." It's right on the business card you gave me. What do laughologists do? And how did you get into this area?

Dr. Fred You travelled to India and studied the benefits of laughter yoga with Dr. Madan Kataria, who launched the first laughter club. You invented Laughercize, a system of joy-inducing exercise that works off natural human contagious laughter. Would you briefly describe the technique? How can that technique help those in Canadian alcohol and drug rehab centres as well as older people?

Dr. Frank Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a keynote address you gave at a teacher conference. One of the comments you made is that regular laughter has beneficial health and psychological properties, particularly for midlifers and beyond. Can you tell us about some of those benefits?

Dr. Fred You also describe yourself as a "stupidity" expert. Tell us about that and what relevance that could have for midlifers and beyond?

Dr. Frank You've written a series for the Montreal Gazette on the "New Positivity and the Science of Fun." What are some of the things you have written about that may interest midlifers and beyond.

Dr. Fred You are attending Idea City this year. Can you tell our listeners what that is and what you will be doing there?

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