November 19, 2025

This week, we hosted a special workshop led by our very own, Joscel, a stand-up comedian and former ER nurse. Known for his comedy videos and growing online presence, Joscel shared how he went from working through the pandemic to discovering a passion for humor that eventually led him to stand up, storytelling, and Toastmasters.

He explained that humor follows patterns. People laugh when something turns out differently from what they expect, and most jokes rely on surprise. He described how comedy works best when it breaks a rule just enough to be amusing without crossing into cruelty. Everyone laughs at different things because humor depends on culture, experience, and comfort level.

Joscel also described what happens in the brain when we laugh, including the release of chemicals that make people feel good, connected, and more likely to remember what they hear. To show how contagious laughter can be, he led the group through laughter yoga, which quickly filled the room with giggles.

He taught participants how to write jokes by separating the playful clown brain from the critical editor brain. The key is to create freely before refining. A joke works when the setup builds an expectation and the punchline breaks it. Timing matters, and a brief pause lets the audience process the twist.

Joscel encouraged the room to use characters, embrace subtext, and make sure their humor punches up rather than down. He reminded everyone that comedy is a skill that improves with practice and that humor strengthens connection, eases stress, and makes communication more memorable. His message was simple. Anyone can learn to be funny, and life becomes brighter when we let ourselves laugh.

We hope to see you at our next workshop!