Laughter Revolution

Four months into my trip, I still can’t speak Georgian (or Czech, or Romanian, or...). But I’ve made friends anyway, with two train station guys, an 80 year old guesthouse host, and a late arriving waitress. Laughter did the heavy lifting. Once, it bit me back. I’m going to tell you all the stories about how I am putting the SMILE framework of Laughter Intelligence® to work on the road! In This Ep...

Picture a café with a chicken on the bathroom wall, a table that says "If you like to talk, sit here," and a Wi-Fi password that is HaHaHaHaHa. That's the fabulous Runa Café in Kutaisi, Georgia and its owner, Mako Tkabladze, is my guest. She is quick, dramatic, and just cheeky enough to tease me on air. We talk about Georgian humour, building connections beyond coffee, and how laughter helps reset...

I came to this solo trip determined to travel independently. No tour groups. No following somebody around with a little sign. No letting someone else tell me where to go or what to see. I was going to prove that I could do this my way. Then Romania started poking holes in that plan. A couple of unexpected encounters made me realize that maybe my strong opinions about how people “should” travel wer...

I used to think I was a pretty good talker. Turns out, solo travel and a language barrier will make you question everything, including whether you actually know your OWN language, let alone another. This episode is about the growing distance between my brain and my mouth, the mistakes I made trying to connect with strangers, and why I decided those mistakes were worth making anyway. In This Episod...

I met Monika Stodůlková on a train to Vienna, and by the time we said goodbye we had talked about cheese blocks, Sarah McLachlan, and of course, we laughed! This episode is proof that laughter shows up in every country, every language, and every hard moment, if you go looking for it. Grab your tea (or your pickled egg) and settle in. In This Episode Meet Monika Stodůlková, a Czech traveller I met...

Two months into my six-month solo journey, I’ve found myself in Vienna, Austria—a completely unplanned stop following what I'm calling my "Copenhagen crash." In this episode, I’m reflecting on what happens when your body forces you to slow down, the art of going with the flow, and the surprising self-discoveries that come with wandering the world on your own. From realizing I’m actually my own fav...

I met Lina Karlsen while I was stuck waiting for my suitcase Gertrude to catch up with me in Tromsø, Norway. Turns out a delayed bag led to one of the best conversations of my trip so far. Lina is a social worker who grew up steeped in Sami culture, and her approach to laughter can teaches all the lessons of the value of humour in hard places. Her stories of will make you think, laugh, wince, and...

Jenny Drever has a fantastic Scottish accent, a gift for storytelling, and a philosophy she lives by: if you are not laughing, you are probably doomed. My Airbnb host from Orkney joins me for my first on-the-road interview, and she is Laughter Revolution in human form - proof that a good attitude and a well-placed laugh really can transform how you move through your life. In This Episode Meet Jenn...

Somewhere between Edinburgh Airport and a set of stairs I had no business descending with a suitcase, I had a reckoning with my body. Specifically, with the part of me who thinks pain is just the price of doing business. Her name is Patty Pusher, and she and I are currently in negotiations. In This Episode • Why so many of us experience our bodies as the enemy — and where that actually comes from...

Most of us have had that moment. Sitting at your desk, calendar full, inbox worse, thinking: surely this cannot be it. After almost 20 years in corporate HR, I decided to find out. So I left. What followed was two naps a day, a lot of body listening, and eventually, a six-month solo trip to Scotland with almost no plans. This episode is about spirit being versus human doing, with your body as your...

Have you ever felt completely paralysed by something that should be simple? Packing a suitcase. Choosing an outfit. Showing up as yourself. If you’ve ever spiralled over what other people might think of you, this episode is for you. Marla is packing for a six-month solo adventure, which sounds exciting, until Polly Packer shows up. Polly is that relentless inner critic who turns packing a bag into...

Got a very convincing list of reasons why you can't do the thing you want? This episode is for you. Hit play. You have a list. A very convincing list of reasons why you can't, shouldn't, or aren't ready to go after the thing you want. And here's the wild part - your brain built that list on purpose. It thinks it's keeping you safe. Spoiler: it's not. In this episode, I dig into one of the stickies...

What if laughter wasn't just something that happened to you, but something you could use on purpose to change your life? In this first episode, host Marla Simlett shares the origin story behind Laughter Revolution. Three years of crisis, a full-blown anxiety disorder, and one unforgettable moment involving bleach and a fan cord that sparked everything. This is where the Laughter Intelligence™ fram...

What if growth felt lighter? Hosted by counsellor and speaker Marla Simlett, Laughter Revolution blends insight, real-life stories, and practical strategies to help you unstick your stuck with more ease, energy, and resilience. New episodes every other Thursday starting May 7.