What if some of the moments you'd rather forget are actually the stories that could help you connect most powerfully with others?
In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins is joined by Judy Carter, pioneering comedian, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and internationally recognized expert in using humour and personal stories to connect with an audience. From performing stand-up and appearing on more than 100 television shows to writing The New Comedy Bible and The Message of You, Judy has spent decades studying what makes people laugh, listen, and remember.
Judy shares why the \"messes\" in our lives often contain our most meaningful messages and how leaders can turn difficult, imperfect, and unexpected experiences into stories that create connection.
She breaks down the three stories every leader should have ready: a personal heart story, the origin story of their organization or career, and a client success story. She also explains why the strongest stories don't position the leader as the hero, but instead help the audience recognize something of themselves in the experience.
Mike and Judy also explore the mechanics of humour. Judy introduces simple comedy formulas, including \"small, small, big,\" and explains why surprise and contrast are at the heart of making people laugh. She shares practical ways leaders can use humour without becoming comedians, from opening a presentation with a shared experience to paying attention to what's happening in the room before stepping on stage.
They also discuss vulnerability, why sharing failure can change how others perceive a leader, how to remove unnecessary details from a story, and why a speaker's biggest competition for attention may be the phone in someone's hand.
In this episode:
• How to turn a personal \"mess\" into a meaningful message
• The three stories every leader should know how to tell
• Why vulnerability can strengthen connection and trust
• How to tell a client success story without making yourself the hero
• Judy's \"small, small, big\" comedy formula
• Why surprise and contrast make humour work
• How to create connection early in a presentation
• Why good storytelling requires knowing which details to leave out
• How humour can make leadership communication more engaging and memorable
• Why reading the room matters before you begin speaking
Episode Resources:
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