What to Listen To: Podcast Edition

International Humor Month 2026 | Week 3

Looking for something to listen to that will make you laugh, think, or both? We've rounded up 5 podcasts that explore humor from angles you might not expect: cancer survival, mental health, resilience, leadership, and therapeutic healing. Plus a handful of "just for fun" picks when you want pure laughs and nothing else.

Whether you're commuting, walking the dog, or just need something better than the news, press play on one of these.

1. Beating Cancer Daily Hosted by Saranne Rothberg

Saranne Rothberg is a stage IV cancer survivor, and her podcast is helping listeners in 144 countries across all 7 continents. With over 400 daily episodes, Beating Cancer Daily brings humor and hope to one of life's hardest experiences. The show is a People's Choice Podcast Awards "Best Health Series" 2025 Top Ten Finalist and has been rated the #1 Cancer Survivor Podcast in 2024 and 2025. If you think humor and cancer don't belong in the same sentence, Saranne will change your mind.

2. Laugh or Death Hosted by Paul Osincup

Laugh or Death is a show about finding humor in everyday life and during our darkest moments. Host Paul Osincup talks with industry leaders, entertainers, and brilliantly imperfect humans to uncover how they use humor to cope, survive, and even thrive. From career setbacks to personal loss, each conversation reveals the surprising, human, and often hilarious ways laughter builds resilience. Equal parts heart and humor, it's a reminder that sometimes the best way to face life's gravity is with levity.

3. Mental Health with Dr. Melissa Mork Hosted by Dr. Melissa Mork

If you caught Dr. Mork's TEDx talk in our What to Watch: TEDx Edition, you already know she's brilliant at exploring humor in hard places. Her podcast takes a different angle: each episode features a guest answering five questions about their mental health journey, from symptoms to coping to diagnosis to treatment to faith. The goal is to reduce the stigma of mental illness by normalizing the conversation. It's honest, compassionate, and quietly powerful.

4. The Humourology Podcast Hosted by Paul Boross

Paul Boross talks to the funniest and most successful leaders in business, sport, and entertainment about how humor measurably improves your business and your life. The premise: a good sense of humor is much more than a means to raise a smile. It's a critical psychological defense against the stresses of everyday life, the source of our resilience, and the secret weapon of all successful leaders. If you liked the workplace-focused TEDx talks from our What to Watch edition, this podcast goes deeper on that thread every episode.

5. LaughBox The Official Podcast of AATH

You've been hearing from LaughBox all month through our Friday archive episodes. But if you haven't explored the full catalog, now's your chance. LaughBox features stories, insights, and expert conversations about laughter as a healing tool, humor for mental health, and how humor helps reduce stress, anxiety, and burnout. Each episode offers practical tools and real-life applications of therapeutic humor for navigating hard moments with humanity and heart.

And When You Just Want to Laugh...

Sometimes you don't need science or strategy. You just need something funny in your ears. Here are a few crowd favorites (hat tip to Roberta Gold for several of these recommendations):

• Smartless — Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett interview guests with zero preparation and maximum chaos.

• Good Hang with Amy Poehler — Conversations about creativity, comedy, and what makes a good hang.

• Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend — Conan being Conan, which is all you need to know.

• Comedy Bang Bang — Improv, characters, and absurdity from Scott Aukerman and an ever-rotating cast.

• Fly on the Wall — Dana Carvey and David Spade take you behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live.

Got a humor podcast we should know about?

Share your favorites in the AATH Facebook Group using #InternationalHumorMonth. We're always looking for new listens.