Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips From a Comedian
Episodes
The Long-Term Payoff of Keeping Your Word
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the comedy business, it's easy to cancel one gig for another, better paying gig. Many times entertainers are looking at the short-term gain of maki...
Helping Out vs Being Taken Advantage Of
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Yes there's a thin line between helping out vs being taken advantage of, and in comedy you have to pay attention or you will get taken advantage of a ...
Drama in the Front Row
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alcohol and comedy clubs go together very well - which can lead to drama! And not all drama is because someone is drunk. Here's a quick story about a ...
Battling the Bachelorettes
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are some groups in comedy clubs that comedians dread . . . Bacherlorette parties rank right up there around number 1. I've had to deal with my f...
Dolls? At My Age?
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, but these are special dolls! Here's a quick story about some dolls I was given to help me stop worrying about the future! It was a cool gift and ...
The Elements of Frustration in Comedy
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are lots of frustrating elements in comedy, and we're used to them . .. things like drunks or bad set ups. But sometimes there are things that m...
The Day I Regretted Saying "yes!"
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If I could take back agreeing to this idea, I would, because I regretted saying yes to this one. Here's a quick story about why you should stick up fo...
A Bombshell Announcement (that turned into a great show!)
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You'd think being a comedian prepares you for anything — hecklers, bad lighting, even a buffet line louder than your mic. But there's one thing no a...
The Heckle I'll Never Forget
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On stage with family in the audience, the pressure was on—and things went sideways fast. In this episode, keynote speaker and comedian Jan McInnis t...
Opening for a Superstar: Expectations vs. Reality
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Opening for a superstar sounds like every comedian's dream gig—but is it really? In this episode of Finding the Funny: Leadership Tips from a Comedi...
Walking Away From Your Dream Job
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of people have a dream job that they really want to do. Many people don't pursue it. There are lots of reasons for staying where you are instead...
Cruise Ship Fiasco
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Working on cruise ships as an entertainer can get weird, and I'm not talking about hecklers. Just getting to the ship in another country is a journey ...
When Your Gig Comes with a Warning Label
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Working around sketchy entertainers is, thankfully, not usual, but it happens. Here's a quick story about one of the times I had to work with someone ...
How NOT to get a referral
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Referrals are a big part of most freelancer's business, especially comedians and keynote speakers! Here's a quick story about the right and wrong way ...
The Wordrobe Choice that Backfired
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What you wear onstage is important. This is a quick story about what NOT to wear. I got to work with someone who wore an odd outfit and her wordrobe c...
Fame and Fortune
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a comedian, I've learned that TV credits don't always define success. People often assume fame equals talent, but my career has thrived without con...
A High Stakes Booking
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This behind-the-scenes look at a once-iconic comedy club shares the highs, nerves, and unexpected lessons that come with chasing stage time in a compe...
Decorated and Deflated: A Lesson in Pointless Power Plays
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the world of leadership, influence, and workplace culture, few things are more delicate—and more impactful—than how feedback is delivered. As a...
When Things Get Awkward
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Humor isn't just for laughs—it can be a powerful tool for navigating awkward or uncomfortable situations with grace and confidence. In this story, k...
"Trust Me" is Not a Good Business Plan
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think contracts are just boring paperwork? Think again. This real-life tale dives into what happens when a "sure thing" gig turns into a disappearing ...
Thanks for the Feedback . . . I Think!
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What really happens when a keynote speaker doesn't get the gig? In this episode, Jan pulls back the curtain on the wild, weird, and sometimes downrigh...
Out of the Blue & Kinda Weird
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Curious what not to do when asking for career advice? In this behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of humor keynotes and professional speaking, ve...
Climbing to the Top of the Pile, 1 Joke at a Time (writing for Jay Leno)
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Breaking into a crowded field can feel daunting, but persistence pays off in surprising ways. In this behind-the-scenes glimpse into a comedy career, ...
How I Got Cheated Out of My Biggest Break in Comedy
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trying to get stage time at the Laugh Factory in L.A. is a big deal—especially if you're hoping to get in front of Jamie Masada, the guy who helped ...
Oh Darn, a Woman Comic
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
People always ask what it's like being a woman in the male-dominated world of stand-up, and the truth is—it's mostly fine… but there are a couple ...
3 Nights in Hawaii for 16 Minutes on Stage
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine flying to Hawaii for a humor keynote, only to have everything shift in a way you never saw coming. As a keynote speaker, comedian, and corpora...
Comedy Under Pressure
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, comedian and keynote speaker Jan McInnis takes us behind the scenes of a high-stakes convention show that could make or break her car...
My Rideshare Nightmares
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what really goes on behind the wheel of a rideshare? As someone who relies on Uber and Lyft for travel, I've had some eye-opening experi...
My Recipe For Success: The Secret Ingredients for Achieving Anything!
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever thought you could conquer anything with just a mix of enthusiasm and naivety? In this inspiring and humorous episode, Jan McInnis shares her jour...
When More Money is Too Much
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
https://www.TheWorkLady.com Money matters can bring out the best and the worst in any industry, but in the unpredictable world of comedy, payment st...
Deadly Rental Cars
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a quick story about a rental car that almost killed me this year! AND I offer 4 quick things to check on a rental car that might just save your...
Finding Nemo with Ellen DeGeneres
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you get an opportunity out of the blue that is HUGE; Here's a quick story of one of mine. https://www.TheWorkLady.com Jan McInnis is a t...
Bad Comment Cards. Larry the Cable Guy Helps
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A week of bad shows will kill your spirit. My week working with Larry the Cable Guy saved my career, AND I learned a valuable lesson about failure. He...
ALMOST on Oprah!
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I had my plane tickets and I was BOOKED. But other stuff happened. Somewhere out there, there's a house wife in Texas who messed up my big break!! Her...
Cher's Help Launching My Career
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who knew attending a Cher concert would lead to a life in comedy for ME! AND it was so full of weird coincedences that you just can't make it up. Take...
Do You Really Want to Be Famous? I got to work with Jon Stewart
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you really want to be famous is a quick post about the weekend I worked with Jon Stewart at the Punchline Comedy Club in Atlanta. It gave me a uniq...
A Bad Idea for Making Money
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've been hit up for money before from various people, but listen in to this quick story about an agency who tried to get some money from me to help t...
Making Onto "The List"
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are some lists you want to make it on in comedy and some you don't. Here's a quick story about the time I got on a very good list! Funny comedi...
Cursing on Stage
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cursing on stage is usally a BIG no-no for corporate events, BUT here's a quick story about the ONE time I did it and it worked!!! In fact I got booke...
The Biggest Radio Show
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's funny business! And today Jan shares a quick story from her comedy club days about doing radio . . . or NOT doing radio. Take a quick break and p...
Drunkest Emcee Gig
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. T...
Mom's Genius Idea
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's funny business! Learn leadership & business skills to deal with people & handle life's curveballs. A professional comedian offers laughs & practi...
The BEST Moment in Your Career
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Short stories from Jan's comedy and keynote speaking career with unique tips for business. https://www.theWorkLady.com Jan McInnis is a top keyn...
News jokes for Friday, September 1, 2023
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two quick jokes from the news today. Check them out!
News Jokes for Thursday, August 31, 2023
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jan's Website3 news jokes under 1 minute. I've written and sold a ton of jokes from news stories. Nowadays I just do them for myself because I think t...
Five Things I Learned From Forensic Files
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Murder Investigations and Big Business are connected! At least that's what funny motivational speaker, comedian and business humorist Jan McInnis says...
Making Crap Up! The Secret to My Success
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's funny business! Learn leadership & business skills to deal with people & handle life's curveballs. A professional comedian offers laughs & practi...
White Elephants, Cuss Boxes and Cheating Jerry Lewis
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. J...
Clean Comedy Live
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I think I actually had that thought when I was in my marketing job. I talked about using statistics in yesterdays humor tip, so that's an example of h...
How to Write Humor
16 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
And it's the Saturday edition of Finding the Funny, which means I'll be giving you a tip to find the funny yourself! I've written for everyone from th...
Humor Rules, part 5
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you watch 20 comics, you may see 20 different approaches to telling a joke. In my act I do 3-4 jokes a minute, and I like the set-up punch style of...
Humor Rules, part 4
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I always have a client call before my keynotes and comedy shows. And people try to come up with funny things, instead of just telling me the facts and...
Humor Rules, part 3
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I was performing for a group of 4400 people. It was a dinner event, and they ran out of dinners for 1500 people. It was plated, so basically they misc...
Humor Rules, Part 2
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Years ago I got to do comedy in front of 500 blind merchant. I was the only sighted person in the room, so of course as a comedian, the first thing I ...
Humor Rules
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are few rules for humor, and in fact, I think the only big rule in comedy is to be funny. You can be dirty, clean, insulting or whatever, but as...
Sunday Funnies - Clean Comedy Live
10 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The won custody punchline wasn't the original punchline. My communications tips this week tell you how I get a little information over to you so that ...
How to Write Comedy
09 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
And it's the Saturday edition of Finding the Funny, which means I'll be giving you a tip to find the funny yourself! I've written for everyone from th...
Communication Tips, part 5
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I talk fast. It's one of the critiques that I've always heard from people. I talk too fast, they can't keep up. This week I'm talking communication ti...
Communication Tips, part 4
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I was having my HVAC unit replaced and 2 guys showed up at my house. They spoke pretty good English, but not 100%. They went up on the roof, and after...
Communication Tips, part 3
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Years ago I was doing a holiday party gig for a major corporation, and I got to the venue an hour early to take a look at the room. The room was set f...
Communication Tips, part 2
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
. Getting up at my first open mic was scary, scary, scary. Luckily it went well. But I think what was even scarier than telling jokes on stage was t...
Communication Tips
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I've been on stage for 30 years. First doing stand-up comedy, and now I do a lot of keynote speaking at conferences. Yet you probably don't know who I...
Sunday Funnies, Clean Comedy Live
03 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There really is such a thing as Heliskiing. This week I talked about finding a way to succeed even if you won't ever be at the top of your field. You ...
How to Write Humor
02 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
: And it's the Saturday edition of Finding the Funny, which means I'll be giving you a tip to find the funny yourself! I've written for everyone fro...
How to succeed even if you're not the best, part 5
01 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
5 I know comedians who have flown into the town that they were performing in, didn't like the hotel or apartment that they were put up in, so they lef...
How to succeed even if you're not the best, part 4
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I got one of the nicest compliments from Mark Ridley who owns the Comedy Castle comedy club in Royal Oak, Michigan. He said he appreciated that I was ...
How to succeed even if you're not the best, part 3
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
3 I was lucky enough to get in working with a lot of speakers bureaus early in my comedy career. They booked me into a lot of corporate gigs and...
How to succeed even if you're not the best, part 2
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The emcee at the comedy club is the low man on the totem pole. They don't get paid much, they don't get much time on the show, they have to go out fir...
How to succeed even if you're not the best
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I heard a comedy writer once say that he got out of stand up comedy because he heard a famous comedian's act and he thought "I'll never be as good as ...
Clean Comedy Live, Sunday Funnies
27 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ahh yes, my brother loves that joke. If you want to know the question I asked to come up with that punchline, listen to Saturday's briefing. And if yo...
Humor Writing Tip
26 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
And it's the Saturday edition of Finding the Funny, which means I'll be giving you a tip to find the funny yourself! I've written for everyone from th...
Making Huge Life Changes, part 5
25 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
About 2 years into living in LA, I ran into a comedy buddy Ian Salmon, from my open mic days in DC. He gave me the biggest compliment. He said Jan McI...
Making Huge Life Changes, part 4
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
At my marketing job, every day at 3:58 pm, my boss would stand outside my office, presumably checking his mail. And every day at 4 pm, I would walk ou...
Making Huge Life Changes, part 3
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
About the same time I left my marketing career where I was working in associations, another friend of mine had left his association job. He had writte...
Making Huge Life Changes, part 2
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Before I left my day job 25 years ago, Costco wasn't popular and it wasn't the go to store like it is today. There were some food wholesale grocery st...
Making Huge Life Changes
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I made a huge life change from marketing career to comedian. People ask me how did I do it. So this week I'm talking about some of the steps I took to...
Sunday Funnies - Clean Comedy Live
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I told you on Friday how I was able to easily remember all the things in the spa. So listen to that briefing for how I did it. And if you want to h...
Comedy Writing Techniques
19 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
And it's the Saturday edition of Finding the Funny, which means I'll be giving you a tip to find the funny yourself! I've written for everyone from th...
Memory Techniques From a Comedian, part 5
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Milk bath, raspberry relaxer, seaweed conditioner, vanilla bean dip conditioner! These are all in the set up of one of my jokes – listen to it on Su...
Memory Techniques From a Comedian, part 4
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's Zanies comedy club in Chicago, IL – a big club. It's 1 a.m. when I get onstage to close out the third show. The crowd is younger than me, and I...
Memory Techniques From a Comedian, part 3
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I always kick off my corporate comedy shows with a few jokes about the group to connect with them instantly. At my first big event I was in front of 5...
Memory Techniques From a Comedian, part 2
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I have a reoccurring dream that I'm onstage and I forget my comedy act. I always wake up before I figure out what to do. Luckily that's never happened...
Memory Techniques From a Comedian
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I met a guy in college my freshman year, and we ended up being friends. Not close friends, but we were in the same major and so we'd see each other ar...
Sunday Funnies - Clean Comedy Live
13 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
That's pretty much the first joke I ever came up with– I actually said it to a makeup lady. If you want to know one way comedians come up with the h...
How to Write Humor
12 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
: And it's the Saturday edition of Finding the Funny, which means I'll be giving you a tip to find the funny yourself! I've written for everyone fro...
Introductions, part 5
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I do a lot of work humor so my website is Work lady.com and sometimes I'm introduced at events as the work lady. But a few times I've been introduced ...
Introductions, part 4
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I once got a painful introduction where the lady introducing me read the email that I sent her to get the gig. She's telling them all the reasons they...
Introductions, part 3
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Shut the hell up. We've got a comedian here and she's really funny! Now shut the hell up! And with that crappy introduction I took to the stage. Sure ...
Introductions, part 2
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I've had some bad introductions over the years. One woman read my jokes. She's out there getting laughs with them, I'm backstage wondering how I'm goi...
Introductions
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
And now coming to the stage is a writer for Reader's digest. I actually got that as my introduction once. People are staring at me like, can't anyone ...
Sunday Funnies - Clean Comedy Live
06 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. J...
My LA Comedy Store Audition Podcast
05 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. J...
Comedy and Coal Miners
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. J...
My Comedy Starts and Stops, part 2
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. J...
My Comedy Starts and Stops, part 1
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. J...
Comedian Star Power Podcast
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. J...
That One Joke Podcast
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Funny comedian & top keynote speaker Jan McInnis's unique, fun and useful ideas will help you develop solutions to your own work and life issues. J...
Sunday Funnies, Clean Comedy Live
29 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I love that joke, and there's truth to it as well! If you want to hear more stories from my comedy career, check out my short podcast wherever you lis...
Humor Writing Tips
28 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
And it's the Saturday edition of Finding the Funny, which means I'll be giving you a tip to find the funny yourself! I've written for everyone from th...
Tips for Using Humor in Business, part 5
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In his monologue, Jay Leno joked about every topic you can think of. But I once heard him say that there are really only 4 or 5 subjects in comedy . ....