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Huberman Lab

The Science & Art of Comedy & Creativity | Tom Segura

May 19, 2025·2h 20m

My guest is Tom Segura, renowned comedian, writer, actor and director. We discuss the “how-to” of comedy writing and storytelling, and what the science of humor and the creative process reveal about human emotion and memory. We explore why surprise and the act of "saying the unspoken truth" activate the brain’s reward circuits, as well as the subconscious mechanisms that shape our sense of what is funny. The episode also examines the bi-directional influence between comedy and cultural standards. It will interest anyone curious about the science of humor, the art of performance and emotional contagion.

The Science & Art of Comedy & Creativity | Tom Segura — Huberman Lab · Podtracker