The Laughter Clinic

27/04/2026

Really looking forward to attending the Su***de Prevention Australia National Conference this week. So many fantastic speakers from around the world to learn from over the next few days. ***deprevention

26/04/2026

28 yrs ago today, I walked on stage and did stand up comedy for the very first time.
I could never have dreamt of being where I am now, I’m so incredibly grateful, for all of it.
The friends, the gigs, the travel, the community, the fact that I still love it and am still good at it, the audiences, the booking agents, and now, I get to use everything I’ve learnt to help others. I’m so appreciative to still be working in an industry that I love and care about so much. Still a lot more cool things to come though, cheers my friends. 🍻

25/04/2026

Latest Podcast Ep out now.

ANZAC Day always makes me slow down and reflect. I’m up before dawn, standing with thousands of strangers, all joined by a common goal, to pay our respects and honour the fallen. Listening to words like the Requiem and the Ode, being moved by the sound of the Last Post, and remembering that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. 'Lest We Forget'

In this solo episode I also share a personal milestone, why I’m heading back to the Su***de Prevention Australia National Conference as a delegate, and a Churchill Fellowship application that could be life changing.

Thanks for listening, sharing and subscribing.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2t0Lfa8QJcY9Mu8jqApOXs?si=Mpai1RDHS4aNBvRADkoWUA

The Laughter Clinic · Episode

24/04/2026

Well, I did it, I finally applied for a Churchill Fellowship.
The timing is right and I have a good feeling about this.
My PROJECT AIM:
To study comedy based mental health programs in the USA, Canada and the UK to implement an Australian version.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
What if a GP could prescribe comedy as an adjunct mental health treatment covered under Medicare? In the UK, a world leader in social prescribing, comedy is now being prescribed and funded under the NHS. In the US 1 Degree of Separation uses comedians to deliver su***de prevention training to the US military. In Canada, Stand Up For Mental Health teaches comedy for people suffering from mental illness. I would visit all three countries, study these programs firsthand, and return with an evidence based proposal to include comedy in the Australian Government’s Social Prescribing Framework, which is being developed right now. Knowledge gained would also be used to the benefit of our veterans and first responders.
Wish me luck ...

18/04/2026

Happy Saturday folks. Latest podcast ep now live and it sure is a ‘feel good’ episode.

This week I chatted with Mathew De Goldi, aka Goldie the Clown about his 35-year career. From 16 years at Dreamworld to travelling with Hudson's Circus 11 months a year, this episode really is a celebration of happiness, resilience, and the profound impact of making others laugh.
Things we chat about:
🤡 Clowns in pop culture and how scary clown myths spread
🤡 GOLDIE'S origin story and joining the circus at age 12
🤡 Transforming from Mathew to Goldie the Clown
🤡 Dreamworld roving performance versus big top routines
🤡 Building a repeatable “formula” while keeping it fresh
🤡 How character gives permission to be outrageous
🤡 Dealing with teens, heckling, and turning chaos into play
🤡 Performing through grief and using laughter as a coping tool
🤡 Clown fear in real life and gentle exposure that helps
🤡 COVID, fuel costs, and what keeps a travelling circus alive
🤡 Life on the road, audience energy
🤡 Purpose, service, and finding meaning in making others laugh

Hope you enjoy it.

Listen on all podcast platforms and the video is available on The Laughter Clinic YouTube Channel.


https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hMx9mBKkgXXO0hsuMmitk?si=QHl0lZwNQzWdp3U7V89Otw

The Laughter Clinic · Episode

15/04/2026

I'm really looking forward to attending the Su***de Prevention Australia National Conference in a couple of weeks. Not as a speaker, but simply as a delegate.
✅ To take in all of the latest information and research.
✅ To learn from global leaders in the field of su***de prevention.
✅ To attend the Members Only Reception and Life Awards Gala Dinner
✅To both connect with, and reconnect with so many amazingly dedicated people who work in this challenging field.
Oh... and hopefully line up some guests for the podcast...

10/04/2026

Happy Friday folks, latest podcast ep OUT NOW.

This week my guest is Dr Clarence Tan, former Asia Pacific Ambassador for Singularity University, exponential technology educator, angel investor, Adjunct Professor at Bond University and Griffith University, and keynote speaker for organisations such as the UN, World Bank, and Deloitte.

Clarence's Massive Transformative Purpose, which is to "seek, share and apply knowledge to progress humanity" shines through in every part of our conversation.

Topics covered in this episode:
✅ Humour & Laughter as a bridge for hard topics and human connection
✅ Singularity University and the mindset shift to exponential thinking
✅ Mentorship, and building evidence-based mental health work
✅ Why AI hits “brain jobs” first and what that means for young people and career planning
✅ Ikigai as a practical framework for finding purpose beyond job titles
✅ Generative AI vs OpenAI and why AI literacy matters
✅ Critical thinking, and the limits of AI output
✅ Loneliness as a global crisis and the appeal of anonymous 2am chatbots
✅ Cybela and the development of an AI early intervention with guardrails
✅ Accessibility gaps in mental health care and where AI may help
✅ Why compassion, empathy, and lived experience remain uniquely human and what that means for the future of mental health care

This episode is also deeply personal for me as Clarence and I share a 15-year friendship that includes a mentoring relationship that directly shaped The Laughter Clinic's inception, including the pivotal 2014 meeting with Professor Diego De Leo that launched my university and academic journey. If you've ever wondered how The Laughter Clinic came to be, this is the episode with the origin story.

Hope you enjoy it.. Cheers

Listen on all podcast platforms and the video is available on The Laughter Clinic YouTube Channel.



https://open.spotify.com/episode/1cAs98LVdYlF79vwuJc96S?si=GSzqhYjkSJGOKw6HzjNY2Q

The Laughter Clinic · Episode

06/04/2026

Hi, it’s Robyn. Most of you know Darren as the guy who makes peo… Robyn Linkhorn needs your support for Help Comedian Darren Sanders Fight Acute Leukaemia

04/04/2026

Happy Easter folks, New Podcast Ep is now live:
TLC PULSE: 10 Mental Health Stories Worth Your Attention

In this ep I'm sharing 10 interesting stories I’ve found in the world of mental health, su***de prevention, humour & laughter research, and everyday self-care.

Here's what’s on offer:

1️⃣ FREE MENTAL HEALTH CARE: Australia now offers free Medicare Mental Health Check In support via telehealth. No GP referral required.

2️⃣ AI & YOUR MENTAL HEALTH: The WHO is investigating. "The pace of AI adoption has far outstripped our understanding of its mental health impact.

3️⃣ COMEDY IN A WARZONE: Israeli performers are trading stadiums for bomb shelters. Stand-up comedians doing bedside shows for wounded soldiers.

4️⃣ LAUGHTER IS MEDICINE: A doctor explains why. "A patient who laughs often breathes a little easier, and suddenly the room feels less frightening."

5️⃣ HUMOUR & AGEING: Older adults who use humour to UPLIFT OTHERS have better wellbeing than those who use it to cope alone.

6️⃣ VETERANS DESERVE MORE: The Defence and Veterans Service Commissioner Bill has just been passed, but reform is measured by outcomes, not paperwork.

7️⃣ MEN DO TALK — WHEN THEY FEEL SAFE: New research shows men's wellbeing groups are growing fast — and that when the environment feels safe, men DO talk.

8️⃣ SAFETY PLANNING SAVES LIVES: Know the warning signs of a su***de crisis. Know how to build a safety plan BEFORE the crisis hits. Lifeline: 13 11 14

9️⃣ NATURE IS FREE MEDICINE: 38,000 people. 75 countries. Same result. Nature connectedness = higher wellbeing, hope, purpose & resilience.

1️⃣0️⃣ DARK CHOCOLATE WINS: Happy Easter. Science has your back.

Grab a coffee ☕ (or some dark chocolate 🍫) and enjoy.

P.S. If you're in Australia and haven't heard about the new free Medicare Mental Health Check-In, share this episode with someone who needs it. Early intervention helps.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6drL4Jg117GKc34RGic4JJ?si=ZKGOpkrIQCaZQfgkXgsD2g

The Laughter Clinic · Episode

24/03/2026

THE SERIES FINALE IS HERE — Life Skills Masterclass Part 4.
In the series finale Mark and Jodi cover the "Integration Trio": managing emotions, mindfulness, and lifestyle medicine, weaving in personal stories, clinical experience, and easy to action evidence-based tools.

After four incredible episodes, Mark McConville and Jodi Allen Nutrition bring the Life Skills Masterclass home in a big way.

The episode closes with the 30-Day Life Skills Integration Challenge — a practical call to action inviting listeners to cycle through all 12 life skills over 30 days.

Episode 4 covers the Integration Trio:

✅Managing Emotions — Emotional regulation is learnable.

✅Mindfulness —Paying attention to the present moment without the woo woo….

✅Lifestyle Medicine — The American College of Lifestyle Medicine's six pillars.

If you've been following the series — thank you for listening.
Please share this with someone who needs it.

Thank you also for being part of The Laughter Clinic community. It means everything.

Finally, thank you to series co-host Jodi Allen, for your warmth, your time, and your knowledge. (ohhh …and your wonderful sense of humour)

We both sincerely hope that you’ve enjoyed our Life Skills Masterclass Series. We had a blast making it for you.

Be kind to yourself and be kind to those around you.
Mark McConville and Jodi Allen Nutrition

The Laughter Clinic Podcast — available now on all major platforms.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hFoVIDBRtD9KvuUCnMpp7?si=Z5ERYWshQ8CalxhuLMP7Dw

The Laughter Clinic · Episode

21/03/2026

What a nice surprise being on the same conference bill as fellow AISRAP alumni and friend Dr Nikki Jamieson. Nikki spoke this morning on Moral Injury and tonight I’m presenting The Laughter Clinic for the Peers & Chaplains Conference for the NSW State Emergency Service here in Sydney.

21/03/2026

Yesterday’s Laughter Clinic presentation was for the PRD Realty National Conference on the Gold Coast, who were a wonderfully engaged audience, and tonight’s presentation is for the Peers & Chaplains Conference for the NSW State Emergency Service. Nice to be back in the swing of things after a few weeks off.