Unleash the Power of Healthy Humor on the Brain
Alternate Title
Beyond Funny: How to use healthy and strategic humor for personal resilience and business
In this interactive exploration of humor and laughter, participants will understand why finding things funny changes brain chemistry, reduces stress, and optimizes communication, engagement, sales, marketing, and leadership capacities. Individuals will create a Beyond Funny Toolkit to apply to their daily routines and feel confident in using intentional humor interventions in the office and at home.
Dr. Heidi Hanna is a globally recognized stress and performance expert, Chief Energy Officer of Synergy Brain Fitness, and a leading voice on how brain science can enhance well-being, productivity, and leadership. With over two decades of experience blending neuroscience, psychology, and performance training, she helps individuals and organizations recharge their mental energy and perform at their best—without burning out.
As a Senior Researcher with the Brain Health Initiative and a Fellow and Advisory Board Member of the American Institute of Stress, Dr. Heidi brings scientific credibility and practical tools to her engaging keynotes and workshops. She also teaches at Harvard University and lectures regularly at Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa, where her programs explore the neuroscience of resilience, connection, and sustainable high performance.
A New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Heidi has written seven influential books, including The Sharp Solution, Stressaholic, Recharge, and What’s So Funny About Stress? Her work translates cutting-edge research into actionable strategies that help audiences manage stress, improve focus, and harness energy for long-term success.
Dr. Heidi Hanna is the Chief Energy Officer of Synergy Brain Fitness, a company providing brain-based health and performance programs to individuals and organizations, a Senior Researcher with the Brain Health Initiative, and a Fellow and Advisory Board Member for the American Institute of Stress.
Dr. Heidi is also an instructor at Harvard and a regular lecturer at Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa. She is a NY Times bestselling author who has written seven books, including The Sharp Solution, Stressaholic, Recharge and What’s So Funny About Stress?
As an experienced speaker, Dr. Heidi Hanna has been featured at many national and global conferences, including the Fortune Magazine Most Powerful Women in Business Summit, ESPN Women’s Leadership Summit, and the Million Dollar Round Table.
Dr. Hanna is the Chief Energy Officer of Synergy Brain Fitness, a company providing brain-based health and performance programs to individuals and organizations, a Founding Partner of the Academy for Brain Health and Performance and a Fellow and Advisory Board Member for the American Institute of Stress.
She is a NY Times bestselling author of several books, including The Sharp Solution, Stressaholic, and Recharge.
Her clients have included Google, Starbucks, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, and WD40 as well as the PGA Tour and the National Football League. Dr. Hanna serves as an Everyday Health Expert Wellness Advisory Board member, a National Board Member and Certified Humor Professional with the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, although she won’t admit she’s funny.
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In this powerful TEDx talk, neuroscientist and performance strategist Dr. Heidi Hanna reveals how reframing and channeling stress can transform it from an obstacle into an ally for success.
This 15-minute, 19-second TEDxSDSU talk by Dr. Heidi Hanna, bestselling author and Chief Energy Officer of Synergy Brain Fitness, challenges the conventional belief that stress is inherently bad. With humor, science, and authenticity, she introduces a new understanding of stress—not as something to be avoided, but as a source of energy and growth when managed wisely.
Dr. Heidi begins by sharing personal stories of burnout and recovery, illustrating how years of pushing through stress without balance led her to explore the neuroscience of resilience. She explains that stress itself isn’t the problem—it’s the way we interpret and respond to it. When we consciously choose to shift our mindset, we can convert stress from something that drains us into something that fuels us.
She presents the science behind this idea, describing how the brain and body are wired to adapt and strengthen under the right kind of pressure. Through simple frameworks and relatable metaphors, she teaches the audience how to reframe stress as energy, regulate the nervous system through breath and mindfulness, and build daily recovery habits that allow performance to thrive.
02:00 – Personal story: burnout, recovery, and rediscovering balance
04:10 – The brain science of stress and energy regulation
06:30 – How mindset shapes physiological responses to pressure
09:00 – Turning stress into strength through reframing and recovery
12:10 – Practical steps for building resilience and mental agility
14:45 – Closing message: channel stress to thrive, not just survive
In this Barron’s interview clip, Dr. Heidi Hanna discusses the critical role of human energy management in high-performance environments—and how leaders can sustain success through brain-based well-being.
This 4-minute, 2-second feature, The Human Element, presents Dr. Heidi Hanna, renowned neuroscientist, performance strategist, and author, sharing concise and powerful insights on how optimizing energy—not time—is the true driver of productivity and resilience.
Dr. Heidi explains that modern professionals often mismanage their most vital resource: their own mental and physical energy. She highlights the neuroscience behind how chronic stress impairs focus, creativity, and emotional balance, while deliberate recovery practices fuel innovation and clarity.
She emphasizes the need for organizations to treat well-being as a performance imperative, not a perk. Through relatable examples, Dr. Heidi connects brain science with real-world leadership challenges, showing how intentional breaks, laughter, and social connection can dramatically improve decision-making and team collaboration.
Her advice is both actionable and compassionate—underscoring that high achievers must learn to “pause with purpose” to sustain long-term excellence. This short, insightful segment encapsulates her philosophy: performance thrives when we protect and recharge the human element.
Timestamped synopsis
00:30 – Why stress management is essential for peak leadership
01:20 – The neuroscience of energy, focus, and recovery
02:25 – How small shifts in habits elevate performance and teamwork
03:30 – Leadership lesson: sustainable success requires self-care
Brain health, energy management, resilience, stress optimization, and performance under pressure.
She combines neuroscience with humor, storytelling, and practical tools for immediate real-world application.
Yes. Each presentation is tailored to the organization’s goals, audience profile, and current well-being challenges.
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