27. Connecting Through Comedy: David Crisante on how to use humour to build key relationships and make your research approachable.
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Episode show notes
Apply for David’s Science Comedy Program
Looking to build stronger research partnerships and make your work more accessible? Science comedy expert David Crisante shares how strategic humour can help you connect with stakeholders, improve team dynamics, and boost your impact.
David brings a unique perspective to research communication, combining his experience as director of both Future Science Talks and the Sydney Comedy School. His groundbreaking Science Comedy Program has helped over 200 researchers from across Australia master storytelling techniques and develop their public speaking skills through comedy.
Through this pioneering program, researchers have gone on to feature in major arts festivals across Australia, transforming the way they communicate their work to diverse audiences. David's approach draws on his extensive career experience as a journalist, diplomat, and crisis response specialist, including time as a speechwriter for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"When we talk about humor, we actually want to make that person feel stimulated, excited, like they're finding a new connection... because that then can lead to a whole bunch of other doors opening." – David Crisante
This episode is essential listening for any researcher looking to make their work more approachable and build stronger professional relationships. Whether you're preparing for a conference presentation, trying to improve team dynamics, or looking to engage better with stakeholders, David offers practical techniques you can start using today.
Our conversation covers:
Why comedy skills are valuable for researchers and science communicators
The role of humor in building authentic connections and partnerships
Using comedy techniques to improve public speaking and presentations
How to modulate status effectively in professional settings
Strategies for making your research more relatable and engaging
Techniques for fostering positive team dynamics through humor
The importance of preparation and practice in public speaking
How to adapt humor for different cultural contexts
Tips for finding your authentic comedic voice
Building confidence through comedy training
Using humor to make complex research more accessible
Balancing professionalism with personality
Practical tips from this episode:
Finding your humour style:
Start with your authentic self — what do friends/family tease you about?
Use your personality quirks as strengths rather than trying to hide them
Look for shared experiences or perspectives you can connect through
Remember: you don't need to invent jokes or try to be a comedian
"What's really interesting is most people approach humor and comedy like they need to invent it... What is much more entertaining is that person's personality quirks and how that impacts their behavior."
"Approaching humor from the perspective of who we are, rather than trying to invent something and be funny... just walk into the office and crack jokes, that's not necessarily what I'm talking about."
Using the Rule of Three technique:
Establish a pattern with two normal/expected items
Disrupt the pattern with an unexpected third item
Give the audience enough information to figure out the humor themselves
Keep it appropriate to your setting and audience
"With humor, you want to give the audience the opportunity to figure a little bit of something out where they feel that they're intelligent for getting it... If we make it too simple, they're going to feel like it's cheap."
Turning foibles into advantages:
Identify something immediately noticeable about yourself or your work
Frame it positively as an advantage (even if playfully unrealistic)
Use it to make yourself more approachable and relatable
Be genuine in acknowledging these aspects of yourself
"Rather than being defensive about it, if they can position that as an advantage, then it changes the discussion... It's playful... It's just something that I'm highlighting. Hey, you can see this thing about me and I'm comfortable with it."
Improving your public speaking:
Focus on preparation as much as expertise
Consider practical elements like venue, timing, and audience expectations
Imagine speaking to one person rather than a crowd
Bring the same physical presence you have when relaxed with friends
Include supporters in your audience when possible
"The way in which we communicate information sounds much more authentic and natural and valuable and warm when we're speaking with one person."
Building team dynamics:
Create space for appropriate humor rather than forcing it
Allow team members to express themselves authentically
Use humor to release tension in challenging situations
Focus on giving to others rather than dominating conversations
Acknowledge the human side of work while maintaining boundaries
"I think it's not the role of the leader to enforce it and to push people in that direction. I think it's the role to enable that discussion to happen with limits... If we think about it as a gift — with gifts, we don't force them onto people. We enable them to use it."
Credits:
Host & Producer: Chris Pahlow
Edited by: Laura Carolina Corrigan
Music by: La Boucle and Blue Steel, courtesy of Epidemic Sound
- Public engagement
- Storytelling
- Career development
- Team alignment
- Your pitch
- Making your work relatable
- Talks and presentations
- Strategic comms
- Communicating in different formats/mediums
- Stakeholder/audience mapping
- Listening
- Strategy
- Mentorship
- Collaborating with professional staff
- Comedy
- Failure
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Philanthropic funding
- Relationship management
- Community engagement
