Turning Pain Into Play: Laughter Yoga and Healing with Cathy Nesbitt

Turning Pain Into Play: Laughter Yoga and Healing with Cathy Nesbitt

Author: Dr. Brad Miller March 20, 2026 Duration: 57:07

On this episode of Cancer and Comedy, Dr. Brad Miller talks with Cathy Nesbitt, a health and wellness advocate and laughter yoga teacher from CathysClub.com, about how intentional laughter, energy techniques, and even worms can help people move from stress into joy—especially when facing cancer and other major life challenges. Cathy shares the deeply personal story of losing her beloved stepfather Mike to brain cancer when she was just 21, and how that loss shaped her vow never to stay in a job that didn’t serve her, ultimately leading her from a worm composting business into the world of laughter yoga and therapeutic joy.

Brad Miller and Cathy unpack what laughter yoga actually is—not jokes or stand-up comedy, and not stretching on a yoga mat—but a guided practice of simulated laughter, deep diaphragmatic breathing, and simple movements that flood the body with “happy hormones” like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (Cathy’s playful “DOSE”) while lowering stress chemicals like cortisol. Cathy explains how she weaves in modalities like tapping, Brain Gym, and qigong in her free weekly online Laughter Club, which attracts seniors, people with special needs, and those coping with depression, cancer, and other health issues. She shares powerful stories, including daily laughter calls with a woman facing ovarian cancer and training a wheelchair-using disability advocate, Adam, to become a laughter yoga leader—examples of how laughter can restore dignity, connection, and resilience.

Throughout the conversation, Cathy and Brad Miller return to the core themes of hope, intention, and permission to play. Cathy talks about her bold goal to live vibrantly to age 111, and how that long-term vision drives her to care for her body, mind, and spirit right now. For listeners going through a hard season—cancer, grief, job loss, or simply feeling overwhelmed—Cathy offers practical ways to begin, start with a smile, add a small giggle, move your body, tap the thymus to support immune function, and practice gratitude for even the smallest things. “Cancer and Comedy” with Dr. Brad Miller. Miller exists to help people navigate cancer and profound adversity with honesty, faith, and humor, without minimizing the seriousness of what they’re facing. To explore more conversations and resources on coping with hope and laughter, visit cancerandcomedy.com/follow.

Website: https://www.kevincrispin.com/experiencehttps://cathysclub.com/ | www.cathyscomposters.com | www.cathyssprouters.com

Email: cathy@cathysclub.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathynesbittsteinofficial/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet


There's a particular kind of alchemy that happens when serious things meet sincere laughter, and that's the space where you'll find Cancer and Comedy: Helping Cancer Impacted People to Cope with Hope and Humor. Hosted by Dr. Brad Miller, this podcast emerged from a deeply personal place. Fresh into retirement after 43 years as a pastor, Brad received a prostate cancer diagnosis during the Christmas season of 2022. His instinctive reaction-to laugh as a way to keep from crying-sparked a mission. Each episode is built on the belief that those touched by cancer are not done living, and that facing the grim with a grin is a powerful form of resilience. You'll hear conversations that blend candid stories from the cancer journey with a genuine, often surprising, sense of humor. It’s not about dismissing the difficulty, but about discovering pockets of light and levity within it. Brad brings his unique perspective as both a longtime spiritual guide and a current patient, creating dialogues that are as educational about mental and physical wellness as they are uplifting. This isn't a lecture; it's a companionable audio experience for anyone seeking to fortify their spirit with hope and an honest, sometimes healing, laugh. Tune in for a podcast that redefines strength, proving that coping can be a creative, and even comedic, act of self-improvement.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cancer and Comedy: Helping Cancer Impacted People to Cope with Hope and Humor
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