World Smile Day is the perfect excuse to hit pause on emails, Zoom fatigue, and that spreadsheet that somehow has 17 tabs…and lean into a little laughter. At Peppercomm, we like to say that our superpower is the perfect mix of wit and wisdom. The wisdom helps us provide world changing communications strategies for our clients, but it’s the wit that acts as essential fuel for creativity – and keeps us human.
Our Laughing Matters Council teamed up to share a few of the moments that have kept them smiling in recent months. Read on below for a dose of joy to celebrate World Smile Day 2025.
Luvell Anderson, Professor, Head at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
One source of joy for me over the past few months has been Josh Johnson videos on social media. His soothing demeanor and witty observations on mundane things, coupled with sharp social commentary, offer both a reprieve from awful things and energy to face another day.
There’s a particular video where he talks about his first time seeing a white person, which came a day after being at a family gathering and hearing his great aunt threaten to “slap the black off” his cousin. The transition from the grandmother’s warning to the next day is delectable.
Malcolm Frierson, Assistant Professor at Riverside City College
My 7-year-old daughter unknowingly modifies the lyrics to popular songs, and it is my joy to hear her sing the wrong words. Sade’s “Smooth Operator” has become “Smooth Umbrella” in my household. I’ll never sing it the correct way again!
Clayton Fletcher, Peppercomm’s Chief Comedy Officer and Co-Author of The ROI of LOL
I love when comedians use the stage to shine a mirror onto ourselves, as often the reflection is as hilarious as it is revealing. Bonnie McFarlane is one of my favorites, and in this comically self-aware piece, she examines the cyclical nature of bullying. Given the way many of us seem to be treating one another nowadays, it’s a hilarious social commentary with the perfect amount of bite. It brings me joy because the artist is using her comedy skills to break the cycle and spread love in the world.
David Horning, Chief Experience Officer at Water Cooler Comedy and Secret Society Comedy’s Executive Producer
I attended the High Plains Comedy Festival and got to see the hilarious Chris Higgins perform a truly unifying bit poking fun at the absurdity of having political merch:
“What if George Washington had merch?
Trump has “Make America Great Again” hats, imagine if Washington had hats that just said “Make America.”
He’s wearing it in his presidential portrait like it’s a tri-cornered hat.
He’s wearing it in that famous painting where he’s crossing the Delaware.
…Except it’s backwards since he’s at war.”
Chris created levity out of a polarizing figure in a way that was funny for the entire audience by pointing out something silly we all see.
To celebrate World Smile Day, I recommend going to a comedy show this weekend. Taking a much needed break to laugh amid a busy week does the soul good.
Liz Joynt Sandberg, Head of Comedy Arts at DePaul University
We all have our special genre of online videos that make us smile. For some, it’s clumsy puppies, prank videos, or even people falling (it helps that we know they make it out okay). Mine is videos of people seeing whales. There’s just something about a grown man losing his mind at one of nature’s wonders that really makes me laugh. If you’re not watching adults freak out about whales, you don’t know what you’re missing.
From misheard lyrics to social satire, humor gives us a way to lighten the load and connect through laughter. On World Smile Day, our Laughing Matters Council challenges you to share your own sources of joy – whether it’s a TikTok, a stand-up set, or a kid’s remix of your favorite song. Because sometimes, the best way to change the world is just to make it laugh.
