What Makes Us Laugh in Dark Times – Humor as an Antidote To Fear

Was Live Friday, March 06, 2026 | 11am PST

Guest Speakers

• Herbert Siguenza, Artist in Residence, SDSU ArtsAlive, and founding member of Culture Clash
• Emil Amok Guillermo, journalist, humorist, and poet laureate
• Samson Koletkar, co-founder of Desi Comedy Fest and Comedy Oakland

Related Coverage

• ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ — The Role of the Comedian in Uncertain Times 
• YouTube Playlist

Event Overview

In moments of uncertainty, comedy and satire help communities process fear, challenge power, and find connection. Humor is deeply empowering. It gives us agency in the face of anxiety and lets us confront and even laugh at our worst fears.

That power is precisely why comedians so often become targets of political backlash, and why restrictions on satire are common in authoritarian societies.

But how and why does humor shape the way we understand politics, culture, and ourselves when the news feels overwhelming?

American Community Media invites you to a conversation with comedians, actors and cultural voices who use humor to interpret and respond to turbulent times.

Presented by ACoM

Cover Image Credit: Canva Photos