In Podcasts, The Inner Life

Why We Laugh – The Inner Life – July 15, 2026

Patrick Conleyby Patrick Conley

IL – Father John Paul Erickson joins Deacon Patrick Conley to discuss Why We Laugh

  • (5:43) How is laughter a uniquely human trait?
  • (20:09) Nick – Appropriate laughter and why we laugh. Altar server trying to light a candle. All of a sudden, people were laughing after he tried so many times. It has to be tempered with the appropriateness of the situation.

(24:38) Break 1

  • Did Jesus have a sense of Humor?
  • (30:58) Rose – Humor. I’m 87. Humor has helped me in my last stages to continue without having to complain so much.

(38:04) Break 2

  • Pauline – Joke: Pastor and bus driver. Both die at the same time. Bus driver gets ticketed first. Pastor waits and finally to gates. I thought I’d be the first in line. St. Peter said why was I first? When you preached everyone slept, when he preached, everyone prayed.
  • (43:47) Joe – Joke: Jesus and Moses on a golf course. At this dog leg of a hole. Jesus says, ‘I’m going to get above par on this. Jesus hits the ball, goes into water. He walks on water to get the ball. Asked Moses if it’s Jesus, and said no, it’s Jack Nicholas.
  • (47:04) Carol – When I think about laughter, I think why it’s important to have a merry heart. It does good like medicine. Laughter is the best medicine you can have.
  • Juanita – Years ago, God showed me his sense of humor when I was upset over my grandson’s mom keeping us from seeing him. I unexpectedly received a gift of a small meat cleaver. It just made me laugh. It keeps us grounded in our sense of humor.

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Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley

Patrick Conley was born, raised, and baptized in Wisconsin in a Protestant tradition. After meeting his wife, Kendra, through an Evangelical ministry at the University of Minnesota, they entered the Catholic Church in 2010. They listened to Relevant Radio, specifically The Inner Life, while preparing to enter the Church. Conley now holds a degree in theology from Oxford University and has served the Church in both academic theology and grassroots pastoral ministry. Conley teaches religion classes in a Catholic elementary school, serves as his parish Director of Religious Education, and is in formation for the permanent diaconate. He also hosts Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio, exclusive to the Minneapolis area’s airwaves, and is a traveling presenter for the Catherine of Siena Institute apostolate. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and their bulldogs, Georgie and Bingley.