Description:In this episode of The Gift of Need Podcast, Jude DiMeglio Trang welcomes author, researcher, and lifelong Shakespeare enthusiast Kim Bradley for a lively conversation on why humans need laughter—and how Shakespeare’s comedies meet that need so profoundly. Together, they explore the Elizabethan worldview, the role of comedy in challenging rigid social hierarchies, and how Shakespeare used humor not to belittle, but to invite empathy, self-awareness, and shared joy. The discussion weaves together literature, psychology, health, and everyday life, showing how laughter becomes both medicine and connection.
We talk about:• Why laughter and comedy are essential human needs• Kim Bradley’s wide-ranging background and return to Shakespeare• The Elizabethan “Great Chain of Being” and cosmic order• How Shakespeare used comedy to challenge rigid social structures• Women, wit, and wisdom in Shakespeare’s plays• Laughing with others versus laughing at others• W.H. Auden’s comparison of Greek comedy and Shakespearean comedy• Why Shakespeare’s humor has endured for over 400 years• The physical, emotional, and social benefits of laughter• Shakespeare’s compassion for human flaws and missteps• The Merchant of Venice and Portia as a model of intelligence within constraint• Much Ado About Nothing and the joy of shared laughter• The Comedy of Errors and hospitality as a pathway to the good life• Using storytelling, community, and creativity to meet human need
Join the Conversation:We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the “Gift of Need” show up in your life. Share your story in the comments or leave a review. Please follow this podcast and rate it. Subscribe to my free newsletter to get future episodes and newsletters sent right to your inbox.
Connect with Kim: https://www.kim-bradley.com/
Music Credit:Gabe Kubanda / Damn Plans (Instrumental) © 2021 Kubanda Music
Engineer:Ray Ingegneri, Third Street Productions, Tucson, AZ
