Why laughter heals broken hearts
Talk given at TEDxChicago 2025
Chicago, September 26th, 2025
Natasha Pearl Hansen
Comedian, Creator & Community Architect
About the Talk
Can finding humor in our darkest moments actually help us heal? Comedian and entrepreneur Natasha Pearl Hansen believes the answer is yes—and she has the stories to prove it.
After her wedding was called off, she turned the venue into her debut comedy special and launched a community helping thousands navigate loss and heartbreak. From her talk, you'll learn how laughter becomes a lifeline back to healing and human connection. Through deeply personal stories and insights from hundreds of interviews, Natasha shows us that finding humor in our hardest moments isn't dismissive—it's the only sane response, and an essential human need.
Source: TEDxChicago
About Natasha
Natasha Pearl Hansen is a comedian, creator, and entrepreneur who turns life’s detours into unforgettable stories. Her comedy career began at Second City Chicago in 2006, where she wrote, directed, and performed in dozens of shows before finding her voice in stand-up in 2010.
Since then, she’s toured internationally, performed at major festivals, and been featured on Hulu, Comedy Central, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Netflix is a Joke Radio. When her wedding was canceled three weeks before the big day, she filmed a comedy special at the venue—on the original date, with the original guest list. That special, I Was Supposed to Get Married Today, became the unexpected launchpad for an innovative platform helping people find support, joy, and community through loss, grief and major life change. Natasha’s work blends humor, vulnerability, and human connection—reminding us that even life’s sharpest twists can leave us laughing.
Source: TEDxChicago
TEDxChicago 2025
Our future feels uncertain, yet we are resoundingly called to what matters most: You and me. Us. Humanity, itself. At TEDxChicago 2025, we believe the most powerful force shaping tomorrow is our collective agency, imagination, desire for connection and laughter, dignity, and generosity. This year, our speakers and artists arrive on Chicago’s stage to share their ideas, showcasing their fierce commitment to unify science, technology, and sustainability with the essential principles of compassion, justice, and care.
This is our love letter to Chicago.
Source: TEDxChicago
Coach’s Reflections
More to come!
