Book Kathleen Passanisi through The Keynote Curators
Biography
With substance, style and clean hilarity, Kathy has enhanced the way slightly fewer than a bazillion people laugh, live and work. She’s been told she’s the “best friend people never knew they had,” “a meeting planner’s dream,” and “a real lifesaver–literally.”
Kathy is an internationally-recognized speaker, therapeutic humorist, licensed medical professional, entrepreneur, and author. Her expertise, coupled with her uniquely comic platform skills, has made her one of the most sought-after presenters on the platform today. A dedicated veteran of the healthcare industry, Kathy is an experienced clinician and has served on the adjunct faculty of the Washington University School of Medicine and is past-president of the Association for Applied Therapeutic Humor (AATH). She is the author of It’s Your Life–Choose Well, and a contributing author of Humor Me, America’s Funniest Humorists on the Power of Laughter.
New Perspectives is the company Kathy founded in 1987 to address issues in wellness, stress management, life balance, and the link that exists between humor and health. Her clients include The Fortune 100, major healthcare systems, leading universities, seriously ill people, overly serious people, all kinds of associations and tons of women’s groups.
As a memeber of the National Speakers Association and the International Federation of Professional Speakers, Kathleen qualified as a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP-1995), which is the highest, earned designation a professional speaker can receive. In 2003, the AATH recognized Kathy with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of therapeutic humor. In 2004, she was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame (CPAE).
Kathy is Pete’s wife, Annie’s mom and self-proclaimed poster woman for the sandwich generation. She knows first-hand the importance of humor in surviving life’s challenges. Plus, Kathy is a world-traveler, good friend, comedy fanatic, beach lover, great Italian cook, iPod enthusiast, and “Jill of all trades.” And, if those credentials don’t impress you, she had perfect attendance in the 4th grade. Kathleen Passanisi, PT, CSP, CPAE is the funniest woman in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri—and quite possibly, the Western Hemisphere.
Contact us for Kathleen Passanisi fees and availability
Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more
Improve you quality of service, reduce your team’s stress, enhance your productivity and creativity, and just make the workplace a lot more fun. All it takes is a well-developed sense of humor.
You are in the business of health but your won is compromised by the stress of heavy caseloads, managed care requirements, demanding patients, and the challenges of life in general. What is the antidote? A sense of humor. No kidding!
A woman’s life is usually filled with pressures, obligations, and an unrelenting schedule. If the stress in your life makes you want to cry, Kathleen will help you to learn to laugh instead.
Research confirms the positive impact humor and laughter can play in wellness, especially cardiovascular health. Laugh while you learn how a lighthearted approach can improve every aspect of life.
Testimonials
For Meeting Planners
Get in TouchContact US
Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.
Related Comedy & Humorist Speakers
Blog Posts
Trust Is the Foundation Every Strong Workplace Culture Needs, with Minda Harts
Keynote speaker Minda Harts explains how trust shapes communication, leadership, and workplace culture, and what it really takes to rebuild it.
Read More
What Success Really Means To You?
Discover what true success demands with elite adventurer Squash Falconer. Learn why turning back isn't failing and failure is information without judgment.
Read More
The Future of Retail and Customer Experience, with Tanger’s Stephen Yalof
Learn customer experience insights from Tanger's CEO transformed retail into experience-driven hospitality.
Read More
What Pride Month Teaches Us About Leadership and Authenticity
Explore why Pride Month teaches essential lessons about authenticity, self-expression, and refusing to outsource yourself in a world of templates and algorithms.
Read More
Resilience Is Not Survival: Choosing an Unscripted Life, with Nicole Malachowski
Discover how resilience means thriving through uncertainty with leadership lessons from a fighter pilot who rewrote her life when the script ended.
Read More
Patience Is the Competitive Advantage High Performers Need, with Ed Viesturs
Learn how patience became Ed Viesturs' greatest asset climbing all 14 eight-thousand-meter peaks—and why it matters for your goals.
Read More
The Moments Nobody Applauds: Suffield Commencement Speech [2026]
A speech about character, trust, and the quiet moments that reveal who we really are.
Read More
Burnout in High-Performing Teams Is a Systems Problem, Not a Personal One
Burnout isn't a personal failure. Ryan Estis explains why it's a leadership and systems problem, and what great leaders do differently to fix it.
Read More