Kathleen Passanisi

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.

Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

Humor at Work

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.

Humor for the Health of It

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!

Ladies, Life and Laughter

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.

A Merry Heart Really is Good Medicine

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

Kathleen's presentation on Humor in the Workplace. . . was evaluated by the attending executives to be one of the best presentations ever given at Bausch & Lomb.

– Clay Osborn Director - Strategic Staffing & Diversity / Bausch & Lomb

As you are aware, our current work environment is very challenging due to our business downturn and the resultant necessity of workforce reductions. You did a wonderful job of speaking openly and frankly about these types of sensitive subjects, but in a manner that was respectful and to say the least, very humorous.

– Todd Zarfos - Airplane Systems / The Boeing Company

I have already seen dramatic changes in the way we work, think and act as the direct result of learnings from Kathleen. Our communications have remarkable improved from the 'license' we all acquired by hearing the wonderful message wrapped in humor!

– Dick Watanabe - Emergent Manufacturing / The Boeing Company

The information you provided will help us do more than just survive the ever-changing environment that we work in today. It will help us to better understand and enjoy our work and the people we work with. It will also allow us to be more creative and productive employees. I can't thank you enough for all you've done.

– Stan Brower - Southwestern Bell

Planning meetings can prove a very challenging task. When your keynote speaker does as well as you did, everyone looks good."

– Jeffery Maples - V.P. Marketing / Educational Employees Credit Union

Your message is particularly important to us in public service during this high stress period of profound change. As program chairman I hoped that you would deliver an upbeat humorous program at mid-conference to help the audience maintain their momentum. You delivered beyond expectation and had the audience with you from start to finish while you presented a thought-provoking message. I, of course, have been very pleased to take credit for having 'discovered you'."

– Ralph Bowser - International Personnel Mgt. Association

Booksby Kathleen Passanisi

It's Your Life--Choose Well

Humor Me, America's Funniest Humorists on the Power of Laughter

For Meeting Planners

Request Availability

Blog Posts

Elevate Your Event With These Skills: Insights from Gabriella Robuccio

Think event planning is all about checklists and timetables? Think again. Emmy‑winning strategist Gabriella Robuccio shares more on The Keynote Curators Podcast.

Celebrating Juneteenth with These Transformative Keynotes

Learn how intentional Juneteenth programming paired with transformative keynote speakers can turn commemoration into sustained equity and inclusion.

AI, GEO, & SEO Marketing for Speakers: The 2025 Authority-Building Playbook

How Professional Speakers and Speaker Bureaus Can Leverage AI to Build Unshakeable Authority and Increase Visibility in the New Search Landscape

Rethinking Events: Bite-Sized Surprises and Live Interaction with Seth Godin

Seth Godin shares his strategies and suggestions for unforgettable events—from riff-based teaching to co-creation through communication and creativity.

Aligning Prosperity with Purpose: Money Lessons from Doug Lynam

Marine. Monk. Manager. Behavioral finance expert Doug Lynam helps you heal your relationship with finances, aligning prosperity with a deeper, personal purpose.

Expert Mental Health Keynote Speakers That Can Elevate Your Attendees’ Experiences

Learn how the right mental health keynote speaker can help transform your events by fostering connection, resilience, and lasting impact that last a lifetime.