Archive for the Category »AHeart4Clowning Media «
A real blast from the past on AHeart4Clowning TalkRadio Show! Encore presentation of our all-time MOST popular broadcast — ENJOY!
From our very first broadcast season, Becky Cortino explains:
- Need for training and continuing education for all
- Different levels of proficiency, to gear necessary training
- Types of training, to make any training program more effective
SHOW NOTES:
The Healing Humor Program discussed in this show is now available as an online multi-media program. For more details and to enroll, click here: Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy
Online Training and Mentorship Programs and lots of Resources are available via AHeart4Clowning.com. For more information about programs and resources, click this link: Training from the Heart
You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
Now serving up the last round of “Clown Soup” best practices hospital clown training video program and “Healing Humor: Live Happy-Be Healthy” audio program!
These 2 popular programs will no longer be available (in their current form) after October 14, 2011
Unfortunately, our supplier will not be providing the services we’ve enjoyed in producing these video and audio products.
Although we plan to offer these products in a new presentation in the future, nothing is set at this time…
If you would like to have these physical products to use and enjoy, we highly recommend snagging your copy now!
There’s a Clown in My Soup! “Best Practices” Video Training Program 21 Key Questions Every Healthcare Family Entertainer should be able to answer… There’s a Clown in My Soup is a ‘Best Practices’ EduTrainment Clown Rounds module especially for hospital/caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers. Presented to integrate universal concepts for performers in the healthcare venue, this program makes effective learning enjoyable in a fresh, fun and new, memorable way. Details are included for registering product purchase to receive “Clown Soup” Facilitator Guide, Participant Question Booklet and corresponding Answer Sheet for this training program.
Click this linked text for: a last serving of Clown Soup (Video Training Program)
Healing Humor: Live Happy-Be Healthy (Audio Program CD)
The world is growing increasingly gray; the need for humor in daily life is paramount… Recognizing the need for humor in the everyday and seeking out ways to enhance your life by adding your own special blend of humorous ingredients offers health-boosting benefits, as well as making your world brighter! This audio program discusses the world’s growing need for Healing Humor and how to apply its simple principles to live a happy and healthy life. Healing Humor is for EveryBuddy! No specific claims or promises as related to health, well-being, healing or financial wealth, but research findings and ideas are presented to inspire and encourage you make your life and the world brighter! Written and recorded by author Becky Cortino, based on her forays into the world of holistic humor and Applied Humor Therapy experience since 1997. To Encourage & Inspire Touching Hearts thru the Arts!(TM) AHeart4Clowning.com
Click this linked text for: a last-call serving of “Healing Humor: Live Happy-Be Healthy (Audio Program CD)
Starting October 15th our Menu of Products changes!
Clown Soup and Healing Humor will not be served in quite the same way — we’ll stir up the pot and dish it out a little differently…
We will continue to support and encourage you and those in the trenches, with new recipes!
Know someone who might be interested? Please share this with them! We appreciate your referrals and support. Thank you!
MORE: About all AHeart4Clowning Books and MultiMedia currently available (click on this link here)
As with most worthwhile things, a hospital humor program requires more than one individual to establish, coordinate and run it. The starting point is a partnership-type relationship with a hosting facility, humor program initiators and participants.
By definition of partnership, the hospital or healthcare humor effort is by nature a joint venture, requiring commitment and participation on the part of all involved.
Unfortunately, this connecting point is where many hospitals or healthcare facilities are challenged, regarding establishing a viable channel from which to operate a humor program. A majority of facilities relegate humor program coordination to their volunteer department, often already overloaded with directing the day-to-day activities of a population that resembles a small city.
Humor programs do require special attention, by nature of the work done. In order to have an effective humor program and joint venture effort, it is critical to have the program defined, with all responsibilities, area(s) of operation, and activities clearly outlined.
This greatly aids the hosting facility, because:
- They know in advance where this entity is positioned within their operations and organizational heirarchy.
- It saves them valuable time, because it is implemented in tandem with a trusted, responsible partner.
By having all established activities and areas of operation defined and coordinated by an appointed volunteer, the only time spent by a staff member would be for an occasional debriefing or update meeting with the coordinator. Perhaps these meetings could be scheduled quarterly, and supplemented by a regular monthly program status report detailing group activity and plans.
Previously, I wrote outlining the many ways having such a humor program offers tremendous benefits to a hosting healthcare facility. I also wrote about the fact that such programs only come about based upon the all-important relationship between the facility and the participants. A successful program also spills over into the community, with far-reaching effects and building priceless community good will.
In times like these, humor is needed more than ever. This is no time to cut back on a simple program that will enhance the quality of patient care, substantially add to the wellness team, while building community good will at low to very little expense. A hospital or healthcare facility humor program run as a partnership will have far-reaching benefits, and positively sets the hosting facility apart from all the rest.
If you currently have or are participating with a hospital or healthcare humor program, and would like to fine-tune your efforts, or would like to establish a humor group, I offer a comprehensive online training program available on your schedule 24-7 (on-demand) – click on the linked text (below) for program details:
Work of Heart: Establishing Hospital Clown/Healthcare Entertainer Group – Train/Prepare/Equip
This online multimedia program not only provides a tried-and-true blueprint to save you valuable time in customizing a viable humor program tailored to your facility, but also over 100 pages of training materials for your group, along with printable hand-outs, performance pointers, training videos, and a Private One-on-One Personal 30-minute Coaching Session via Skype with me — Becky Cortino, to answer your questions, brainstorm solutions and ideas for your group or facility.
…I have written 3 books (to date) on this aspect, spoken on this topic, and presented this material internationally, in addition to training 245 hospital clowns in 10 consecutive sessions (comprised of local, regional and out-of-state attendees), a training program I concepted, implemented and directed, in partnership with my group’s hosting facility.
How may I help you?
Receive information to help you with your humor program: You’re invited to receive our FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker e-Newsletter… by signing up to receive FREE Hospital Clown e-Newsletter (click on this link here)
Recommended book: Injecting Healing Humor in the Healthcare Setting: Entertaining Effectively in the Healthcare Venue
My heartfelt mission is: Helping to Prepare, Equip & Train those with the True Heart of a Clown to inject Healing Humor into the Hospital or Healthcare Setting, as a Hospital/Caring or Therapeutic Clown, Healthcare Family Entertainer, Applied Humor Therapist… or to establish a Hospital/Healthcare Humor Program!
I’ve written prescriptions and provided the tools for those of us at the Grassroots Level (that’s you ‘n me, by the way!) to use. You can pick from a whole array, choosing the most palatable form that’s easiest for you to digest. This way, you can make best use of the material, according to your own situation or group plans!
My books, audio/video products, and multimedia are geared for all levels of experience. Everything is written in a down-to-earth style, based upon hands-on experience from a me-and-you perspective, not from a Corporate Ivory Tower How-to, or pontificating upon the multitude of minutiae you must always keep in mind, that will forever hold you back from sharing laughter and joy in the healthcare setting.
Don’t miss out on oodles of FREE Resources! Since publishing my first book in 2007, I have freely been offering loads of insight, information and cool ideas here to help you — so be sure to check around my AHeart4Clowning.com site, and sign up to receive our newsletter to keep updated!
Make 2011 your best year ever for Massive Healing Humor Injections! Everyone’s waiting for you…
Injecting Healing Humor, also known more widely as Applied Humor Therapy in the Healthcare Setting, is a Work of Heart. It is a gift freely given, to ease a patient’s pain or sadness, a visitor’s grief, a stress-buster for the staff. It is a recognized need in this highly-regulated and often tentative environ, as well as outside the walls for the rest of the world.
The need is so intrinsic to health, the concept so clown-simple, I can’t help but believe one of the reasons why so many wish to deny this basic human need is because it’s like reminding someone to breath. But reminding someone to breath is much more acceptable, it seems…
There are countless benefits to having a Humor Program in the Healthcare Setting. While every facility is different, as established within their parameters, the results are priceless.
For little to no money invested in such a program, if executed properly, the results and community good will could not be otherwise purchased.
Here is a 5-article series I wrote on this topic:
Benefits of and Reasons for a Healthcare Facility Humor Program:
http://www.aheart4clowning.com/2010/05/06/7-reasonswhy-healthcare-facilities-need-a-humor-program/
Setting up a Healthcare Humor Program, Appropriate to Your Facility:
About AHeart4Clowning MultiMedia and resources I have written and produced, specifically for this venue:
Books and MultiMedia — Establishing, Training, Preparing and Equipping a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Entertainer Group:
MultiMedia Program now Available — Establishing, Training, Preparing and Equipping a Hospital Clown or Healthcare Entertainer Group:
Register to receive the largest FREE Hospital Clown/Healthcare Family Entertainer/Applied Humor Therapist/SmileMaker Newsletter (electronic)
Did you find this information helpful? Sign-up to receive more experienced insights FREEly shared, through our free newsletter, click this link: http://www.aheart4clowning.com/sign-up/

Miles of Smiles: Becky Cortino
The warm, encouraging response I have received so far this year for the work I have been doing, my books and media, speaking engagements and emerging new projects has been heartening, albeit a tad overwhelming at times — but all met with great good humor, high spirits and an abundance of gratefulness for all.
The most affirming moment for me, in my writing and sharing is when someone who wants to become involved in this work that looks like play, or I connect with a hospital somewhere that is interested in establishing a humor program. For me, that is when the magic begins!
How fortunate it is, that we should meet here at this time and place, to speak of simple things — of smiles, and joy and humor to be shared in possibly the darkest of days… presented as a sweet gift to one who so often wishes to receive it, but never before would have dreamed to ask.
As the realm of things possible unfolds before their wondering eyes, they come away with us for just that moment in time, to a land untravelled until we arrive there together. It is a place filled with warmth and sunshine and hearts are light. Laughter and joy fill the air like lilac blossoms — sweet and close. Once experienced, not-to-be-forgotten. The moment to be hidden in the heart. The memory to taken out again to be further examined, relished and enjoyed. To be held forever close.
I’m thinking I must be the most fortunate person in the world to do what I do. The places I have been — the stories I have heard. Oh, the memories and indelible heartprints forever left their mark.
May my words speak to your ears and to your heart.
My heartfelt mission is very simple: I want to help further clown arts and humor programs in hospitals and healthcare settings globally. Together in the collective sense, we are doing that – but I strive to encourage it on a much broader scale than what we are currently doing.
Please let me know how I can help you… feel free to contact me, or to submit your question by way of this online Contact Form (click this link)
As the world grows increasingly gray, the need for humor in every day life is paramount… recognizing the need and seeking out ways to enahance your life by adding your own special blend of humorous ingredients offers health-boosting benefits, as well as making your world brighter!
Discover the positive health benefits of humor, how to administer generous doses of humor, in every day, for a happier healthier life!
Now available in your choice of 2 convenient forms, with a beautifully redesigned cover:
#1: A self-paced Healing Humor online course with immediately available downloadable materials allows attendees to listen to audios at their convenience, enjoy EBooks and printables immediately! The course is presented in 5 separate audio segements, with related downloadables, all available online, to be listened to and enjoyed indefinitely, from the time of enrollment.
For more info: budurl.com/HealingHumorAudio
#2 Healing Humor: Live Happy – Be Healthy Audio CD, is a physical audio CD product that includes the audio portion (only) – for your own personal copy, and as a great addition to your Humor Library and resources.
For more info: http://budurl.com/LiveHappyBeHealthyCD
The backstory of Healing Humor: Live Happy-Be Healthy Audio Program is that it was written and recorded by Becky Cortino, as part of the “Creative Arts Celebration” held at Frye Regional Medical Center in April, 2008.
Breaking News for Healing Humor: Live Happy-Be Healthy Audio Program is the flashy, cool new design!
We’re celebrating the new bright art, lighter look, and the fact that so many people have been enjoying this program since 2008!
Just released, “There’s a Clown in My Soup” video is a ‘Best Practices’ EduTrainment Clown Rounds module especially for hospital clowns, caring clowns and healthcare family entertainers.
Presented to integrate universal concepts for performers in the healthcare venue, this program makes effective learning enjoyable in a fresh, fun and new, memorable way.
No more ‘talking heads’, drab, dull or boring training sessions with this program! Instead, a sugar-coated, humorous presentation of: 21 Key Questions Every Healthcare Family Entertainer should be able to answer…
Details are included for registering product purchase to receive “Clown Soup” Facilitator Guide, Participant Question Booklet and corresponding Answer Sheet for this training program.
Click on this link (here) for more information about this new ‘Best Practices’ EduTrainment Video for Hospital Clowns, Caring Clowns and Healthcare Family Entertainers…








