We all like a good chuckle, but what if laughing was actually good for more than entertainment? Research from the North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill indicates that laughter may be good for far more. In fact, it may be the key to a healthy relationship. Host Frank Stasio talks about laughter and comedy with Sara Algoe, an assistant professor of psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill; Joann Keyton, a communications professor at NC State; Zach Ward, owner and executive producer of the DSI Comedy Theater in Carrboro; and Paula Pazderka, artistic director and school manager for the Theater.
Alex Granados joined The State of Things in July 2010. He got his start in radio as an intern for the show in 2005 and loved it so much that after trying his hand as a government reporter, reader liaison, features, copy and editorial page editor at a small newspaper in Manassas, Virginia, he returned to WUNC. Born in Baltimore but raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Alex moved to Raleigh in time to do third grade twice and adjust to public school after having spent years in the sheltered confines of a Christian elementary education. Alex received a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also has a minor in philosophy, which basically means that he used to think he was really smart but realized he wasn’t in time to switch majors. Fishing, reading science fiction, watching crazy movies, writing bad short stories, and shooting pool are some of his favorite things to do. Alex still doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up, but he is holding out for astronaut.