I think that if you give your children time really time and that’s rare in our days, and you give them humour and laughter you are on a good way. If you can laugh at things that can seem difficult for them. And to do that, you have to put your phone down, your iPads down. You have to be present with your children. That’s the most precious thing you can give them.
Paul Boross (00:00:32):
Welcome to the Humourology podcast with me, Paul Boross my glittering lineup of guests from the worlds of business, sport and entertainment who are here to share their wisdom and their use of humour with you. Humourology is the study of how humour can dramatically improve your business success and your life. Humourology puts the fun into business fundamentals increases the value of your laughing stock and puts a punchline back into your bottom line. Please remember to like subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
Paul Boross (00:01:09):
My guest on this edition of the Humourology podcast is an award-winning international television presenter and singer with endless talents. Her album Sweethearts went gold in only four days when she’s not producing gold, she can be found as the host of Norwegian TV’s long Jakten på kjærligheten and many other primetime hit shows, which I won’t even attempt to say in Norwegian. Her talents continued to add up when she won the first season of the popular Norwegian dance competition, Skal vi danse?, which is Norway’s version of Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing with the Stars. If you are an American. For the last 10 years, she has been the sparkling onscreen presenter of the show when it comes to understanding the key components to onscreen connection, communication and charisma, this woman is in a class of her own Katrine Moholt, welcome to the Humourology podcast.
Katrine Moholt (00:02:14):
Oh, thank you so much. Thank you for beautiful words. Wow. I’m really feeling honoured to be your guest Paul..
Paul Boross (00:02:22):
Oh, you are so kind, but firstly, let me apologise for my terrible Norwegian pronunciation. It was me trying my best, but even however many times I’ve been to Norway. I can’t quite get it right. Secondly, I’d like to take you back to when you were young, the early years when you were growing up, what kind of family did you grow up in and was humour important to your family?
Katrine Moholt (00:02:51):
Well, I grew up with a very light lived family. Do you say light lived in England? We are saying that, yeah. You live your life light. So, I had, especially a mother that taught me to be very apparent in the situations and I was always looked very good after. So I felt filled up with love and compassion and every time something went wrong or you got into trouble my parents and especially my mother, she was very light. So it was, well, we don’t care about that. Don’t think about it. Let’s go on with it. So, I think I have a childhood that was very secure and it gave me a very good, ground to grow because it felt secure and I always were encouraged not to see the problems, but to see solutions and to be positive.
Paul Boross (00:03:54):
That is… That’s what a background and that’s a perfect way to grow up. And the Humourology project is all around that lightness of touch because even though it’s humour, there is a lightness in humour. There is a feeling about it, which you describe so beautifully. This lightness, what was it something that pervade everything about your life? Was it at school as well?
Katrine Moholt (00:04:23):
Yes, I think so. And I think that I call my mother a life artist because she have this view on life and she can, she can watch a tree where we can pass it many times a day and she can suddenly say, oh, look at that tree. Isn’t it beautiful. And when you, you then stop and you look at that tree you see that, yes, it got something to it. And she do that with people and, and to have this from, I was little, it had given me a very bright view of life. And I think she got that from her father, my grandfather, because I was very attached to him. He died when I was nine years old and he was a fairytale grandfather; one that you read about in stories because he had this warm lap, warm smile.
Katrine Moholt (00:05:18):
He was a parent. He he taught me things. He took me into the forest and he had this light view on life. And he he had a saying that we are using in our family; my mother has used it. I used it. And I say to my children and that is, well, but no one died. <laugh>, you know, so if every everything can happen around us, it can be tragedy. It can be troubles. It can be everything that is bad, but okay, we have each other, no one died. We can solve this. I think that’s a headline for my childhood. I think that we are fixing things. And I think that is a really great gift for parents to give their children.
Paul Boross (00:06:13):
What you are talking about, I think is perspective being present in the moment and attitude. Well, one of the things that the Americans have a saying, which is that your attitude dictates your attitude – how high you will go and with a good attitude and you are one of the most optimistic people I have ever met, which is one of the reasons I wanted to have you on the show, because your optimism pervades everything around you. And what you do, I think is a huge life lesson to people that when you have this optimism and this positive attitude, everybody else gets happier. And it’s really interesting to hear that that was passed down from your grandfather, to your mother, to you and now to your children. And hopefully now to all the listeners on the Humourologyy podcast, because that attitude is beautiful. That attitude kept you going at school as well. Were you theatrical at school? Was there a natural sort of, I need to perform?
Katrine Moholt (00:07:30):
No, I don’t think I had that natural need to perform, but, but I was singing and I was doing theatre from, I was14, but I was, I think I was a little bit nerdy and I have never been occupied with what other people thinks about me. So, I went to the attic and I used my mother’s old clothes. So I think perhaps I was a little bit strange more than theatrical <laugh> but I didn’t, I didn’t care because that was me and, and I had a security in that, but yeah it was not, it was not important to me to follow the stream and the fashion and things like that. And I think that a very important thing for me as a mother of three children, I think that one of the most important thing for us is to be good role models because the children are copy us.
Katrine Moholt (00:08:36):
And as a parent, your highest wish is are that your children will be happy people. And yes that’s difficult. How do you do that? But I think it may be easier than we, are afraid of because, I think that if you give your children time really time, and that’s rare in our days, and you give them humour and laughter you are on a good way. If you can laugh at things that can seem difficult for them and, and say to them that, well, we don’t care about that. We laugh about that. And tomorrow there’s a new day and we try it again tomorrow. And I think that if you do that, in addition to time, then we have come a long way. And to do that, you have to put your phone down, your iPads down. You have to be present with your children. That’s the most precious thing you can give them.
Paul Boross (00:09:44):
I, I think that’s very true. And giving your children time and ability. Well, we recently had Dominic Holland, who’s a well known comedian in the UK on, and his son he’s written a book called Eclipsed because his son became a big theatre star and then a film star. And now is one of the biggest film stars in the world. He is Spiderman, you know, Tom Holland.
Katrine Moholt (00:10:13):
Yeah.
Paul Boross (00:10:15):
And we were talking about what you just talked about which is the two things you want for your children is to be safe and to be happy. Good humour. Well, I’ll ask you, do you think good humour helps with resilience? The being able to actually be resilient when something hits you, you can bounce back.
Katrine Moholt (00:10:40):
Absolutely. I think that you get stronger by using humour and to have this I will say light attitude to life. And I think also that laughter and humour, and to have fun will have the highest level of energy. So, if your feelings were a book and you could pick out what kind of feelings you would have, I think laughter and fun will be at the highest level because the energy in a room when you’re laughing and having a good time I think that can heal you and it makes you stronger and it makes you feel good. And yeah, really, I think that can help so much to, to work on it. And I think that you may say that, okay, are you born with that? But I think, no, I think we have to work on that.
Katrine Moholt (00:11:43):
We have to chase the happy moments in the way we’re working on our daily exercise. We say to ourselves today, I have take the stairs, not the elevator, and I don’t need to eat that chocolate today. I must eat greener. I have to have fruits today. And in the same way, I think that we have to work with today, I’m going to chase the happiness, the laughter. And I remember when I was,14, 15, we had a theatre teacher in school that had learned something. He said, it’s science saying, if you are standing up in the morning, looking at yourself in the mirror and smile to yourself and say, hi, Katrine, this will be a great day. Then the day will be better. And I think that it’s the same thing by chasing the good times and chasing the humour. Because if I get up in the morning and I think today, I’m working on laughing a little bit more, then I did yesterday and I’m going to find the fun situations. I’m going to choose the fun situations. And then I think my brain will, when I go out on the street to work, my brain will automatically, look for the fun situations.
Paul Boross (00:13:06):
Well, that is fascinating. And from a psychological standpoint, that really is interesting because we all have a part of our brain called the reticular activating system, which is when we look for something like if you are looking for a certain car or a certain bag or whatever, you get it in your mind and you will see that car or that bag everywhere you go. And you have just described the perfect way to do the reticular activating system for laughter for happiness. Where are the fun people in the room? Yeah. If you walk into a room and you go, I bet everybody in here’s miserable and horrible, you will find the miserable, horrible people. If you walk in going, where are the fun people? You’ll start to spot for people who are smiling. People who are laughing and your other point was really good. Your drama teacher was very right, because if, if you chase the laughter, you can actually change your own brain chemistry by just putting a smile on your face. It changes your brain chemistry. So that’s perfect. Wow. This is a masterclass in <laugh> in parenting and happiness. Fantastic. No, I’m really excited,
Katrine Moholt (00:14:35):
Oh, thank you.
Paul Boross (00:14:36):
But you see there’s don’t know if you know about this thing, but there’s a saying in psychology, and I’m sure you do this instinctively, that if you want anyone to go into any state, you have to go into that state first. So if you want people to be happy, guess what? You have to start by being happy. And I think that is your key to success. You start with yourself, don’t you?
Katrine Moholt (00:15:07):
Mm-hmm. Yes. AndI think you’re right. That it’s, for me it’s instinct because I’ve been taught to think that way. But as I said, I also think we can, we can change ourself to exercise on it in the same way. As you said, by exercising the physical body, you can, you can work on it. And, and I think you have gone a long way by just thinking it as a parent, that you think that today, I want to make my children smile and to laugh and be aware of what and how you’re talking to them, how you meet them, because there’s so many children today struggling with shame. It’s much talking about shame. I think that we have a huge, task for parents that we don’t want children feeling shame. We want them secure and happy. And, yeah, I think, yeah, I think we have to start with ourself
Paul Boross (00:16:08):
And it’s interesting. You used the word. Um, the shame, because I was just, uh, reading a book, um, by Baroness Helena Kennedy called Eve Was Shamed. And it seems to be the word now. And I think that in order to be shamed, you have to allow shame to come to you to an extent, because what happens is everybody will try and do this. I will give you an example, I’m half Hungarian. My father was Hungarian and my middle name is Zoltan ZOLTAN. And in the UK, when I was growing up, there were no names like Zoltan, you know, And I remember the first time at school that somebody went ha ha Zoltan and everything. And they wanted me to be shamed. But instead of that, I naturally, I was small child. I went, yes, it’s good. Isn’t it?
Katrine Moholt (00:17:11):
Wow.
Paul Boross (00:17:12):
And then that leaves people nowhere to go.
Katrine Moholt (00:17:16):
Yeah. But are you raised a little bit in the same way? I was raised to turn that into when they said that you instantly, as a little primary school, boy you turned it and said, yes, isn’t that nice. And then the situation died instead of feeling shame, as you said, going home and said, oh, they called me that. And that was negative. So are you, are you raised in the same way?
Paul Boross (00:17:41):
Well, I think so. My father was a Hungarian refugee, so he… yes actually. He had a saying – this is a man who at 17 years old was in the second world war. He didn’t want to be. And in 18, he went in with the Russians to Berlin. Wow. Then he was put in a camp, then he had to go back to Hungary and study again. Then the Hungarian uprising happened and he had to escape again. And he was put in a refugee camp. This is a man who used to say, I am lucky. Yeah. And luck is an attitude. Luck is not what… you could choose… and this is what you were saying. You could choose to go. I’ve had a terrible life because of this and this. And then I was in this camp and then I was in this war and I was in… But he chose to go. I’m lucky.
Katrine Moholt (00:18:38):
Yeah. That’s that’s really a crucial thing that you, how you look at your life and that you can say that I am lucky. And when people say, wow, you’ve been lucky then you can also say that. Well, perhaps I’m not lucky, but I’m not standing in my own way. You know? Yes. I let the good things happen to me. I’m not standing in my own way to block the good things.We have to take the gifts that come to our life and we have to live much more slow. So we get the time to see those gifts coming to us because we, today we are living so fast and we don’t have time to, to stop and to see what’s coming our way. And I always say to my children, choose what makes you happy? Not what seems sensible. Choose the happy don’t go for the job that you make much the most money go for the job that you are feeling happy every day, all the hours you are on work because if you do that, even though if you earn less money, I think that your day will be so much better and you will have a better life, even though you’re not have all this money.
Paul Boross (00:20:04):
Well, there’s a saying, which I if you have it in Norway as well, but there’s saying, if you do something you love, you’ll never work another day in your life.
Katrine Moholt (00:20:15):
I totally agree. That’s so true.
Paul Boross (00:20:17):
And it’s about the attitude of what you do. I’m interested when you said slow down, because it’s kind of like slow down and smell the coffee or smell the roses. It’s about, is’ it noticing all the things that we are lucky to have, rather than noticing all the things that aren’t there. I haven’t got a Lamborghini. My life is terrible. There is no Lamborghini parked outside my house. Who do I see? Why did I have such a terrible life? God, why did you put without a Lamborghini?
Katrine Moholt (00:21:05):
Yeah. But exactly. And I think, because I feel it’s interesting, in my life because I was a mother before social media, because my children are 22 and 26. And I’m a mother now for Sophia eight years old and there are social medias. Yeah. And that’s a huge difference to grow up as a child with social medias and the saddest things I see is mothers having their baby in trolleys. And the baby are lying in trolley and trying to catch their mother’s eyes. And the mother are going on the phone. She’s looking at the phone while she’s having a walk with her baby. And I think the mother is missing something. And of course the child, and therefore, I think I’m, I’m turning 49 this year.
Katrine Moholt (00:22:04):
And I love to live the life. And I don’t want it to go too fast. And therefore, I think we have to live slower, to have more fun, to laugh more. And as you said, to smell the coffee and to watch people in the eye to watch your children in the eye, to look at your husband in the eye, to see your friends, because we can eat dinner with friends and people are on their phones, and it’s saying ping and, and Oxytocin or dopamine and everyone, oh, that’s more important. What’s happened on the phone than the real conversation. And I think that’s, yeah, it’s we have to do it. We have to do it. Or else we will ruin a whole generation I think.
Paul Boross (00:22:53):
I couldn’t agree more and it’s going back to your point about being present. What drives me crazy and you’ve just done the thing with is people who take their children out to dinner and give them an iPad. I mean, to me, that’s like, well, why have you taken them? You know, they’re not interacting. That is where happiness comes from; is the interaction. And I do think it’s, it’s a dying art. Now, when you actually are all present, when you go out for, for lunch with somebody one of my biggest pleasures, actually, here’s a perfect example with Trond who, who, you know, very well, who the, probably the biggest producer in Norway, we, we went out in, can in South of France with my son and he was there. None of us were looking at phones and he’s a busy man as you know, constantly doing deals.
Paul Boross (00:24:00):
The interesting thing about Trond is we were sat there and we were talking about you and people we love. Yes. <laugh>. And here’s his quote now for our listeners who don’t know Trond Kvernstrom Yeah. he’s a big international TV producer now doing movies as well. He said to me, “the greatest thing about Katrine is that she’s always so sweet and in a good mood.” Actually for our listeners. How important do you think that is when you are at work? To be the person who shifts the mood of the people?
Katrine Moholt (00:24:54):
Well, I get very touched when you say that, because I don’t think I don’t think I’m so aware of doing it. So I, I I’ll get very touched when, when you and Trond say that because thank you. That feels important. And, I have to say I’m very lucky because I have been the host for very positive shows. My main task making these shows I’m making is to make the audience happy, you know, so I feel it easy to be in a good mood when I’m on work, because we are doing some fun things today. We are, have this dancer on Stricly Come Dancing and it’s Movie Night, you know, and are working on what kind of movies should we let them dance to? What kind of songs? So, I’ve been so blessed with my work so that my work is so positive and good. So, I feel it’s, it’s difficult to be in good mood when I’m on work. <laugh> if you understand.
Paul Boross (00:25:54):
Well, I think it’s really interesting because I mean, a lot of people who, obviously not everybody’s in show business, but I think there’s a lot of tips and techniques and tricks that people can use. So many people now have to use Zoom to communicate for work and everything. And you are an expert at communicating through a camera. What tips can you give for people when they are working on Zoom? Because I see nightmares of people on Zoom who don’t even understand that, you know, they think they can sit there like this
Katrine Moholt (00:26:32):
And just <laugh>,
Paul Boross (00:26:34):
What as an expert on doing that, what tips would you give to people when you are having to work with a camera?
Katrine Moholt (00:26:43):
Well, I think that the really the most important thing for anyone working on a camera or in any jobs I think is to say yes, only to things that you’re passionate about. And I think I’ve done that. I’ve said you wouldn’t imagine how much I’ve said no to doing, because the things I’m hosting, I really burn for them in my shows I love them. And I have a very compassionate feeling for my work. And then I think it, it comes easy because you love what you do. And therefore, I think you have to, as a, in all works and on Zoom and everything, it’s not a problem to be engaged in something when you love it so, so I think that’s, that’s the reason I think. So, when, if you sit like this on Zoom, I think you’re in a dull meeting, because if I sit like that, I’m in a conversation with Paul Boross and it’s a theme that I really love to talk about, and I think it’s very important. And then I get engaged and then I get happy, you know?
Paul Boross (00:27:58):
Yeah, but how do people, I mean, from a psychological perspective, a lot of people hate being on camera. Yeah. My mother just does this whenever she’s on camera, even on her, when you take a picture of her, she goes like this – I think she thinks they’re going to steal her soul.
Katrine Moholt (00:28:17):
<laugh>,
Paul Boross (00:28:19):
But actually, are there actual techniques? Okay. First is, imagine you are happy, let your face do that, but is there an actual technique of actually thinking, cause I would say when I’m doing it, I always presume that anyone I’m talking to is lovely. Yeah. Because if I’m thinking that Katrine, she’s horrible, it’s going to show on my face. Yeah.
Paul Boross (00:28:51):
So what do you do? What are you imagining in your head?
Katrine Moholt (00:28:57):
I’m very much in the moment presenting, I feel like I’m really authentic to what I’m saying. So, what I’m presenting, I really mean it. And I really think about what I’m going to say and how I want to present that. And for me in my job that is easy because this dancer you’re going to see now we have seen him on stage on movie screens, but now he’s trying to do a Chacha. And I’m as excited as the viewers and as excited as he is, because now he’s going to dance the Chacha. So, so for me, it’s, it’s about being authentic and not do things that you feel is wrong for you.
Paul Boross (00:29:44):
But also I think that you are finding the good authenticity in everything. Yeah. You’re looking for the positive side of everything because that’s the difference is you could be looking for the negative side yeah. And going, well, I don’t really like this person you’re going I’m looking for the positive in this person on Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing with the Stars or whatever… I’m looking for the positive. And so if I’m excited about those little things, it will come across
Katrine Moholt (00:30:16):
Mm-hmm <affirmative>
Paul Boross (00:30:17):
And, and I think that’s, you know, make sure that you are in the right state when you are on a Zoom and you are looking for the good things about the other person or the other people on there.
Katrine Moholt (00:30:29):
Absolutely. And I also think that taking yourself too seriously, then you, you won’t have a nice, and you won’t have a funny life. And, and I think I am a little bit shameless. I’m not afraid of doing mistakes and, and I’m very playful. I like to throw myself into things. And I think that that is very, I think that’s a good tips if I can say so, because as you said, your mother, she will get a little bit like this because she feel that perhaps that, oh, I want the picture to be so nice. And then your occupation will be, oh, how do I look now? But I think that if you just think that, well, it doesn’t matter. And I don’t care. It’s okay. I just jump into it. Then it’s much more fun as well.
Paul Boross (00:31:22):
It’s really interesting because you and I have worked together and, you know that I am a huge fan of what, what you do, but that.
Katrine Moholt (00:31:31):
Likewise.
Paul Boross (00:31:32):
Oh, well, bless you. That natural ability to be playful to be present,I think that’s, you know, the most beautiful thing, but what you just said was really important to me is it’s kind of what I say to people is look forward to things going wrong. Because when something goes wrong, if you become the person who gets very tense, mm-hmm, <affirmative>, the audience will get very tense. Absolutely. But if you goes wrong and you go, I did it wrong, who cares, then the audience relax. And whether that’s an audience of one, and by the way, all the things we’re talking about are important at work. But they’re important for everybody. If they’re trying to find a soulmate. Yes. You know, what do you want out of any interaction in your life? You want to make a connection? And I say the easiest way to make a connection is to laugh with somebody.
Katrine Moholt (00:32:39):
Absolutely. I totally agree. And, and therefore I say this with chasing the good moments, because life is so short and there’s so much bad things and dark days in our lives. So when we have a good time, then we have to appreciate it and embrace it. And I think laugh while you can, if the life is approximately good, then laugh and chase for the good times. And the people that give you this good feeling, because we have all friends or colleagues that when we have been together with them, we perhaps feel a little bit down. And you perhaps don’t, don’t know why you just feel, why do I feel like this today? And try to be with the people that makes you feel I’ve been with him today. And I feel lifted. I think to be conscious of these things it’s really improving your life. And it’s very exciting when you start to dig into it and you get conscious of it. And no, today I want to call him because he gives me this a good feeling.
Paul Boross (00:33:47):
So what makes you laugh, Katrine?
Katrine Moholt (00:33:50):
Well, I laugh at everyday comic situations that comes from the everyday life. And my husband, he says to me – he calls me just Circus Moholt perhaps because I’m a little bit playful and a little bit shameless. So there’s things happening around me all the time and things like that. I laugh a lot though. I can give you one example. It’s three weeks ago, my Sophia, she was at this dancing show because she’s participating, dancing in her free time. So show. So she was at a dancing show with her friend, Ida. And since I am known in Norway, when I’m with my children on things, I try to be as anonymous that I can. So I go to my place and I sit on my chair and I am a very good parent watching this dancing show.
Katrine Moholt (00:34:46):
And first part is going so well, it’s a break in the show. And part two is going to start the host she’s on stage and say, okay, every children can come up on stage here, part two starts now. And then I look around and I can’t see Sophia and Ida. <laugh>. And I have a lot of thoughts in my head, what has happened to them. And then I get up and I go out of the room into the hallway and start to look for them. And then I hear her voice, mommy, mommy, we locked ourselves into the bathroom and I walk to the door and it was not this bathroom door where you can have a space under, it was just a regular door. Oh dear. And so they had locked themselves in, so I couldn’t help them.
Katrine Moholt (00:35:42):
<laugh> and then I get so, and they’re eight years old. And I think now they will be so scared. They are locked up in here. So I instinctly run back into the, where the show is, where still the host is on stage presenting. What’s going to happen. And I <laugh>, I’m shouting out in the room with my finger up. My husband said you had your finger up, like you’re interrupting in school, excuse me. But there are two girls locked up in the bathroom. Can someone help me? So much for being anonymous! And it was just quiet in the whole room. And two fathers are getting up, running out with me, <laugh> bang on the door and they hold it in so that when they tried to lock it up, the door will open. So they got out and then <laugh> the host she hears that, okay, now the girls are coming. So she said, okay, well then we can start the show because now the girls has come out or the bathroom. And then my Sophia, she shouts into the room. Well, we’re just goong to wash our hands.
Paul Boross (00:36:54):
<laugh> oh, that’s beautiful. What a beautiful description. And the perfect pay off. And then she goes, no, not yet. We gotta wash our hands. <Laugh>.
Katrine Moholt (00:37:11):
And I asked her afterward, were you afraid sitting there and not come out? And she said, yes, Ida was very scared. Shealmost started to cry, but I said to her, Ida, don’t be afraid. I know my mommy will rescue us.
Paul Boross (00:37:30):
Aw. And our job as parents is to give them the right attitude, give them the tools and then make them feel that they are secure. And then to let them go. Yeah. That’s, you know, and if they have the right attitude and the right sense of fun, the sense of playfulness sense of humour about life, then they can go out and do anything in life. Mm-hmm <affirmative> that, that starts a wonderful story. I’m gonna ask you an interesting question now, because is everyone funny?
Katrine Moholt (00:38:06):
Well, I think that everyone is funny. I, I absolutely believe that. And I think it’s about how much you dare to, to get loose. And of course, the training. And I also think that someone are more talented in comedy than others, but I think about something and I feel that we are divided in two. I think that it’s the comedians, the funny one. And it’s the one who laughs. So I think that, and I feel that in those two, I’m the one who laughs and both groups are as much important. So because as a host I work with a lot of comedians I’m so lucky. And my co-host on strictly come dancing, dancing with the stars. He is a comedian. And to spend my days with him, that’s a gift because he is naturally funny. He’s funny in his private life. He’s just not funny. He is not only funny with the script. He’s funny all the time. And then he’s funny and I’m laughing and he feels good because I’m laughing and I’m feeling good because he’s funny. So I think that’s an interesting thing for this Humourology podcast as well, that we are two kind of people, the funny one and the one who laughs. And I think they blend together. It Is a perfect match.
Paul Boross (00:39:31):
Oh. And one is as important as the other. It’s one of the things about the whole Humourology project is about, you don’t have to be the person making the jokes. If you are a really good listener and laugher, you will be welcome in every company, that’s what people want. Yeah. Is somebody who understands. And sometimes people say to me, well, you know, yeah. I have to learn to be funnier. No. One of the simplest things is to learn, to be a good audience. Yeah,
Katrine Moholt (00:40:07):
Absolutely.
Paul Boross (00:40:08):
Do you think that without understanding humour, do you think you can be a good communicator unless you understand how it works, how that playfulness works? I think it’s essential to, to be there, but I wonder how you feel about it.
Katrine Moholt (00:40:29):
Of course you have to have the ability to listen and to understand the humour. And again, if you, if you don’t take yourself too seriously, then you can laugh so much more. You can laugh at yourself and at situations that’s happening. And that’s a very good feeling.
Paul Boross (00:40:50):
How important do you think it is to be able to laugh at yourself?
Katrine Moholt (00:40:55):
It’s crucial. Yes, of course. You will get so much more fun in life. If you can laugh at yourself.
Paul Boross (00:41:01):
Well, we are all ridiculous is where I start from. And if you can realise that you are ridiculous, nothing can harm you. Yeah. Because you go, yeah. Okay. Yeah. I am that ridiculous. Yeah. So now what can you do? And it goes back to somebody calling me Zoltan and me going. Yeah. Yeah. It’s great. Isn’t it? And then they go, well, hold on. You’re meant to be upset. No, no, I’m ridiculous. Yeah. We’re all ridiculous. Yeah. So get over it. Yeah. It’s, it’s funny because you and I speak for a living and the number one fear in the world is public speaking. You know that on the list of the number one and number six is death. Yes. So, so people are more frightened of speaking than they are of dying. Yeah. What is your tip or your attitude or the way you deal with it because millions of people are watching you on television, or if you work live, how do you remain calm and in control? So something that our listeners can take away.
Katrine Moholt (00:42:17):
I think it’s all about being properly prepared for what you’re doing and, and not think about, oh my God, now a million people are watching me and now we’re going live. If you’re starting to have this bad voices in your head then you’re lost, but you have to focus on, okay, now I’m going in and I’m going to do this and this and this, and the better I am prepared the more I’m prepared for the unprepared. So, I have done Strictly Come Dancing for 10 years live. It’s live every Saturday night, all autumn. I’m going into an exam. I feel on the two hours live television, and of course, a lot of thing has happened, but as long as I know where to go. sometime the music didn’t play.
Katrine Moholt (00:43:15):
So I had just had, and then I just had to think fast and I had to go up and interview the couple stood there on live television, and there was no music <laugh> and they should dance. And because I was so good prepared, so I knew what to say before and after I could just go up and do that interview. And I think that that’s for everything. And I understand also, I have to say that why it’s on the top of the list, that the fear of speaking in public, because I am scared to death every time I’m going out there. So, I have to really, every time work on my nerves, I really… I’m nauseous. I have to breathe. And I, every Saturday throughout the season of Strictly Come Dancing, I ask myself every Saturday, why do I do this? Why do I do this every week? Why do I want myself this bad? But then I go in front of the camera and for me, then the nerves are disappearing because then I’ve focused on what I’m going to do.
Paul Boross (00:44:26):
Well, some brilliant points in there and some brilliant advice. The first thing that will probably make every listener really happy is somebody who has presented Strictly Come Dancing or Dancing with the Stars. Every autumn for 10 years is still nervous
Katrine Moholt (00:44:47):
Every time.
Paul Boross (00:44:48):
But I love that because I always say to audiences, I said, there are two types of people in the world. There are those who get nervous and there are liars
Katrine Moholt (00:45:01):
<laugh>. Yes, exactly, exactly.
Paul Boross (00:45:07):
And you know, both of us work with some of the biggest stars in the world. It’s the same for everyone. Absolutely. All we get good at is flicking the switch over. How do you flick the switch when you just explained it beautifully, how you flick your switch. It’s how you talk to yourself. What you say to yourself, because people who are good at this, don’t say, I can’t do it. I can’t do it. I can’t do it. They say I’ve done it loads before, and then you do something, which is, you just accept it and then put your attention on the camera or on the audience, because that takes you out of your head. What makes people fall over is when they get inside their own heads. Yeah.
Katrine Moholt (00:45:59):
And start to focus on, oh my God. I don’t remember what I’m going to say. And now everyone is watching me. And I think you don’t think I’m beautiful in distress. And they think I’m, I’m stupid. Now I talk too fast. And, and sometimes you also say something wrong and you have to… You have to correct yourself. And, and that could be painful as well, but we are people, we are not robots. So I think our audience likes
Paul Boross (00:46:25):
That. By the way, it goes back to that. If you don’t go tense and go, I made a mistake! They won’t go into the state. And it’s funny enough. I think that people don’t listen as closely as you think they’re going to listen. So you can say something like I have no idea what I’m going to say next, but as soon I do have an idea be telling you, and everybody will just relax and go, okay. She has no idea. Let’s say it with confidence and with a smile. Actually, if there’s anything that I think really defines what you do is your smile. Because when you smile it changes your own neurochemicals in your brain. Yeah. But it also, everybody assumes that you are in control and relaxed. Yeah. And so there’s a good tip for everyone. Mm-hmm, <affirmative>, it’s just when you’re nervous, learn how to smile.
Katrine Moholt (00:47:34):
Yeah. <laugh>,
Paul Boross (00:47:37):
It’s brilliant. If I asked you to write a business case for humour, what would you include in that business case? I.e. if people were saying, well, why should we get humour into our company? Where’s the, what good will it do us? What do you think it does?
Katrine Moholt (00:47:56):
I think that chasing the fun situations as I said before, it’s very important. And I think that we can laugh at the thing called laughter yoga, you know, laughter yoga, you can go laughter yoga. And, and it happens something in your body physically, when you just, even though you are not happy, you can ha start to laugh and then something will happen. And I also think that team building to be a team, to be safe with each other. So if I should, should write, a case for that I would have invited my team with me and perhaps we should play all games like hide and seek together, kick the can, you know, kick the can when you were young.. Yeah. And then there will be much laughter and we’ll be a very good group. And I think we will have much more fun on our work if we are closer together. And if we laugh together,
Paul Boross (00:49:01):
Do you think it also has an effect on mental health that that companies who are laughing together, there iare some statistics that there’s much less absenteeism, people stay in the job longer. so the mental health of a team that laughs together surely is improved,
Katrine Moholt (00:49:23):
Absolutely
Paul Boross (00:49:24):
Being in that good state, I think is really important. I’m also interested when you’ve been talking about this. I think that having worked with you and having seen you on all these prime time television shows, what you are really good at is funnily enough, everybody talks about you being the best presenter, but I think you are the best listener.
Katrine Moholt (00:49:53):
Well, that’s a compliment really,
Paul Boross (00:49:56):
Because I think that’s really important. I think that in order to actually have that ability to present, you have to be gauging. And I mean, listening with people’s faces with people’s reactions, with people’s body language, as well as the words, how important do you think listening is?
Katrine Moholt (00:50:17):
Oh, it’s the most important thing. And I get really moved when you say that, because I think that that’s really what I’m, I feel that it’s most important thing as a host and also as a human being, to listen to be there and listen. Yeah. To get the situation. Right. And you can’t get the situation, right. If you don’t listen and that’s also knowing your audience, who are you talking to? Is it your children? Is it, a big audience? Is it a Dancing with a Stars audience? Is it a little concert audience? Who are you talking to? It’s very important.
Paul Boross (00:51:02):
I always say it’s gauging it’s actually a feedback loop. Mm-hmm <affirmative> of how you are doing and anybody who is good at this, does this work when you’re in a one to one conversation for people who go to an interview, you should be looking at the people. The amount of time I see people looking around or looking at their phone or laptop when they need to engage with the person in front of them. That’s where your information comes from.
Katrine Moholt (00:51:31):
Mm-hmm <affirmative> we all know people that don’t listen in life. You know, if you’re, if you’re having a conversation one to one as well, and you are talking about something that’s important to you and you see that you’ve lost the other person. He’s in his own head. He doesn’t listen to what you’re saying. And you feel pretty bad. You’ve been telling something, perhaps it’s not an important thing, but you, you told him something and it did not listen. And I think that’s, that feels bad. That gives you a bad feelin think you’re right. And I think it goes back to what your grandfather and your mother taught you about being present. Cause when you are present, you can really listen in the right way. I think that’s wonderful. We’ve reached the point in the show, which we like to call quick fire questions.
Speaker 3 (00:52:25):
Quick Fire Questions.
Paul Boross (00:52:28):
Who is the funniest business person. This is not a comedian in show business is somebody outside.It can be in the business of show business because we know producers and everything, but who’s the funniest business person that you’ve met.
Katrine Moholt (00:52:44):
I think I have to say my co-host in Dancing with the Stars. His name is Anders Hoff. He is a comedian, but he is also a businessman. He is doing, he’s in economic education to work so close together with someone that’s funny. I think that’s impressive.
Paul Boross (00:53:09):
What book makes you laugh?
Katrine Moholt (00:53:11):
You know I’m not reading that much comedy books because I’m really a sucker for crime books, thrillers. Wow. I really love to get sweaty in my palms and get a little goosebumps on my back and to take the curtains away because I’m afraid of someone looking inside. I really enjoy to be a little bit frightened reading and then I have to say,, do you know our Norwegian author called Jo Nesbo?
Paul Boross (00:53:45):
I don’t.
Katrine Moholt (00:53:46):
He sells all over the world.
Paul Boross (00:53:48):
Oh, hold on. Yeah. Yes. I’m saying it differently in my head. I can see it written down. Yes.
Katrine Moholt (00:53:53):
Yeah. Yes. He really is a ridiculously good writer. And when something is really good, I sometimes laugh because it’s incredible, you know, and his main character in the books he gets in situations, that’s really impossible to get out, but he finds so smart ways of getting his character out of the situations. So I just have to stop reading and laugh, like <laugh> are you kidding me? Did that really happen? Wow. And that makes me laugh when it’s so good that I’m ah, because I really enjoy people that write so good. Then when you open the book, the movie starts, you don’t see the letters because you are turning the pages and the movie is going on between those book pages.
Paul Boross (00:54:48):
It’s I love that because it’s the laughter of joy. Yeah.
Katrine Moholt (00:54:52):
Isn’t it. It’s and fascinating.
Paul Boross (00:54:55):
What film makes you laugh?
Katrine Moholt (00:54:57):
I like to watch the romantic comedies. So for instance, The Holiday. Yeah, the Christmas movie. I really like that one. And also the series Sex Education with, have you seen that with Jill Anderson and a lot of young, really, really good actors and they have tremendous timing and the script is so good. And it’s really funny. And I have to say that to watch comedy or, humorous series before you go to bed, it’s really such a good feeling. If I’ve been laughing for an hour, you’ve been watching this movie and you go to bed and you go to sleep. I think you sleep better because you have this really, you have been laughing for a while before you go to bed. And that is a very good feeling.
Paul Boross (00:55:53):
So you’ve created Oxytocin by the way. There’s a good tip for everyone, laugh before you go to bed. Yeah. What word makes you laugh Katrine?
Katrine Moholt (00:56:03):
<laugh> you know, my oldest daughter when she was three years old and this will be a little bit hard to explain because in Norwegian we have a word for toilet paper that’s called Roolid and you know, our that’s how we speak that’s toilet paper in Norwegian. And when my daughter was three years old, she said, she couldn’t say that rrrrrrr. So she said, Doolululu And
Katrine Moholt (00:56:39):
I always have to laugh when I hear that word., It’s Doolululu. And she was also very sweet because when she, she said, when I was two years old, I said, Doolululu. now I’m three years old, I am saying Doolululu She though that she had done it right. So, Doolululu is my favourite word.
Paul Boross (00:57:03):
You’ll be surprised to know that nobody else on this series has chosen that word. That is beautiful. What sound makes you laugh?
Katrine Moholt (00:57:18):
Every sound that has laughter in it. Laughter – the sound of laughter it’s really, we have so much fun. Laughter if you, if you start to listen how different people laughs. It’s a study. I mean, it’s so good. And you know, the laughter coming from the stomach and just working its way up and out. that’s the sound of laughter makes me laugh all the time.
Paul Boross (00:57:47):
Oh. And brings you joy. Obviously I can just see your face light up. When you start to talk about it, would you rather be considered clever or funny?
Katrine Moholt (00:57:59):
I would rather be considered clever because if I’m clever, I understand that I have to be funny to make a good life for myself and for everyone else around me.
Paul Boross (00:58:12):
Lovely answer. Lovely answer. And finally Katrine, Desert Island Gags, you can only take one joke with you to a desert island. What is that joke?
Katrine Moholt (00:58:25):
<laugh> I like humour a little bit on the edge and I always like Monty Python and you know the gag where this piano man is singing and playing in this nice restaurant and he is playing, isn’t it awfully nice to have a penis. It’s frightfully good to have a dong. It’s divine to own a dick from the tiniest little dadger to the world’s biggest prick. If I was alone on adesert island, I would there and sing about penises and I would be happy.
Paul Boross (00:59:11):
Perfect. And I think you’ve made Eric idle very happy as well. I don’t think that was a perfect way to end a wonderful interview with an absolutely playful and perfect guest. Katrine Moholt. Thank you so much for being a guest on the Humourology podcast.
Katrine Moholt (00:59:31):
Thank you so much, Paul. I had a really good time. Always together with you.
Paul Boross (00:59:38):
Theology podcast was hosted by Paul Boross and produced by Simon Banks, music by Steve Haworth, creative direction by Les Hughes and additional research by Helen Sykes. Please remember to subscribe like and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. This has been a Big Sky production.
