A Proper Obituary for MTV
While perusing the list of celebrities we lost in 2025, I noticed a glaring omission. It wasn’t a person but an institution; one that created, or had a hand in creating, some of the names on that very list. Names…
Greg Schwem
Greg Schwem is a corporate comedian and keynote speaker who the Chicago Tribune calls "the king of the hill in corporate comedy." After graduating from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and working as an NBC reporter, Greg switched careers in 1989 to bring clean, intelligent humor to the business world.Today, he performs for Fortune 500 companies worldwide, including Microsoft, McDonald's, AT&T, and Oracle. Greg customizes every performance by researching company culture and industry challenges, earning him the HuffPost title of "your boss's favorite comedian."He's also a nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune humor columnist, three-time bestselling author, and Telly Award-winning host of the travel series A Comedian Crashes Your Pad. His latest book, Turning Gut Punches into Punch Lines, shares how he used humor to navigate divorce and cancer.Greg's philosophy is simple: laughter isn't just entertainment, it's an essential tool for building resilience and handling life's challenges, both in and out of the workplace.
Workplace Wellness in 2026 Now Requires a Translator
Staying healthy in 2026 is going to require a dictionary. Or maybe a translator. I realized this recently while strolling through Santa Fe, New Mexico, known, appropriately, as “The City Different.” In between the dozens of art galleries, Pueblo-inspired architectural…
Why Your 2026 Meetings Need a Humorous Keynote Speaker or Emcee
Picture this. It’s 9:07 a.m. on Day One of your annual meeting. The ballroom lights dim. A well-meaning executive clicks to Slide #1. Phones appear. Laptops open. Someone in the back quietly checks email “just for a second.” You didn’t…
I Am Ready for my Swimming Peace Prize
Growing up, swimming was never my strong sport. Nonetheless, thanks to President Trump I demand World Aquatics, the swimming federation recognized by the International Olympics Committee, reward me for my exploits in the water. Or better yet, honor me for…
Letting the U.S. Navy Laugh About the U.S. Navy
They sat before me on Thanksgiving morning in Mt. Prospect, IL; a group of all female naval cadets just six days away from completing basic training and awaiting whatever adventure the Navy has planned for them. They had made it…
A 58-year Love Affair with Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
When it comes to rating Chicago deep dish pizza, customers invariably point to the ingredients. Cheese gooey-ness, sauce thickness, crust firmness and quantity of toppings are frequently mentioned in online reviews or in conversations with visitors and fellow Chicagoans alike.…
When It Comes to Airpods, I’m a Tapper, Not a Squeezer
I recently read there are approximately 2.3 billion Apple devices active worldwide — a figure that includes the five currently charging in various rooms of my home. But Apple, consider yourself warned: If you want that figure to fall to…
Even ‘Natural’ Athletes Suck at Sports
Twenty years ago, in my Little League coaching days, there was always that one kid on every sports team who, according to coaches, parents and random spectators, was destined for stardom. While other players looked for worms in the infield…
Spewing Profanity With Assorted Georgians and Kais
I sat on my living room floor, surrounded by an assortment of cables, screws, dowels and pressed wood shelves that would eventually form the printer stand I ordered online. I had one profanity-free thought. “Time to move to Georgia.” Recently…
Europe, Post-Ryder Cup, Your Next Beer is On Me
It has always been my fantasy to enter a bar and announce that I will buy a drink for every patron. Most likely, this will only take place if I match all six Powerball numbers. However, after watching last weekend’s…