Choosing Joy in the Face of Grief | Allen Klein (The Jollytologist)

Описание: Grief and joy are not opposites.

In this conversation with Allen Klein — known as “The Jollytologist” — we explore what it really means to choose joy in the face of loss.

After his wife’s three-year battle with a rare liver disease, Allen found himself a single father to a 10-year-old daughter. In the middle of hospital rooms, uncertainty, and heartbreak, something unexpected kept showing up: laughter.

That experience changed the direction of his life.

In this episode, we talk about:
• The hospital moment that reshaped his understanding of grief
• Why humor can be healing — even in hospice
• Getting kicked out of Yale Drama School (and why it was the best thing that ever happened)
• Raising a daughter after loss
• The red clown nose and the power of play

Allen’s life and work are now the subject of a new documentary, The Jollytologist, directed by Sky Bergman.

I’ll be talking with Sky next week about the making of the film and why this story feels especially relevant right now.

There will also be an upcoming online screening of the film before it heads to film festivals. I’ll share registration details here as soon as they’re available — so be sure to check back.

This is not a conversation about pretending everything is fine.
It’s about resilience.
It’s about perspective.
It’s about holding sorrow and joy in the same breath.

✨ What helps you choose joy on hard days? Share in the comments.
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