They say to understand power, follow the money.
But what if instead… you followed the comedy?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Solvita Denisa Liepniece, a strategic communication expert who coined the term “hahaganda” to describe how authoritarian regimes use humor to influence, manipulate, and erase. 😶‍🌫️

We cover:
— How Kremlin-backed sketch shows used Nazi references to smear political rivals
— Why silence is one of the strongest signals of censorship
— How Putin followed a nuclear weapons speech with a laugh-filled comedy appearance
— What makes Ukrainian jokes in bomb shelters more than comic relief
— Why Zelensky’s rise wasn’t a fluke—it was narrative strategy, executed in prime time
— How laughter bonds, excludes, and programs your brain’s sense of “us”

And yes: there’s a humor survival kit.

And yes: you’ll want one.

#CognitiveWarfare #Propaganda #NarrativeStrategy #Zelensky #Putin #MADWarfare

This episode is supported by Grace Kim—a humane technologist and strategist who helps ideas (and kids!) navigate complexity with heart.
Check out her middle-grade novella The Realm of Whispers—co-authored with Jasmine Leng—or learn more at Mapping Insight.

🎶 BONUS: This sponsorship includes a custom MAD-style song + video that you’ll hear in the episode. (We make weird things for wonderful people.)

Want your own custom ad—or to sponsor an episode of MAD? Email us at madwarfarepodcast@gmail.com

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Notable Quotes:

“Humor connects. And sometimes it disconnects.”

• “One specifically relevant element with humor is silence. On what topics you are not making jokes.”

• “Humor could be used both to attack and to defend. It could be used in both directions.”

• “Try to create the library, the collection of these moments when you were united with those who are your core tribe.”

• “It’s good to laugh together—but it is important to ask: why?”

Resources + References:
📚 Wolf the Manipulator & Conspiracies – Children’s books on manipulation and rumor by Solvita
📺 KVN (Caven) – Soviet-era sketch show still shaping post-Soviet politics
🎭 Servant of the People – Satirical series that launched Zelensky’s political career
🧠 Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl’s reflections on survival, humor, and resilience
📹 Putin’s 2018 appearance laughing 38+ times on state TV

Your Turn:
What jokes shouldn’t be funny—but are?
What humor has helped you survive something hard?

We wanna hear them.
📬 madwarfarepodcast@gmail.com
📣 Or tag us @madwarfarepodcast

We’re on LinkedIn. Because, funny.

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Big thanks to Elle Younker for being a consistent supporter of MAD Warfare. Her brain is big, her heart is sharp, and her backing helps keep this whole thing moving. Check out her incredible work at the Hive Social Garden.

WANT TO SUPPORT MAD?
Sponsor us. We’ll make you a weird, wonderful custom video.
Email madwarfarepodcast@gmail.com
(Or just send snacks. That works too.)

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MAD Warfare™️ is hosted by narrative strategist Jocelyn Brady and cognitive neuroscientist Sean Anthony Guillory. Edited and produced by Amine el Filali. Visit our website at madwarfare.com for extra giggles. And send your wishes, weird ideas, dream guests, and (yes it bears repeating) sponsorship inquiries to madwarfarepodcast@gmail.com.

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FAIR USE: This show is MAD enough to include homages, short clips, and references that provide vital context and/or moments of joy. We DEEPLY respect every creator’s work and use these moments purely for educational, artistic, and transformative purposes under Fair Use. If we are missing attributions or you would like to collaborate, please reach out—we’re always happy to chat!