Laughing Matters
Welcome to Peppercomm's Laughing Matters! A podcast that explores how great minds from the world of business, journalism and beyond are using the incredible power of humor to boost morale, engagement and productivity. Hosted by CEO Steve Cody and Senior Vice President Paul Merchan.
Laughing Matters
Episode 25: From Harlem to Philly to DC: All rise for the Honorable Judge Nelson Diaz
•
Paul
•
Episode 25
A funny thing happened on the way to the courthouse for Judge Nelson Diaz. In fact, lots of funny things happened on his journey from the inner city to the inner sanctum of Washington, D.C. power politics. From his childhood days playing baseball outside the projects in Harlem to law school in Philadelphia to his time working as HUD General Counsel under President Bill Clinton, Judge Diaz is no stranger to feeling like the underdog and outsider. In this episode, he shares how he used humor to overcome prejudices he faced as a trailblazing Latino in his profession. He also discusses:
- Issues he faced being “bi-cultural, bilingual, and by myself”
- Bridging the gap between how Latinos perceive humor and how it’s interpreted in mainstream America
- Lessons he learned on the importance of humor in the White House during periods of conflict