0036: Anecdote of Carlina

0036: Anecdote of Carlina

From Improve Something Today by Brian Kerr

February 4, 2026 · 4 min · Episode 36

About this episode

This episode features readings from historical texts on public speaking and the sad clown paradox.

A reading of two short passages, one from The Art of Public Speaking, by John Rippingham (1814), and the other from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ‘The Comic’ (1875). By way of Wikipedia on the ‘sad clown paradox’ as shared on Mastodon by John Overholt .

People in this episode

Host: Brian Kerr

Topics covered

  • public speaking
  • literature
  • sad clown paradox
  • anecdotes
  • historical texts

Keywords

  • public speaking
  • John Rippingham
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • sad clown paradox
  • literature

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Art of Public Speaking, The Comic

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