Have you ever wanted to make a joke, but you’re not sure how it would land? Has your fear of saying the wrong thing or a joke coming across as wrong kept you from saying what you wanted to? According to Kat Timpf, writer and cohost of Gutfeld!, that is exactly when you should make those jokes.
On July 12, 2023, NeW members had the opportunity to join the Summer Book Club via Zoom to hear from Timpf on subjects ranging from her start in television, why she considers herself a “small-L libertarian,” and her new book, You Can’t Joke About That: Why Everything is Funny, Nothing is Sacred, and We’re All in This Together.
In You Can’t Joke About That, Timpf asserts that humor and vulnerability can go hand in hand and that having a laugh is just as important as having a good cry. As Timpf says, “When someone says ‘you can’t joke about that,’ what they really mean is ‘this is a subject that makes people sad or angry, which are perhaps the subjects that need a touch of humor most of all.”
Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions they had about free speech, working in the media, and how to be successful in your career. When asked about navigating uncharted waters in early adulthood and beyond, Timpf emphasized the importance of understanding your “why”: the goals so compelling that they can carry you through adversity and uncertainty. She encouraged the women attending to understand the purpose underlying their efforts so that they can never lose sight of the bigger picture of their goals.
The conversation made it clear that Timpf is an independent thinker who is not afraid to share her opinion. Whether the issue is feminism or religion, even if her opinion is counter-cultural to what is mainstream, Timpf encouraged attendees to stay true to what they believe.
Timpf shared that she does self-identifies as a feminist, but is far more focused on doing and living as opposed to complaining—a sentiment echoed by NeW’s push for opportunity feminism, which “seeks to maximize women’s opportunities to build fulfilling and meaningful lives,” as described by Karin Lips, President and founder of NeW.
And doing and living is exactly what Timpf has been up to. In addition to cohosting Gutfeld! on Fox, she’s currently embarking on a 27-stop national tour to promote You Can’t Joke About That through November, tickets to which (and basically everything Kat-Timpf-related) can be found at www.therealkattimpf.com. Kat Timpf’s advice encouraged attendees to fight for free speech on their campuses and to stick to their principles both in their personal and professional lives.
This blog post was written by Darien Barrera, NeW Summer 2023 Communications Intern.
