In an increasingly politically and culturally divided world, with more choices and niches to hide within, different sides are starting to no longer engage each other at all. Traditional journalism and debate are falling on deaf ears because we can hide in our own little bubbles of ideology. I'd like explain my theory on why comedy works and why comedy can break down barriers, now more than ever in this isolating age.

Mike Cecconi is an internationally published poet, most notably in Britain's "Critical Quarterly" for its Occupy Wall Street issue and his locally-published poetry chapbook "This Is My Inside Voice". He's a local award-winning stand-up comic who performs in the Utica and Albany areas as well as occasional hops to New York City. He is also one of the rotating hosts of the Utica Poets Society poetry open mic at the Tramontane Cafe as well as emceeing other performance events. He's a graduate of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University with a degree in television/radio/film and worked a number of years in film production when living in Los Angeles. He currently lives again in his hometown of Little Falls.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx