Law of Happy with Lauren Tatner

Direct Your Own Happiness: Laugh, Smile, Action!

• Lauren Tatner

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Today’s special guest is Donna Byrne. Donna is an incredible director, actor, writer, and an animal rights activist.

I met Donna almost 18 years ago when I got back into the performing arts world as an adult. Donna was my director, acting mentor, and I feel so fortunate to call her a friend. She’s a beautiful soul with amazing energy.

Join us as we practice the art of laughing and smiling to raise our energy and feel good. It’s from that high vibration place that good things, people, and experiences can then flow into our lives.

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Find Donna on IMDB
*Check out Donna's short movie (10 minutes) called "HELP WANTED" .  Donna wrote, directed, and acted in this psychological thriller. 


About your Host:
Lauren Tatner, founder of Law of Happy, is an inspirational teacher, attorney, author, wellness arts practitioner, and inspirational clown. She is certified as a Reiki Teacher, Consulting Hypnotist, and Meditation Teacher, Laughter Yoga Leader, and Fitness Instructor Specialist. She also trained in Theatre, Dance, Zumba, Voice, Mediation, Public Speaking, Improv, Clown, Comedy, Past Life Regression (with American Psychiatrist, Dr. Brian Weiss), Shamanism, and Qigong.


Lauren has always been fascinated with the mind, body, and spirit connection. She is passionate about teaching the power of laughter, meditation, and movement in a fun and relatable way. When Lauren gives talks and leads workshops in the corporate and private sectors, she uses a unique approach that integrates elements of her diverse skills and experience.

Lauren is the mother of twins and a rescue pup.

- Follow Lauren on IG @TheLawofHappy
- Watch & Laugh with us on YouTube
- Interested in laughing with Lauren on the show or in a customized workshop: Get in touch

Welcome back to the Law of Happy Podcast. I'm your host, Lauren Tattler. I'm an attorney and I teach laughter as an exercise. When we laugh, we feel good, and we raise our energy. This allows more good fun things to flow into our experience. This is the Law of Happy, so let's laugh half fun and practice the law of Happy together. I'm so excited for you to meet today's special guest Donna burn. Don is an incredible director actor writer and an animal rights activist so i met donna that 18 years ago when i got back into the performing arts world as an adult doll, that was my director acting mentor And i feel. I feel So fortunate to call her a friend She's a beautiful soul with amazing energy so it was so much fun to have don on the show Join us as we practice the art of laughing and smiling to raise our energy and feel good It's from that high vibration place that good things good people and experiences can then flow into our lives Please join me in giving a warm welcome to donna burn

Lauren:

Donna, I'm so happy you're here. Welcome to the Law of Happy podcast, and thank you so much for being our special guest today. Thank you for having me, Lauren. Yay. Donna. I don't even know where to begin.'cause you're just incredible. Director, actor, you've written screenplays you've, done so you, you do and have done so many amazing things. And for me in particular I got into acting as a child'cause I was a super shy kid. And then I just got busy with high school and then university and I just I, had stopped. I got outta the acting loop or outta the acting world. And then I remember just wanting to get back into, that world. You were one of the first people that I had met and you were so warm and welcoming and encouraging and supportive and I just was so excited and felt so safe to get back into acting through your guidance. And you were one of my first directors. I was so thankful for all of your love and support and because yeah, it was such an important part of my journey having gotten back into acting so I just wanna thank you so much for everything, Donna. It was my

Donna:

pleasure, Lauren. You were a pleasure to work with, first of all, and I think it was to grandmother's house, we

Lauren:

go. Yes. Wasn't it? Yes. Yes. Was you played the role of Beatie. Yes. And, you were the you were the director of that yes. That play. What an incredible experience for so many reasons. You're, really an unbelievable director. You, made us feel, thank you. As actors, feel so safe and free to, just explore the role, embody the role, and gave us guidance. I would love to learn more about your journey and how you got into the creative world as an actor and director and writer.

Donna:

Before becoming an actor I, worked in dentistry as an assistant Yeah. In dentistry. And from there it was okay and everything, but I wanted to explore something creative. And I found a little teeny tiny ad in the newspaper at the time for Montreal School of Performing Arts. So I thought, oh, that will be interesting. And the president is Joe Al. And I said, okay, I'm gonna go and check it out so I tried it out and I just found it was so liberating. I, enjoyed it very, much. And from there it just opened me up to the whole world of acting. I'd never known anybody that was an actor personally. I haven't. And I just thought this is really great for the creative spirits. You, get to leave your own en environment your, own personality type of thing, and just dive into something like an adventure, so that's what I liked about it. So I did that a few years, and then I took a lot of workshops with Gordon McCall, John Strasberg a lot of well-known people. And then I started getting into directing. And I also do film work, of course, and I got into film work along the way and got myself an agent. And at the time it was IL talent and Simona passed away two years ago. And he was really a, big support. In my career. And I am with Bellini International Talent now.

Lauren:

Wow.

Donna:

And last year I booked my first commercial

Lauren:

for Lotto Max. Wow. Congratulations. Yeah. It's

Donna:

Mona, the Dizi, Mona, and it was a national commercial on tv. Wow. And also the Paradigm Studios hired me to do a p s a Public Service announcement video, which is on YouTube and in the episodes Evil Nurse. I was the very frail senior getting abused. I know. I

Lauren:

had to have a lot of makeup.

Donna:

An ongoing journey from 20 years starting off. And I've never let a year go by without constantly training it's ongoing. The whole process is continuous I don't feel as an actor, oh, I'll retire with it. No. I forget that it's, retirement isn't in the picture at all. I'm gonna go like Betty White, 99, almost a

Lauren:

hundred. Yes. Definitely. Yeah it's, You're doing what you love, right? Absolutely.

Donna:

And it is the hardest business in the world, the business of rejection, and that's more often than not, yes. But also to handle the re rejection. Yes. I think it's really important to have other things in your life as well. Your happy basket. That's what I put my happy basket. You can always dig into that. Like after an audition, you have to forget about it. You have to completely forget about it. It's outta your hands now. That's it. Okay. And you, I always try to plan a little something nice afterwards. Oh, I'm gonna go out to eat or do this, or I'll visit so and so I have a coffee or whatever. Your whole life doesn't depend on, even if you are desperate, you can't be desperate. You know what I mean? Because it just sets out this I'm desperate vibe,

Lauren:

Exactly. Exactly. Thank you. So I am so getting so excited by everything you're sharing. And I think that you can apply these things to any scenario I what you're describing sounds similar to what I did when I was, let's say, going for different job interviews or even when I was going through the fertility process and having my to, have my my, I have twins who are toddlers now. Same principle. Yes, exactly. And that's what That's what I just get so excited about because I feel that to feel good and to attract, bring more of what we want into our lives, it's the same, similar principles following the, fun and doing what feels good and then, but also being able to let go and focus on other stuff and it's important. Yes. Yep. These are really important reminders for if you're going through the audition process, and you can apply this for any other type of scenario that could feel nerve wracking or stressful. These are great practices to apply. You were one of my first mindfulness teachers. It was when you were directing that, that play that we did in, Hudson So I remember you suggested go onto the stage and just roll around. Do you remember? Yes, And to just connect with with yourself and, the stage. And like the gr it was so ground, I didn't know these terms grounding, and I just knew it felt good and it, it just allowed me to just get into this new zone, into the character, into the new into the scene, into this world.

Donna:

You can apply it in anything in, your life.

Lauren:

Oh I, it was so helpful.

Donna:

To relax physically. Yes. Physically, and that helps mind the body's relaxed and then the mind goes with it,

Lauren:

Yes. And Donna laughter isano laughing is another tool that I love to to, do it as an exercise, as a way to just release. Listen, can we do a laughter exercise together just to Sure. Experience it. I would love to. Okay. Okay. The first one I'd like to do is, just an intro intro laughter exercise. Where, and I'll go first. I'm gonna say my name, and then I'm going to say the last play that I was in. Okay. And then I'm going to start laughing as an exercise, and then you laugh with me. So then we're laughing together. Okay.

Donna:

I don't

Lauren:

say anything. No. But when I laugh, then you join me and laugh with me. Then after that, then it will be your turn to introduce yourself and say the last project or play you were involved in. Okay. And then we'll laugh then, but Yeah. Oh, and also I wanna mention too, that when we're laughing as an exercise, which that's why we're doing this'cause the body doesn't know the difference whether you're laughing spontaneously or whether you're simulating laughter as an exercise, as long as you're laughing in a hearty way for an extended period of time, your body and, your body, mind, and spirit get all of the same health benefits of

Donna:

Like physiological changes,

Lauren:

right? Yes, exactly. Oh my God. It's I get so excited just thinking about it and then experiencing it.

Donna:

Interesting you say that because recently, I know I saw it somewhere that if you take a physical stance so you're feeling down, did you see that? And you have the victory pose Yes. Tricks your mind into feeling like, Victory, like you're you an accomplishment sense that type of thing. So it's the same thing like working outside you get the benefits and the effects inside.

Lauren:

Definitely. Yes. And it's interesting you say this'cause I recently had a chat with my with my laughter friend and mentor Albert Nirenberg, who who teaches laughter, and he's also a hypnotist and he also has done documentaries. And one of them is you are What You act where he talks about the power poses and

Donna:

Yes I saw it somewhere. Okay. And, it could be very well there.

Lauren:

Yeah. I'm fascinated with that too. And so I'm so excited that you mentioned that and that you're up for this.'cause all one, all you need is an open mind and yeah and, it could feel silly or, weird to, laugh as an exercise, but and that's okay. And that's and it was challenging for me at first, but it gets easier and more fun the way you do it. Hi, my name is Lauren and the last. Theater production that I recall being involved in was to grandmother's house. We go that quite a few years ago, and that was, I should specify, okay, I shouldn't overthink this, but I just wanna specify theater production. I've done other shows. That was the last play. Okay. Okay. Just for the record. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Oh, okay. I just wanna take a break. One sec. I think we'll take a sip too. Yes. And for our listeners, just just take a break as well if you feel you know, like you need one.

Donna:

Okay. My turn? Yes. My name is Donna Byrne. And the last theater production that I directed was lost in Yonkers.

Lauren:

I love the name, but they were found. Oh. Oh my gosh. Oh. Thank you. Oh, and what I like to do at the end of to, wrap up a lot to exercise so everyone knows it's wrapped up. Okay. And to be sit like to wake up our inner child, like in a and, bring up our inner child playfulness is this chant and it goes like this. Very good. Very good. Yay. Okay. Okay. We clap. Palm to palm hands, fingers parallel. Very good. Good. Very good. Very good. We throw arms up and say yay. Oh. Because one of the things of laughter yoga, or laughing as an exercise is to we want to wake up our inner child and be playful and and allow ourselves to be playful and silly. So I find we find that so important

Donna:

for an actor, so important for an actor to be able to do that. Oh, yeah. I think it's fantastic for

Lauren:

creative people. Yes. Oh I, am oh, Donna, that was so much, that was so much fun. Thank you. It was a lot of fun. Yeah. Thank you for being so open. Have you ever tried laughing? I know you, we laugh. You laugh like you're, a free good laugher. Like your, laughter flows is what I'm trying to say. You you have a good laugh and but have you ever laughed? Laughter is good. Yes. Yes. But have you ever, as an exercise simulated it, like just to la No It's okay

Donna:

if you have, not just as myself to do that, but looking at the victory pose and things like that. The other day I actually tried something, not quite the laughter, but as alone in my bathroom and, I thought about the stands, the victory stands, and laughter and everything like that. So if you're feeling a certain way or you're down

Lauren:

or something, if

Donna:

you smile at yourself in the mirror it, all kicks in it helps a lot so I tried that. Oh, so this is similar on the smaller scale, yes. Rather than laughing,

Lauren:

oh, so it, it's, but I no, go ahead. I'm just getting excited, but I don't wanna cut you off.

Donna:

Yeah, No just, smiling. If you're feeling down. Force yourself to smile, force yourself to do the victory. And it helps get you out of that place where you are. If victory you, just start feeling victorious, right? How can you feel down if you're smiling? So it, helps you get out of that frame of mind, if

Lauren:

you will. Yes, it does.

Donna:

The world, the way it is now it's, Not in top condition or anything. We have a lot of challenges from all different levels. So I think it's important to keep our sanity, to have a little place or space that we can find our, happiness. We have to find our little bit of happiness in the world, in our little corner of the world sometimes to get us through, to be able to face these challenges that come up in our lives or in in the world. So it's, important this is very important to a tool to combat any negativity.

Lauren:

Oh yeah. Definitely. And Donna I, love what you mentioned about the smiling just the act or action of, Yeah. Turning your lips up a bit into I felt

Donna:

weird doing it at first, I have to tell you. I thought I'll try it. Nobody's looking. I'm alone in the

Lauren:

bathroom here. Yes. Oh. Speaking of nobody looking. You know what, but yeah. But I but, I like that way of thinking. Yeah. You just allow yourself to try it and do it and and give yourself permission. Exactly. So liberating. Yes. Can we try that together? I'm gonna pretend that the, screen in front of me and my camera is my mirror. Okay. Okay. And you can do the same. We'll, gradually like what you described, right? You, the exercise that you did on your own, where you turned the corners of your mouth or lips up in the, to start like simulating a smile or, to start smiling. We'll, see how that feels. And then let some laughter sounds flow if you want. Okay. Okay. We're looking in the mirror now, and we're no one's watching us. I love smiling, so I'm just, we're just smiling or starting to smile. Open myself up a bit. I married when I'm by myself too. I'm putting my arms up. My brother once said to me, why are you narrating your life? And I'm like, it. Oh, and we're just laughing too. Energy and thank you. Very good. Very good. Yay.

Donna:

You have a wonderful laugh, Lauren.

Lauren:

Oh, thank you. Thank you. I'm, I feel safe laughing with you.

Donna:

I'm glad you feel comfortable that you can laugh with me or without

Lauren:

me. You can laugh. Yes. But Donna, thank you for, Mentioning the, oh, now I'm, still looking in the mirror, but okay, but no, but I'm looking at you. But Donna, thank you for bringing up this exercise because you know what, we're not always on a podcast laughing with somebody, that's right. It doesn't happen every single day. So, when it, when you know, so all this to say it is helpful to, to have little tricks where you can choose to laugh at home on your own, which is great. The exercise that you just told us about and that we practice where you can be looking in the mirror and just starting off to gradually smile and, see if you

Donna:

want to, yeah. You just feel it, you just literally feel it in your face and then in your body. So it just does something to you. It really does.

Lauren:

Yes. Because I, I just right now, like I, I got a little less sleep than I normally do last night'cause I was excited. Sorry, I, I was excited about different things and was working late. But anyway, all that to say, I was feeling a little tired. But I have to say that after having done these couple of exercises, I'm feeling like I slept for 10 solid hours. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling really good and, rested. Like I'm just,

Donna:

I would never have known you. You slept very little last night. You look fantastic. Oh, thank you. And you I thought, oh, she probably really rested really well. You don't look sleep deprived or sound sleep deprived.

Lauren:

Thank you. Part of it is the lighting. No, but no, thank, no, thank you, Donna. But, seriously I, was being lighting helps but, Donna but, seriously the the, main part of this was first of all I, love your energy and, it just, I feel so excited and, good talking with you, but laughing with you. The, laughter stuff we did has I, feel such a difference. Before I was acting like I was alert alert, but now I'm really feeling alert, if that makes sense. Yes. Exactly. There's a human

Donna:

connection too, when you're laughing with someone and you, it's it clicks and you're laughing together and it makes it

Lauren:

twice as exciting. Yes, exactly. Thank you for mentioning that too, because that's such a huge part to it. I haven't seen you in person in, in, a little while. But I feel now, after having laughed, I feel like I. No

Donna:

time has gone by. It's like that.

Lauren:

Too yes, Oh so much fun and so meaningful to, have you as a guest. And thank you for having me

Donna:

and inviting me, Lauren. I appreciate

Lauren:

it. Oh God, my my pleasure. I was so, excited and I had so much fun with you. So thank you for being you. Thank you for everything that you've shared and and yeah, just excited to to laugh with you again and to and to just see, just to continue, to see you having fun, doing all the things you love and your future projects. I always look forward to it. Thank you.

Donna:

And another thing I want to add is, what I like to do too is I go to an animal sanctuary to help out and volunteer. It's in Alexandria, Ontario, and they're usually a, group of us that are concerned about animal welfare. We go there, we last fall, we helped build a fence and paint a fence and all of that. So I find that being in that environment, like there's a lot of animals. There's the cows and there's pigs, there's dogs, horses, you name it it's, there. Goat, sheep and, pigs. It it's, connecting to the animal world and in that environment it's, beautiful. It just gives you a really nice feeling too. So that's another thing. I think just to step back from our busy lives it's important to do these things. Go for a walk in nature. I, myself, I love going to an animal sanctuary and just being there with the animals, with other people, and it's, it gets you out of thinking about yourself, and something else is important too, where where it's a whole big world. You have a sense of how it is to be with animals that are free. They don't have all this crap going on. It is just to connect with them. It's a beautiful thing.

Lauren:

Definitely. Definitely. And they're just naturally in the moment. And there's just so much to,

Donna:

to learn their own personalities as they have their own personalities. And that's another thing if, I hold little Ricky, my little shihtzu in my arms and cuddle him and he throws his head over my shoulder, ugh. It's just so relaxing, and I swear he has a sense of humor too, because when he gets the zoomies, you know what those zoomies

Lauren:

are right? When he starts running. Oh, running or on the bed

Donna:

flipping around and crazy. It's his laughter.

Lauren:

So much to learn from animals. Oh, absolutely. Yeah. We can learn a lot. Yes, definitely. So Donna, thank you for sharing all of that. And thank you again for having been a guest. I had so much fun catching up. Had a great time too, Lauren. I had a great laughing with you. Thank you so much Donna. So we'll, laugh and and speak soon. Okay. And one more

Donna:

for the road.

Lauren:

Yeah. Yes. One more. One more laughter for the road. Yes. Thank you for saying that. I, so we can wave and laugh, don't feel great, and I'll sleep well tonight. Yes, And you'll too, me too. And our listeners too. So I'm trying to think of what time it'll be, but whatever time it is, you will sleep great later on. Okay. Okay,

Donna:

Lauren, thank you so much and all the best, and we'll be talking soon

Lauren:

again. Thank you. Okay.

Donna:

Take care. Bye. Take care. Bye.

Thank you for having tuned into this Law of Happy episode. If you smiled, laughed, or felt inspired, please subscribe, rate, review, and share the Law of Happy podcast with someone you'd love to have fun with. And if you'd like to laugh with me as a guest on the show or in a customized program, you can email me at lauren@lawofhappy.com. I look forward to laughing with you soon.