The Healing Power of Laughter and Escape
*Because Sometimes Soul Work Looks Like Binge-Watching in Pajamas*
Let’s be real — not every healing moment looks like a spiritual retreat in the mountains or hours of deep journaling by candlelight. Sometimes, healing looks like stretchy pants, a perfectly timed meme, and laughing until you wheeze over a ridiculous comedy sketch.
I’m Sonia Iris Lozada — actor, poet, and over-thinker turned wisdom whisperer — and in this week’s episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café, I talk about the underrated brilliance of laughter and the sacred pause of escapism.
And no, I’m not talking about ignoring your feelings or bypassing reality. I’m talking about intentional joy. That full-body exhale that comes when you let go of the need to “fix” everything and just let yourself feel better for five minutes.
What I’ve Learned from Laughing at the Absurd
A few years ago, I was going through grief, exhaustion, and burnout all at once. You know the kind — where even brushing your teeth feels like a workout.
Instead of trying to meditate it away or “be productive,” I surrendered. I turned on a silly video. And I laughed. Not a polite giggle — I mean an ugly, snorting, can’t-breathe, just-peeled-myself-off-the-floor kind of laugh.
That moment did more for my nervous system than any affirmation ever could.
Escape Isn’t Weakness — It’s Wisdom
We tend to treat escape like it’s a dirty word. But the truth is, conscious escapism is an emotional palate cleanser.
Without it, we’d all be walking around like mannequins with unresolved childhood issues — smile painted on, dead behind the eyes. (Yeah… I said it.)
Escaping into a feel-good story, a comedy binge, or a joyful distraction doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you know when to put the heavy stuff down.
Try These Soulful Escapes
- Laugh List: Make a list of videos, shows, or jokes that never fail to crack you up.
- Comedy Night: Pick one night a week for intentional joy. No true crime. No drama. Just light.
- Journal the Ridiculous: What silly thing happened this week? Write it like a stand-up set.
Listen Now
If this blog made you smile or sigh in relief, go listen to the full episode:
The Healing Power of Laughter and Escape — now streaming on all platforms.
And remember, you don’t always need a breakthrough. Sometimes, you just need a break.
With love and laughter,
Sonia
Catching Up at Chica’s Café: The Industry, the Pause, and What’s Ahead. It’s been a full, complex, and sometimes quiet stretch since my last blog post—and if you’ve been listening to Overheard at Chica’s Café, you know just how layered this past year has been, both personally and within the industry.
Join us in celebrating the beginning of a new year with our special guest, Sound Designer and Composer Jane Shaw. We delve into her journey into the world of sound design for theater, and explore her impressive list of credits. Our conversation is full of fun anecdotes about her career, as well as her hobbies outside of work. As one of the founding members of TSDCA (Theatrical Sound Design Composer Association), she has a wealth of knowledge about the history and current state of sound design in the theater world. So, if you’re interested in learning more about this field, this episode is a must-listen!
Happy New Year to all! As the 2023 came to an end, I wanted to wish everyone an amazing New Year filled with love, joy, prosperity, and most importantly, good health. We often take our health for granted, but it truly is the foundation for enjoying life’s many blessings.
In November 2023 on Overheard at Chica’s Café, we welcomed Che’Rae Adams. Che’Rae is the Artistic Director of PlayPen in Philadelphia and the founding director of LA Writer’s Center. We discuss the current state of theater after the pandemic and what’s to come for this creative community. Che’Rae gives us an insight into her journey as a full-time artist; from an actor, to director, dramaturge, and now Artistic Director. Listen in to hear her words of wisdom about the future of theater.
My life and acting updates. It’s been a few months since my last post, mainly due to the writer’s and actor’s strike. Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP are ongoing, but I’m grateful for the updates each day. In the meantime, I’ve been attending many commercial auditions in person and through self-tapes. Although I haven’t booked any of them yet, being put on avail several times in the last month tells me that I’m headed in the right direction. As a matter of fact, I have another call-back on Monday Oct 30th so let’s hope for the best.
For one thing, 
This month, join us at Chica’s Café as we welcome Kelly Keefe a Multi-Disciplinary Artist to the show. We had a great time as we share stories about the lessons we’ve learned through entertainment and life. She’ll discuss her music releases, books, and how she developed 
In this month’s episode, I’m joined by Steve Walker, a theatrical talent agent. We talk about what it takes to be a successful actor, from preparing for auditions, marketing oneself and honing one’s skills. Listen in as Steve gives us a crash course on the responsibilities of an agent and the things actors should focus on.
In today’s episode we have Kristi Schultz, a theatre maker, director and educator. We discuss her journey from college to New York where she worked at a strip house. Don’t get too excited she wasn’t stripping. Her stories from that time are entertaining and are the premise of her solo show Dollhouse. We discuss how she got started in Los Angeles. Join in to this interesting and might I say, educational episode of life in the dollhouse.