about
SARANNE ROTHBERG
Founder & CEO,
The ComedyCures Foundation
Host, "Beating Cancer Daily" Podcast
Stage IV Cancer Survivor
From stage IV cancer patient to ComedyCures CEO, Saranne Rothberg is a sought-after healthcare thought leader, speaker, patient advocate, and health and happiness expert, featured on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX & PBS. Her "Beating Cancer Daily" Podcast is helping listeners in 91 countries on 6 continents with over 340+ daily episodes. Ranked as the #1 Cancer Survivor Podcast in 2024, and a Top 5 Best Podcast for Cancer Patients in 2023 because of its authentic blend of humor, healthcare, and hope.
Saranne has collaborated with Fortune 500 companies, leading medical centers, The World Health Organization, The United Nations, The National Cancer Institute, U.S. military, and many prestigious universities and non-profits. She creates innovative global wellness-related programming in all media formats, collaborating with a myriad of healthcare professionals, thought leaders, researchers, and entertainers to start conversations, share ideas at healthcare conventions, stimulate research and find solutions across healthcare and many industries.
Some of her original digital experiences include: "The 5-Day Laughter Summit", "The Mindset & Metastatic Cancer Research Study", "The Cancer Health Coach Research Study", "JokeFest: The Funniest Game Show", "A Virtual Globe of Laughter" and The 31-Day "Can We Laugh At Cancer?" Online 'Tumor Humor' Comedy Challenge. Her 2000+ dynamic programs have generated several hundreds of millions of impressions and brought ComedyCures joy around the globe to many people of all ages before, during, and after the pandemic.
Today, Saranne is cancer-free. She launched The ComedyCures Foundation from her chemo chair in 1999 to help others rediscover their funny bone, mojo, and purpose. Through award-winning live and digital ComedyCures programs and research studies, patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers around the world learn transformative daily coping strategies that have been proven to decrease their stress, anxiety, and depression while increasing resiliency, self-empowerment, and comic perspective.
Saranne Rothberg
bios and headshots
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Short Bio
Headshot 1
Long Bio
Headshot 2
Photo Credit: Francis Hills Makeup: John Alfred Hair: Andre Rodman & Laurie Daniel
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Oprah’s Hero in Oprah's NY Times Best Seller “Live Your Best Life”
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Founder of The Year - National Philanthropy Day in New York City
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YWCA Woman of Influence
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SmartCEO Non-Profit CEO
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SELF Magazine/Komen/Yoplait's Cancer Champion
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GW University Business School Social Entrepreneur of the Year
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The Rotarian Humanitarian Award
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World Health Organization Health Champion
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Israeli Cancer Research Foundation Woman of Action
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Gateway Cancer Superhero of the Year Award
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MasterCard’s Priceless
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Hadassah Woman of the Year
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Just For Laughs ComedyPRO Power Broker
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AOL Mom of The Year
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Heart and Health Matters Award, UJA Federation
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Las Vegas Comedy Festival Humanitarian Award
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Volkswagen Force of Good
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Israeli Cancer Research Foundation Woman of Action
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The Foundation Center Founder’s Grant
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Diamond.com October Breast Cancer Champion
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John A. Hartford Foundation Expert on Caring for Older Adults
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Russ Berrie Making A Difference Award
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NYWA Rising Star Award
Recognition and Awards
(Partial list)
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United Nations: First Comedy Event in the history of the United Nations, the launches of UN Women, the International Year of Youth, and the 52nd Congress to End Violence Against Women Worldwide with The Secretary-General; First closing Tedx Talk at the UN
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September 11th: First Specialized Therapeutic Consultant called to Ground Zero Respite Centers, FundaySunday on Broadway; Therapeutic Reunion for the Families of September 11
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Radio: 1010 Wins Daily LaughingLunch Break Comedy Radio Segments with over 100 Comedians; LaughTalk Radio, a live weekly comedy radio call-in show on AM 970 The Apple, NYC
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Armed Forces: United States Marines Family Reunification Program; Stress Management Workshops for U.S. & Foreign Service Personnel; VA Hospital Programs
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World Health Organization: First UN Mobile Health Conference with the First Ladies From Around the World; the First Comedy Event at WHO in Geneva; Ending FGM
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Terrorism Response: Opening event and workshop for a Global Camp for Children of Terrorism; One Family Fund Workshop for adult survivors of public bombings
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Kids Programs: Ronald McDonald House; Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang; Camp Dream Street; Camp Quality, Larger Than Life, NYC Public Schools, Orphanages, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts; Math Marathon in NYC
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Red Cross: Over 100,000 pages of Wellness JokeBooks, the first non-essential item shipped by the Red Cross into Kuwait during Iraq War
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Domestic Violence: Harvard University Conference for victims of domestic violence; WIN: Victims’ Hospital Release Workshop
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Cancer-Related: StandUp2Cancer, National Cancer Survivors Day, ACS Relay for Life, World Cancer Day, Bipartisian Cancer Think Tank Conference
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CME Programs and Research Projects: “Comedy for Healthcare Professionals” with Wyeth, MedPageToday and Physicians Academy at ACEHP (Alliance for Continuing Education for Healthcare Professionals) and others; Women Living with Metastatic Cancer Study
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Senior Programs: “Comedy and Cargiving” and “Employing Levity” with Hilarity For Charity (HFC), Seth & Laura Rogen; several Think Tanks for various senior living organizations
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Guinness Book of World Records: Co-Record Holder, Most People Telling Jokes Simultaneously in One Hour
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TV and Film: 40 Programs with Dick Clark Productions; National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Non-Profit Partner & Live Comedy Producer; Women in Film: Developed & Hosted Programming Wars: ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX Scheduling Competition; Launched International Film Production and Distribution Company
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Media: Anchor/Reporter Group W Westinghouse; Live Streaming TV Host StartUp Health; Assignment Desk KCBS News
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Universities: Collaborative events at Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, NYU, and many others
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Grants: PBS, Texaco, US Dept. of Education and many others
Programs Saranne Created, Produced, and/or Hosted
(Partial list)
