Welcome to the First Edition of Fry Your Chickens!

Hey there! If you’re new here, welcome to Fry Your Chickens! — the place where humor meets stress management and goal achievement. I’m Phil Barth, a keynote speaker, author, and fan of rubber chickens. Big fan. I have a collection. Even a crocheted one. More on that one later - we're going to have a name the chicken contest in the near future.

We all have internal obstacles (a.k.a. chickens) that hold us back: fear, negativity, self-doubt. But here’s the good news — we can fry those chickens with the right mindset, a good laugh, and a few stress-busting techniques.

Each month, I’ll be sharing tips, real-life stories, and practical tools to help you manage stress, achieve your goals, and maybe even dance with a rubber chicken along the way. So let’s get started!

?? This Month’s Highlight: 3 Ways to Fry Your Stress Chickens

Whether you're prepping for a big presentation or managing the chaos of daily life, stress can rear its ugly head at the worst possible times. Here are my top three quick fixes for busting stress when those chickens are squawking:

1. Do the Chicken Dance (Literally)

You might be thinking, "Phil, are you serious?" Absolutely. There’s something magical about moving around, especially when you don’t care if you look silly. Next time you’re overwhelmed, try a little dance (preferably with a rubber chicken). It’s an instant mood booster and stress reliever.

2. Laugh at Your Mistakes

One of the best ways to reduce stress is to laugh at yourself. I recently shared how I accidentally replaced my smart bulb with an old soft white bulb and ended up with a disco-lit chandelier during family dinner. The lesson? Mistakes are inevitable, so we might as well enjoy them. Laughter is a powerful tool for shifting perspective.

I find the more mistakes I make the more material I have. That said - I've made enough mistakes for my lifetime - even if I live to be the next Methuselah.

3. Find Your 'Chicken' and Fry It

Identify the fears or doubts holding you back. Is it perfectionism? Fear of failure? IMposter syndrome? Once you name it, you can fry it — take one small action to push through that fear. The key is starting, even if it’s just sending an email or asking for feedback.

?? From the Stage: Rubber Chickens and Real Impact

I had the pleasure of delivering my Fry Your Chickens! keynote at Child Focus this past month, and let me tell you — nothing beats seeing a room full of people doing the chicken dance! But beyond the laughs, the message landed: people left with practical strategies for facing their fears and managing stress.

"Phil, your keynote was like fried chicken for the soul — comforting, fun, and exactly what we needed!" – Attendee at Child Focus

It’s moments like these that remind me why humor is so powerful. It breaks down walls, opens people up to new ideas, and gives us permission to take life a little less seriously.

?? Dad Joke Double Dose

What’s a newsletter without a few laughs? Here’s your Dad Joke Double Dose for the week — because two jokes are always better than one:

1. What do you call a laughing jar of mayonnaise? LMAYO.
2. What do you call a group of killer whales playing instruments? An orca-stra.

Thanks to my friend Kyle for these jokes and so many more (he gave me a tin of dad jokes earlier this year).

Got a dad joke for future letters? Message me, and you could see your joke featured here (with credit, of course)!

?? Fry Your Chickens in Action: What’s Your Biggest Chicken?

I’d love to hear from you. What’s the biggest fear or doubt that you’re working to fry? Share your thoughts in the comments or reply to this email — I’m always happy to help you get those chickens to shut the cluck up.

?? What’s Next?

• Coming Soon: My new book, Fry Your Chickens! Seven Ways to Get Those Chickens Inside You to Shut the Cluck Up, is in the works. Stay tuned for exclusive sneak peeks and some rubber chicken giveaways as we approach the launch. (Full disclosure - this is included in the newsletter to force the author to get off his ass fry his own chickens. Hmmm... maybe I need to start including rubber donkeys in my keynote...)
• Speaking Engagements: I’m booking 2025 keynotes now, so if your organization could use some humor and stress relief (and who couldn’t?), let’s talk!

?? Let’s Stay Connected

If you enjoyed this edition of Fry Your Chickens!, don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend, or leave a comment below. I’m here to bring you laughs, lighten your stress load, and help you fry those chickens standing in your way.

Until next time, keep dancing, keep laughing, and keep frying those chickens!

Cheers, Phil Barth CEO | Author | Keynote Speaker | Rubber Chicken Enthusiast

P.S.: If you’re not following me on LinkedIn yet, what are you waiting for? Click that follow button and join the Fry Your Chickens! movement.