How Josh and Gab use humor to help kids navigate bullying — and why they call It “pro-kindness,” not anti-anything

When Josh Verbanets and Gab Bonesso first collaborated on a silly song more than a decade ago, neither imagined it would eventually take them into hundreds of schools, libraries and community spaces across Western Pennsylvania.

The turning point came around 2012, when a friend studying to become a school principal watched a playful video the duo had made and saw something more. What if, she suggested, they used comedy and music to talk to kids about kindness, empathy and the way we treat one another?

At the time, both performers were nearing their late 20s. Late-night bar shows were giving way to a different phase of life. “It was just the perfect moment,” Verbanets said. “The timing lined up.”

They began workshopping what would become The Josh and Gab Show that spring. By their second year, they were already doing close to 100 programs annually.

What started as an experiment quickly became a calling — one that has since grown into a nationally recognized educational program reaching more than 800 schools across 15 states. They’ve shared their message with an estimated 400,000 students and educators, with versions now developed for elementary, middle school, high school and pre-K audiences.

Meeting Kids Where They Are

Unlike traditional school assemblies that rely on lectures or warnings, Josh and Gab’s approach is built on relatability. Both performers speak often about staying connected to their own childhoods, not nostalgically, but creatively. (Hear Josh and Gab on the Kidsburgh Podcast right here.) 

“We’re very youthful in our spirits,” Bonesso said. “Kids don’t talk to us like we’re authority figures. They talk to us like we’re equals.”

That sense of equality shapes everything from their songwriting to their on-stage banter. Their material is intentionally funny, interactive, and emotionally accessible — a high-energy mix of original music, stand-up comedy, dance segments, and audience participation. Songs and skits often revolve around everyday situations — feeling different, being misunderstood, struggling to fit in — rather than labeling kids as bullies or victims.

In fact, Bonesso is careful about the language adults use around bullying.

“I don’t love the phrase ‘anti-bullying,’” she said. “I don’t want a 7-year-old who’s acting out to feel like we’re anti-them. I want every kid to be their best self.”

Instead, Josh and Gab describe their work as pro-kindness, pro-mental health, and pro-resilience. Their goal is not to eradicate negativity, something they see as unrealistic, but to help kids build tools to navigate it.

“There’s probably no way to ever get away from people being negative to you,” Verbanets said. “So it’s about finding happiness and joy even in the face of that.”

Humor, they say, is more than entertainment. Both performers describe using humor throughout their own lives as a way to process difficult situations. There’s research to back that up, Verbanets noted, including evidence that smiling can improve serotonin levels and reduce stress.

But humor can also be disarming. “Sometimes you can make even the bully laugh,” he said. “And that can change the dynamic.”

In schools, especially underserved or rural ones, their performances can also be a child’s first exposure to live comedy or live music. Bonesso often finds herself the first female stand-up comedian some students have ever seen. Sometimes, they’re the first band a group of elementary students has watched play real instruments on stage.

Years later, they still hear from young people who say those moments sparked an interest in music or performance.

That creative credibility extends beyond schools. Verbanets is an award-winning songwriter and musician; Bonesso is a nationally recognized comedian, writer, and actress. Their work has been featured on PBS and CBS, with national radio airplay and collaborations ranging from the Marcus L. Ruscitto Foundation to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.

Customizing the Message

One reason schools invite Josh and Gab back year after year, sometimes for more than a decade, is their flexibility. Many districts now operate under PBIS (positive behavior support) frameworks or school-specific values and acronyms. Rather than ignore that structure, Josh and Gab build it into their shows.

“If a school’s themes are safety, ownership, achievement, and respect, those words go into everything,” Bonesso said. “We weave them into the songs, the stories, the improv.”

Their programs are designed to align with modern social-emotional learning frameworks, including OLWEUS-informed bullying prevention models, literacy initiatives with Reading Is Fundamental, and mental health awareness programming.

In one recent example, a school asked them to address kids being singled out for being different, without calling out a specific incident. Josh and Gab adjusted on the spot, performing a song called “Know Me,” which centers on the idea that you can’t truly understand someone until you sit down and listen to their story. “That’s perfect,” the school told them.

They keep a large catalog of songs and sketches precisely for moments like that. The program changes depending on what a school needs most.

Josh and Gab are realistic about the limits of a single performance. They don’t promise transformation overnight. What they hope for instead is resonance. Their programs emphasize shared experience: that everyone is dealing with something, that sensitivity is not weakness, and that repeated negative behavior is different from a bad day.

One of the moments that still stands out to them happened early on, when a student raised his hand and admitted he hadn’t always been kind, and wanted to change.

“We didn’t even know how to respond at first,” Bonesso said. “You hope you’re making an impact, but you don’t expect a kid to say that out loud.”

For families looking to build on those conversations, Josh and Gab often point them toward community spaces where kids can continue showing up as themselves — places that don’t require a referral, a diagnosis, or a crisis. In addition to schools, they regularly perform at libraries, parks, festivals, and community events, as well as in sensory-friendly formats for special needs organizations.

Public libraries are one of those places.

A Library as a Belonging Space

At Northland Public Library in McCandless, that role is intentional. Courtney R. Bonnet, Manager of Children and Teen Services, describes the library first and foremost as a space where kids are allowed to exist fully, without needing to explain themselves.

“Our biggest thing is that we are a welcoming space for everyone,” Bonnet said. “Regardless of income, social background, anything.”

That philosophy shows up immediately. Northland regularly creates inclusive book displays tied to awareness weeks and cultural moments — from Transgender Awareness Week to Pride, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Easter. These displays often include not just books, but contextual information for parents and caregivers as well.

“We’re not doing it for shock value,” Bonnet said. “We’re doing it because we genuinely care about everybody.”

While some displays draw more attention online than others, Bonnet noted that the broader community often steps in to support the library’s inclusivity before staff ever has to respond.

For teens, especially, the library functions as a kind of after-school anchor. Bonnet estimates that many teenagers come in every day, sometimes for programs, sometimes just to be somewhere safe. Weekly Thursday programs rotate between gaming, Pokémon, and other interest-based gatherings. Some teens attend primarily for socialization — kids who may struggle elsewhere but keep returning.

“It might not always be perfect,” Bonnet said. “But it is a safe place. And they’re learning to get along. They’re learning that it’s not just them, that we have to work together.”

The library also hosts a monitored Discord-based program where teens can play games and socialize online under librarian supervision, offering structure in a digital space where bullying often goes unchecked.

Northland’s partnership with Josh and Gab comes together most visibly during the library’s annual Children’s Choice Awards, a countywide program for students in grades two through six.

Throughout the year, children read from a curated list of eight books and vote for their favorites. The culminating celebration — typically held along the Waterfront — brings together students from across Allegheny County. Josh and Gab perform during the event, anchoring the day in joy, humor, and kindness. “They come in and do a big, pro-kindness celebration,” Bonnet said. “And they usually get to announce the winning book. It’s really special.”