How To Be Less Awkward

Maddy Smith (MTV's Wild N' Out, New York Comedy Club) chats about spinning, corporate burn out, and how Wild n' Out taught her she was bad at dancing.

Get a taste of our live shows featuring Michelle Drozdick on solo improv, Ricky Downes III on flirting with monkeys, and Aimee Rose Ranger on weird gifts.

Christiana Jackson (the Harlem Comedy Festival) lets us in on the awkward, irritating, and racist side of real estate. 

Gabby Bryan (Unabashed podcast, the Comedy Cellar) is an open book in life...and on this podcast! We talk about getting confident, nude scenes, partying at twelve, dental issues, and much more.

Jay Jurden (the New Yorker, Stand up NBC, MTV News) talks about being a theatre kid, working as a personal trainer, and his comedy journey.

Derek Humphrey (Derek Mansplains it all) talks about growing up as a big kid, joining the navy, and getting out of his small town.

Aarushi Agni (frontwoman for Tin Can Diamonds, comedian, and writer) shares what it was like moving to NYC, her creative process, and realizing awkward moments happened well after the fact.

Comedian and Model Chris Moore uses pranks to combat social awkwardness, with results ranging from regrettable to hilarious. Plus lots of poop-talk. Instagram: chris.moore.poops.2

Sheree shares the ups and downs of dog walking, comedy, and; would it really be an episode of How to be Less Awkard if we didn’t get into masturbation?

Jacob Williams (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Wild N’ Out, America's Got Talent) talks about getting awkward after first grade, why you shouldn't buy your ex gifts, and how Ace Ventura played a part in his sexual awakening.

Bronwyn Isaac (hello giggles, someecards, broadly) describes how she found herself on a trip full of fitness influencers to the Bahamas and why she felt weird in paradise, while Laura has a new nemesis. 

The awk pod returns when Comedian and Actor Chike Robinson joins host Laura Merli to get into drama at work, eyebrows, and why getting into cars can be tricky.

Chelsea Davison (The Tonight Show, The Opposition with Jordan Klepper, Madtv) revisits not getting the message that romantic interest wasn't there, passing notes in middle school, and solid advice for adults that haven't quite gotten those all important conversation skills.

Stand up comedian Rohan Padhye shares the time he forgot he had gone on a date with someone and saw them again, and again...and again; how he feels different after moving from Boston to NYC, and moving on from his ex.

Mary Cait Kelly shares how she was serenaded after a high school break up, not thinking about bras, and overcoming Catholicism. 

Comedian Myq Kaplan is one of our few guests to have outgrown feeling awkward. He shares his secrets to not feeling embarrassed, some times he did feel weird in high school, and his philosophy on life.

Comedian/Author Laura Hankin (Feminarchy, Jane and Laura, Summertime Girls, SO MUCH MORE) shares some run ins with exes, the awkward side of grief, and the willpower to not read the comments.

Casey Crawford (Jimmy Kimmel Live) digs deep to remember his odd childhood behavior, reflect on getting older, and share why he's not too worried about nuclear war. 

Listen and learn how honesty can help make you less awkward, why comedian Amamah Sardar is thankful she didn't get married when she was younger, and how she balances her parent's wishes with carving out her own path.

Stand up comedians Paul Julmeus and Laura Merli talk about winter anxiety, doing stuff anxiety, and the turning point that put Paul on a more positive track.

"My Dad Wrote a Porno" podcast creator, Jamie Morton, gets into why he started reading chapters from his father's erotic novel on his hit podcast, differences between the US and the UK, and of course, the importance of family.

Kate Hopkins (improviser extraordinaire and Laura's friend) shares the moment she knew she was awkward, her movie obsession, and how her sexual fantasies are like that of a "midwestern housewife." 

Comedian and author Ben Rosenfeld talks about moving beyond awkwardness and how to get things done, including his best-selling comedy album, "The United States of Russia." 

Eric Taylor recounts an epically bad first kiss, why he's ghosted more times than he'd care to remember, and how he's matured over the years.

Emma and Laura tackle important questions like "what's the plot of The Phantom of the Opera anyway?" and "What's the worst part of pouring fries over your head?" Plus, they rant about the annoying expectations that are put on virginity and women's porn viewing habits. ​

Family poetry sessions, well-meaning donations, and playing "poop in the car," are all part of this especially zany episode of "How to be Less Awkward."

Freddy G (Siriusxm, NPR, The Model and the Mensch podcast) shares his struggles with anxiety, mixed relationship with social media, and his take on offensive humor.

Wes Hazard (WGBH, Questions for Terrible People) finds humor in his struggle with Crohn's Disease. Listen to hear what it's like to be admitted to a children's hospital as an adult, when you can leave literal shit for your roommate to clean up, and why nurses are badasses.

Kaytlin Bailey (Vice, mtv, Siriusxm) shares how her parent's odd-couple relationship impacted her future dating life, why she left politics, and how mixing politics and comedy can get weird.

Mekki Leeper (Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Whitehouse Correspondents Dinner, College Humor) shares his most awkward dating experiences and how the media pressures men to act in not-so-healthy-or-realistic ways toward women. Host Laura Merli reveals why she's so afraid of online dating, dating comics, and every other kind of dating category there is.

Comedian Srilatha Rajamani reminisces about how unprepared she was for nudity at the hot springs resort with her teenage daughter and mulls over how moving to the U.S. made her more insecure about her body.

At 15, Maeve Press has already been doing stand up for years, appeared in numerous festivals, and has acted in the Off-Broadway play "Before Your Very Eyes." Maeve joins us to discuss comedy, bad luck, and her many, many pets. 

Sam recounts some awkward wedding moments. Laura and Sam agree that weddings are great, even when they're weird. Sam convinces Laura to stop worrying and love the friendly skies. Mostly because flying gives you an excuse not to do anything.

Worried your privates are doing something weird? Many people are, and most of them have nothing to fear. Plus, even if something isn't quite right downstairs, there have been a ton of recent innovations in STI and other treatments. Dr. Anne Toledo joins us to provide reassurance and talk about how doctors are learning to make patients feel more comfortable with some of the most uncomfortable examinations.

Audience favorite Terence Pennington returns for a special live show! Laura lets people in on how unsurprisingly weird she was as a child. Terence & Laura discuss the hot topics of the day like how not to start a conversation with an Irish person, prison, and lots, lots more sidebars! Recorded at ImprovBoston for your listening cringe-pleasure. 

Everything Irene's been talking about about in therapy lately, and more.

Tyler Swain shares the farts that changed the course of his life. Laura and Tyler go deep into their public bathroom rituals, past and present.  

The fabulous burlesque / nerdlesque performer Elsa Riot gets into the awkwardness of being mistaken for another performer, wardrobe / set malfunctions, and pasties.

Awet shares the embarrassing moment that kicked off negative feelings about her body and the spiritual journey that helped her heal.

We discuss the dreaded sin of running past your time in stand up, the challenges of talking to people in business environments, and of course, bowel movements, with Chris Duffy ["You're the Expert" podcast and live show, National Geographic's "Explorer" TV show].

He's been bullied. He's been the bully. Hear Painter and Improv Comedian Bryan Marshall discuss navigating the awkwardness of middle school social structures and how he once got knocked out with a recorder.

Ted Pettingell (stand up, "Are we a Horse" web series) reveals why he got slapped 3 times in one night and went back for more.

Standup, Cartoonist, & infamous milk-chugger Jamie Loftus unpacks her first kiss & feeling weird about sex stuff.

Improviser, Financial Analyst, & former advice columnist John Serpico digs "just shy of mental trauma" to share how a college friendship went wrong.

Comic Pamela Ross shares her experiences growing up Catholic, flatulence fears, and "weird medical shit."

On this week's episode, we talk relationships, social awkwardness, & the downside of putting your penis in a mysterious hole. 

"How To Be Less Awkward" with Laura Merli available now!

Laura Merli’s back with comedian Kindra L. to talk about growing up in a big family, body image and third nipples.

It’s the first episode! Laura Merli chats with comedian Dylan Uscher about science, 80’s porn, and inviting strangers into your bedroom.