Shouldn't Laugh But...Laura Smyth & Carmen Butcher

This week on Shouldn’t Laugh But, Laura and Carmen are attempting the impossible… not laughing. Inspired by Last One Laughing, they kick things off with a moment of silence for Chuck Norris (which lasts approximately three seconds), before spiralling into iconic Norris memes, Jessica Simpson eyebrow-taping and whether the world feels slightly less safe now he’s gone.
Saturday Night Live UK has officially landed! From backstage buzz to internet hot takes, Laura and Carmen unpack the mix of hype, cynicism, and why sometimes you just need to let the shiny young things crack on… while you sit back with strong “auntie energy”.
Plus, Justin Timberlake’s painfully awkward drink driving arrest, why saying “this will ruin the world tour” is not quite the flex he thinks it is. And while the Spice Girls can’t quite get their act together for their 30th anniversary, at least everyone agrees that organising anything with a group of women (even icons) is basically impossible.
From there, it’s tattoos with meaning, man buns with attitude, speed awareness courses that are somehow enjoyable and chaotic travel diaries, from sunny Glasgow gigs to eye-wateringly expensive Zurich chocolate… £130 for a handful of Easter treats YIKES.
Email us your ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But...’ Moments! [email protected]
Follow Shouldn’t Laugh But on all social platforms: @shouldntlaughpod
Laura - @thatlaurasmyth
Carmen - @carmenshouldntlaugh
Listen to Main Episodes every Tuesday, and Watch Main Episodes every Thursday.
Bonus Episodes are available every Friday

We’re just weeks away from Easter, so this is a public service episode as Laura and Carmen taste the wackiest, most wonderful hot cross buns and Easter egg creations so you don’t have to.
From elite flavour combos to slightly unhinged chocolate inventions, they sort the must-buys from the absolute monstrosities (and settle a very heated debate about raisins along the way).
But just as things are feeling wholesome… a listener email completely derails the eggcelent chat. Think: a 20-hour coach journey, a locked toilet, and a truly unforgettable snowy field incident that leaves both of them completely traumatised.
Safe to say… this one is not for the faint-hearted, but it’ll crack you up ;)
Follow Shouldn’t Laugh But on all social platforms: @shouldntlaughpod
Laura - @thatlaurasmyth Carmen - @carmenshouldntlaugh
Listen to Main Episodes every Tuesday, and Watch Main Episodes every Thursday on Global Player and YouTube.
Bonus Episodes are available every Friday

This week on Shouldn’t Laugh But, Laura and Carmen are diving headfirst into the chaos of Inside the Manosphere. From TikTok “alpha males” and seven-hour livestreams, to dodgy money schemes and wildly confident nonsense about women, they try to make sense of a world that is equal parts terrifying and… deeply embarrassing.
They also get into why Louis Theroux remains the undisputed king of awkward, and how his calm, softly-softly questioning manages to unravel these “high value men” in about 30 seconds flat. It’s fragile egos, accidental self-owns, and one or two moments that genuinely made them laugh out loud… before remembering they probably shouldn’t.
There’s also a chat about rage bait, why being nice is unlikely to make you go viral, and the slightly depressing realisation that the internet rewards whoever shouts the loudest (and worst).
Then it’s onto the Beckham universe, where Harper Beckham’s skincare launch opens up a wider conversation about beauty standards, growing up online, and why 14-year-olds absolutely do not need a collagen routine. From family drama to petty social media moments, they unpack the ongoing Beckham saga and ask the big question: if you’re that rich, why are you still being this messy?
Plus, Mother’s Day politics, the competitive sport of being “so busy and so tired”, and a genuinely lovely story about an old woman in Nottingham that somehow cuts through all the chaos.
Email us your ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But...’ Moments! [email protected]
Follow Shouldn’t Laugh But on all social platforms: @shouldntlaughpod
Laura - @thatlaurasmyth
Carmen - @carmenshouldntlaugh
Listen to Main Episodes every Tuesday, and Watch Main Episodes every Thursday.
Bonus Episodes are available every Friday

Timothée Shalama-lama-ding-dong (Chalamet) is under fire after sharing his thoughts on opera and ballet and sparking a full blown internet pile on. Laura and Carmen unpack the backlash, the memes, and why the internet loves nothing more than uniting against a rogue celebrity opinion.
Plus, The Beckham family saga rumbles on! Laura and Carmen get stuck into the latest birthday post controversy and the internet reaction: should David and Victoria have wished Brooklyn a happy birthday on Instagram or not?
And if that wasn’t enough… a dog sitting job turns into a full scale street crossing disaster involving a giant poo, oncoming traffic, and one unfortunate brother who definitely got far more involved than he planned.
Follow Shouldn’t Laugh But on all social platforms: @shouldntlaughpod
Laura - @thatlaurasmyth Carmen - @carmenshouldntlaugh
Listen to Main Episodes every Tuesday, and Watch Main Episodes every Thursday on Global Player and YouTube.
Bonus Episodes are available every Friday

This week on Shouldn’t Laugh But, Laura and Carmen dive straight into the chaos that is Britney Spears. From the head shaving era to the conservatorship and the recent internet debate of “maybe we shouldn’t have freed Britney”, they try to answer the impossible question: what does actual support for a mega famous pop star even look like?
They also get into Harry Styles’ mysterious ever-changing accent, why British people simply cannot take anything seriously (especially grief), and Raye’s very public “where the hell is my husband?” era which sparks a deep dive into heartbreak, petty revenge and whether men who hurt you ever actually care.
Plus, Lily Allen is turning post break up rage into performance art with a dress covered in receipts and a spotlight for unsuspecting men in the audience.
And finally, personal updates: Laura has been living the celeb adjacent life at Alan Davies’ birthday party, while Carmen returns from a wholesome Canadian ski trip straight into the gritty reality of New York, where the steaks are good, the arguments are loud, and the crackheads are plentiful.
Sleep deprived, slightly feral, and still chasing the dream of becoming podcast millionaires.
Email us your ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But...’ Moments! [email protected]
Follow Shouldn’t Laugh But on all social platforms: @shouldntlaughpod
Laura - @thatlaurasmyth
Carmen - @carmenshouldntlaugh
Listen to Main Episodes every Tuesday, and Watch Main Episodes every Thursday.
Bonus Episodes are available every Friday