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! lauraandcarmen@global.com

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Laura - @thatlaurasmyth

Carmen - @carmenshouldntlaugh

Listen to Main Episodes every Tuesday, and Watch Main Episodes every Thursday.

Bonus Episodes are available every Friday

This week, Laura and Carmen spiral from ski slopes to strip clubs after a listener confession about a half-dressed skiing disaster that ends with an injured stranger… and a three hour plane journey of silent guilt.

Then there’s the viral chair throwing incident that backfires spectacularly, starting beef with monkeys in Malaysia, rogue sheep standoffs in Wales and the internet’s newest side hustle: becoming a keynote speaker after getting caught on Coldplay’s kiss cam.

But the real cultural debate of the episode? Stand up bum wiping. Send help… or wet wipes.

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, one of us is living her best ski life in Canada while the other is glue gunning her way through World Book Day and awaiting secondary school news like it is the Hunger Games.

There are rogue ski puns, Winter Olympics overshares and listener stories bringing peak slope humiliation: teenage wipeouts, French ski school casualties, dads shouting “get a room” and an apres ski table jump that results in full resort infamy and the nickname “Table Girl”.

Laura and Carmen also cover business class delusions, the healing power of podcast laughter in dark times and why you must always trust your florist.

Helmets on. Drinks upright. And absolutely no table dancing in ski boots *cough cough* Carmen Butcher!

Email us your ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But...’ Moments! lauraandcarmen@global.com

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

This week, Laura and Carmen spiral from blizzards to baked beans as Margot Robbie’s rogue nacho confession sends them into a full blown food combo frenzy. Tuna and cottage cheese. Marmite and tomatoes. Milky Ribena. We are unwell.

But the real villain of the episode? The Finger Princess. The group chat menace who asks for details that are literally three messages up. The Facebook poster who could have Googled it. The fully grown adult who still needs someone else to check the sell by date. Heads will roll. Mostly Carmen’s.

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 spiral gently from wholesome half term fun into full blown cost of living chaos. There’s caravan nostalgia, Center Parcs outrage and the gradual realisation that a two bed in Battersea Power Station now costs about the same as long term peace of mind.

We get gig life glamour in Manchester, early circuit flashbacks, Frog and Bucket lore, and the pure serotonin of someone saying “see you on the circuit” for the first time. There’s North South divide discourse, pub flashbacks, eyebrow trauma, and the joy of strangers actually talking to each other.

Elsewhere, it’s Lent gone rogue: the man who gave up chairs, the woman who gave up listening to men, the chaos of yoghurt eaten by hand, and a bold proposal to simply stop being polite in emails forever. There’s spring cleaning strain levels that rival competitive sport, winter bodies emerging blinking into daylight, and a pedicure confession that has truly seen some things.

Plus: fake tan fears, sunbed scandals, hacked firesticks, TV licence paranoia, supermarket self scan crimes, and the moral grey area of five pence plastic bags.

Spring is coming. The hooves are out. And absolutely nobody is paying for full priced wine.

Email us your ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But...’ Moments! lauraandcarmen@global.com

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

Laura and Carmen dive straight into the chaos after, former Prince, Andrew’s birthday arrest, the unforgettable car photo, and a PR machine working overtime. From London Fashion Week to carefully timed royal appearances, nothing escapes scrutiny.

Plus David Beckham’s birthday tribute to Cruz raises eyebrows with one pointed phrase (we’re assuming towards Brooklyn Beckham), and suddenly we are knee deep in questions about loyalty, authenticity and the kind of family chaos that makes you feel slightly better about your own.

Email us your ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But...’ Moments! lauraandcarmen@global.com

Follow Shouldn’t Laugh But on all social platforms: @shouldntlaughpod

Laura - @thatlaurasmyth

Carmen - @carmenshouldntlaugh

It’s Carmen’s first Friday as a forty year old and the birthday debrief is still in full swing. From candle blowing sabotage and middle child gift politics to traumatic mascot memories and the cultural dominance of Mr Blobby, Laura and Carmen unpack the chaos that seems to follow any celebration.

Plus, a listener’s thirtieth spirals from classy Turkish dinner to violent taxi sickness and a missed surprise party delivered via blank pub screen and disembodied apology. Add in hamster funerals, beer fear, and ski trip anxiety, and it is proof that sometimes the party is not the problem, the morning after is.

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 episode includes discussion of sensitive topics, including sexual assault, that some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening, and feel free to pause or step away if you need to.

This week on Shouldn’t Laugh But, it’s the aftermath of Carmen’s 40th and the debrief is as chaotic as the dancefloor. There are hotel lobby rolly-polies, luxury Four Seasons cake carnage, fish and chips that looked… anatomically confusing, and an escalating late night chant of “City Lounge” that very nearly derailed the entire evening. Laura arrives already hungover after a boozy appearance on Saturday Kitchen, only to wake up the next morning as a fully fledged tabloid star thanks to some extremely dramatic headline writing.

From there, things take a turn. Off the back of the brand new America’s Next Top Model documentary, the girls dive headfirst into the glossy, deeply unhinged world of the show itself. What starts as nostalgia quickly spirals into discussions about toxic producers, moralising meltdowns, ethically questionable photoshoots, reality TV villains and Tyra Banks’ almost supernatural ability to dodge accountability while delivering a life lesson.

As if that wasn’t enough, it’s Pancake Day, the start of Ramadan, Chinese New Year and we are officially entering the Year of the Fire Horse, which apparently means bold moves, big energy and absolutely no half measures. Goodbye Year of the Snake… shedding old skin, shedding dignity, shedding the booze for Lent. New beginnings all round.

All wrapped up with birthday gratitude and the firm belief that if you show up properly for your childless friend’s 40th, the universe will reward you.

Additional support:

If you've been affected by anything you've heard in this episode, please take a moment to read the resources listed: Rape Crisis, Women's Aid, Victim Support

Email us your ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But...’ Moments! lauraandcarmen@global.com

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