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

Laura and Carmen are back and absolutely flying, fuelled by cold weather holidays, points chaos and the kind of tech anxiety that makes your palms sweat before you have even opened the laptop. There is festive drama too, as matching Christmas pyjamas spiral out of hand, and the girls debate whether parenting twenty somethings is basically inviting them to things they have no intention of turning u...

In this episode of “Shouldn’t Laugh But…”, Laura is convinced her husband Ali might secretly be a psychopath-because who chooses to wear jeans indoors? And if that wasn’t enough, she's lost all respect for herself after forgetting her keys. Carmen, meanwhile, brings an embarrassing potluck confession to the table and reveals the moment she dated a man whose dad boldly declared, “IF A PLANE IS FALL...

Laura’s turned up to the record looking full Ferris Bueller - sunglasses, cool attitude, the lot - except there are no days off when it comes to this podcast. She and Carmen are currently knee-deep in DIY, attempting to plaster walls and it's pretty funny. Plus, a listener writes in after finding herself laughing uncontrollably at willies, which somehow sends the girls into a deep dive on the most...

It’s Laura’s birthday, and she’s fresh back from a solo weekend in Edinburgh - meanwhile, Carmen’s got a bejeweled gift and a lot to say about people who actually take the time to write reviews. This week on Shouldn’t Laugh But , the girls get into the bizarre case of a woman arrested for sending farts via text to her boyfriend’s ex (yep, that’s a thing), and the fact that 6-7 has somehow been cro...

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have officially thrown in the Strictly Come Dancing towel… and two podcast hosts ( cough Laura and Carmen cough ) are suddenly VERY interested in a new side hustle. Also this week - a listener writes in about her child’s absolutely unhinged tell-tale sign she’s lying (it’s iconic), and the girls unpack the newly released Top 40 Combos of all time. Where do Laura and...

Apologies in advance to Laura’s mother-in-law. Laura is spiralling about what to do for her 10 year wedding anniversary with Ali and Carmen has a fresh blow-dry and is reminiscing about turning 18 - specifically the moment her Hungarian mum Gigi had a couple of drinks and broke into Stevie Wonder. Naturally. Also this week: Scrotox. Yes. A cosmetic procedure for men. They go there.  And the w...

“There’s nothing Spookier than a sh*t husband" - Laura Smyth 2025. In this spook-tacular bonus episode of Shouldn’t Laugh But , Laura and Carmen are serving ghosts, ghouls, and questionable life choices. Laura reveals her costume plans (is it sexy… or a work of modern art?), Carmen’s got a foolproof hack to keep the trick-or-treaters far, far away, and somehow Elon Musk and Teslas make it into the...

Laura’s been fighting alligators for centuries - mate! - while Carmen’s latest battle is with gravity after dropping her phone on the train tracks (where, apparently, the rats are now making calls). This week, cue the Pink Panther theme because there’s been a heist at The Louvre! Laura and Carmen dive into the art of the steal, questionable life choices, and why this robbery has everyone talking....

Carmen thinks Siri is a little b*tch, Laura’s been helping her kids get elected to Pupil Parliament , and they’ve got a story about a guy who showed up at his own funeral - aka Bender Final Boss. Plus, a listener has DMed the girls about the time her dad successfully smuggled her into Calais. It was the ’80s! Get involved in the show, BUT HEAD! Email Laura and Carmen your Shouldn’t Laugh But... mo...

Laura and Carms were drinking last weekend - for very understandable reasons. Diane Keaton has passed (RIP, icon), and emotions are running high. Naturally, Al Pacino’s late-life confession that he “should’ve married Diane” sends the girls spiraling into thoughts, theories and some rage. To cope, they’re trying the viral Gen-Z “Wine Float” - yes, ice cream and red wine - at 10AM on a Monday. Is it...

It’s autumn - aka “hunker down time” - so Laura and Carmen are getting into the mini bottles of wine and all the food you can imagine: lamb chops, 20-layer lasagnas… it’s giving Garfield, mate. Plus, a teacher has DMed about some kids in his class saying stupid things that he wants to laugh at but can’t. Get involved in the show, BUT HEAD! Email Laura and Carmen your Shouldn’t Laugh But... moments...

Carmen wants you to know she’s only had two hours of sleep, and Laura wants you to know she has a new tartan jacket that’s giving Ralph Lauren vibes and saved her 350 quid. Together, they can’t wait for autumn - and for Carmen’s upcoming 40th birthday at the ‘Five Seasons’. Plus, they discuss a woman who hasn’t smiled or frowned in 20 years, and Laura’s had a hilarious email from her son Alfred’s...

This week, Laura and Carmen are feeling the ‘full moon vibes’ because there are too many FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHTS! happening. Laura is locked into the Cardi B and Eminem drama, and Carmen’s obsessed with Joe Wicks and his hate for protein bars. They also discuss their “Shouldn’t Fancy But” crushes because a listener has written in with a list of hilarious characters she thinks are hot - The Cape in Do...

Laura’s son, Alfred, has started karate and worships his sensei. Meanwhile, Carmen has joined a posh gym and wants to punch every gym wanker in sight. Plus, they discuss a baby who was born holding an IUD (the ultimate LinkedIn story when he’s older) and the unveiling of a Tina Turner statue in Brownsville, USA - it’s simplyyyyy the worst. Shouldn’t Laugh But… with Laura Smyth and Carmen Butcher i...

“It’s me. Hi. I’m the problem-it’s me!” Laura’s into raccoons, Carmen’s into beasts, and she genuinely thinks squirrels and chipmunks are the same thing. Classic Carms. Expect more highbrow chaos like this, plus a ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But’ story from an incredible listener in Australia, featuring the night bus… and an alleyway accident. Get involved in the show, BUT HEAD! Email Laura and Carmen your S...

Laura and Carmen think gender reveals are an unnecessary expense - and they’re blaming pushy presents, balloon arches, and smoke cannons on the Kardashians. Plus, they also discuss the Netflix documentary everyone’s talking about, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish , before side-eyeing a California yoga instructor who has come out as “autosexual” (aka attracted to himself). But isn’t that jus...

News just in: Pies are nice! Carmen’s delighted it’s autumn, and Laura’s angry that it’s cost her a bomb to get to Norwich. Thank goodness for Klarna (Laura’s other best friend). Plus, the ladies are annoyed at a woman who has saved $97,000 by just eating eggs and bread, and a listener has emailed in with a story you could never recover from. Get involved in the show, BUT HEAD! Email Laura and Car...

​​Here’s the problem: Laura & Carmen have two producers - one begging them to stay on track, and another adding fuel to their fire. Which one do you think they’re listening to? Carmen’s obsessed with Cheese Strings, Laura’s campaigning for Brie Strings, and together they spiral into all kinds of Shouldn’t Laugh But chaos - discussing Jaden Smith being made Creative Director at Louboutin and Vi...

Carmen’s back with her great stories, and she can't DEAL with the knowledge that Laura used to be a croupier. In this episode, the ladies have a problem with AI stitching up Zac Efron, and Shien using Luigi Mangione’s face to sell clothes. Plus they discuss a listener’s Shouldn’t Laugh But story about getting locked out of her house with the youths. Does anyone want a tinnie? Get involved in the s...

Would Mickey Mouse commit credit card fraud? Is leopard print actually a “neutral”? And is it really ok to call your boss a d*ckhead? Laura and Carmen discuss. Alongside that, Carmen’s battling an ant invasion in her kitchen that’s turned her into Gordon Ramsay, Laura’s wondering if her dog Betty might need Dog Ozempic, and she’s also navigating her daughter’s WW2 dress-up day.  Plus the pair...

Put a blonde wig on Beaker from The Muppets and you’ve got Carmen Butcher - one half of the Shouldn’t Laugh But podcast with Laura Smyth. Is Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson’s relationship a fauxmance? Laura and Carmen have thoughts. Something deep in Laura’s plums says Pammy can do better - but does Carmen believe the hype? She did love Naked Gun , after all. Plus, a listener has emailed a hilario...

Cardi B just won her court case, and Laura and Carmen can't handle how funny and memeable the whole ordeal was. Why is Emani's lawyer like Lionel Hutz from The Simpsons? Meanwhile, a new 2025 dating trend is taking over: Shrekking - dating below your standard to find love. Lord Farquaad, what you saying, handsome? Plus Laura's son Alfred has started junior school, and can't negotiate an apple, and...

Babyyyyy Girllllll the first SLB bonus episode is here!  Do you like massages? Maybe you hate cups of tea and tapas? Perhaps Nando’s gets your back up the moment you try to order your fino pitta. In the next 25 minutes, listen to Laura and Carmen discuss “VHAT THEY VANT!” along with your hilarious Shouldn’t Laugh But... moments of the week. Get involved in the show, BUT HEAD! Email Laura and...

Laura and Carmen are setting the tone - bad choices, questionable judgment, and lots of laughter - all so you can feel better about your own life choices. Ever experienced the stress of your fingers swelling into King Charles sausages and not being able to t*ss off your husband? Or taken a selfie with a shark and, oops, had your hands bitten off? Maybe you'd rather tuck into a lasagne than unwrap...

If you love side-eyeing the news, finding comfort in other people’s weird decisions, and laughing when, maybe you shouldn’t… this is your new weekly dose of feeling better about your life choices.  Shouldn’t Laugh But… with Laura Smyth and Carmen Butcher is a Global Player Original Podcast. You can listen, watch and subscribe to the podcast now on Global Player, YouTube, or wherever you get y...