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

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

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

By: Global
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About this listen

Each week, best mates Laura Smyth and Carmen Butcher dive headfirst into the daft, the ridiculous, and the gloriously dumb - from their own personal disasters to the wildest, most unhinged things the internet (and the world) throws at us. Emma Watson losing her driving license for speeding? They’re on it. A woman taking a selfie with a shark and getting her hands bitten off? You know they’re talking about it. A CEO getting caught cheating at a Coldplay concert? They’re already laughing. If you love side-eyeing the news, finding comfort in other people’s weird choices, 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 and Carmen is a Global Player Original Podcast. You can listen, watch and subscribe to the podcast now on Global Player, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Email us your ‘Shouldn’t Laugh But...’ Moments! lauraandcarmen@global.com Follow Shouldn’t Laugh But on all social platforms: @shouldntlaughpod Laura Smyth - @thatlaurasmyth Carmen Butcher - @carmenshouldntlaugh Listen every Tuesday & Friday or watch us on Global Player & YouTube every Thursday.Copyright 2026 Global Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Justin Timberlake’s DUI & will The Spice Girls ever get their sh*t together?
    Mar 24 2026

    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! 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

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    35 mins
  • We Tried Every Easter Egg & Hot Cross Bun So You Don’t Have To
    Mar 20 2026

    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

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Louis Theroux in the Manosphere… Sorry, Did That Get Awkward?
    Mar 17 2026

    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! 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

    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
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