Ep 177 with Laura Smyth (Part 1) : Gigging is so real, we are very lucky

What The F Is Going On? with Mark Steel

Carousel Studios

News, Society & Culture, Comedy, Politics

4.7 • 888 Ratings

🗓️ 2 March 2026

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Mark is joined by comedian Laura Smyth as they discuss surviving cancer, stoicism and hypnotherapy, body neutrality after mastectomy, social media outrage and “narrative construction”, the loss of real-world connection in the age of smartphones, stand-up as communal therapy, raising daughters and sons differently, and why facing your mortality can make you finally stop carrying the shit you don’t need. You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen or watch the whole interview straight away. www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel Follow Laura @thatlaurasmyth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	We risk becoming an island of strangers.
0:04.0	We will strive for the denopsification of the globe.
0:07.0	Because you can't grow, can't grow.
0:10.0	Yes, you can.
0:11.0	They're eating the dogs.
0:12.0	They're eating the dinosaurs.
0:14.0	Under the EU, we weren't allowed to eat.
0:17.0	I just don't get it.
0:18.0	I just think everyone should be sure.
0:19.0	What the fuck is going on?
0:23.6	Hello everybody. I'm Mark Steele. Welcome to my podcast. Sometimes I say these words and think,
0:32.3	does that really reflect the way the world is? Some weeks I think these are the only words that anyone
0:41.3	can start any conversation with. What the fuck is going on?
0:50.9	It's always a joy to speak to whichever delightful soul is opposite me here.
0:57.2	But on this particular week, a particular joy, because at no point did I have to think,
1:03.5	oh my God, I hope they don't think I'm too common with my dirty little comprehensive school background.
1:15.6	Because we were very much at one on this sort of thing and it'll be my absolute delight to speak to the very brilliant Laura Smith.
1:20.6	What the fuck is?
1:22.6	Oh what the fuck is going on?
1:26.6	Every week I ask what the fuck is going on.
1:30.3	Every week I ask what the fuck is going on.
1:33.4	Nobody's got a clue until this week.
	...

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