I’m Christi Somers, a Stand-Up Comedian, Educator, Writer, and Speaker who uses comedy to help people talk like they mean it, connect like they feel it, and trust their own voice — onstage and off.
What People Are Saying
“Very Funny.”
— The New York Times“Christi’s class was the single best thing I have done for my comedy. Christi created such a warm and encouraging dynamic that I was able to grow in leaps with her support. My comedy is so much funnier and so much more me because of Christi’s joyful, warm and wise teaching.”
— Abby Wambaugh; Winner of ‘Best Newcomer’ Edinburgh Fringe ‘24 & Hannah Gadsby Present's 'The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows.'“Christi Somers is by far the best stand-up comedy teacher there is. Period.”
— Nicole Byer “Christi’s class was one of the best experiences I’ve had and I can’t recommend her enough. She had incredible course material, and real world knowledge to provide based on her work as a touring comedian. Her notes and guidance helped to take my comedy to the next level and I am forever grateful for her encouragement along the way.”
— Vannessa Jackson; Writer for Saturday Night LiveWays To Work With Me
I use comedy as the training ground where people learn to speak with intention, connect emotionally, and communicate without hiding. My teaching method comes from decades onstage, lived experience, and scar tissue. Comedy lives in what’s alive, what’s guarded, and what only you can say. I don’t just know how comedy works, I know how it feels. And I help others feel it, too.
All first-time clients receive a complimentary 1/2 hour zoom consultation.
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Christi is an acclaimed 15+ year comedian whose work has appeared on Netflix, Comedy Central, HBO, TruTV, IFC, and national stages. Her live performances weave sharp writing with playful human connection, offering a comedic experience that is smart, heartfelt, and unmistakably her.
Available for theaters, clubs, festivals, conferences, and special events.
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Christi delivers high-impact signature Keynote + TED-style talks talks on voice, confidence, resilience, self-trust and the power of using humor as a tool for connection. Her speaking explores how stand-up can help people reclaim their voice, trust their instincts, and communicate with clarity - no comedy experience required.
Ideal for conferences, schools, nonprofits, corporate teams, and creative communities.
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For over a decade, Christi has helped people find their voice, own their story, and stop apologizing for taking up space. Grounded in voice reclamation, she blends humor and heart to guide performers, professionals, and everyday humans toward deeper confidence and more meaningful communication. Her work proves that comedy isn’t just about being funny, it’s about being clear, connected, and unapologetically yourself.
Through personalized sessions, Christi helps clients strengthen their communication skills, refine their point of view, and bring more confidence to their work, onstage or off. Her coaching is ideal for comedians, storytellers, speakers, founders, or anyone looking to communicate with greater clarity, power, and presence.
As a seasoned joke writer and creative consultant, Christi has crafted material for comedians currently on Netflix, Comedy Central, HBO, Showtime, TruTV, and late-night television. She helps clients shape stronger premises, punch up sets, structure stories, and elevate their comedic voice, always in a way that feels true to who they are.
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Christi leads interactive workshops that blends stand-up comedy principles with storytelling and emotional intelligence. Participants learn how to speak with presence, craft meaningful narratives, and connect authentically with their audience, whether that audience is a boardroom, classroom, or comedy stage.
Available in 60–90 minute sessions, half-day, or full-day trainings.
Communities I’ve taught in
Sarah Lawrence College
Muhlenberg College
Hunter College
SUNY Oswego
Higher Education
Non-Profit
Laughing Together
The Center for Creative Education
Actor Therapy, NYC
Double H Ranch / Serious Fun Camps
New York Kid’s Club
Rhode Island Youth Theatre
Stand-Up! Girls NYC
Youth
The People’s Improv Theatre; creator of the Womxn+ in Stand-Up Program
The LaughtHER Collective; Co-Founder
The Stand
Written In Brooklyn
Actor Therapy NYC
Q.E.D.
Comedy & Creative
Full Bio:
Christi Somers (formerly Chiello) is a Comedian, Educator, TedX Speaker & Writer whose work spans TV, film, and groundbreaking comedy education. She made her national TV debut roasting Jimmy Carr on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle and has since appeared on Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring, This Joka with Will Smith, TruTV’s Late Night Snack, Chris Gethard Presents, IFC’s Comedy Crib, and Kevin Hart’s LOL Network. Her solo show It’s Christi, Bitch! at Joe’s Pub was praised by The New York Times and called a “must-see” by Time Out New York.
Named a “New Face of Comedy” by the International Just For Laughs Festival, Christi recently appeared in the comedy special Dead Moms Club alongside Bob the Drag Queen, starred in the musical Foreverland at Manhattan Theatre Club, and made her film debut in SXSW-premiering Molli and Max in the Future. Her voice acting includes Pinkalicious & Peterrific (PBS Kids) and Teenage Euthanasia (Adult Swim). Christi’s roast battles are enshrined at the National Comedy Center, and her jokes appear in the MacMillan anthology Eating Salad Drunk.
Christi is redefining comedy education with a forward-thinking approach that helps performers and students discover and amplify their authentic voice. She designs inclusive workshops and innovative comedic blueprints, and partners with nonprofits such as Stand Up! Girls and the Center for Creative Education to empower young people with comedy and communication skills that build confidence and resilience. She is also a teaching artist with Laughing Together, an improv-based program developed by Chris Gethard in collaboration with Wellness Together to promote social-emotional learning, and serves on the Board of Directors for Mentor Me, supporting youth through creative mentorship and community engagement.
A passionate mental health advocate, Christi speaks regularly at the Student Mental Wellness Conference and champions the healing power of humor. She is currently opening for Nicole Byer on her national tour and recently brought her voice & vision to the TedX stage!
A quick, no-ego joke tune-up. Perfect for comics who don’t need a class — just some new inspo & fresh eyes. I write for some of the biggest comedians working today & now I want to write for YOU! Submit up to 3 minutes of written material for a fast, precision rewrite.
You send:
• Up to 3 minutes of written stand-up material
You get: A custom Punch-Up PDF with:
• trims that tighten
• clarity edits
• structure adjustments
• a stronger point of view
• punch-ups galore
• tags, tags, TAGS
• heightening suggestions
• rhythm & cadence tweaks
Turnaround: 3–5 days
Price: $90 (payment info sent after confirmation)
Through the month of December - very limited spots available.
Press & Testimonials
“Stand-Up Supreme Christi Chiello has been a staple in the NYC comedy scene for over a decade and may very well be the most lovable stand up comedian working today.”
— Broadway World
“The quality of her jokes and they fit into her very upbeat and optimistic personality make her hard to forget.”
— Vulture
“Christi possess the two things most needed in a teacher: knowledge and compassion. She is not only a hilarious seasoned stand-up but her ability to relate and empathize helps her connect to students from every background and skill level. I wish I had a mentor like her when I first started in this business!”
— Giulia Rozzi
“Christi Chiello might be the most delightful stand-up in NYC. Her bubbly personality and decisively dark humor are the perfect mix and you'll find yourself obsessively watching her hilarious Instagram stories after you've seen her perform.”
— 9 of the Funniest Women in NYC; Pop Sugar
“A good performer bares her soul in an honest and engaging way. A great performer does it while making her audience feel like family. Make no mistake, Christi Chiello is a great performer. ”
— Time Out New York
“If you’re the kind of person who thinks, ‘Please. You can’t learn stand-up in a classroom,’ you’re probably right 99.9% of the time. But Christi is the other .1% She’s the best. Seriously. Take her class.”
— Carson Olshansky, LMAOF
“Christi is the kindest, most FUN, and dynamic teacher you could ask for. Also, one of the best performers around.”
— Blair Socci
“Christi is one of my favorite performers. You put her on any stage in NYC and she walks away with the room in the palm of her hand as well as every comic's respect. She can smoke people at a Roast Battle, charm the New Yorker-reading crowd at Joe's Pub, and put on the boldest weirdest shit with the Bushwick scene, and everyone in all those corners of comedy walk away feeling like she stole the show.”
— Chris Gethard; Vulture
“I love Christi. She’s inspiring, hilarious & actually gives a damn about people.”
— Matteo Lane
See Me Live!
Fresh off a 12+ city national tour with Nicole Byer and a newly filmed TedX Talk, I am resting & gearing up my performance schedule for 2026! Stay tuned to join my mailing list & be the first to know when I’m coming to your city!
Videos
Please note videos are not suitable for children and may contain graphic language. For more follow me on Instagram!
Let’s Connect!
It’s part diary, part comedy set, part fever dream of a girl who once thought fame would fix her. I write about grief, girlhood, God, and the deeply unserious business of being alive. Expect unhinged nostalgia, overanalyzed punchlines, and emotionally generous oversharing from a reformed chaos goblin turned suburban wife with a ring light.
