Hi, I’m Christi Somers. I’m a Stand-up Comedian, Comedy Educator, Creative Consultant and Chief Joy Officer whose work lives at the intersection of humor, heart, and human connection.
After decades onstage, I discovered my greatest fulfillment comes from helping others uncover their comedic voice and share their truth. I’ve taught at colleges, nonprofits, and creative programs across the country, guiding emerging comedians and storytellers to transform lived experience into work that heals, empowers, and inspires.
I’ve pioneered a more inclusive and emotionally intelligent approach to comedy education—one that celebrates authenticity over approval and depth over punchlines.
Now, as I prepare for my first TED Talk, I’m exploring how comedy can move beyond laughter to become a tool for self-discovery, empathy, and transformation.
Christi Somers (formerly Chiello) is a Comedian, Educator, and Creative Consultant 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 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 will give her first TED Talk this November in Queens, NY, bringing her voice, vision, and expertise to audiences nationwide.
Bio.
Press
“Very Funny.”
— The New York Times
“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
“(In It's Christi, B*tch!) She gets to shine. Telling her own story in her own words.”
— The New York Times
“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
“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
“This champion of crowd work is your naughtiest buddy on a night out, the devil in your ear, the voice on your next favorite cartoon and the sweetest comic in town.”
— Time Out New York
“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 go in and smoke people at a Roast Battle, go charm the New Yorker-reading crowd by putting on a solo show at Joe's Pub, and then go 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
See Me Live!
Coaching & Consulting
Your Story. Your Voice. Your Comedy.
Comedy isn’t just about laughs. It’s about speaking your truth in a way that resonates. I help comedians, speakers, and performers turn their experiences into material that lands, connects, and feels unmistakably them.
Whether you’re writing your first five minutes, refining a solo show, or shaping a keynote, I provide guidance, structure, and collaboration to make your material sharp, authentic, and intentional. I work with you to uncover your unique voice and elevate it, not by fitting you into someone else’s mold, but by helping you stand out. From coaching your delivery to partnering on material development, I help you craft comedy that’s smart, human, and entirely your own.
If you’re ready to create comedy that isn’t just performed but felt, remembered, and undeniably yours, let’s work together to turn your story into material that commands attention, connects with audiences, and sets you apart.
Teaching Experience:
Founder & Creator of the ‘Stand Up For Womxn’ at the People’s Improv Theatre , Co-Founder of The LaughtHER Collective, Creator of the ‘Find Your Funny’ program at Q.E.D. Colleges: Hunter College, Sarah Lawrence College, Muhlenberg College, SUNY Oswego Clubs: The People Improv Theatre, The Stand, Q.E.D, Upright Citizens Brigade, New York Comedy Club Non-Profits: Laughing Together, Center for Creative Education, Rhode Island Youth Theatre, Serious Fun Camps, Actor Therapy + personal private coaching for hundreds of students across the country.
Students have gone on to work for: SNL, Showtime’s “Ziwe”, Netflix’s “Survival of the Thickest,” Comedy Central, Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Best Newcomer Award), Just For Laughs (New Faces), New York Comedy Festival, The New Yorker, Black Women in Comedy Festival + much more
Comedian Testimonials:
“Christi is hands-down the best stand-up teacher there is!” - Nicole Byer
“I love Christi. She’s inspiring, hilarious & actually gives a damn about people.” - Matteo Lane
“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 puts the utmost thought and care into supporting women and helping them develop their own gifts. She is the kindest, most FUN, and dynamic teacher you could ask for. Also, one of the best performers around.” - Blair Socci
“Christi is wonderful, knowledgable and hilarious.” - Mary Beth Barone
“Christi gets it! People often underestimate the power of the host, but Christi understands the importance of that positive energy at the top of a show and throughout. Hosts have one of the hardest jobs in comedy, through when done well, ghosting can seem effortless, and Christi can get you there, because she knows from experience. Not only do I trust Christi as a host, she’s one of the only working comics I trust to teach the art of hosting. In closing, comedy can be terrible, and that makes it so important to learn from someone who cares.” - Regina DeCicco
“I’ve had the pleasure of sitting in and being a guest speaker on a few of Christi’s classes and her students always seem to motivated and supported and curious as a result of Christi’s thoughtful teaching methods. She really takes the time to cover every aspect of the job, from specific joke writing structure and skills to managing yourself as a business. Any student if comedy would be lucky to learn from Christi.” - Amy Miller
Student Testimonials:
“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, Saturday Night Live
“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 at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
“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 Comedy
“Christi is such a warm, dynamic, and hilarious human being! She is a truly excellent teacher/guide and her insight and wisdom have improved my practice, my outlook, and possibly even my skin?!” - Emily Flake, The New Yorker & Founder of St. Nells Writer’s Residency
Videos
Please note videos are not suitable for children and may contain graphic language. For more follow me on Instagram!
(if you dare).
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.
Contact
Comedy Coaching
I’d love to work with you!
ChristiSomers1@gmail.com
