About Christi Somers (formerly Chiello)

I teach presence through comedy.

For more than twenty years, I've been fascinated by one question:

What allows someone to stay fully themselves when all eyes are on them?

I started asking that question as a stand-up comedian. After thousands of performances, years of writing, and coaching nearly 1,000 performers, I realized the answer had very little to do with confidence or charisma. Instead, it had everything to do with presence.

The people who truly hold a room aren't trying harder than everyone else. They're leaving less of themselves behind.

Today, I use comedy as a laboratory for teaching presence, communication, and authentic connection. Whether I'm coaching comedians, leading workshops, speaking to organizations, or performing on stage, my work helps people trust their voice, regulate their nervous system, and build genuine relationships with the people in front of them.

Comedy became my classroom. Presence became the lesson.

Over the course of my career, I've had the privilege of performing on national stages and television, including Comedy Central's Roast Battle (roasting Jimmy Carr), Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring, This Joka with Will Smith, Kevin Hart's LOL Network, Chris Gethard Presents, IFC's Comedy Crib, and truTV's Late Night Snack.

My solo show at Joe's Pub was praised by The New York Times and named a "must-see" by Time Out New York. I was selected as a New Face of Comedy at the Just For Laughs Festival, appeared in the comedy special Dead Moms Club alongside Bob the Drag Queen, starred in Manhattan Theatre Club's Foreverland, and made my film debut in the SXSW-premiering Molli and Max in the Future. My voice acting credits include Pinkalicious & Peterrific (PBS Kids) and Teenage Euthanasia (Adult Swim), and I've appeared in national campaigns for IKEA.

My roast battles are enshrined at the National Comedy Center, my writing appears in the MacMillan anthology Eating Salad Drunk, and I currently write for some of today's biggest comedians while touring nationally as the opening act for Nicole Byer.

Alongside my performing career, I've dedicated myself to building innovative educational experiences that help people discover and trust their authentic voice.

I'm the creator of Say The Thing, an immersive comedy residency at The Stand in New York City where comedians develop presence, instinct, and the ability to truly hold a room. I've also created original curricula and workshops for colleges, comedy theaters, nonprofits, and community organizations across the country.

My teaching includes adjunct appointments at Sarah Lawrence College and Hunter College, workshops at Muhlenberg College and SUNY Oswego, and collaborations with organizations including Laughing Together, Stand-Up! Girls, Actor Therapy NYC, Double H Ranch, New Alternatives for Children, The Center for Creative Education, The People's Improv Theater, Q.E.D., and many others. I'm also proud to serve on the Board of Directors for Mentor Me.

As a speaker, I explore the intersection of humor, communication, resilience, and human connection. My keynotes and workshops have been presented at universities, conferences, nonprofits, and organizations, including two consecutive years at the Student Mental Wellness Conference, where I share how comedy can help us build confidence, navigate discomfort, and stay present when it matters most.

Most recently, I delivered my first TEDx talk exploring how comedy cultivates confidence, resilience, and authentic self-expression, especially for women learning to trust their own voice.

Whether I'm performing for an audience, teaching a classroom, coaching one-on-one, or speaking from a stage, my mission remains the same: To help people stop performing and start connecting.