Smosh Mouth Episode #109: Try Not To Laugh: The Podcast w/ Angela & Damien
Date: September 8, 2025
Hosts: Shayne Topp, Angela Giarratana, Damien Haas
Overview
In this special impromptu episode, the Smosh Mouth team—Shayne Topp (Shane), Angela Giarratana, and guest co-host Damien Haas—turn their “Try Not to Laugh” (TNTL) challenge into a meta-podcast game. The trio banter about comedy, competition, and their own dynamic as they attempt, with varying success, to keep a straight face for an hour. What ensues is a blend of playful rivalry, genuine conversation, and the uniquely silly chemistry fans expect from Smosh.
Key Discussion Points and Segments
1. Setting Up the Try Not to Laugh Challenge
[02:23 – 09:00]
- The scheduled guest (jokingly "Dolly Parton") couldn’t make it, so the team decides to do a TNTL “hard mode” episode, where not laughing is the main objective.
- Angela claims she's determined not to laugh at all: “I am going to completely win. I decided in the bathroom. I will win.” [03:27]
- The crew teases the stakes, eventually betting real cash on surviving the episode without laughing. Shane offers $20 to anyone who makes it through.
- Damien notes, “I do laugh a lot when I have either caffeine or sugar...right before this, I took a spoonful of honey.” [05:31]
- Multiple meta-layers: Trying not to laugh while trying to make the others laugh, keeping score, and joking about how diminishing laughter could “ruin the vibe.”
2. The Art and Absurdity of Not Laughing
[09:10 – 18:00]
- The group attempts “deadpan” humor, lampooning ad reads and absurd premises (e.g., “this episode is brought to you by my stinky vag.” [08:57])
- They riff on making themselves laugh vs. making each other laugh, with odd, cringey, or intentionally unfunny lines.
- A running bit emerges: Angela as the stoic, Damien the wild card, Shane as the referee.
- The tension of "not laughing" leads to awkward, hilarious pauses, with references to physical comedy, inside Smosh jokes, and mock-seriousness.
3. Comedy, Cringe, and Watching Yourself Back
[12:54 – 14:10]
- Angela reflects on being “cringe” during Summer Games, feeling self-conscious about her competitive, loud persona.
- Damien empathizes, sharing his own experience of dialing back on-camera energy, and the challenge of “letting yourself care” without over-analyzing.
- The hosts discuss balancing authenticity with performing for an audience, both on Smosh and in their wider creative lives.
4. Bizarre Animal Game, “Fake or Real?”
[39:58 – 44:17]
- Damien and Shane quiz Angela on animal knowledge, inventing creatures and referencing real ones (e.g., “sunfish, howler monkey, durungi”).
- Angela successfully identifies which animal is fake, sparking jokes about her “not knowing animals,” leading to the idea of filming her at the zoo.
- Angela: “Say three things. Make one of them a fake animal…” [40:12]
- Shane: “Sunfish. Howler monkey. Durungi.” [40:34]
- Angela: “Durungi is not real!” [41:14]
- This morphs into more “two truths and a lie”-style games, including musicals, cars, and Final Fantasy characters.
5. Silly Personal Anecdotes
[44:29 – 47:42; 23:03 – 24:50]
- Angela tells stories about her brother weaponizing farts to the horror of babysitters and her dad, who once made her brother walk home because of it.
- Angela: “He gets a running start, jumps his ass in her face, farts, lands.” [45:01]
- Shane: “Your brother is the Banksy of flatulence.” [45:08]
- Laughing about childhood embarrassment and the levels of fart-related shame.
6. Decorating Spaces and Authentic Aesthetics
[35:37 – 38:49]
- Angela shares that her artist friend painted a mural in her apartment and questions if it’s “too artistic” for her vibe.
- Damien and Shane discuss wearing clothes or decorating with items that feel "too cool" for their comfort zones.
- Angela: “Apartment looks like I have really good taste in music. And I simply don't.” [36:59]
7. Philosophy of Laughter, Creativity, and Boredom
[29:20 – 30:19]
- Shane discusses efforts to be less online to regain creative boredom: “I need to be bored. I need to be uncomfortable. I need to have those times where I'm like, I don't know what to do with myself.” [29:50]
- Angela suggests intentionally seeking novelty in real life or online to break out of creative ruts, referencing TikTok as a source of character inspiration.
8. Games: Identifying Fake Plays and Characters
[48:12 – 52:07]
- Angela tries to stump Shane and Damien with fake/real theater titles and Final Fantasy characters.
- Angela: “Let me think of another. Okay, here we go.” [49:36]
- Shane: “Tell us three fake ones just to balance it out.” [49:37]
- The trio recognize when they’ve gone "too cerebral" for comedy, laughing at their own failure to create plausible fake entries.
9. True Crime, Sports Documentaries, and Unlikely Interests
[57:43 – 60:36]
- Angela confesses to falling asleep to documentaries and true crime, including the O.J. Simpson '30 for 30' series—even though she doesn’t watch football otherwise.
- The group jokes about watching sports only via documentaries and reflects on bewildering, “godlike” athletes.
- Debate over who should headline the next Super Bowl halftime show, with ideas ranging from Miley Cyrus to Frankie Valli, and the classic “two female artists forced together” industry trope.
10. Reflections on Friendship and Vibe
[16:01, 55:08, 59:57]
- Angela, Damien, and Shane frequently break the “bit” to acknowledge how hard it is not to laugh, and how it sometimes prevents genuine enjoyment.
- They also riff on feeling like the “third wheel” in a long-established comedy duo, gently poking fun at group dynamics.
- Warm encouragement and mutual appreciation permeate the final moments.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Angela [03:27]: "I decided in the bathroom. I will win."
- Damien [04:16]: "Everything you see on Try Not to Laugh is just to make you feel better."
- Shane [29:50]: "I need to be bored. I need to be uncomfortable. I need to have those times where I'm like, I don't know what to do with myself."
- Angela [45:01]: "He gets a running start, jumps his ass in her face, farts, lands."
- Shane [45:08]: "Your brother is the Banksy of flatulence."
- Damien [47:42]: "It takes a lot to fart once and upset your parents. Are you sick so much."
- Angela [36:59]: "Apartment looks like I have really good taste in music. And I simply don't."
- Shane [64:12]: "I made myself laugh 11 times. And that's a drunk boy. And that's a trunk boy right there."
Laughter Score Recap
[64:00 – 64:20]
- Damien: Laughed twice (claims).
- Angela: Three “half” laughs, plus one big laugh.
- Shane: Laughed 27 times, including several self-induced bouts.
- The group ultimately agrees it’s more about the vibes than strict scoring.
Closing
The hosts celebrate surviving (mostly) TNTL hard mode and reaffirm their affection for each other and for the podcast, promising more fun—and probably more giggles—in future episodes.
Shane [64:28]: "Angela, you're kicking ass as co-host. And Damien, I'm so excited to host this with you too."
Angela [64:44]: “This has been a blast. Love you guys.”
For listeners:
This episode is a comedic experiment in both maintaining and thwarting laughter, offering an authentic and, at times, absurd look at how far the Smosh Mouth crew can push their chemistry. Expect meta-humor, ongoing bits, genuine reflection, and the kind of camaraderie fans cherish.
[All timestamps MM:SS; ads, intros, and outros skipped.]