The Shmanners podcast from Maximum Fun network is a refreshing twist on traditional etiquette podcasts. While it certainly contains legitimate advice about etiquette and manners, it also has a healthy dose of humor!
The show covers a range of etiquette topics, including how to behave in airports, at prom, how to inquiry about lost and found items, how to behave on a video conference, proper etiquette at a food buffet, rules for hugging and keeping friendships, and how to shake hands and exchange business cards (expect an update on this as we say goodbye to handshaking in a post-coronavirus quarantine world).
The Hosts: Travis McElroy and Teresa McElroy co-host the show. Travis is best known for the podcasts My Brother, My Brother and Me, and The Adventure Zone, which is co-created and hosts with his brothers. Teresa and Travis met at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company where she was an actress. She loves writing thank you cards and having good manners in general, and with Travis’s comedy background, the concept for Shmanners was a no-brainer.
The Guests: The show usually does not feature guests, but fellow podcaster Alison Rosen did join the McElroys live from Sketchfest 2018 to discuss tourism etiquette, and in another episode, Dr. Sydnee McElroy (brother, Justin McElroy’s wife) joins the conversation to talk about farts.
The Format: The typical format is for the hosts to introduce a common social situation where anxiety and uncertainty about how to act are prevalent. They walk listeners through the appropriate way to behave, while digging into the history and origins of etiquette rules, and how behaviors have evolved to fit our modern society. In some cases, they even role-play and offer simple scripts to use in a specific situation.
Why You Have To Listen: Shmanners is a modern show about etiquette for today’s real-world scenarios. Travis and Teresa are a delightful couple, and you can tell they genuinely enjoy doing the show together. They don’t offer antiquated advice. It’s not stuffy, and they don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s an interesting, entertaining, and informative show, and you may even come away with a few practical tips that help you be a better member of society!
Listen to Shmanners
Must-Listen Episodes:
Rating: All Ages
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