#108 - Merit Kahn: Optimistic Personality Disorder - Turning Life Into Comedy

#108 - Merit Kahn: Optimistic Personality Disorder - Turning Life Into Comedy

From Was It Chance? by Alan Seales, Heather Vickery & Broadway Podcast Network

March 10, 2026 · 1h 4m · Episode 108

About this episode

Merritt Kahn discusses how she transforms life's challenges into comedy and personal insight through her one-woman show.

In this episode of Was It Chance, Alan Seales and Heather Vickery talk with comedian, keynote speaker, and storyteller Merritt Kahn about turning life’s unexpected plot twists into powerful creative material. Merritt is the creator and performer of Optimistic Personality Disorder, a one-woman show that blends stand-up comedy, storytelling, and personal insight as she explores divorce, parenting, empty nesting, and the unpredictable turns life can take. With a background in sales training, emotional intelligence, and positive psychology, Merritt brings a unique perspective to the stage—using humor not just to entertain, but to help people rethink how they relate to their own life stories. What started as a desire to be funnier in her keynote speeches eventually led Merritt into stand-up comedy and, ultimately, into writing and producing her own theatrical show. Through journaling and reflection, she discovered the phrase “optimistic personality disorder,” which became both the title of her show and a philosophy for how she approaches life. In the conversation, Merritt shares how comedy can help loosen the emotional grip of painful experiences, allowing people to revisit difficult…

People in this episode

Hosts: Alan Seales, Heather Vickery

Guest: Merritt Kahn

Topics covered

  • comedy
  • storytelling
  • personal growth
  • emotional intelligence
  • life challenges

Keywords

  • comedy
  • storytelling
  • optimistic personality disorder
  • personal growth
  • emotional intelligence
  • divorce
  • parenting

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Optimistic Personality Disorder

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