From Stage Fright to Standing Ovations: How Merit Kahn Turns Life’s Roller Coaster into Comedy, Courage, and Connection

When was the last time you turned your life story into a standing ovation?
For most people, the thought of sharing their most vulnerable, messy, or downright difficult life moments on stage sounds terrifying. But for Merit Kahn, it’s exactly where she feels most alive.

In this inspiring and laughter-filled conversation with Christina Daves, Merit pulls back the curtain on her one-woman show, Optimistic Personality Disorder, and the creative journey that led her there. What began as a desire to tell her truth evolved into a nationwide performance that’s as hilarious as it is healing — for both her and her audiences.

This isn’t just a story about comedy. It’s about courage, reinvention, and turning the highs and lows of life into something beautiful and deeply relatable.

Building a Show That Mirrors Real Life

Merit Kahn isn’t your typical comedian. Her show isn’t just a string of punchlines; it’s a full-fledged story — a theatrical roller coaster divided into “decades” that capture the essence of life’s seasons.

Each chapter of her performance mirrors the phases we all go through — love, loss, parenting, health scares, and personal growth. It’s witty, warm, and at times, breathtakingly honest.

As Merit explains, “Each decade has a theme — the adorable years, the performer years, the adventure years, the roller coaster years, and the freedom years.”

She laughs as she shares that “decade two and five” are the funniest, while “decade four,” the roller coaster years, are where life hits hardest. That decade, she says, was full of unexpected challenges — including divorce and health issues — yet those were also the moments that deepened her connection to audiences everywhere.

“It’s just a really nice roller coaster,” she says. “It mirrors all of our lives.”

Her secret? She’s constantly tinkering with her script — never satisfied with “good enough.” She’s a creator who refuses to stand still, always looking for new ways to tell her story more powerfully, more truthfully, and more humorously.

Turning Theaters into a Platform for Connection

One of the most impressive parts of Merit’s story is how she built her touring success.

Unlike many performers who rely on big agencies or established venues, Merit took a grassroots approach. Her hustle is refreshingly human — a mix of creative outreach, smart marketing, and genuine connection.

When Christina asked how she has the confidence to book theaters in cities she’s never even been to, Merit was honest: “It’s scary.”

But she’s also strategic. Through her Moms Unhinged comedy troupe, she’s built a loyal fanbase — one that she taps into as she expands her solo show.

“I tend to go back to the places where Moms Unhinged sold really well,” she explains. “That’s my same audience. I’m stacking the deck in my favor.”

It’s a brilliant example of leveraging what’s already working — but Merit doesn’t stop there.

While traditional theater marketing relies on local ads and posters, Merit goes further. She spends her evenings doing something most performers wouldn’t even think of: personally connecting with local groups on Facebook.

“I look for women’s groups in the city where I’m performing,” she says. “And then I literally message them: ‘Hey, I’m coming to town. I’m sure you have no idea who I am, but if you’re open to it, I’d love to do a ticket deal with your group or offer some complimentary tickets.’”

The result? A show filled with women who come not just for laughs, but for connection — for an evening that feels personal, intentional, and unforgettable.

That’s the magic of Merit Kahn: she doesn’t wait for opportunity to find her. She creates it — one relationship, one message, one show at a time.

From Sales Trainer to Stage Star

Before she was a performer, Merit Kahn built a thriving career in sales training and keynote speaking. She spent years helping businesses and professionals master communication, confidence, and mindset.

That background shows up everywhere in her creative work. From how she markets her shows to how she interacts with theater owners, she treats every performance as both a business and a calling.

She’s also no stranger to the media world. Having worked in radio and trained television teams, she knows exactly how to make a story stand out.

“I go to LinkedIn,” she says. “I literally put in ‘Who do I know in Rapid City?’ And it turns out I know the GM of one of the TV stations there. So I send him a message and ask him to share my press release with the news team.”

That’s not luck — it’s the power of relationships, strategy, and experience.

She understands that success isn’t just about talent; it’s about visibility. And Merit knows exactly how to create it.

Embracing the Fear: “I Don’t Know What I’m Doing”

What makes Merit’s journey even more relatable is her honesty about fear.

Even after years of speaking on stage, she admits that putting herself out there as a comedian and performer was daunting. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she says with a laugh — a phrase that might sound uncertain but is actually deeply freeing.

It’s a reminder that even the most accomplished people feel imposter syndrome sometimes — and that’s okay.

When Christina admitted she also struggles with the idea of hosting her own live event, Merit reassured her (and everyone listening) that confidence doesn’t come from knowing how to do everything. It comes from doing it anyway.

And that’s exactly what she’s done — again and again.

Decade by Decade: Finding Freedom in Every Phase

Throughout the episode, Merit walks Christina through the structure of her show — a timeline of her life that audiences can instantly relate to.

Decade 1: The Adorable Years – Childhood innocence and the early moments that shaped who she’d become.
Decade 2: The Performer Years – The fun, fearless phase of creativity and discovery.
Decade 3: The Adventure Years – Marriage, kids, and career — the years that tested her balance and patience.
Decade 4: The Roller Coaster Years – The phase of major life transitions: divorce, health scares, and rediscovery.
Decade 5: The Freedom Years – The season of confidence, perspective, and joy — where she’s finally doing things on her own terms.

And now, as she jokes, “Decade 6 is being written as we speak.”

At 55, Merit is embracing the creative freedom to tell her truth, make people laugh, and keep rewriting her own story. She performs her shows in multiple formats — sometimes as a one-act experience, other times as a two-act event that ends with a live audience “talk-back” session.

That interactive segment lets her connect directly with audiences, answering questions and hearing their reflections. For Merit, it’s more than performance — it’s a shared experience.

The Work-Show Experience: Where Performance Meets Personal Growth

One of the most fascinating things about Merit’s journey is how she bridges the worlds of entertainment and personal development.

Alongside her comedy, she runs what she calls “The Work-Show Experience” — a blend of workshop and show that helps people reflect on their own lives.

“If you imagine I’ve been doing workshops and training sessions for two decades, I have a lot of content,” she says. “But as I was writing the show, I also designed exercises to help me craft my life.”

One of her favorites is the Lifeline Exercise, where participants draw a line across a page and mark the high and low points of their lives — visualizing how they’ve bounced back after challenges.

“When you step back,” she says, “you just have a whole different experience of your life.”

Another key part of her workshop is what she calls “hand-me-down beliefs.” These are the thoughts and narratives we inherit — often unconsciously — from family, society, or past experiences.

She invites participants to question those beliefs: “Is this still serving me? Or is it time to rewrite it?”

That reflective process helps people shed what no longer fits — much like outgrowing an old sweater — and replace it with beliefs that align with who they are now.

“It’s amazing what you can create when you let go of the things that hold you back without your say-so,” she says.

Creativity with a Cause – Turning Performances into Fundraisers

Merit’s creativity doesn’t stop at the stage. She’s also found ways to collaborate with nonprofits, turning her shows into fundraisers that raise awareness — and money — for causes that align with her themes.

She’s open to partnerships with theaters, sponsors, and organizations that want to use storytelling and humor as a tool for connection and impact.

“I’ve been approached by nonprofits where the themes make sense,” she shares. “They use my show as a fundraiser. There are lots of creative ways to do this — and I love that kind of stuff.”

That flexibility — to see opportunities everywhere — is a big part of why Merit Kahn continues to thrive as both a performer and an entrepreneur.

Merit’s Reinvention

Merit Kahn’s story is proof that reinvention doesn’t come from having all the answers — it comes from having the courage to share the journey while you’re still on it. Through humor, honesty, and a bold dose of optimism, she reminds us that life’s most unpredictable moments can become our greatest material.

Whether you’re chasing a dream, healing from a setback, or simply trying to find your next chapter, Optimistic Personality Disorder isn’t just a show — it’s an anthem for anyone who’s ever refused to let fear have the final word. So maybe the next time life throws you a curveball, take a page from Merit’s playbook: laugh a little louder, dream a little bigger, and keep rewriting your story — one brave decade at a time.

For anyone curious to experience Optimistic Personality Disorder live, you can catch upcoming tour dates, teaser videos, and ticket information at OPDshow.com (or the longer version, OptimisticPersonalityDisorder.com).

Watch her full episode here: