Sam Ramsdell is a Stamford-based comedian and social media creator by way of Maine, with over 4 million followers and two Guinness World Records for the Largest Mouth and Widest Mouth.
Aside from being known for her big mouth (physically and emotionally), she is a phenomenal opera singer and performs regularly in New York City both improv and stand-up comedy with Upright Citizens Brigade and the Peoples Improv Theater. Sam has appeared on Italy's Got Talent, The Drew Barrymore Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She’s been featured in People magazine, the New York Post, and countless other media outlets around the world.
If you follow her on social then you know that her comedy offers an absurd angle on her experiences being a Guinness world record holder, growing up “weird”, and tells relatable stories of the nuances of being a millennial with mental illness and the world's largest mouth gape.
Another side to Sam that you might know from following her on social is that she is passionate about animals and regularly volunteers in her local community. She currently lives with her partner James, who regularly appears on her social platforms, along with their 4 cats, and 2 dogs. Together, Sam and James are the hosts of the Weird and Proud podcast. Read our exclusive interview in honor of this month’s pet issue to learn more.
SB: Tell us about your experience as a pet owner.
SR: Growing up I could only have pets without fur or that could be kept outdoors because my dad was allergic to fur. I had turtles, frogs, birds, mice, chickens, ducks, bunnies, and lizards. The night I got into my condo in Stamford I went straight to the Animal Refuge League in Westport and asked for the cat that had been there the longest and took her home. Her name is Nala and now she's 13 and the leader of the house. Currently, I have 6 pets in total, 4 cats (Nala, Simba, Kiara, Sarafina) and 2 dogs, Peach and Prudence.
SB: I see you volunteer a lot with local animal groups. Tell us about your experience and give readers advice on how to get involved.
SR: My dream was always to have as many animals as possible. I've always been a huge animal lover and my first job out of college was working in the veterinary industry (which I did for over 10 years). I also am a huge believer in adopting animals over buying, so I love working and promoting local animal refuges like Lucky Dog Refuge in Stamford. They are always looking for volunteers and help! When you’re ready to adopt look first at your current lifestyle and research what type of breed, or pet you can responsibly handle – mentally, physically, and financially!
SB: What are some of your food and product recommendations for pets?
SR: My animals eat better than I do some days. My dogs eat Farmer's Dog which is healthy, fresh ingredients, and my cats like Dave's which is also healthy natural food. Other pet products I like are a water fountain for filtered water that the cats love, lick pads for the dogs, lots of good healthy treats like freeze-dried liver, minnows, and salmon that the cats and dogs can enjoy, and cats always love a cat tree.
SB: Where are some pet-friendly spaces in the community?
SR: Luckily there have been more and more restaurants allowing dogs, especially now that summer is here and we can eat outdoors. We love going to Third Place/Half Full Brewery, we also love Harbor Point for lots of dog-friendly restaurants and walking around. We live near Cove Park, so you can normally find us walking there with our dogs. When we travel, we have the most amazing pet sitter who stays at our house to watch all the animals.