MacLain Naumann (he/him) is a comedian, writer, educator and performer who—while coming to OHMA from Upstate New York—is first and foremost the self-proclaimed original Midwestern Princess (his apologies to Chappell Roan). As a scholar, MacLain is primarily focused on the ways in which comedy, culture, and storytelling can be used to influence public policy, promote social progress, and elevate the voices of those often silenced by systems of oppression.

MacLain started his career in Saint Louis, Missouri, working as a writer and editor for a local NBC news affiliate. As a broadcast journalist, he was responsible for coordinating interviews and finding diverse stories that amplified the needs and wants of the community. These experiences sparked his passion for collecting and amplifying first-person narratives.

In 2022, MacLain left the Midwest and returned to the world of competitive speech and debate as the Director of Speech at Cornell University. A three-time national champion himself, he has trained young advocates in the art of public speaking and storytelling as it relates to public policy. In collaboration with his students, he has helped to facilitate advocacy initiatives that have addressed the rampant misdiagnosis of PCOS, analyzed the community impacts of infrastructure justice in Buffalo, New York, and collected books for incarcerated scholars. MacLain loves helping students discover the power of their own voice to create change in the world.

While at OHMA, MacLain is excited to continue exploring the fields of comedy, culture and class—documenting the narratives of queer, disabled and otherwise marginalized workers who have turned to comedy and performance as a means of survival under capitalism.