Life Outside Poker: Abby Merk Left Corporate Job to Become One of Poker's Top Creators
Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.
In the 32nd episode, Connor talks with Global Poker Award-winning content creator Abby Merk about growing up in Chicago, studying philosophy at Wake Forest University, leaving her corporate job to become one of poker's top creators, playing her first World Series of Poker in 2021, making a goal to post daily content and being nominated for two Global Poker Awards.
Merk also talks about battling with high-stakes pro Stephen Chidwick in the WSOP Main Event and being at the final table for a 2023 controversy over a man winning a ladies poker tournament in Florida.
This interview was filmed at the 2025 WSOP at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Abby Merk by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.
Be sure to follow Abby Merk and Connor Richards on X.
Timestamps
| TIME | TOPIC |
|---|---|
| 0:00 | Intro |
| 0:18 | WSOP Tag Team |
| 3:12 | Growing up in Chicago & getting into poker |
| 7:44 | Studying philosophy at Wake Forest University |
| 8:00 | Working at an options trading firm |
| 11:25 | First WSOP in 2021 |
| 13:55 | Content creation |
| 15:09 | Posting daily |
| 19:48 | Women in poker |
| 21:49 | Florida man wins ladies tournament controversy |
| 25:34 | Playing the Main Event |
| 27:10 | Battling Stephen Chidwick |
| 29:20 | Winning a Global Poker Award |
| 33:16 | Barcelona/Travel |
| 38:48 | Book recommendation |
| 39:36 | Advice for younger self |
| 40:14 | Favorite life lesson from poker |
