Learn French: Ce qui est souvent gênant, c'est la provocation facile. - What is often awkward is the easy provocation.

We use ce qui because it acts as the subject of the verb that follows it (est). If the "what" was the object of the verb—for example, "What I see" (Ce que je vois)—you would use ce que. Here, "what" is the thing that is awkward, so it performs the action and takes ce qui.

Why is there a c'est in the middle? Wouldn't est alone translate to "is"?

In English, we just say "What is X is Y." But in French, when you start a sentence with a Ce qui or Ce que clause to emphasize something, you generally must re-introduce the main idea with a pronoun (c') before the main verb. It literally translates to "What is often awkward, it is the easy provocation."

Is the comma before c'est required?

Yes, in written French, you almost always put a comma at the end of the ce qui or ce que clause when using this emphasizing structure. It sets up the "reveal" and perfectly matches the natural pause you make when speaking.

What exactly does gênant mean in this context?

Gênant generally means awkward, embarrassing, or bothersome. It comes from the verb gêner (to bother or embarrass). In this sentence, it describes something that makes people feel mildly uncomfortable or annoyed.