“Serve the Lord with Laughter” - Padre Pio
What if laughter is one of the truest ways to bring people back to Christ? Jim and Meghan sit down with Ashley Strand, founder of Holy Smoke Comedy, to talk about building a ministry that uses improv and comedy to evangelize without losing reverence. Ashley shares her own winding path through grief, new age wandering, and a return to the Catholic faith, along with what it looks like to create art that is edgy, virtuous, and honest about both suffering and joy. It is a conversation about finding God in the unexpected places of life, including through humor.
What’s in this episode:
Ashley's path from theater and depression to founding Holy Smoke Comedy
Her journey from Protestant faith into new age searching before Catholicism
How grief and a serious health scare reshaped her calling to comedy
The mission behind Holy Smoke Comedy: edgy, yet virtuous, never scandalous
Why good art embraces the ugly to reveal what is true and beautiful
Weekly improv jams and upcoming events like the Saint Philip Neri Festival
The healing power of humor, including Jim's story of losing his father
Encouragement for parents whose kids feel called to performing arts
One resource every Catholic family should know: "On the Nature of Comedy in American Catholic Culture," an essay by Holy Smoke Comedy's writing partner Tony on comedy and Catholic art, available by emailing hello@holysmokecomedy.com
Book she is currently reading: The Bible, the resource Ashley returns to for stories and wisdom that ground her, especially in hard times
Advice to her younger self: Keep being the wild, funny, Jesus loving self she was as a teen, and keep loving people even when they do not love back
Final wisdom for listeners: Find the laughter in daily life, even in stress or sadness, since humor can be deeply healing
Resources Mentioned:
Holy Smoke Comedy – Catholic improv and sketch comedy shows, workshops, and events blending faith and humor
"On the Nature of Comedy in American Catholic Culture" – An essay on comedy and Catholic art by Holy Smoke Comedy's writing partner Tony, available by emailing hello@holysmokecomedy.com
A Letter to Artists by Pope John Paul II – Referenced for its reflection on mystery and beauty in art