Ashley Brooke Strand (along with her comedy troupe, Holy Smoke Comedy) are lighting up stages with a new kind of movement across Phoenix and beyond to the Church and culture that has often forgot how to laugh. With a background in Hollywood, growing up evangelical Protestant & a rocky detour through Eastern spirituality, Ashley brings a conversion story unlike any other: from star charts to the Sacred Heart, from burnout to a Rosary moment that brought her to her knees. Even after entering the Church, Ashley wrestled with a seven-year dark night of the soul, grappling with doubt, dryness, and disillusionment. But through it all, God never stopped chasing her—and when He finally broke through, He did it with laughter. Now Ashley brings that same joy to others, using comedy as a mirror, a balm, and a bold call back to the fullness of the faith. Her story isn’t just entertaining—it’s unforgettable. She hopes to not only encourage the lost and struggling but shake off the over- scrupulosity!
Ashley Brooke Strand is a Catholic comedian, speaker, and improv instructor on a mission to bring the joy of Christ to a Church that’s often forgotten how to laugh. Through live shows, workshops, and original content, Ashley has built a growing movement of Catholic families, young adults, and performers who believe humor isn’t a distraction from holiness—it’s a vehicle for it. With a background in professional improv training (Groundlings, iO West, UCB) and years of experience creating both sketch comedy, Ashley brings both creative depth and spiritual sincerity to every talk. Her background was training leadership and sales teams and now knows her calling is comedy, speaking, & evangelization.
Beyond comedy, Ashley leads marriage-friendly improv workshops, mentors Catholic creatives, and performs for corporate team-building events—all with a mission to help people become more fully alive. The Holy Smoke mission has been featured in parishes, private events, and Catholic media spaces across Arizona and beyond.
Ashley lives in Chandler, Arizona, with her spouse and they homeschool their children, where sourdough starters and lego chaos often provide the best material. Her husband Bryan does comedy and some marriage workshops with her!
Selected Speaking Topics (more available)
Humor & Healing: Why the Church Needs to Laugh Again
Many followers of Christ walk around weighed down by life’s pressures, division, and isolation. In this talk, Ashley unpacks how laughter heals the body and soul, shares stories of transformation from her own comedy ministry, and invites audiences to see joy as not only possible but deeply Catholic. Expect to laugh, reflect, and leave lighter. Padre Pio said “Serve the Lord with laughter”.
Improv Your Life: How Flexibility, Humor, and “Yes, And” Can Transform Your Work and Home (this talk can be to secular audiences)
Life doesn’t follow a script—and neither should you. In this energizing and laugh-filled talk, Ashley Brooke Strand shares how the core principles of improv comedy—like active listening, adaptability, and saying “Yes, And”—can radically improve your relationships, your career, and your peace of mind. Whether you’re managing toddlers, meetings, or just trying to not lose your mind before dinner, this talk helps you loosen your grip and live with more freedom, creativity, and joy.
Marriage & Improv Comedy: What "Yes, And" Can Teach Us About Vows (can be for secular audience if needed)
Marriage and improv have more in common than you think. Both require presence, trust, flexibility, and the occasional dramatic entrance. This interactive, hilarious talk helps couples rediscover play, communication, and sacramental joy through the lens of improvisation—and no, you don’t have to be funny to learn from it.
Laughing with Catholics: A Joyful Rebellion
We’ve got the reverence down, but it’s time to lighten up. This talk is a call to arms (with holy water balloons). It’s for Catholics who love the tradition but are ready to shake off scrupulosity, cliques, and the fear of being misunderstood. Through stories, Scripture, and wit, Ashley casts a vision for what a vibrant, welcoming, hilarious Catholic culture could be.
Hollywood, Heresies, and the Holy Spirit
What happens when a Jesus-loving evangelical moves to L.A. to make faith-filled films—and ends up chasing crystals, karma, and cosmic energy instead? In this surprising and deeply personal talk, Ashley shares the winding road from evangelical zeal to new age confusion, and finally into the arms of the Catholic Church. With humor, honesty, and one unforgettable rosary story, this talk is a testimony to God's relentless pursuit and the Church’s unmatched beauty.
Mamma needs to RECHARGE (can be for secular audience if needed)
If you’ve ever hidden in the bathroom just to breathe—or wondered if “exhausted” is your new identity—this talk is for you. In Momma Needs to Recharge, comedian and speaker Ashley Brooke Strand offers a hilarious and heartfelt take on the emotional overload women carry while juggling motherhood, marriage, work, and faith. When Mamma's happy, the rest of the family is happy!
Sharing her own journey through burnout and how improv comedy helped her rediscover joy, Ashley reminds us that rest isn’t selfish, laughter is essential, and God meets us right in the mess—not once we’ve cleaned it all up.
In all her talks, Ashley brings a blend of holy mischief, sharp insight, and deep faith. Audiences leave refreshed, reconnected, and reminded that holiness isn't humorless—and that joy just might be the most contagious form of evangelization.
