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Our Mission
At Second Chance Comedy, our mission is to provide fun, sober events that shine a light on the darker side of addiction, transforming perspectives and chipping away at the stigma surrounding it. We create a platform for comedians with a personal connection to addiction, enabling them to share their experiences, promote their own healing, and entertain audiences with humor and honesty. Through our shows, we aim to raise funds for organizations aiding those in recovery and to foster partnerships within the sober community and other supportive groups. Together, we celebrate resilience, recovery, and the power of laughter, proving that sobriety can be as enjoyable and impactful as it is meaningful.
About Joe Huisman, Founder
Joe was born in a small suburb of Saint Paul, MN, as the youngest of six kids. His journey with addiction began when he started smoking pot at 16 and tried cocaine for the first time at 17. By his early 20s, Joe had discovered crack, and what started out as fun became the only thing that mattered to him. Joe accepted that there was no way out of his addiction and that he would either die or be incarcerated.
At the age of 30, Joe had a miraculous experience and, like a switch, he stopped doing drugs. However, he didn't realize at the time that he had merely put his addiction on a shelf without dealing with the underlying issues. Moving forward, Joe earned a degree, got a job in tech doing customer support for software companies, and worked his way up to leading teams. He paid off his debt, built up his credit, bought a house, got married, and raised two girls.
In 2023, Joe took a comedy class and found some success. What began as a casual interest quickly turned into a passion as he started performing at open mics. Joe incorporated jokes about his past addiction, and to his surprise, these stories resonated deeply with audiences. The more Joe performed, the more he realized how powerful laughter could be in addressing and coping with the struggles of addiction.
As Joe continued to perform, he gained confidence and refined his material, finding success on larger stages and at more prominent comedy shows. His unique blend of humor and personal experience struck a chord with many people, leading to more opportunities to share his story. He saw firsthand how comedy could create a sense of community and understanding, helping both himself and others heal through shared laughter.
Feeling a profound sense of purpose, Joe felt called to do something more with his story. This realization led to the creation of Second Chance Comedy, a standup comedy show dedicated to shining a light on the real, raw, and funny side of overcoming addiction. Through this platform, he aims to raise awareness, promote healing, and break the stigma surrounding addiction, using humor as a bridge to connect and uplift those who have faced similar battles.
Through Second Chance Comedy, Joe aims to raise awareness around addiction, provide a space for healing, and offer sober fun for people in recovery. He hopes to chip away at the stigma of addiction, help people heal from its shame, and offer new perspectives. Laughter is a powerful healing tool, and Joe believes it can bring light to even the darkest moments. Join us in this mission to support recovery, promote understanding, and create a community of hope and resilience.