There’s a moment — the kind that sneaks up on you — when something strikes you as so unexpectedly funny that you laugh before you can help it. Maybe you were tired, stressed, or carrying the invisible weight of the day, and suddenly there it is: pure, involuntary joy. A quick, bright exhale. An unexpected shift.
We underestimate how healing that can be.
In a season filled with resolutions and wellness resets, there’s something beautifully simple about gathering with others and sharing an unpolished, wholehearted laugh. And right here in Smyrna, a growing network of comedians, beginners, and brave creative souls is reminding us that comedy isn’t just entertainment — it’s connection, confidence-building, and emotional relief all rolled into one.
At the center of this movement is KOS (Knowledge of Self), Inc., the nonprofit founded by Elaine Friend and her husband, James Smith. A place long beloved for empowering kids through hands-on learning, KOS has also become one of Smyrna’s most meaningful spaces for adults — thanks to a twice-monthly gathering called the Comedy Writer’s Room.
A Space Where Everyone Is Cheering for You
KOS’s mission has always been clear: building confidence through knowledge. For years, that mission lived in their camps where kids learned carpentry, sewing, STEM, art, and theatre. But after hosting monthly stand-up shows beginning in 2022, Elaine and her team noticed something important: people were craving community.
Comedy was fun — but competitive. People didn’t just want to perform; they wanted to belong.
So in early 2024, KOS created the Comedy Writer’s Room: a supportive, collaborative workshop where comics of all experience levels gather to test material, learn from rotating instructors, and cheer each other on.
“We wanted a community, not a competition,” Elaine explains. “A place where people could work together, support each other, and really find their voice.”
The format is simple but powerful. Each session starts with “church announcements,” where participants celebrate wins — new shows, open mics, or small steps forward. Then an instructor (often a touring comic) teaches on anything from joke structure to stage presence to navigating the business side of comedy. After that, each participant gets a few minutes on the mic, followed by supportive group feedback.
The results are remarkable. Beginners stop hiding in the back. Regulars land their first booked shows. Some even start touring. But the most meaningful transformation is the shift in confidence — watching someone walk into the room tentative and walk out a little more certain of who they are.
And with the class priced at just $5, thanks to Cobb EMC Foundation support, KOS keeps the experience accessible — a rarity and a gift.
Turning Life Into Laughter
One of the most healing aspects of comedy is its honesty. Elaine describes something she sees often: “traumadey,” the way people take something difficult and shape it into something creative and funny.
“Saying something out loud and hearing the room laugh…it’s cathartic,” she says.
That shared laughter becomes a wellness practice all its own — a release, a reframe, a reminder that you are not alone.
Jessica It's All Good: A Bright Light in Smyrna’s Comedy Scene
A huge part of that joy is fueled by local comedian Jessica It's All Good. A performer, DJ, emcee, and newly published author, Jessica is woven deeply into the local comedy landscape. Earlier this year she even headlined a clean comedy show in the community at Ruby’s Pizza, and it remains one of her favorite collaborations.
She has performed at venues across the area, including Cumberland Community Church, and her heart for clean comedy — accessible, inclusive, and uplifting — continues to shape her work. In 2026 she’ll be performing as the headliner at the January 31st showcase and serving as the guest instructor of the Comedy Writer’s Room on March 9th.
“I subscribe to The Writer’s Room, and I prescribe it to my comedy students,” she says with a smile. “Comedy builds confidence and community. People bond over laughter — it’s medicine.”
Jessica hopes people walk away from local comedy feeling lighter, more connected, and more supported. “When you’re laughing together, you’re not alone,” she says simply. And for anyone nervous about trying comedy for the first time, she offers gentle encouragement: you don’t have to be perfect — you just have to show up.
Why Laughter Matters Right Now
The science is clear: laughter lowers stress, boosts endorphins, strengthens immunity, and improves connection. But what’s happening inside KOS’s studio — and across Smyrna’s growing comedy scene — adds another layer. It gives people a place to show up as themselves. A place to be brave, messy, honest, and human. A place where the room cheers for you no matter what.
So maybe the gentlest, most joyful wellness practice of the new year is this:
Show up.
Sit in the back if you want.
Or take the mic.
Or simply let yourself laugh — not because life is perfect, but because laughter helps you carry it.
Because sometimes, laughter isn’t an escape at all.
It’s a way home.
“Wellness isn’t always quiet — sometimes it sounds like laughter.”
KOS, Inc.
1125 Concord Road, Suite B
Smyrna, GA 30080
678-944-8873
kossmyrna.org
Facebook: KOS Inc.
Instagram: @smyrnakosinc
Jessica It's All Good
Comedian • DJ • Emcee • Author
jessicaitsallgood.com
Instagram: @jessicaitsallgood
Facebook: Jessica It's All Good