We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dawn Davis Womack. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dawn below.
Alright, Dawn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
How did you learn to do what you do?
I learned to do what I do from facing my fears of doing it paired with a mix of persistence, passion, and a good bit of trial and error! My comedy journey began in an unexpected way after a life-shifting moment. I had returned to acting later in life and took a comedy class to face my fears of doing standup to become a better comedic actor. When I realized that there were no comedy classes nearby, I didn’t let that stop me—I drove all the way to Silver Spring, MD (3 hours one way) every week to attend a class.
The stand-up comedy class opened doors to the craft I hadn’t even imagined before and was the seed to finding my comedic voice. After the four weeks of classes we had a showcase where I performed stand up for the first time in front of a live audience. Someone in the audience who came up to me after the show and offered me my first paid gig! I took that gig and dove headfirst into learning the art of stand-up from others ahead of me that took me under their wing for which I am forever grateful. I believe you never arrive. There is always room to grow and refine yourself so that you, your voice and your talents shine brightest to make our world a better place.
Over time, I expanded into producing comedy shows, launching the podcast Virginia Is For Laughers, which is now at 192 episodes and counting, and having my husband, Chris, join alongside me in this comedy journey. A James Madison University Kinesiology Professor, Chris started his stand-up comedy 3 ½ years ago. We’ve since branded ourselves as The Funny Womacks performing as solo acts and now also as a duo act. We even rebranded our shows from X2 Comedy to FWAF Show—The Funny Womacks & Friends. We took our combined experience in comedy with his 31 years teaching experience and began offering comedy classes modeled after the first comedy class I took in Silver Spring, MD. We just co-hosted a comedy class graduation showcase for our fifth co-hort last Friday night and they were amazing! It’s one of the most rewarding things we do. I continue to learn as I go, with each opportunity teaching me something new, whether it was a stage performance, podcast episode, teaching a class or producing a show.
Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?
If I could go back, I would remind myself not to overthink things so much and trust the process. I’ve come to realize that sometimes, you must take the leap even when the timing feels inconvenient or the situation imperfect—especially in comedy! I would have jumped into digital spaces sooner. I am still figuring out social media, but a glass of wine while talking myself out of overthinking it helps;-) One post at a time. There always hope LOL The newest adventure is adding video versions of the podcast, and I can already see will be an incredible way to grow our reach. I see now that embracing these platforms early on could have accelerated my learning and exposure. Also, not being afraid to seek mentors or professional advice in these areas earlier would have also sped up the process. The more I learn from others, I feel the faster I can apply it to my craft and journey.
What skills do you think were most essential?
The skills I found most essential were confidence, adaptability, and resilience. In comedy, you need to be comfortable with silence, with learning from failure, and with constantly honing your craft in the spotlight. Whether it’s shifting gears mid-performance, learning new production skills, thinking out of the box to create opportunities, learning how to use new podcast equipment or being able to pivot quickly has been invaluable. Another essential skill has been building connections—whether with my venue partners, podcast guests, audiences, comedy class students or collaborators like my husband in The Funny Womacks and businesses or organizations I work with to create unique comedy events. Lastly, resilience is key. Comedy and entertainment can be tough fields, especially when you are doing it from a more rural area 2-ish hours south of DC nowhere near LA, NYC, but my perseverance has kept me growing and evolving in this space.
What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
As for obstacles, besides geography, I had to overcome the natural fear that comes with putting yourself out there. Comedy forces you to be vulnerable, but it’s in those moments that the magic happens. One of the biggest challenges was balancing all the hats I wear. Between performing, producing, podcasting, and teaching, it was easy to feel stretched thin. Finding the time to sit down and just learn—whether that was new technology or business strategies—can be tough. Another obstacle was the intimidation factor of stepping into new roles, like producing shows, launching the podcast and starting a comedy school. Overcoming self-doubt and the fear of failure or feeling like an imposter was something I had to push through, but every obstacle became a lesson that shaped where I am today.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Dawn Davis Womack, a comedian, producer, podcast host and content creator. I got into stand-up comedy later in life, which is unique. My comedy journey started with a life-changing decision to take a comedy class—one that ultimately led me to where I am today. That class jump-started my career and gave me the tools to not only perform but to produce shows and even create spaces for other national touring comedians to local gems. When I started producing comedy shows in March 2018, we didn’t have a local stand-up comedy scene then. This December we have a Home for Holidays Comedy Showcase featuring 13 local stand-up comics. Today, I’m a co-founder of the FWAF Show (which stands for The Funny Womacks & Friends), a rebranding of my original company, X2 Comedy. Together with my husband and local, regional and national touring comedians we bring laughter to audiences, connecting with people in a way that feels genuine and fun. We book clean comedians or blue “dirty” comedians willing to do a clean set. Their line of clean is looser than our clean comics, hence our PG13 rating;-)
Alongside comedy, I also host a popular podcast, Virginia Is For Laughers, a podcast about all things non-hiking in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Now at 192 episodes and counting with listeners from around the world, it’s available wherever you listen to podcasts i.e. Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, etc and now on YouTube! I’ve had the chance to interview a wide variety of guests, from small business owners to creatives, local and touring artists and even local politicians like the first African American Woman Mayor of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
At the heart of what I do is comedy, but it goes beyond just telling jokes. My goal is to create experiences that bring joy and build connections through laughter as well as provide gig opportunities from established to rising comedic talent. Whether it’s through FWAF Shows, comedy classes, or the podcast, each offering is tailored to foster a sense of community and shared enjoyment.
What sets me apart from others is my approach. I’m not just performing comedy, I’m building a space for others to laugh, learn, grow, connect and thrive. Through FWAF, we’re creating a local comedy scene that’s inclusive and welcoming. We produce shows that bring together a mix of professional and amateur talented comedians—whether they’re stand-up veterans, rising local and regional comics or brand-new graduates from our comedy classes. It’s about elevating the voices of others while still pushing myself creatively.
On the podcast front, what makes Virginia Is For Laughers unique is its focus. We’re all about highlighting the rich diversity of the Shenandoah Valley, showing people that there’s a LOT more to this area than hiking! We dig deeper into the culture, offering a blend of humor and storytelling that keeps listeners coming back. The content is fun, engaging and informative for residents and tourists to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. 140 miles long and 25 miles wide, the Valley is known for its natural beauty, small towns, dining and mountain charm with the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and Allegheny Mountains to the west. Rich in its Appalachian, Brethren-Mennonite Heritage, Civil War history and more there is truly a lot to discover here that continues to become more evident to me with each podcast guest.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the growth of the comedy class I’ve been teaching. It’s always incredibly rewarding to see these students go from complete beginners to taking the stage with confidence sharing their life experiences in their own unique comedic voices. It mirrors my own journey into comedy, and that connection makes it even more meaningful. The fact that these classes are modeled after the one that launched my own career really brings it full circle for me.
I’m proud of how FWAF Show – pronounced [f-wahf] has grown and evolved. It’s not just about putting on a comedy show—it’s about creating a platform where national, regional and local comedians can have more gig opportunities. For our local comics, many of whom have day jobs and other responsibilities, to have a platform that gives them an opportunity to express themselves creatively in their comedic voices in front of a live audience closer to home. That’s special to me. The Shenandoah Valley hasn’t been historically known for stand up comedy, but we have a vision that one day it will be!
I’m also proud of the unconventional spaces we utilize and new experiences we create to bring more joy and laughter into our world. July 26, 2025, will be our 4th annual Cave Comedy Fest featuring comedy shows inside the cave at Melrose Civil War Caverns in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This cave features over 150 signatures on Civil War soldiers on the cave walls that make for a unique backdrop for the ‘cave stage’. Most recently, we began collaborating with wineries for our newest offering Uncorked Laughter, a wine class and comedy experience.
Lastly, I’m really excited about the strides we’ve made with the Virginia Is For Laughers podcast. The show has become a trusted platform for sharing the stories of local businesses, fun things to do & see, creatives, and even local leaders. I love being able to bring their stories to a larger audience and to offer them a podcast that’s a mix of humor and heart. It’s a way for me to give back to the community that has supported me on my journey.
A big thank you to all that support us, come to shows, take our classes, listen to the podcast, collaborate with us or come on as a guest and to those of you reading this that decide to join our community!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience is the backbone of any creative journey, and my story is no different. One moment that stands out is when I had to transition from live, in-person comedy shows to virtual performance the social distance performances during the pandemic. As someone who thrives on in-person energy and audience interaction, it was a massive challenge to adapt to an online environment. Comedy over Zoom? (audible sigh) Let’s just say, it’s a completely different beast let alone producing one with my technically challenged self! So, I did that only once!
Instead of seeing producing the Zoom show as a setback, I took it as an opportunity to grow. I leaned into the discomfort and found different ways to make things work. As venues began to open back up with social distancing practices, we began partnering with them to produce social distance comedy shows creating some of the most memorable shows we continue to treasure today!
The hesitation to start the comedy classes was real! I had to fight imposter syndrome with thoughts like “Who I am I and what have I done? I am no Amy Poehler or Tina Fey. I haven’t been on DryBar, performed in famous Comedy Clubs for have a Netflix Special!” With encouragement from community asking if we would offer classes and close friends, I realized I knew more than someone who had never done stand-up comedy before and decided to take the leap. Before we started offering these classes locally, they did not exist. So, we filled a niche our community did not have. This decision has been instrumental in bringing together aspiring comedians who might not have been able to try the craft otherwise.
Another resilient moment was when my husband and I rebranded our comedy company from X2 Comedy to FWAF Show (The Funny Womacks & Friends). Rebranding is not easy—it’s was another leap of faith. There’s always the fear of losing momentum or confusing your audience. But we pushed forward, knowing that this new brand better reflected who we are, where we were going and the unique humor we bring. That resilience paid off because now FWAF Show is becoming a growing community of comedians and FWAF fans, all built around the idea of connection.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Absolutely! At the core of everything I do—whether it’s performing stand-up, hosting the podcast, teaching a class or producing FWAF Shows—is the goal to bring joy and foster connection through laughter. Comedy has the incredible ability to break down walls, bring people from diverse thoughts and perspectives together, and create shared experiences. My mission is to use comedy as a platform to not only entertain but to help others find their own voice.
Another huge part of my mission is to elevate local talent and create opportunities for others, just as that first comedy class did for me. By offering comedy classes, producing shows that feature new comedians alongside seasoned performers, and providing a platform for people to get more out of their Shenandoah Valley experience through my podcast, I’m giving back in a way that’s both fulfilling and important to the growth of our community.
At the end of the day, my goal is to build connections to bring more laughter into our world and a local comedy scene that’s sustainable, inclusive and thriving—one where anyone who has a passion for making people laugh feels welcome. Whether you’re attending a show, listening to my podcast, collaborating with me or stepping on stage for the first time, I want people to walk away feeling uplifted and inspired.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefunnywomacks.com/
- Instagram: thefunnywomacks
- Facebook: The Funny Womacks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-davis-womack-4a966821/
- Youtube: The Funny Womacks
Image Credits
Duck Matthews (Audience Laughs at The Serenity Inn; Audience Laughs at Cave Comedy Fest 1 & 2; Dawn on Stage 1 & 3; Dawn’s son, Landon Turner, former NFL Offensive Lineman; DawnandChris aka The Funny Womacks Cave Comedy Fest)
Lisa Houff (Audience Laughs Court Square Theater and Dawn on Stage 2)