We were lucky to catch up with Kayla Howard recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Cool Kids Comedy Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching underrepresented youth essential life and literacy skills through the art of comedy.

My journey is deeply rooted in my experience as a former special educator and current experience as a mother of four children with disabilities, three of whom have Autism Spectrum Disorder. This has instilled in me a personal and professional commitment to creating inclusive learning environments that foster creativity. Navigating the education system for my children firsthand made me acutely aware of the need for innovative and supportive spaces where all children can thrive.

Kayla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Kayla Howard is the fearless, unconventional, forward-thinking CEO and Founder of Cool Kids Comedy Club. She was a High School Special Education teacher and curriculum writer in one of Arizona’s largest school districts and currently serves in the capacity of Curriculum Developer for a private university. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education 1-8 and Special Education K-12 and a Master’s in Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. She has over 12 combined years of professional experience working with both neurodivergent and neurotypical students in elementary, middle and high school settings. She is a single parent of four children with disabilities three of whom have Autism. Kayla is also a local standup comedian and radio host.​ She founded Cool Kids Comedy Club to help underrepresented students learn essential life and literacy skills through the art of comedy.​

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my audience on social media by being authentic – asking engaging questions, forming genuine connections, and “keeping it real”. My advice to those just starting to build up a presence on social media is to be yourself. Your audience will find and love you for it.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The most significant thing that helped me build my reputation within my market was being supportive. When I first started out, myself and my partner would attend open mics multiple nights a week and stay until the very last comedian performed. We would also attend other comedians’ shows and help promote other comedians’ shows on social media – three things I still do to this day. Being a comedian can be a solo journey but having and being that support makes the journey all worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.coolkidscomedyclub.org
• Instagram: @coolkidscomedyclub
• Facebook: Cool Kids Comedy Club
• Linkedin: Cool Kids Comedy Club