We recently connected with Owen Hunt and have shared our conversation below.

Owen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Sure, we all wish we had started sooner. Hindsight makes it easy to see how far ahead we’d be if we had just faced our challenges earlier. But the truth is, we don’t really start until we’re ready.

I did my first stand-up set at 36—mostly out of curiosity. My family had always told me I should do stand-up, so naturally, I resisted. I tried everything else—basketball, music, whitewater rafting, entrepreneurship. But on my 36th birthday, I thought, “Why not?” It didn’t go great, but I loved the challenge.

At the time, I had just finished working production on Bad Trip for Netflix, starring Eric Andre. I had been coordinating pranks since 2014 and that movie deepened my love for comedy, so I launched a podcast with some friends blending sketches, stand-up, and music—like an audio SNL. We called it Behind the Dial, and it was a blast to make.

Behind the Dial introduced me to Jason Webb, a comic who performed as a headliner at Laughfest and on the show, I got to hang with him like a regular dude—he was such a chill and normal guy and also a killer on stage. That was my lightbulb moment. Comedians weren’t just “on” all the time. That made stand-up feel accessible, so I gave it a shot myself.

Fast-forward, and I’m running weekly shows, prepping for the inaugural Athens Comedy Fest, and working both sides of the game—as a performer and a producer. The years I spent in other fields weren’t wasted; they gave me the skills, insight, and perspective to do what I do now.

People think success happens overnight, but that “overnight” takes about 10 years. Every pursuit—no matter how unrelated—feeds into your craft. Comedy, like anything, isn’t just one skill. It’s timing, writing, performance, connection, resilience—a culmination of talent and crafts.

The saying isn’t just “Jack of all trades, master of none.” The full quote? “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than master of one.”

So no, I don’t regret starting when I did. It was the perfect time. And if you’re waiting to start something? START. Now is the perfect time..

Ready, fire, aim.

Owen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I run Athens Comedy, an Instagram page and website that curates and promotes the stand-up scene in Athens, Georgia. I started it in 2022, post-pandemic, when I saw an opportunity—Athens had both the talent and the audience to support a thriving comedy scene, but no real infrastructure to bring it all together. So, I built it.

At first, I just created a calendar to help comedians coordinate, avoid show conflicts, and promote each other. But that actually cracked open the floodgates. What started as a few scattered shows turned into a full-fledged comedy movement. Now, Athens has nearly a show every night, a growing community of over 20 stand-up comedians (compared to just a handful pre-pandemic), and a reputation that’s catching the attention of major comedy scenes across the country.

Beyond listings, I actively produce and promote shows all over town. But it’s not just about putting on events—it’s about building a culture where comedians can develop their craft, collaborate, and get real stage time in front of actual audiences.

And now, we’re taking it even further. This spring, we’re launching the Athens Comedy Festival (May 2-4), featuring Pete Lee and local favorite Karen Morgan. It’s a massive step for the scene and proof of how much we’ve built in just a few years.

What sets us apart?
For comedians: We provide real opportunities for stage time, growth, and collaboration. Athens is no longer just a stop between bigger cities—it’s becoming its own respected scene.
For audiences: There’s now a place to consistently find top-tier comedy—from stand-up to live podcasts to wild experimental shows. Athens isn’t just a music town anymore.
For the industry: We’re proving that small-town comedy can thrive, that grassroots movements can build something sustainable, and that Athens is a place to watch.

The most rewarding part? Seeing comics level up, find their voice, and getting to play a part in making it happen. If you’re a comedian looking for stage time, reach out. If you love comedy, come check out a show. And if you want to see this scene thrive, support local comedy—because this is just the beginning.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Contribute. Get involved. Sponsor shows. Buy tickets. Show up. Help promote. Donate.

Meet the artists, creatives and event producers and ask them what they need help with. We need lots of help and would be damn glad to have it. Creating and producing events and the arts is often a thankless task. People expect the best and often have little resources to contribute. Anything you can do to support an organic movement will help the producers of that group massively in ways you may never know.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I brought people together by providing information that was helpful to the audience. I knew that if people knew what events were going on — if they only knew that Athens had a comedy scene — then they would be inclined to come out and support it.

While everyone’s trying to become an influencer by livestreaming their dinner, learn what information can be helpful to the audience that you’re trying to build and provide them with that. The biggest social media strategy hack is to ‘provide value’ – that is vague as hell but what it really means is this:

Find out what information your audience needs and give it to them. Leverage that with your natural skills and be willing to promote other people and businesses that can be helpful and you’ll be very successful at building a social media following.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://athenscomedy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenscomedy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/athenscomedy
• Other: https://athenscomedyfest.com

Image Credits

Images by Samson Sabbath Seablom (headshot), Owen Hunt, James McAliney, Philip Sprinkle & Jusebocks Productions