Photos courtesy of Samantha Poncere Daniels

Life can be tough. But there is hope. And there is laughter.

“I am a child of God and a vessel of joy. Comedian and licensed mental health therapist are titles, things I do.” Samantha Poncere Daniels is specific about who she is and what she does.

Poncere began event hosting and stand-up comedy in 2008. Those compelling performances have evolved into what is now the fourth presentation of The Poncere Show, a live entertainment talk show featuring comedy, music, live performances, discussion and audience participation. It is a high energy, informative program designed to challenge, increase awareness, and, yes, invoke laughter.

Early on, it was others who identified Poncere’s comedic nature before she recognized it. Peers nominated her “class clown” as her senior superlative; however, it was not something that her mother applauded, and she forbade her daughter to take school pictures with that label. In addition, one teacher was heard to say, “She won’t get far in life telling jokes.”

 At her mother’s direction, Poncere took advantage of track and cross county scholarships to pursue her education, earning a Master of Science degree in Applied Clinical Psychology from the University of South Carolina Aiken. And as providence would have it, a course in abnormal psychology would set the path for things to come.

Poncere knows that she is called to the mental health profession: “called” signifying that it is her purpose, her defined reason for being. “I believe God guided me into this field.” She explains, “It’s a calling because it takes a certain amount of grace, skillset and training to hold space for someone; to be their confidant, for them to entrust you with some of their most sensitive and personal information, and help them navigate the dynamics of      their life.”

Poncere did not initially see how she could combine her gift of humor with her scholastic training as a therapist. What she did know was that she had the ability to entertain and the professional skills to help those who struggle with mental health issues. 

“This show was nourishing to my soul!”

“… a great mix of incredible talent, laughter, advice and encouragement.”

“There were so many gems that were dropped, I don’t even know where to begin. I left wanting to be a better person.”

The Poncere Show reviews

Mental health and comedy may seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, and one might ask, ‘Is it appropriate to include humor with sensitive subject matters?’ “Sometimes it’s not,” Poncere responds. “Mental illness is not something to joke about. We can, however, infuse humor while talking about sensitive topics without being demeaning towards another person.” 

My grandmother was funny — she was hilarious!” Poncere smiles at the memory. She also shares some not-so-fond memories about her grandmother being robbed of her quality of life because she suffered with severe mental illness and, at times, needed hospitalization. 

Poncere is a catalyst. She aims to remove the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness. “My passion is to educate and empower people. I believe that if you can educate people on how to change their mindsets and improve their lives, they can achieve their full potential and, for some, prevent the occurrence of serious mental health challenges.”

While growing the business, Poncere is growing, too. She’s learning that it’s important to have faith even when we don’t understand. Her voice breaks, “I’ve learned that some of my darkest hours were not just about me. God used certain things so that I could relate to the pain and suffering of others.” Poncere is convinced that she could not do this work if it were not for her resolve to help others — if it were not for her resolution to be an evangelist for the mental health community. “Sessions with my clients involve some intense conversations and weighty issues, but we laugh, too.”

God designed laughter to be a healing property. It is a physical reaction that produces positive emotions. The brain releases endorphins that generate feelings of well-being. We feel better when we laugh. Laughter brings harmony to the mind and body and supports physical and emotional health. It’s interesting that Poncere is in the mental health profession and that she encompasses the gift of laughter, both of which have healing components. “At the end of the day, I want your mind to be free,” she states.

This extraordinary journey began when Poncere accepted an opportunity to participate in the drama ministry at her church. She realized that the stage was where she felt most “at home.” As a result, recognition and validation followed with requests to host, and perform — ultimately offering audience members this unique, greatly amusing, life-changing event: The Poncere Show — a place for real talk, real laughs and real solutions featuring clean (wholesome, family-friendly, free of vulgarity, fun) comedy that is impactful and transformative. 

Seen in the August/September 2024 issue of Augusta magazine.