"Comedy is just like preaching with more jokes." - Ravi Holy | More Than Work

"Comedy is just like preaching with more jokes." - Ravi Holy | More Than Work

From More Than Work by Rabiah Coon

September 9, 2025 · 51 min · Season 9 · Episode 4

About this episode

Rabiah Coon interviews Ravi Holy about his journey from punk theater to becoming a vicar and comedian, exploring the intersections of comedy, ministry, and therapy.

In this episode, Rabiah talks with Ravi Holy—a vicar, comedian, and leader of a therapeutic program for adult survivors of child abuse. Ravi shares his remarkable journey from punk theater and addiction to recovery, faith, and finding his calling in the Church of England. He discusses the intersection of comedy, ministry, and therapy, the challenges of serving a community, and the importance of honesty and resilience. Plus, Ravi answers the Fun Five and shares how you can connect with him. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Meet Ravi Holy: Vicar, Comedian, and Program Leader 01:22 Ravi’s Background: From Cambridge to London 02:10 Punk Theater, Addiction, and Recovery 04:14 Finding Faith and the Path to Sobriety 06:04 Experiences with Religion: From Cult to Church of England 09:45 Becoming a Vicar and Discovering a Calling 13:30 The Realities and Surprises of Vicar Life 15:00 Comedy and Ministry: How Standup Informs Preaching 18:00 Getting Started in Comedy and Early Gigs 21:00 Running Heal for Life: Supporting Survivors of Child Abuse 25:00 Integrating Comedy, Ministry, and Therapy 27:00 Burnout, Resilience, and Staying Sane as a Clergy Member 29:00 Advice and Mantras: Honesty…

People in this episode

Host: Rabiah Coon

Guest: Ravi Holy

Topics covered

  • comedy
  • ministry
  • therapy
  • resilience
  • child abuse
  • faith

Keywords

  • Ravi Holy
  • comedy
  • vicar
  • ministry
  • therapy
  • child abuse
  • resilience
  • faith

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Church of England

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