Comedian, mental health advocate Poncere returns with live talk show giving audiences a hint of ‘destiny’

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Comedian, actress, and mental health advocate Poncere is returning to the stage with her live talk show, The Poncere Show .

Poncere sits down with WJBF to discuss what audiences can expect including a special guest who knows a little something about destiny .

Thank you for joining us on Celebrating Black Excellence. So, how did The Poncere Show start and come together?

Well, The Poncere Show is a live entertainment talk show that blends humor, art performances, and real conversations about topics that impact our mental health and wellness. Ultimately, our aim is to have real conversations about relevant topics while offering practical solutions. So, that is how we started it, and that’s the premise of it. I will say that this has been a long-time dream of mine, and if I be very transparent with you, we started this show really on the heels of a pandemic. I didn’t know how it would be received because I don’t have a nationally recognized name yet, but sometimes you just don’t know how things will be received. It has been very successful. We’ve had raving reviews, and I do have to attribute it to God, and I think the timing was just perfect. So, when we’re talking about mental health, we’re talking about how a person thinks, how a person reacts, how we’re functioning, and really being productive in our community. So, I think this is something that we really need to pay more attention to, and we’re having more conversations about it, and I love it.

Now, as we mentioned, you are a comedian. So, how are you fusing comedy with being a talk show host?

Well, I am a licensed therapist. I am also a comedian, but I think if I’ll be honest with you, it’s not something that I set out to do deliberately. I really feel like it’s a part of who I am. God has given each of us our God-given talents and abilities, and my abilities are to make people laugh and also to make them think. So, I wouldn’t say that it’s something that I’m just like, “Okay, let me figure out how to do it.” It is just a part of who I am, and you’re going to see that manifested in whatever setting that I am in, in whatever way that I function. Sometimes, it comes out at the wrong time. However, I just think that’s a part of who I am. More importantly, laughter has so many physical and mental health benefits. When you use humor appropriately and while talking about serious conversations, it makes it more digestible.

What made you decide to do live events versus just taping an episode?

I believe that each of us have to really be in tune with what we believe we’re supposed to do and how we should present something. Eventually, I’ll go towards doing podcasts, but I really believe that I was supposed to do live events because I think that’s a part of my background. I love theater. I love the audience interactions and engagements. I love art in any form. So, this was something that I felt that God wanted me to do in the way that I’m presenting it.

Now, your special guest is singer, actress, and also mental health advocate, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child.

Yes, yes, yes! I am so excited because Michelle Williams is not just, as you stated, a Grammy Award winner and the member of the legendary Destiny’s Child, but as you stated, she is a powerhouse mental health advocate. I finished her book a couple of weeks ago. She authored this book called Checking In , and it is so transparent. She’s really writes, and she’s very transparent about her struggles with depression, about checking into a treatment facility, and about being in therapy. I think if you read her story, it resonates with most of us on so many different levels, and my team and I thought that she would be the perfect fit for our platform. With prayer and persistence, her team graciously agreed for her to come and be part of our show. So, we’re just excited to welcome her again to our great city. So, I’m excited, and I think what you will find is when you leave the event that day, you’re going to feel inspired. You’re going to check in more with yourself, and you’re going to be more diligent about taking care of your mental health.

Now, besides Grammy Award winner Michelle Williams, what other things can we expect at The Poncere Show this time?

So, The Poncere Show is all things laughter and inspiration. You can expect to have fun vibes, good energy, but let me tell you some specific things that will be happening at the show. So, we are going to have hilarious and clean comedy by our guest comedian Marvin Hunter, as seen on Comedy Central . We’re also going to have a panel discussion with some expert mental health professionals, and we’re going to be talking about the topic of, “Mask Off”: taking your mask off, getting real with yourself, being honest with others, and also challenging yourself to think differently so that you can live out life more courageously. So, I am so excited, and the audience is going to have the opportunity to engage with us, and we’re going to be answering questions on spot. Then, lastly, I have a little surprise for the audience. We’re going to have a talent showcase. So, someone from our area – or many people from our area – will be participating in the talent showcase, and they’re going to have the opportunity to win a nice, nice, nice prize.

Now, can you please give us more information about when The Poncere Show will be taking place and if people want more information about you?

So, The Poncere Show will be held on Saturday, July 20th at the Maxwell Theater, located on Augusta University campus . Doors open at 5:15 P.M., and the show starts at 6:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite or on my website at www.theponcereshow.com , and for more information about me, you can go to www.poncere.biz .

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