42:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/b5ea50e123aa84a6.js","/_next/static/chunks/050761d0d0bdc5d8.js","/_next/static/chunks/de880ec5a0241b38.js","/_next/static/chunks/48003610e91209eb.js","/_next/static/chunks/15a1b1fbd3cf7d4a.js","/_next/static/chunks/81ce7bf5f20dbd5a.js","/_next/static/chunks/86498082dde169e6.js","/_next/static/chunks/903c358828afe0bc.js","/_next/static/chunks/f63fb02bc4156bfb.js","/_next/static/chunks/88bed98e5cd5e639.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 44:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/b5ea50e123aa84a6.js","/_next/static/chunks/050761d0d0bdc5d8.js","/_next/static/chunks/de880ec5a0241b38.js","/_next/static/chunks/48003610e91209eb.js","/_next/static/chunks/15a1b1fbd3cf7d4a.js","/_next/static/chunks/81ce7bf5f20dbd5a.js","/_next/static/chunks/86498082dde169e6.js","/_next/static/chunks/903c358828afe0bc.js","/_next/static/chunks/f63fb02bc4156bfb.js","/_next/static/chunks/88bed98e5cd5e639.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 45:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/b5ea50e123aa84a6.js","/_next/static/chunks/050761d0d0bdc5d8.js","/_next/static/chunks/de880ec5a0241b38.js","/_next/static/chunks/48003610e91209eb.js","/_next/static/chunks/15a1b1fbd3cf7d4a.js","/_next/static/chunks/81ce7bf5f20dbd5a.js","/_next/static/chunks/86498082dde169e6.js","/_next/static/chunks/903c358828afe0bc.js","/_next/static/chunks/f63fb02bc4156bfb.js","/_next/static/chunks/88bed98e5cd5e639.js"],"SignupCTA"] 47:I[56939,["/_next/static/chunks/b5ea50e123aa84a6.js","/_next/static/chunks/050761d0d0bdc5d8.js","/_next/static/chunks/de880ec5a0241b38.js","/_next/static/chunks/48003610e91209eb.js","/_next/static/chunks/15a1b1fbd3cf7d4a.js","/_next/static/chunks/81ce7bf5f20dbd5a.js","/_next/static/chunks/86498082dde169e6.js","/_next/static/chunks/903c358828afe0bc.js","/_next/static/chunks/f63fb02bc4156bfb.js","/_next/static/chunks/88bed98e5cd5e639.js"],"EpisodeTranscript"] 3c:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-col gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"inline-flex items-center gap-2 bg-secondary/50 px-3 py-1 rounded-full","children":[["$","svg",null,{"className":"w-4 h-4","fill":"none","stroke":"currentColor","viewBox":"0 0 24 24","children":["$","path",null,{"strokeLinecap":"round","strokeLinejoin":"round","strokeWidth":2,"d":"M8 7V3m8 4V3m-9 8h10M5 21h14a2 2 0 002-2V7a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v12a2 2 0 002 2z"}]}],["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2026-03-17T22:00:00.000Z","children":"Tue Mar 17 2026"}]]}],null]}] 43:T569,

On this episode of Hitting Your Mark, I sat down with stand up comedian Akela O’Neal. What started as a conversation about comedy turned into something way deeper. His journey into stand up isn’t traditional at all.

What really stuck with me was hearing how a near death experience changed everything for him. Coming out of that, he asked God a question we don’t always ask, “What would YOU have me do?” From there, he went back to school and started doing stand up.

For him, comedy isn’t just about being funny. It’s a space where he can be real and say the things most people hold in. At the same time, he’s navigating being a minister without feeling boxed in as a “Christian comic.”

We also talked about what “hitting your mark” really means. Of course, he wants the world to know his name. But what matters most is what his four kids will say about him. If they remember him as a present father, then he’s hit his mark.

Grab our merch! (https://hitting-your-mark-merch.myshopify.com/)

Connect with Akela
(https://www.instagram.com/iamakelao__/)
(https://www.instagram.com/thesafespacecomedy/)

Book A Call with us! (https://calendly.com/atobvisuals/30min)

Follow us on Instagram! (https://www.instagram.com/atobvisuals/)

How Comedy Saved His Life ft. Akela O'Neal