About a year ago, a fresh new face kept popping up on my Instagram feed. Ashley Gutermuth, winner of The Tonight Show Seinfeld Challenge, seemed to be taking the internet by storm. Her contextualized jokes about the lifestyles and challenges of military community members, namely military spouses, almost made my coffee explode out of my nose.
Seriously, the bit she does about her Air Force husband being deployed to the Marriott Hotel in Tampa still makes me weak.
Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with Ashley for an interview, and it was probably one of my all-time favorite interviews to date. We literally could not stop laughing. And, we apparently share a deep and abiding love for Eddie Izzard and British comedy.
“I thought I was going to marry Paul McCartney. I still might.”
Ashley Gutermuth
Gutermuth has been sharpening her comedy skills since her late teens. Joining a Toastmasters International club, she began imitating her favorite comedian. Pretending to be Eddie Izzard, she wooed the crowds and people began to fall in love with her contagious energy and theatrical personality.
Obsessed with comedy, Gutermuth explored several avenues to get where she wanted to go. She continued writing comedy, dabbled in voiceover acting, and began participating in the Armed Services Arts Partnership. After becoming a military spouse, Ashley ended up moving to Mcguire AFB in New Jersey, where she currently works the local comedy circuit.
When we began speaking about the motivation behind her comedy, I was inspired by her heart for helping those in our community who need encouragement and resources the most. While Gutermuth typically posts jokes and puns about milspo life, she also uses her comedy as an opportunity to help and encourage new military spouses by answering questions, offering resources, or simply being present for them.
“My deal is that I’m motivated by helping people,” Ashley said.
Ultimately, Ashley has high goals for herself and is running toward them at a breakneck pace. Look out, world. Here she comes. Next on her goal list is to participate in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, an open access arts festival. Share her videos @ashgutermuth and tag @edfringe to help a sister out.
Want to follow Ashley’s footprints into comedy? Her advice to you is to, “Get out of your own way.” Join an online open mic, research the Armed Services Arts Partnership, and just get going.
“My goal is to help people as much as possible, while being as funny as possible. But, more than that, I want to grow a platform big enough to be able to connect with people, to help them achieve what they want to achieve, whatever that might be,” she said.