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Strong Ending
- A Journey from Combat to Comedy
- Narrated by: Mary-Louise Parker
- Length: 1 hr and 16 mins
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Publisher's summary
This heartfelt Audible Original, narrated by Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker, follows three military veterans as they reclaim their most painful memories and turn them into comedy. Michael Garvey, Isaura Ramirez, and Patrick Harth left combat zones to challenge themselves in a stand-up comedy boot camp. As they learn to transform their raw emotions into cathartic experiences, they face the daunting challenge of trying to make an audience laugh with jokes about war, trauma, and mental health. This audio documentary details their move from military service to sharing their searing honesty and gritty strength while performing in front of packed crowds.
Strong Ending also features insight from professional comedians Rob Riggle (The Daily Show, The Hangover) and Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite, Arrested Development) as it explores the science behind the healing power of comedy and the role of military comedies in popular culture. A perfect mix of wit and warmth, this is an inspiring and honest listen that unearths the anxieties of readjusting to civilian life and the powerful potential of finding light in the dark.
About ASAP & Comedy Bootcamp: The Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) is a nonprofit with a mission to cultivate community and growth with veterans, service members, military families, and caregivers through the arts. ASAP promotes expression, skill-building, and camaraderie through classes in stand-up comedy, improv, storytelling, creative writing, acting, and the visual arts. ASAP's approach provides veterans with transferable life skills, a renewed sense of purpose, and improved well-being, while strengthening ties between veterans and their communities through the arts.
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Go Behind the Scenes of Strong Ending
Publisher's summary
This heartfelt Audible Original, narrated by Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker, follows three military veterans as they reclaim their most painful memories and turn them into comedy. Michael Garvey, Isaura Ramirez, and Patrick Harth left combat zones to challenge themselves in a stand-up comedy boot camp. As they learn to transform their raw emotions into cathartic experiences, they face the daunting challenge of trying to make an audience laugh with jokes about war, trauma, and mental health. This audio documentary details their move from military service to sharing their searing honesty and gritty strength while performing in front of packed crowds.
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About ASAP & Comedy Bootcamp: The Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) is a nonprofit with a mission to cultivate community and growth with veterans, service members, military families, and caregivers through the arts. ASAP promotes expression, skill-building, and camaraderie through classes in stand-up comedy, improv, storytelling, creative writing, acting, and the visual arts. ASAP's approach provides veterans with transferable life skills, a renewed sense of purpose, and improved well-being, while strengthening ties between veterans and their communities through the arts.




Our favorite moments from Strong Ending

About the Performer
Actress, writer, and humanitarian Mary-Louise Parker is perhaps best known for her acclaimed portrayal of suburbanite turned drug dealer Nancy Botwin in the hit television series Weeds, a role that earned her a Golden Globe in 2006 in addition to nominations for three additional Golden Globes, three Emmys, and two SAG Awards. Her other television appearances include the beloved miniseries Angels in America, for which she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe, and much-adored political drama The West Wing. Alongside small screen roles, Parker has enjoyed box office success in films such as RED, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Red Dragon. She is also a successful stage actress, having won a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for her performance in Proof, in addition to celebrated turns in Prelude to a Kiss, Heisenberg, and Reckless. As a writer, Parker was a staff contributor to Esquire magazine for over a decade and her work has appeared in publications varying from The New York Times to InStyle. Her book of letters, Dear Mr. You, was released in print and in audio in 2015. She is also an avid activist for the LGBTQ+ community and has been recognized for her efforts by GLAAD, Out Magazine, and the LGBT Community Center of New York.

Also Featuring
Maria Bamford is an actress and comedian. She stars in the semi-autobiographical comedy series Lady Dynamite, co-created by Mitch Hurtwitz (Arrested Development) and Pam Brady (South Park). She has also had recurring roles in critically acclaimed sitcoms Arrested Development and Fresh Off the Boat. She is the creator and star of Maria Bamford: The Special Special Special! and the cult-adored web series The Maria Bamford Show. Bamford is the first female comic to have two Comedy Central Presents specials and in 2014, she received the American Comedy Award for Best Club Comic. She has also starred in The Comedians of Comedy and The Comedians of Comedy: The Movie, alongside comics such as Patton Oswalt and Zach Galifianakis. An award-winning voice actress, she has been featured on a multitude of animated series, including BoJack Horseman, Adventure Time, The Legend of Korra, and WordGirl.

Also Featuring
Rob Riggle is an actor, comedian, and veteran. He’s a familiar face to fans of blockbuster comedies such as The Hangover, Step Brothers, and 21 Jump Street. He also served as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and as a featured player on Saturday Night Live. Riggle’s other film credits include The Other Guys, 22 Jump Street, Dumb and Dumber To, Night School, 12 Strong, and Midnight Sun. He is also a celebrated voice actor, lending his voice to animated hits such as The Lorax and Hotel Transylvania. As he was breaking into comedy, Riggle was still on active duty with the United States Marine Corps, which he initially joined at the age of nineteen. Rising through the ranks, he served in a variety of countries, including Albania, Kosovo, Liberia, and Afghanistan. Riggle retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2013, after a combined 23 years of service (nine years active duty, 14 years in the reserves). He has earned more than 22 medals and ribbons.
What listeners say about Strong Ending
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kingsley
- 11-01-18
Battling PTSD with Comedy
What if the best way to combat PTSD is to give veterans a microphone and get them to perform stand up comedy? That is the premise of this short documentary.
There are jokes, and stand up comedy, in here but that is not the bulk of this. It is about mental health. It's an important, and sometimes heavy, topic lightened by some mixed in comedy.
'Strong Ending' tells the story of several veterans who when returning from the front were diagnosed with PTSD, and the joined a comedy workshop to work through the PTSD. they talk about how it has helped. It's not a cure all, but it helps them discuss their issues and release built up pressure. They speak to Doctors and Psychologists about the effects of PTSD and why comedy is an effective release.
While it is narrated by actress Mary-Louise Parker, it is as much interviews as her narration. Interviews with comedians, interviews with doctors and psychologists. There is music and sound effects. The whole thing is well put together. The live sections of stand up comedy, which is not significant, is generally lower quality but that is to be expected for live recording from small comedy clubs. But the general mixing and quality of the audio, as well as Parker's narration is great.
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35 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-07-18
Favorite Member Selection so far
Wow I was both laughing and touched from this production on wounded and traumatized vets using stand up to heal themselves. Felt like a shot of empathy.
Nothing bad to say. Good narration, unique topic, good balance of narration, interviews, and the live recordings from the stand up show.
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29 people found this helpful
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- Bjorn
- 11-04-18
Healing Through Comedy
Healing through comedy is something the whole world should do, regardless of what field we come from.
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18 people found this helpful
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- Rayjean M
- 11-03-18
Very moving
This was an interesting and insightful audible original. I enjoyed that they told the stories of the veterans and how they cope with their trauma. I enjoyed the fact that they proved that laughter can be the best medicine. It was a behind the scenes of comedians with traumatic stories to tell.
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16 people found this helpful
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- Find a Path with Heart
- 11-04-18
Really wonderful. Warm, but not mushy. Funny. Insightful
Great energy. Very enjoyable and emotionally informative. If you’ve ever found comfort in humor when life was too much, you’ll like this.
Mary Louise Parker is a great narrator. I was a bit concerned because, though she is a terrific actress, sometimes she can mumble. But here she was clear as a bell.
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15 people found this helpful
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- Ed
- 11-02-18
Vulnerable Laughter
Amazing stories of healing through laughter. Healing comes with strength gained by sharing our pain in a way that it can be laughed at.
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12 people found this helpful
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- John King
- 11-07-18
Audible, thank you for giving this out!
I was a very lucky man and spent my time in the Army during a small window of no shooting, back in the mid 70's.. Post Vietnam letdown I guess.
Hearing these vets let go of the pain in this way is totally inspiring.
Audible, you done good!
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11 people found this helpful
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- The Sweet's
- 11-02-18
Difficult material shared in a great way.
I was quite please with the proformance of all participants. This is a great way to help individuals to discuss and heal from PTSD. Wether from war or other tradjudies that happen in life, this outlet of comedy is a fundamental language we all find healing. I'm proud of our servicemen and women that challenged themselves again. To conquer a new fear and to find healing from old and new pains. Thank you all!
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11 people found this helpful
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- Stephanie V
- 11-03-18
Good for NPR.
Short story with clips of comedy show. Gets listener interested in topic. Would make a good NPR piece.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Wayne
- 11-08-18
Worthwhile program
This Audible freebie is certainly about a worthwhile program, but it is rather chopped up.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Veronica Maitland
- 04-15-23
Informative, Inspiring and Funny!
This is an awesome listen. It taught me so much about humour as medicine and provided me with a desire to follow up on the concept as well. A balanced, respectful and very human approach to the truths about post traumatic illness and depression.
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- jacqueline rozenfeld
- 05-29-22
EXCELLENT!!
This book is fantastic for various reasons. It helps us understand more about trauma, human resilience, the beneficial role of comedy in healing, expression and the commonality of human experience and I think it would be good for all who are considering doing stand-up comedy themselves, to hear this.
Some of the accounts were very funny and some were deeply touching.
All in all a fabulous book.
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- Anonymous User
- 04-21-22
An insightful book on recovery
A well read book that listened like a show on tv. Very interesting road to recovery and building ways to get veterians to be able to deal with their past and present experiences.
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