Category: Upcoming Speakers

Peyton Clarkson is a Mobile native and graduate of St. Paul’s Episcopal School. After earning
his degree in Theatre from Auburn University in 2003, he packed his bags and moved to New
York City to pursue stand-up comedy — a career choice that thrilled his friends and concerned
his parents.
Over the next 15 years, Peyton became a regular performer at comedy clubs in both New York
City and Los Angeles, touring theaters, clubs, colleges, and corporate events across the
country. He also appeared on national television, performing on the acclaimed stand-up series
Live at Gotham.
In 2018, Peyton moved back to Mobile to be closer to family and made what may be one of
the most jarring career transitions on record: from stand-up comedy to hospice care. The
transition was abrupt, but it revealed an unexpected truth: he hadn’t left his most valuable skills
behind. The adaptability, storytelling, empathy, and ability to build rapport that served him on
stage became the same qualities that helped him connect with patients, families, physicians,
and healthcare leaders. Those experiences ultimately shaped his approach to business
development and now inform his work helping organizations communicate more effectively
through Craftshow Digital, a Mobile-based creative agency specializing in strategy, branding,
video production, and marketing.
In Still Standing Up: How 15 Years of Comedy Became an Unlikely Business Education,
Peyton shares how the skills that make us unique are often the ones we overlook. Through
humor and personal stories, he explores why authentic relationships — whether in business or
in life — are built not by trying to become someone else, but by leaning into the qualities that
make us who we are. His message is that lasting success comes from embracing your
strengths, communicating with authenticity, and recognizing that every chapter of your life can
prepare you for the next.