Great Company with Jamie Laing26 Nov 2025

JOANNE MCNALLY: The Identity Crisis of Being Adopted, Finding Success In My 30s and Why I’m Single

Joanne McNally is a hilarious woman. Her comedy has resonated with people all over the world, with her tours selling out wherever she goes, making history as the first Irish female comic to headline Dublin’s 3Arena. And with her podcast, ‘My Therapist Ghosted Me’, Joanne has become one of the most compelling, unfiltered voices in comedy right now.

What I love about Joanne is that she didn’t follow the “perfect plan”. She built her comedy career in her thirties after realising she wasn’t living the life she actually wanted. Feeling unfulfilled and eager to tap into her creative side, she took the most vulnerable parts of her past - being adopted and recovering from an eating disorder - and turned them into comedy that’s honest, fearless and completely her.

And that’s why people can’t get enough of her. She’s witty, she’s brutally truthful and genuinely hilarious.

We cover:

What is was like being adopted in Ireland in the 1980s
How Joanne used humour to get through tough times
Her journey recovering from an eating disorder
Her career shift from publicist to an international comedian
Searching for love on dating apps
Why her therapist actually ghosted her

My conversation with Joanne reminded me the story we’re born into isn’t the one we’re meant to stay in and that embracing your true voice can change everything.

Joanne McNally is Great Company.

You can listen to the Jo Brand episode HERE

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And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk

THE CREDITS

Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Jake Ji & Riley Kirby

Social Media: Laura Coughlan

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot

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