Great Company with Jamie Laing JOANNE MCNALLY: The Identity Crisis of Being Adopted, Finding Success In My 30s and Why I’m Single
Nov 26, 2025
Joanne McNally is an Irish comedian, writer, and podcaster, celebrated for her unfiltered comedic approach. She dives into her experience as an adopted child in 1980s Ireland, revealing the deep identity questions that arose later in life. Joanne discusses how humor became her coping mechanism, especially during her recovery from an eating disorder. She shares her transition from publicist to comedian, the dramatic stories behind dating applications, and how a ghosting therapist sparked her podcast success. Her journey nails the importance of embracing one's true voice.
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Adoption Creates An Identity Gap
- Joanne describes adoption as a loss of personal context that creates an identity gap even with a loving family.
- She compares being adopted to "being spat out of a spaceship, naked," highlighting the existential question of origins.
Illness Forced A Career Pivot
- Joanne entered treatment for an eating disorder in her early 30s and had to leave her PR job and move back to her mother's house.
- That enforced pause led her to write a blog, get a column, and begin the path toward live performance.
Treat Recovery As Full-Time Work
- Joanne emphasizes committing fully to recovery: treat it like a full-time job and rewire daily thoughts and priorities.
- Seek professional help and prioritize therapy until harmful behaviors cease dominating your brain.
