Joanne McNally on Success, Single Life & Saying No to Normal

0:00Mo Gilligan: Yes, what's good people? My name is Mo Gilligan. This is my podcast beginning, middle and end. Now today we have an absolute podcast goat joining us in the studio. Now she's known for her candid, deeply personal storytelling, sellout, standout tours and of course the global hit podcast. My therapist ghosted me. Now she's completely unfiltered in the best possible way. It is Ireland's national treasure. Please welcome to the podcast Joanne McNally. you got big gigs coming up though because you're basically on a world tour innit yeah I am yeah I am but like you know yourself some rooms are bigger than others yeah but then no one knows that no one knows that when you're in when you're in like you know if you guys like New York and you're like well you don't really know that it's only 500 do you know what I mean like you're like oh I cleaned up I cleaned up in Winnipeg do you know like when you do comedy do you find that like you have places that are not home that you really like performing that feel like home and other places where you're like, I feel like such an outsider.

1:02Mo Gilligan: Yeah. Well, I'm very lucky because I'm Irish, which is lucky in itself. But Irish are, we're everywhere. We travel and we ride like maggots. And we travel far and wide. It doesn't matter where you go. There's going to be Irish people there. There's always an Irish pub somewhere. There's always an Irish pub somewhere. And then, but it's, and especially, you know as well, when you travel your own people, it's almost they're like oh my god she's in you probably sell I probably sell more in Sydney well I don't know anymore but they're like she made the effort to come and you know and I remember I did a show when I started gigging in Dubai and this woman and it was selling well and I was adding another one and a woman Irish woman messaged me and she was like I think you're selling well in Dubai because there's Irish people there you know and I was like well yeah it's not the Emiratis coming to the show do you know what I mean it's not the locals it's very clearly the Irish women and the Brits coming.

2:00Yeah, yeah, yeah. But so, I suppose to answer your question a very long way around, wherever I go, it's the same style of audience really because it's very female, it's women, it's gays and the culture is kind of the same. That culture, the female culture and the gay culture, well it's a sweeping statement, there's obviously nuance around that. They're the same. So it doesn't differ that much for me.

2:23Mo Gilligan: So when you tour, are you like a touring comic that wants to, like, surround yourself in the culture? Yeah. Or are you like, I land, I'm in the hotel, chill in the hotel until, what time's the show? Let's say eight o 'clock. Go to the hotel, leave in the morning, on to the next place. Well, so it depends on the tour, because now, because I don't have kids and I'm single, so I can afford to, like, sometimes they send you through your tour schedule and you're like, what's the rush, man? I wouldn't mind actually spending an hour in New York instead of just doing the show. and then like I did the Scandi countries recently and it was I was like every day fly to the show fly to the show and I wish I'd looked at the schedule myself before they sent it over and be like I would actually really like to see a bit of Oslo or whatever you know what I mean and then so in those days you kind of have to stay in your room and do the show because I underestimate the energy that goes into doing the show it's the only time my Fitbit activates is when I'm on stage otherwise it wouldn't matter I can go on a run and then at the end they'll be like oh tiny bit of movement movement registers whereas the only time my heart rate properly spikes is when I'm on stage so sometimes I try to do too much in the day and I'm fucking wrecked then and then I remember in it was actually in Oslo I accidentally took I was I was proper tired because travelling I fell asleep in a wheelchair at the baggage carousel travelling is tiring it just is I don't know why it just is it takes a lot out of you so I ended up taking what I thought was I thought I fucking knows what I thought it was probably my pill anyway I ended up taking a sleeping tablet as I was about to go on stage.

3:55And I was already wrecked. Oh, shit. Yeah, poor Oslo. They were like, are you okay? And I was like, I might need to sit down for a few minutes. Fucking hell, man. Yeah, I know, yeah. We powered through.

4:05Mo Gilligan: Yeah, because when I travel, especially touring, like, it's funny, my tour manager, he's very much a, I'm going to wake up at seven. I'm going to find a gym. I'm going to go to the gym there. And then he might take some pictures. And, like, he will take pictures, like, you know, put the phone somewhere. He's got this little thing that sticks there. and like but you're not like it's not him taking the picture where he looks at the camera it's like someone has taken the picture so like we was in Australia and I was like so hold on who took this picture he's like nah bro I'm putting a lamppost but it's him it's him like like like walking like or just in shot and I'm like hold on so wait you put this picture up and it looks like someone has candidly just snapped you and it looks amazing but at the same time I was like yeah I'm me I've got my fire stick I take my Apple TV I've got laptop and I'm in bed and I'm watching snacks and then I'm like cool do a bit of work if I need to on the TV in the hotel I've got the laptop there I might watch a TV series I am staying in bed for as long as possible I know I will try do you know sometimes I feel guilty sometimes it's great when you're on tour and it's lashing around and you're like ah granted I can't do anything anyway and the guilt alleviates but I feel guilty if I'm like or sometimes I'll tag time on so I did a European tour during the summer there and I finished in Amsterdam so I went and stayed in it Canal Bud on my own for like seven days after it which I will say was three days too many but anyway I had a ball so I'll try and tag time otherwise I'm like it's such a waste of these cities but yeah you're a fire stick man fair enough oh yeah come on man the fire there was a time when I was in I was walking around and I was like God it's Joanne you'd almost get a selfie stick but I just don't I have too much dignity for it but I was like you want to take like your tour manager you'd like to take a little taking a nice vote of yourself somewhere.

5:53I know.

5:54Mo Gilligan: I tried my best to, but then most times I'm like, ugh. I know. But speaking of travelling, so you're obviously originally from Ireland. Yes. How long have you lived in London now for? I moved over about three weeks before COVID. I'd say the bat was just unlocking the cage as I moved over and then the arse fell out of everything. Yeah. I feel like that's such a transitional period for so many people. Yeah. Everyone always has a story of like, I've done this and then COVID happened and everything went left. Same thing, I opened up an office. Did you? Yeah, I opened up a lovely office in East London.

6:28Mo Gilligan: I renovated the office. I had partition walls in my office. So we were like, an office, and you're like, we do the meetings, we do it in there, the kitchen's in there. I bought a load of computers, and I got frames done and everything. I got a board sofa. Wow. Flooring, everything. Was this kind of a production office, really? Yeah, yeah. You know, met the neighbours, everything. I was like, wow, this is it. I put the keys up. I've never done that before. Oh, you did the keys. Just got an office. Bit of news. Bit of news from me. Hired staff. We had to go to, what's it called? First day training courses and stuff.

7:05Mo Gilligan: It was all, and then it was like, COVID's happened. You're in deep. I said, are you fucking kidding me? I was like, I've signed this lease for like two years. It was horrible, man. Did they make you honor the lease? well luckily there was a break clause after a year so it is two years but you do have one year's break clause but it was just like what a time to do all of this and I'm talking about insurances and everything and I was like fuck man people made people lost a lot of money and I as well with stand up they were like and I know COVID is so boring to talk about but I do remember because I just moved over and I was getting a little bit of traction in the clubs and I'd been signed and I was getting you know there was a bit of excitement in my own mind and then obviously whatever the world blew up but people were like well no one's going to be I remember they were like people are going to be in Zorbs now and you're going to be gigging in a plastic ball and everyone's going to be rolling around and I was like what?

8:07oh my god I'm going to have to go back and do nursing

8:09Mo Gilligan: that was the plan did you do any Zoom gigs? did you do any Zoom comedy gigs? oh I Zoomed my tits off every Saturday night yeah because I was so scared that I would lose also it was like the community of it was grey crack like just seeing people and interacting with people but I was so nervous about losing the tiny bit of traction that I had comically that I was like oh no no no no we have to keep this we have to keep this going yeah also we made a bit of money on those Zoom gigs don't tell the revenue I feel like the real entrepreneurs started with using like social media at that time because yeah I didn't do any Zoom gigs but I'd play in this game that I do online called Quarantine Games, which I do.

8:52Mo Gilligan: I bought one of those wheels that you can spin. Oh, yeah. And I'd give away prizes. And it started off as just like, this would just be a bit of fun. And then I'm like, wow, there's like 3 ,000 people watching. Wow. And everyone's in the chat. And I was like, wow, this is a real thing. And then the next day, I amped up the production. I'm buying speakers and bits and bobs. And I was like, guys, I'm putting on a suit in my house. Welcome to Quarantine Games. And then it got to a point where I was like, yeah I can't do this anymore you wrapped it up why well the thing is I think for me it was like it was really fun I really enjoyed it and I probably I'll be lying I did do it for a good couple months but then what happened is in the chat it went from being this really fun friendly thing to then in the chat because I'd go live with someone and then you'd get people in the chat that would be rude to someone and it'd be like oh look at that person's teeth or da da da da da and then for my thing was like okay look if you're rude I'm going to ban you from the chat.

9:47Mo Gilligan: Yeah, of course. But then it became a thing where people would be rude to get banned. So people would go in the chat and be like, oh, mate, look at your fucking beard, mate. Your fucking beard's all over the place, Mo. And I'm like, all right, let's just ban this person. Then another... And then my own friends thought it was funny to be like, all right, let's go in the chat. Hey, Mo, what's going on with your do-rag, bro? Why is your do-rag like... I know you, man. Why would you say that? Now I've got to ban you from the chat. So I think it then became something really fun. but then when it was like you get some people that were really nasty to people and I think that was the turn of like yeah this started off as fun but we were all going through this and some people there were some people that were like I really look forward to this every other day they're like I need this yeah yeah yeah I read this I read this TikTok oh my god no you didn't Joanne you watched the TikTok stop pretending you were doing this like this moment of academia you watched the TikTok but it was this young woman and she was she had this theory that she thinks that trolling and like they were heckling you obviously but like trolling and all is actually born from loneliness and people's lack of connection because by you banning them they're getting your attention.

10:53So like even though it's negative attention the body just sees it as attention and they just want your attention.

10:58Mo Gilligan: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like children, isn't it? Isn't it? And they scream, ah! They're kind of flirting with you. And you're like, why are you embarrassing me in front of the shop, in front of everyone? Ah! But speaking of that, you studied sociology at university, right? And that is so different from the career of what you do now. Yeah. Is it though? Because it's the study of groups. But I feel like when people who do sociology would normally go into like psychology or being a care worker or something that feels like quite community based. And what you do is still community based. It's a wild pivot.

11:33Mo Gilligan: What do you think was the switch? Because I know you studied journalism as well, right? No, I did English and sociology in university. and then I wanted to be a journalist but I didn't have the balls. I didn't have the balls to do it. That's crazy because you do stand-up now. I know, but that was never the plan. Before stand-up, I think, my last time on stage was like I'd done the nativity in school. And then what happened was, and I've spoken about this before, I was very unwell with eating disorders. I was working as a publicist. So I did English and sociology. Then I almost went into academia.

12:05I almost became like a sociologist. and then I kind of rethought it and I was like oh you'd be on your own a lot and I don't know I just kind of bottled it on that and then was going to do journalism bottled that and did a masters in public relations PR but I always have to say public relations in the UK because everyone's like P what?

12:25Mo Gilligan: and I'm like or PR but then I did that and then I worked in PR for years and then I got very unwell had to leave that and then was kind of floating around and then got put in a play and then I started dating a comic. Oh. And he said, I think you should, I think you could do stand-up. Oh, okay. Yeah. I did it for the attention of a man. But did he say that because you were funny though? Or was it... Oh, yeah. I think, yeah. I think. I shouldn't say, oh, yeah. No, but I mean, yeah, that was what started it. Yeah. And then I kind of, yeah, did some work with him and then, and then I was off. I was out of the gate and then I just kept going.

13:07Mo Gilligan: So how do you not have the confidence? And like you say, you didn't have the balls to do journalism, but then you did to do stand-up. Yeah. Well, my whole life had changed. So when I was, I had nothing to lose at that point because I had no job. I was back living in my mum's. My whole life was like, I'd kind of exited reality as such. And I was just a mental patient. So I was like, well, I can do anything now. There's no expectations on me. I'd no bills to pay anymore. As in like I was back living with my mum. And also, there was always a little stage pony in me, I think. Like, I always loved performing.

13:43And I had childhood aspirations of being an actor. So then, and I think the stage thing, I'm not going to say it came easily to me because stand-up isn't easy. But I felt very at home. I probably felt more at home on stage than I would have felt in a newspaper office trying to be a journalist. Something just clicked in my head. and I was like oh this is what I want to do and the second I'd any sniff of any hint that I could actually make a living out of it and do it as a job I just went hell for leather on it and just like footed the gas and just didn't didn't come up for air for about four years really

14:22Mo Gilligan: do you find that when you're on stage you can be like so honest that it makes you more comfortable Yeah, I think now, my first tour was probably a little more guarded, but now I'm very, now I'm more myself on stage. It's probably less of a persona. Yeah, yeah. But, like, I know that some people say they find it cathartic and they talk about all their personal problems. I don't really. I don't really, because I'm like, you can't be charging people in to watch you have a breakdown on stage. Do you know what I mean? Even if there are a couple of guys thrown in, it's a bit self-indulgent, isn't it?

14:57Yeah.

15:00Mo Gilligan: Pay a therapist do you know what I mean? Life is terrible for you guys man let me tell you how terrible it is and you're like oh fucking hell everyone's like that's 50 quid I'm never getting back see a grown man crying on stage where's the crack in that? So when did you start comedy? Was it 2014 that you done like your first show? Was it around that time? No it was later than that Was it? Yeah I think it was 2018 and I'm now I'm shit of deets but it was it wasn't 2014 I think it was around I think unless I've lost my mind So when did you go to Edinburgh? because you've done a show in Ireland right?

15:31So the first show I did was like that classic one woman show I'm just about to go back on everything I said my first how quickly we forget my first woman show was about bulimia And when was that? What year was that?

15:44Mo Gilligan: I actually have no idea 2017 maybe? 2017 and you took that one to Edinburgh right? Took that to Edinburgh Ah I see I see Yeah How was Edinburgh for you? Did you enjoy it? I like I can't I won't say I enjoyed it I don't know if anyone enjoys Edinburgh so when I when I was going up pre-Covid and you did the month everyone just did the month there was none of this dipping in and dipping out for a week here and two weeks there you started on the 1st of August and you left at the end of August and you did every day you got one Tuesday off and you just cry in a box room in Edinburgh and then you get back up the next day and because it was my first year and because I was hungry I was really hungry for it so I would fly her like I'd fly her like three or four hours every day to try and get people into what I thought was a stand-up show, but was actually a really weird, dark show about Bolivia.

16:32I was like, how did I ever think that was stand-up? My God, it's so funny.

16:36Mo Gilligan: I feel like, weirdly, for Edinburgh, that's kind of the vibe, though, of a show. You've got to do those shows where you're like, I'm going to bear all. The dead dad shows, isn't that what they call it? Yeah, it's like, I'm going to tell you all about my life and what's going on. And it's almost like you can't have a show that's really funny and over gags. So the show was called Bite Me and it was about, it was interjected with voiceovers from the bulimia I mean it's like it's so Edinburgh but I because when I was in treatment the therapists recommend that you give your eating disorder voice a different character so that you can argue against it rather than just accepting what it tells you because if it's in your own tone if it sounds like I sound now just a 40 year old woman from Ireland I'm going to listen to it because I'm like well she seems I know her that's me so I made mine Louis Walsh so I turned it into Louis Walsh because at the time he was a judge on Britain's Got Talent and he was very encouraging and he's like everyone loves you blah blah blah so for the crack I was like I'll make it Louis Walsh so I had the voiceover guy pretending to be Louis Walsh the whole thing was absolutely fucking chaos they're looking back now but I but I I flyered hard so I didn't I think I broke even the first year which I know is slightly unusual but I did I wasn't in a massively big room and I flyered my tits off and then the next year I went back with a stand-up show called Wine Tamer and then I went back with Prosecco Express and then I went back with the Working Progress and Pinafoy and now Edinburgh's different because I'm further along now so you don't have you're not out in a poncho flyering your own show and like it's so it's so lovely to have that time in the bag because you've done it and you've earned your little Edinburgh stripes.

18:17Mo Gilligan: You've really done your 10 ,000 hours isn't it? You've done the time and you can enjoy it more now and you can and now there is more of a culture going up, doing a work in progress show, doing a week, going back down. It's not the same. You've got to be there for the whole month. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And when you are there for the month, though. And the thing is, Edinburgh's a really interesting city in the sense of the weather. It's like, it's August, but it can rain. You'll get sleep. You obviously don't get snow, but it's just as cold. And you're like, this is not fair because I can see everywhere else on the map.

18:49Mo Gilligan: I know. Where it's like 25 degrees. Edinburgh gets this weird pocket of weather. Do you know what I mean? How many Edinburghs have you... You've done Edinburgh, haven't you? I've done Edinburgh. So, I've done Edinburgh once in terms of putting on a show. I've done a half show. I've done two weeks with another comic called K-Curd. So we kind of split it together. Yeah, I've done 30 minutes. He's done 30 minutes. And then, I went up... No, I'm lying. I went up before then because my ex was in a play. So I just went up to just go and see and how it was. Yeah. So then, after I'd done a show there, I was working in retail and I was like, look, I've got to go to this thing, Edinburgh.

19:28Mo Gilligan: And in retail, they were like, OK, well, you can't take two weeks off. No, of course not. So I had to take two weeks off as holiday. No, one week off as holiday and the other week off as paid leave. Right. But this time I was already moving to another job. And then every time I went up after that, I was quite fortunate because by then I was already kind of doing my own tour. So I just got to go up for two days. It was so quick for you then, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just popped. Yeah, but also I'd been on the circuit prior to that, just up and down the country, just doing spots at your junglers and everywhere else.

20:03Mo Gilligan: See, they always say, they always say, oh, do you know this term, like an overnight... But there's never, because you were doing the time behind the scenes. Do you know what I mean? But to the outside world, it's like, whoa! Yeah, yeah, massively, man. Where's this lad come from? And I think that was crazy because once I then got to go back there, I think I went up with Channel 4, had this thing of like all the shows that were going to come out next year so Ian Katz had this really nice dinner and you've got other people who have shows there and stuff and I think the big nasty show was about to come out and something else so I got to sit at this dinner and then while I was there for like the day before because I was there for like three days I would then see a few shows and everyone's like oh what's up man you gigging and I'm like no I'm here with Channel 4 I said they hated you this bastard And then I went the year after for another show.

20:55Mo Gilligan: And that was at the TV festival. So I had to speak on like a Q &A. And they do it in this really fancy place. And I think I was up there again for like another two days and went to see some French shows and stuff. And then again, it was like, hey, what are you doing here, man? You're on Mike Tally now. You're doing some stuff? You're going to jump on? I'm like, no, I'm actually here for a Q &A. I'm in charge, guys. I run out for now. Yeah, I've been quite blessed and very, very fortunate. But I think it's so interesting to know what people's... I'm so intrigued to know what people's Edinburgh's are like.

21:29Mo Gilligan: Because for me, I didn't enjoy it because I just knew that my audience just wasn't there. And it was just good to go to be like, well, look, I've just gigged for two weeks back to back. I got to meet some cool comics. But just knowing that I'm not going to find my spark here. It was great to do. But, like, you know, I meet some comics and they're like, yeah, I love it. I get to gig every day. and I meet this community of comics and stuff where I'll be honest with me I'm just like the weather is listen if it was sunny I'd probably be there every year but yeah it's just not you went to Australia though didn't you yeah I've done Australia so I've done didn't you live there though for a little bit oh well I mean yeah but it's a real Irish thing everyone in Ireland does either Australia for a year or the J1 in America it's just kind of a rite of passage thing what's the J1 so when people remind me that I lived in Australia I'm like oh yeah that like that it's just and Ireland is just like it's so normal so you lived in Australia for a year yeah where was you in Australia we did six months it's a real traditional thing you finish is it college?

22:27yeah once you finish your degree you go to Ireland we like to do things in packs yeah I didn't know this yeah so yeah it's really strange like yeah because it was only when I moved to the UK that I was like oh do you not want to go to Australia but there's so many Irish in Australia but I did I did the year out there six months in Sydney six months in Melbourne and I was I was and a lot of Irish women go out and they work as traffic controllers. Do you know the lollipop stick girls at building sites on roads? Yeah, yeah. Because it pays really, really well. Really? Yeah, it pays really well. That is so random.

22:59Yeah, I know. So I went and did my training to be a traffic control woman on a building site in Australia. So weird. And the video that they used to teach you, Russell Crowe was in it. It was obviously one of his first acting jobs. Yeah. But they obviously kept it because it's Russell Crowe.

23:12Mo Gilligan: Yeah, yeah. So the video was from like 1983. And it was just so, So it was, yeah, it was all a bit weird, really. So you was a lollipop lady. Well, then I didn't end up doing it in the end. I got a job in insurance. Do you know what my biggest regret about that year in Australia was? I should have done, I should have got a job in a bar and just had fun. Yeah, because I thought when you said you was in Australia, I thought maybe like a bar job. No, I should have done a bar job. I ended up getting an office job. Because Sydney, like Australia is not cheap. It's expensive. But it's very, like, it was all very like Bondi Beach for Christmas Day.

23:42And it was all that, like, it was really good crack. But there was so many of us went over. we went to the huge big gang and a lot of the girls boyfriends came and all and it was just I think if I did it now I would do it differently but now I have this a great thing about again stand up is now I get to go to Australia every year and a half touring and it's a different buzz now because you're not like you know working in an insurance office I know I love I really like Australia so do I and it's I'll always like add a week on at the start or add a week on at the end and go and explore it a bit and all but do you know my real like kind of hidden gem in Australia for me was Brisbane.

24:20Have you been to Brisbane? Have we been to Brisbane?

24:24Mo Gilligan: I don't know, you know. It's savage. Oh no, I think we did go to Brisbane. I think we did. It's like a trendy Las Vegas. Yeah, I think we did go to Brisbane because we went to Perth. It will get mixed up for me. So we went Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Yeah, they're the main stuff. Melbourne and Sydney, I always remember, I always get mixed up with the Perth and Brisbane's. Yeah. But I think, yeah, yeah, yeah, because there's a lot of hills in Brisbane. I just remember Brisbane being like, bright lights, deadly bars, just really, really cool. But LA to me isn't particularly cool. LA is, but LA is like the bright lights and the spheres and all that jazz.

25:05But I just thought Brisbane for me was, so I'm going to, I think this time when I go out, I'm going to spend some time in Brisbane.

25:12Mo Gilligan: I tell you, for me it was, I think when I went to Perth, I really liked Perth a lot. Yeah. I don't know what it was. Did you get the, did people assume you were going to Perth in Scotland? Did that happen to you? Perth in Scotland? There's a Perth in Scotland, same spelling and everything. No, I didn't know that. No. Yeah. It's happened to me, so when I announced I was going to Perth, they were like, there was a couple of Scottish girls were like, no way! It's a scrawny ass. Why is it in Aussie dollars? I was like, you did not buy those tickets, girls, did you? Yeah. But yeah, so Perth. And also Perth for me, if anyone's going to Perth, the city is like fine and everything, but the suburbs are.

25:48And when you see the ocean, you're like, it's pretty breathtaking.

25:52Mo Gilligan: They say the money is in Perth. Do they? Yeah, because I think it's known for gold. It's like gold mining. Is it? Yeah. So I think when we went there, like I think for me, Melbourne is probably my favourite because it's so much like London. Melbourne. Yeah. and when I go there every time I go there I'm so shocked I remember the first time I went was in 2018 and I barely done anything just some social stuff and I had people be like mate what are you doing here mate and I was like what it was like mate I'm watching you on television and I was like oh thanks I remember once we we went to me and my tour manager van we went to this place we had someone show us around I think it was with Just for Laughs and it was like I'll show you around and be your chaperone like anywhere you want to go and we was like, oh, like, we just want to go and get a drink.

26:39Mo Gilligan: Took us to this club. I'll never forget. We walked in this club and it was genuinely, like, step up too. So, like, people were, like, Like, you sweat, dreaming. And, like, people are really going for it. And it was mad because everyone felt like they knew each other. So when we walked in, it's like we had walked in and we walked past people and everyone was just looking at us like, like, who is that? Gay crashed a house project. And I was like, why is everyone looking at us? And it was so mad because this was probably my first time going to Australia. And I think at that stage, probably the furthest place I had ever been.

27:12Mo Gilligan: Yeah. It's so far. And I had a black guy come up to me and he was like, oh my God, mate, Mo Gillian. What are you doing here? Now you've got to remember, I grew up in South London and I'd never seen like a black Australian. And if I did, it was maybe on like Home and Away. But he, I was like, where are you from? And he's like, man, I'm from here, mate. fucking I want you in Big Nasty on the show what are you doing here bruh and I was like hold on a minute this is a simulation like but I think Melbourne felt so much like home yeah Melbourne's the kind of trendy one isn't it yeah when you said you went to a bar I thought you were going to say they took you to a titty bar because Australia is the east no hold on north south east I'm fucking I'm not a pirate what's where I think Melbourne Melbourne's down there Yeah, it's at the bottom.

28:03So if I'm looking, staring at Australia, what's on the left?

28:07Mo Gilligan: Sydney's on the left. No, Sydney's on the right. No, no, no, Perth is on the left. There you go. So is that west? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Perth is on the west coast. Yeah, so down the west coast, where they do a lot of the mining. You know these lads, because a lot of the Irish lads will go into the mines in Australia as well. Yeah, yeah. And they go and they disappear for six weeks and then they come out billionaires and then they blow it all in the titty bars and then they go back into the mines. Do they? That's why they still have a lot of that. Now, it could be different. And I'd have to, I'm going to get rinsed by Australians now, but they still have, it's quite dated in some ways over on the West, I think.

28:38Because like, who'd wear like titty bars? Are they still? It's even the name. Do you know what I mean, titty bars? That name is time. Like, do you remember when, is page three gone?

28:48Mo Gilligan: Yeah, yeah, page three's gone. Did you miss that? Yeah, yeah. I never used to watch it. Do you know why? No, because when we were young, we'd get the Metro. So like, if you was on the bus or on the Tube, everyone get the Metro, but then it'd be one child in school that would be like, hey, that's what I've got. And we'd be like, what's that? He'd say, hey, look, check that out. And we'd be like, okay. And then one teacher was like, what's that? No, it's banned. And in the school, like if you was caught with like the sun or like a daily sport. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it was long. But I think it is. But isn't it so funny?

29:20Mo Gilligan: It made no sense though, you know? It made no sense. Just a crossword and that woman's tits. What? But then there used to be a quote. Do you remember the quote? No. So there used to be like a woman that was like half naked and then there would be a quote about what's going on in the world. So it would be like, oh my God, I think it's crazy. If you can be anything in the world, be kind. But it would have linked. Yeah. But it would like, it would be like, oh my God, it's so crazy with, you know, England getting through to the 2006 World Cup. But guys, we all need to have a thought of what's going on in Hurricane Katrina.

29:50Mo Gilligan: I'm like, hold on a second. What the fuck has this got to do with anything?

29:58Mo Gilligan: So like where you are now in your career now within your middle, it must feel like a really nice moment within your life where you're saying, I can go to Australia. Because you have a world tour coming up next year and you're doing big places. You're going across the world. How does that in terms of affect where you are within your career? Because it must feel almost like, well, I can basically have a week in Australia and do anything. But then there's also, I guess it's like, I had the realisation of where I was in life, where when I was single and I'd be like, I'm going to live in LA for two months and just do vibes.

30:37Mo Gilligan: But realising for me, it was different because I think I was like, oh, right. Like all my, some of my friends got children and, you know, and I'm dating, but I'm not really enjoying this kind of dating because I don't really live here. So it's a bit of a, a bit of a bubble. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. But then you have your career where you're like rock Chris flying. I know. I feel like I was like, am I going to be one of those women who's like married to their job? At the moment, absolutely. And I think that was what gave me the freedom to put the foot down the way I did because I don't have any dependents around them.

31:10Like, you know, if you're in, if you have a family or a partner, kids, all that jazz, very hard to justify going out to Australia for six weeks or very hard to justify gigging every night of the week or whatever it is. And so there's pros and cons. Will I die alone? potentially but I'm having a ball do you know what I mean but also sometimes I feel like I'm like oh because I was gigging I'm still the tour has just finished now before pre-Christmas but I matched with some lad on Raya like six weeks ago he's like do you want to go do you want to go for a drink and I was like yeah yeah yeah go for a drink go for a drink because I was like you know back on the horse do you want to go back on the horse

31:50Mo Gilligan: yeah yeah yeah and he's like when are you free and I was like December 9th which was last night right so we booked at 6 and he's like okay December 9th we all come back and I was like if he comes back in I said he contacted me on December 6th and he's like are we still having that drink on December 9th and I was like absolutely see you on December 9th and then the day of the I'm an asshole the day of the date which was yesterday supposed to be I was working all day and I was doing I was doing a shoot I have a bag business on the side around me and I was doing a photo shoot for it so I was up in hair makeup at like five, blah, blah, blah.

32:25It was wrecked. And I was like, I could not be arsed going in. And going for a drink with, who I'm sure he's very nice, but he's a complete stranger. On a date that I ran six weeks ago. I don't even know if I fancy him. Do you know what I mean? You're like, this is a waste of my time. So I have a voice going, Joanne, don't fucking drag yourself into town to meet a randomer. And they're like, Joanne, if you don't start going back and making an effort, you're going to die on your own. Do you remember? And then this battle

32:52Mo Gilligan: goes on in your head. See, sometimes they're the ones that is, that's your life partner, you know? I know. That's how, do you know what it is yet? Not now. Because me and my now fiance, we done that same thing. Because you engaged? Yeah. Wow, congrats. So when I was texting her, I was like, look, like, I'm going to go to New York. No, the week before, I was like, do you want to meet up for a drink? She said, oh, well, my mum and sister is here. So, yeah, I'm going to spend time with them. So I was like, the fuck? How dare you? And then I was like, well, I'm going to be in New York for about 10 days.

33:28Mo Gilligan: So maybe when I come back, we can do it. So again, it's like two weeks had gone. But did you stay in contact with her when you were gone? Kind of. But it was like, I knew her mom and sister was here. Yeah. So because she didn't, her mom and sister don't live here. So they was visiting and I was in New York and I was trying to work on the tour. So I was like, I've done the whole, I'm going to go to New York, run in Central Park. Yeah. It gives me inspiration. Go to a coffee shop and write. It's such a kill city. I wasn't doing that. I'll go and get a dollar slice of pizza. I'll go to Central Park.

33:58Mo Gilligan: I'll write a title. And then I'm like, yeah, this is long, man. Yeah. And then I remember just transpired and I was like, oh, you're still up for going for a drink on a Saturday. And then it was like, yeah. And I think, again, we weren't doing the back and forth. Hey, how's New York? How's your mom and sister? Everything. think but then that day is like yeah once i sat down for first five minutes i knew i was like i'm going to marry this woman yeah i knew that in five minutes oh my god yeah yeah yeah and i always think i always say it's that thing where you know like when you're saying is that you've met someone but also it's the work thing because work is like such a pillar of what you do in terms of it's how you pay your bills it's how you progress in your life especially when life is that like almost like you're like well I don't have any dependents that's it but also I can see like where my career's going and I'm selling out venues I'm at a stage in my life where wow like things are really like moving like blink and you're one place and blink you're wherever but also knowing that you're like wow that person I've always wanted to meet might just be round the corner but I'm not going to meet them romantically on the tube do you know what I mean yeah I know I know and you have to do you know what like if you're serious this is why I was like do you mind do you actually want to meet someone because you're putting in no like unless someone breaks into my house at this stage like you're putting no work in you have to be honest with yourself and say because dating is like sometimes on a Sunday me and my mates Susan will be like alright we put a shift in on Hinge okay we'll put an hour in you're like okay rolling up the sleeves you're like okay yeah I'm going to start the shift at 6 and I'll hopefully have a date boxed off by 8pm and then you clock out a hinge for the evening and get back to your life.

35:48But you do have to put the work into it. You have to put the work in. And I'm very much at the moment, like I blew off, that date was in the calendar for six fucking weeks. Do you think there'll be another date? I don't know. I mean, like I was just, he looked normal. That's all. I'm just like, he looks normal. Yeah, Grant, I'll go meet you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Why not? But like we weren't chatting or anything. There was no, but sometimes I think the chat, you can overdo the chatting stage as well. And then you're like, then you meet them and you're like, were you using fucking ChatGBT? Because you're very boring in real life.

36:22Where's all that? Where's all the pizzazz and the crack and the jokes? Where's the vibes, man? Yeah, where's the vibes? Talking at 2am, man. What's going on? Where are the vibes?

36:29Mo Gilligan: Yeah, so, yeah. Yeah, you're like, oh God, you're very serious, man. I don't know what I want, man. I don't know what I want. What do we want? But I guess that's the thing, though. You're in a position now where I guess is that as much as you get to look for what you want, you're also in a position where you're on television and you're touring and you've got successful podcasts as well where almost like as much as what you want is what you're going to also attract. Big time. Do you know what I mean? So I guess it's like, how do you find that vulnerability in a sense of like meeting someone? Because you're probably at a place where I want to meet someone, but also I know I can attract someone because I have a front-facing job.

37:10Mo Gilligan: Do you know what I mean? front facing like I remember one lad was like God you know are there loads and loads in your DMs it's like not a single one this job as a female comedian male comedians ah cleaning up but do you think that some people are intimidated though I'm like I mean look obviously I'm always taking this out of we all if everything doesn't work out we're like he intimidated intimidated but maybe they're just like I'm just not into it like that that lifestyle the like and I think you know a lot of my stuff is kind of gently roasting men they know I love them really deep down but like there is a roast like I'm roasting I'm roasting them and I think what do they call them isn't it women they have this terrible term for women clown fuckers isn't that what they're called what's that women who ride so male comedians like I know a lot of male comedians who are when I say like they're normal looking lads they are going out with like like Giselle level women do you know what I mean there's punching and then there's like Katie Taylor doing 12 rounds punching and you're like wow because women are really attracted to funny men yeah yeah yeah whereas I don't like I can't speak for all men I can't speak for any men I'm not a man but I do think the job is a bit of a cock block if I'm honest I think some men can be intimidated by funny women because it's I guess it sometimes can be the attention of you know men like to to have the attention in a sense of I you know my job is different because I make people laugh for a living but having you know the room listening to your every word and making them laugh is a very nice feeling it's power you see yeah and not that that makes us sound like fascists that were up there laughing ha ha all the power that's not what I meant what I meant what I mean is I think there is like men and women can be quite traditional at times in what they want and dynamics and sex and love and it's all power.

39:16Mo Gilligan: Yeah, but I think men can be very intimidated when women are very funny. Do you know what I mean? That's what we're going to say. The thing is that my mum is very funny. So I always say I get my comedy like from my mum. Like I've been around my mum and she can just say one-liners. But a lot of the women in my family are very funny women. So I've always been so for me it's been my norm. but you could imagine how like it's the intimidation of like meeting someone that you're like is is the is that oh well you know oh your missus is well funny mate funny than you and you're like oh oh what oh bro man like I think do you know what as well do you know the way and it's such an old trope and I think I really think it is done and dusted now but this whole thing that men are like oh women aren't funny it's actually what happens is if you for you to find someone funny you have to give yourself over to that person you have to allow them get like make you have to allow your brain be changed by what that person is saying to you and allow yourself to laugh and a lot of men and I've seen them at shows when I'm down to on top secret and there's some prick fucking sitting there with his arms folded looking at me like he wants me dead and I'm like he wants me to know he doesn't like what I'm doing he wants me to know he doesn't think he's funny and it is all power he's like I am not giving myself over to you because you're a woman and I don't agree with it and it's they're the lads who are like I won't say actually I'm not going to say the lads I was going to say something terrible there but it's power and so it's not that women are funny it's like you will not allow yourself be controlled by a woman on stage you will not allow her tickle your sense of humour you just won't give it to her but it's that thing where it's like you get the arms crossed go on then make me laugh yeah yeah yeah oh yeah what's all this about then and his wife will be cracking up yeah yeah yeah and he's like or sometimes the wife sometimes I'm looking at the wife going you poor bitch imagine living with that absolute crank do you know what I mean and sometimes you can see them being like they're kind of quieting themselves like oh run you need to go and ask for Angela at the bar and fucking get out of that marriage yeah yeah yeah you can sense he's a bastard you can just feel it off him how do you find it now like with like now because you're as well as doing stand up and television you have a very successful podcast you know your sister from another Mr.

41:31Mo Gilligan: Vogue Vogue was in the jungle and stuff like this as well. How was that, man? That must have felt like, was you nervous? Because, you know, Eddie's one of my good friends. So I was nervous. Is he? Yeah, so he was in the jungle as well. Yeah, so he was in the jungle. But I'm sitting there watching him do tasks and I'm like, I know you and I know you don't want to do this task. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know you don't mind going in the jungle, but I was like, I know you don't want to jump out of a plane. Also, who wants to gargle pig vagina juice? Like, what's going on, man? And I did think there was more gagging this year than ever before.

42:05And I was like, I don't think I can watch Val Gag anymore. It's just like, it's fucking awful. I'm like, I'm an ex-bulemic. I'm used to gagging. I was like, this is, I can't watch this. Would you ever go on the show?

42:18Mo Gilligan: Because I guess that's what happens now, isn't it? Because my friend Baba Tunde's gone in the jungle. Eddie Caddy's gone in the jungle. They've both done Strictly. I haven't done either. So now it's like, come on, why are you going there? I don't know. Would you ever go on there? I don't know. I think I thought maybe I definitely think that for all the reality TV shows I think The Jungle would suit me the most. The dancing I don't know like as a comic you're like you kind of want to show if you're I mean ultimately you're there to boost your profile make a bit of money sell some tickets that's why people do it.

42:47No one's going in there for the crack. They're not going in because they want a bit of jungle time. They're going in to advance themselves in some way whether it be financially or professionally right. But I think the dancing as a comedian I don't think you get that much of an opportunity to show yourself, to show maybe your comedy chops or whatever it is because you're just dancing. Now, I can't dance, well, I think, I dance like Ellen DeGeneres now because I'm only 40s and I'm just going to tap around. I have a bit of a dad bod move now. So I do think The Jungle would be the best way to show a side of yourself that you want to sell to sell, not to sell, but you are selling it, I guess.

43:22However, in the same breath, I will say, having watched Vogue on it this year, I was like, I do not know if I could do it. did you see the episode where they were all drinking jars of like fish jizz and all fucking gross it was disgusting now I will say Vogue is she won Bear Grylls and she does you think she's like because she's just this like hot blonde white woman you're like she couldn't fucking she won Bear Grylls she's got spice in her bag do you know what I mean she got 11 stars she won she got 11 stars in one competition or whatever they're called what are they called oh

43:58Mo Gilligan: I know I know what you mean but I can't Tasks whatever and she like she got because she's a little sportswoman because she trains every day she's ripped she's shredded and she's jacked so I thought when she was going in I was like she's going to fucking win this you know I really really was like she's going to win this and then I had never heard and that doesn't mean anything because I'm of a different generation H and Ginge I hadn't I wasn't aware of their work because they're younger and older and I didn't know these YouTube stars they're fucking huge huge I think Ginge had the most votes in five years like 65 % of the audience mad yeah mad stuff anyway what was the question no I wouldn't do it you wouldn't do it now come back to me in five years time when I've had some sort of cancellation you know what I mean and I'm having a pot to piss in I'll be like oh I'll be jumping out of that plane and gargling pig juice you fucking wait and see how do you find it with the success of the podcast as well because with your podcast my therapist goes with me um it's become hugely popular and i guess it's like interesting as a comic where you get to show a different side of yourself that's not you know front-facing television stuff it's people that tune in they tune in every week it's a chance for you to show like who you are and you know honest conversations but also you're able to essentially like do stuff off the back a bit separately do you know what I mean and you will know this because we're sitting here doing your podcast it is a game changer like I couldn't get arrested on UK telly now in fairness I say that I've done Taskmaster and stuff but like all the panel shells and all not happening Cast Us Countdown not happening Mock the Week not happening couldn't just wasn't happening right then the podcast started doing well and suddenly you're like oh I don't need them anymore you're master of your own ship now and actually the power of the pod podcasts have way more power now than TV does the one great thing about TV I think still is that you're putting the laps of people who have never seen or heard of you before whereas a podcast you're kind of playing to your own audience and touring now I'm kind of playing to my own audience because I tour my own show now rather than doing comedy gigs so that's a real benefit of doing stuff like the panel shows and things like that because you are they're just watching you because you just they're watching their show that you happen to be on so then if they like you they'll follow up and hopefully buy a ticket or whatever but there's such freedom in the podcasting world like I know back in the day do you know Tommy Tiernan Irish comic I was talking to him about it and he was like back in the day like when he started he's like you just had to keep gigging like there was no way of getting into the ears of someone in Australia really unless you kind of went and gigged in Australia or like they saw some TV show that I kind of crossed over whereas now like you're gig like it's kind of hard to get your head around the power of podcasting and still to this day when you meet someone and they're like oh I'm thinking I was like do you have a podcast no why not they're like oh well you know everyone has yeah everyone has a podcast and everyone benefits from having a podcast that's just the truth like and they're saying it's a saturated market but they were saying that to me before I started my podcast and we've certainly found a halt, do you know what I mean?

47:25And like, it's changed both our careers and our lives that goes to podcasters.

47:30Mo Gilligan: I don't believe that notion with podcasting. I think it's saturated because you know of more podcasts but also, I think it's like, you know, I had this question when we'd done a Q &A about this podcast and I was like, do you think there's too many podcasts? And I was just like, well, not really because there's a lot of books. Do you know what I mean? Exactly. There's a lot of books on the same subjects and you've got, different fiction non-fiction you have so many types and it's the same just with podcasting if you sat here today and you was like i really want to learn about languages and would love to listen to a podcast about i don't know languages and brain development or whatever it is there's a podcast for that yeah which that didn't exist you know 15 20 years ago no it's such an amazing way to find your audience or to find an audience or to force yourself into an audience that like I kind of can't get my head around the benefits of it actually.

48:27And I love doing it. And I used to always think that I'd end up in radio as I could love to do a radio show. But a radio, you're so locked in. It's like going to school. You're so locked into if you're set holidays, they have to work with your other presenter. Whereas me and Vogue, we strap a mic onto our chest once a week, twice a week from anywhere in the world. it's like

48:46Mo Gilligan: it's one of the best jobs in the world it has to be and you're just having the crack with your mate how do you find it differs from doing you know live podcast shows to your own live stand up shows well we did the live tour so I don't and this is just a taste thing but I don't enjoy when I listen so the podcast I listen to and when they do lives and they and they just do like their normal episode but it's in front of a live audience and then that's the episode they put out for me to listen to I don't like them because the appeal of a podcast is the intimacy of the podcast. So when I know the people that I love listening to are playing to a room with people that I can't see, I don't enjoy it as much.

49:28So when me and Val were going on tour, I was saying, I think I want a show, like a show, a standalone show that's the same show every night with like improv-y bits at the start, which is kind of like stand-up sitting down and it's us and then we got a director called Una McEvitt and we turned it into a stage show rather than me and Vogue sitting up there talking shit which we do on Ghosted also that gets a heavy edit it is if you listen to the whole thing you'd be bored off your tits now I'm sure some people are bored off their tits listening to the edit but like there's a lot of editing goes into that show the producer makes that interesting or tries to make that entertaining but like you know the power of the edit people are like oh we could just listen to you talk we could listen to you to say the alphabet no you couldn't you'd be bored off your tits so you need a bit of we wanted a format and that's what we did then.

50:16So we didn't, we didn't, and we never put it out. Like it was never, we never put it out as an episode or anything because it was a stage show. We were dancing and there was like, you know, video clips of us in the past and how we met and it was all that kind of stuff.

50:29Mo Gilligan: And it was so nice because, you know, like doing stand-up, your side of stage going, you know, this is all, this is just me now. Like I'm, you know, I'm on my own in this. Like I have to go out now and do my thing. Sometimes you're trying to get yourself in the headspace for it. Whereas when I was doing Vogue, I was like, fucking Grant. It was like a walk in the park. Because I had someone on the stage with me. Did it feel like you wasn't even working as well? Just looking at her, chatting away, and I was having a drink, and then I'd kind of chip in, and it was great. It was brilliant. Yeah. And then you're like, I'm paying my bills, dude.

51:02Mo Gilligan: Yeah, I know, yeah. It's like I'm on a joddy here. It's only for our rope. So, like, in terms of your end, like, you said that you're the captain of your own ship at times. and how do you see that end in terms of like where do you plan to sail to because you know where you whereby you don't have any you know like you were saying like dependence but you're in a really cool unique position where you're able to you know do a successful podcast do stand up dip into tv but also have the leisure of saying well i want to go to australia for a week and then do the show. Yeah. So how do you plan to sail that shit later on in life?

51:44Great question, Mo. Great question. I don't know. So I think, so there's a part of my brain that's like, oh, you better pop out a kid, your mom, because you're going to need that kid later on in life. Because you had a documentary about this as well. I had a documentary called Baby Hater. Obviously it was an intentionally controversial topic, but I was going out with a guy at the time who was adamant he didn't want kids. Right? Adamant, adamant, adamant. So I, and I was mad about him. So I was like, am I going to give up this idea of kids? Do I care about kids? Do I want kids? I was never one of these.

52:11Some people are really sure they want kids. Some people are really sure they don't. I was just kind of floating around in the middle. I was like, probably something I will do. It's kind of what people do. I don't feel strongly about having it. But I also know I think I'd regret it if I didn't have it. I'm 42 now. And I know it's like, well, Sienna Miller is knocked up at 43. She looks 12. So I suppose like there's, you know, science is on our side. but like decisions need to be made you know what I mean I think I might have a gaybie which is a gay baby with my gay friend Ross or if I don't do that I think I'll move to the States oh okay I think when Pinafile finishes so if Pinafile finishes in the in the I'm doing a three arena my first arena show in Ireland next December

52:56Mo Gilligan: just for anyone listening Pinafile I file Pina that's the name of the the tour show Pinafile yeah I date age appropriate but I file Pina when I thought it was a fun pun yeah yeah and then when that show when P &O FILE finishes I think I'll move I think I'll go to New York oh wow yeah I think so why not because I love it I feel like it's the centre of the universe and I feel like for stand up I think it's really important to start again somewhere and like I like the climb yeah and so I'd be going back into the clubs and I'd be working up new material and it just really appeals to me and I do think if you are if you have if you are a bit of a lone wolf in your life then why not reap the benefits of that and the benefits are travel and like set up shops somewhere else and also I would love to get a shoe in in American I'd love to have a crack at the States yeah yeah yeah very hard to do that from here like I have a I'm with I have an agent and a manager and all over there but they're like unless you're on the ground it's very hard no one gives a shit about you Joanne you're living in London but you have to email them yeah yeah oh my god how are you yeah yeah it's been ages oh my god he has my favourite comedian in the whole world and they're desperately trying to find your name on the call they're like Joanna McNulty you're like it's Joanne McNally remember he assigned me told me I was the Jesus of comedy oh I've done all of those boy yeah I'm trying to like hey how are you you look sunny over there yeah yeah okay great so um loving everything, bro.

54:34Mo Gilligan: Yeah. It's amazing. But yeah, I'm going to come over there. We've got to go to Fort Mennon Masons. I'm like, what the fuck do you want to go to Fort Mennon Masons for, bro? I need some work. Yeah, I know. They're very funny. It's that absolute stereotypical idea of American managers and all. It is so true. It's just like everything you see in the films. They are up your arse so intensely when they saw you that you come out going, maybe I am a genius. Do you know what I mean? They all seem to think I'm a genius. And then a week in, they're like, hey, Jillian. You're like, it's Joanne. But honestly, man, like, it's such a, one, it's such a pleasure to have you on the podcast.

55:12Mo Gilligan: Thanks, man. And two, I'm really excited to see, like, where your career really, like, starts to, like, flourish in a sense of, like, it's flourishing now because you're doing arena shows. You've got massive podcasts. But, you know, with you still wanting to pursue your dream and, like, go to America and stuff like this. and that's stuff that as a comic, you sit there and you're like, I'm not even going to America to be famous. It's just like, I want to be in the clubs. Do you know what I mean? It's the experience of it. Yeah, and it's like another part of like, someone's career where you're like, oh yeah, I see you in America as well.

55:48Mo Gilligan: And I just feel like as an Irish comic, you would flourish over there as well. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I do enjoy like the climb and like, it's not like I've cracked the UK. by no stretch have I but I do feel like I have enough of a foundation here now that I can disappear for a year or two and come back and that I would still have an audience or a market here and I just like I say like it's so different over there in New York the comedy scene is so intense and like I haven't even done I did the store when I was out the last time what's the other one the big one The Cellar The Cellar Comedy Cellar Yeah, I've not even done that yet.

56:31Mo Gilligan: Yeah, I want to get into the cellar. Now, I have done, you know the way they have loads of little pop-up gigs, but the main, I'd love, I want to do the main ring with the cellar. Yeah, yeah, yeah, where it's got that little kind of glass-coloured thing in the background. Yeah, yeah, same, same, same. I've not done that. No, it's very hard to get in there and it's good to have goals where you're like, okay, let's start again, let's go over there and see if you can do the same. Have you done any rooms in LA, like the improv? No, I've done shows, my own shows in LA, but I haven't done anything. Oh, sorry.

56:58No, I didn't. No, no, I didn't. Sorry. I was in the wings. I didn't actually go on in the end.

57:01Mo Gilligan: Because again, it's like, it's those other bucket list things that you sit there and I was speaking to one comic who's from the States and he goes, oh man, have you ever like done LA? And I said, oh, I've done the Comedy Store once. He's like, what, you've done the Comedy Store? I was like, yeah, bro. I've just done like, he's like, oh my God, you know how hard it is? And it was, I didn't, they got like three rooms but I've done like a show of a bunch of other comics and it was the main room. He's like, dude, you play in the main room? Wow. Yeah. It's like really big, bro. But it is. And I was like, oh, I didn't know, you know?

57:30Mo Gilligan: Yeah. So I guess it's like, you know, sometimes where it's just like, yes, we have our own individual goals of where we want our careers to go and flourish. But, you know, like where you tell someone the thing and then you're like, yeah, I see that for that person. Do you know what I mean? I remember standing beside a stage in the New York Comedy Club in one of the smaller rooms. I'd say it's a 60 seater. And I was, like adrenaline I was like shaking and all and I was like what's going on here? Like I've just done a couple of Apollos and now I'm over here shitting myself in the wings of this tiny glove.

58:03Wow. So it's like because you know you have to prove yourself all over again. These people don't care if you live or die. They don't know who you are. And you're like quivering like an open spot. And you're like do you want to get your shit get your shit get your shit get your shit you've got to go out there

58:17Mo Gilligan: dry mouth and all. I done Laugh Factory and it was like a last minute impromptu. It was like, yeah, yeah, you can jump on. I was like, oh, I was so nervous. Nervous, I know. And I was like, what am I nervous for? I know. I don't know why I'm nervous, but it's that thing of like knowing that, I think it's just how much you care about the thing and just never letting, you know, your ego. That's it. Like go above there and keeping yourself grounded and be like, I know how historic this club is, but also just what this just means as a goal to tick off. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? I know. Also, stand-up is one of those things when you're standing in the wings, sometimes you're like, can I, am I able to do this?

58:56And then when you get the first laugh, you're like, oh yeah, crap. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're like, oh yeah, I know what I'm doing. But I was really shocked at how much I got into my own head. Because especially, and I'm very lucky because where I'm at with the touring stuff, people come, they're on your side. They're there to see you. And so there's all the goodwill in the room. You know what I mean? Whereas in these new clubs, there's no goodwill there really, except for like them wanting to enjoy comedy but they're like

59:21Mo Gilligan: alright dance bitch what's all this have you had that thing where like when you do a club in like the states where like you perform and like you do well and then like someone will be like oh my god you're amazing like oh my god how long have you been going two weeks I'm just a genius I'm a novice yeah this guy calls me he's like bro my god that was amazing how long have you been going man I was like oh it's like a couple years he's like dude like where can I find your stuff man And I was like, oh, some stuff on YouTube. It's kind of like cheating, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. I know. It's properly cheating.

59:53Mo Gilligan: Yeah, you're cheating. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, because once you hit the stage then, they're like, what the fuck? Yeah, no, like, because when I walked off, my girlfriend was like, why don't you tell him that you can watch some of your stuff and whatnot? And I was like, no, but you want to keep that illusion because he doesn't know anything. So at least he has the illusion of like, oh, I've seen this person. It was really funny. Yeah. And if he does check, he's like, what the fuck? Oh, shit. I know. This guy actually is doing some bits and bobs, man. so yeah you want to be like oh I'm just a souvant I've never gigged in my life yeah you know two weeks who knew I could do callbacks it's so funny because I was just saying because you get such a kick then out of people being like because they expect nothing from you and then you go up and obviously you know we're touch wood fingers crossed good at our jobs because we've a lot of stage time behind us and all that jazz they're not expecting it and then you're like you're delighted with yourself yes do you know what I mean but it is a kind of you are kind of cheating that's what I love about doing top secret sometimes where I'm just like, well, I'll just jump in and do a quick 10.

1:00:49Mo Gilligan: Yeah. What are you doing here, man? Just trying out some stuff, man. Back with the plebs. Just trying out some new bits, man. Don't know if it's going to work. Meanwhile, it's stuff I've been doing on door for a year. Yeah. Michelle DeSworth always has this great, she's always saying, she makes her laugh sandwich when comics are like squiggling in their notebooks and she's like, dude, I know you're going to go out there and do that bit that has been crushing and killing for 15 years why are you doodling what are you writing down man that's what he's there's talk that just came to me yeah I just got this little bit I'm just yeah yeah I just got this yeah I don't know if it works it's like Mickey Flanagan going down to Top Secret and doing Out Out you know that Biddy has about going Out Out it's just yeah it's gas but honestly it's been a pleasure to have you on the pod man so nice talking to you tickets for your tour on sale on your peanut file joanmcnally.com and on your website as well on my website joanmcnally.com and also I've added a matinee show hey So I have a night time show in the Apollo on the 15th of Feb and I've added a matinee at three because a lot of the women coming to my shows are now mothers because we're all grown up together and they're like but you've been on a fucking matinee woman we only in bed by eight The matinee shows are it's the cash cow that keeps cashing in Because they go for the bottomless brunch beforehand by the time they get to you they're in a blackout Like hey girls And they work really well in winter because it gets darker like three, four o 'clock so it doesn't feel like, you're like, oh my god, this is so late and it's now nine o 'clock and you've got to get parking where you're like, oh, I got it free.

1:02:20Mo Gilligan: I can still do stuff at the end of the day. And a Sunday, I love it, man. And a Sunday, I love it. I love a sense of purpose on a Sunday morning. Curly, blow dry, into town, matinee show, bed by eight. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The dream. It's been a pleasure to have you on the pod, man, and this has been your beginning, middle and end. Thank you very much, man. Thank you. I'm going to clap myself. Hey, what's up? Thank you so much for listening to the podcast today. Now, a lot goes in to making each episode i know you hear my voice but there's a team behind the scenes who help make it and if you did enjoy it i'd really really appreciate if you could show the love to them by giving us five stars and if you also have the time please leave us a review it's always appreciated and we love reading the comments and of course we want to keep making it better thank you for listening and have a great day peace