- 2 hours ago
The Assembly Ie - Season 1 Episode 2 - Joanne Mcnally
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00:0034 autistic and neurodivergent adults from all over Ireland have gathered in
00:06Dublin's Docklands for a television program like no other.
00:10Welcome to the assembly.
00:12What's it like having your own TV show?
00:14Why did you decide to get varicose veins removed on your leg?
00:17How do you see yourself in the future?
00:23This location has been specially chosen to suit our cast.
00:26There are no lights, they're free to come and go as they please,
00:29and they share the space with the crew.
00:36What do you think we should be asking?
00:38What brand of tea do you like?
00:40Do you have any secret talents?
00:42Have you ever met your biological parents?
00:46Do you still think Tom Cruise is the perfect man?
00:48I'm aware from reading online that you had an eating disorder.
00:51I'm wondering what you think may have contributed to your difficulties with eating.
00:56There's no script, no rules, no secrets.
01:00This isn't over.
01:01You cannot refuse.
01:03The team has been busy researching today's subject.
01:06They are ready for action.
01:09Welcome to the assembly.
01:11I think with being autistic sometimes I don't quite get certain forms of comedy.
01:28Guys, it's Joanne McNally.
01:29Hello.
01:30Hello.
01:31Hello.
01:32How are you?
01:33I don't know.
01:34She is kind of funny because she tells a lot of jokes.
01:38This is Billie Joanne.
01:39Oh, thank you.
01:40Oh, thanks, Billie.
01:41You're very welcome.
01:42Oh, that's so sweet.
01:43They're little lights.
01:44Yep.
01:45Ah, thanks, Billie.
01:46Very excited.
01:47Because, you know, like, you know, interviewing someone new is always a great experience.
01:51I love the shirt.
01:52Look at this.
01:53You can't have it.
01:54I can't have it.
01:55You're like my dance partner.
01:56I'd wear that.
01:57I love it.
01:58Jesus, I hope she doesn't drag me onto the stage here.
02:00And, of course, there's a lot to get out.
02:03Hello, and welcome to the assembly.
02:04We are a group of autistic and neurodivergent individuals, and we're very happy to have
02:19you here with us today.
02:20Our rules are...
02:21Well, what rules?
02:22Muttons off the table.
02:24Please introduce yourselves.
02:26Me?
02:27Oh, sorry.
02:28I thought I was just going to sit and relax.
02:31And all of you were going to do it.
02:34So, will I stand?
02:35Yeah.
02:36Okay, so my name's Joanne McNally, and I'm a stand-up comedian.
02:40And I'm a little nervous now because I feel like I am a little vulnerable.
02:45So I would ask you to be gentle, but also very much looking forward to your questions.
02:49That's it.
02:50Fabulous.
02:52To start us off today, we have the wonderful Amy.
02:55Hi, Amy.
02:56Hi, Joanne.
02:57How are you?
02:58I am good.
02:59How are you?
03:01Good.
03:02Gorgeous dress.
03:04So, do you see yourself having dinner in the Black Forge any time soon?
03:08Oh!
03:09Sorry, you're going to have to inform me.
03:11Where is the Black Forge?
03:13Oh, sugar.
03:14Oh, no.
03:15Is that your local?
03:16Crumlin.
03:17Is it a pub?
03:18Conor McGregor's pub.
03:19Oh!
03:20Oh!
03:21Oh!
03:22Wow!
03:23The spice has arrived to the event.
03:26No, I don't think so.
03:29There's enough pubs.
03:31Also, I'm rarely in Frumlin.
03:33Thank you, Amy.
03:34Sean.
03:35Hit him, Sean.
03:36Yeah, hang on.
03:38Let's get this open.
03:39Hello.
03:40Hello.
03:41My name is Sean, and welcome to the assembly.
03:42Thank you very much, Sean.
03:43What school did you go to, and did you like school?
03:46I went to Loretto Abbey Dalaki up until nine, I think, which I loved because I was boy mad.
03:55Yeah.
03:56And we played a lot of Kiss Chase.
03:57And I loved school.
03:58I loved it, loved it, loved it.
03:59Have you got any questions for me?
04:01Any questions for you?
04:06Who's your favourite actor?
04:09Well, I like Ryan Tuberty.
04:11Ryan Tuberty.
04:12Ryan Tuberty?
04:13Yeah, he's great.
04:14He's really, really good.
04:15Yeah.
04:16He is good, yeah.
04:17Did you know who I was before we met?
04:18Joanne.
04:19Oh, yeah.
04:24Perfect.
04:25What is your favourite way to travel when back in Ireland?
04:28Favourite way to travel is the dart.
04:31Oh, yeah.
04:32Yeah.
04:33Oh, I'm glad I won.
04:34That feels like I won that question.
04:35The dart, or because I, it's a long, boring story, Sean, but I don't have a licence at the
04:40moment.
04:41Yeah.
04:42But my mother drives me around a lot, which is nice.
04:43Does she?
04:44Because we get to catch up in the car.
04:45Although I'm not sure she likes it as much as me.
04:46There's an Oasis concert on in Crowe Park tonight.
04:49There is, Sean.
04:50Yeah.
04:51And I'm going.
04:52You're going to it tonight?
04:53Oh, very nice.
04:54Got the Oasis Nails.
04:55That's what they're for.
04:56Oh, yeah.
04:57The occasion, yeah.
04:58Are you taking the Manute train to Ducondra?
05:00No, I think I'm going to get a taxi.
05:02Taxi?
05:03I think so.
05:04Yeah, I'm going to go high-end for the night.
05:05Are you going?
05:06Which taxis do you use?
05:07Free now usually?
05:08Free now.
05:09Free now.
05:10Yeah.
05:11They're great.
05:12They're great taxis.
05:13They're very efficient, very reliable.
05:14Yeah.
05:15Is that what you do?
05:16I don't really use free now.
05:17I use Murphy's and Bray.
05:18Oh, nice.
05:19Where do you live?
05:20Charmwood and Bray.
05:21Oh, great.
05:22You're right near me.
05:23The same end, yeah.
05:24Yeah.
05:25I'm like the end of Dublin.
05:26You're the star of Wicklow.
05:27Yeah.
05:28Thank you so much.
05:30Okay.
05:31I'm Una.
05:32Hi, Una.
05:33You seem to have a very close relationship to your mum.
05:36How do you stay so close when you live away?
05:40Well, it's not easy.
05:41We do a lot of FaceTime, but I still, according to my mother, haven't in contact enough.
05:46I think she would just like to chip me and follow me around.
05:49But yeah, she has a fake Instagram account that she keeps an eye on me through.
05:52Oh, jeez.
05:53Yeah, my mum's got a Finsta, which I don't know the name of, but I'm pretty sure it's
05:58similar to her own name because she's not that good at line.
06:00Do you still plan on having a baby?
06:02Would you do it solo if you're not in a relationship?
06:05I would.
06:06I think that's going to be my only option, Una.
06:08I would like a baby, yeah.
06:10What I might do is have one with one of my gay male friends because then we can just raise
06:16it together without the complications of a relationship.
06:19But I think the relationship side for me, it's a bit late now.
06:24I'm 42, so by the time I meet someone, fall in love with them, and then get pregnant,
06:29it might take a while because it takes a while to fall in love with people.
06:32Too long, actually.
06:33I don't lose hope.
06:35Yeah.
06:36No, but it's an okay way to do it, I think, you know.
06:39The traditional ways of doing things are moving.
06:41Things are changing and moving forward.
06:43And there was a time where if you didn't meet someone, you just couldn't have one.
06:46So I think I'd either have one with one of my gay friends or I'd adopt one.
06:51Courtney, you're up next.
06:54Do it, Courtney.
06:56Hello.
06:57Hello.
06:58I just have one question.
06:59You said recently that if you were to have a child, you would love to just be able to
07:05birth a five-year-old to skip the hard bits.
07:07So what for you is hard about a child under five?
07:11To be honest, Courtney, if I'm being honest, I'd probably skip it to ten.
07:17I think I was being ambitious with five.
07:20I think what I would love about having a child is the companionship of a family.
07:25I mean, I see a lot of my friends raising children, and it does not look easy.
07:30It looks very, very hard.
07:31They're all sleep-deprived.
07:33They're scrapping with their partners.
07:35The kids crying all the time.
07:37And I'm like, wouldn't it be beautiful in an ideal world if you could just...
07:41I'm being lazy, Courtney.
07:43If you could just skip all that and have this perfectly honed young adult who's just your best friend.
07:49Unfortunately, you can't birth ten-year-olds.
07:51No.
07:52This is not scientifically...
07:53Well, it would be pretty painful.
07:54It would be very painful.
07:55It would take you a long, long time.
07:57Emily.
07:58Hello, Joanne.
07:59Hello.
08:00I'm aware that you had an eating disorder.
08:02I'm wondering what do you think may have contributed to your difficulties with eating?
08:09The answer, straight-out answer is, I don't know.
08:12I think it's a very complicated illness.
08:16Like, a lot of factors play a part.
08:18Like, I was kind of a bigger kid.
08:21Like, even this sounds so ridiculous, but, like, obviously, I've been to a lot of therapy about it all.
08:25Like, when we were younger, when we'd play mummies and daddies, I was always the daddy.
08:28I felt I was too big.
08:30I held too much space.
08:32And then I started dieting.
08:34It was diet culture.
08:35It was like the noughties.
08:36That's what everyone was doing.
08:37You know?
08:38All our mothers were eating half a grapefruit for breakfast.
08:40It was just what it was.
08:41And then as you lose weight, people start clapping you.
08:44Complimenting you.
08:45Exactly.
08:46And say you look great.
08:47So then you're like, okay, I'll go more and more.
08:49And then you just lose all sense of reality.
08:51You know?
08:52Then you're very sick.
08:53Then you have to kind of relearn how to eat again and be happy with your body again.
08:58And that takes a lot of time, you know?
08:59I think I was also quite unhappy in my life.
09:02I wasn't doing anything creative.
09:04So I wasn't achieving much.
09:06And I think in my brain, I thought being thin was an achievement.
09:10Which, of course, we know it's not.
09:12It's just a size.
09:13It doesn't mean anything.
09:14But to me it did.
09:15Yeah.
09:16So I decided if I couldn't be happy creatively and professionally, I would just be really,
09:21really good at being really, really thin.
09:24So that was what it was.
09:27But we'll never know.
09:28It's so complicated.
09:29And do you feel you may be neurodivergent?
09:32Maybe.
09:33Maybe.
09:34I mean, I spend a lot of time looking for things.
09:39I don't know if that's a sign.
09:42Losing things, like, it stops being funny after a while.
09:44Now I have to chain my keys to my bike lock to my ear pods to my, I have to chip my password.
09:50Like, it's all, you know, there's a lot of, a bit chaotic.
09:55Or, I don't know if that makes me neurodivergent, but it does make things a little tricky.
09:59But yeah, I think I'd call it, there's probably a bit of neuro spice there.
10:04So I've always kind of found comedy quite difficult and hard to understand.
10:09And I'm going to now share with you, if that's okay, a poem that I created myself
10:15that expressed about some of the artistic experience.
10:18Yeah, I'd love it.
10:19Yes, we are artistic, different, not less.
10:21We deserve all the opportunities to progress.
10:24We are all different in every way.
10:26Our challenges can change from day to day.
10:28With advanced notice, support and acceptance, change can be made less of a struggle.
10:33I wish people knew that for us, clear communication is better than a subtle clue.
10:37Say what you mean and mean what you say comes to mind.
10:40Please try not to believe stereotypes about us when many of our community are super kind.
10:45This opportunity, amazing in every way, not just being told what to do, we are allowed to have a say.
10:50An opportunity previously in our lives we may have never got.
10:54A space to be, a space of inclusion means a lot.
10:59Where did your love of pigs start?
11:00That's such a good question.
11:01Virgin Mobile, proud sponsor of this show.
11:15Virgin Mobile, proud sponsor of this show.
11:22How is everyone feeling?
11:27You all okay?
11:28Yes.
11:29Yes.
11:30So this is Dean.
11:32Hello.
11:33Hiya, how are you?
11:35I'm good.
11:36So I did a bit of research.
11:38Okay, good.
11:39And I found out that you have a love for pigs.
11:42I love pigs.
11:43Yes, that's true.
11:44Yes.
11:45Where did your love of pigs start?
11:46That's such a good question.
11:48Where did my love of pigs start?
11:51I've always liked animals and I'd love to own a farm one day maybe.
11:56A couple of llamas, things like that.
11:58It's not all cracked up to me.
12:00Do you have a farm?
12:01No, but a load of people that do.
12:03I think what I mean is I'd like to walk around a farm rather than like have to run a farm.
12:09But pigs were very interesting to me because I read an article once about how intelligent
12:13they are and it always stuck with me.
12:16And apparently pigs have the intelligence like of an average kind of two year old toddler
12:20or something like that.
12:21And they're kind of feral and dirty which I also think I like.
12:24And I like the noises that they make.
12:25I do have another question.
12:27Hit me.
12:28If there is anything that you could say to your younger self what would it be?
12:31It sounds a bit corny but I would say believe in yourself.
12:35Because I wasn't very good at that when I was younger and I questioned myself a lot.
12:39What would you say to your younger self?
12:41I'd probably say something similar.
12:43I'd have a lot of like self doubt when I would have been younger.
12:46Yeah.
12:47I think it's a part of the human condition really.
12:49And I think it's important to try and get past it so you can do what you want to do without worrying all the time that you're going to fail or that people are going to think you look stupid.
12:58Because there's always people who are going to think you look stupid no matter what you do.
13:01That's true.
13:02You just have to ignore them.
13:03You know?
13:04And live your life for yourself and not how other people see you.
13:06Yeah.
13:07Hi.
13:08Hiya.
13:09If you have a super power what will it be and why?
13:14I'd like two super powers if I can.
13:16Okay.
13:17Yeah?
13:18Yeah.
13:19Singing.
13:20I genuinely love to be able to sing because I find singers when they write their albums they can tour those albums forever and ever and people will listen back.
13:29Whereas with comedians you can tell a joke once and then they're like everyone's like I heard that.
13:33So they could get to just dine out and they're singing forever and ever and I think it's such a talent to be able to sing.
13:38And the other thing I'd love to be able to do because to me it is a super power because I'm so bad at it is maths.
13:44Aww.
13:45I'd love to just have an eye for numbers.
13:47To me that's a super power I'd love to be able to do it.
13:49I think it's so impressive people who can add and subtract.
13:52Like I can't do any of that.
13:54For my second question have you ever met your biological parents?
14:00My biological parents?
14:02I have.
14:03Yes.
14:04I've met them both.
14:05They're from Ireland.
14:06They're from Roscommon originally.
14:07And I'm still in contact with my birth father but not in contact with my birth mother anymore.
14:12That didn't really work out.
14:13Yeah.
14:14That's her story to tell really.
14:16They just were very young and they couldn't make it work.
14:19And that's okay.
14:20And then they found a family who were dying to have a kid.
14:23And I never felt adopted.
14:24It was just my mum's my mum.
14:25You know.
14:26I think once she said to me she's like it's so weird to me that you didn't come out of my body.
14:29Because she just sees me as her own child.
14:31Like I am her own child.
14:33And I don't think even growing up I don't think I even once did the how you're not my real mum.
14:39I don't even think I did that.
14:40Which you'd think you'd get away with once.
14:42As a teenager.
14:43I'm actually adopted as well.
14:45Go on.
14:46Yeah.
14:47Yeah.
14:48Yeah.
14:49I look like my mother.
14:50You look like your mother.
14:51Yeah.
14:52Your adopted mother or your biological mother?
14:53My biological mother.
14:54Yeah.
14:55Yeah.
14:56Yeah.
14:57You're very lucky.
14:58Yeah.
14:59Isn't it cool?
15:00Yeah.
15:01When you see it.
15:02Yeah.
15:03That's lovely.
15:04I never felt rejected or anything.
15:05I don't know if you ever felt rejected.
15:07My mother sold it to me like everyone loved you so much that they wanted to make sure that the person who loved you the most got you.
15:13So basically I was like oh my god I'm too lovable.
15:15That's my problem.
15:16Do you know what I mean?
15:17I'm just too lovable.
15:18Which is the same with you.
15:19As an adoptee too what would you advise for the adoptee community not just here in Ireland but the entire world?
15:29Did you say entire world?
15:31Yeah.
15:32Oh my gosh.
15:33I need more deodorant.
15:35The entire world.
15:39Well.
15:40I think.
15:42Sorry this is what I think.
15:44I think it's really really important for the human soul to know where you came from.
15:48And not everyone can or will but I do think that can have an impact on you.
15:52So I think where possible I think people should find out if they want to.
15:55And when I went in to the adoption agency and they were trying to make sure that you're sane so that you can like go through the process.
16:01She said why do you want to do this and I said I just really like I said it probably sounds really shadow but I'd love to look like somebody I've never looked like anyone.
16:08And she said 99% of people who come in that's their reason.
16:12So that just shows you like how important that is to people.
16:15But I would also say don't put too much on it.
16:19It's not going to necessarily fix everything.
16:21I'd be patient with it.
16:22Kristen are you happy with those answers?
16:24Yes.
16:25Good.
16:26Thank God.
16:27I believe you have something you'd like to give.
16:28So I have something for you.
16:30Oh great.
16:32Oh my God that's gorgeous.
16:36You didn't sign it.
16:37You have to sign it.
16:38You can sign it later.
16:39Yeah.
16:40That's stunning.
16:41I'll frame that.
16:42I have a lot of art in my flat.
16:43Thank you so much.
16:45Ciaran.
16:46Hello.
16:47Hi Ciaran.
16:48So was comedy something you had an interest in pursuing as a child and did you have any comedians you liked growing up?
16:55So no and no.
16:57I didn't have any interest in comedy.
17:00I wanted to be an actor or a dentist but no I had no interest in comedy.
17:06It was a big happy accident really.
17:08It's a weird job and I'm lucky I fell into it but I definitely fell into it.
17:13I didn't really pursue it.
17:14Are you a comedy fan?
17:15Yeah.
17:16Yeah.
17:17You should come to one of my shows.
17:18Yeah.
17:19You're invited.
17:20Yeah.
17:21Do you have VIP tickets?
17:22VIP of course.
17:23I'm actually trying to charge you now.
17:25No of course.
17:26You can come.
17:27Of course you can.
17:28You can all come.
17:29Now everyone remember you're all going for free to her gig.
17:32That's what we've just taken from this.
17:36Rebecca.
17:37Yay.
17:38Come on Rebecca.
17:39Hi.
17:40Hi Rebecca.
17:41Nice to meet you.
17:42Now I hate to bring up your driver's license.
17:44Oh gosh.
17:45Go on.
17:46But you said in an interview that not driving is a red flag in men but you don't have your driver's license.
17:52How do you think people see this as a red flag in you?
17:54A hundred percent.
17:55And in the words of our great philosopher Taylor Swift.
17:58We love her.
17:59It is me.
18:00Hi.
18:01I'm the problem.
18:02It's me.
18:03I hold my hands up to a lot of hypocrisies.
18:04And I say it's because I know I can drive that I have different expectations for men.
18:11It's like smoking.
18:12When I see other people smoking I'm like oh that's disgusting.
18:14If I ever have a cigarette on a night out I'm like oh my god I look Parisian.
18:17Do you know what I mean?
18:18There's different rules for me and different rules for everyone else.
18:20But you have to hold your hands up and say I'm a bit of a hypocrite sometimes.
18:23Okay.
18:24I like it.
18:25Yeah.
18:26Rebecca thank you.
18:27For grilling me.
18:28That was a grilling.
18:29You're so welcome.
18:30Martin.
18:31Ready to go?
18:32Well done Martin.
18:33Okay Joanne.
18:34I hear you like dating apps.
18:38Can you give me any dating tips?
18:40Oh jeez.
18:41Oh no.
18:42Well well well.
18:43Oh no.
18:44Well first you've got great height Martin.
18:47And women love, women love height.
18:49And I'm not great to give dating tips because I'm still dating.
18:53Which means I'm obviously not that good at it.
18:55But I will say the one thing to do is.
18:58He's yawning.
18:59He's opening on it.
19:00The one thing to do is.
19:02You have to be honest Martin.
19:05That's the key.
19:06Yeah.
19:07We can't.
19:08Sometimes I'm like pretending I like.
19:10Outdoor activities that I don't like.
19:12And I'm like oh I love to kayak.
19:14No Joanne you don't.
19:15Be honest with this man and make sure he knows.
19:18Okay.
19:19You don't want to kayak.
19:20So honesty is key.
19:21And recent photos.
19:22Can't be tricking people.
19:23Finally.
19:24I work in the cinema.
19:26Do you like going to the cinema?
19:28I love the cinema.
19:29And I used to go to the cinema in Delirio all the time.
19:31And I had friends who worked there.
19:32They used to give us free popcorn.
19:33It was great.
19:34So did I.
19:35I worked in the IMC yeah.
19:36Yeah.
19:37Because they gave me free popcorn too.
19:38Yeah.
19:39There you go.
19:40A great perk of the job.
19:41I love the cinema.
19:42Even in the summer.
19:43Even at the height of the summer I go to the cinema.
19:45There's a cinema really close to my flat in London.
19:48And I go there all the time.
19:50Do you get to the cinema for free?
19:52I think so.
19:53I think I got one that was free yeah.
19:54Yeah.
19:55And I haven't seen Space Jam and all that yeah.
19:57Brilliant.
19:58You have great taste.
20:00Bye.
20:01Hi.
20:02So why did you decide to get varicose veins removed on your legs when you were 21 years
20:08of age?
20:09Vanity.
20:10I had terrible varicose veins on my legs.
20:12And they had like bubbled up and I hated them and I was so paranoid about them.
20:16I was very prone to them.
20:17Like it's very unusual to have surgery for them at 21.
20:20Okay.
20:21Like that's unusual.
20:22So that's how bad they were that I could get that done.
20:24They were making me very self conscious.
20:26Okay.
20:27And I wanted to get them done.
20:28But this was back.
20:29Now the surgery is different.
20:30This is back where they had to like, like they pulled them all out from.
20:33Oh.
20:34I know.
20:35I know.
20:36And they'd like strip them out off your leg.
20:38It was very dramatic.
20:39Oh my God.
20:40I look like I've been run over by a truck.
20:41That must have been very painful.
20:43It was actually.
20:44It was.
20:46It was.
20:47But I was delighted.
20:48You know those things you're like, I know this is sore now but I'm going to be so pleased.
20:52And I was so pleased.
20:53I was so pleased I got it done.
20:54But yeah, like it is vanity.
20:55But that's okay.
20:56You know, you want to be happy with yourself.
20:57Would you be conscious of your scarring though?
20:59No.
21:00Because the scars are in a private place.
21:03Because they kind of incise you up here and then rip them out.
21:06Also, I love scars.
21:07I think scars are really cool.
21:09It's a good icebreaker.
21:10I went out with a guy once with one eye.
21:13Back to Jack.
21:14Do you want to stay sitting or do you want to get up?
21:16Uh, so, uh, I heard that you didn't have a driving license.
21:20Oh Jack, it's the bane of my life.
21:22Really?
21:23Yeah.
21:24So basically, I'm not very, I'm a bit, um, what would I say, lax on logistics.
21:29I struggle to kind of complete quite basic tasks and that can kind of get me into trouble.
21:34I can let stuff fall by the wayside.
21:36And the driving was one of them.
21:37When you do your driving test in Ireland, you pass the test and then they give you a piece
21:42of paper and you have to send it off within two years and then they give you your license
21:47in return for that.
21:49And I didn't send the thing off.
21:52So then they're like, well your license is gone.
21:54And I've been trying to get it back ever since.
21:56It's an absolute pain in the ass, Jack.
21:58But I can drive in quite good, but just not legally.
22:00Just not legally.
22:01Yeah.
22:02And that is an important part of the driving process.
22:04It must be done legally.
22:05So you're illegally going.
22:06No, no, no, Jack.
22:07I didn't say that.
22:08Cut that.
22:09Cut that.
22:10I'm just saying.
22:11How many emergencies, Jack?
22:12Yeah, okay, got it, got it, got it, got it.
22:14If I'm hungry.
22:15Yeah, okay, got it, got it.
22:16I don't know.
22:17I would never drive illegally.
22:18I would never drive illegally.
22:19And I recently just got my provisional back again.
22:22But I'm driving with my mother, which is totally legal and above words.
22:25Even if sometimes you can't see her, she's like underneath the seat.
22:28I'm going to prison.
22:31I thought this was going to be a bit of fun.
22:33And now I'm going to prison.
22:34I'm going to be in the docus center.
22:35Right.
22:36Just so you know.
22:38Up next, we have Jamie.
22:40You going to come up?
22:41Hi, Jamie.
22:42Hello.
22:43Hello.
22:44I have a little rap song, I would say.
22:48Oh, excellent.
22:49Oh, my goodness.
22:50Bear in mind, I had a little amount of time to write this.
22:54Here we go.
22:55Yeah, we're chilling like villains upon television,
22:59feeling like we're all famous, but our stories are only been written.
23:02We're here asking questions to Joanne McNally.
23:04I wonder, will she ever get her driving license?
23:07How many theory tests did she get denied from?
23:10We're here on the assembly having the chats.
23:12No question too big, no answer too flat.
23:15Hope you have fun and enjoy your day.
23:17Keep trying to drive.
23:19We'll see you on the road someday.
23:20Yay!
23:21That's a standing ovation, Joanne.
23:24It's a standing ovation for me.
23:26I'm bowing down.
23:28I'm bowing down.
23:29That's amazing.
23:30I didn't imagine so much trolling for the driving license.
23:34This is great.
23:35Loved it.
23:36It was a very well-crafted heckle, really.
23:39What a long heckle.
23:40Yeah, I loved it.
23:41Well done.
23:42Jamie, thank you so much for that.
23:44Do you find comedians take jokes too fast?
23:47Well...
23:48Whereas I go out and I joke about being autistic.
23:51Virgin Mobile, proud sponsor of this show.
23:58Virgin Mobile, proud sponsor of this show.
24:01Virgin Mobile, proud sponsor of this show.
24:06You are going to pass the mic to Adam.
24:15Adam's right there.
24:16Hello?
24:17Hello, Adam.
24:18Do you find that comedy helps you deal with difficult times in your life almost like a therapy?
24:23It sounds terrible to say yes because the audience are like, why are you dragging us into your therapy sessions?
24:29But yes, 100%.
24:31It's a very lovely position to be in where if something awful does happen to you or if someone's mean to you or someone breaks your heart or something like that, that you can turn it into a performance in a way.
24:41Do you find comedians take jokes too fast?
24:43Well...
24:44Whereas I go out and I joke about being autistic.
24:47Yeah, so you like that.
24:49Yeah.
24:50You think that's funny?
24:51Yeah, but you're in a position to do it because it's your joke to tell.
24:54I'm not a fan of comedians who punch down on people who might be seen as having less power than them.
25:00And as a comic, I try to be as open-minded as I can be.
25:04But I like dark...
25:05I like dark stuff.
25:07So I'd find that hilarious if you were telling me jokes about being autistic because I'm like, we're laughing together.
25:11You're not laughing at me, I'm not laughing at you.
25:13We're laughing together, which I think is the key.
25:16The key.
25:21Marian.
25:22Hi, Marian.
25:23Hello and welcome, Joanne.
25:25You are an open book online.
25:27I am indeed.
25:28Do you have any secret talents?
25:30Oh!
25:32I have a party trick, if that's any use.
25:36I have no bone in my nose.
25:38No cartilage.
25:39So my nose goes all the way down when I press it.
25:42Do you want to press it?
25:44Oh, wow.
25:45No mine.
25:48Do you want to press it?
25:49I'll show you.
25:50Hold on.
25:51Are you ready?
25:52Yeah.
25:53It's not that bad.
25:54So it goes all the way down.
25:55See the way it goes down like that.
25:57I know!
25:58If that's my secret talent, I'm cartilage-free in the face.
26:02And up next, we have got Max, and Max is with his communication regulation partner, Anna.
26:11Hi, dude.
26:12H, I, E, V, E, R, Y, O, N, E, A, N, D, A, S, A, N.
26:22R, Y, O, N, E, A, N, D, A, S, A, V, A, G, N,
26:52S, A, V, A, G, and E, J, O, A, N, N, E.
27:08Hello, everyone, and a savage welcome to Joanne.
27:14Ah, there we go.
27:15N, O, W, T, H, A, T, Y, O, U.
27:32Now that you are famous, what keeps you grounded and sound?
27:36Very good question.
27:38Do you know what I think...
27:40Well, it keeps me grounded.
27:41I don't know about sound.
27:42I can't claim soundness.
27:43I can't really claim myself to be sound.
27:45I think I got into comedy quite late,
27:49which meant I just had, like, a regular job,
27:51regular mates.
27:52I didn't have any celeb friends.
27:54I wasn't going to, like, you know, award parties.
27:58It was just very, very normal fun.
28:01I have a very close group of friends
28:03who I think, if you developed any notions,
28:05they'd tell you quick smart.
28:07And I also, and I could be wrong,
28:08I could be blowing smoke up my own ass.
28:10I don't know if I have it in me
28:12to kind of lose the run of myself completely.
28:14I don't have the work.
28:15Do you know what I mean?
28:17M after M, E, E, T, Y, O, U.
28:31Really nice to meet you.
28:32Oh, thank you.
28:33Really nice to meet you, too.
28:34Yeah, really nice to meet you, Max.
28:37Lara.
28:39Welcome, Lara.
28:40So, for your stand-up acts,
28:43when do you know that you've gone too far?
28:45Yeah, no, I have gone too far, for sure.
28:47Yeah, and the way you know you've gone too far
28:49is because the audience will go,
28:50that's too far.
28:51Oh, really?
28:52And then you'll say, fair enough.
28:54So that's what the clubs are for,
28:55is to, like, by the time it gets to the touring stage,
28:59you've kind of ironed those issues out.
29:02Yeah.
29:03And I do think it's important
29:04to be able to push boundaries and, you know,
29:07I like that.
29:08I like kind of poking fun at stuff.
29:09But, yeah, sometimes you misread it
29:11and you just get it wrong.
29:13Yeah.
29:14And I won't be repeating those here.
29:16Don't worry.
29:17I'll take it to the grave.
29:19Take it to the grave.
29:20Oh, that's one of mine!
29:21Yes!
29:22That's why I said it, love.
29:23Yes, very good!
29:25I was like, I recognise that punchline.
29:27Thank you very much.
29:28Yeah!
29:29I was dying to say that.
29:30I was like, need to find an opportunity.
29:31Yeah!
29:32Well, thank you so much.
29:33Thank you so much.
29:34It was lovely chatting to you.
29:35You too.
29:36Thank you very much.
29:39Thank you very much.
29:40I have two questions.
29:42I hope you're doing well.
29:43I am doing well.
29:44Are you doing well?
29:45I am, yeah.
29:46That wasn't one of the questions.
29:47Okay.
29:48I was like, that was easy.
29:51So, this one is more of a personal question to me, right?
29:54Okay.
29:55You said that relationships didn't work out for you in the past.
29:58This is not going where you think it's going, okay?
30:00Okay.
30:01As someone who's 21 and never been in a relationship, do you have any advice for overcoming the barriers
30:08of asking someone out?
30:09Do you know that kind of way?
30:10I know.
30:11It's so hard putting yourself out there.
30:14Yeah.
30:15And I think it's harder for young guys like you because it's usually men asking women out.
30:21Traditionally, that's always been the way.
30:22Yeah, yeah, yeah.
30:23So, we're more in a position to say yes or no.
30:26We don't really have to put ourselves on the line like that.
30:29So, I actually asked someone out a couple of weeks ago.
30:31So, I did.
30:32Go on.
30:33Basically, she was working in the shop that I go to, right?
30:36Yeah.
30:37And we were just kind of friendly and all that kind of stuff.
30:39And then she started following me on social media, right?
30:41Oh.
30:42So, then I was thinking, okay, I have to take my chance.
30:44And then I went and said, oh, do you mind meeting up for coffee sometime?
30:47And she just like, her face just sunk.
30:48She goes like, Tio, I have a boyfriend.
30:50Oh, no!
30:51No!
30:52And then I was like, oh, okay, fair enough.
30:54I'll see you next week.
30:55Like, you know, just being polite, obviously.
30:57Yeah.
30:58And then, like, she was there serving a customer and she yelled out the door, Tio, I'm so sorry.
31:02Yeah.
31:03Well, in fairness, do you know, but that's so brave of you to be able to do that.
31:06Yeah, because I was, like, telling people about it and they were like, yeah, you ask her out in person.
31:11I couldn't do that, like.
31:12Yeah.
31:13Yeah.
31:14I know.
31:15That's so impressive.
31:16I don't, I, Tio, I could not remember the last time a man asked me out in person.
31:18Yeah.
31:19So, fair play to you.
31:20And my second question is, you said that past experience shaped your comedy.
31:24I find that when I do comedy sometimes for my family and friends, the school stories are always the funniest.
31:29Can you please tell me more about this type of comedy and how someone can become better at the comedy?
31:34There's huge, big, world-famous comedians who are still telling stories from their school days because they're really funny.
31:41But I think if you wanted to develop that more, then you need to start maybe, like, jotting down the stories so you can remember them.
31:47Yeah, I was writing an autobiography, actually.
31:49Oh, great.
31:50But I didn't pay for Microsoft Word, so what happened was I said it was just full up, so.
31:55What?
31:56I said you've run out of space now, so it's like, fair enough, so I have to pay for it.
32:00But I'm already paying for my car and the credit union and stuff like that, so.
32:05Yeah.
32:06Life is not cheap.
32:07No, it's not cheap.
32:08I actually have my test now in a couple of weeks.
32:11Oh!
32:12Exciting.
32:13But I can't tell you the date because that's bad luck.
32:16It is, yeah, don't tell me.
32:17Fair enough.
32:18Good luck to you.
32:19I hope you pass.
32:20Thank you very much.
32:21And finish the book.
32:23Hello, Joanne.
32:24I just, I say, greetings.
32:26Hola.
32:27Bonjour.
32:28And I say, holo.
32:29Wow.
32:30Oh, my gosh.
32:31Nine languages.
32:32Oh, my gosh.
32:33Oh, my gosh.
32:34Oh, my gosh.
32:35Oh, my gosh.
32:36Oh, yeah.
32:37Good you and all to you two.
32:40So, how do you see yourself in the future?
32:44Will you stay in comedy or do you have other ambitions?
32:48Oh.
32:49That's interesting.
32:51I think I'll stay in comedy in one way or the other.
32:56The nice thing about comedy is there's loads of different avenues.
32:59It's not just, you don't, like, I don't, I'm sure when I'm older I won't want to be on the road as much
33:05because it's quite time consuming to be away from home for that length of time.
33:10I'll probably write and maybe do some TV stuff.
33:15But I think I will stay, like, I don't think I'm going to go back and do nursing or anything at this point.
33:19I think that ship has sailed.
33:20Oh, yeah.
33:21Well.
33:22Yeah.
33:23When I see myself in the future, I will probably stay in swimming for Special Olympics team to dock.
33:27Oh, wow.
33:28Wow.
33:29Oh, are you, are you in, are you an Olympian?
33:31Uh, yep.
33:32I'm a Libyan.
33:33I've been there for, since, as long, I've been there since 2002 for, for, uh, sports club in Navin.
33:40And then I, I'm now in the swimming club in Dundalk every Tuesday.
33:44That's very impressive.
33:45Wow.
33:46Well, I won 30 gold medals.
33:47What?
33:4830?
33:49Oh, my God.
33:50Very impressive.
33:51Congratulations.
33:52That's amazing.
33:54Libby, thank you.
33:55Thank you so much.
33:56Oh, I'm so specific.
34:03Virgin Mobile.
34:05Proud sponsor of this show.
34:09Virgin Mobile.
34:10Proud sponsor of this show.
34:12We've got Disco Man.
34:13Andrew Emoji is up next.
34:14Come on, Annie.
34:15Andrew's the next question.
34:16Finally, Andrew.
34:17Finally.
34:18Yeah, the name's Andrew.
34:19Nice to meet you, Joanne McNally.
34:20Nice to meet you.
34:21Nice to meet you.
34:22Nice to meet you.
34:23Uh, you are a column writer for the Stellar magazine.
34:24I was.
34:25I was, yeah.
34:26Yeah.
34:27You call it Jo, Joanne's world.
34:28Of course, if you had a world of your own, what would be your number one law?
34:31Law.
34:32That I could drive without a license.
34:33I think it would be.
34:34I think it would be.
34:35Yes, yes, yes.
34:36Yes, yes, yes.
34:37Yes, yes, yes.
34:38Yes, yes, yes.
34:39Yes, yes, yes.
34:40Yes, yes, yes.
34:41Yes, yes, yes.
34:42Yes, yes.
34:43Yes, yes, yes.
34:44I think that would be the law that I would bring in.
34:55Just get rid of it all.
34:56Just let me just take to the roads.
34:58Or maybe put, like, you know bowling alleys where they put those inflatable things along the lines?
35:02Yeah, yeah.
35:03Put them on the roads where I could just drive around and bump into everything.
35:06Yeah.
35:07Yeah.
35:08That's, I think, what my law would be.
35:11Hello.
35:12Hello.
35:13So, having some obsessive tendencies myself, to say the least, I'm wondering how has this trait manifested in one way or another for you?
35:23With me, obsessive.
35:24Well, I'd say the eating disorder was definitely something that was, but that, but then I became obsessive about comedy then.
35:30So I was like, okay, if I'm gonna kind of hyper focus on this stuff, I'm so glad it's something productive.
35:37So once I realized that I was getting a bit of traction with the comedy, I was like, in.
35:42Like, and it just, it was like, I took every gig going.
35:45I was getting, you know, I just did it all.
35:47Yeah, yeah, yeah.
35:48And I was like, this is a more productive way of channeling this obsessive way of thinking.
35:54Yeah, yeah.
35:55And it was also the way out of the eating disorder because I saw, I can't do comedy with an eating disorder.
36:00It's just not gonna work.
36:01You can't, you just can't.
36:02If you're that unwell, you can't be touring and stuff.
36:04You have to pick.
36:05You have to pick.
36:06And so I was like, I have to fix this now to do this other thing that I think I could actually be good at.
36:10Yeah.
36:11And I could really enjoy.
36:13Hi, Aidan.
36:14Hi, Joanne.
36:15Hi.
36:16So, what is your favourite food to eat every day?
36:20I don't have a very fancy palette.
36:22Chicken, chicken, chicken.
36:25Glass of white wine.
36:26Chicken, chicken, chicken, chicken.
36:27I love that white wine.
36:28Last glass of white wine.
36:29Chicken, chicken, chicken.
36:30Do you have another question, Aidan?
36:32Oh, yeah.
36:33It's a follow-up question.
36:34My mom and two sisters, they love to eat chocolate every time and any day.
36:39Do you love it?
36:41So, they eat chocolate?
36:42Yeah.
36:43And are you saying, what's my sweet?
36:45Do I love chocolate?
36:46Yeah.
36:47No, I don't love chocolate.
36:48I wouldn't choose it.
36:49I don't have a particularly sweet tooth, really.
36:51If it was my last supper, I wouldn't have chocolate.
36:53I'd have chicken crisps and wine.
36:56Thank you for that.
36:57Our next person to ask questions is going to be Saif.
36:59Hi.
37:00Hi, Saif.
37:01I heard that you went to school in France when you were younger.
37:05Yeah.
37:06What was school like there?
37:07Very different.
37:08So, basically, what happened was, you know the way a lot of people do these, like, exchange
37:11student things?
37:12But my mom, because it was quite expensive and she was like, no, no, no, if we're spending
37:16the money on this, I'm not sending you off with your friends to speak English in France.
37:21You're going on your own.
37:23And she just rang up a random school in Laval in France and was like, will you take my daughter?
37:27I had just done my junior cert and I'd gotten a C in French.
37:31And also, I had no French accent, so I would get into trouble when I said, I remember one
37:36time I said to a guy, I was saying, Salo, Salo, instead of Salou, Salou, and Salou is high
37:41and Salou is bastard in French.
37:43So, I was, like, addressing everyone as bastard.
37:46Until this guy came up and he was like, but what about this Salou?
37:48And I was like, what?
37:49What's your problem?
37:50And then, so, there was all these kind of, like, teething problems when I got there.
37:53But I actually, I loved it.
37:55It was cool.
37:56It kind of, like, it was one of those things you do when you're younger that kind of forms
38:00you in a way.
38:01Yeah.
38:02And when I went, I was just, like, a regular Loretto doggy girl.
38:05And when I came back, I was wearing this floor-length leather coat and I was smoking roadies.
38:08I was listening to French rap and everything.
38:11All the girls were like, what is going on?
38:13But, yeah, I loved it.
38:14Saif, is there something you want to give to Joanne?
38:16Yes.
38:17I have a present.
38:18Oh!
38:19Oh, my God.
38:20Can I be here?
38:21Yeah.
38:22Saif, that's gorgeous.
38:23Can I see it?
38:24Lovely.
38:25Stunning.
38:26You need to sign that for me now.
38:27I've signed it.
38:28Oh, well done.
38:29Thank you so much.
38:30I love it.
38:31No problem.
38:32God, such great art.
38:33I'd love to be able to draw.
38:35I think it's such a talent.
38:36Thanks, Saif.
38:38It is Kevin.
38:41What do you feel about the societal expectation to meet certain milestones by a certain age?
38:47Like, for example, getting your driver's license and moving out of home by the young age?
38:53Well, I didn't hit any of them.
38:55I now think the later the better because you get to make more informed decisions about things.
39:00Do you know?
39:01Like, maybe if I was younger and I'd been able to buy a house, maybe I would have lost a lot of money on the house.
39:05Maybe I would have married the wrong person because I was in a rush or, you know, you kind of have to let things roll out naturally instead of rushing into them.
39:12And I do think those expectations are shifting now.
39:15I think they were very, in our parents' generation, there was no getting away from them really.
39:21If you didn't hit those milestones, you were looked at as a bit odd.
39:25Whereas I don't think it's the same.
39:26And it comes up a lot with neurodivergent people too, having delayed milestones.
39:30Yeah, exactly.
39:31Like, there's nothing wrong with it.
39:33Because you'll either get, you'll either hit those milestones if you want to, or you won't because you didn't want to.
39:38And that's fine too.
39:39And I do think everyone has different ideas about what those milestones look like now.
39:43You're grand.
39:44What age are you?
39:4534.
39:4634?
39:47You're a baby.
39:48Aww.
39:49Yeah, you are.
39:50You've loads of time to do anything you want.
39:52There's no rush.
39:53So, last question.
39:55What are some of your favourite products from Boots?
39:58Oh.
39:59I've read that you enjoy shopping at the flagship store in Half Moon Street, Cork.
40:03I work at the...
40:05Where is this research coming from?
40:07It's so specific.
40:09I work in the smaller sister's store in Cork City and was just curious.
40:14Some of your recommendations might help give me an edge on figuring what would be the best products to sell.
40:19Well, I'm a big skincare junkie.
40:22Anything that'll take a line off, I'm all about it.
40:25So, for you, I would recommend...
40:27And especially for men, because men, when you're bearding, you're always like pulling at your face.
40:31Like, it's quite harsh on your...
40:32So, what you need is a nice kind of like hyaluronic serum or something for your neck there.
40:37And don't forget, always, the tip for moisturising, top to tits.
40:41Do your whole body, including your décolletage.
40:43Don't leave out your neck.
40:44It ages faster than all the other areas of your body.
40:46Neck and hands.
40:48That's the key.
40:49Does that answer your question?
40:50Does indeed, thank you very much.
40:53I love your shirt too.
40:55I love your shirt too.
40:57It reminds you of meatloaf.
40:59This shirt?
41:00Yeah.
41:01It's good, isn't it?
41:02Thank you, Kevin.
41:03Moisturise that face.
41:04Keep those baby features, okay?
41:06And we're going to the final grill of the day.
41:10Orla.
41:11Oh, yeah.
41:12We can do it, Orla.
41:14Hello.
41:15Hello, Joanne.
41:16Hello.
41:17So, did you have any Prosecco while you were on the Prosecco Express?
41:22Orla.
41:23I had so much Prosecco.
41:25I'm surprised there's any Prosecco left in Ireland, because I drank most of it.
41:34Buckets and buckets and buckets of the stuff.
41:36Because that was the name of the show, people would send me bottles of Prosecco as well.
41:41I was, like, drowning under all the Prosecco.
41:44Yeah.
41:45But I still love it.
41:46I have to say, I still haven't lost a taste for it.
41:48Thank you so much.
41:49Yay!
41:50Bye.
41:51But right now, to say goodbye from the Assembly, I would like to invite Emily.
41:56Aw.
41:58I'd like to thank you very much, Joanne, for coming here today to be part of one of our episodes.
42:04Thanks, Emily.
42:05How have you found the experience?
42:08I was a little nervous, because I didn't know what to expect.
42:11Yeah.
42:12But 30 seconds in to the first question, I was like, this is going to be fantastic.
42:17And I've really enjoyed it.
42:18And the questions, they're so well-taught and considered.
42:21And it's been really lovely.
42:22Yeah, it's been really, really nice.
42:23Thank you so much.
42:24I hope you've enjoyed having me here as well.
42:26Oh, lovely.
42:28Can we give you a hug?
42:29Aw.
42:31So lovely.
42:32Now, I'm going to invite Courtney, David and Connor, if you can just go over,
42:37and take your spaces for this lovely performance.
42:40Okay, okay.
42:48Probably the funniest comedian I've spouted.
42:51And I don't speak to many comedians.
42:57I'd say she was nervous, but I think, thankfully, we're a pretty friendly crowd.
43:02I have traveled through so many times.
43:10Don't know why.
43:11Don't know where.
43:12Don't care less it's all safe.
43:15Don't know why.
43:16Don't know why.
43:17Don't know why.
43:18Don't know why.
43:19Don't know why.
43:20Don't know why.
43:21Don't know why.
43:22I found a lot of the stuff that she was saying, but being adopted relatable.
43:25Because like, you know, I was fostered when I was very young.
43:30So that kind of coincides with me a bit, I suppose.
43:43I loved her outfit. I loved the ruffles on the shirt and the big boots.
43:47I need to get some boots like those.
43:51No, no, no, really.
43:53They're adding the combination of the Spice Girls with something from the Shakespearean and Shooter side.
44:00Let us not hold for what we have found.
44:03Let old Joanne McDougie have her come forth.
44:08It's a style inadequate.
44:11How can I protect you in this crazy world?
44:19It's alright, yeah, it's alright.
44:24I just loved it. I just really loved the fact that I'm here
44:28and that I was one of the people chosen to do it.
44:30It's a huge confidence boost.
44:33How can I protect you in this crazy world?
44:41It's alright, yeah, it's alright.
44:48Okay, so is that all?
44:50Okay, good. Thank you. Thank you very much.
44:56If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this program,
45:03please visit our support page, virginmediatelevision.ie forward slash helplines.
45:10I'll see you soon.
45:14I'll see you soon.
45:16Take care.
45:17Bye-bye.
45:20Take care.
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