Joe Tracini - 10 Things I Hate About Me Interview

Our latest Lifting The Curtain interview features comedian and actor Joe Tracini, who discusses his upcoming tour and show, "10 Things I Hate About Me." The conversation provides a deeply personal look into his struggles with mental health and how he uses comedy as a tool for survival.

Please note this interview does contain discussions on mental health and suicide.

The Show's Origins and Development

• The Journey: The show has been six years in the making. It began in early 2020 during a rare period of hope, but production was derailed by the lockdown, which caused Joe's mental health to "fall off a cliff" [01:07].
• Theme of Persistence: Joe describes the show as a "literal thing about not giving up" [02:03]. He reflects on the fact that even when his professional life was going well, his internal state was deteriorating, making the final creation of the show a significant personal victory [03:21].
• Blending Comedy with Darkness: Joe admits it is difficult to make topics like suicide entertaining. His priority is making the audience feel comfortable enough to laugh, ensuring they know it is "okay to enjoy" the performance despite the heavy subject matter [06:06].

Personal Reflections on Mental Health

• "Mick" the Voice: Joe discusses "Mick," the personification of the voice in his head used in his viral social media videos. He explains that he doesn't give Mick as much "air time" anymore because he has learned to cope with him differently [12:37].
• Honesty vs. Lying: Joe reflects on his past habit of lying to make himself seem more interesting. He now views stopping those lies as the "most productive thing" he ever did, as the "upkeep" of lying was exhausting [07:23].
• Self-Forgiveness: In a quick-fire segment, Joe shares that he is learning to forgive himself for the days when he simply cannot do things, acknowledging that his struggles are not his fault [20:06].

Creative Work and Future Projects

• Pantomime: Joe is currently writing the script for Peter Pan at the Norwich Theatre, marking his seventh year involved with their pantomimes [24:21]. He finds the work fulfilling because the theater prioritizes his well-being over profit [08:21].
• Independent Creation: He emphasizes that he has moved away from waiting for the phone to ring for acting jobs. Instead, he focuses on creating his own work, which keeps him inspired and busy [27:13].

Key Takeaway

• Joe hopes that anyone who sees the show walks away with the message: "Absolutely don't give up." He wants audiences to feel that no matter what they are questioning or struggling with, it is worth sticking with it [28:13].

Watch the full interview here: Joe Tracini - 10 Things I Hate About Me Interview