From her humble beginnings working at Hooters in Canada, to conquering the UK's comedy scene, Katherine Ryan's journey is nothing short of inspiring.
In this candid interview, she opens up about her trials as a single mum breaking into the male-dominated stand-up world, her experiences with toxic relationships and overcoming personal setbacks, including her tragic miscarriages.
Now, reconnected with Bobby, her high school sweetheart, Katherine's story embodies deep resilience, showing us how one can turn life’s challenges into empowering insights.
Please be aware that this episode discusses sensitive topics.
If you or someone you know needs support, please see the charities below:
The Survivors Trust: https://g2ul0.app.link/sqvZqaAesPb
MIND: https://g2ul0.app.link/d72yzu7jJOb
Follow Katherine here:
Katherine's Instagram - https://g2ul0.app.link/1LSdEcnweQb
…And get tickets for Katherine's stand up tour, Battleaxe, which runs until 28th June.
For tickets, visit Ticketmaster - https://g2ul0.app.link/xCXoMzpweQb
Follow me here:
https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk
https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
Get your tickets to 'An Evening with Paul C. Brunson' here: https://bit.ly/keeplove-megaphone
Pre-order Keep Love here: https://lnk.to/keeplovebook
Sections:
02:16 Differences Between Life In The USA, Canada, And The UK
04:33 Katherine's Childhood And Upbringing In Canada
05:40 Growing Up In Different Communities: Katherine's Experience
07:30 What Katherine Thought About The UK As A Child
09:00 How Katherine Discovered Her Passion For Performing
09:50 What Was Katherine's Childhood Really Like?
11:15 How Katherine Built A Strong Family Bond During Childhood
12:57 Does Experiencing Trauma Make Someone A Better Comedian?
15:45 What Katherine Wanted To Become At Age 12
18:29 The Impact Of Katherine's Parents’ Divorce On Her Life
25:53 Katherine's Early Dating Experiences And Relationships
28:13 Generational Challenges: Alcohol And Violence In Katherine's Family
29:33 The Story Of Katherine's Friendship With Jessica
39:49 Behind The Scenes: Katherine's Job At Hooters
47:47 The Truth About The "Keep Love" Ad Campaign
48:39 What Happened Behind The Scenes Of The Tinder Ad
49:34 How Katherine Started Her Comedy Career At 21
51:31 Why The UK Is Considered The Stand-Up Comedy Capital Of The World
53:06 Challenges Of Starting Out As A Female Comedian In Stand-Up
55:38 Did Katherine Move To The UK For Love Or Her Career?
56:44 Starting Her Comedy Career In The UK: Katherine’s Journey
58:45 Becoming A Young Mother By Choice: Katherine's Story
1:05:10 Katherine's First TV Break With The Show Campus
1:05:51 Balancing Motherhood And A Growing Comedy Career
1:08:09 Paul’s Reaction To Katherine's 2012 Appearance On 8 Out Of 10 Cats
1:09:00 How Katherine Prepares For High-Pressure Panel Shows
1:13:45 Why Stupidity Dominates Modern Politics
1:15:59 Why Are Less Than 20% Of UK Comedians Female?
1:18:21 How Diversity Is Shaping Today’s Stand-Up Comedy Scene
1:24:22 Katherine's Relationships During Her Comedy Career Rise
1:25:40 The Shocking Story Of Child Protection Services Investigating Katherine
1:28:36 Surviving Coercive Control: Katherine’s Personal Experience
1:37:00 Katherine's Life During Her Single Years
1:38:33 Reconnecting With Her Childhood Romance: Bobby’s Story
1:43:56 How Katherine Persuaded Bobby To Move To The UK
1:45:19 Katherine And Paul's Heartbreaking Experience With Miscarriages
1:51:15 Will Katherine And Bobby Have More Kids?
1:53:07 Why Katherine And Bobby Schedule Intimacy In Their Relationship
1:55:19 How Often Do People Really Have Sex?
1:57:08 The Most Memorable Conversation Of Katherine's Life
1:59:01 Key Takeaways From Paul’s Perspective
2:01:18 The Inside Scoop On The Adobe Express Ad Campaign
Sponsored by:
Tinder: https://tinder.com/en-GB/
Adobe: https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices