I'M ON LITHIUM: A Comedic Journey About Bipolar Disorder

John F. O’Donnell is an accomplished, national headlining comedian and an award-winning mental health advocate. His comedy has been featured on Comedy Central, as well as in the NY Times. He’s also a NAMI-NYC (National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City) ‘In Our Own Voice’ presenter where he goes to psychiatric hospitals and outpatient programs and gives a presentation about his story of mental health recovery in order to be helpful to folks who are struggling. John is very open about his diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder and the struggles he’s endured and overcome. He prides himself on using lived experience, comedy and storytelling to destigmatize mental illness.

In his uproariously hilarious and deeply meaningful solo show, John recounts a wild, full-blown manic episode he experienced in 2008. This amazing whirlwind of a true story finds John running through the streets of Dublin, Ireland 100% convinced that the CIA and descendants of the Nazis are trying to assassinate him. Have no fear, though! John’s not alone. The delusion also entails that he’s being protected by the Irish Republican Army and Bono from U2!

This truly unique show uses humor and vulnerability to provide real insight into the thought-process of the manic mind. John is proud to present this redemptive work as the next chapter in his longtime continued efforts to pushback against the mental illness epidemic in America.

"John describes a euphoric manic episode with incredible detail and insight, pulling the listener into his globetrotting quest and the characters he meets along the way. You will root for him, you will laugh (often to the point of tears) and you will come away with a new understanding of bipolar disorder and appreciation for the human condition."
- Dr. Kat Nordgren, Psychiatrist, Bellevue Hospital

"The audience effortlessly laughed along with O'Donnell, and his expert comedic timing almost obscured the fact that it takes tremendous vulnerability to speak about such a stigmatized illness publicly."
- Paste Magazine

w/ special guest:

Breck Gordon (Pure Chaos Comedy)

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Breck Gordon