Dr Jo Prendergast is a New Zealand based comedian, improviser, and actor.  By day she also works as psychiatrist, author, and film producer. Jo is often tired.

 Jo trained as a doctor in New Zealand and did specialty training as a psychiatrist in Sydney Australia. She has worked in a wide range of settings with teenagers and adults in public mental health services and private practice in both New Zealand and Australia. She currently works in the area of childhood trauma effects as an assessor for ACC in New Zealand.

Jo’s teenage mental health book for parents ‘When Life Sucks’ was released by Harper Collins in New Zealand and Australia in September 2023 and the UK June 2024.  The book was written using Jo’s unique voice as a psychiatrist, comedian and parent of teenagers.  

Jo started standup comedy in 2017 at the age of 48.  Jo was nominated for Breakthrough Comedian at the NZ Comedy Guild Awards 2020.  She was long listed for the prestigious Billy T Award in September 2023.  Her multi award-winning debut comedy show ‘Jo Ghastly: The Cool Mum’ sold out the entire season with 5- star reviews at Adelaide Fringe 2023, had full houses at the NZ International Comedy Festival 2023 and toured to Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe in 2024.  Jo’s second solo show ‘Cancer and Cartwheels’, about Jo’s victory over breast cancer (and her cartwheeling ability) toured the South Island NZ January 2024 and was programmed in the 2024 NZ International Comedy Festival.

Screen appearances include Niall Johnson’s feature film ‘The Stolen’ and TVNZ’s ‘Adam and Eve Show’. Jo has featured as a guest on a wide range of TV, radio, and podcasts in NZ and Australia including The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show, The Project, Channel 9 Today Extra, ABC Weekend Breakfast and TVNZ Breakfast.

Jo brings her unique combined experience as a psychiatrist, comedian, author, parent and cancer survivor to media and podcast interviews, her comedy shows and conference presentations. 

Jo is available for interviews, live performances and conference plenary work when her busy schedule allows.