Grateful Giving 2025: Featuring Paddy Morrissey

At Moderation Management, we know that support can take many forms—sometimes it’s a serious conversation, sometimes it’s a moment of shared laughter that lifts the weight. For longtime member and facilitator Paddy Morrissey, humor has been a lifeline. This November, as part of our Grateful Giving campaign, Paddy is sharing why comedy and community matter so much to him—and why he’s giving back to MM in his own unique way.

I’ve been part of Moderation Management for five years now, both as a member and a facilitator. I came here because I needed a place where I could be honest about my drinking—and where I wouldn’t be defined by it. What I found was a community that gives you room to try, stumble, reset, and keep moving forward.

Alcohol abuse is a serious problem. The cycle often involves patterns of overdrinking, followed by shame, guilt, and self-blame. But I’ve learned that by finding a way to laugh at the challenges, the whole thing feels less overwhelming. Laughing at a mistake or a moment of weakness immediately disarms that harsh inner critic. Instead of saying, “I am a failure,” you get to say, “Well, that was ridiculous.” That little bit of distance from shame makes it so much easier to get back on track.

To me, using humor around my own struggles—or even around moderation itself—is not a weakness, it’s a strength. It shows acceptance: I can face the reality of my challenge. It shows maturity: I don’t have to take myself too seriously. And it shows confidence: I trust my goals enough to laugh at the bumps in the road. Most of all, it builds connection. Sharing a joke about drinking or moderating reminds us that none of us is alone in this.

As a former Bay Area standup comic from the early 80s to the 2000s, I played major clubs, colleges, and performing venues, and also toured throughout the country, opening for Jerry Seinfeld, Willie Nelson, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, and Johnny Cash, among others. I’ve also had roles on television series and appeared in a few movies. On Thursday, November 13, I will host The 33 Minute Comedy Hour. I wrote, directed, acted, filmed, edited, and created original songs and video graphics for this comedy video, a blend of very short films, songs, jokes, and video snippets. Utilizing satire, parody, and absurdity, it’s a funny, goofy, witty, quirky, and absurd take on drinking, moderating (even Moderation Management!), and all things alcohol—a loving tribute to all of us who are struggling with problem drinking as well as anyone who could just use a laugh, especially important during our difficult times.

I will host the event, introduce and play the video, and afterwards take questions and comments from you, the audience. Total time: one hour.

Join me on Thursday, November 13 at 9pm ET for The 33 Minute Comedy Hour. Suggested donation is $20, and all proceeds support Moderation Management.