Jo Firestone | You Better Marry My 40-Year-Old Daughter | Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out
Working It Out favorite Jo Firestone returns for a triumphant fourth appearance, this time pregnant and rocking a Phantom of the Opera Toronto production t-shirt. Jo talks with Mike about pregnancy, her “shotgun wedding” at city hall, and her new book Sex on Murder Island, the sequel to Murder on Sex Island. Plus, much talk of Lord of the Rings, including why Jo relates to Frodo and why Mike sympathizes with Gollum.
Subscribe to Working It Out Premium on Apple Podcasts for a special *extended version* of this episode!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-birbiglias-working-it-out/id1515419751
Please consider donating to Baby2Baby: https://baby2baby.org
Buy Jo’s book Sex on Murder Island: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/789706/sex-on-murder-island-by-jo-firestone/
Mike’s tour dates: https://www.birbigs.com/tour-dates
Text BIRBIGS to 917-444-7150 for updates
Find Mike:
Website: https://birbigs.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/birbigs/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/birbigfans
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mikebirbiglia
Find Jo:
Substack: https://jofirestone.substack.com
Website: https://www.jofirestone.com
Hosted and Produced by Mike Birbiglia
Producers: Peter Salomone, Joseph Birbiglia, Mabel Lewis, Gary Simons
Sound Mixed by Ben Kruse
Supervising Engineer: Kate Bilinski
Video Consultant: Graham Willoughby
Special Thanks: Marissa Hurwitz, Josh Upfal, David Raphael, Nina Cwik, J. Hope Stein, Oona
Music: Jack Antonoff and Bleachers
@savannahweymouth7370
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
can you make another show where Jo is the only guest
@deweycomedyproductions5218
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Jo is the greatest! I too love discovering a world phenomenon 20 years late and wanting to talk about it with people who haven’t thought about it in decades. 🖤
@notl33t
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
harry potter is about wwii and the lord of the rings is about the great war or wwi. i do think the movies (not the animated lotr one!) and harry potter are shot with extremely similar in the same family friendly action style.
@More13Feen
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
"Look at the littlest woman" wow. Like, thats such man take.
When I was pregnant I was suprised how not everyone stude up. But I wouldn't stare at ppl to make them get up or else I'd fight them, mabye I'd look and plead. Makes me angry now thinking back…
@KristinLove333
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
I loves me some Jo Firestone
@amtiptoes
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Keep up the nerd content!
@abigailstovall9848
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
The Frodo bit is killing me
@priscillasong1342
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Mike is right. I DID want to know about check puzzle
@KH-xm6ms
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
This show is so well made, these comedians are at such a height of their abilities, Mike’s voice is so warm and welcoming. I absolutely love it
@LALakerfan622
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
So this isnt the lady that plays the mom in the Ted series?
@risumon
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
I listened to this yesterday and thought Jo was just being self deprecating about calling herself Frodo, but now I see the video and I'm wondering how Birbigs landed the most famous hobbit in the shire.
@ScottLevick-n6p
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Hey! From a person who DEFINITELY identifies as a nerd, BUT does NOT do the crossword, I can CONFIRM that we want to know about the check puzzle. I get it.
@evelemonsqueeze
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Was so enjoying hearing them talk about the crossword until Mike called me a nerd
@briangarbergames
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
I read her books out of order and it made no difference. Both very fun reads.
@br1tn3ysp3arz
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
I literally gasped thank the lord for Jo
@trinaolson7131
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
This is exactly what I needed today!
@3HenKiss
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Pretty bus lady + hotness + Golem lotion = longer combination – I think this could be great
@AlkiMonica
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
I wish I wouldn't have listened to it just one hour before the video finally came out! Pretty sure I'll save this and watch it at some point. I love Jo.
@AlexisMcAloon
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Jo is a dream. Great pod.
@MarkCrespo-h5k8z
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Awesome episode Mike 😃😃
@compucar03
August 7, 2026 at 11:06 am
Nice, glad she is back