Jo Firestone

Follow Dr. Gameshow on Twitter here. Follow Manolo here.

Hi, Jo! Kindly introduce yourself.
My name is Jo, I'm a comedian based in Brooklyn, and I'm one of the hosts of Dr. Gameshow, a podcast where we play listener-submitted games with in-studio comedian guests and callers from all over.

What would a Dr. Gameshow live event look like?
We've done quite a few of these, and they mostly take place in county libraries in New Jersey. We get a lot of kids out, and they tend to make way too much noise for a library.

What excites you about podcasting? Why did you get into it?
I like podcasts because anyone can listen to them. You don't know if what you're saying will reach 45 people or 60,000 people and that's kinda fun to keep in mind. Also, people usually listen while they're doing something not so fun, like commuting or doing errands, so it's a way of connecting with people and making them laugh as they go about their daily business. Plus, there are so many to choose from, there's bound to be one out there that's perfect for you. 

How did you meet Manolo? Why is he the perfect co-host for this show?
Manolo Moreno and I met at a strange little improv show, and I was immediately amazed by him. He has this unique sensibility and delivery, and right away I knew I wanted to work with him on something. I had just started hosting Dr. Gameshow on WFMU by myself, and I knew the show was lacking something -- it wasn't quite what I envisioned, and then I met Manolo and I knew that he was the missing piece of the puzzle. We have very different energies, and after all these years, I still never see his jokes coming, he's always surprising me. I love his sense of humor. Three years into the show he actually told me he doesn't even like games. I laughed and laughed.

Did you originally think the show would be good for kids?
Originally, we just made the show per FCC regulations, since it was initially broadcast over the radio and archived as a podcast. But since there was no cursing or lewdness, and we play a lot of silly games, I think it just winded up being a great show for kids. Pretty soon, a few kids started calling in to play along, and that just sorta tumbleweeded into what we do today, where we have a bunch of regular kid callers and listeners.

Have you been criticized for your voice or anything silly like that?
Many people say my voice sounds like I'm constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown. And many people in my family sound just like me. You can imagine what the holidays must sound like. 

How do you make the show? Who do you work with?
We record a bunch at a time and release them every other week through Maximum Fun. We record in Brooklyn with our sound engineer Andi Kristins and our producer Alex Adan, who actually lives in Alaska and produces the show over the phone! 

Thanks, Jo!