The Jo Ellis Effect

The Jo Ellis Effect is trying something new!

Austin comedian Jaime-Lee Simmons joins me on the couch for an unfiltered conversation about comedy, dating, relationships, recovery, and figuring out what the hell we're doing with our lives.

We talk about Jaime's return to stand-up after a serious concussion, the chaos of Austin's comedy scene, Kill Tony, the Comedy Mothership, and the pressure of trying to make a living as a comedian.

Somehow, we also get into quitting vaping, sex and dating, hormones, my $60,000 facial surgery, OnlyFans, childhood experiences, and what it means to start over.

No formal interviews. No prepared jokes. Just two comedians hanging out and seeing where the conversation goes.

This is an experiment with a new rotating co-host format for The Jo Ellis Effect. Let us know what you think!

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Mailing list: https://joellishq.joellisreally.com/

In this episode of The Jo Ellis Effect, I lay out four positions I hold on transgender issues that tend to upset people on both sides: trans women in women's sports, whether gender dysphoria is a mental illness, whether trans women are the same as women, and medical gender-affirming care for minors.These are my views as they stand today. I'm open to changing my mind when better evidence or arguments come along, but I also don't think being trans requires me to agree with every position associated with the trans community.I also get into the controversy surrounding former NBA players Royce White, Enes Kanter, declaring for the WNBA draft, why I think both sides of the culture war get parts of the trans debate wrong, and why I think we need to be willing to scrutinize arguments from our own "side."Then, some life updates: I'm hitting the road for more dates with Jason Ellis, heading to Denver, New York, Arizona, Sacramento and Detroit, Friendly Fire is moving to Saturdays, I've got new merch, and Dani brought me back my favorite Irish whiskey from Ireland.CHAPTERS00:00 4 Controversial Things I Believe About Trans Issues00:37 Why I’m Talking About This04:11 My 4 Positions on Trans Issues04:52 Gender-Affirming Care for Minors09:11 Is Gender Dysphoria a Mental Illness?14:08 Is Transition “Affirming a Delusion”?15:26 Trans Women Are Not the Same as Women17:18 Trans Women in Women’s Sports20:20 The WNBA Trans Eligibility Controversy27:06 What It’s Like Being in the Middle27:20 Touring With Jason Ellis + New Dates29:43 Friendly Fire Is Moving to Saturdays30:35 Building Toward a 45-Minute Headlining Set33:00 New Jo Ellis Merch34:21 Recent Podcasts + Going Viral35:02 Why I Question My Own Side36:13 My Problems With WPATH37:40 Why Trans Military Is Different39:35 Being Trans and Politically Homeless41:59 The Mystery Bruise43:22 Dani Brought Me My Favorite Irish Whiskey44:10 Closing + Upcoming ShowsFind tour dates, merch and more at joellisreally.com

Robert Kelly unexpectedly talked about me on The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson... and it turned into one of the coolest moments of my comedy career.In this episode, I react to the SiriusXM segment, talk about meeting Robert Kelly after his Austin show, and explain why I've chosen comedy as my way of telling the story of trans military service.I also share updates on:• Robert Kelly & Big Jay Oakerson's comments about me• Why I defended Tony Hinchcliffe and Kill Tony• The Daily Stoic podcast with Ryan Holiday• Filming the Fighting Forward documentary• Building a comedy career in Austin• My journey from Black Hawk pilot to stand-up comedian• Friendly Fire with Jo Ellis• Upcoming comedy showsMy goal has never been to brow beat. It's to have conversations with people who might never otherwise hear the story of trans military service. If comedy can open that door, it's worth pursuing.Upcoming Shows• July 16 – Friendly Fire with Jo Ellis (Austin, TX)• July 22 – Featuring for Jason Ellis (Plano, TX)Follow for more stand-up, podcast clips, and behind-the-scenes updates as I continue this journey.00:00 Intro00:32 Defending Kill Tony & Tony Hinchcliffe01:22 Robert Kelly Reaches Out01:50 Meeting Robert Kelly in Austin04:01 My History with Big Jay Oakerson05:27 Robert Kelly & Big Jay Oakerson Talk About Me10:27 Discovering The Bonfire Shoutout11:09 Why Their Comments Meant So Much11:56 From Black Hawk Pilot to Comedian13:40 Why I Came to Austin and the Rogansphere15:33 Why I Want to Talk to Trump, Hegseth & Rogan15:59 The Reality of the Trans Military Ban19:26 The Daily Stoic with Ryan Holiday21:05 Fighting Forward Documentary Update21:32 Why I Enter Uncomfortable Rooms23:47 Being Trans and Visible in Texas25:26 The Pressure of Always Being “On”27:17 Everything That Changed in Three Years30:45 The Legacy I Want to Leave32:20 Friendly Fire with Jo Ellis Updates34:53 Featuring for Jason Ellis in Plano36:15 Upcoming Travel and Comedy Plans37:00 Documentary Filming in Austin38:36 Documentary and Memoir Updates39:05 Building My First 20 Minutes of Stand-Up40:25 Upcoming Shows & Outro#StandUpComedy #RobertKelly #BigJayOakerson #KillTony #TonyHinchcliffe #AustinComedy #TransMilitary #Veteran #BlackHawkPilot #JoEllis

Welcome back to The Jo Ellis Effect.

This week has been a wild week of my comedy career.

I got invited onto Kim Congdon's dating show, somehow won a date with Dulce Mac, met Hans Kim, Ron Taylor, Brian Redban and Brian Holtzman, then immediately drove to Tyler, Texas to feature for Jason Ellis.

We talk about:

• Winning a comedy dating show

• Featuring for Jason Ellis in Tyler, TX

• Getting rebooked to perform with him again

• Performing my first 15-minute feature sets

• Life after quitting my day job

• Building Friendly Fire into a monthly show

• My goals in Austin comedy

• Why Tony Hinchcliffe's Man of the People special disappointed me by not having trans jokes

• Chelsea Handler, Marc Maron, Kill Tony and comedy controversy

I also talk about the reality of trying to build a career in stand-up, the opportunities I've been fortunate to receive over the last few months, and what comes next now that comedy is my full-time focus.

MERCH:

JoEllisReally.com

FOLLOW:

Instagram: @joellisreally

X: @joellisreally

YouTube: @joellisreally

The Jo Ellis Effect is a podcast about comedy, culture, current events, and the strange journey from Black Hawk pilot to stand-up comedian.

After years in the military, a viral misinformation campaign, and a career outside entertainment, I've officially gone all in on comedy.In this episode, I talk about leaving my day job, selling my Virginia house, and betting on stand-up comedy full-time. I also share updates on my new late-night style comedy show Friendly Fire, opening for Sam Tripoli, featuring for Jason Ellis in Texas, Tony Hinchcliffe's upcoming Netflix special, the latest developments in the transgender military ban, and a UFO disclosure inspired lipstick ad that caught the attention of Christina P.

Topics:

• Why I quit my jobMoving to Austin and going all-in on comedy
• Friendly Fire becomes a monthly show
• Opening for Sam Tripoli
• Featuring for Jason Ellis
• Tony Hinchcliffe's Netflix special
• Trans military ban court updates
• Christina P cosmetics collaboration
• UFO disclosure, aliens, and lipstick
• New merch and website updates

Subscribe for more clips, sets, and other things

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https://joellishq.joellisreally.com

Website: https://joellisreally.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/joellisreallyX: https://x.com/JoEllisReally

Christina P lipstick - https://christinap.com/products/christina-ps-atomic-red-lipstick

Joe DeRosa's podcast | Vile and Horrendous https://youtu.be/GAxzqXyLPDw?si=LrrWwl_SDWQDSioc

#StandUpComedy #AustinComedy #TonyHinchcliffe #KillTony #TransMilitary #JasonEllis #SamTripoli #ComedyPodcast #JoEllis #FriendlyFire

I made my second appearance on Kill Tony — Episode 762 — and this one took an unexpected turn.

Host Tony Hinchcliffe brought me up as the “former Black Hawk helicopter pilot who was a man and now is a woman,” and I ran through a quick minute before jumping into the interview with the panel from Are You Garbage? — Kevin Ryan and H. Foley.

We talked about everything from moving to Austin to dating and my comedy journey since my first Kill Tony appearance — including opening for national headliner Ian Lara.

Then the interview got cut short for a pretty good reason: Ari Shaffir made a surprise appearance after returning from abroad, which immediately shifted the show.

Even with the quick interview, it was great getting back on the stage and telling Tony how much the show has changed my life.

Website: https://joellisreally.com

#KillTony #StandUpComedy #AustinComedy #ComedyMothership

Jo Ellis delivers a historic comedy-meets-rally speech at the No Kings protest in Austin, Texas—mixing stand-up comedy with a message about freedom, disagreement, and democracy. A former U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot with 16 years of service, Jo shares the surreal story of being fired from the military for being transgender, being falsely accused online of causing a deadly helicopter crash, and somehow ending up doing stand-up comedy in Austin. In this set, Jo blends jokes about Texas laws, religion, dating, and identity with a serious reminder of what “No Kings” means: a country where the Constitution matters, disagreements can coexist with decency, and ordinary people hold power—not kings.

The result is something unusual: a protest speech that’s also a stand-up set.

Topics include: Being a trans Black Hawk pilot Moving to Austin and the Texas culture shock

Converting to Judaism

Internet conspiracies and being falsely blamed for a crash ating, family, and coming out

Why humor can still exist in serious political moments

Recorded live in Austin, Texas March 28th, 2026.Jo Ellis is a former Army National Guard Black Hawk pilot turned comedian, writer, and public speaker.

She uses comedy to talk about identity, service, resilience, and the strange moments where politics and real life collide.

More about Jo:

https://joellisreally.com

No Kings 3 was organized by Hands Off Central Texas  @HandsOffCentralTexas  https://www.handsoffcentraltx.org/events/nokings3

If you’re into stand-up, behind-the-scenes comedy life, or stories about resilience after going viral for all the wrong reasons — you’re in the right place.
Like, subscribe, and drop a comment with what you want Jo to talk about next.

In this episode, Jo Ellis reflects on a whirlwind month in Austin as she continues her transition from Black Hawk pilot to full-time stand-up comic. She opens up about audience feedback on her podcast energy, her push to bring more personality to the mic, and how comedy has become both a mission and a coping tool after the viral conspiracy that upended her life.

Jo shares behind-the-scenes stories from the Austin comedy scene — including last-minute spots, barking crowds into clubs, and memorable encounters with comics at Joe Rogan & Friends at the Comedy Mothership. She recounts standing up during Rogan’s Q&A to ask about AI, misinformation, and free speech, tying it back to the online rumor that put her family in danger.

The episode also dives into Jo’s creative process: experimenting with new material about trans identity, religion, and visibility; drawing inspiration from storytellers like Steve Martin, Dane Cook, and Mike Birbiglia; and balancing humor with a deeper “why” behind her comedy.

Beyond the stage, Jo talks candidly about setbacks — from blowing a tire before a long-anticipated track day at Circuit of the Americas to navigating the realities of grinding in a new city — while still finding joy in the journey.

A major highlight: Jo announces and details her new late-night style show, “Friendly Fire with Jo Ellis,” debuting January 26 at Creek & the Cave. She outlines the format, guest plans, and her commitment to running it professionally by paying comics, promoting hard, and building something different.

The episode closes with Jo’s unfiltered take on comedy show culture — why low-attendance rooms still deserve full effort, why bad mouthing audiences kills the vibe, and why every set should be treated like there are 100 people watching. It’s a rallying cry for professionalism, hustle, and respect for the craft.

I’m finally back in Austin for a full three-month comedy push, and this episode is a full download of everything that has happened since I packed up my car on November 1st and drove 22 hours from Virginia.I moved to Austin to chase standup and earn my way onto the Joe Rogan Experience. New bookings, Kill Tony signups, and big steps in my journey as a trans veteran comic in the Mothership scene.In this update, I talk about:• New comedy bookings — Rozco’s Comedy Club on Dec 2nd and a 10-minute spot at Vulcan Gas Company on Dec 26th.• Grinding the Austin scene — signing up for Kill Tony and Mothership Open Mic every Monday, plus performing at Creek & The Cave and getting welcomed back by staff and comics who recognize me from Kill Tony.• Building community in Austin — new friends, other comics, and reconnecting with people like Ernest, another Army aviation veteran.• Growing my online presence — social media strategy shifts, going viral on X, fixing my Instagram visibility issues, and why follower growth matters for getting booked.• Updates to my comedy — new bits, refining the “trans grenade” opener, military stories, Chick-fil-A cow era, crash-rumor jokes, and leaning into my unique lane as a trans military comic.• Life changes — breast augmentation, hair transplant, settling into Austin routines, and focusing on health and training.• My memoir + documentary — writing the proposal, working with people who believe in the project, and why the timing with the upcoming Fighting Forward documentary could be huge.• Why the Joe Rogan seat still matters — what I hope to talk about, why I think my story resonates with his audience, and how Austin is the best place to make that connection.• The policy work I released — explaining the draft of my revised Standard of Care for gender dysphoria and the 10-point legal framework that pissed off some activists, and why I'm pushing for a middle-ground, guardrails-based approach to protect women, kids, and trans people.This episode is a big-picture snapshot of everything happening in my comedy journey, advocacy work, and life as I try to build something real here in Austin. I’m excited, terrified, motivated, and hopeful — and I can’t wait to see what happens next.#AustinComedy#AustinComedian#StandUpComedy#KillTony#KillTonyAustin#ComedyMothership#JoeRogan#joeroganexperience #RoganUniverse#VulcanGasCompany#RozcosComedyClub#AustinOpenMic#AustinStandup#TexasComedyScene#SunsetStrip#atx #transgender #transcomedian #trans

This week on The Jo Ellis Effect — former Black Hawk pilot turned comedian Jo Ellis breaks down the week’s wildest stories.🧠 Topics:• The new “trans identity in decline” survey — is it science or spin?• Trump’s drug-boat strike and why survivors were sent home vs prosecuted.• Phase 3 of Operation Conservative Psyop — Jo’s three-month move to Austin to get noticed by Joe Rogan and prove the scene is more open than people think.• The Ninth Circuit hearing on the trans military ban (Shilling v. Trump).• And Rep. Nancy Mace’s live meltdown on Sirius XM after Michael Smerconish defended Jo — because apparently “thank you for your service” has an asterisk now.🎙️ Comedy, Commentary, and life updates#JoEllisEffect #OperationConservativePsyop #TransVeteran #AustinComedy #KillTony #JoeRogan #TransMilitaryBan #NancyMace #StandupComedy #LGBTQ