the Way of the Showman Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:45:36 -0400 http://Thewayoftheshowman.com en-us © 2026 the Way of the Showman yes Support this Podcast 5754c55c-8c5d-501b-90d2-a6f83b2ada94 thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com Captain Frodo episodic false Philosophical and esoteric perspectives from a modern day Showman. 
Each season is different in its approach. S1 is essays. S2 is one book length attempt at Understanding Showmanship, S3 is conversations with remarkable Showfolk. The brand new Season 4 explores the relationship between Showmanship and Play.
The host, Captain Frodo, internationally renowned circus performer, director, writer, husband and dad lays out, in great detail, his practical performance philosophy for performers who seek to deepen the conversation with their audiences and themselves. You can find him, and more of his writing at: www.thewayoftheshowman.com

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Circus, showman, showmanship, circademics, Freakshow, performance, art, philosophy, magic, street show, self development Captain Frodo thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/rcvl18xbn0qhcm8jz0njm0hd8ar8?.jpg the Way of the Showman http://Thewayoftheshowman.com 172 - Building Real Connections With A Crowd - Jay Gilligan - Malmö Conversations 2 of 4 172 - Building Real Connections With A Crowd - Jay Gilligan - Malmö Conversations 2 of 4 A crowd cheering can feel like love, right up until it wrecks the timing of the act. From a Malmö hotel room while props are being prepped, we dig into a surprisingly deep question: what does a performer owe an audience, and what does an audience unknowingly take away from a performer when they bring their own rhythm into the room? We talk about clapping, pacing, silence, and why comedy and juggling depend on the artist setting the beat.

Then we zoom out into the bigger life problem of being a working circus artist. Stepping off the normal career track means you often have to explain yourself, defend your choices, and prove the work is real. We get honest about the economics of performing arts, why circus pricing can be wildly different from music gigs, and how easy it is for “the job” to swallow the joy that made you start in the first place. We also wrestle with the messy overlap between hobby, identity, and profession when your curiosity is also your paycheck.

The conversation turns into a practical thought experiment with real creative stakes: if money were no object, what would your artistic practice look like? We land on building a team, carving out time, and designing small theatre experiences where the audience is not anonymous. Along the way we take on the attention economy, algorithm-driven distraction, and the idea that the most radical act today might be a room full of people sharing attention on purpose.

If you care about live performance, audience connection, juggling, circus, creative work, or making art inside entertainment, this one goes straight to the core. Subscribe, share with a friend who makes things, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> A crowd cheering can feel like love, right up until it wrecks the timing of the act. From a Malmö hotel room while props are being prepped, we dig into a surprisingly deep question: what does a performer owe an audience, and what does an audience unknowingly take away from a performer when they bring their own rhythm into the room? We talk about clapping, pacing, silence, and why comedy and juggling depend on the artist setting the beat.

Then we zoom out into the bigger life problem of being a working circus artist. Stepping off the normal career track means you often have to explain yourself, defend your choices, and prove the work is real. We get honest about the economics of performing arts, why circus pricing can be wildly different from music gigs, and how easy it is for “the job” to swallow the joy that made you start in the first place. We also wrestle with the messy overlap between hobby, identity, and profession when your curiosity is also your paycheck.

The conversation turns into a practical thought experiment with real creative stakes: if money were no object, what would your artistic practice look like? We land on building a team, carving out time, and designing small theatre experiences where the audience is not anonymous. Along the way we take on the attention economy, algorithm-driven distraction, and the idea that the most radical act today might be a room full of people sharing attention on purpose.

If you care about live performance, audience connection, juggling, circus, creative work, or making art inside entertainment, this one goes straight to the core. Subscribe, share with a friend who makes things, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18982563 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0200 4639 4 172 full false 171 - Rolling Balls And Facing Mortality with Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo- Malmö Conversations 1 of 4 171 - Rolling Balls And Facing Mortality with Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo- Malmö Conversations 1 of 4 The brutal part of juggling isn’t the hard trick. It’s the simple demand that never changes: once the object leaves your hand, you either catch it or you don’t. From a snowy, sleety Malmö cabaret week at Victoria Theater, we sit down in a hotel room surrounded by ribbons, feathers, and confetti while Jay Gilligan rolls his legendary Ivar Balls, and we ask the mid-career question that every performer eventually faces: does life actually get easier, or do you just get better at carrying it? 

We get practical about performance pressure, stage presence, and why technical mastery doesn’t erase the feeling of risk. Jay talks about building a professional “floor” where a truly bad show becomes rare, not because you’re perfect, but because you’ve earned tools, timing, and recovery instincts. We also dig into the creative process of making new work, where everything feels equally important at first, then slowly reveals a hierarchy as you perform it again and again. If you self-produce, you’ll recognize the trap: props, music, lighting, marketing, and logistics all scream for attention until the piece finally tells you what it’s really about. 

Then we widen the lens to the touring life and the human cost: being away from family, sitting alone in hotel rooms, aging into different limits, and the pandemic’s wake-up call that “I can always fall back on street shows” might be a comforting story more than a plan. Underneath it all is a bigger question about meaning, identity, and what work gives us besides money, especially when the end starts to feel closer than the beginning. 

If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who makes things for a living, and leave a review with the part that stayed with you.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> The brutal part of juggling isn’t the hard trick. It’s the simple demand that never changes: once the object leaves your hand, you either catch it or you don’t. From a snowy, sleety Malmö cabaret week at Victoria Theater, we sit down in a hotel room surrounded by ribbons, feathers, and confetti while Jay Gilligan rolls his legendary Ivar Balls, and we ask the mid-career question that every performer eventually faces: does life actually get easier, or do you just get better at carrying it? 

We get practical about performance pressure, stage presence, and why technical mastery doesn’t erase the feeling of risk. Jay talks about building a professional “floor” where a truly bad show becomes rare, not because you’re perfect, but because you’ve earned tools, timing, and recovery instincts. We also dig into the creative process of making new work, where everything feels equally important at first, then slowly reveals a hierarchy as you perform it again and again. If you self-produce, you’ll recognize the trap: props, music, lighting, marketing, and logistics all scream for attention until the piece finally tells you what it’s really about. 

Then we widen the lens to the touring life and the human cost: being away from family, sitting alone in hotel rooms, aging into different limits, and the pandemic’s wake-up call that “I can always fall back on street shows” might be a comforting story more than a plan. Underneath it all is a bigger question about meaning, identity, and what work gives us besides money, especially when the end starts to feel closer than the beginning. 

If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who makes things for a living, and leave a review with the part that stayed with you.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18982558 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0200 4438 4 171 full false 170 - Juggling Tango with Menno Van Dyke - Part 2 of 2 170 - Juggling Tango with Menno Van Dyke - Part 2 of 2 You can feel it when an act is more than a list of tricks, but why does that feeling happen? I sit down with Menno van Dyke, artistic director of Circusstad Festival in Rotterdam, to dissect one of my favorite examples of contemporary circus craft: Juggling Tango, his long running collaboration with his wife Emily, a dancer. What starts as a conversation about career beginnings quickly turns into a deep dive on how showmanship, choreography, and structure turn technique into story. 

Menno shares how he moved from a youth circus in Amsterdam to Fratellini in Paris, including an ambitious plan to juggle on a galloping horse and the practical reasons it didn’t survive the real world of venues, touring, and contracts. From there we track the shift toward building a portable solo juggling act, winning at Monte Carlo’s young artist festival, and working across traditional circus and the German variety scene. 

Then we get granular on the creative process behind Juggling Tango: choosing Astor Piazzolla, building a solo that transforms into a duo, and solving the brutal problem of making eye contact while keeping juggling solid. We talk timing, personal space, risk management, hidden spare props, and what happens when a ball drops but the music and your partner’s choreography won’t wait. We also explore endings, why a finale can’t be topped, and how acts evolve like living organisms across decades while the circus industry itself keeps changing. 

If you enjoy smart conversations about circus act structure, performance choreography, juggling, tango, and what makes a piece feel timeless, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

LINKS:

You can find information about the Juggling Tango act here.

You can see a filmed version of it here.

And this is a link to the Circusstad festival where Menno is the artistic director. If you click it you will currently (03/26) see me, the incomparable Captain Frodo on the front page.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> You can feel it when an act is more than a list of tricks, but why does that feeling happen? I sit down with Menno van Dyke, artistic director of Circusstad Festival in Rotterdam, to dissect one of my favorite examples of contemporary circus craft: Juggling Tango, his long running collaboration with his wife Emily, a dancer. What starts as a conversation about career beginnings quickly turns into a deep dive on how showmanship, choreography, and structure turn technique into story. 

Menno shares how he moved from a youth circus in Amsterdam to Fratellini in Paris, including an ambitious plan to juggle on a galloping horse and the practical reasons it didn’t survive the real world of venues, touring, and contracts. From there we track the shift toward building a portable solo juggling act, winning at Monte Carlo’s young artist festival, and working across traditional circus and the German variety scene. 

Then we get granular on the creative process behind Juggling Tango: choosing Astor Piazzolla, building a solo that transforms into a duo, and solving the brutal problem of making eye contact while keeping juggling solid. We talk timing, personal space, risk management, hidden spare props, and what happens when a ball drops but the music and your partner’s choreography won’t wait. We also explore endings, why a finale can’t be topped, and how acts evolve like living organisms across decades while the circus industry itself keeps changing. 

If you enjoy smart conversations about circus act structure, performance choreography, juggling, tango, and what makes a piece feel timeless, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

LINKS:

You can find information about the Juggling Tango act here.

You can see a filmed version of it here.

And this is a link to the Circusstad festival where Menno is the artistic director. If you click it you will currently (03/26) see me, the incomparable Captain Frodo on the front page.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18870178 Tue, 09 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0200 4040 4 170 full false 169 - Menno Van Dyke Juggler and artistic director of Circusstaad - Part 1 of 2 169 - Menno Van Dyke Juggler and artistic director of Circusstaad - Part 1 of 2 I’m joined by my good friend Menno van Dyke, artistic director of Circusstad Festival in Rotterdam, for a conversation that starts with a recent circus trip to Stockholm and quickly turns into a masterclass on how audiences decide what to believe.

We unpack a museum-style juggling show that uses archives, artifacts, and history to pull kids deeper into the craft and to give adults a new way to watch. From there we get honest about the downside of that same technique: skepticism. When the stakes look too high, some viewers assume it’s all a story, which leads to a bigger question about showmanship, credibility, and why “real” physical skills sometimes need more proof than you’d expect.

Then Menno takes us behind the scenes of contemporary circus festival programming and how Circusstad Festival Rotterdam helped build a stronger Dutch circus field by creating opportunities for graduates, inviting international companies, and producing new work like a gala night and a family freak show. We finish with the topic we can’t stop nerding out about: the seven minute act. We talk structure, dramaturgy, and why short acts can be harder than full shows, plus how a personal circus video archive becomes a living library for anyone who wants to see what makes great acts endure.

Subscribe, share this with a fellow circus lover, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

LINKS:

You can find information about the Juggling Tango act here.

You can see a filmed version of it here.

And this is a link to the Circusstad festival where Menno is the artistic director. If you click it you will currently (03/26) see me, the incomparable Captain Frodo on the front page.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> I’m joined by my good friend Menno van Dyke, artistic director of Circusstad Festival in Rotterdam, for a conversation that starts with a recent circus trip to Stockholm and quickly turns into a masterclass on how audiences decide what to believe.

We unpack a museum-style juggling show that uses archives, artifacts, and history to pull kids deeper into the craft and to give adults a new way to watch. From there we get honest about the downside of that same technique: skepticism. When the stakes look too high, some viewers assume it’s all a story, which leads to a bigger question about showmanship, credibility, and why “real” physical skills sometimes need more proof than you’d expect.

Then Menno takes us behind the scenes of contemporary circus festival programming and how Circusstad Festival Rotterdam helped build a stronger Dutch circus field by creating opportunities for graduates, inviting international companies, and producing new work like a gala night and a family freak show. We finish with the topic we can’t stop nerding out about: the seven minute act. We talk structure, dramaturgy, and why short acts can be harder than full shows, plus how a personal circus video archive becomes a living library for anyone who wants to see what makes great acts endure.

Subscribe, share this with a fellow circus lover, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

LINKS:

You can find information about the Juggling Tango act here.

You can see a filmed version of it here.

And this is a link to the Circusstad festival where Menno is the artistic director. If you click it you will currently (03/26) see me, the incomparable Captain Frodo on the front page.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18865126 Tue, 26 May 2026 06:00:00 +0200 3996 4 169 full false 168 - Art in the Brain with Captain Frodo 168 - Art in the Brain with Captain Frodo What if a performance could borrow your memories and hand them back changed? We dive into the hidden link between music, juggling, and dance by exploring the brain’s precuneus—the region that lights up when art stops being “out there” and becomes personal. When you like a piece of music, your brain flips from hearing to identifying. That same switch can flip for movement arts, turning clean patterns and intentional transitions into visual music that feels like your own story.

I share why difficulty and risk are only the front door—and how depth begins when patterns breathe long enough for the audience to anticipate change and feel it in their gut. We talk about intrusion versus belonging: why unwanted sound feels like tampering, and why trust, pacing, and context invite people into a receptive state. From a tightwire’s held breath to a 40-minute pole sequence, the work is the same—sustain intention, reveal structure, let the audience do the meaning-making their brain is built for.

We also get practical. How do you help non-experts read complex movement the way they read music? Offer onramps. Start with motifs. Pair gestures with sound that supports the narrative. Use language that points without pinning. And above all, commit to flow—because a single drop or restart can break identification the way a pianist stopping mid-phrase can eject you from the piece. When connection holds, even familiar phrases like follow your dreams shed their cliché and land as real prompts for action.

Call it showmanship, visual music, or embodied storytelling—the test is simple: did it move the watcher? If the answer is yes, they’ll leave with new memories that feel self-authored, which is the quiet magic of live art. If this resonates, tap follow, share the episode with someone who loves performance, and drop a review to tell us the last time a show truly changed you.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if a performance could borrow your memories and hand them back changed? We dive into the hidden link between music, juggling, and dance by exploring the brain’s precuneus—the region that lights up when art stops being “out there” and becomes personal. When you like a piece of music, your brain flips from hearing to identifying. That same switch can flip for movement arts, turning clean patterns and intentional transitions into visual music that feels like your own story.

I share why difficulty and risk are only the front door—and how depth begins when patterns breathe long enough for the audience to anticipate change and feel it in their gut. We talk about intrusion versus belonging: why unwanted sound feels like tampering, and why trust, pacing, and context invite people into a receptive state. From a tightwire’s held breath to a 40-minute pole sequence, the work is the same—sustain intention, reveal structure, let the audience do the meaning-making their brain is built for.

We also get practical. How do you help non-experts read complex movement the way they read music? Offer onramps. Start with motifs. Pair gestures with sound that supports the narrative. Use language that points without pinning. And above all, commit to flow—because a single drop or restart can break identification the way a pianist stopping mid-phrase can eject you from the piece. When connection holds, even familiar phrases like follow your dreams shed their cliché and land as real prompts for action.

Call it showmanship, visual music, or embodied storytelling—the test is simple: did it move the watcher? If the answer is yes, they’ll leave with new memories that feel self-authored, which is the quiet magic of live art. If this resonates, tap follow, share the episode with someone who loves performance, and drop a review to tell us the last time a show truly changed you.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18577861 Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:00 +0200 3481 4 168 full false 167 - Comedy, Character & the Fakir Academy - the Headmaster of Pain Håvve Fjell part 2 of 2 167 - Comedy, Character & the Fakir Academy - the Headmaster of Pain Håvve Fjell part 2 of 2 Pain stunts can shock anyone. The real question is: how do you turn shock into something people actually want to come back for? I sit down again with Hoverfiel, the Norwegian pioneer behind Pain Solution, to talk about the hard-earned craft of pain-proof performance and why “keeping it real” is more than a slogan. We get into what happens when you refuse illusions, build shows around music cues, and design an act you can carry solo in a gig economy without watering down the material. 

From there, we dig into the part many sideshow and performance art fans never hear: character work. Hoverfiel explains why relying on puke-and-pass-out reactions is a dead end, and how comedy and tension release can make extreme acts accessible without making them fake. We also talk about pacing, including the deliberate choice to save blood for the end, bringing audiences along a journey where they laugh first, trust the performer, and only then choose how far they want to go. 

The conversation takes a sharp turn into the Fakir Academy, an unorthodox apprenticeship that starts with a referral from Child Protective Services. We unpack what it meant to mentor young people with self-harm histories, teach technical sideshow skills alongside creativity and structure, and meet self-harm with understanding instead of disgust. It’s a nuanced discussion about mental health, harm reduction, and the limits of what a performer can safely carry, even with the best intentions. 

If you care about sideshow history, fakir tradition, body modification culture, or the ethics of performance under real risk, you’ll find a lot to sit with here. Subscribe to The Way of the Showman, share this with a friend who loves performance craft, and leave a review so more curious listeners can find the show. What part of the conversation challenged you most?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Pain stunts can shock anyone. The real question is: how do you turn shock into something people actually want to come back for? I sit down again with Hoverfiel, the Norwegian pioneer behind Pain Solution, to talk about the hard-earned craft of pain-proof performance and why “keeping it real” is more than a slogan. We get into what happens when you refuse illusions, build shows around music cues, and design an act you can carry solo in a gig economy without watering down the material. 

From there, we dig into the part many sideshow and performance art fans never hear: character work. Hoverfiel explains why relying on puke-and-pass-out reactions is a dead end, and how comedy and tension release can make extreme acts accessible without making them fake. We also talk about pacing, including the deliberate choice to save blood for the end, bringing audiences along a journey where they laugh first, trust the performer, and only then choose how far they want to go. 

The conversation takes a sharp turn into the Fakir Academy, an unorthodox apprenticeship that starts with a referral from Child Protective Services. We unpack what it meant to mentor young people with self-harm histories, teach technical sideshow skills alongside creativity and structure, and meet self-harm with understanding instead of disgust. It’s a nuanced discussion about mental health, harm reduction, and the limits of what a performer can safely carry, even with the best intentions. 

If you care about sideshow history, fakir tradition, body modification culture, or the ethics of performance under real risk, you’ll find a lot to sit with here. Subscribe to The Way of the Showman, share this with a friend who loves performance craft, and leave a review so more curious listeners can find the show. What part of the conversation challenged you most?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18864796 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0200 3854 4 167 full true 166 - The Headmaster of Pain Håvve Fjell Part 1 of 2 166 - The Headmaster of Pain Håvve Fjell Part 1 of 2 Fire looks clean from a distance. Up close, it can leave you chronically ill for life. We’re joined by Håvve Fjell, known to many as the Headmaster of Pain and the driving force behind Norway’s legendary Pain Solution, for a frank talk about what extreme performance really demands and what it can take from you.

We start with the unromantic reality of occupational risk: lung damage from long-term fire eating and fire breathing, early accidents, and the quiet ways the body keeps score. From there, we rewind to the beginning, when pain isn’t a stunt but a fascination. Hover shares how childhood injuries turn into deliberate experiments as a teenager, and why his motivation doesn’t match the usual story people tell about self-harm. That thread leads straight into Modern Primitives, Fakir Musafar, body modification, altered states, and the moment a private impulse becomes a serious practice.

Then we get practical about craft. A failed early debut, heckling, and a confused audience push Hover toward learning performance skills: juggling, acting, clowning, mime, and the hard work of building a stage persona. We also revisit a pre-internet body piercing scene in Norway where information is scarce, standards are improvised, and word of mouth is everything. Finally, we dig into the origins of Pain Solution itself, from backyard fire sessions to booked gigs, naming the act, documenting the work in books, and the long road from ritual performance art toward a sideshow format people can actually book.

If you’re into sideshow history, fakir performance, fire breathing safety, body modification culture, or performance art, this is a rare firsthand map of how the scene was built. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find The Way Of The Showman.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Fire looks clean from a distance. Up close, it can leave you chronically ill for life. We’re joined by Håvve Fjell, known to many as the Headmaster of Pain and the driving force behind Norway’s legendary Pain Solution, for a frank talk about what extreme performance really demands and what it can take from you.

We start with the unromantic reality of occupational risk: lung damage from long-term fire eating and fire breathing, early accidents, and the quiet ways the body keeps score. From there, we rewind to the beginning, when pain isn’t a stunt but a fascination. Hover shares how childhood injuries turn into deliberate experiments as a teenager, and why his motivation doesn’t match the usual story people tell about self-harm. That thread leads straight into Modern Primitives, Fakir Musafar, body modification, altered states, and the moment a private impulse becomes a serious practice.

Then we get practical about craft. A failed early debut, heckling, and a confused audience push Hover toward learning performance skills: juggling, acting, clowning, mime, and the hard work of building a stage persona. We also revisit a pre-internet body piercing scene in Norway where information is scarce, standards are improvised, and word of mouth is everything. Finally, we dig into the origins of Pain Solution itself, from backyard fire sessions to booked gigs, naming the act, documenting the work in books, and the long road from ritual performance art toward a sideshow format people can actually book.

If you’re into sideshow history, fakir performance, fire breathing safety, body modification culture, or performance art, this is a rare firsthand map of how the scene was built. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find The Way Of The Showman.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18864601 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0200 4183 4 166 full true 165 - A Philosophical Map Of Showmanship - A live talk about my upcoming book 165 - A Philosophical Map Of Showmanship - A live talk about my upcoming book What if showmanship isn’t just flair, but a way of seeing the world? I open up the first public talk about my forthcoming book, born from years of touring, early mornings, and 160+ podcast episodes, and share how a single poem became the spine for a philosophy of performance. As the lines were learned by heart, their meanings deepened, revealing a core image: the showman is the one who faces the other way, gathers a field of shared attention, and returns borrowed time as something refined.

From that image, we chart four working maps. First, the live situation itself: performer, audience, and the emergent dimension we call the show. Second, the human being at the center—thinking, feeling, and willing—as both subject and material. Third, the anatomy of an act, where choices in rhythm, structure, tone, and risk make ideas visible. Fourth, the values under intent, the quiet logic behind why we elevate a volunteer or make a joke at their expense. Along the way, we read from a chapter that unpacks the true, the good, and the beautiful, reframing them as guiding stars for craft: truth as resonant inquiry, goodness as lived action that helps others flourish, and beauty as attention’s welcome, from Baroque fugues to black metal’s frost.

To make it concrete, we imagine a three-ring circus under colored lights—blue for truth, red for beauty, green for goodness—where performers fail and try again, and sincerity becomes the real feat. We share practices you can use tomorrow: capture moments that resonate, look beyond your field for patterns, follow fear to find what you value, and translate insights into movement, text, and timing until they live in your hands. If you care about performance, creativity, circus, magic, or the craft of making meaning in front of people, this conversation offers language, tools, and a compass.

If this resonated, subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with a friend who faces the other way. For updates on the book, follow The Way of the Showman on Instagram and stay tuned for what comes next.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if showmanship isn’t just flair, but a way of seeing the world? I open up the first public talk about my forthcoming book, born from years of touring, early mornings, and 160+ podcast episodes, and share how a single poem became the spine for a philosophy of performance. As the lines were learned by heart, their meanings deepened, revealing a core image: the showman is the one who faces the other way, gathers a field of shared attention, and returns borrowed time as something refined.

From that image, we chart four working maps. First, the live situation itself: performer, audience, and the emergent dimension we call the show. Second, the human being at the center—thinking, feeling, and willing—as both subject and material. Third, the anatomy of an act, where choices in rhythm, structure, tone, and risk make ideas visible. Fourth, the values under intent, the quiet logic behind why we elevate a volunteer or make a joke at their expense. Along the way, we read from a chapter that unpacks the true, the good, and the beautiful, reframing them as guiding stars for craft: truth as resonant inquiry, goodness as lived action that helps others flourish, and beauty as attention’s welcome, from Baroque fugues to black metal’s frost.

To make it concrete, we imagine a three-ring circus under colored lights—blue for truth, red for beauty, green for goodness—where performers fail and try again, and sincerity becomes the real feat. We share practices you can use tomorrow: capture moments that resonate, look beyond your field for patterns, follow fear to find what you value, and translate insights into movement, text, and timing until they live in your hands. If you care about performance, creativity, circus, magic, or the craft of making meaning in front of people, this conversation offers language, tools, and a compass.

If this resonated, subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with a friend who faces the other way. For updates on the book, follow The Way of the Showman on Instagram and stay tuned for what comes next.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18713879 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0200 2068 4 165 full false 164 - Redefining Progress with Jack Denger Part 2 of 2 164 - Redefining Progress with Jack Denger Part 2 of 2 Skill can thrill, but can it also tell the truth? We sit down with Jack Denger to explore how a world-class technician turns juggling into story by weaving speech, music, and intentional structure into his act. Jack explains why he started with spoken text: immediate understanding, shared language, and space to breathe between bursts of motion. Those quiet valleys let the audience reset, rejoin the idea, and feel the lift when the patterns rise again. We dig into coherence—how drops can snap people out of the spell—and why that risk forces better architecture: choreography over trick parades, phrasing over sprints, and endings that land where the heart is most open.

We talk expectations and surprise, from placing a biggest trick inside silence to curating moments that defy what a crowd thinks a juggler will do. Feedback splits opinions; authorship unites them. Jack shares how to choose music that isn’t just useful but personal, so the object work carries identity without a lecture. We also unpack context: halftime arenas, festivals hungry for high skill, theaters built for nuance. A single sentence of framing can change how people watch—like a gallery card beside an abstract painting. Commercial shows keep the lights on; deeper work grows alongside, in seasons, as you build a small repertoire that maps a real journey from concrete text to abstract sensation.

Teaching comes into focus, too. Jack’s approach scales for five-ball builders and nine-club chasers by centering tactics that travel: chunking, transitions, rhythm, and presence. We champion open process—treating craft like open source—because sharing the messy middle helps the whole field move. And we face the inflection point: numbers will inch higher, but meaning is the frontier. If juggling is to matter more, it has to say more.

Join us, reflect with us, and then tell us what you think. Subscribe, rate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share this with someone who’s chasing the next step in their craft. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Skill can thrill, but can it also tell the truth? We sit down with Jack Denger to explore how a world-class technician turns juggling into story by weaving speech, music, and intentional structure into his act. Jack explains why he started with spoken text: immediate understanding, shared language, and space to breathe between bursts of motion. Those quiet valleys let the audience reset, rejoin the idea, and feel the lift when the patterns rise again. We dig into coherence—how drops can snap people out of the spell—and why that risk forces better architecture: choreography over trick parades, phrasing over sprints, and endings that land where the heart is most open.

We talk expectations and surprise, from placing a biggest trick inside silence to curating moments that defy what a crowd thinks a juggler will do. Feedback splits opinions; authorship unites them. Jack shares how to choose music that isn’t just useful but personal, so the object work carries identity without a lecture. We also unpack context: halftime arenas, festivals hungry for high skill, theaters built for nuance. A single sentence of framing can change how people watch—like a gallery card beside an abstract painting. Commercial shows keep the lights on; deeper work grows alongside, in seasons, as you build a small repertoire that maps a real journey from concrete text to abstract sensation.

Teaching comes into focus, too. Jack’s approach scales for five-ball builders and nine-club chasers by centering tactics that travel: chunking, transitions, rhythm, and presence. We champion open process—treating craft like open source—because sharing the messy middle helps the whole field move. And we face the inflection point: numbers will inch higher, but meaning is the frontier. If juggling is to matter more, it has to say more.

Join us, reflect with us, and then tell us what you think. Subscribe, rate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share this with someone who’s chasing the next step in their craft. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18577855 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0100 4204 4 164 full false 163 - Redefining Progress with Jack Denger part 1 of 2 163 - Redefining Progress with Jack Denger part 1 of 2 What if world-class technique isn’t the point, but the vehicle? We sit down with extraordinary juggler Jack Denger to unpack how a high-skill act can carry story, emotion, and authorship—without dumbing down the craft. Jack is in a season of change, and that openness sparks a different creative process: choosing constraints, curating context, and shaping movement to words and music so an audience feels guided instead of flooded.

We start with the spark that set him on the path—Cirque du Soleil’s layered worlds—then fast-forward through years of meticulous training to the moment virtuosity wasn’t enough. Together we map the differences between music, magic, and juggling: music hits emotion directly, magic often delivers tight narratives, and juggling presents visible difficulty that can overshadow meaning. So Jack picks a frame with built-in resonance: Steve Jobs’ Stanford speech, already intertwined with score. That single decision solves length, sets tone, and invites big themes—finding what you love, connecting dots, mortality—while freeing Jack to choreograph for punctuation, phrasing, and space.

The craft talk goes deep. Jack reveals how he assigns tricks for visual intent, times accents to musical peaks, and uses the entire stage as part of the composition. We examine cognitive load when layering speech over dense patterns, and share practical fixes: carve breathing room, let simple patterns carry crucial lines, and drop in clear visual metaphors to re-sync attention. Feedback becomes fuel—first drafts that feel “wrong” expose what to refine; theatrical framing (a lone microphone, approached then abandoned) signals authorship without breaking tone. It’s an honest look at creating an act that’s not just harder, but richer, where skill, story, and sound pull in the same direction.

If you’re a performer, director, or curious fan, you’ll come away with tools for building meaning into movement and making choices that help your audience follow along. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with a friend who loves craft and process—what part of performance do you notice first: skill, story, or sound?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if world-class technique isn’t the point, but the vehicle? We sit down with extraordinary juggler Jack Denger to unpack how a high-skill act can carry story, emotion, and authorship—without dumbing down the craft. Jack is in a season of change, and that openness sparks a different creative process: choosing constraints, curating context, and shaping movement to words and music so an audience feels guided instead of flooded.

We start with the spark that set him on the path—Cirque du Soleil’s layered worlds—then fast-forward through years of meticulous training to the moment virtuosity wasn’t enough. Together we map the differences between music, magic, and juggling: music hits emotion directly, magic often delivers tight narratives, and juggling presents visible difficulty that can overshadow meaning. So Jack picks a frame with built-in resonance: Steve Jobs’ Stanford speech, already intertwined with score. That single decision solves length, sets tone, and invites big themes—finding what you love, connecting dots, mortality—while freeing Jack to choreograph for punctuation, phrasing, and space.

The craft talk goes deep. Jack reveals how he assigns tricks for visual intent, times accents to musical peaks, and uses the entire stage as part of the composition. We examine cognitive load when layering speech over dense patterns, and share practical fixes: carve breathing room, let simple patterns carry crucial lines, and drop in clear visual metaphors to re-sync attention. Feedback becomes fuel—first drafts that feel “wrong” expose what to refine; theatrical framing (a lone microphone, approached then abandoned) signals authorship without breaking tone. It’s an honest look at creating an act that’s not just harder, but richer, where skill, story, and sound pull in the same direction.

If you’re a performer, director, or curious fan, you’ll come away with tools for building meaning into movement and making choices that help your audience follow along. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with a friend who loves craft and process—what part of performance do you notice first: skill, story, or sound?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18577853 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0100 3960 4 163 full false 162 - How Artists Edit Reality To Tell Emotional Truths with Ivar Hackscher, Jay Gilligan & Frodo 162 - How Artists Edit Reality To Tell Emotional Truths with Ivar Hackscher, Jay Gilligan & Frodo Ivar Hackscher can also be heard sharing his wisdom in episode 90 & 91.

A snowy museum visit, a restless soundscape, and a conversation that kept outshining the art on the walls—this one is about the moment when performance feels undeniably real. We dig into why sincerity and trust matter so much, how a chosen audience can change the stakes, and what happens when the right people step into a room with the right intent. When you take your crowd seriously, they rise to the occasion, and the noise—footsteps, hums, clinks—turns into texture rather than distraction.

From there, we unpack the power of teams and the long game of collaboration. Keeping a core crew over years compounds trust and taste, especially in small, fragile communities where one loss can feel like a corner of the room disappears. We ask the uncomfortable question: does time served equal value? Sometimes a decade of work underwhelms; sometimes a poem drafted at 5pm pierces straight through. The difference is judgment. Artists are editors and choice-makers, and the craft is in choosing what to keep, what to cut, and when to let the gesture speak without words.

We also wade into AI, authorship, and authenticity. If a machine can make the frame, who supplies the meaning? The answer lives in the curating eye: selecting, sequencing, and framing with intent. Outsourcing isn’t new—pop songs and comedy thrive on writers’ rooms—so we explore how juggling, magic, and movement reframe authorship and improvisation. Delay the narrative, read the room, and collapse possibilities into a single, resonant outcome. Along the way, we talk myth-making and emotional truth: the stories artists tell themselves to aim higher, and the stories audiences need to feel the aura of the work.

If you care about performance that invites rather than insists, about teams that build taste over time, and about the razor’s edge between process and product, you’ll find plenty to chew on here. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Ivar Hackscher can also be heard sharing his wisdom in episode 90 & 91.

A snowy museum visit, a restless soundscape, and a conversation that kept outshining the art on the walls—this one is about the moment when performance feels undeniably real. We dig into why sincerity and trust matter so much, how a chosen audience can change the stakes, and what happens when the right people step into a room with the right intent. When you take your crowd seriously, they rise to the occasion, and the noise—footsteps, hums, clinks—turns into texture rather than distraction.

From there, we unpack the power of teams and the long game of collaboration. Keeping a core crew over years compounds trust and taste, especially in small, fragile communities where one loss can feel like a corner of the room disappears. We ask the uncomfortable question: does time served equal value? Sometimes a decade of work underwhelms; sometimes a poem drafted at 5pm pierces straight through. The difference is judgment. Artists are editors and choice-makers, and the craft is in choosing what to keep, what to cut, and when to let the gesture speak without words.

We also wade into AI, authorship, and authenticity. If a machine can make the frame, who supplies the meaning? The answer lives in the curating eye: selecting, sequencing, and framing with intent. Outsourcing isn’t new—pop songs and comedy thrive on writers’ rooms—so we explore how juggling, magic, and movement reframe authorship and improvisation. Delay the narrative, read the room, and collapse possibilities into a single, resonant outcome. Along the way, we talk myth-making and emotional truth: the stories artists tell themselves to aim higher, and the stories audiences need to feel the aura of the work.

If you care about performance that invites rather than insists, about teams that build taste over time, and about the razor’s edge between process and product, you’ll find plenty to chew on here. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18526602 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0100 3357 4 162 full false 161 - Folk Circus is Real Showmanship with Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo 161 - Folk Circus is Real Showmanship with Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo What if the most compelling part of a show isn’t the illusion, but the honesty? We sit down with juggler and creator Jay Gilligan to unpack “folk circus,” a performance style built on concrete skill, visible tech, and a fearless embrace of the room as it truly is. No hidden light booths, no invisible sound cues—just a performer hitting the button, moving the fader, catching the club, and meeting the audience where they are.

Jay traces how constraints—touring by plane, school circuits, gym floors, libraries—shape an aesthetic that prizes minimalism without feeling small. We compare the spark of a set in a sports hall, where it transforms a familiar space, to the way expectations can swallow that same set on a grand stage. Along the way, we talk independence versus big-company sheen, why legacy comes from your own name on the poster, and how real-time presence turns glitches and interruptions into connection instead of cracks.

The conversation dives into juggling as proof—throw, catch, repeat—and follows that concreteness through sound, light, and staging. We explore handling drops and disruptions openly, building trust by acknowledging reality, and crafting family shows that never talk down to kids. There’s a deep kinship here with folk tales and folk music: direct stories, shared moments, and a room that can swing from laughter to hush and back because everyone feels included. Authenticity isn’t a look; it’s when intention, skill, and environment line up so cleanly that the cables become part of the poetry.

If you’re curious about making honest work that travels light and hits deep, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a friend who cares about craft over spectacle, and leave a quick review to help more curious minds find the show.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if the most compelling part of a show isn’t the illusion, but the honesty? We sit down with juggler and creator Jay Gilligan to unpack “folk circus,” a performance style built on concrete skill, visible tech, and a fearless embrace of the room as it truly is. No hidden light booths, no invisible sound cues—just a performer hitting the button, moving the fader, catching the club, and meeting the audience where they are.

Jay traces how constraints—touring by plane, school circuits, gym floors, libraries—shape an aesthetic that prizes minimalism without feeling small. We compare the spark of a set in a sports hall, where it transforms a familiar space, to the way expectations can swallow that same set on a grand stage. Along the way, we talk independence versus big-company sheen, why legacy comes from your own name on the poster, and how real-time presence turns glitches and interruptions into connection instead of cracks.

The conversation dives into juggling as proof—throw, catch, repeat—and follows that concreteness through sound, light, and staging. We explore handling drops and disruptions openly, building trust by acknowledging reality, and crafting family shows that never talk down to kids. There’s a deep kinship here with folk tales and folk music: direct stories, shared moments, and a room that can swing from laughter to hush and back because everyone feels included. Authenticity isn’t a look; it’s when intention, skill, and environment line up so cleanly that the cables become part of the poetry.

If you’re curious about making honest work that travels light and hits deep, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a friend who cares about craft over spectacle, and leave a quick review to help more curious minds find the show.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18526201 Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0100 5742 4 161 full false 160 - From Poolside Jam to Cabaret Juggernaut with Paul Dabek & Captain Frodo 160 - From Poolside Jam to Cabaret Juggernaut with Paul Dabek & Captain Frodo We trace the unlikely arc that carried poolside pandemic brainstorms into London Calling, a high-velocity variety show that’s genuinely all-ages without sanding off its edge.

As the Pandemic hit Las Vegas Paul Dabek and Captain Frodo dreamt by the pool of acts, podcast, and shows. As it turned out these dreams all came to fruition.

We get specific about how the show grew: a clear adult-facing voice, visuals that enchant kids on contact, and design that marries LED world-building with just a few tactile anchors—a lamppost here, an oak bar to sell entire neighborhoods of London. We talk quiet-loud pacing, compress-then-expand staging, and the power of a loose narrative frame (train rides, stations, quick jumps) that keeps momentum without burying acts in exposition. Think Covent Garden street magic flowing into Wimbledon athleticism, all while the ensemble’s micro-moments—prop handoffs, shared looks, quick riffs—telegraph trust.

Paul Dabeck opens the hood on the growth curve: from small houses and street pitches to winning pick of the fringe and selling five-figure ticket totals. He shares the marketing pivots that worked, why “family-friendly” is a tone not a label, and how sweat equity turned Facebook Marketplace parts into automated scenic that looks West End-ready. We also dive into his Vegas warehouse: a black box, workshop, and filming space evolving into Make It Rain, a community hub for artists to prototype, connect, and protect their mental health. It’s church-without-religion, where the faith is craft and the sermon is showing up.

If you care about showmaking—stagecraft, culture, and the long game of compounding relationships—this one’s a blueprint. We leave you with blunt takeaways: risk with purpose, design worlds with one tactile anchor, market like a story, film your late refinements, build a culture of generosity, and ship version one before you feel ready. Subscribe, share with a friend who builds in public, and drop us a note about the project you’re making right now. What plate are you willing to smash to make it sing?

You can find Paul at all the usual social media platforms and at his website @ PaulDabek.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> We trace the unlikely arc that carried poolside pandemic brainstorms into London Calling, a high-velocity variety show that’s genuinely all-ages without sanding off its edge.

As the Pandemic hit Las Vegas Paul Dabek and Captain Frodo dreamt by the pool of acts, podcast, and shows. As it turned out these dreams all came to fruition.

We get specific about how the show grew: a clear adult-facing voice, visuals that enchant kids on contact, and design that marries LED world-building with just a few tactile anchors—a lamppost here, an oak bar to sell entire neighborhoods of London. We talk quiet-loud pacing, compress-then-expand staging, and the power of a loose narrative frame (train rides, stations, quick jumps) that keeps momentum without burying acts in exposition. Think Covent Garden street magic flowing into Wimbledon athleticism, all while the ensemble’s micro-moments—prop handoffs, shared looks, quick riffs—telegraph trust.

Paul Dabeck opens the hood on the growth curve: from small houses and street pitches to winning pick of the fringe and selling five-figure ticket totals. He shares the marketing pivots that worked, why “family-friendly” is a tone not a label, and how sweat equity turned Facebook Marketplace parts into automated scenic that looks West End-ready. We also dive into his Vegas warehouse: a black box, workshop, and filming space evolving into Make It Rain, a community hub for artists to prototype, connect, and protect their mental health. It’s church-without-religion, where the faith is craft and the sermon is showing up.

If you care about showmaking—stagecraft, culture, and the long game of compounding relationships—this one’s a blueprint. We leave you with blunt takeaways: risk with purpose, design worlds with one tactile anchor, market like a story, film your late refinements, build a culture of generosity, and ship version one before you feel ready. Subscribe, share with a friend who builds in public, and drop us a note about the project you’re making right now. What plate are you willing to smash to make it sing?

You can find Paul at all the usual social media platforms and at his website @ PaulDabek.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18526105 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0100 5290 4 160 full false 159 - The Paradoxes of Juggling - Michael Staroseletsky & Niels Duinker Publishing 159 - The Paradoxes of Juggling - Michael Staroseletsky & Niels Duinker Publishing In this episode I read the first chapter of the Paradoxes of Juggling by Michael Staroseletsky, a book published by NDjuggling.com which of course is run by Niels Duinker who was a guest on the podcast back in episode 135. If you are interested in ways to view the world through a craft this is a book you should check out. If you're interested in advanced practice and the technique of juggling this is a great read. It is also part of the brand new Compendium of Soviet Juggling Wisdom.

What if a juggling act is more than patterns in the air—what if it’s a blueprint for freedom, identity, and the courage to keep going when you drop? We dive into a lyrical reading from Michael Staroseletsky’s The Paradoxes of Juggling and unpack why this art form refuses shortcuts and demands honesty. From the first image of balls moving like “living creatures” to the stubborn physics of clubs that won’t always obey, we sit with the tension between intention and reality and show how mastery grows inside that friction.

Staroseletsky’s core claim is perhaps that the trick is both the vehicle and the destination. Juggling isn’t just technique polished to shine; it’s an inner practice that widens your tolerance for error and refines your timing until correction feels effortless. We explore the paradox that to juggle more, you must accept more—more variables, more variance, and more responsibility for recovery.

We also talk about persona and truth onstage. Circus artists often “play themselves,” so the work only lands when the human behind the pattern is vivid and honest. Props aren’t passive; the moment an object leaves your hand, it asserts its own will, and the act becomes a dialogue you can see—rhythm as visible music, choreography in space, and story told through catches and drops.

If Staroseletsky’s vision resonates, you’ll find the book at ndjuggling.com alongside other gems for artists, jugglers, and curious minds. Listen, reflect, and tell us what craft is teaching you about time, space, and self. If this episode sparked something, follow the Way, even better - share it with a friend, and leave a review so more curious listeners can discover it.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I read the first chapter of the Paradoxes of Juggling by Michael Staroseletsky, a book published by NDjuggling.com which of course is run by Niels Duinker who was a guest on the podcast back in episode 135. If you are interested in ways to view the world through a craft this is a book you should check out. If you're interested in advanced practice and the technique of juggling this is a great read. It is also part of the brand new Compendium of Soviet Juggling Wisdom.

What if a juggling act is more than patterns in the air—what if it’s a blueprint for freedom, identity, and the courage to keep going when you drop? We dive into a lyrical reading from Michael Staroseletsky’s The Paradoxes of Juggling and unpack why this art form refuses shortcuts and demands honesty. From the first image of balls moving like “living creatures” to the stubborn physics of clubs that won’t always obey, we sit with the tension between intention and reality and show how mastery grows inside that friction.

Staroseletsky’s core claim is perhaps that the trick is both the vehicle and the destination. Juggling isn’t just technique polished to shine; it’s an inner practice that widens your tolerance for error and refines your timing until correction feels effortless. We explore the paradox that to juggle more, you must accept more—more variables, more variance, and more responsibility for recovery.

We also talk about persona and truth onstage. Circus artists often “play themselves,” so the work only lands when the human behind the pattern is vivid and honest. Props aren’t passive; the moment an object leaves your hand, it asserts its own will, and the act becomes a dialogue you can see—rhythm as visible music, choreography in space, and story told through catches and drops.

If Staroseletsky’s vision resonates, you’ll find the book at ndjuggling.com alongside other gems for artists, jugglers, and curious minds. Listen, reflect, and tell us what craft is teaching you about time, space, and self. If this episode sparked something, follow the Way, even better - share it with a friend, and leave a review so more curious listeners can discover it.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18062244 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0100 1432 4 159 full false 158 - Jesus, Bananas, And Baby Unicorns Walk Into A Church w Clay Hillman & Captain Frodo 158 - Jesus, Bananas, And Baby Unicorns Walk Into A Church w Clay Hillman & Captain Frodo Do yourself a favor before reading any more of this: Listen to the Road To Joy now! Also! Listen to Clay Hillman’s wonderful piano music  

What if the spark that powers great rituals, great sermons, and great shows is the same playful force? Captain Frodo sits down with Clay Hillman to follow that thread—from the shaman’s circle to the market square—and ask how joy, surprise, and sacrifice can teach us to love without the cage of judgment. The claim is bold: ritual likely grew out of play, and when we honor that, truth arrives with fewer words and more presence.

We explore grief as the felt weight of love, the paradox at the heart of Good Friday, and why beauty includes the costly and the raw. Clay reframes the Good Samaritan so we stop imagining ourselves as the rescuer and recognize our place in the ditch; neighbor becomes the person we’d want to lift us, even an enemy. That shift replaces right-versus-wrong scorekeeping with a practice of attention, the same practice that makes a show land when a moment of surprise cracks the shell and breathes. Along the way, we talk mythic truth over literalism, how children signal play and still know what matters, and why wigs, robes, and ritual dances appear when stakes are highest.

We also swap creative maps. Clay’s Casey Bonkers universe offers constellations of play; Frodo sketches thinking, feeling, and willing as a triad for building fuller acts. Symbols do the heavy lifting: two sticks can hold a cosmos, a market square becomes a universe once the showman starts. Stories that aren’t “real” still become true every day, and the best work often feels discovered rather than made. If you’ve ever sensed that ministry and showmanship share a calling—curating time and attention so people glimpse the center—this conversation will feel like finding language for what you already knew.

Listen to K. C. Bonkers Road To Joy! 
Find Clay Hillman here!


If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves story and craft, and leave a review so others can find the show. Then tell us: where did you last glimpse that center of joy?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Do yourself a favor before reading any more of this: Listen to the Road To Joy now! Also! Listen to Clay Hillman’s wonderful piano music  

What if the spark that powers great rituals, great sermons, and great shows is the same playful force? Captain Frodo sits down with Clay Hillman to follow that thread—from the shaman’s circle to the market square—and ask how joy, surprise, and sacrifice can teach us to love without the cage of judgment. The claim is bold: ritual likely grew out of play, and when we honor that, truth arrives with fewer words and more presence.

We explore grief as the felt weight of love, the paradox at the heart of Good Friday, and why beauty includes the costly and the raw. Clay reframes the Good Samaritan so we stop imagining ourselves as the rescuer and recognize our place in the ditch; neighbor becomes the person we’d want to lift us, even an enemy. That shift replaces right-versus-wrong scorekeeping with a practice of attention, the same practice that makes a show land when a moment of surprise cracks the shell and breathes. Along the way, we talk mythic truth over literalism, how children signal play and still know what matters, and why wigs, robes, and ritual dances appear when stakes are highest.

We also swap creative maps. Clay’s Casey Bonkers universe offers constellations of play; Frodo sketches thinking, feeling, and willing as a triad for building fuller acts. Symbols do the heavy lifting: two sticks can hold a cosmos, a market square becomes a universe once the showman starts. Stories that aren’t “real” still become true every day, and the best work often feels discovered rather than made. If you’ve ever sensed that ministry and showmanship share a calling—curating time and attention so people glimpse the center—this conversation will feel like finding language for what you already knew.

Listen to K. C. Bonkers Road To Joy! 
Find Clay Hillman here!


If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves story and craft, and leave a review so others can find the show. Then tell us: where did you last glimpse that center of joy?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18329744 Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0100 3452 4 158 full false 157 - Serious Play and The Road To Joy with Clay Hillman 157 - Serious Play and The Road To Joy with Clay Hillman Step aboard the Punky Steamer and watch everyday moments turn into portals. -> listen to the fantastic tale here! 

I highly recommend checking this audio play out before listening to the episode. For one it’s awesome and for sure lots of what we talk about will feel deeper and make even more sense.  

We sit down with Clay Hillman—once a Lutheran minister, now the imagination behind a toy-and-coffee shop and the audio adventure KC Bonker’s Road to Joy—to explore how play can be both serious and sacred. Clay’s world is richly built: a flying machine crewed by six archetypes of play, potions served with straight-faced wonder, and an audio play that clicks from past to present like a spell taking hold. The result is a practical philosophy of joy that you can taste, touch, and breathe.

Clay introduces the Aeronaut, Cartographer, Chronaut, Philosopher, Goggle Jockey, and Tinker—personae that map how children experiment and how adults find vocation. When we keep those roles playful, work feels like meaning rather than grind. We dig into “sacred toys” too: stick, string, plane, block, wheel, and ball. Open-ended objects invite agency; they don’t perform for you, they ask you to perform with them. That’s why a simple paper toy can outshine a pricey gadget—it expands your world instead of prescribing one.

Ritual ties it all together. In the shop, dragon blood, beetle juice, and unicorn milk layer in a glass until the final step demands your breath through a one-way straw. That small act completes the drink and inducts you into the story—breath revealing the invisible like a pinwheel turning wind into sight. We trace the same thread through vinyl records, soundscapes, and live showmanship where attention is the real currency. Presence isn’t forced; it’s designed through steps you choose to take.

If you’ve ever felt a toy hold more truth than a lecture, or a performance feel like a pact kept, this ride is for you. Hear how myth, craft, and commerce meet without losing soul, and pick out your own play archetype along the way. If it moves you, subscribe, share this episode with a curious friend, and leave a review telling us the one small ritual that brings you wonder.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Step aboard the Punky Steamer and watch everyday moments turn into portals. -> listen to the fantastic tale here! 

I highly recommend checking this audio play out before listening to the episode. For one it’s awesome and for sure lots of what we talk about will feel deeper and make even more sense.  

We sit down with Clay Hillman—once a Lutheran minister, now the imagination behind a toy-and-coffee shop and the audio adventure KC Bonker’s Road to Joy—to explore how play can be both serious and sacred. Clay’s world is richly built: a flying machine crewed by six archetypes of play, potions served with straight-faced wonder, and an audio play that clicks from past to present like a spell taking hold. The result is a practical philosophy of joy that you can taste, touch, and breathe.

Clay introduces the Aeronaut, Cartographer, Chronaut, Philosopher, Goggle Jockey, and Tinker—personae that map how children experiment and how adults find vocation. When we keep those roles playful, work feels like meaning rather than grind. We dig into “sacred toys” too: stick, string, plane, block, wheel, and ball. Open-ended objects invite agency; they don’t perform for you, they ask you to perform with them. That’s why a simple paper toy can outshine a pricey gadget—it expands your world instead of prescribing one.

Ritual ties it all together. In the shop, dragon blood, beetle juice, and unicorn milk layer in a glass until the final step demands your breath through a one-way straw. That small act completes the drink and inducts you into the story—breath revealing the invisible like a pinwheel turning wind into sight. We trace the same thread through vinyl records, soundscapes, and live showmanship where attention is the real currency. Presence isn’t forced; it’s designed through steps you choose to take.

If you’ve ever felt a toy hold more truth than a lecture, or a performance feel like a pact kept, this ride is for you. Hear how myth, craft, and commerce meet without losing soul, and pick out your own play archetype along the way. If it moves you, subscribe, share this episode with a curious friend, and leave a review telling us the one small ritual that brings you wonder.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18281121 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0100 4190 4 157 full false 156 - Ringling Trains, Three Rings, And The Craft Of Comedy with Adam Kuchler 156 - Ringling Trains, Three Rings, And The Craft Of Comedy with Adam Kuchler A hat flips, a wig sails, and an arena of sixteen thousand goes from breathless to thunderous—this is where Adam Kugler learned to make comedy work under pressure. We trace his path from the Ringling Brothers train to the Mad Apple stage in Las Vegas, unpacking the paradoxes that shape a clown: technique that opens doors, character that keeps them open, and the relentless practice of reading a room in real time.

Adam grew up wanting to be a clown. Juggling paid the bills long enough for artistry to take root. Clown College didn’t hand him a single method; it handed him a map of contradictions. Mask work, European theater, and classic arena gags collided into lessons about energy, body angles, and the atmospheres you can create without adding a single prop. Years later, those ideas proved essential in Vegas, where five minutes of notes from the director migth become a live moment that same night. Working alongside Paul Debek,  (who's coming up in a soon to air episode early next year.) Adam built a shared vocabulary with Paul that let's them improvise with confidence and keep the audience’s attention pointed exactly where it needed to go.

We also open the tent flaps on three-ring logistics and the life that supports them: Russian swings timing their crescendos around a teeterboard’s final throw, clowns covering rigging with tight 15-second “walk-arounds,” and a mile-long-feeling train where a five-by-seven cabin becomes a masterclass in living by design. The pay was modest, the repetitions were many, and the growth was real—most breakthroughs happened in front of people. Easy crowds gave permission to risk. Hard crowds demanded clarity. Both taught the same lesson: chase the flow by staying just beyond your current skill, and refine until even tough rooms lean in.

If you love circus history, clowning, juggling, or the craft of performance at scale, you’ll find rich detail here: how myths start, how access to schools shapes technique, and why a good gag is a complete story—skill, problem, solution—in seconds. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves live shows, and leave a review telling us the moment that made you fall for the circus.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> A hat flips, a wig sails, and an arena of sixteen thousand goes from breathless to thunderous—this is where Adam Kugler learned to make comedy work under pressure. We trace his path from the Ringling Brothers train to the Mad Apple stage in Las Vegas, unpacking the paradoxes that shape a clown: technique that opens doors, character that keeps them open, and the relentless practice of reading a room in real time.

Adam grew up wanting to be a clown. Juggling paid the bills long enough for artistry to take root. Clown College didn’t hand him a single method; it handed him a map of contradictions. Mask work, European theater, and classic arena gags collided into lessons about energy, body angles, and the atmospheres you can create without adding a single prop. Years later, those ideas proved essential in Vegas, where five minutes of notes from the director migth become a live moment that same night. Working alongside Paul Debek,  (who's coming up in a soon to air episode early next year.) Adam built a shared vocabulary with Paul that let's them improvise with confidence and keep the audience’s attention pointed exactly where it needed to go.

We also open the tent flaps on three-ring logistics and the life that supports them: Russian swings timing their crescendos around a teeterboard’s final throw, clowns covering rigging with tight 15-second “walk-arounds,” and a mile-long-feeling train where a five-by-seven cabin becomes a masterclass in living by design. The pay was modest, the repetitions were many, and the growth was real—most breakthroughs happened in front of people. Easy crowds gave permission to risk. Hard crowds demanded clarity. Both taught the same lesson: chase the flow by staying just beyond your current skill, and refine until even tough rooms lean in.

If you love circus history, clowning, juggling, or the craft of performance at scale, you’ll find rich detail here: how myths start, how access to schools shapes technique, and why a good gag is a complete story—skill, problem, solution—in seconds. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves live shows, and leave a review telling us the moment that made you fall for the circus.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18281091 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0100 5178 4 156 full false 155 - Chainsaws, Pumpkins, And Philosophy w JellyBoy the Clown 155 - Chainsaws, Pumpkins, And Philosophy w JellyBoy the Clown A chainsaw mounted to a sword. Seventeen pumpkins in a minute. And a philosophy that says a show only becomes real when the audience completes it. That’s the ride we take with Jelly Boy the Clown—writer, record-setter, and sideshow artist who turns chaos into craft.

We start with the surprise aftermath of America’s Got Talent: millions of viewers, zero promotion allowed, and a door opening from an unexpected direction—Guinness World Records. From there we go inside the workshop, where ideas live first in a sketchbook, then on a bench with bolts and cork, and finally on stage. Why pumpkins beat watermelons, how to create negative space with pitchforks, and what three points of contact do for stability when the saw is humming in your throat. It’s engineering, rehearsal, and risk management wrapped in clown logic.

The heart of the talk is presentation. Tools are level one; meaning lives in timing, character, and framing. Jelly Boy shares how he disarms fear—pairing eye hooks with Careless Whisper, mixing menace with sincerity—so the audience leans in. We dig into act architecture: the tennis racket routine evolving through constraints, failed slapstick reappearing later as the perfect chaos engine, and why variety beats repetition for laughs and suspense. Along the way, we trace his films—from a B-movie to a raw fire-recovery doc to Dark Imagination Party—capturing how the pandemic pushed the work from stages to cameras and back again.

Threaded through is our host’s upcoming book, Facing The Other Way, a philosophy of showmanship that frames performance as a three-part system: performer, audience, and attention. Without a witness, magic isn’t magic. That idea lands as we talk edits, cuts, and voice—how slicing fifty pages can reveal the core, why a unified tone matters, and how community and small presses help art find its people. If you care about live arts, circus, clowning, sword swallowing, or the creative process of turning rough sketches into resonant moments, this one’s for you.

If the conversation hits home, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your attention is the spark—help us keep the fire bright.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> A chainsaw mounted to a sword. Seventeen pumpkins in a minute. And a philosophy that says a show only becomes real when the audience completes it. That’s the ride we take with Jelly Boy the Clown—writer, record-setter, and sideshow artist who turns chaos into craft.

We start with the surprise aftermath of America’s Got Talent: millions of viewers, zero promotion allowed, and a door opening from an unexpected direction—Guinness World Records. From there we go inside the workshop, where ideas live first in a sketchbook, then on a bench with bolts and cork, and finally on stage. Why pumpkins beat watermelons, how to create negative space with pitchforks, and what three points of contact do for stability when the saw is humming in your throat. It’s engineering, rehearsal, and risk management wrapped in clown logic.

The heart of the talk is presentation. Tools are level one; meaning lives in timing, character, and framing. Jelly Boy shares how he disarms fear—pairing eye hooks with Careless Whisper, mixing menace with sincerity—so the audience leans in. We dig into act architecture: the tennis racket routine evolving through constraints, failed slapstick reappearing later as the perfect chaos engine, and why variety beats repetition for laughs and suspense. Along the way, we trace his films—from a B-movie to a raw fire-recovery doc to Dark Imagination Party—capturing how the pandemic pushed the work from stages to cameras and back again.

Threaded through is our host’s upcoming book, Facing The Other Way, a philosophy of showmanship that frames performance as a three-part system: performer, audience, and attention. Without a witness, magic isn’t magic. That idea lands as we talk edits, cuts, and voice—how slicing fifty pages can reveal the core, why a unified tone matters, and how community and small presses help art find its people. If you care about live arts, circus, clowning, sword swallowing, or the creative process of turning rough sketches into resonant moments, this one’s for you.

If the conversation hits home, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your attention is the spark—help us keep the fire bright.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18184590 Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0100 5987 4 155 full false 154 - What Creates Stage Presence w Jay Gilligan & Frodo part 2 of 2 154 - What Creates Stage Presence w Jay Gilligan & Frodo part 2 of 2 What makes an audience lean forward before the first trick lands? We dive into stage presence as a lived practice, not a buzzword. From Jay’s house in Stockholm, Frodo and Jay unpack how real attention, honest emotion, and contextual awareness turn raw technique into connection you can feel in the room. No acting notes, no hollow smiles—just the hard, generous work of being here with people, right now.

We share the messy path many artists take from hobbyist to performer and why conviction matters before the material is perfect. You’ll hear how a modular show architecture lets you answer a crowd in real time, when quieting down tames a rowdy room, and how three loops—your inner state, the audience’s state, and the social relationship—guide moment-to-moment choices. We talk about reading the room beyond clichés: the corporate ballroom with chairs turned away, the school assembly building to a roar, and the town theater reopening after a flood. Context isn’t decoration; it is the content your presence must meet.

Words versus abstraction, authenticity versus mimicry, and the test that cuts through everything: would you want to watch this? We dig into teachable charisma, why about half of presence can be trained, and how to find an archetype that fits your truth instead of chasing someone else’s shine. Craft supports presence—framing, tempo, applause points—but love powers it. Love of practice gives you something worth showing. Love of the audience gives you a reason to share it well. That’s how feeling transmits, Tolstoy-style, from your center to theirs.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What makes an audience lean forward before the first trick lands? We dive into stage presence as a lived practice, not a buzzword. From Jay’s house in Stockholm, Frodo and Jay unpack how real attention, honest emotion, and contextual awareness turn raw technique into connection you can feel in the room. No acting notes, no hollow smiles—just the hard, generous work of being here with people, right now.

We share the messy path many artists take from hobbyist to performer and why conviction matters before the material is perfect. You’ll hear how a modular show architecture lets you answer a crowd in real time, when quieting down tames a rowdy room, and how three loops—your inner state, the audience’s state, and the social relationship—guide moment-to-moment choices. We talk about reading the room beyond clichés: the corporate ballroom with chairs turned away, the school assembly building to a roar, and the town theater reopening after a flood. Context isn’t decoration; it is the content your presence must meet.

Words versus abstraction, authenticity versus mimicry, and the test that cuts through everything: would you want to watch this? We dig into teachable charisma, why about half of presence can be trained, and how to find an archetype that fits your truth instead of chasing someone else’s shine. Craft supports presence—framing, tempo, applause points—but love powers it. Love of practice gives you something worth showing. Love of the audience gives you a reason to share it well. That’s how feeling transmits, Tolstoy-style, from your center to theirs.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18081053 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0100 4171 4 154 full false 153 - Stage Presence Demystified w Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo part 1 of 2 153 - Stage Presence Demystified w Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo part 1 of 2 Some performers step into the light and the room leans in. Others work just as hard and leave us cold. We wanted to know why. Together with juggler and performance thinker Jay Gilligan, we unpack stage presence without the fluff—what it is, how to build it, and why authenticity beats polish every time.

We start by challenging the myth that presence is a gift you either have or don’t. Yes, some people radiate charisma from day one. But most of us can raise our baseline by choosing the right lane and aligning our inner life with our outer expression. We explore useful archetypes to find leverage (clown, lover, hermit, magician), and show how mismatched personas create static the audience can feel. Then we get practical with a simple, powerful framework: head (ideas), heart (emotion), hands (skills), and senses (look and sound). When those four line up, presence clicks.

Jay and I share stories from street stages and theater runs about entrances that land, silences that speak, and why the “living time” is the beat between tricks. We dig into micro-choices that shift everything—how your eyes acknowledge the crowd, how breath sets tempo, how a half-smile reads as gratitude instead of performance. We talk technique versus embodiment too: you can copy moves and still miss the moment; intention is what makes shape meaningful. Expect grounded advice you can use tonight: choose one beat for connection, test variations on camera, refine details like shoes and sound, and let your true motives shape your mechanics.

If you care about connecting—juggling, comedy, magic, music—this conversation will sharpen your instincts and your toolkit. Subscribe, share with a performer who needs a lift, and leave a review with your biggest presence breakthrough. Your story might spark the next one.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Some performers step into the light and the room leans in. Others work just as hard and leave us cold. We wanted to know why. Together with juggler and performance thinker Jay Gilligan, we unpack stage presence without the fluff—what it is, how to build it, and why authenticity beats polish every time.

We start by challenging the myth that presence is a gift you either have or don’t. Yes, some people radiate charisma from day one. But most of us can raise our baseline by choosing the right lane and aligning our inner life with our outer expression. We explore useful archetypes to find leverage (clown, lover, hermit, magician), and show how mismatched personas create static the audience can feel. Then we get practical with a simple, powerful framework: head (ideas), heart (emotion), hands (skills), and senses (look and sound). When those four line up, presence clicks.

Jay and I share stories from street stages and theater runs about entrances that land, silences that speak, and why the “living time” is the beat between tricks. We dig into micro-choices that shift everything—how your eyes acknowledge the crowd, how breath sets tempo, how a half-smile reads as gratitude instead of performance. We talk technique versus embodiment too: you can copy moves and still miss the moment; intention is what makes shape meaningful. Expect grounded advice you can use tonight: choose one beat for connection, test variations on camera, refine details like shoes and sound, and let your true motives shape your mechanics.

If you care about connecting—juggling, comedy, magic, music—this conversation will sharpen your instincts and your toolkit. Subscribe, share with a performer who needs a lift, and leave a review with your biggest presence breakthrough. Your story might spark the next one.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-18081035 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0100 3985 4 153 full false 152 - Magic, Originality, and the Burden of Knowledge with Nick Difatte 152 - Magic, Originality, and the Burden of Knowledge with Nick Difatte What separates a technically competent performer from one who creates unforgettable moments? In this captivating conversation between Captain Frodo and comic magician Nick Diffatte, we journey into the heart of showmanship and the complex relationship between originality and tradition.

The performers candidly explore their creative anxieties about using established material versus developing original routines. "The reason I'm putting this in here is that this is a book that would have helped me do what I want to be doing," Nick explains, highlighting the delicate balance between learning from others and finding your unique voice. Their discussion reveals how even seasoned professionals wrestle with questions of authenticity while acknowledging their debt to those who came before them.

At the core of their conversation lies a fascinating revelation about creating "controlled chaos" – performances that appear spontaneous while following carefully orchestrated plans. Both artists have mastered the art of making audiences think "this could go wrong," generating genuine suspense and emotional investment. This skillful deception creates those special moments where spectators leave saying, "I was there when..." – the hallmark of truly memorable performances.

The discussion takes unexpected turns as they reflect on how teaching others has deepened their understanding of their own craft. "You learn about what you do by teaching it to someone, because then you have to actually vocalize what it is that you do," Captain Frodo observes. This process of articulation often reveals unconscious techniques and decisions that elevate performances from merely technical to genuinely artistic.

Whether you're a performer seeking to refine your craft or simply fascinated by the psychology behind great entertainment, this episode offers rare insights into the minds of two masters who continue to examine and evolve their art. Subscribe now and join our exploration of the showman's path – where technical skill meets meaning, and apparent chaos reveals its hidden design.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What separates a technically competent performer from one who creates unforgettable moments? In this captivating conversation between Captain Frodo and comic magician Nick Diffatte, we journey into the heart of showmanship and the complex relationship between originality and tradition.

The performers candidly explore their creative anxieties about using established material versus developing original routines. "The reason I'm putting this in here is that this is a book that would have helped me do what I want to be doing," Nick explains, highlighting the delicate balance between learning from others and finding your unique voice. Their discussion reveals how even seasoned professionals wrestle with questions of authenticity while acknowledging their debt to those who came before them.

At the core of their conversation lies a fascinating revelation about creating "controlled chaos" – performances that appear spontaneous while following carefully orchestrated plans. Both artists have mastered the art of making audiences think "this could go wrong," generating genuine suspense and emotional investment. This skillful deception creates those special moments where spectators leave saying, "I was there when..." – the hallmark of truly memorable performances.

The discussion takes unexpected turns as they reflect on how teaching others has deepened their understanding of their own craft. "You learn about what you do by teaching it to someone, because then you have to actually vocalize what it is that you do," Captain Frodo observes. This process of articulation often reveals unconscious techniques and decisions that elevate performances from merely technical to genuinely artistic.

Whether you're a performer seeking to refine your craft or simply fascinated by the psychology behind great entertainment, this episode offers rare insights into the minds of two masters who continue to examine and evolve their art. Subscribe now and join our exploration of the showman's path – where technical skill meets meaning, and apparent chaos reveals its hidden design.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17916572 Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0200 4065 4 152 full false 151 - Creating Your Own Voice in a World of Borrowed Tricks with Nick Diffatte 151 - Creating Your Own Voice in a World of Borrowed Tricks with Nick Diffatte Ever wondered where the line between inspiration and appropriation lies in performance art? Captain Frodo welcomes comedian-magician Nick Diffatte for a candid exploration of originality in magic that will resonate with creators across all disciplines.

Nick takes us behind the scenes of Tannen's Magic Camp—an intensive gathering where 120 young magicians (ages 10-20) immerse themselves in the craft under the guidance of working professionals. You'll feel like you're wandering the Hogwarts-like halls of Bryn Bawr College as Nick describes the transformation these young performers undergo when they realize they're not alone in their passion. The teaching methodology is fascinating: forcing students to perform on day one breaks down barriers, creating a safe space where they can be vulnerable enough to truly learn.

The conversation shifts into territory rarely discussed publicly—the ethical questions performers face when developing material. Through the lens of what Nick calls "the Elvis analogy," they explore how performers can honor magical traditions while still finding their authentic voice. When does a borrowed trick become truly yours? How much must you change something before claiming ownership? The answers aren't simple, but they're essential for anyone who creates.

Most compelling is their shared vulnerability about their own creative processes. Captain Frodo confesses his insecurity about performing routines developed by others, while Nick reveals his struggles publishing instructional material that walks the line between teaching technique and sharing complete performance pieces. Their honesty strips away the mystery often surrounding creative work, revealing the human questions that haunt even the most accomplished performers.

Whether you're a magic enthusiast or simply someone who appreciates the creative process, this episode offers rare insights into how art evolves through generations while remaining true to its roots. Subscribe now and join the conversation about what it means to create something truly original in a world built on shared traditions.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Ever wondered where the line between inspiration and appropriation lies in performance art? Captain Frodo welcomes comedian-magician Nick Diffatte for a candid exploration of originality in magic that will resonate with creators across all disciplines.

Nick takes us behind the scenes of Tannen's Magic Camp—an intensive gathering where 120 young magicians (ages 10-20) immerse themselves in the craft under the guidance of working professionals. You'll feel like you're wandering the Hogwarts-like halls of Bryn Bawr College as Nick describes the transformation these young performers undergo when they realize they're not alone in their passion. The teaching methodology is fascinating: forcing students to perform on day one breaks down barriers, creating a safe space where they can be vulnerable enough to truly learn.

The conversation shifts into territory rarely discussed publicly—the ethical questions performers face when developing material. Through the lens of what Nick calls "the Elvis analogy," they explore how performers can honor magical traditions while still finding their authentic voice. When does a borrowed trick become truly yours? How much must you change something before claiming ownership? The answers aren't simple, but they're essential for anyone who creates.

Most compelling is their shared vulnerability about their own creative processes. Captain Frodo confesses his insecurity about performing routines developed by others, while Nick reveals his struggles publishing instructional material that walks the line between teaching technique and sharing complete performance pieces. Their honesty strips away the mystery often surrounding creative work, revealing the human questions that haunt even the most accomplished performers.

Whether you're a magic enthusiast or simply someone who appreciates the creative process, this episode offers rare insights into how art evolves through generations while remaining true to its roots. Subscribe now and join the conversation about what it means to create something truly original in a world built on shared traditions.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17916555 Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0200 3979 4 151 full false 150 - Antje Pode: Kicking Suitcases & other Acts of Innovation 150 - Antje Pode: Kicking Suitcases & other Acts of Innovation Ever wondered what happens when a circus performer's act goes "wrong"? In this intimate conversation with East German circus artist Antje Pode, we explore how the most powerful moments of connection often emerge from embracing unexpected challenges on stage.

Ancha shares her extraordinary journey through the fall of the Berlin Wall – a time when her entire professional identity was upended as state-sponsored circus dissolved overnight. We explore the magnificent marble circus buildings of the Soviet Union, where performers were celebrated like opera stars, receiving flowers from adoring audiences. Her transition from government employee to freelancer reveals the profound personal impact of political change that went far beyond headlines.

The heart of our conversation centers on Ancha's accidental creation of a revolutionary aerial apparatus. What began as an attempt to make a standard rope less painful led to a breakthrough when she deconstructed it into 86 separate strings. The resulting visual effect creates mesmerizing patterns like tornados or water vortices as she performs. But this innovation comes with inherent unpredictability – strings occasionally tangle, creating unexpected challenges during performance.

What started as frustration evolved into profound insight: audiences engage more deeply when witnessing performers overcome obstacles. As we discuss, "Your true character can really come out when you're facing a problem." In an age of digital perfection, witnessing a performer struggle and triumph creates a uniquely human experience that no flawless execution can match.

Whether you're a performer yourself or simply fascinated by the human capacity for adaptation and creativity, this conversation offers valuable perspective on finding opportunity in apparent setbacks. Subscribe to the podcast to join us for more explorations of showmanship across disciplines and traditions.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Ever wondered what happens when a circus performer's act goes "wrong"? In this intimate conversation with East German circus artist Antje Pode, we explore how the most powerful moments of connection often emerge from embracing unexpected challenges on stage.

Ancha shares her extraordinary journey through the fall of the Berlin Wall – a time when her entire professional identity was upended as state-sponsored circus dissolved overnight. We explore the magnificent marble circus buildings of the Soviet Union, where performers were celebrated like opera stars, receiving flowers from adoring audiences. Her transition from government employee to freelancer reveals the profound personal impact of political change that went far beyond headlines.

The heart of our conversation centers on Ancha's accidental creation of a revolutionary aerial apparatus. What began as an attempt to make a standard rope less painful led to a breakthrough when she deconstructed it into 86 separate strings. The resulting visual effect creates mesmerizing patterns like tornados or water vortices as she performs. But this innovation comes with inherent unpredictability – strings occasionally tangle, creating unexpected challenges during performance.

What started as frustration evolved into profound insight: audiences engage more deeply when witnessing performers overcome obstacles. As we discuss, "Your true character can really come out when you're facing a problem." In an age of digital perfection, witnessing a performer struggle and triumph creates a uniquely human experience that no flawless execution can match.

Whether you're a performer yourself or simply fascinated by the human capacity for adaptation and creativity, this conversation offers valuable perspective on finding opportunity in apparent setbacks. Subscribe to the podcast to join us for more explorations of showmanship across disciplines and traditions.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17741474 Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0200 4330 4 150 full false 149 - Suitcases, Bears, and Train Journeys: A Foot Juggler's Tale with Antje Pode 149 - Suitcases, Bears, and Train Journeys: A Foot Juggler's Tale with Antje Pode Step back in time to a vanished world of state-run circus schools, train journeys across the Soviet Union, and the dramatic moment when the Berlin Wall fell. In this captivating conversation, foot juggler Antje Pode shares her remarkable journey from a young gymnast in East Germany to an internationally acclaimed circus artist.

Antje reveals the fascinating, rarely-discussed reality of the communist-era circus system, where performers were government employees with guaranteed lifetime positions. Selected from hundreds of applicants at age 17, she trained in the prestigious East German circus school before touring with the state circus. Her vivid descriptions transport us to a time when circus was considered high art, performers lived in caravans on flatbed train cars rolling through Russia, and elephants walked from train stations to circus lots as mobile advertisements.

The political and personal merge dramatically as Antje recounts being thousands of miles from home in Moldova when the Berlin Wall unexpectedly fell in November 1989. Through her eyes, we experience both the hope and uncertainty of that pivotal moment in history, learning how the peaceful Monday demonstrations eventually led to revolution without violence.

Beyond historical insights, Antje shares the technical mastery behind her extraordinary foot juggling act, where she manipulates suitcases with remarkable precision while balancing, spinning, and juggling simultaneously. Her description of needing three weeks to adapt to a new suitcase reveals the invisible precision required in circus arts.

Whether you're fascinated by political history, circus traditions, or the dedication required for artistic mastery, this conversation offers a unique window into a world that has largely disappeared. Subscribe now to hear more conversations that explore the intersection of showmanship, art, and human experience.

-You can find Antje Pode on social media and on her website Antjepode.de

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Step back in time to a vanished world of state-run circus schools, train journeys across the Soviet Union, and the dramatic moment when the Berlin Wall fell. In this captivating conversation, foot juggler Antje Pode shares her remarkable journey from a young gymnast in East Germany to an internationally acclaimed circus artist.

Antje reveals the fascinating, rarely-discussed reality of the communist-era circus system, where performers were government employees with guaranteed lifetime positions. Selected from hundreds of applicants at age 17, she trained in the prestigious East German circus school before touring with the state circus. Her vivid descriptions transport us to a time when circus was considered high art, performers lived in caravans on flatbed train cars rolling through Russia, and elephants walked from train stations to circus lots as mobile advertisements.

The political and personal merge dramatically as Antje recounts being thousands of miles from home in Moldova when the Berlin Wall unexpectedly fell in November 1989. Through her eyes, we experience both the hope and uncertainty of that pivotal moment in history, learning how the peaceful Monday demonstrations eventually led to revolution without violence.

Beyond historical insights, Antje shares the technical mastery behind her extraordinary foot juggling act, where she manipulates suitcases with remarkable precision while balancing, spinning, and juggling simultaneously. Her description of needing three weeks to adapt to a new suitcase reveals the invisible precision required in circus arts.

Whether you're fascinated by political history, circus traditions, or the dedication required for artistic mastery, this conversation offers a unique window into a world that has largely disappeared. Subscribe now to hear more conversations that explore the intersection of showmanship, art, and human experience.

-You can find Antje Pode on social media and on her website Antjepode.de

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17741407 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0200 5372 4 149 full false 148 - Play is the Way (Showmanship & Play 30 of 30) 148 - Play is the Way (Showmanship & Play 30 of 30)  What if imagination isn't a distraction from truth, but our only reliable path to experiencing it?

In this episode we conclude our 30-part exploration of showmanship through the lens of play. Using a personal case study of creating a plate-spinning poetry act, we witness how true artistic creation evolves organically—not as random elements slapped together, but as a cohesive vision that transcends its individual components.

The journey takes an unexpected turn when the pandemic transforms both the physical performance and its meaning. Standing amidst twelve wobbling plates with a flaming book of poetry, we discover that sometimes the most powerful moment comes not from triumphantly saving everything from collapse, but from creating a sacred space for what matters most while the world metaphorically burns around us.

We explore the wisdom of foxes—both from Ylvis Brothers' viral hit and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince—about establishing meaningful ties that make each of us unique in all the world. The real-life Lord of the Flies story reveals how six shipwrecked boys thrived through cooperation rather than descending into savagery, challenging our often-cynical views of human nature.

At its heart, this exploration reveals play as the compass that guides us through life's overwhelming possibilities. By pursuing activities that satisfy the five criteria of play, we unlock not just enjoyment but all human behavioral needs—from creativity and wonder to love and friendship. The world changes when we view it through the lens of play, revealing better ways of being with ourselves and each other.

Take some time to play with yourself and those you love. After all, play might just be the most serious undertaking we can pursue.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]>  What if imagination isn't a distraction from truth, but our only reliable path to experiencing it?

In this episode we conclude our 30-part exploration of showmanship through the lens of play. Using a personal case study of creating a plate-spinning poetry act, we witness how true artistic creation evolves organically—not as random elements slapped together, but as a cohesive vision that transcends its individual components.

The journey takes an unexpected turn when the pandemic transforms both the physical performance and its meaning. Standing amidst twelve wobbling plates with a flaming book of poetry, we discover that sometimes the most powerful moment comes not from triumphantly saving everything from collapse, but from creating a sacred space for what matters most while the world metaphorically burns around us.

We explore the wisdom of foxes—both from Ylvis Brothers' viral hit and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince—about establishing meaningful ties that make each of us unique in all the world. The real-life Lord of the Flies story reveals how six shipwrecked boys thrived through cooperation rather than descending into savagery, challenging our often-cynical views of human nature.

At its heart, this exploration reveals play as the compass that guides us through life's overwhelming possibilities. By pursuing activities that satisfy the five criteria of play, we unlock not just enjoyment but all human behavioral needs—from creativity and wonder to love and friendship. The world changes when we view it through the lens of play, revealing better ways of being with ourselves and each other.

Take some time to play with yourself and those you love. After all, play might just be the most serious undertaking we can pursue.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17658447 Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0200 3563 4 148 full false 147 - Imagination at the Heart of Reality (Showmanship & Play 29 of 30) 147 - Imagination at the Heart of Reality (Showmanship & Play 29 of 30) What if imagination isn't just fantasy, but the very faculty that brings our world into existence? In this philosophical deep dive, we explore the fifth and final criteria of play: that it is imaginative and improvisational.

Unlike previous episodes in this series, I'm not arguing that imagination benefits performers—that connection is self-evident. Instead, we're examining imagination as the arena where showmanship unfolds. From the initial creative impulse to the finished performance, imagination pulls things into existence, transforming fleeting ideas into tangible reality. Whether I'm developing a kung-fu card routine or connecting with fellow artists like Ben Hart, imagination is both the process and the destination.

Drawing on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's profound distinction between "fancy" (mere recombination of existing elements) and true "imagination" (the fundamental creation of reality), we discover how performers participate in something approaching the sacred. When Coleridge describes imagination as "a repetition in the finite mind of the eternal act of creation," he's elevating our creative work beyond entertainment into genuine co-creation with reality itself.

The space where imagination thrives best is what poet David Whyte calls "just beyond yourself"—that frontier between inner and outer worlds where we momentarily forget ourselves and are restored by what we meet. Here, in this conversational intercourse with reality, true freedom emerges. Through improvisation, we learn to trust our impulses, revealing ourselves to ourselves through the choices we make.

What distinguishes a shopping mall clown wearing a plastic wig from a transcendent artist like Slava Polunin? One remains a shallow collage of clown elements; the other creates a living entity that reveals deeper truths. Intelligence—from the Latin "inter" (between) and "legere" (to choose)—means choosing wisely between options, the very heart of improvisation and imagination.

As we conclude this exploration of play and showmanship, remember that we play "because it's fun, because we want to do it for its own sake and our own sake, and because we love to explore the rules of all possible ways of relating." In play, we find our fullest expression as human beings.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if imagination isn't just fantasy, but the very faculty that brings our world into existence? In this philosophical deep dive, we explore the fifth and final criteria of play: that it is imaginative and improvisational.

Unlike previous episodes in this series, I'm not arguing that imagination benefits performers—that connection is self-evident. Instead, we're examining imagination as the arena where showmanship unfolds. From the initial creative impulse to the finished performance, imagination pulls things into existence, transforming fleeting ideas into tangible reality. Whether I'm developing a kung-fu card routine or connecting with fellow artists like Ben Hart, imagination is both the process and the destination.

Drawing on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's profound distinction between "fancy" (mere recombination of existing elements) and true "imagination" (the fundamental creation of reality), we discover how performers participate in something approaching the sacred. When Coleridge describes imagination as "a repetition in the finite mind of the eternal act of creation," he's elevating our creative work beyond entertainment into genuine co-creation with reality itself.

The space where imagination thrives best is what poet David Whyte calls "just beyond yourself"—that frontier between inner and outer worlds where we momentarily forget ourselves and are restored by what we meet. Here, in this conversational intercourse with reality, true freedom emerges. Through improvisation, we learn to trust our impulses, revealing ourselves to ourselves through the choices we make.

What distinguishes a shopping mall clown wearing a plastic wig from a transcendent artist like Slava Polunin? One remains a shallow collage of clown elements; the other creates a living entity that reveals deeper truths. Intelligence—from the Latin "inter" (between) and "legere" (to choose)—means choosing wisely between options, the very heart of improvisation and imagination.

As we conclude this exploration of play and showmanship, remember that we play "because it's fun, because we want to do it for its own sake and our own sake, and because we love to explore the rules of all possible ways of relating." In play, we find our fullest expression as human beings.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17651872 Tue, 12 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0200 4756 4 147 full false 146 - Unleashing Your Inner Showman (Showmanship & Play 28 of 30) 146 - Unleashing Your Inner Showman (Showmanship & Play 28 of 30) The delicate dance between performer and audience reveals itself as we explore the self-motivated, voluntary nature of play in this deep dive into showmanship. Drawing from personal experiences during the pandemic and inspired by observing children at play, Captain Frodo uncovers how true connection emerges when audience members move from passive viewing to active participation.

At first glance, the power imbalance between showman and audience might appear problematic. The performer directs while the audience receives—but this apparent asymmetry holds surprising depth. When handled skillfully, this relationship transforms into something beautiful and reciprocal. The audience's voluntary attendance and attention become gifts, while the performer offers their crafted experience in return.

The magical moment occurs when audience members "lean in"—transitioning from mere attention to genuine interest. This pivotal shift marks when they become co-creators rather than spectators. The performer's initial promise hooks their attention, but only when they eagerly anticipate what happens next does the true connection form.

Every performance operates within a framework of rules that provide structure while allowing for creative freedom. The establishment of these rules—and their strategic breaking—creates the foundation for comedy, surprise, and meaningful engagement. Understanding these rules allows meaning to emerge not as something delivered by the performer, but as something that happens dynamically in the shared space between performer and audience.

The ultimate goal extends beyond entertainment. When audiences fully participate in this dance of showmanship, they carry the experience with them, potentially transforming how they view the world long after the show ends. This is the true power of showmanship—creating moments that resonate far beyond the confines of the performance space.

Ready to deepen your understanding of performance and play? Subscribe now and join us as we continue exploring the transformative way of the showman.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> The delicate dance between performer and audience reveals itself as we explore the self-motivated, voluntary nature of play in this deep dive into showmanship. Drawing from personal experiences during the pandemic and inspired by observing children at play, Captain Frodo uncovers how true connection emerges when audience members move from passive viewing to active participation.

At first glance, the power imbalance between showman and audience might appear problematic. The performer directs while the audience receives—but this apparent asymmetry holds surprising depth. When handled skillfully, this relationship transforms into something beautiful and reciprocal. The audience's voluntary attendance and attention become gifts, while the performer offers their crafted experience in return.

The magical moment occurs when audience members "lean in"—transitioning from mere attention to genuine interest. This pivotal shift marks when they become co-creators rather than spectators. The performer's initial promise hooks their attention, but only when they eagerly anticipate what happens next does the true connection form.

Every performance operates within a framework of rules that provide structure while allowing for creative freedom. The establishment of these rules—and their strategic breaking—creates the foundation for comedy, surprise, and meaningful engagement. Understanding these rules allows meaning to emerge not as something delivered by the performer, but as something that happens dynamically in the shared space between performer and audience.

The ultimate goal extends beyond entertainment. When audiences fully participate in this dance of showmanship, they carry the experience with them, potentially transforming how they view the world long after the show ends. This is the true power of showmanship—creating moments that resonate far beyond the confines of the performance space.

Ready to deepen your understanding of performance and play? Subscribe now and join us as we continue exploring the transformative way of the showman.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17414826 Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0200 3505 4 146 full false 145 - Is Your Life Missing a Dose of Pure Purposelessness? (Showmanship & Play 27 of 30) 145 - Is Your Life Missing a Dose of Pure Purposelessness? (Showmanship & Play 27 of 30) What happens when we lose touch with play, friendship, and authentic human connection? This episode dives into the surprising links between playfulness, friendliness, and showmanship – revealing how these seemingly "purposeless" activities might be the very foundation of what makes us human.

I explore Belyaev's groundbreaking fox experiment, which demonstrated something remarkable: when researchers bred foxes solely for friendliness, playfulness emerged spontaneously without being selected for. This suggests these traits may be facets of the same evolutionary adaptation – our innate drive to connect meaningfully with others.

The conversation takes a sobering turn as we examine the concept of "play deficit" – the documented decline in children's free play since the 1960s that correlates disturbingly with skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicide among young people. Could our efficiency-obsessed culture be robbing children of something essential to their development?

This leads us to consider a parallel concept: "show deficiency." Using the COVID pandemic as a natural experiment, we look at what happened when humans couldn't gather for performances, cultural events, and community celebrations. The resulting 25% increase in mental health struggles suggests these seemingly frivolous activities might be as necessary as food and shelter.

Throughout the episode, I challenge the capitalist notion that values only productivity and efficiency. What if Hobbes was wrong about human nature? What if we're not naturally selfish and cruel, but instead born to learn, bond, and play? Our cultural expressions – from singing around campfires to magic shows – might not be diversions from "real life" but expressions of our deepest nature.

Join me as we reimagine what truly matters and discover how embracing the apparently purposeless might be the key to living fully human lives.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What happens when we lose touch with play, friendship, and authentic human connection? This episode dives into the surprising links between playfulness, friendliness, and showmanship – revealing how these seemingly "purposeless" activities might be the very foundation of what makes us human.

I explore Belyaev's groundbreaking fox experiment, which demonstrated something remarkable: when researchers bred foxes solely for friendliness, playfulness emerged spontaneously without being selected for. This suggests these traits may be facets of the same evolutionary adaptation – our innate drive to connect meaningfully with others.

The conversation takes a sobering turn as we examine the concept of "play deficit" – the documented decline in children's free play since the 1960s that correlates disturbingly with skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, and even suicide among young people. Could our efficiency-obsessed culture be robbing children of something essential to their development?

This leads us to consider a parallel concept: "show deficiency." Using the COVID pandemic as a natural experiment, we look at what happened when humans couldn't gather for performances, cultural events, and community celebrations. The resulting 25% increase in mental health struggles suggests these seemingly frivolous activities might be as necessary as food and shelter.

Throughout the episode, I challenge the capitalist notion that values only productivity and efficiency. What if Hobbes was wrong about human nature? What if we're not naturally selfish and cruel, but instead born to learn, bond, and play? Our cultural expressions – from singing around campfires to magic shows – might not be diversions from "real life" but expressions of our deepest nature.

Join me as we reimagine what truly matters and discover how embracing the apparently purposeless might be the key to living fully human lives.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17414811 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0200 2680 4 145 full false 144 - Toilet Plunger Aliens and the Value of Effortless Attention (Showmanship & Play 26 of 30) 144 - Toilet Plunger Aliens and the Value of Effortless Attention (Showmanship & Play 26 of 30) There's a profound paradox at the heart of play – we're told it's "apparently purposeless," yet this very quality might reveal its deepest value. This episode dives into the second criteria of play and examines how it mirrors the essence of showmanship in fascinating ways.

When we attend a circus show, comedy performance, or music festival, we don't go primarily to learn something or accomplish a task. We go to have a good time – to experience life fully in the moment. Yet society has conditioned us to view such experiences as frivolous, less valuable than "productive" activities. The Protestant work ethic and educational systems have trained us to be suspicious of enjoyment, to dismiss it as "mere entertainment" without serious purpose.

This dismissal of pleasure as a worthy purpose is precisely what creates the illusion that play is purposeless. When we recognize that experiencing joy is itself a profound purpose, the apparent purposelessness dissolves. As Tolkien's Gandalf wisely notes, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time given us." Filling our limited time with experiences that make existence enjoyable seems not just reasonable but essential.

George Saunders' epiphany about Kurt Vonnegut's work provides a perfect parallel – he discovered that profound truths could be communicated through humor and accessibility, challenging his assumption that "great writing was hard reading." Vonnegut's toilet-plunger aliens conveyed more about the absurdity of war than many serious treatises. Similarly, JF Martel's distinction between art that astonishes versus didactic art designed to teach specific lessons shows how the most transformative experiences often appear to lack obvious purpose.

When performers focus primarily on delivering messages rather than creating authentic shared experiences, audiences sense this ulterior motive. Captain Frodo shares a personal example of his own show being rejected by educators but chosen by students, demonstrating how authentic playfulness creates experiences that resonate deeply even when – or perhaps because – they appear purposeless.

Ready to bring more playfulness into your life and performances? Subscribe to The Way of the Showman and explore how embracing the "purposeless" quality of play might unlock your most meaningful creative expressions and life experiences.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> There's a profound paradox at the heart of play – we're told it's "apparently purposeless," yet this very quality might reveal its deepest value. This episode dives into the second criteria of play and examines how it mirrors the essence of showmanship in fascinating ways.

When we attend a circus show, comedy performance, or music festival, we don't go primarily to learn something or accomplish a task. We go to have a good time – to experience life fully in the moment. Yet society has conditioned us to view such experiences as frivolous, less valuable than "productive" activities. The Protestant work ethic and educational systems have trained us to be suspicious of enjoyment, to dismiss it as "mere entertainment" without serious purpose.

This dismissal of pleasure as a worthy purpose is precisely what creates the illusion that play is purposeless. When we recognize that experiencing joy is itself a profound purpose, the apparent purposelessness dissolves. As Tolkien's Gandalf wisely notes, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time given us." Filling our limited time with experiences that make existence enjoyable seems not just reasonable but essential.

George Saunders' epiphany about Kurt Vonnegut's work provides a perfect parallel – he discovered that profound truths could be communicated through humor and accessibility, challenging his assumption that "great writing was hard reading." Vonnegut's toilet-plunger aliens conveyed more about the absurdity of war than many serious treatises. Similarly, JF Martel's distinction between art that astonishes versus didactic art designed to teach specific lessons shows how the most transformative experiences often appear to lack obvious purpose.

When performers focus primarily on delivering messages rather than creating authentic shared experiences, audiences sense this ulterior motive. Captain Frodo shares a personal example of his own show being rejected by educators but chosen by students, demonstrating how authentic playfulness creates experiences that resonate deeply even when – or perhaps because – they appear purposeless.

Ready to bring more playfulness into your life and performances? Subscribe to The Way of the Showman and explore how embracing the "purposeless" quality of play might unlock your most meaningful creative expressions and life experiences.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17414808 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0200 3672 4 144 full false 143 - The Metaphorical Showman: Connecting Performance to Play (Showmanship & Play 25 of 30) 143 - The Metaphorical Showman: Connecting Performance to Play (Showmanship & Play 25 of 30) Have you ever wondered why some performances captivate you completely while others leave you checking your watch? The secret might lie in the ancient art of play.

In this expansive exploration of showmanship through metaphor, Captain Frodo delves into the profound connection between performance and play. Drawing on both philosophical underpinnings from Aristotle to modern cognitive scientists like Lakoff and Johnson, this episode reveals how metaphorical thinking shapes our reality—not just in language, but in thought and action.

At the heart of this discussion is a powerful insight: successful showmanship transforms audiences from experiencing clock time (Kronos) to being fully present in experiential time (Kairos). When performers approach their craft playfully—keeping their audience's experience central, making presentations gripping rather than boring, and inviting participation rather than merely demonstrating skills—they create those magical moments when everyone stops and thinks, "Oh my god, this is it, I get it."

The episode unpacks the first of five criteria of play—that it's fun, enjoyable, and something we don't want to end—demonstrating how this maps perfectly onto the performer-audience relationship. Both audience and performer enter a sacred space where ordinary objects and actions take on extraordinary significance, creating a shared experience that benefits everyone involved.

Whether you're a performer seeking deeper connections with your audience or simply fascinated by the psychology behind captivating experiences, this episode offers fresh insights into how metaphorical thinking transforms our understanding of performance arts. These aren't abstract musings but practical approaches that can elevate any presentation from merely impressive to genuinely transformative.

Subscribe to The Way of the Showman to continue this journey through the metaphorical landscape of performance and discover how embracing play might be the most serious thing a performer can do.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Have you ever wondered why some performances captivate you completely while others leave you checking your watch? The secret might lie in the ancient art of play.

In this expansive exploration of showmanship through metaphor, Captain Frodo delves into the profound connection between performance and play. Drawing on both philosophical underpinnings from Aristotle to modern cognitive scientists like Lakoff and Johnson, this episode reveals how metaphorical thinking shapes our reality—not just in language, but in thought and action.

At the heart of this discussion is a powerful insight: successful showmanship transforms audiences from experiencing clock time (Kronos) to being fully present in experiential time (Kairos). When performers approach their craft playfully—keeping their audience's experience central, making presentations gripping rather than boring, and inviting participation rather than merely demonstrating skills—they create those magical moments when everyone stops and thinks, "Oh my god, this is it, I get it."

The episode unpacks the first of five criteria of play—that it's fun, enjoyable, and something we don't want to end—demonstrating how this maps perfectly onto the performer-audience relationship. Both audience and performer enter a sacred space where ordinary objects and actions take on extraordinary significance, creating a shared experience that benefits everyone involved.

Whether you're a performer seeking deeper connections with your audience or simply fascinated by the psychology behind captivating experiences, this episode offers fresh insights into how metaphorical thinking transforms our understanding of performance arts. These aren't abstract musings but practical approaches that can elevate any presentation from merely impressive to genuinely transformative.

Subscribe to The Way of the Showman to continue this journey through the metaphorical landscape of performance and discover how embracing play might be the most serious thing a performer can do.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17256360 Tue, 17 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0200 3733 4 143 full false 142 - Alive! On the Inside - Carnival Wonders and the Essence of Showmanship (Showmanship & Play 24 of 30) 142 - Alive! On the Inside - Carnival Wonders and the Essence of Showmanship (Showmanship & Play 24 of 30) What if embracing play could transform not only our perception of reality but also the world we live in? Join me, Captain Frodo, as we embark on a whimsical exploration of the intrinsic connection between play and showmanship. Together, we’ll question whether play unearths pre-existing truths or crafts entirely new perspectives. Drawing inspiration from cultural phenomena like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and thinkers such as Huitzinger, we’ll investigate how play might be the cornerstone of human constructs like law, art, and philosophy. This episode is an invitation to broaden your understanding of play as a key to unlocking human creativity, growth, and cultural evolution.

Next, we journey into the vibrant and surreal world of carnivals, inspired by Bruce Caron's book, "Inside the Live Reptile Tent." Imagine a realm where laughter and play serve as tools to conquer fear, much like an emotional boot camp. The mythopoetic nature of carnivals offers us a unique blend of reality and imagination, transforming them into metaphors for our own playful yet profound journeys. We'll reflect on the allure and deception of sideshows, questioning their authenticity and exploring how they encapsulate our deepest desires and dreams. Through the lens of both popular culture and personal experience, we'll unravel the carnival as a living testament to the power of imagination.

To wrap things up, we delve into the raw and sometimes controversial power of carnival attractions, reflecting on my personal experiences in uncovering the delicate balance between reality and performance. The intimate nature of sideshows provides a profound connection with audiences, challenging societal norms and inviting us to engage with the world in new and meaningful ways. I’ll share why staying "alive on the inside" through curiosity and social interaction is crucial for any performer and how embracing play can fuel creativity and authenticity. By connecting deeply with our craft, we redefine showmanship, unlocking new dimensions of joy and creativity in both our performances and our lives.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if embracing play could transform not only our perception of reality but also the world we live in? Join me, Captain Frodo, as we embark on a whimsical exploration of the intrinsic connection between play and showmanship. Together, we’ll question whether play unearths pre-existing truths or crafts entirely new perspectives. Drawing inspiration from cultural phenomena like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and thinkers such as Huitzinger, we’ll investigate how play might be the cornerstone of human constructs like law, art, and philosophy. This episode is an invitation to broaden your understanding of play as a key to unlocking human creativity, growth, and cultural evolution.

Next, we journey into the vibrant and surreal world of carnivals, inspired by Bruce Caron's book, "Inside the Live Reptile Tent." Imagine a realm where laughter and play serve as tools to conquer fear, much like an emotional boot camp. The mythopoetic nature of carnivals offers us a unique blend of reality and imagination, transforming them into metaphors for our own playful yet profound journeys. We'll reflect on the allure and deception of sideshows, questioning their authenticity and exploring how they encapsulate our deepest desires and dreams. Through the lens of both popular culture and personal experience, we'll unravel the carnival as a living testament to the power of imagination.

To wrap things up, we delve into the raw and sometimes controversial power of carnival attractions, reflecting on my personal experiences in uncovering the delicate balance between reality and performance. The intimate nature of sideshows provides a profound connection with audiences, challenging societal norms and inviting us to engage with the world in new and meaningful ways. I’ll share why staying "alive on the inside" through curiosity and social interaction is crucial for any performer and how embracing play can fuel creativity and authenticity. By connecting deeply with our craft, we redefine showmanship, unlocking new dimensions of joy and creativity in both our performances and our lives.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16643851 Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0200 2677 4 142 full false 141 - The Sacred Art of Play (Showmanship & Play 23 of 30) 141 - The Sacred Art of Play (Showmanship & Play 23 of 30) What if the most profound aspects of human experience—from religious ritual to artistic expression—have their roots in play? In this thought-provoking exploration of serious play, Captain Frodo challenges the false dichotomy between seriousness and importance, revealing how playful engagement offers access to deeper realities than solemn endeavors often can.

Drawing on Plato's assertion that "life must be lived as play," we explore how imaginal play allows us to embody different identities and perspectives, transforming how we experience the world. When a child becomes Zorro or a martial artist imagines standing in flowing water, they're not merely pretending—they're accessing genuine transformative experiences that reveal aspects of reality otherwise hidden.

The connections between play, ritual, and religion run deeper than most realize. Scholars like Johan Huizinga have shown how ritual creates a "magic circle" where different rules apply—much like the stage creates a space of possibility for performers. This understanding elevates performance art from "mere entertainment" to a profound human activity that creates shared realities and offers new ways of being.

For performers, this perspective transforms how we approach our craft. Rather than apologizing for being "just entertainers," we can confidently assert that art forms the axis around which human culture revolves. By taking play seriously—recognizing its power to transform perspectives and access deeper truths—we honor the profound importance of what we do and strengthen our connection with audiences.

Whether you're a performer seeking deeper meaning in your work or simply curious about the hidden importance of play in human experience, this episode offers transformative insights that will change how you see both playfulness and purpose.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if the most profound aspects of human experience—from religious ritual to artistic expression—have their roots in play? In this thought-provoking exploration of serious play, Captain Frodo challenges the false dichotomy between seriousness and importance, revealing how playful engagement offers access to deeper realities than solemn endeavors often can.

Drawing on Plato's assertion that "life must be lived as play," we explore how imaginal play allows us to embody different identities and perspectives, transforming how we experience the world. When a child becomes Zorro or a martial artist imagines standing in flowing water, they're not merely pretending—they're accessing genuine transformative experiences that reveal aspects of reality otherwise hidden.

The connections between play, ritual, and religion run deeper than most realize. Scholars like Johan Huizinga have shown how ritual creates a "magic circle" where different rules apply—much like the stage creates a space of possibility for performers. This understanding elevates performance art from "mere entertainment" to a profound human activity that creates shared realities and offers new ways of being.

For performers, this perspective transforms how we approach our craft. Rather than apologizing for being "just entertainers," we can confidently assert that art forms the axis around which human culture revolves. By taking play seriously—recognizing its power to transform perspectives and access deeper truths—we honor the profound importance of what we do and strengthen our connection with audiences.

Whether you're a performer seeking deeper meaning in your work or simply curious about the hidden importance of play in human experience, this episode offers transformative insights that will change how you see both playfulness and purpose.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17229799 Tue, 03 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0200 2804 4 141 full false 140 - Play Reveals the True Nature of Existence (Showmanship & Play 22 of 30) 140 - Play Reveals the True Nature of Existence (Showmanship & Play 22 of 30) What if our capacity for play is not just a quirk of evolution but a fundamental way we grasp reality? Much like sight reveals color and hearing reveals sound, could play be a sense that unveils essential dimensions of existence otherwise hidden from us?

Captain Frodo challenges us to reconsider the nature and value of play beyond its utilitarian functions. While science often explains play through its evolutionary benefits—practice for hunting, social bonding, developing cognitive flexibility—these explanations miss something crucial: the joy of play itself. When we watch a crow repeatedly sliding down a snowy roof on a plastic lid, flying back up only to slide down again, we witness something more than adaptive behavior. We glimpse a consciousness experiencing pleasure in the moment.

The episode draws heavily from Johan Huizinga's groundbreaking work "Homo Ludens," exploring how play predates human culture and may well be the foundation from which our entire civilization emerged. Law, war, philosophy, art, religion—all these domains of human achievement might have their roots in playful behavior. If so, dismissing play as unimportant or merely instrumental severely limits our understanding of what makes us human.

This perspective reframes our relationship with reality itself. The playful approach to the world isn't an escape from what's real but an engagement with a different facet of it. When we play, we're not just entertaining ourselves—we're accessing a dimension of reality that our purely logical or utilitarian approaches cannot reach. This has profound implications for how we teach, learn, and solve problems.

As this episode marks the conclusion of an extended exploration of play, Captain Frodo invites us to recognize ourselves—especially artists, performers, and "misfits"—as the embodiments of homo ludens, the playful human. In our play, we're not just having fun; we're revealing essential truths about reality itself.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if our capacity for play is not just a quirk of evolution but a fundamental way we grasp reality? Much like sight reveals color and hearing reveals sound, could play be a sense that unveils essential dimensions of existence otherwise hidden from us?

Captain Frodo challenges us to reconsider the nature and value of play beyond its utilitarian functions. While science often explains play through its evolutionary benefits—practice for hunting, social bonding, developing cognitive flexibility—these explanations miss something crucial: the joy of play itself. When we watch a crow repeatedly sliding down a snowy roof on a plastic lid, flying back up only to slide down again, we witness something more than adaptive behavior. We glimpse a consciousness experiencing pleasure in the moment.

The episode draws heavily from Johan Huizinga's groundbreaking work "Homo Ludens," exploring how play predates human culture and may well be the foundation from which our entire civilization emerged. Law, war, philosophy, art, religion—all these domains of human achievement might have their roots in playful behavior. If so, dismissing play as unimportant or merely instrumental severely limits our understanding of what makes us human.

This perspective reframes our relationship with reality itself. The playful approach to the world isn't an escape from what's real but an engagement with a different facet of it. When we play, we're not just entertaining ourselves—we're accessing a dimension of reality that our purely logical or utilitarian approaches cannot reach. This has profound implications for how we teach, learn, and solve problems.

As this episode marks the conclusion of an extended exploration of play, Captain Frodo invites us to recognize ourselves—especially artists, performers, and "misfits"—as the embodiments of homo ludens, the playful human. In our play, we're not just having fun; we're revealing essential truths about reality itself.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17229817 Tue, 27 May 2025 06:00:00 +0200 3471 4 140 full false 139 - Redefining Seriousness (Showmanship & Play 21 of 30) 139 - Redefining Seriousness (Showmanship & Play 21 of 30) What makes something "serious" and why do we automatically equate seriousness with importance? In this thought-provoking journey through linguistic history, educational systems, and cultural hierarchies, Captain Frodo reveals how the very concept of seriousness has been weaponized as a tool for social control.

Diving into Alan White's groundbreaking essay "The Dismal Sacred Word," we discover how the first dictionaries deliberately created distinctions between "high" and "low" language, with lasting consequences for how we value different forms of expression. The exploration continues through the Protestant-influenced school systems that physically separated "serious" indoor learning from "unimportant" outdoor play—a division that continues to shape our understanding of value today.

From the marginalization of play to the struggles of artists seeking legitimacy, this episode exposes how arbitrary yet powerful these distinctions really are. Why did the Impressionists have to fight so hard to be taken seriously? Why do circus performers and magicians still battle for cultural recognition? The answer lies in understanding that "there is no intrinsic link at all" between solemn seriousness and genuine importance.

For anyone who has felt their passions dismissed as trivial or unimportant, this episode offers both validation and liberation. By recognizing how seriousness has been socially constructed, we can begin questioning these false hierarchies and reclaiming the profound value of play, joy, and creative expression. What if the most important things in life aren't serious at all?

Listen now to challenge everything you thought you knew about what really matters, and discover why play might be the most serious business of all.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What makes something "serious" and why do we automatically equate seriousness with importance? In this thought-provoking journey through linguistic history, educational systems, and cultural hierarchies, Captain Frodo reveals how the very concept of seriousness has been weaponized as a tool for social control.

Diving into Alan White's groundbreaking essay "The Dismal Sacred Word," we discover how the first dictionaries deliberately created distinctions between "high" and "low" language, with lasting consequences for how we value different forms of expression. The exploration continues through the Protestant-influenced school systems that physically separated "serious" indoor learning from "unimportant" outdoor play—a division that continues to shape our understanding of value today.

From the marginalization of play to the struggles of artists seeking legitimacy, this episode exposes how arbitrary yet powerful these distinctions really are. Why did the Impressionists have to fight so hard to be taken seriously? Why do circus performers and magicians still battle for cultural recognition? The answer lies in understanding that "there is no intrinsic link at all" between solemn seriousness and genuine importance.

For anyone who has felt their passions dismissed as trivial or unimportant, this episode offers both validation and liberation. By recognizing how seriousness has been socially constructed, we can begin questioning these false hierarchies and reclaiming the profound value of play, joy, and creative expression. What if the most important things in life aren't serious at all?

Listen now to challenge everything you thought you knew about what really matters, and discover why play might be the most serious business of all.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17041262 Tue, 20 May 2025 06:00:00 +0200 3010 4 139 full false 138 - Play for a Living: Finding Joy in Your Work (Showmanship & Play 20 of 30) 138 - Play for a Living: Finding Joy in Your Work (Showmanship & Play 20 of 30) What if your work felt like play? What if that seemingly childish question—"What would you do if money was no object?"—actually held the key to living without regret?

Captain Frodo takes us on a profound journey through the false separation between play and work that dominates adult life. Drawing wisdom from philosophers Johann Huizinga and John Dewey alongside mystical thinker Alan Watts, this episode challenges our cultural assumptions about what constitutes "serious" pursuits.

The exploration reveals how children's play—far from frivolous—represents deep, meaningful engagement with the world. This "serious play" serves as their work, their way of understanding themselves and their place in society. Meanwhile, adults often abandon play for "work" defined by external rewards rather than intrinsic satisfaction, creating lives split between obligation and enjoyment.

Most poignantly, we confront the five most common regrets of the dying, with the top regret being failing to live authentically rather than meeting others' expectations. This reveals the potential consequences of abandoning our playful nature for socially prescribed paths.

Through evolutionary perspectives showing childhood's increasing importance in human development and philosophical insights about integrating play and work, Captain Frodo offers a compelling vision: work permeated with the play attitude becomes art—and potentially, the foundation of a life without regret.

Ready to reconsider the role of play in your life and work? This episode might change how you view what truly matters. Follow @thewayoftheshowman on Instagram and share this episode with someone searching for more meaning in their daily pursuits.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if your work felt like play? What if that seemingly childish question—"What would you do if money was no object?"—actually held the key to living without regret?

Captain Frodo takes us on a profound journey through the false separation between play and work that dominates adult life. Drawing wisdom from philosophers Johann Huizinga and John Dewey alongside mystical thinker Alan Watts, this episode challenges our cultural assumptions about what constitutes "serious" pursuits.

The exploration reveals how children's play—far from frivolous—represents deep, meaningful engagement with the world. This "serious play" serves as their work, their way of understanding themselves and their place in society. Meanwhile, adults often abandon play for "work" defined by external rewards rather than intrinsic satisfaction, creating lives split between obligation and enjoyment.

Most poignantly, we confront the five most common regrets of the dying, with the top regret being failing to live authentically rather than meeting others' expectations. This reveals the potential consequences of abandoning our playful nature for socially prescribed paths.

Through evolutionary perspectives showing childhood's increasing importance in human development and philosophical insights about integrating play and work, Captain Frodo offers a compelling vision: work permeated with the play attitude becomes art—and potentially, the foundation of a life without regret.

Ready to reconsider the role of play in your life and work? This episode might change how you view what truly matters. Follow @thewayoftheshowman on Instagram and share this episode with someone searching for more meaning in their daily pursuits.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16819961 Tue, 13 May 2025 06:00:00 +0200 2765 4 138 full false 137 - Serious Play (Showmanship & Play 19 of 30) 137 - Serious Play (Showmanship & Play 19 of 30) “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”

Fred Rogers aka Mister Rogers.

I talk about Johan Huizinga's book Homo Ludens.
he describes play like this:
“Play is a free activity standing quite consciously outside 'ordinary' life as being 'not serious,' but at the same time absorbing the player intensely and utterly.”

You can't be serious, is this your real job? is one of my pet peeves and an instigator for this whole 30 episode season. I explore it further  in this episode.

Child's play is serious.

Adult play. what is it?

Work and play. What is the relationship, differences and similarities...

What is the purpose of the child's play?


 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”

Fred Rogers aka Mister Rogers.

I talk about Johan Huizinga's book Homo Ludens.
he describes play like this:
“Play is a free activity standing quite consciously outside 'ordinary' life as being 'not serious,' but at the same time absorbing the player intensely and utterly.”

You can't be serious, is this your real job? is one of my pet peeves and an instigator for this whole 30 episode season. I explore it further  in this episode.

Child's play is serious.

Adult play. what is it?

Work and play. What is the relationship, differences and similarities...

What is the purpose of the child's play?


 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15974879 Tue, 06 May 2025 06:00:00 +0200 2874 4 137 full false 136 - The Games We Play - with Chris Canfield 136 - The Games We Play - with Chris Canfield When Chris Canfield first messaged me about his upcoming show "The Games We Play," I was struck by how our creative paths had converged despite beginning worlds apart. Chris grew up in Chicago with a magician father who filled their home with card tricks and coin sleights—magic wasn't special, it was simply what they did. Meanwhile, I was discovering similar wonders in the remote landscapes of Norway.

What makes Chris's story extraordinary isn't just that he grew up surrounded by magic, but that his parents opened a game store where play became the center of their family life. Board games, puzzles, chess sets—these weren't just products but portals to connection. Chris learned early that games create spaces where adults and children meet as equals, where the boundaries between work and play dissolve.

When tragedy struck at sixteen with his father's unexpected death, Chris stepped away from magic, finding the association too painful. His creative energy channeled into music instead, where he developed a custom guitar pick for his right hand (Chris was born with a limb difference) and discovered the transcendent joy of improvisation. As we discussed the parallels between musical flow states and magical performance, it became clear that different forms of play share profound connections.

The heart of our conversation explores how Chris's theatrical show "The Games We Play" integrates his personal narrative with interactive magic and games. Rather than performing conventional tricks, he creates experiences where audiences become participants in a shared journey. "I'm trying to blur the lines between games and magic," he explains, crafting moments that feel both impossible and emotionally resonant.

For those fascinated by the psychology of performance, Chris offers valuable insights about breaking down the traditional barrier between performer and spectator, creating what I call "a third space" where co-creation happens. His show traces the evolution of games from their earliest forms to modern iterations, examining how play shapes our emotional lives and helps us process our most profound experiences.

Whether you're a performer seeking fresh approaches to audience engagement, a game enthusiast curious about magic, or someone interested in how childhood experiences shape creative paths, this conversation illuminates the transformative power of play. Let Chris Canfield's journey inspire you to rediscover your own playful spirit and perhaps see magic in unexpected places.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> When Chris Canfield first messaged me about his upcoming show "The Games We Play," I was struck by how our creative paths had converged despite beginning worlds apart. Chris grew up in Chicago with a magician father who filled their home with card tricks and coin sleights—magic wasn't special, it was simply what they did. Meanwhile, I was discovering similar wonders in the remote landscapes of Norway.

What makes Chris's story extraordinary isn't just that he grew up surrounded by magic, but that his parents opened a game store where play became the center of their family life. Board games, puzzles, chess sets—these weren't just products but portals to connection. Chris learned early that games create spaces where adults and children meet as equals, where the boundaries between work and play dissolve.

When tragedy struck at sixteen with his father's unexpected death, Chris stepped away from magic, finding the association too painful. His creative energy channeled into music instead, where he developed a custom guitar pick for his right hand (Chris was born with a limb difference) and discovered the transcendent joy of improvisation. As we discussed the parallels between musical flow states and magical performance, it became clear that different forms of play share profound connections.

The heart of our conversation explores how Chris's theatrical show "The Games We Play" integrates his personal narrative with interactive magic and games. Rather than performing conventional tricks, he creates experiences where audiences become participants in a shared journey. "I'm trying to blur the lines between games and magic," he explains, crafting moments that feel both impossible and emotionally resonant.

For those fascinated by the psychology of performance, Chris offers valuable insights about breaking down the traditional barrier between performer and spectator, creating what I call "a third space" where co-creation happens. His show traces the evolution of games from their earliest forms to modern iterations, examining how play shapes our emotional lives and helps us process our most profound experiences.

Whether you're a performer seeking fresh approaches to audience engagement, a game enthusiast curious about magic, or someone interested in how childhood experiences shape creative paths, this conversation illuminates the transformative power of play. Let Chris Canfield's journey inspire you to rediscover your own playful spirit and perhaps see magic in unexpected places.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-17041255 Tue, 29 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0200 7427 4 136 full false 135 - Juggling the Past, Present, and Future with Niels Duinker & Captain Frodo 135 - Juggling the Past, Present, and Future with Niels Duinker & Captain Frodo The enduring magic of juggling spans centuries, yet few performers have dedicated themselves to both preserving its rich history and innovating its future quite like Nils Dunke. In this captivating conversation, the Dutch comedy juggler takes us on an unexpected journey through the interconnected worlds of performance, craftsmanship, and historical preservation.

What makes this episode particularly fascinating is Nils' unique intersection of mechanical engineering expertise with artistic passion. He explains how this combination led him to revolutionize traditional juggling equipment through ergonomic designs that enhance performers' capabilities. His collaborations with juggling innovators like Jay Gilligan on the Cuphead Club demonstrate how thoughtful equipment design can unlock entirely new artistic possibilities.

Perhaps most compelling is Nils' dedication to preserving juggling's heritage through publishing significant historical works. His efforts to document the stories of legends like 100-year-old Bobby Jule (inventor of the ping-pong ball on nose trick) ensure these valuable contributions aren't lost to time. When he describes visiting juggling archives and connecting with the remaining practitioners from vaudeville's golden age, we glimpse how passion projects become crucial cultural preservation.

Whether you're fascinated by the performing arts, interested in how innovation happens, or simply appreciate stories of people following unconventional passions, Nils' perspective offers valuable insights on building a meaningful creative life. His philosophy that "if nobody takes risks, nothing gets pushed forward" serves as inspiration for anyone looking to make their mark while honoring those who came before.

Ready to discover how ancient arts evolve in the modern world? Subscribe now and join our exploration of showmanship through the eyes of those who live it daily.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> The enduring magic of juggling spans centuries, yet few performers have dedicated themselves to both preserving its rich history and innovating its future quite like Nils Dunke. In this captivating conversation, the Dutch comedy juggler takes us on an unexpected journey through the interconnected worlds of performance, craftsmanship, and historical preservation.

What makes this episode particularly fascinating is Nils' unique intersection of mechanical engineering expertise with artistic passion. He explains how this combination led him to revolutionize traditional juggling equipment through ergonomic designs that enhance performers' capabilities. His collaborations with juggling innovators like Jay Gilligan on the Cuphead Club demonstrate how thoughtful equipment design can unlock entirely new artistic possibilities.

Perhaps most compelling is Nils' dedication to preserving juggling's heritage through publishing significant historical works. His efforts to document the stories of legends like 100-year-old Bobby Jule (inventor of the ping-pong ball on nose trick) ensure these valuable contributions aren't lost to time. When he describes visiting juggling archives and connecting with the remaining practitioners from vaudeville's golden age, we glimpse how passion projects become crucial cultural preservation.

Whether you're fascinated by the performing arts, interested in how innovation happens, or simply appreciate stories of people following unconventional passions, Nils' perspective offers valuable insights on building a meaningful creative life. His philosophy that "if nobody takes risks, nothing gets pushed forward" serves as inspiration for anyone looking to make their mark while honoring those who came before.

Ready to discover how ancient arts evolve in the modern world? Subscribe now and join our exploration of showmanship through the eyes of those who live it daily.

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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

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If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16952229 Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0200 7237 4 135 full false 134 - Circus Church: When Performance Becomes a Spiritual Experience - Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo explore Cirque’s first Vegas show 4 of 4 134 - Circus Church: When Performance Becomes a Spiritual Experience - Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo explore Cirque’s first Vegas show 4 of 4 What happens when an artist watches the same show 84 times over three decades? Something magical emerges at the intersection of art, ritual, and the sacred.

Captain Frodo and juggler Jay Gilligan dive deep into the fascinating psychology of repeated viewing, exploring why we'll happily listen to songs hundreds of times but typically see a live performance just once. This conversation challenges our cultural assumptions about consumption while revealing how each viewing of the same performance can uncover new layers of meaning, detail, and artistic intention.

The discussion takes unexpected turns through the landscape of artistic development, questioning whether isolation or immersion best serves creative growth. Jay's incredible story of watching a VHS recording of Cirque du Soleil's Mystere daily for an entire year becomes a lens through which to examine ritual, meaning-making, and the spiritual dimensions of performance. When does a theatrical experience transcend entertainment and become something akin to church?

For performers, this episode offers profound insights about taking your craft seriously, understanding your lineage, and finding depth in repetition. For audiences, it provides a new way of appreciating live performance—not as a one-time experience but as a potentially sacred ritual that rewards those who return with open hearts and curious minds.

Whether you're a seasoned performer or simply someone who appreciates the magic of live entertainment, this conversation will transform how you think about the performances you create or witness. Captain Frodo's heartfelt reflections on the privilege of performing remind us all that great art isn't just what happens on stage—it's the invisible connection created between performer and audience that makes each moment unique, even when performing the same act for the thousandth time.

Support the show

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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What happens when an artist watches the same show 84 times over three decades? Something magical emerges at the intersection of art, ritual, and the sacred.

Captain Frodo and juggler Jay Gilligan dive deep into the fascinating psychology of repeated viewing, exploring why we'll happily listen to songs hundreds of times but typically see a live performance just once. This conversation challenges our cultural assumptions about consumption while revealing how each viewing of the same performance can uncover new layers of meaning, detail, and artistic intention.

The discussion takes unexpected turns through the landscape of artistic development, questioning whether isolation or immersion best serves creative growth. Jay's incredible story of watching a VHS recording of Cirque du Soleil's Mystere daily for an entire year becomes a lens through which to examine ritual, meaning-making, and the spiritual dimensions of performance. When does a theatrical experience transcend entertainment and become something akin to church?

For performers, this episode offers profound insights about taking your craft seriously, understanding your lineage, and finding depth in repetition. For audiences, it provides a new way of appreciating live performance—not as a one-time experience but as a potentially sacred ritual that rewards those who return with open hearts and curious minds.

Whether you're a seasoned performer or simply someone who appreciates the magic of live entertainment, this conversation will transform how you think about the performances you create or witness. Captain Frodo's heartfelt reflections on the privilege of performing remind us all that great art isn't just what happens on stage—it's the invisible connection created between performer and audience that makes each moment unique, even when performing the same act for the thousandth time.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16892116 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0200 4771 4 134 full false 133 - Does Meeting Your Heroes Kill the Mystery? Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo explores Cirque du Soleil's first Las Vegas show. part 3 of 4 133 - Does Meeting Your Heroes Kill the Mystery? Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo explores Cirque du Soleil's first Las Vegas show. part 3 of 4 When does unmasking the magic behind a theatrical masterpiece enhance rather than diminish its wonder? Join Captain Frodo and Jay Gilligan as they peel back the curtain on Cirque du Soleil's Mystere, revealing the fascinating evolution of this groundbreaking Las Vegas production over its remarkable 31-year run.

Franco Dragone emerges as the passionate, sometimes volatile creative force who shaped Mystere through improvisation and emotional imagery rather than traditional storytelling. "I work with images and emotions," he would say, crafting scenes that resonated on a visceral level rather than an intellectual one. The conversation reveals how his creative vision about "the origins of the universe" translated into the show's iconic elements - from the giant inflatable snail named Alice to the baby with the red ball who captures audiences' imaginations.

Behind every theatrical wonder lies human reality - sometimes beautiful, sometimes troubling. Dangerous falls from stilts in fog-slicked conditions, and the clown who was fired after cutting the wrong powerful man's necktie during a pre-show bit. Yet these stories don't diminish the magic; they highlight the extraordinary commitment required to create something that transcends ordinary entertainment.

Most compelling is how Mystere has evolved while maintaining its essence. Original elements have been modified or removed, performers have changed countless times, and budget cuts have reduced the cast size. Today's performers bring new relationships and chemistry to characters that didn't previously interact, breathing fresh life into a production that refuses to become a museum piece. As Jay reflects, "It's the difference between making a movie and making a show...the show is happening actually for real, every night."

Discover why meeting your heroes doesn't always destroy the mystery - sometimes it reveals something even more magical: that ordinary people, through extraordinary dedication, can create experiences that continue to resonate with audiences for decades. Subscribe now for our final episode on Mystere, where we'll explore what we can learn from knowing one thing deeply.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> When does unmasking the magic behind a theatrical masterpiece enhance rather than diminish its wonder? Join Captain Frodo and Jay Gilligan as they peel back the curtain on Cirque du Soleil's Mystere, revealing the fascinating evolution of this groundbreaking Las Vegas production over its remarkable 31-year run.

Franco Dragone emerges as the passionate, sometimes volatile creative force who shaped Mystere through improvisation and emotional imagery rather than traditional storytelling. "I work with images and emotions," he would say, crafting scenes that resonated on a visceral level rather than an intellectual one. The conversation reveals how his creative vision about "the origins of the universe" translated into the show's iconic elements - from the giant inflatable snail named Alice to the baby with the red ball who captures audiences' imaginations.

Behind every theatrical wonder lies human reality - sometimes beautiful, sometimes troubling. Dangerous falls from stilts in fog-slicked conditions, and the clown who was fired after cutting the wrong powerful man's necktie during a pre-show bit. Yet these stories don't diminish the magic; they highlight the extraordinary commitment required to create something that transcends ordinary entertainment.

Most compelling is how Mystere has evolved while maintaining its essence. Original elements have been modified or removed, performers have changed countless times, and budget cuts have reduced the cast size. Today's performers bring new relationships and chemistry to characters that didn't previously interact, breathing fresh life into a production that refuses to become a museum piece. As Jay reflects, "It's the difference between making a movie and making a show...the show is happening actually for real, every night."

Discover why meeting your heroes doesn't always destroy the mystery - sometimes it reveals something even more magical: that ordinary people, through extraordinary dedication, can create experiences that continue to resonate with audiences for decades. Subscribe now for our final episode on Mystere, where we'll explore what we can learn from knowing one thing deeply.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16855320 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0100 4539 4 133 full true 132 - Mystere Unveiled: Exploring the Art of Cirque - Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo explores Cirque du Soleil's first Las Vegas show 2 of 4 132 - Mystere Unveiled: Exploring the Art of Cirque - Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo explores Cirque du Soleil's first Las Vegas show 2 of 4 Step into the enchanting world of "Mystere," where the lines between circus, theater, and artistry blur into an unforgettable experience. In this episode, we unfold the remarkable story behind one of the Cirque du Soleil's most iconic productions, exploring how it reshaped modern entertainment. Listen as we discuss its innovative approach to storytelling, the emotional depth of its performances, and the sheer magic that captivates audiences worldwide.

Join us as we dive deep into the show's creative vision, led by Franco Dragone and his team, who broke barriers to redefine the circus landscape. Mystere invites viewers on a journey, appealing to the senses and challenging preconceived notions of performance art through stunning visuals and dynamic storytelling. We share insights on the unique challenges performers face within the show, discovering how anonymity and collective identity play a crucial role in their craft.

The episode also touches on the impact of technology in enhancing audience interaction and expectations of live performances. We reflect on the show's enduring legacy, how it paved the way for future productions, and its evolution over the years. 

Whether you're a circus enthusiast or new to the world of performance arts, you won't want to miss this fascinating exploration! You'll gain valuable insights into the deeper meanings woven into every act. Be part of this journey and share your own experiences with us! Don't forget to subscribe or leave a review!

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Step into the enchanting world of "Mystere," where the lines between circus, theater, and artistry blur into an unforgettable experience. In this episode, we unfold the remarkable story behind one of the Cirque du Soleil's most iconic productions, exploring how it reshaped modern entertainment. Listen as we discuss its innovative approach to storytelling, the emotional depth of its performances, and the sheer magic that captivates audiences worldwide.

Join us as we dive deep into the show's creative vision, led by Franco Dragone and his team, who broke barriers to redefine the circus landscape. Mystere invites viewers on a journey, appealing to the senses and challenging preconceived notions of performance art through stunning visuals and dynamic storytelling. We share insights on the unique challenges performers face within the show, discovering how anonymity and collective identity play a crucial role in their craft.

The episode also touches on the impact of technology in enhancing audience interaction and expectations of live performances. We reflect on the show's enduring legacy, how it paved the way for future productions, and its evolution over the years. 

Whether you're a circus enthusiast or new to the world of performance arts, you won't want to miss this fascinating exploration! You'll gain valuable insights into the deeper meanings woven into every act. Be part of this journey and share your own experiences with us! Don't forget to subscribe or leave a review!

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16694085 Mon, 10 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0100 4270 4 132 full false 131 - How Mystère Reinvented Circus for Las Vegas: A True Tale - Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo explores Cirque du Soleil's first Las Vegas show 1 of 4 131 - How Mystère Reinvented Circus for Las Vegas: A True Tale - Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo explores Cirque du Soleil's first Las Vegas show 1 of 4 Step into the world of Cirque du Soleil's Mystère and explore its magical journey through the lens of showmanship! This episode takes you behind the scenes as we dive deep into the artistry and evolution that have made Mystère an enduring icon in Las Vegas entertainment. Join hosts Captain Frodo and Jay Gilligan as they share their personal experiences, explore the creative journey behind this iconic show, and discuss how its rich narrative seamlessly combines circus and theater.

From the early days of its production to the meticulous crafting of performances, learn about the passion and dedication that go into captivating audiences for over three decades. Mystère is more than just a show; it is a pioneering force that has redefined the circus experience, pushing boundaries while respecting its traditions. Jay, a lifelong juggler and advocate for circus arts, unpacks the emotional layers and innovative techniques that provide depth to this mesmerizing spectacle.

As we navigate through key revelations and insider stories of Mystère, we uncover how it has set the standard for future shows and continues to inspire performers around the globe. This rich tapestry of discussion leaves listeners with a profound understanding of both the show and its impact on the cultural landscape. Join us and indulge in an exploration of artistry, risk, and the evolution of performance art. Don't miss out—tune in, subscribe, and uncover the magic of Mystère!

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Step into the world of Cirque du Soleil's Mystère and explore its magical journey through the lens of showmanship! This episode takes you behind the scenes as we dive deep into the artistry and evolution that have made Mystère an enduring icon in Las Vegas entertainment. Join hosts Captain Frodo and Jay Gilligan as they share their personal experiences, explore the creative journey behind this iconic show, and discuss how its rich narrative seamlessly combines circus and theater.

From the early days of its production to the meticulous crafting of performances, learn about the passion and dedication that go into captivating audiences for over three decades. Mystère is more than just a show; it is a pioneering force that has redefined the circus experience, pushing boundaries while respecting its traditions. Jay, a lifelong juggler and advocate for circus arts, unpacks the emotional layers and innovative techniques that provide depth to this mesmerizing spectacle.

As we navigate through key revelations and insider stories of Mystère, we uncover how it has set the standard for future shows and continues to inspire performers around the globe. This rich tapestry of discussion leaves listeners with a profound understanding of both the show and its impact on the cultural landscape. Join us and indulge in an exploration of artistry, risk, and the evolution of performance art. Don't miss out—tune in, subscribe, and uncover the magic of Mystère!

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16694079 Tue, 04 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0100 3939 4 131 full false 130 - Freak Shows: From Sideshow Curiosities to Modern Media Spectacles with Anna Maria Sienicka - Part 4 of 4 130 - Freak Shows: From Sideshow Curiosities to Modern Media Spectacles with Anna Maria Sienicka - Part 4 of 4 What if the spectacle of the past is shaping the media and fashion of today? Join us as we unravel the beguiling narrative of freak shows, from their origins as sideshow curiosities to their influence on modern culture. Our journey takes us through the intricate dance of authenticity and performance, reflecting on anecdotes like Jack Black's lesson on recording's importance. We question if today's mainstream acceptance could strip these performances of their once subversive edge and what it means to be a "freak" in today's world.

Throughout the episode, we traverse the historical arc of freak shows, exploring their transformation into contemporary media spectacles akin to reality TV. With examples ranging from Donald Trump's spectacle-driven approach to the enchanting yet controversial acts of Dutch magicians Robert and Emil, we compare this provocative art form with traditional performance arts. Can freak shows be considered a unique artistic expression or merely a mirror of evolving societal norms?

We close with a thought-provoking exploration of the emotional landscape that freak shows inhabit. Through historical, literary, and philosophical lenses, we dissect the language of monstrosity and how physical differences evoke visceral reactions. From the evocative narratives of Victorian medical curiosities to the modern allure of extremes, we reflect on how these performances challenge identities and provoke empathy, leaving listeners to ponder the complex tapestry of human experience that freak shows continue to weave.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if the spectacle of the past is shaping the media and fashion of today? Join us as we unravel the beguiling narrative of freak shows, from their origins as sideshow curiosities to their influence on modern culture. Our journey takes us through the intricate dance of authenticity and performance, reflecting on anecdotes like Jack Black's lesson on recording's importance. We question if today's mainstream acceptance could strip these performances of their once subversive edge and what it means to be a "freak" in today's world.

Throughout the episode, we traverse the historical arc of freak shows, exploring their transformation into contemporary media spectacles akin to reality TV. With examples ranging from Donald Trump's spectacle-driven approach to the enchanting yet controversial acts of Dutch magicians Robert and Emil, we compare this provocative art form with traditional performance arts. Can freak shows be considered a unique artistic expression or merely a mirror of evolving societal norms?

We close with a thought-provoking exploration of the emotional landscape that freak shows inhabit. Through historical, literary, and philosophical lenses, we dissect the language of monstrosity and how physical differences evoke visceral reactions. From the evocative narratives of Victorian medical curiosities to the modern allure of extremes, we reflect on how these performances challenge identities and provoke empathy, leaving listeners to ponder the complex tapestry of human experience that freak shows continue to weave.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16643685 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0100 4985 4 130 full true 129 - Beyond Spectacle: The Art and Philosophy of Freak Shows with Anna Maria Sienicka 3 of 4 129 - Beyond Spectacle: The Art and Philosophy of Freak Shows with Anna Maria Sienicka 3 of 4 What if the raw spectacle of freak shows holds an unexpected depth that challenges our understanding of art? Join us for a captivating discussion with Anna Maria Sienicka, a PhD student and lecturer at Paris Nanterre University, as we explore the philosophy behind these controversial performances. We tackle the question of whether freak shows, often dismissed as mere curiosity-driven entertainment, might contain a kernel of cultural significance worth preserving, much like the multifaceted allure of opera.

We venture into the fascinating parallels between slapstick comedy and poetry, uncovering how these seemingly simple forms can evolve into profound reflections on life and death. Our conversation reveals how entertainment transcends mere escapism, becoming a medium for exploring deeper human experiences. We also spotlight influential figures like Matt Fraser and Julie Atlas Muz, who redefine the freak show genre, transforming it into a platform for artistic expression that challenges societal norms.

Continuing our exploration, we examine the blurred line between art and entertainment, questioning traditional views on what constitutes artistic merit. From comic books to the French art scene's take on American freak shows, we highlight how diverse mediums evoke visceral responses that defy intellectual categorization. We also discuss the childlike fascination with the monstrous within freak shows, drawing on personal anecdotes to illustrate the primal curiosity they inspire. Finally, we celebrate the artistic lifestyle of showmen, whose unique existence on the road reflects a life steeped in performance art akin to modern-day shamanism.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What if the raw spectacle of freak shows holds an unexpected depth that challenges our understanding of art? Join us for a captivating discussion with Anna Maria Sienicka, a PhD student and lecturer at Paris Nanterre University, as we explore the philosophy behind these controversial performances. We tackle the question of whether freak shows, often dismissed as mere curiosity-driven entertainment, might contain a kernel of cultural significance worth preserving, much like the multifaceted allure of opera.

We venture into the fascinating parallels between slapstick comedy and poetry, uncovering how these seemingly simple forms can evolve into profound reflections on life and death. Our conversation reveals how entertainment transcends mere escapism, becoming a medium for exploring deeper human experiences. We also spotlight influential figures like Matt Fraser and Julie Atlas Muz, who redefine the freak show genre, transforming it into a platform for artistic expression that challenges societal norms.

Continuing our exploration, we examine the blurred line between art and entertainment, questioning traditional views on what constitutes artistic merit. From comic books to the French art scene's take on American freak shows, we highlight how diverse mediums evoke visceral responses that defy intellectual categorization. We also discuss the childlike fascination with the monstrous within freak shows, drawing on personal anecdotes to illustrate the primal curiosity they inspire. Finally, we celebrate the artistic lifestyle of showmen, whose unique existence on the road reflects a life steeped in performance art akin to modern-day shamanism.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16643681 Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0100 3111 4 129 full true 128 - Reimagining Reality through the Freak Show Lens - Philosophy & Freakshow with Anna Maria Sienicka 2 of 4 128 - Reimagining Reality through the Freak Show Lens - Philosophy & Freakshow with Anna Maria Sienicka 2 of 4 Ever wondered how the Freak Show transcends typical performance art with its unique philosophical dimensions? Join Captain Frodo and our esteemed guest, Anna Maria Sienicka, a PhD student and lecturer from Paris Nanterre University, as we unravel the intricate layers of this captivating world. Through Anna Maria's research and insights, we explore the Freak Show's distinct identity, standing apart from magic and clowning by offering a profound encounter with the unknown.

Social media's impact on self-presentation takes center stage as we draw parallels to Goffman's theatrical metaphor of life. By challenging societal norms and algorithm-driven beauty standards, the Freak Show emerges as a rebellious act akin to the transformative power of drag makeup. Sword swallowing becomes more than just shock and awe; it's an invitation to experience the mysterious and sacred, transforming perceptions and enriching life with an appreciation for the unknown. These acts, once labeled as "freaky," reveal deeper truths, encouraging audiences to embrace the intriguing beauty of the unexplained.

The episode ventures further into the art of deception, where the boundaries of reality and illusion blur. We dissect the complex interplay between deception in magic and the authenticity of Freak Shows, much like the theatrical spectacle of American wrestling. From historical marvels to contemporary performances, Freak Shows blend reality with fiction in a way that captivates and challenges audiences. Through my own performances, such as squeezing through tennis rackets, we explore the art of anticipation and humor that guides audiences on a journey filled with surprise and engagement. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Ever wondered how the Freak Show transcends typical performance art with its unique philosophical dimensions? Join Captain Frodo and our esteemed guest, Anna Maria Sienicka, a PhD student and lecturer from Paris Nanterre University, as we unravel the intricate layers of this captivating world. Through Anna Maria's research and insights, we explore the Freak Show's distinct identity, standing apart from magic and clowning by offering a profound encounter with the unknown.

Social media's impact on self-presentation takes center stage as we draw parallels to Goffman's theatrical metaphor of life. By challenging societal norms and algorithm-driven beauty standards, the Freak Show emerges as a rebellious act akin to the transformative power of drag makeup. Sword swallowing becomes more than just shock and awe; it's an invitation to experience the mysterious and sacred, transforming perceptions and enriching life with an appreciation for the unknown. These acts, once labeled as "freaky," reveal deeper truths, encouraging audiences to embrace the intriguing beauty of the unexplained.

The episode ventures further into the art of deception, where the boundaries of reality and illusion blur. We dissect the complex interplay between deception in magic and the authenticity of Freak Shows, much like the theatrical spectacle of American wrestling. From historical marvels to contemporary performances, Freak Shows blend reality with fiction in a way that captivates and challenges audiences. Through my own performances, such as squeezing through tennis rackets, we explore the art of anticipation and humor that guides audiences on a journey filled with surprise and engagement. 

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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16447461 Tue, 11 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0100 3492 4 128 full true 127 - Beyond Monsters: Philosophy & Freakshow with Anna Maria Sienicka - 1 of 4 127 - Beyond Monsters: Philosophy & Freakshow with Anna Maria Sienicka - 1 of 4 Prepare to shatter your perceptions of identity and the monstrous as Captain Frodo takes you on an extraordinary exploration of freak shows with the brilliant Anna Maria Sienicka from Sorbonne University. This episode uncovers the rich tapestry of performance art that has defined Frodo's career, from the kamikaze freak show to modern-day sideshows, and delves into how these spectacles challenge social norms and provoke profound reflections on humanity. With Anna Maria's scholarly insights into the philosophy of art and medicine, we dissect how the portrayal of monstrosity in freak shows can disrupt our understanding of identity, disability, gender, and race.

We'll tap into the emotional power of horror, tracing a path from childhood Goosebumps thrills to a deep appreciation for the genre's ability to evoke strong emotions and blur reality and fiction. Discover the charm of low-budget horror films and how they engage audiences by playing on our deepest fears and curiosities. The conversation transitions seamlessly into the realm of literary giants like Victor Hugo, where we examine how characters with physical abnormalities provoke thought on societal norms and the limits of human perception, much like sideshow performers do in real life.

As we navigate the historical and cultural landscape of freak shows, we celebrate contemporary performers who have turned the tables on exploitation to embrace empowerment. Learn how they challenge societal norms and reshape narratives, as we explore the slow acceptance of freak shows within disability studies and the broader cultural landscape. By engaging with performers like Matt Fraser, who proudly identify with the term "freak," we confront our own curiosities and appreciate the artistry and humanity behind these performances. Join us in this captivating journey beyond the spectacle to uncover the profound questions of identity and representation that connect us all.

Don't miss the unexpected like why is the usual podcast sign-off mysteriously absent for the first time in 130 episodes.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Prepare to shatter your perceptions of identity and the monstrous as Captain Frodo takes you on an extraordinary exploration of freak shows with the brilliant Anna Maria Sienicka from Sorbonne University. This episode uncovers the rich tapestry of performance art that has defined Frodo's career, from the kamikaze freak show to modern-day sideshows, and delves into how these spectacles challenge social norms and provoke profound reflections on humanity. With Anna Maria's scholarly insights into the philosophy of art and medicine, we dissect how the portrayal of monstrosity in freak shows can disrupt our understanding of identity, disability, gender, and race.

We'll tap into the emotional power of horror, tracing a path from childhood Goosebumps thrills to a deep appreciation for the genre's ability to evoke strong emotions and blur reality and fiction. Discover the charm of low-budget horror films and how they engage audiences by playing on our deepest fears and curiosities. The conversation transitions seamlessly into the realm of literary giants like Victor Hugo, where we examine how characters with physical abnormalities provoke thought on societal norms and the limits of human perception, much like sideshow performers do in real life.

As we navigate the historical and cultural landscape of freak shows, we celebrate contemporary performers who have turned the tables on exploitation to embrace empowerment. Learn how they challenge societal norms and reshape narratives, as we explore the slow acceptance of freak shows within disability studies and the broader cultural landscape. By engaging with performers like Matt Fraser, who proudly identify with the term "freak," we confront our own curiosities and appreciate the artistry and humanity behind these performances. Join us in this captivating journey beyond the spectacle to uncover the profound questions of identity and representation that connect us all.

Don't miss the unexpected like why is the usual podcast sign-off mysteriously absent for the first time in 130 episodes.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16447044 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0100 7103 4 127 full true 126 - We are the Children pt 2 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 18 of 30) 126 - We are the Children pt 2 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 18 of 30) Human beings are never finished. We are always changing. Society and culture might push us to become quantified and predictable, but we all are influenced by our surroundings, the people, relationships, and the cultures we surround ourselves with becomes part of us. We take in certain things and discard others. I belive the most beneficial way to navigate the world is through play. This means that our best way onwards through our lives is to retain this mode of behaviour, play, which is so caractheristic of the young in all mammalian species way into adulthood. In this way we can say that the most beneficial way to be in the world is a childlike way.
But we are children in more than in our behaviour. We look like children. An adult human being has many features that is normally found in the young of chimpanzees. Our physiology is childlike, if you compare us to our closest living relatives amongs the great apes.
The greatest times of our lives are almost exclusively counted as those that had us completely immersed in the moment. When we are in life, located at the heart of Saturday Night, as Tom Waist called it, we are most happy. We inerupts the games of our kids to ask: what are you going to do when you grow up? Whilst what we should be asking is how can I be as constantly immersed in life as you? The role model for a happy life is the child. Let the little children be our teacher.
The best of us are those that are the most like children. This is my faith. I am most proud of myself in the moments I embody the values of a child. My daughter is the consumate example for me. As much as it annoys me that I have to remind her six time about brushing her teeth, since she is perpetually interupted by her playful interactions. I need to ask how did I ever forget to be like you? How can I find what's left of you in me? 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Human beings are never finished. We are always changing. Society and culture might push us to become quantified and predictable, but we all are influenced by our surroundings, the people, relationships, and the cultures we surround ourselves with becomes part of us. We take in certain things and discard others. I belive the most beneficial way to navigate the world is through play. This means that our best way onwards through our lives is to retain this mode of behaviour, play, which is so caractheristic of the young in all mammalian species way into adulthood. In this way we can say that the most beneficial way to be in the world is a childlike way.
But we are children in more than in our behaviour. We look like children. An adult human being has many features that is normally found in the young of chimpanzees. Our physiology is childlike, if you compare us to our closest living relatives amongs the great apes.
The greatest times of our lives are almost exclusively counted as those that had us completely immersed in the moment. When we are in life, located at the heart of Saturday Night, as Tom Waist called it, we are most happy. We inerupts the games of our kids to ask: what are you going to do when you grow up? Whilst what we should be asking is how can I be as constantly immersed in life as you? The role model for a happy life is the child. Let the little children be our teacher.
The best of us are those that are the most like children. This is my faith. I am most proud of myself in the moments I embody the values of a child. My daughter is the consumate example for me. As much as it annoys me that I have to remind her six time about brushing her teeth, since she is perpetually interupted by her playful interactions. I need to ask how did I ever forget to be like you? How can I find what's left of you in me? 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15550661 Tue, 21 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0100 2407 4 126 full false 125 - We are the Children pt 1 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 17 of 30) 125 - We are the Children pt 1 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 17 of 30) In this episode I Show how we, human beings, actually are children throughout our lives. Not just in childhood, which is the longest childhood of any species, but we also retain many key traits of childhood into adulthood. This does not just go for our playful behaviour, but also relates to the way our heads and bodies are formed. This process is called neoteny - the retention of chidlike features into adulthood.

I talk about a very long running experiment into how to tame a fox. An experiment orchestrated by a man called Dmitri Belyaev and done by his student who continued this experiment up until today Lyudmila Trot.

Lyudmila Trot's book How to Tame a Fox.

Article about the fox experiment by Brian Hare Darwin’s Dark Knight: Scientist Risked Execution for Fox Study.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I Show how we, human beings, actually are children throughout our lives. Not just in childhood, which is the longest childhood of any species, but we also retain many key traits of childhood into adulthood. This does not just go for our playful behaviour, but also relates to the way our heads and bodies are formed. This process is called neoteny - the retention of chidlike features into adulthood.

I talk about a very long running experiment into how to tame a fox. An experiment orchestrated by a man called Dmitri Belyaev and done by his student who continued this experiment up until today Lyudmila Trot.

Lyudmila Trot's book How to Tame a Fox.

Article about the fox experiment by Brian Hare Darwin’s Dark Knight: Scientist Risked Execution for Fox Study.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15974851 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0100 2624 4 125 full false 124 - On the Value of Art with Jay Gilligan (Unpacking PLAY episode 110 & 111) 124 - On the Value of Art with Jay Gilligan (Unpacking PLAY episode 110 & 111) In this episode Jay Gilligan and I talk about many things. A few of them are as follows.

- Frodo subscribes to Masterclass to learn about poetry and whatever else that app has to offer. Because he is doing 35 hours of driving to gigs in December 2024.

- Jay asks about Frodo's obsession with the idea that if something is fun and joyful it commonly thought of as not important.

- Decisions are made about what is deemed important.

- There is no intrinsic link between serious and important. I claim that the fun and games are also important.

- Jay points out this is mentioned in Erik Aaberg's book Cleverer than God.

- Festival time all of the time.

- Skill Difficulty risk as aspects of human interest. But not as the point of the performance. but as hooks to hold interest.

- Importance of having "Skin in the game".

- Transforming curiosity to interest to love. (An idea we have from Ivar Hacksher)

- How to keep the love for our craft and our life alive.

- Rudolf Steiner as an inspiration for Frodo as someone who was deeply interested in everything from dance, language, fairy tales, religion and beekeeping...

- Finding more depth in old ideas.

- Michael Moschens Violin for 3D space.

- you must spend time developing and keeping your passion alive. This is true for our Craft as well as in all our varying relationships. 

Practice technique, making choices, making decisions and you also need to practice how you curate and foster and nurture your passion. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Jay Gilligan and I talk about many things. A few of them are as follows.

- Frodo subscribes to Masterclass to learn about poetry and whatever else that app has to offer. Because he is doing 35 hours of driving to gigs in December 2024.

- Jay asks about Frodo's obsession with the idea that if something is fun and joyful it commonly thought of as not important.

- Decisions are made about what is deemed important.

- There is no intrinsic link between serious and important. I claim that the fun and games are also important.

- Jay points out this is mentioned in Erik Aaberg's book Cleverer than God.

- Festival time all of the time.

- Skill Difficulty risk as aspects of human interest. But not as the point of the performance. but as hooks to hold interest.

- Importance of having "Skin in the game".

- Transforming curiosity to interest to love. (An idea we have from Ivar Hacksher)

- How to keep the love for our craft and our life alive.

- Rudolf Steiner as an inspiration for Frodo as someone who was deeply interested in everything from dance, language, fairy tales, religion and beekeeping...

- Finding more depth in old ideas.

- Michael Moschens Violin for 3D space.

- you must spend time developing and keeping your passion alive. This is true for our Craft as well as in all our varying relationships. 

Practice technique, making choices, making decisions and you also need to practice how you curate and foster and nurture your passion. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16220280 Tue, 24 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0100 5028 4 124 full false 123 - Innovative Expressions Through Play and Imagination with Jay Gilligan (unpacking PLAY episode 109) 123 - Innovative Expressions Through Play and Imagination with Jay Gilligan (unpacking PLAY episode 109) My podcast host has a new feature where it gives an episode description. Here it is:

What happens when showmanship meets the genius of performance art? Join Captain Frodo and special guest Jay Gilligan as they unravel the captivating world of Cirque du Soleil's Mad Apple. We dive into the vibrant chaos of Las Vegas productions, shedding light on the exhilarating, yet precarious nature of combining comedy, music, and mayhem into a single narrative. Discover how these artistic elements can resonate with audiences, as we also explore the significance of venturing into new genres like country music.

Ever wondered if true artistic genius involves self-destruction? Together, we challenge the cliché of the suffering artist by examining the lives of iconic figures like Kurt Cobain. Our discussion proposes a fresh perspective on genius, suggesting that sustaining creativity might be the real art. This episode questions the cultural expectations placed on artists and highlights the importance of a balanced approach to creativity—one where potential doesn't overshadow sustainable reality.

From juggling acts imagined mid-flight to redefining what it means to perform, creativity takes center stage. We delve into the transformative power of play and imagination, revealing how breaking conventions can lead to innovative expressions of identity. Through personal stories, we showcase the journey from concept to execution, emphasizing the power of persistence and adaptability. Celebrate the endless possibilities of artistic creation and embrace the journey of trusting the process with us.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> My podcast host has a new feature where it gives an episode description. Here it is:

What happens when showmanship meets the genius of performance art? Join Captain Frodo and special guest Jay Gilligan as they unravel the captivating world of Cirque du Soleil's Mad Apple. We dive into the vibrant chaos of Las Vegas productions, shedding light on the exhilarating, yet precarious nature of combining comedy, music, and mayhem into a single narrative. Discover how these artistic elements can resonate with audiences, as we also explore the significance of venturing into new genres like country music.

Ever wondered if true artistic genius involves self-destruction? Together, we challenge the cliché of the suffering artist by examining the lives of iconic figures like Kurt Cobain. Our discussion proposes a fresh perspective on genius, suggesting that sustaining creativity might be the real art. This episode questions the cultural expectations placed on artists and highlights the importance of a balanced approach to creativity—one where potential doesn't overshadow sustainable reality.

From juggling acts imagined mid-flight to redefining what it means to perform, creativity takes center stage. We delve into the transformative power of play and imagination, revealing how breaking conventions can lead to innovative expressions of identity. Through personal stories, we showcase the journey from concept to execution, emphasizing the power of persistence and adaptability. Celebrate the endless possibilities of artistic creation and embrace the journey of trusting the process with us.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16219994 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0100 4593 4 123 full false 122 - Hold Your Ideas Lightly with Jay Gilligan (Unpacking PLAY episode 107) 122 - Hold Your Ideas Lightly with Jay Gilligan (Unpacking PLAY episode 107) Jay Gilligan and myself go very deeply into a few ideas that I raise in episode 107.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Jay Gilligan and myself go very deeply into a few ideas that I raise in episode 107.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16219787 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 06:00:00 +0100 4392 4 122 full false 121 - Further SECRETS!!! with Nick Difatte part 2 of 2 121 - Further SECRETS!!! with Nick Difatte part 2 of 2 another great episode with the wonderful Nick Difatte! We continue our talk on secrets.

we touch on these topics and more -

You're not suposed to share secrets yet there are 1000's of magic books...
 
How tricks you buy looks.

Max Mavens distinct style of the magic he sold.

Envelopes holding the secrets to the universe.

Tim Conover

Magic downloads

Collectors and the drive to colelct hard to get stuff.

The value of the effort to learn magic from books.

Sponge balls and theri core slights

Jerry Sadowitz

Tannens Magic Camp and Nicks experience from being a teacher there.

Teaching secrets to kids

Importance of feeling Mastery for kids in the learning process.

Foam Bananas

Christopher T Magician's book Beyond Look Dont See

Subtleties of what secrets to put in a book of magic meant for the general public.

Stuff published, but can a PRO really do a routine from a book

Making it your own

Billet work and how the good workers makes them dissapear from the aundience's memories.

"Vetting" magicians

The pleasures of having someone do your material.

Choosing material you can/should do.

Me seeing Jason England perform card magic, jamming whilst I was out to lunch with Nick Mac King and Jason England and he completely fried me with the craziest card work.

Rythms in comedy.

Structuring you magic acts.

People glazing over when barraged with too much magic...

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> another great episode with the wonderful Nick Difatte! We continue our talk on secrets.

we touch on these topics and more -

You're not suposed to share secrets yet there are 1000's of magic books...
 
How tricks you buy looks.

Max Mavens distinct style of the magic he sold.

Envelopes holding the secrets to the universe.

Tim Conover

Magic downloads

Collectors and the drive to colelct hard to get stuff.

The value of the effort to learn magic from books.

Sponge balls and theri core slights

Jerry Sadowitz

Tannens Magic Camp and Nicks experience from being a teacher there.

Teaching secrets to kids

Importance of feeling Mastery for kids in the learning process.

Foam Bananas

Christopher T Magician's book Beyond Look Dont See

Subtleties of what secrets to put in a book of magic meant for the general public.

Stuff published, but can a PRO really do a routine from a book

Making it your own

Billet work and how the good workers makes them dissapear from the aundience's memories.

"Vetting" magicians

The pleasures of having someone do your material.

Choosing material you can/should do.

Me seeing Jason England perform card magic, jamming whilst I was out to lunch with Nick Mac King and Jason England and he completely fried me with the craziest card work.

Rythms in comedy.

Structuring you magic acts.

People glazing over when barraged with too much magic...

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-16084500 Tue, 26 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0100 5624 4 121 full false 120 - SECRETS!!! with Nick Difatte (part 1 of 2) 120 - SECRETS!!! with Nick Difatte (part 1 of 2) In November it's Nick Difatte month along the Way of the Showman. We have a wideranging and circuitous conversation. We touch on the following topics and many more.

What is a masterclass

Secrets 

Nick’s book Offbeat by Squash Publishing is sold out, but will be back in print…

It’s got essays one which was a big topic in the previous episode with Nick (E113)

Mentor Tyler Ericson.

Learning cheating

Secret collecting. And becoming overwhelmed by having too many tricks. Many of those who have the most tricks have non to perform when asked.

What’s being displayed in secrets is what you see. Magic what’s “really going on” is hidden.

Oriental magic done by white folks. Okito, Fu Manchu, Chung Ling Soo by Jim Steinmeier.

The importance of being fooled to remember what it’s like. Rekindle the passion.

The importance of searching for secrets to value them.

Amateurs doing it for the love of it, not the money. Using the money they make from work to buy secrets.

Old men in magic. SO old they piss their pants…

We talk about what we wanted to talk about the next time. Do we follow up these things? Tune into next episode to find out…


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In November it's Nick Difatte month along the Way of the Showman. We have a wideranging and circuitous conversation. We touch on the following topics and many more.

What is a masterclass

Secrets 

Nick’s book Offbeat by Squash Publishing is sold out, but will be back in print…

It’s got essays one which was a big topic in the previous episode with Nick (E113)

Mentor Tyler Ericson.

Learning cheating

Secret collecting. And becoming overwhelmed by having too many tricks. Many of those who have the most tricks have non to perform when asked.

What’s being displayed in secrets is what you see. Magic what’s “really going on” is hidden.

Oriental magic done by white folks. Okito, Fu Manchu, Chung Ling Soo by Jim Steinmeier.

The importance of being fooled to remember what it’s like. Rekindle the passion.

The importance of searching for secrets to value them.

Amateurs doing it for the love of it, not the money. Using the money they make from work to buy secrets.

Old men in magic. SO old they piss their pants…

We talk about what we wanted to talk about the next time. Do we follow up these things? Tune into next episode to find out…


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15970575 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 06:00:00 +0100 4027 4 120 full false 119 - Love as Origin of Play pt 2 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 16) 119 - Love as Origin of Play pt 2 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 16) After last weeks little sidetrack exploring m own evolving relationship of love to my daughter we are ready to conclude how love is the foundation and origin for the human play impulse and drive. This of course will be pointing at how love is also the foundation of Showmanship. Love is necesary to full acknowledge the existence of Others, and to enter into a relationship with them is to reach out in love. In doing so we enter into the relaxed field of human interaction. A way not just of plaing, but of affording ourselves and others a space to maximize their freedom.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> After last weeks little sidetrack exploring m own evolving relationship of love to my daughter we are ready to conclude how love is the foundation and origin for the human play impulse and drive. This of course will be pointing at how love is also the foundation of Showmanship. Love is necesary to full acknowledge the existence of Others, and to enter into a relationship with them is to reach out in love. In doing so we enter into the relaxed field of human interaction. A way not just of plaing, but of affording ourselves and others a space to maximize their freedom.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15773025 Tue, 29 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0100 2634 4 119 full false 118 - Father & Showman - Reflections on my Evolving Relationship with my Daughter 118 - Father & Showman - Reflections on my Evolving Relationship with my Daughter Over the last six months or so there has been a development in my relationship to my daughter. It is something any father will go through, but I look at it through the lens of a travelling performer. My daughter is growing up and is beginning to find her own way in the world. She is separating and becoming herself and in the process I am being left behind. But a significant development that has come to fruition over the last month might offer us a way to relate into the future. A sollution that mirrors my own relationship to my father and which is continuing the intergenerational transmission of the secret knowledge of Showmanship.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Over the last six months or so there has been a development in my relationship to my daughter. It is something any father will go through, but I look at it through the lens of a travelling performer. My daughter is growing up and is beginning to find her own way in the world. She is separating and becoming herself and in the process I am being left behind. But a significant development that has come to fruition over the last month might offer us a way to relate into the future. A sollution that mirrors my own relationship to my father and which is continuing the intergenerational transmission of the secret knowledge of Showmanship.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15773010 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2440 4 118 full false 117 - Love as Origin of Play pt 1 of 2 - What we Have to do VS What we Choose to do (Showmanship & Play 15) 117 - Love as Origin of Play pt 1 of 2 - What we Have to do VS What we Choose to do (Showmanship & Play 15) In this episode I explore the impact and influence our playful behaviour has had on our development as human beings. I belive it quite profoundly have changed not just our psychology and behaviour but also our bodies.
I share a deeply personal story of the first couple of hours in my daughter's life and how it birthed a new and deeper kind of love.
The father's role in raising babies and children.
The tribe's role in raising babies and children.
The love, which first appeared in Mother grew to include the father and the tribe and in this we all played a role in affording a child a relaxed field, where that child can flourish outside of the restriction of natural selection. Where the child gets to express only themselves and act only in accordance with themselves. (in an idealised situation of course as there always will be tribal, societal, and individual influences)

Child is a social glue. It brings us together in the childbirth, in the rearing of the child, it connects us. It continues in how families are brought together through our shared interest and care for and responsibility for the child.

We sit around the fire like we sit around a child.
they trigger conversations and stories that emerge because we sit around a child. They shape us and the stories we tell. THere are other stories told around the fire in the dark, and there are particular stories that are told because there are children are present.

RELAXED FIELD - the space where play happens and where we are the most fully human.
relaxed pressure from the four f's
foraging, fighting, fleeing and fornicating.

which is what we have to do. (if we dont o these succesfully we perish)
the things we choose to do. (what we choose to do with the time given to us)


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I explore the impact and influence our playful behaviour has had on our development as human beings. I belive it quite profoundly have changed not just our psychology and behaviour but also our bodies.
I share a deeply personal story of the first couple of hours in my daughter's life and how it birthed a new and deeper kind of love.
The father's role in raising babies and children.
The tribe's role in raising babies and children.
The love, which first appeared in Mother grew to include the father and the tribe and in this we all played a role in affording a child a relaxed field, where that child can flourish outside of the restriction of natural selection. Where the child gets to express only themselves and act only in accordance with themselves. (in an idealised situation of course as there always will be tribal, societal, and individual influences)

Child is a social glue. It brings us together in the childbirth, in the rearing of the child, it connects us. It continues in how families are brought together through our shared interest and care for and responsibility for the child.

We sit around the fire like we sit around a child.
they trigger conversations and stories that emerge because we sit around a child. They shape us and the stories we tell. THere are other stories told around the fire in the dark, and there are particular stories that are told because there are children are present.

RELAXED FIELD - the space where play happens and where we are the most fully human.
relaxed pressure from the four f's
foraging, fighting, fleeing and fornicating.

which is what we have to do. (if we dont o these succesfully we perish)
the things we choose to do. (what we choose to do with the time given to us)


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15410260 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2385 4 117 full false 116 - Jay & Frodo How to Play in Performance - (Unpacking episodes 103 & 104) 116 - Jay & Frodo How to Play in Performance - (Unpacking episodes 103 & 104) Jay Gilligan is back! we go through his questions about episodes 103 & 104 to concretise some of the points I am making about Play and performance.

some of the topics we touch=:
-How to foster a playful connection at the beginning of your show.
-Is there such a thing as a bad audience?
-fulfilling audience expectations whilst still surprising them.
-In facing the Audience we are showing, and they are receiving - yet we expect and desire them to participate, to live themselves into the performance. Without which there never emerges the full Show experience.
-You get Attention by giving Attention.
-My ways of getting Attention in my first street show back in 1997.
-Jay runs away from a street show with crazy consequences.
-All focus on one thing. Audience and Showman alike. Makes a powerful point.
-We create a different kind of time. Play time. Sacred time.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Jay Gilligan is back! we go through his questions about episodes 103 & 104 to concretise some of the points I am making about Play and performance.

some of the topics we touch=:
-How to foster a playful connection at the beginning of your show.
-Is there such a thing as a bad audience?
-fulfilling audience expectations whilst still surprising them.
-In facing the Audience we are showing, and they are receiving - yet we expect and desire them to participate, to live themselves into the performance. Without which there never emerges the full Show experience.
-You get Attention by giving Attention.
-My ways of getting Attention in my first street show back in 1997.
-Jay runs away from a street show with crazy consequences.
-All focus on one thing. Audience and Showman alike. Makes a powerful point.
-We create a different kind of time. Play time. Sacred time.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15733050 Tue, 17 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0200 8553 4 116 full true 115 - Why Are We Born so Helpless (Showmanship & Play 14) 115 - Why Are We Born so Helpless (Showmanship & Play 14) Why are we born so helpless. The answer will takes us through the history of human evolution and into the dualling biological need of a growing human head and the anatomical changes coming from our upright walking.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Why are we born so helpless. The answer will takes us through the history of human evolution and into the dualling biological need of a growing human head and the anatomical changes coming from our upright walking.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15106990 Tue, 03 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2278 4 115 full false 114 - Play as Self Creation (Showmanship & Play 13) 114 - Play as Self Creation (Showmanship & Play 13) In this episode I talk about

Peter Gray and his book Free to Learn - Why unleasing the instinc to play will make our children happier, more self-reliant, and better students for life.

We talk about how play is learning.
how we today think about play as something which is dont to children. Not something they actively participate and even lead.
for 10.000 years + kids have been learning all by themselves - THROUGH PLAY
Kids play themselve into useful members of their communities.
When we play we are FREE in a way we arent in other aspects of life.
Chimpanzees learn by looking, not by being taught.
The amount of things infants needs to learn is almost insurmountable
Playfully participating in life gets imbedded in us and helps us emotionally able to deal with life.
WIthout playing in childhood you can get difficulties in your emotional connections with others as an adult. ANd many other problems become more prevalent.
Kids has the strongest desire to play because the have the most to learn.
Playful aproaches to the world affords more possibilites. It increases your degrees of freedom.
The colonialisation of childhood by others.
Abusing play as a tool for teaching.
BUT play needs to be self motivated. It needs to be voluntary.
Adults think play is useful only when it can be harnessed to teach something from the decided upon by adults from the curriculum.

Learning happens INSIDE the school and play outside. This is a subtle indoctrination.
The serious that happens inside the classroom is of value. The time wasting play happens outside in recess.
Play is learning as nature intended it for us. Driven by enthusiasm and not to do well on a standardized test.

Playing teaches each of us how to be ourselves! It shows us who we are!
Learning is not JUST what happens in schools.
its not something you buys. Its what you do in the process of developing yourself as a human being.

Biology does not give us built in answers to what it means to be a human. It has given a method to aquire answers. This method is play. This way of being in the world is HOW evolution has equiped us to find ourselves and our WAY.

Quote from the manuscript:

Genes and biology isn’t giving us readymade answers hardwired to solve the difficulties of becoming and staying human. Instead of giving us answers which, as all answers, can be right or wrong, or useful or useless, nature has given us a process to aquire answers. Evolution gave us a method, or an approach to generate answers, not individual answers. This process is play. Perhaps schools need a similar solution. As technology advances and artificial intelligence will write our children assignments for them, maybe we don’t need to know so many answers which we aren’t asking questions for. 

Maybe what we need is to find a passion for life, for being curious about the world, ourselves and our place in it. Through inner motivation we find what the world is and can be whilst simultaneously reveal to us where our passion lies. In our day and age finding what you love, finding something you’re deeply enthusiastic about will solve many of our times’ most prevalent problems. Knowing what you want will guide you well on your way towards finding meaning in your life.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I talk about

Peter Gray and his book Free to Learn - Why unleasing the instinc to play will make our children happier, more self-reliant, and better students for life.

We talk about how play is learning.
how we today think about play as something which is dont to children. Not something they actively participate and even lead.
for 10.000 years + kids have been learning all by themselves - THROUGH PLAY
Kids play themselve into useful members of their communities.
When we play we are FREE in a way we arent in other aspects of life.
Chimpanzees learn by looking, not by being taught.
The amount of things infants needs to learn is almost insurmountable
Playfully participating in life gets imbedded in us and helps us emotionally able to deal with life.
WIthout playing in childhood you can get difficulties in your emotional connections with others as an adult. ANd many other problems become more prevalent.
Kids has the strongest desire to play because the have the most to learn.
Playful aproaches to the world affords more possibilites. It increases your degrees of freedom.
The colonialisation of childhood by others.
Abusing play as a tool for teaching.
BUT play needs to be self motivated. It needs to be voluntary.
Adults think play is useful only when it can be harnessed to teach something from the decided upon by adults from the curriculum.

Learning happens INSIDE the school and play outside. This is a subtle indoctrination.
The serious that happens inside the classroom is of value. The time wasting play happens outside in recess.
Play is learning as nature intended it for us. Driven by enthusiasm and not to do well on a standardized test.

Playing teaches each of us how to be ourselves! It shows us who we are!
Learning is not JUST what happens in schools.
its not something you buys. Its what you do in the process of developing yourself as a human being.

Biology does not give us built in answers to what it means to be a human. It has given a method to aquire answers. This method is play. This way of being in the world is HOW evolution has equiped us to find ourselves and our WAY.

Quote from the manuscript:

Genes and biology isn’t giving us readymade answers hardwired to solve the difficulties of becoming and staying human. Instead of giving us answers which, as all answers, can be right or wrong, or useful or useless, nature has given us a process to aquire answers. Evolution gave us a method, or an approach to generate answers, not individual answers. This process is play. Perhaps schools need a similar solution. As technology advances and artificial intelligence will write our children assignments for them, maybe we don’t need to know so many answers which we aren’t asking questions for. 

Maybe what we need is to find a passion for life, for being curious about the world, ourselves and our place in it. Through inner motivation we find what the world is and can be whilst simultaneously reveal to us where our passion lies. In our day and age finding what you love, finding something you’re deeply enthusiastic about will solve many of our times’ most prevalent problems. Knowing what you want will guide you well on your way towards finding meaning in your life.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15550552 Tue, 20 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0200 3615 4 114 full false 113 - Nick Difatte & Audience Volunteers 113 - Nick Difatte & Audience Volunteers This is a conversation with one of the funniest guys I know. He's had me laughing so hard I had to get partially undressed.
We talk about magic and comedy and their intersection before landing on a long explorations of how to select and manage audience volunteers. Nick is an expert at handling volunteers and gets SO much out of the people he gets up, I try to learn from him.

You can find out about Nick Difatte on his website
Nick has written a brilliant book on magic called Offbeat (it's sold out but will soon be reissued) published by Squash Publishing creators of some of the hottest books on magic.

we talk about:
the Great Santini's toaster (my dad's magic invention)
Steen Pegani - danish magic shop owner and all around good guy.
Mortenn Christiansen - link to him on Penn & Teller's Fool Us
Nick blows my mind with the news that he is writing and editing a chapter in Richard Kaufman's re-release of Greater Magic. The chapter will be on comedy magic.
Borrowin/stealing/reinventing
becoming an original performer.
saving the earth with a yo yo
Authenticity
Finding shit no one cares about
costume as character amplifier and definer
me loosing my shit seeing Nick perform for the first time.
worst "emotional speech" in a show ever...
being funnier off sage and how to transfer this to stage.
choosing volunteers
offbeat, Nick's book is sold out.
Amazing Johnatan as example of a masterful use of and control of audience volunteers.
Nick on getting along with older guys and how to harness this in his Shows


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This is a conversation with one of the funniest guys I know. He's had me laughing so hard I had to get partially undressed.
We talk about magic and comedy and their intersection before landing on a long explorations of how to select and manage audience volunteers. Nick is an expert at handling volunteers and gets SO much out of the people he gets up, I try to learn from him.

You can find out about Nick Difatte on his website
Nick has written a brilliant book on magic called Offbeat (it's sold out but will soon be reissued) published by Squash Publishing creators of some of the hottest books on magic.

we talk about:
the Great Santini's toaster (my dad's magic invention)
Steen Pegani - danish magic shop owner and all around good guy.
Mortenn Christiansen - link to him on Penn & Teller's Fool Us
Nick blows my mind with the news that he is writing and editing a chapter in Richard Kaufman's re-release of Greater Magic. The chapter will be on comedy magic.
Borrowin/stealing/reinventing
becoming an original performer.
saving the earth with a yo yo
Authenticity
Finding shit no one cares about
costume as character amplifier and definer
me loosing my shit seeing Nick perform for the first time.
worst "emotional speech" in a show ever...
being funnier off sage and how to transfer this to stage.
choosing volunteers
offbeat, Nick's book is sold out.
Amazing Johnatan as example of a masterful use of and control of audience volunteers.
Nick on getting along with older guys and how to harness this in his Shows


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15550492 Tue, 13 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0200 4779 4 113 full true 112 - How Play Manifests in the World pt 2 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 12) 112 - How Play Manifests in the World pt 2 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 12) In this episode I continue describing the ways we find the play impulse, or the activity of play, manifesting in the world. I start by talking about learning.

-The next way play emerges is through Imagination.

-Then we look at how, quite obviously, play manifest thorugh actual playfulness.

-We procede to Sociality.

-Then I find in Rutger Bregman's summary of these manifestations into "Learn, bond and Play."





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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I continue describing the ways we find the play impulse, or the activity of play, manifesting in the world. I start by talking about learning.

-The next way play emerges is through Imagination.

-Then we look at how, quite obviously, play manifest thorugh actual playfulness.

-We procede to Sociality.

-Then I find in Rutger Bregman's summary of these manifestations into "Learn, bond and Play."





Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15218189 Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +0200 3875 4 112 full false 111 - How Play Manifests in the World pt 1 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 11) 111 - How Play Manifests in the World pt 1 of 2 (Showmanship & Play 11) Adults and children spend their days differently - we work, babies play. Play is the signature of childhood. It’s a living, visible manifestation of imagination and learning I action.

Allison Gopnik

If play is a constant and a genuine human drive, how do we recognise it when we see it in the world? Or more specifically; in which kind of behaviours does play manifest itself? We have looked at the five specific criteria, or characteristics of play, it’s fun and enjoyable, seemingly purposeless, it’s self motivated, there are rules involved, and it’s a free and imaginative improvisation. Each of these five criteria are characteristics of the process we call play, but in the same way a person is multifaceted and must be expressed through more than five specific features, I would expect that we could get a better grasp of what the play instinct looks like by finding more ways it manifests itself in the world. What kind of behaviours or attributes are playful? To answer this question I think it would be good to start looking at those who plays the most, those whom for play is their natural way of being in the world; children.

Then I look at the first of the manifestations of the play impulse which I believe is curiosity.

Links:

Here's some info on Ashley Montague.
Here's the goodreads link to Montague's book Growing Young and here's a write up about the book in the New York Times

This is an interview with Tyson Yunkaporta who's wonderful book Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World is a good and worthwhile read.



Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Adults and children spend their days differently - we work, babies play. Play is the signature of childhood. It’s a living, visible manifestation of imagination and learning I action.

Allison Gopnik

If play is a constant and a genuine human drive, how do we recognise it when we see it in the world? Or more specifically; in which kind of behaviours does play manifest itself? We have looked at the five specific criteria, or characteristics of play, it’s fun and enjoyable, seemingly purposeless, it’s self motivated, there are rules involved, and it’s a free and imaginative improvisation. Each of these five criteria are characteristics of the process we call play, but in the same way a person is multifaceted and must be expressed through more than five specific features, I would expect that we could get a better grasp of what the play instinct looks like by finding more ways it manifests itself in the world. What kind of behaviours or attributes are playful? To answer this question I think it would be good to start looking at those who plays the most, those whom for play is their natural way of being in the world; children.

Then I look at the first of the manifestations of the play impulse which I believe is curiosity.

Links:

Here's some info on Ashley Montague.
Here's the goodreads link to Montague's book Growing Young and here's a write up about the book in the New York Times

This is an interview with Tyson Yunkaporta who's wonderful book Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World is a good and worthwhile read.



Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14575610 Tue, 23 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2602 4 111 full false 110 - the Play Instinct (Showmanship & Play 10) 110 - the Play Instinct (Showmanship & Play 10) "Instincts are the whispers of our ancestors." - Quote by yours truly.

In this episode we explore whether our inclination to play might actually be an innate human drive. Do we human beings possess an instinct to play? If so, how and why would something like that evolve?
By understanding how something came into being we often learn valuable lessons today. Also, if it turns out that humans does have a play instinct, and I believe we do, then this is a powerful indicator that play is a whole lot more important than "just something kids do."

Links:
To unpack the concept of flow a little more here is a TED talk by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who coined the term.

Maileg Mice - a link so you can see how these cute Danish toy mice looks.

Peter Gray is an American psychology researcher and scholar we will talk about Along the Way. Here is a TED talk by him so you can familiarize yourself with him and his ideas. And here is a longer talk about Learning Through Play

Here's a link to the article about injuries in children's sports:
"sports injuries are the second leading cause of emergency room visits for children and adolescents, and the second leading cause of injuries in school."

Finite and infinite games by James Carse



Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> "Instincts are the whispers of our ancestors." - Quote by yours truly.

In this episode we explore whether our inclination to play might actually be an innate human drive. Do we human beings possess an instinct to play? If so, how and why would something like that evolve?
By understanding how something came into being we often learn valuable lessons today. Also, if it turns out that humans does have a play instinct, and I believe we do, then this is a powerful indicator that play is a whole lot more important than "just something kids do."

Links:
To unpack the concept of flow a little more here is a TED talk by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who coined the term.

Maileg Mice - a link so you can see how these cute Danish toy mice looks.

Peter Gray is an American psychology researcher and scholar we will talk about Along the Way. Here is a TED talk by him so you can familiarize yourself with him and his ideas. And here is a longer talk about Learning Through Play

Here's a link to the article about injuries in children's sports:
"sports injuries are the second leading cause of emergency room visits for children and adolescents, and the second leading cause of injuries in school."

Finite and infinite games by James Carse



Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14575523 Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2823 4 110 full false 109 - Unpacking Play pt 2 (Showmanship & Play 9) 109 - Unpacking Play pt 2 (Showmanship & Play 9) In this episode I finish up the unpacking of the five criteria of play. As we go on these five points will be the backbone of our inquiry. Much like how using Showman - Audience & Show as a symbol or mnemonic picture which affords us a lot of understanding, these five criteria will expand our understanding of play, and by transferral how it connects and relates to all aspects of life.

The five are as follows:

1 - Play is fun. It’s intensely pleasurable and enjoyable. So when we play we don’t want it to stop.

2 - Play is self motivated, which means it has to be entered into voluntarily.

3 - Play is apparently purposeless. We play for the sake of playing not to achieve some further goal.

4 - Play has rules.

5 - Play is imaginative and improvisational.

Links:
The Norwegian book called Lek og Læring i et Nevro perspektiv  (play and learning in a neuro perspective) Here are some links, One, two, three. The third one is a link to a podcast with an interview with one of the two authors. BE WARNED the links are all in Norwegian, but with the help of google and our AI overlords you'll be reading it in no time, in a language more suitable to your horizon of understanding.

the Kingdom of Childhood episode of the Way of the Showman

Peter Gray's Aeon.co article on Play Deficit

For your selfstudy: Henri Bergson on the possible and the actual.

Finite and infinite games by James Carse

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I finish up the unpacking of the five criteria of play. As we go on these five points will be the backbone of our inquiry. Much like how using Showman - Audience & Show as a symbol or mnemonic picture which affords us a lot of understanding, these five criteria will expand our understanding of play, and by transferral how it connects and relates to all aspects of life.

The five are as follows:

1 - Play is fun. It’s intensely pleasurable and enjoyable. So when we play we don’t want it to stop.

2 - Play is self motivated, which means it has to be entered into voluntarily.

3 - Play is apparently purposeless. We play for the sake of playing not to achieve some further goal.

4 - Play has rules.

5 - Play is imaginative and improvisational.

Links:
The Norwegian book called Lek og Læring i et Nevro perspektiv  (play and learning in a neuro perspective) Here are some links, One, two, three. The third one is a link to a podcast with an interview with one of the two authors. BE WARNED the links are all in Norwegian, but with the help of google and our AI overlords you'll be reading it in no time, in a language more suitable to your horizon of understanding.

the Kingdom of Childhood episode of the Way of the Showman

Peter Gray's Aeon.co article on Play Deficit

For your selfstudy: Henri Bergson on the possible and the actual.

Finite and infinite games by James Carse

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14575485 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0200 3360 4 109 full false 108 - Memoirs of a Coney Island Clown w Jellyboy the Clown 108 - Memoirs of a Coney Island Clown w Jellyboy the Clown In this episode I talk to Jellyboy the Clown about his book Memoirs of a Coney Island Clown. I learn a lot about him and how closely our experiences mirror eachother. There are some tragic details about suicide in this episode - be warned, if you need such a warning.

"Embark on an unforgettable journey alongside Jelly Boy in "Memoirs of a Coney Island Clown: Jellyboy's Sideshow Saga." Following the heart-wrenching loss of his brother, Jelly Boy is catapulted into a whirlwind of unexpected adventures. From the depths of grief to the serendipitous role of a clown, his odyssey defies convention at every turn."

I loved reading the book and I think you'll love it too! You can order a copy here: https://outsidetalkerpress.bigcartel.com/product/memoirs-of-a-coney-island-clown-jellyboy-s-sideshow-saga

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I talk to Jellyboy the Clown about his book Memoirs of a Coney Island Clown. I learn a lot about him and how closely our experiences mirror eachother. There are some tragic details about suicide in this episode - be warned, if you need such a warning.

"Embark on an unforgettable journey alongside Jelly Boy in "Memoirs of a Coney Island Clown: Jellyboy's Sideshow Saga." Following the heart-wrenching loss of his brother, Jelly Boy is catapulted into a whirlwind of unexpected adventures. From the depths of grief to the serendipitous role of a clown, his odyssey defies convention at every turn."

I loved reading the book and I think you'll love it too! You can order a copy here: https://outsidetalkerpress.bigcartel.com/product/memoirs-of-a-coney-island-clown-jellyboy-s-sideshow-saga

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15307699 Tue, 25 Jun 2024 08:00:00 +0200 7500 4 108 full true 107 - Unpacking Play pt 1 (Showmanship & Play 8 of 30) 107 - Unpacking Play pt 1 (Showmanship & Play 8 of 30) In this episode I continue to unpack the five criterias of play. The five are as follows:

1 - Play is fun. It’s intensely pleasurable and enjoyable. So when we play we don’t want it to stop.

2 - Play is self motivated, which means it has to be entered into voluntarily.

3 - Play is apparently purposeless. We play for the sake of playing not to achieve some further goal.

4 - Play has rules.

5 - Play is imaginative and improvisational.

Links:
The Norwegian book called Lek og Læring i et Nevro perspektiv  (play and learning in a neuro perspective) Here are some links, One, two, three. The third one is a link to a podcast with an interview with one of the two authors. BE WARNED the links are all in Norwegian, but with the help of google and our AI overlords you'll be reading it in no time, in a language more suitable to your horizon of understanding.

the Kingdom of Childhood episode of the Way of the Showman

Peter Gray's Aeon.co article on Play Deficit

For your selfstudy: Henri Bergson on the possible and the actual.

Finite and infinite games by James Carse

This is a link to a talk by Doctor Stuart Brown who's the author of “Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul” (2010) by Stuart Brown

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I continue to unpack the five criterias of play. The five are as follows:

1 - Play is fun. It’s intensely pleasurable and enjoyable. So when we play we don’t want it to stop.

2 - Play is self motivated, which means it has to be entered into voluntarily.

3 - Play is apparently purposeless. We play for the sake of playing not to achieve some further goal.

4 - Play has rules.

5 - Play is imaginative and improvisational.

Links:
The Norwegian book called Lek og Læring i et Nevro perspektiv  (play and learning in a neuro perspective) Here are some links, One, two, three. The third one is a link to a podcast with an interview with one of the two authors. BE WARNED the links are all in Norwegian, but with the help of google and our AI overlords you'll be reading it in no time, in a language more suitable to your horizon of understanding.

the Kingdom of Childhood episode of the Way of the Showman

Peter Gray's Aeon.co article on Play Deficit

For your selfstudy: Henri Bergson on the possible and the actual.

Finite and infinite games by James Carse

This is a link to a talk by Doctor Stuart Brown who's the author of “Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul” (2010) by Stuart Brown

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14405297 Tue, 18 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2403 4 107 full false 106 - Active Practice w Jay Gilligan (unpacking episode 96 & 98) 106 - Active Practice w Jay Gilligan (unpacking episode 96 & 98) In this episode Jay Gilligan brings up a few questions relating to episodes 3 & 4 in my exploration of Showmanship and Play (number 96 & 98). 

-We talk about what its like to talk to people about something which does not have an easy answer. A fortune cookie once told me "to every complex problem there is always a simple answer - and its usually wrong."

-Jay asks if my process exhausts me. Always keeping all kinds of writing and projects searching for connections in me, does that exhaust me?

-Why find connections? Why map one thing onto others?

-What does it mean to be an artist.

-Metaphor is a way to access reality. How metaphor and imagination affords us our understanding of the world (and ourselves)

-Seeing similarity through dissimilarities. Discover greater patterns. Lakof and Johnston Metaphors we Live by.

-My new presentation of the classic magic trick called the Die Box.

-Jay asks me: Did you come up with the concept Active reading?
we explore where it came from and how its influenced Jay's thinking.

-Responsibility to engage with tasks and challanges whether in life of in circus school.

-We got to be actively engaged in whats happening. When we are doing our thing, but also when others are doing that.

-I say we need to be able to develop a language and way to understand all the "other Disciplines" as reality is you will most likely be in shows with other artists which does other things than you. Each circus most commonly only hires one juggler. One guy squeezing through tennis rackets.

We have a responisility to make a task in school, or a thing in real life, interesting. If the task or challange sucks. Change it and make it good....






Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Jay Gilligan brings up a few questions relating to episodes 3 & 4 in my exploration of Showmanship and Play (number 96 & 98). 

-We talk about what its like to talk to people about something which does not have an easy answer. A fortune cookie once told me "to every complex problem there is always a simple answer - and its usually wrong."

-Jay asks if my process exhausts me. Always keeping all kinds of writing and projects searching for connections in me, does that exhaust me?

-Why find connections? Why map one thing onto others?

-What does it mean to be an artist.

-Metaphor is a way to access reality. How metaphor and imagination affords us our understanding of the world (and ourselves)

-Seeing similarity through dissimilarities. Discover greater patterns. Lakof and Johnston Metaphors we Live by.

-My new presentation of the classic magic trick called the Die Box.

-Jay asks me: Did you come up with the concept Active reading?
we explore where it came from and how its influenced Jay's thinking.

-Responsibility to engage with tasks and challanges whether in life of in circus school.

-We got to be actively engaged in whats happening. When we are doing our thing, but also when others are doing that.

-I say we need to be able to develop a language and way to understand all the "other Disciplines" as reality is you will most likely be in shows with other artists which does other things than you. Each circus most commonly only hires one juggler. One guy squeezing through tennis rackets.

We have a responisility to make a task in school, or a thing in real life, interesting. If the task or challange sucks. Change it and make it good....






Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15218160 Tue, 11 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0200 5559 4 106 full false 105 - Don't Be Afraid to be Modern with the Birdmann Trent Baumann 105 - Don't Be Afraid to be Modern with the Birdmann Trent Baumann In this episode I catch up with an old friend, a unique and philosophically inclined comedian and clown Mr Trent Birdmann. We talk about our shows together, our thoughts on our past, present and the uncertainties about the future. We share stories and insights about our lives as Showmen trying to make it in the modern world.

You can find Trent Baumann on Instagramm and Facebook by searching for his name.
You can find out more about him on his website.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I catch up with an old friend, a unique and philosophically inclined comedian and clown Mr Trent Birdmann. We talk about our shows together, our thoughts on our past, present and the uncertainties about the future. We share stories and insights about our lives as Showmen trying to make it in the modern world.

You can find Trent Baumann on Instagramm and Facebook by searching for his name.
You can find out more about him on his website.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-15106938 Tue, 28 May 2024 06:00:00 +0200 7363 4 105 full false 104 - Play in 5 Easy Steps (Showmanship & Play 7 of 30) 104 - Play in 5 Easy Steps (Showmanship & Play 7 of 30) In this episode I unpack the five criterias of play. The five are as follows:

1 - Play is fun. It’s intensely pleasurable and enjoyable. So when we play we don’t want it to stop.

2 - Play is self motivated, which means it has to be entered into voluntarily.

3 - Play is apparently purposeless. We play for the sake of playing not to achieve some further goal.

4 - Play has rules.

5 - Play is imaginative and improvisational.

Links:
The Norwegian book called Lek og Læring i et Nevro perspektiv  (play and learning in a neuro perspective) Here are some links, One, two, three. The third one is a link to a podcast with an interview with one of the two authors. BE WARNED the links are all in Norwegian, but with the help of google and our AI overlords you'll be reading it in no time, in a language more suitable to your horizon of understanding.

the Kingdom of Childhood episode of the Way of the Showman

Peter Gray's Aeon.co article on Play Deficit

For your selfstudy: Henri Bergson on the possible and the actual.

Finite and infinite games by James Carse

This is a link to a talk by Doctor Stuart Brown who's the author of “Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul” (2010) by Stuart Brown

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

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If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

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If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I unpack the five criterias of play. The five are as follows:

1 - Play is fun. It’s intensely pleasurable and enjoyable. So when we play we don’t want it to stop.

2 - Play is self motivated, which means it has to be entered into voluntarily.

3 - Play is apparently purposeless. We play for the sake of playing not to achieve some further goal.

4 - Play has rules.

5 - Play is imaginative and improvisational.

Links:
The Norwegian book called Lek og Læring i et Nevro perspektiv  (play and learning in a neuro perspective) Here are some links, One, two, three. The third one is a link to a podcast with an interview with one of the two authors. BE WARNED the links are all in Norwegian, but with the help of google and our AI overlords you'll be reading it in no time, in a language more suitable to your horizon of understanding.

the Kingdom of Childhood episode of the Way of the Showman

Peter Gray's Aeon.co article on Play Deficit

For your selfstudy: Henri Bergson on the possible and the actual.

Finite and infinite games by James Carse

This is a link to a talk by Doctor Stuart Brown who's the author of “Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul” (2010) by Stuart Brown

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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14405160 Tue, 14 May 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2154 4 104 full false 103 - What is Play (Showmanship & Play 6 of 30) 103 - What is Play (Showmanship & Play 6 of 30) In this episode I take you on a walk with my little dog Teddy and along the Way we encounter play in a very direct way.
Then I let you take a sneak peak at my daughter and her kind of play.
Then we look at trying to define play is like pinning a butterfly.
From all these examples I distill the nature of play down to five criteria which will be the backbone of all our future explorations. SO, being this important I will write them out here so the two or three of you who reads this can benefit.

The five criteria of play:
1 - Play is fun. It’s intensely pleasurable and enjoyable. So when we play we don’t want it to stop.

2 - Play is self motivated, which means it has to be entered into voluntarily.

3 - Play is apparently purposeless. We play for the sake of playing not to achieve some further goal.

4 - Play has rules.

5 - Play is imaginative and improvisational.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I take you on a walk with my little dog Teddy and along the Way we encounter play in a very direct way.
Then I let you take a sneak peak at my daughter and her kind of play.
Then we look at trying to define play is like pinning a butterfly.
From all these examples I distill the nature of play down to five criteria which will be the backbone of all our future explorations. SO, being this important I will write them out here so the two or three of you who reads this can benefit.

The five criteria of play:
1 - Play is fun. It’s intensely pleasurable and enjoyable. So when we play we don’t want it to stop.

2 - Play is self motivated, which means it has to be entered into voluntarily.

3 - Play is apparently purposeless. We play for the sake of playing not to achieve some further goal.

4 - Play has rules.

5 - Play is imaginative and improvisational.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14405078 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2183 4 103 full false 102 - Jay Gilligan Questions Showmanship & Play episode by 2 (Unpacking episode 95) 102 - Jay Gilligan Questions Showmanship & Play episode by 2 (Unpacking episode 95) In this episode Jay Gilligan asks me to explain and elaborate some details about a previous episode. The main part of this season (4) is the 30 episodes that explores and makes my argument for how the very deepest origins of Showmanship can be found in human play as well as building a powerful argument for this dual trait of Showmanship & Play lies at the heart of what it means to be a human being.
The episodes deals with some very deep and philosophical ideas and my friend and co-host thought it would be good to make me explainmyself some more. For this I am truly greatful and I hope it is useful and interesting for you to Fellow Traveller.

Link:
This is a link to an essay by Henri Corbin about the Imaginal. It's called Mundus Imaginalis or the Imaginary and the Imaginal

As I mention in the opening comments of the episode I confuse Henri Corbin with the wonderful french philosopher Henri Bergson. My mistake only goes as far as claiming I watched a lecture course on him, but that course was actually about Bergson, not Corbin. So, when it comes down to it I know more about Bergson than Corbin and this lecture course is why. Here is a link to that lecture series about Henri Bergson. Its from the excellent youtube channel Absurd Being.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Jay Gilligan asks me to explain and elaborate some details about a previous episode. The main part of this season (4) is the 30 episodes that explores and makes my argument for how the very deepest origins of Showmanship can be found in human play as well as building a powerful argument for this dual trait of Showmanship & Play lies at the heart of what it means to be a human being.
The episodes deals with some very deep and philosophical ideas and my friend and co-host thought it would be good to make me explainmyself some more. For this I am truly greatful and I hope it is useful and interesting for you to Fellow Traveller.

Link:
This is a link to an essay by Henri Corbin about the Imaginal. It's called Mundus Imaginalis or the Imaginary and the Imaginal

As I mention in the opening comments of the episode I confuse Henri Corbin with the wonderful french philosopher Henri Bergson. My mistake only goes as far as claiming I watched a lecture course on him, but that course was actually about Bergson, not Corbin. So, when it comes down to it I know more about Bergson than Corbin and this lecture course is why. Here is a link to that lecture series about Henri Bergson. Its from the excellent youtube channel Absurd Being.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14920449 Tue, 23 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0200 6069 4 102 full false 101 - Connect & Play - (Showmanship & Play 5 of 30) 101 - Connect & Play - (Showmanship & Play 5 of 30) In this episode I seek general features of what happens in the Area of Interest, or in Shows. I talk about Nalle Laanela's book the Clown Manifesto and how it helped me understand that two key features of performance and Shows are Connection and Playfulness.

links:
Nalle's wonderful book the Clown Manifesto

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I seek general features of what happens in the Area of Interest, or in Shows. I talk about Nalle Laanela's book the Clown Manifesto and how it helped me understand that two key features of performance and Shows are Connection and Playfulness.

links:
Nalle's wonderful book the Clown Manifesto

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14255069 Tue, 16 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0200 2502 4 101 full false 100 - the Clown and the New World - epic poem audio extravaganza 100 - the Clown and the New World - epic poem audio extravaganza This is a celebratory episode along the lines of my previous audio poetic endeavours in episode 21 and 42. This is an epic poem which initially was called The Rime of the Ancient Merrier.
Merrier |ˈmerēər|
noun (mer•ri•er)
1 one who brings happiness to others.
2 a simple or special person, trad. considered blessed or touched by God.
3 a fool or a clown

ORIGIN Old English myrige [pleasing, delightful,] of Germanic origin; related to mirth.

This ode to Caliope, (which is both the Muse of epic poetry and a steam organ played along the midway of carnivals) chronicals one lone showman making his Way through the world. After life falls apart in the old world he boards a ship to the New World but life does not become any easier, in fact it gets a whole lot worse before he even gets there.
Follow it through to the end. Remember when the dark is the most complete we become able to spot even the tiniest lights.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This is a celebratory episode along the lines of my previous audio poetic endeavours in episode 21 and 42. This is an epic poem which initially was called The Rime of the Ancient Merrier.
Merrier |ˈmerēər|
noun (mer•ri•er)
1 one who brings happiness to others.
2 a simple or special person, trad. considered blessed or touched by God.
3 a fool or a clown

ORIGIN Old English myrige [pleasing, delightful,] of Germanic origin; related to mirth.

This ode to Caliope, (which is both the Muse of epic poetry and a steam organ played along the midway of carnivals) chronicals one lone showman making his Way through the world. After life falls apart in the old world he boards a ship to the New World but life does not become any easier, in fact it gets a whole lot worse before he even gets there.
Follow it through to the end. Remember when the dark is the most complete we become able to spot even the tiniest lights.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14405120 Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0200 2495 4 100 full false 99 - Jay Gilligan Questions Showmanship & Play episode 1 (Unpacking episode 94) 99 - Jay Gilligan Questions Showmanship & Play episode 1 (Unpacking episode 94) In this episode we try something new. Jay Gilligan has listened to my new season about Play & Showmanship and he found that there were several points in the episode  he wanted to know more about. He recorded some snippets with some AI app that he has and he reads me the unedited transcriptions of these and we have a great and DEEP conversation about 
the morals of Attention. 
How paying close Attention actually shapes what it is - or at the very least your perception of it. 
How you are and what you think will bleed through what you do in your act. 
How we understand what we do is of the utmost importance for ourselves.
What does Captain Frodo mean when he says that someone is "authentic" and how do we get to this point with our characters?
About the importance of the ACTUAL ENCOUNTER. About really being present in the moment, the miracle of sharing time together, not apart but together.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode we try something new. Jay Gilligan has listened to my new season about Play & Showmanship and he found that there were several points in the episode  he wanted to know more about. He recorded some snippets with some AI app that he has and he reads me the unedited transcriptions of these and we have a great and DEEP conversation about 
the morals of Attention. 
How paying close Attention actually shapes what it is - or at the very least your perception of it. 
How you are and what you think will bleed through what you do in your act. 
How we understand what we do is of the utmost importance for ourselves.
What does Captain Frodo mean when he says that someone is "authentic" and how do we get to this point with our characters?
About the importance of the ACTUAL ENCOUNTER. About really being present in the moment, the miracle of sharing time together, not apart but together.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14767587 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0100 3887 4 99 full false 98 - the Nature of Shows & Geometry - (Showmanship & Play 4 of 30) 98 - the Nature of Shows & Geometry - (Showmanship & Play 4 of 30) In this episode I make one more example of a metaphor of my own making. I believe this to be a particularly fertile example, by which I mean a deep and powerful metaphor. 
Using the uncanny similarity of the geometry of triangles with the process of Showmanship. Looking at the two side by side I belive we can get insights into the nature of our Craft of performance that can be hard to picture and grasp only looking at it abstractly. In many ways the geometry of the triangle is like an explanatory illustration demonstrating pictorially what happens when a Showman presents his Material for an Audience and the phenomena of Show emerge between the two.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I make one more example of a metaphor of my own making. I believe this to be a particularly fertile example, by which I mean a deep and powerful metaphor. 
Using the uncanny similarity of the geometry of triangles with the process of Showmanship. Looking at the two side by side I belive we can get insights into the nature of our Craft of performance that can be hard to picture and grasp only looking at it abstractly. In many ways the geometry of the triangle is like an explanatory illustration demonstrating pictorially what happens when a Showman presents his Material for an Audience and the phenomena of Show emerge between the two.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14311156 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0100 3022 4 98 full false 97 - Back in Las Vegas, now with Cirque du Soleil - Birthday Ramble 97 - Back in Las Vegas, now with Cirque du Soleil - Birthday Ramble I didn't think it would happen. Not this birtday ramble nor that I would be back in Las Vegas, nor that I would be here with Cirque du Soleil! But I am back on all those fronts and yet again I am humbled by my own lack of ability to accurately predict the unfolding events of my life. BUT I am beyond grateful that it all conspired to be this Way.

Support the show

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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> I didn't think it would happen. Not this birtday ramble nor that I would be back in Las Vegas, nor that I would be here with Cirque du Soleil! But I am back on all those fronts and yet again I am humbled by my own lack of ability to accurately predict the unfolding events of my life. BUT I am beyond grateful that it all conspired to be this Way.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14662138 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 03:00:00 +0100 1881 4 97 full true 96 - How to See through the Lens of Showmanship - (Showmanship & Play 3 of 30) 96 - How to See through the Lens of Showmanship - (Showmanship & Play 3 of 30) In this episode I talk about viewing the world through the lens of Showmanship. This is something I say at the beginning of each episode and it is what this podcast is all about. I talk about how to look and what the lens is. So, this episode has as its aim to allow you a clearer idea of what it means and to be able to look at the world in the same way, if you so choose.
This is a topic which prepares us for what is about to come, and which sheds light on how I arrive at my ideas and conclusions.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I talk about viewing the world through the lens of Showmanship. This is something I say at the beginning of each episode and it is what this podcast is all about. I talk about how to look and what the lens is. So, this episode has as its aim to allow you a clearer idea of what it means and to be able to look at the world in the same way, if you so choose.
This is a topic which prepares us for what is about to come, and which sheds light on how I arrive at my ideas and conclusions.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14254550 Tue, 05 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0100 2159 4 96 full false 95 - the Inner Ear Bone of Showmanship - (Showmanship & Play 2 of 30) 95 - the Inner Ear Bone of Showmanship - (Showmanship & Play 2 of 30) In this episode I lay how what Showmanship is, as I see it. If we are to work out what the origins of something is, particularly if the origins lay deep in prehistory, then chances are there has been a great deal of change to the thing. Sometimes so much that it is hard to recognice it. SO, to be able to know what the origins are we must know what the relevant and unchanging elements of the evolving thing we seek to understand.
Last episode I talked about the evolutionary history of the whale and how one of the key elements that's used to trace its transformation from land animal to sea animal is some bones in its inner ear. In this episode I describe a Show as related to Henri Corbin's Imaginal Realm. And I make the claim that what a Show is, which is a different level of reality, other than normal life, where ordinary objects and words and images become symbolic and poetic and filled with meaning. It is a purely human kind of relation and a uniquely human experience.
So, this realm of experience we call show, is the thing we will use as our lodestone to keep us on track as we venture back into prehistory.

links:
Henri Corbin and the Imaginal Realm
the Cabaret sensation and huge part of my life: La Soiree & La Clique

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I lay how what Showmanship is, as I see it. If we are to work out what the origins of something is, particularly if the origins lay deep in prehistory, then chances are there has been a great deal of change to the thing. Sometimes so much that it is hard to recognice it. SO, to be able to know what the origins are we must know what the relevant and unchanging elements of the evolving thing we seek to understand.
Last episode I talked about the evolutionary history of the whale and how one of the key elements that's used to trace its transformation from land animal to sea animal is some bones in its inner ear. In this episode I describe a Show as related to Henri Corbin's Imaginal Realm. And I make the claim that what a Show is, which is a different level of reality, other than normal life, where ordinary objects and words and images become symbolic and poetic and filled with meaning. It is a purely human kind of relation and a uniquely human experience.
So, this realm of experience we call show, is the thing we will use as our lodestone to keep us on track as we venture back into prehistory.

links:
Henri Corbin and the Imaginal Realm
the Cabaret sensation and huge part of my life: La Soiree & La Clique

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14254465 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0100 2839 4 95 full false 94 - Showmanship & Play - Introduction (S&P 1 of 30) 94 - Showmanship & Play - Introduction (S&P 1 of 30) In this episode we start a whole new project. We revert back to the format of the first 60, or so, episodes where I share my own ideas with you. The subject for this 4th season will be Showmanship & Play. Or, how Showmanship is like Play and what we can learn from seeing it as such.

links:
Here is a link to the whole season of PBS series about evolution.
Here is a link to the specific episode about the evolution of whales.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode we start a whole new project. We revert back to the format of the first 60, or so, episodes where I share my own ideas with you. The subject for this 4th season will be Showmanship & Play. Or, how Showmanship is like Play and what we can learn from seeing it as such.

links:
Here is a link to the whole season of PBS series about evolution.
Here is a link to the specific episode about the evolution of whales.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14239593 Tue, 06 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0100 3374 4 94 full false 93 - Clarity of Expression makes you a better Artist - Jay Gilligan and Frodo - pt 2 of 2 93 - Clarity of Expression makes you a better Artist - Jay Gilligan and Frodo - pt 2 of 2 In this conversation we talk further about making choices and how learning to understand why we take the choices we do about what we do on stage we develop clarity of expression which is the foundation stone of a good artist.

some of the things we talk about:

-Why did you do that? I dont know is not a good enough answer.
-Concretise your choices and intentions
-We are after a statement of value in your answer
- How do we refine our artistic sense of judgement?
-Developing a common language amongst teacher and student allows us to express ourselves to each othert.
-This must also happen in a show/performance situation. We must develop a shared language with our audience without the benefit of a year of relations during study. So can we  take these ideas from the learning and apply them to performance?
-tell me / show me that you have made choices and that you have a unity of intention in these choices.
-Intention must exist and be visible in the work
-Communicate intent
-"Make sure everything in the show is important" Tom Greder.
if the audience figures that parts of the show isnt important to you then their trust in the show and interest might unravvel.
-How to make the act/show express something...
Do I like it? ... Do something... ask is this expressing what I want it to... about whatever subject I want to express?
be that subject or idea global warming or just "I want a show that makes me money."
-Formulating questions gives you a standard upon which you can judge whether something belongs in the show or not.
Is it good? Does it further the themes and ideas we want to explore?

-Be a good editor
Clarity of vision can rivet children watching modern dance. Claire Parsons.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this conversation we talk further about making choices and how learning to understand why we take the choices we do about what we do on stage we develop clarity of expression which is the foundation stone of a good artist.

some of the things we talk about:

-Why did you do that? I dont know is not a good enough answer.
-Concretise your choices and intentions
-We are after a statement of value in your answer
- How do we refine our artistic sense of judgement?
-Developing a common language amongst teacher and student allows us to express ourselves to each othert.
-This must also happen in a show/performance situation. We must develop a shared language with our audience without the benefit of a year of relations during study. So can we  take these ideas from the learning and apply them to performance?
-tell me / show me that you have made choices and that you have a unity of intention in these choices.
-Intention must exist and be visible in the work
-Communicate intent
-"Make sure everything in the show is important" Tom Greder.
if the audience figures that parts of the show isnt important to you then their trust in the show and interest might unravvel.
-How to make the act/show express something...
Do I like it? ... Do something... ask is this expressing what I want it to... about whatever subject I want to express?
be that subject or idea global warming or just "I want a show that makes me money."
-Formulating questions gives you a standard upon which you can judge whether something belongs in the show or not.
Is it good? Does it further the themes and ideas we want to explore?

-Be a good editor
Clarity of vision can rivet children watching modern dance. Claire Parsons.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14140587 Tue, 23 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +0100 2823 3 93 full false 92 - Making Ideas Concrete by Making Choices - Jay Gilligan and Frodo - pt 1 of 2.m4a 92 - Making Ideas Concrete by Making Choices - Jay Gilligan and Frodo - pt 1 of 2.m4a In this episode I ask Jay Gilligan to tell me about how he makes his ideas concrete to his students at the circus school in Stockholm.
-How  this relates to performance abstract and concrete or narrative
-Circus appears frivolous when seen in most cases, academic thought in universities might make contributions to unpacking how its not, but this academization of circus as a subject might impinge on the students who, arguably, most of all are there because they need a foundation of technical skill.
-Clarity of artistic expression.
-Making choices
-What should I do first?
-Doubt and indecision
-Do something then ask: do I like that? if answer is yes, more on. If answer is no ask yourself: Why don't I like it.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I ask Jay Gilligan to tell me about how he makes his ideas concrete to his students at the circus school in Stockholm.
-How  this relates to performance abstract and concrete or narrative
-Circus appears frivolous when seen in most cases, academic thought in universities might make contributions to unpacking how its not, but this academization of circus as a subject might impinge on the students who, arguably, most of all are there because they need a foundation of technical skill.
-Clarity of artistic expression.
-Making choices
-What should I do first?
-Doubt and indecision
-Do something then ask: do I like that? if answer is yes, more on. If answer is no ask yourself: Why don't I like it.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14140446 Tue, 09 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +0100 2459 3 92 full false 91 - The Importance of Intention - Ivar Hacksher, Jay Gilligan & Frodo -pt 2 of 2 91 - The Importance of Intention - Ivar Hacksher, Jay Gilligan & Frodo -pt 2 of 2 In this episoe I try to get Ivar Hackscher and Jay Gilligan to help me further my understanding about the difference between concrete and abstract performance. The topic is complex and our routes into its terrain circuitous.

Some of the topics touched on:

-Necessity, freedom and play.
Arthus Zajonc's book Meditation as contemplative inquiry
-How does thoughts and words pop into our minds as response to stimuli from the world or even ourselves?
-A juggling exercise where one juggler has to respond to a short juggling trick done by another juggler with a juggling trick of their own. Like a no rule juggling dialogue.
-How this question of what comes next in a dialogue relates to plant morphonogy and metamorphosis
-Audience sacrifices time and attention when watching a performance
thought, feeling and action.
-Finding a line of inquiry and following it to the end - conclusion.
-It's time to let artforms use us artists rather than the other way around.
-What does each artform want to express?
Each one has a sweet spot for what it expresses.
-Can we expect audiences to ever reliably see in our work what we put, or think we put into it?
-on the difference between pictures and performance.
-Act as Organism
-The attraction we have to watching skill is similar to the attraction we feel towards watching ideas thought through to the end.
-whats the place for virtouosity today?
-300 years ago people wanted to see perfection. This is not as key today. They want something real.
emotional telegraphing is particularly attractive today. Maybe more so than technical skill.
-Life and warmth in performance
-Perfect means that something is done. Finished.
-We dont listen to hear that final chord.
-Rennesaince music often ends open ended
-Joan Miro and Jackson Pollock and the relation of meaning, intent and ideas in abstract art
-Jackson Pollock was a dancer more than a painter. The paintings are what's left behind after his dances. So full of will and action.
-I see so much abstract art which doesnt say anything to me.
-Juggling IS abstract so to just juggle is NOT TAKING ANY CHOICES
-Abstract with inteniton. If we notice intention its no longer "abstract nonsense"
-If you dont have intention and that's not visible then we get confused work.
-Why is there so little intent isible in so much abstract work?
-A lot of artists get away with being lazy.
-Artists often rely on the structures of the artform like the way an audience sits in a theatre and necesarrily have to watch the show unfolding in time and must assume that each thing that happens on the stage is related to what came before. Performance convention helps prop up lazy decisions.
-The blindfold performance in Vegas Nocturne in 2014
 
then the conversation ends as I get up to show Ivar a magic act

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episoe I try to get Ivar Hackscher and Jay Gilligan to help me further my understanding about the difference between concrete and abstract performance. The topic is complex and our routes into its terrain circuitous.

Some of the topics touched on:

-Necessity, freedom and play.
Arthus Zajonc's book Meditation as contemplative inquiry
-How does thoughts and words pop into our minds as response to stimuli from the world or even ourselves?
-A juggling exercise where one juggler has to respond to a short juggling trick done by another juggler with a juggling trick of their own. Like a no rule juggling dialogue.
-How this question of what comes next in a dialogue relates to plant morphonogy and metamorphosis
-Audience sacrifices time and attention when watching a performance
thought, feeling and action.
-Finding a line of inquiry and following it to the end - conclusion.
-It's time to let artforms use us artists rather than the other way around.
-What does each artform want to express?
Each one has a sweet spot for what it expresses.
-Can we expect audiences to ever reliably see in our work what we put, or think we put into it?
-on the difference between pictures and performance.
-Act as Organism
-The attraction we have to watching skill is similar to the attraction we feel towards watching ideas thought through to the end.
-whats the place for virtouosity today?
-300 years ago people wanted to see perfection. This is not as key today. They want something real.
emotional telegraphing is particularly attractive today. Maybe more so than technical skill.
-Life and warmth in performance
-Perfect means that something is done. Finished.
-We dont listen to hear that final chord.
-Rennesaince music often ends open ended
-Joan Miro and Jackson Pollock and the relation of meaning, intent and ideas in abstract art
-Jackson Pollock was a dancer more than a painter. The paintings are what's left behind after his dances. So full of will and action.
-I see so much abstract art which doesnt say anything to me.
-Juggling IS abstract so to just juggle is NOT TAKING ANY CHOICES
-Abstract with inteniton. If we notice intention its no longer "abstract nonsense"
-If you dont have intention and that's not visible then we get confused work.
-Why is there so little intent isible in so much abstract work?
-A lot of artists get away with being lazy.
-Artists often rely on the structures of the artform like the way an audience sits in a theatre and necesarrily have to watch the show unfolding in time and must assume that each thing that happens on the stage is related to what came before. Performance convention helps prop up lazy decisions.
-The blindfold performance in Vegas Nocturne in 2014
 
then the conversation ends as I get up to show Ivar a magic act

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-14140300 Tue, 26 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0100 3846 3 91 full false 90 - Freedom to Make Choices - Ivar Hacksher, Jay Gilligan & Frodo - pt 1 of 2 90 - Freedom to Make Choices - Ivar Hacksher, Jay Gilligan & Frodo - pt 1 of 2 In this episode Jay Gilligan and I talk to the wonderful teacher and artist Ivar Hacksher in his house. We talk about many things, but the underlying flavour is about making choices in art and life.

some of the things we talk about:

- the importance of not knowing.

-making things and ideas concrete too soon.

-Olle and Sarah from the stockholm gallery "Den Fantastiska platsen" ( the fantastic place) have as their business statement that the company is about having fun.

-Where is the space for saying I don't know these days?
 
-Ivar was part of starting a school which did not have a plan of what the students would learn ahead of time. But instead they promised the swedish state that they would submit a report after the fact telling them what they had done. The state accepted this.

-Paris 1920'2 people, artists meet to see what happend.

- Patrons invested in arist. THis helped them take bold choices.

-Feeling safe in the world is ofen a question of money.

- Getting gigs to pay for cake.

- American psyche vs scandinavian in regards to feeling like someone will have your back if it all fails.

-On immidiate opions to then be able to move on without much emotional connection.
There is no time for I dont know. We push "like" or "heart" then scroll on leaving that thing behind us in a feed and could not get back to it if we tried.

-We no longer sit with experiences to find out what we feel, and think about it.

-the NON cultrure of social media. Avoiding finding out what you feel.

- artistic research. Not needing to always have results. Exploration for it's own sake.

-some artistic work is important to have gone through, but does not produce any interesting work. 

-arti schools used to be places to create work. Universities was for exploration and research.

- Rudolf Steiner and the importance of a philosophical foundation, or well thought out base to create work from.

-the story of the woman who didn't have any ideas, who couldn't make a choice.

-learning to make choices

-know what to pay attention to and what not

clean art. keeping to your specific task and explore within that and not dilluting it by adding stuff.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Jay Gilligan and I talk to the wonderful teacher and artist Ivar Hacksher in his house. We talk about many things, but the underlying flavour is about making choices in art and life.

some of the things we talk about:

- the importance of not knowing.

-making things and ideas concrete too soon.

-Olle and Sarah from the stockholm gallery "Den Fantastiska platsen" ( the fantastic place) have as their business statement that the company is about having fun.

-Where is the space for saying I don't know these days?
 
-Ivar was part of starting a school which did not have a plan of what the students would learn ahead of time. But instead they promised the swedish state that they would submit a report after the fact telling them what they had done. The state accepted this.

-Paris 1920'2 people, artists meet to see what happend.

- Patrons invested in arist. THis helped them take bold choices.

-Feeling safe in the world is ofen a question of money.

- Getting gigs to pay for cake.

- American psyche vs scandinavian in regards to feeling like someone will have your back if it all fails.

-On immidiate opions to then be able to move on without much emotional connection.
There is no time for I dont know. We push "like" or "heart" then scroll on leaving that thing behind us in a feed and could not get back to it if we tried.

-We no longer sit with experiences to find out what we feel, and think about it.

-the NON cultrure of social media. Avoiding finding out what you feel.

- artistic research. Not needing to always have results. Exploration for it's own sake.

-some artistic work is important to have gone through, but does not produce any interesting work. 

-arti schools used to be places to create work. Universities was for exploration and research.

- Rudolf Steiner and the importance of a philosophical foundation, or well thought out base to create work from.

-the story of the woman who didn't have any ideas, who couldn't make a choice.

-learning to make choices

-know what to pay attention to and what not

clean art. keeping to your specific task and explore within that and not dilluting it by adding stuff.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13977033 Tue, 12 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0100 3091 3 90 full false 89 - the One Being Educated is YOU - Jay Gilligan, Ivar Hacksher, Erik Åberg & Your Truly - Pt 2 of 2 89 - the One Being Educated is YOU - Jay Gilligan, Ivar Hacksher, Erik Åberg & Your Truly - Pt 2 of 2 In this episode Ivar Hackscher, Jay Gilligan, Erik Åberg and myself talk about education and abouyt being constant learners.

Some of the topics we touch on:

-What would be a good education for jugglers
-A school does not have enough time to be completely open ended. Only your education in life will have that time, and even that does not have unlimited time.
- Students at circus school are now arriving with a more passive attitude towards the education.
-You cant teach something which is not asked for
-John Le Hooker: I can only play what the audience has in their legs...
-Getting an audience to ask question is imperative to a participative performance.
-As a teacher develops in thier own exploration and development they get further and further away from the first year strudent. Can we find passion and enthusiasm to share with them what they need?
-We must not forget the foundational. The skills and mind of the beginner...
-You cant make others care about something your'e not passionate about yourself.
-Are we stifled by the very concept of school?
-Frodo talks about the conept of a triangle and how it relates to teaching and performance.
-Relaxed field and play as the most free domains where human freedom is at its greatest.
-the young are the bringers of the future.
-meet them with the expectation to learn from them. Since we Old ones are outdated.
-Midwifing ideas.
-What is the intention of a "school's" project. This is important to contemplate and formulate.
-How does the need to make a living factor into a schools project and responsibility.
-The first stockholm circus program needed to show the state that 80% of thier students became circus artists. (I would be surprised if any other art school had results like that...)
-Fairness is not that everyone gets the same or have the same needs.
-Ivar found a new and stronger dimension of freedom as a teacher when he was invited to be a teacher at the circus pilot project.
-
-You must listen so carefully to the students that you can assist them in coming into their own. Listen in a way that will aid them in coming into their own future.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Ivar Hackscher, Jay Gilligan, Erik Åberg and myself talk about education and abouyt being constant learners.

Some of the topics we touch on:

-What would be a good education for jugglers
-A school does not have enough time to be completely open ended. Only your education in life will have that time, and even that does not have unlimited time.
- Students at circus school are now arriving with a more passive attitude towards the education.
-You cant teach something which is not asked for
-John Le Hooker: I can only play what the audience has in their legs...
-Getting an audience to ask question is imperative to a participative performance.
-As a teacher develops in thier own exploration and development they get further and further away from the first year strudent. Can we find passion and enthusiasm to share with them what they need?
-We must not forget the foundational. The skills and mind of the beginner...
-You cant make others care about something your'e not passionate about yourself.
-Are we stifled by the very concept of school?
-Frodo talks about the conept of a triangle and how it relates to teaching and performance.
-Relaxed field and play as the most free domains where human freedom is at its greatest.
-the young are the bringers of the future.
-meet them with the expectation to learn from them. Since we Old ones are outdated.
-Midwifing ideas.
-What is the intention of a "school's" project. This is important to contemplate and formulate.
-How does the need to make a living factor into a schools project and responsibility.
-The first stockholm circus program needed to show the state that 80% of thier students became circus artists. (I would be surprised if any other art school had results like that...)
-Fairness is not that everyone gets the same or have the same needs.
-Ivar found a new and stronger dimension of freedom as a teacher when he was invited to be a teacher at the circus pilot project.
-
-You must listen so carefully to the students that you can assist them in coming into their own. Listen in a way that will aid them in coming into their own future.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13976596 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0100 3062 3 89 full false 88 - Listening is the Art of Life - Jay Gilligan, Ivar Hacksher, Erik Åberg & Captain Frodo - pt 1 of 2.m4a 88 - Listening is the Art of Life - Jay Gilligan, Ivar Hacksher, Erik Åberg & Captain Frodo - pt 1 of 2.m4a In this episode there are four of us talking. The audio is not quite what you have gotten used to on this high budget, high fidelity broadcasting operation, but the content is as golden as ever.

It's a free flowing conversation around the topics of education, sharing our knowledge and how listening makes us better human beings.

some of the topics we cover:
-Claim expertice even if it is just: I am the king of this napkin.\
-Listening is the key to all relationships.
-Teachers and students are eachothers coaches.

the Lader of Engagement: CURIOSITY, INTEREST, LOVE (I find this comment of Ivar's to be particular fruitful and thought provoking. I don't know how all of you will take it, but this way of looking at engagement has been useful to me in my thinking and conversations since this)

-the big scissors
-a circus school thrives when teachers take real interest in each other.
-the need for a shared foundation - what are we shaping students into.
-the Challenge of circus schools
-4 points for any collaborative project:
§-common idea of what you are doing.
§-You must get Happy from working with that idea
§-When seeking collaborators they should be as unlike you as possible.
§-every netto you create must be given away.

-you cant be a capitalist and artist at the same time
-you must give away - share - not grasp and take
-give away more than you take
-Love is like this
-Giving withoug expecting return will give return

-the learning relationship. Students tend to be passive and receptive in their attitude. But needs to be selfmotivated and engaged for learning to happen.
- does school as a framework set up the wrong expectations?
-how to mediate the knowledge gap between teacher and student?
-the students all have their own inner content and skills which must be engaged in dialogue with the teacher.
-the word school is greek and means break, as in the time spent between sessions of work. Where we break bread, eat some olives and have a drink of wine and talk the real talk.
-how do we set up the perfect situation for growth to happen?
- hunter gatherer bands learn through play and mixed age relationships

-On the importance of seeing the students for who they really are and what lives inside them.
-trust and confidence
- to connect to adolescents you need to be Interesting
-reputation

-Ivar tells his students when we come to class tomorrow you must have questions. If not I will leave.
-questions create dialogue. The learning comes alie. Self motivation is key in learning just like in play, since learning is a form of play.
-Education is always self education
-East German 1981 circus school approach versus the swedish current time school's approach.

-and we end on the open qustion: How can we "make" "artists working within the medium of circus and performance?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode there are four of us talking. The audio is not quite what you have gotten used to on this high budget, high fidelity broadcasting operation, but the content is as golden as ever.

It's a free flowing conversation around the topics of education, sharing our knowledge and how listening makes us better human beings.

some of the topics we cover:
-Claim expertice even if it is just: I am the king of this napkin.\
-Listening is the key to all relationships.
-Teachers and students are eachothers coaches.

the Lader of Engagement: CURIOSITY, INTEREST, LOVE (I find this comment of Ivar's to be particular fruitful and thought provoking. I don't know how all of you will take it, but this way of looking at engagement has been useful to me in my thinking and conversations since this)

-the big scissors
-a circus school thrives when teachers take real interest in each other.
-the need for a shared foundation - what are we shaping students into.
-the Challenge of circus schools
-4 points for any collaborative project:
§-common idea of what you are doing.
§-You must get Happy from working with that idea
§-When seeking collaborators they should be as unlike you as possible.
§-every netto you create must be given away.

-you cant be a capitalist and artist at the same time
-you must give away - share - not grasp and take
-give away more than you take
-Love is like this
-Giving withoug expecting return will give return

-the learning relationship. Students tend to be passive and receptive in their attitude. But needs to be selfmotivated and engaged for learning to happen.
- does school as a framework set up the wrong expectations?
-how to mediate the knowledge gap between teacher and student?
-the students all have their own inner content and skills which must be engaged in dialogue with the teacher.
-the word school is greek and means break, as in the time spent between sessions of work. Where we break bread, eat some olives and have a drink of wine and talk the real talk.
-how do we set up the perfect situation for growth to happen?
- hunter gatherer bands learn through play and mixed age relationships

-On the importance of seeing the students for who they really are and what lives inside them.
-trust and confidence
- to connect to adolescents you need to be Interesting
-reputation

-Ivar tells his students when we come to class tomorrow you must have questions. If not I will leave.
-questions create dialogue. The learning comes alie. Self motivation is key in learning just like in play, since learning is a form of play.
-Education is always self education
-East German 1981 circus school approach versus the swedish current time school's approach.

-and we end on the open qustion: How can we "make" "artists working within the medium of circus and performance?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13940843 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0100 2560 3 88 full false 87 - Mac King - Las Vegas Legend - 2 of 2 87 - Mac King - Las Vegas Legend - 2 of 2 In this episode I continue my conversation with Mac King. We start out talking about Shows and performing but end up talking about books. SO, the last part of this episode is possibly the first episode of a spin off book club, where Mac and Frodo talks about books NOT relating to performing.

Topics we touch on:

-On performing almost exlusively in one venue
-Frodo doing more long form Shows
-Does Mac ever want to make a new Show?
-Working on ALL the details.
-Mastering all the details.
-What did Mac do creatively during the pandemic?
-Digital Shows
-(Im (one of) Mac's Wife's favorite acts. :-)
-Pandemic talkshow online
-Connecting and Playing with friends
-Funny Family
-On Mac moving from Harries Casino to Excalibur
-Shows not made for kids but that still good for kids
-On being offensive.
-People understand your intent as a person, if you are playful and authenticallly don't mean offence you can go far. Sometimes.
-About getting better through  comments from smart friends.
-Book club:
Mac: Nero Wolf detective series by Rex Stout
-on male friends
Frodo: Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Humankind: a hopeful history Rutger Bregman
Fall; or, Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I continue my conversation with Mac King. We start out talking about Shows and performing but end up talking about books. SO, the last part of this episode is possibly the first episode of a spin off book club, where Mac and Frodo talks about books NOT relating to performing.

Topics we touch on:

-On performing almost exlusively in one venue
-Frodo doing more long form Shows
-Does Mac ever want to make a new Show?
-Working on ALL the details.
-Mastering all the details.
-What did Mac do creatively during the pandemic?
-Digital Shows
-(Im (one of) Mac's Wife's favorite acts. :-)
-Pandemic talkshow online
-Connecting and Playing with friends
-Funny Family
-On Mac moving from Harries Casino to Excalibur
-Shows not made for kids but that still good for kids
-On being offensive.
-People understand your intent as a person, if you are playful and authenticallly don't mean offence you can go far. Sometimes.
-About getting better through  comments from smart friends.
-Book club:
Mac: Nero Wolf detective series by Rex Stout
-on male friends
Frodo: Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Humankind: a hopeful history Rutger Bregman
Fall; or, Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13764539 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0100 4143 3 87 full false 86 - Mac King - The Structure of a Masterful Magic Show - 1 of 2 86 - Mac King - The Structure of a Masterful Magic Show - 1 of 2 In this episode I get to have a conversation with an absolute legend of magic. He has had his own show in Las Vegas for more than 20 years! Just try and picture that. He reached out expressing his appreciation for the podcast and I hopped on the opportunity to ask him to join me for a stroll along the Way and this is part one of that. As you'll hear, he's the real deal. I really hope you'll enjoy this, I certainly did.

topics we touch on:
-Max Maven
-Nick Difatte introduced Mac to the Way when they were driving to LA. And there were tears...
-The beginning of the podcast and what was going on under the Pandemic
-It was a dark time.
-About changing the Show as we get older/change as people.
-About being a Belgian viking when starting out.
-Andy Kaufmann
-Entertainment by unease
-Taking the Audience on a journey. Thinking of the Show as a whole.
-The very beginning of Mac's act
-The arc of tricks vs the arc of the Show. Transitioning from one trick to the next.
-the quirk of "blowing your funky minds"
-Stealing like an artist. So that the originator loves it, and maybe doesnt even recognice it.
-Watching stand up comedians for structural inspiration.
-Mac says he's only "doing what magic books says..."
-Being awkward yet authentic.
-Me sharing early nudges from other magician to develop tricks into acts.
-Making it better one beat at the time. 
-And getting into a headspace where you are LOOKING for ways for the Show to tie together. Callbacks.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I get to have a conversation with an absolute legend of magic. He has had his own show in Las Vegas for more than 20 years! Just try and picture that. He reached out expressing his appreciation for the podcast and I hopped on the opportunity to ask him to join me for a stroll along the Way and this is part one of that. As you'll hear, he's the real deal. I really hope you'll enjoy this, I certainly did.

topics we touch on:
-Max Maven
-Nick Difatte introduced Mac to the Way when they were driving to LA. And there were tears...
-The beginning of the podcast and what was going on under the Pandemic
-It was a dark time.
-About changing the Show as we get older/change as people.
-About being a Belgian viking when starting out.
-Andy Kaufmann
-Entertainment by unease
-Taking the Audience on a journey. Thinking of the Show as a whole.
-The very beginning of Mac's act
-The arc of tricks vs the arc of the Show. Transitioning from one trick to the next.
-the quirk of "blowing your funky minds"
-Stealing like an artist. So that the originator loves it, and maybe doesnt even recognice it.
-Watching stand up comedians for structural inspiration.
-Mac says he's only "doing what magic books says..."
-Being awkward yet authentic.
-Me sharing early nudges from other magician to develop tricks into acts.
-Making it better one beat at the time. 
-And getting into a headspace where you are LOOKING for ways for the Show to tie together. Callbacks.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13764386 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0200 4282 3 86 full false 85 - Erik Åberg - Expanding Our Artistic Practice - part 2 of 2 85 - Erik Åberg - Expanding Our Artistic Practice - part 2 of 2 This is the second part of my conversation with juggle, inventor and thinker Erik Åberg. We talk about a whole range of interesting topics and I marvel at the depth of thought Erik shares with me.
we talk about:
Archiving as artistic practice.
Paul Cinquevalli.
Juggling history is the past, juggling today can be observed, the possible future explored by Erik is his kinetic sculptures.
How to ask existential questions through juggling.
Why should juggling exist?
Erik sketches out two possible answers based on his 20.000 archval clippings about Paul Cinquevalli. Following the descriptions by critics and reviewers Erik finds two main lines of answers
1 - Paul Cinquevalli is the greatest juggler in the world and is comparable to Shakespeare and Ninjinski.
2 - He is a manifest example of wasting ones life away on purposeless activities.
In this way Erik demonstrates the interlinking and usefullness of the archival part of his practice. As a show only exist as experience the reviews and quotes become like fossilized represantations of the experience of the shows. The fact that Cinquevalli was so famous that it generated 1000's of quotes gives us a pretty strong representation of what these Show experiences were like.
Why is skill so captivating to us humans?
Michael Moschen's idea of the kill. How our paleolithic ancestors deeply valued the kill with a spear or sling of an animal.
Ivar Hacksher - life is difficult an endless dynamically unstable situation and when we successfully surf through it we get a deep sense of completion.
Creating a microscoping focus of Attention. The performer focuses the Attention of the many, creating a collective experience.
Enriching the Audience.
Current evidence points to early juggling as being only cascade patterns and not sequences of tricks.
Eriks wonderful theory of Transportational Activities.

Links:
Erik Åberg's Ghost Cubes
Erik and Jay Gilligan's juggling show Bevis
Erik and Jay's juggling show Blick
A more biographical interview with Erik for those who want to get to know him a little more.
A short podcast about Paul Cinquevalli from Smithsonian Magazine

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This is the second part of my conversation with juggle, inventor and thinker Erik Åberg. We talk about a whole range of interesting topics and I marvel at the depth of thought Erik shares with me.
we talk about:
Archiving as artistic practice.
Paul Cinquevalli.
Juggling history is the past, juggling today can be observed, the possible future explored by Erik is his kinetic sculptures.
How to ask existential questions through juggling.
Why should juggling exist?
Erik sketches out two possible answers based on his 20.000 archval clippings about Paul Cinquevalli. Following the descriptions by critics and reviewers Erik finds two main lines of answers
1 - Paul Cinquevalli is the greatest juggler in the world and is comparable to Shakespeare and Ninjinski.
2 - He is a manifest example of wasting ones life away on purposeless activities.
In this way Erik demonstrates the interlinking and usefullness of the archival part of his practice. As a show only exist as experience the reviews and quotes become like fossilized represantations of the experience of the shows. The fact that Cinquevalli was so famous that it generated 1000's of quotes gives us a pretty strong representation of what these Show experiences were like.
Why is skill so captivating to us humans?
Michael Moschen's idea of the kill. How our paleolithic ancestors deeply valued the kill with a spear or sling of an animal.
Ivar Hacksher - life is difficult an endless dynamically unstable situation and when we successfully surf through it we get a deep sense of completion.
Creating a microscoping focus of Attention. The performer focuses the Attention of the many, creating a collective experience.
Enriching the Audience.
Current evidence points to early juggling as being only cascade patterns and not sequences of tricks.
Eriks wonderful theory of Transportational Activities.

Links:
Erik Åberg's Ghost Cubes
Erik and Jay Gilligan's juggling show Bevis
Erik and Jay's juggling show Blick
A more biographical interview with Erik for those who want to get to know him a little more.
A short podcast about Paul Cinquevalli from Smithsonian Magazine

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13609705 Tue, 03 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0200 4274 3 85 full false 84 - Erik Åberg: Asking Big Questions through Juggling - Part 1 of 2 84 - Erik Åberg: Asking Big Questions through Juggling - Part 1 of 2 In this episode we bring you the first part of a conversation with Erik Åberg who at the time of recoring is writing his Ph.D about juggling. He is an extraorinary juggler with a wonderful way of thinking and finding real deep questions about juggling, writing, researching, archiving, and answering them in illuminating ways.

We start out talking about how it is to write a ph.d about juggling.
He is seeking to grasp his process and to describe an actual practice which could then reliably be used to create work.
How ideas pop up AFTER you have worked hard on them, whilst doing something else.
How to break down what you're doing into components and then make them geometrical.
Ghost cubes. Moveable sculture which allows sculptures happen in time.
His work on Headrolls.
Making archiving and intellectual work into part of your artistic process.
His epiphany that the reality of anything we create be it a book a show or a sculpture resides in the spectators experience.
The importance of asking what this experience is.
How the experience of a sculpture and a performance relate and differ.
Who owns time in the experience of art?
Three dimensions of time and participation in the artistic experience.

Links:
Erik Åberg's Ghost Cubes
Erik and Jay Gilligan's juggling show Bevis
Erik and Jay's juggling show Blick
A more biographical interview with Erik for those who want to get to know him a little more.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode we bring you the first part of a conversation with Erik Åberg who at the time of recoring is writing his Ph.D about juggling. He is an extraorinary juggler with a wonderful way of thinking and finding real deep questions about juggling, writing, researching, archiving, and answering them in illuminating ways.

We start out talking about how it is to write a ph.d about juggling.
He is seeking to grasp his process and to describe an actual practice which could then reliably be used to create work.
How ideas pop up AFTER you have worked hard on them, whilst doing something else.
How to break down what you're doing into components and then make them geometrical.
Ghost cubes. Moveable sculture which allows sculptures happen in time.
His work on Headrolls.
Making archiving and intellectual work into part of your artistic process.
His epiphany that the reality of anything we create be it a book a show or a sculpture resides in the spectators experience.
The importance of asking what this experience is.
How the experience of a sculpture and a performance relate and differ.
Who owns time in the experience of art?
Three dimensions of time and participation in the artistic experience.

Links:
Erik Åberg's Ghost Cubes
Erik and Jay Gilligan's juggling show Bevis
Erik and Jay's juggling show Blick
A more biographical interview with Erik for those who want to get to know him a little more.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13604538 Tue, 19 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0200 4913 3 84 full false 83 - Another Sunset pt 3 of 3 - The Show 83 - Another Sunset pt 3 of 3 - The Show The best version of a juggling show was the written verision, or the told version of the show. The reason he chose to speak in the show was to make it more relatable. Be direct. Deliberatly casual.
Every spectator gets to choose their favorite colour from a tray. Human interest and a genuie meeting of people. Choosing music. the process of making the juggling. The feeling of seeing and throwing a skin coloured ball. Joseph Albers and the movement of colour. Describing the different acts with focus on how they relate to colour and the very particularly created props. Using Joseph Albers ideas as inspiration for the balls and rings. LIght, colour, wavelengths, sunsets on different planets. Bringing it all together with a toy that changes colour into a musical note and the cards the audince chose when the show started. We think we know what something is, but as we go through the show they are morpring dramatically from favorite colour to sunset on a different planet, to musical note. How we choose to view something has a significant effect on our reality. A rainbow exists when you are there to see it, but not if youre not there. Reality is relational. The show is a relation so like a rainbow it was only there because of the encounter between juggler and audience in an art gallery.

Links:

the full docomentary and show of Another Sunset
the full show without the interviews and commentaries.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> The best version of a juggling show was the written verision, or the told version of the show. The reason he chose to speak in the show was to make it more relatable. Be direct. Deliberatly casual.
Every spectator gets to choose their favorite colour from a tray. Human interest and a genuie meeting of people. Choosing music. the process of making the juggling. The feeling of seeing and throwing a skin coloured ball. Joseph Albers and the movement of colour. Describing the different acts with focus on how they relate to colour and the very particularly created props. Using Joseph Albers ideas as inspiration for the balls and rings. LIght, colour, wavelengths, sunsets on different planets. Bringing it all together with a toy that changes colour into a musical note and the cards the audince chose when the show started. We think we know what something is, but as we go through the show they are morpring dramatically from favorite colour to sunset on a different planet, to musical note. How we choose to view something has a significant effect on our reality. A rainbow exists when you are there to see it, but not if youre not there. Reality is relational. The show is a relation so like a rainbow it was only there because of the encounter between juggler and audience in an art gallery.

Links:

the full docomentary and show of Another Sunset
the full show without the interviews and commentaries.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13396465 Tue, 05 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0200 4858 3 83 full false 82 - Another Sunset pt 2 of 3 - Juggling in an art gallery with props you've made 82 - Another Sunset pt 2 of 3 - Juggling in an art gallery with props you've made How does juggling props get made from possibility to reality. Siteswap and juggling notation colour notation for pattern. Deepening the conversation about colour and Juggling. In painting, sculpture and design colour is SO well researced which makes the task of quesiotning juggling and colour quite intimidation. Placing juggling in art context. the response from the juggling community sparked imagination. Everyone had an idea of what should be explored. Jay needed to be the one to do it. Ivar Hakscher's influence pushing all the boundaries to their logical conclusion. LImiting the show to juggling VIA buying lights. Realising light is its whole other field. But wasnst after light show.
The significance of it happening in an art gallery. Externalizing the concepts in the juggling. People thought of even the set as art. Desiring to connect to more people. Make declarative statement. Not just juggling with coloured objects and letting the audience make their on interpretations. Blowing the mind of a newpaper reporter. What to tell the audience. Called another sunset to give the audience a subtle way to grasp the show.


Links:

Here is the full documentary show of Another Sunset

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> How does juggling props get made from possibility to reality. Siteswap and juggling notation colour notation for pattern. Deepening the conversation about colour and Juggling. In painting, sculpture and design colour is SO well researced which makes the task of quesiotning juggling and colour quite intimidation. Placing juggling in art context. the response from the juggling community sparked imagination. Everyone had an idea of what should be explored. Jay needed to be the one to do it. Ivar Hakscher's influence pushing all the boundaries to their logical conclusion. LImiting the show to juggling VIA buying lights. Realising light is its whole other field. But wasnst after light show.
The significance of it happening in an art gallery. Externalizing the concepts in the juggling. People thought of even the set as art. Desiring to connect to more people. Make declarative statement. Not just juggling with coloured objects and letting the audience make their on interpretations. Blowing the mind of a newpaper reporter. What to tell the audience. Called another sunset to give the audience a subtle way to grasp the show.


Links:

Here is the full documentary show of Another Sunset

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13396397 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0200 4147 3 82 full false 81 - Another Sunset - Jay Gilligan - A Ten Year Long Process pt 1 of 3 81 - Another Sunset - Jay Gilligan - A Ten Year Long Process pt 1 of 3 This episode I get Jay Gilligan to tell me about the incredible process that led him to the realisation of his latest show Another Sunset. From having to make props and get special balls hand sewn and hand dyed in colours never seen before in a juggling context.
We talked in previous episode in season 2 about a year long process we had making Jay's show REFLEX, which by the way will be touring North America this autumn (2023).  This process for his exploration of colour I was only part of the last year, even though one of our very first conversatio in Las Vegas before the pandemic as about colour and juggling. 
I am as always thrilled to talk to Jay, there are few performers who puts in as much work as he does in pushing the art of juggling into completely new realms.
I hope you enjoy it!

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode I get Jay Gilligan to tell me about the incredible process that led him to the realisation of his latest show Another Sunset. From having to make props and get special balls hand sewn and hand dyed in colours never seen before in a juggling context.
We talked in previous episode in season 2 about a year long process we had making Jay's show REFLEX, which by the way will be touring North America this autumn (2023).  This process for his exploration of colour I was only part of the last year, even though one of our very first conversatio in Las Vegas before the pandemic as about colour and juggling. 
I am as always thrilled to talk to Jay, there are few performers who puts in as much work as he does in pushing the art of juggling into completely new realms.
I hope you enjoy it!

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13250655 Tue, 08 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0200 3913 3 81 full false 80 - Meet Marvelous Mario the Maker Magician, an exploration of Authenticity 80 - Meet Marvelous Mario the Maker Magician, an exploration of Authenticity In this episode Mario and I talk about his upcoming season in Edinburgh, he's ordered 10.000 clown noses. We talk about play and bringing up kids on the road. We talk quite a bit about family. I try to pry secrets from his process of creating emotionally engaging and unusually deep acts by getting him to tell me about his Pixar looking lamp robot act. We talk about teachers, artist like Alexander Caulder, Andy Warhol and others. Art that hits you in the heart like a hammer. About how to speak your heart, the why, we do it, not just how. Which of course is so close to my heart. The whole second season of the Way is about the why I do what I do. We talk alittle bit about AI. and about making sure the audience leaves taking something to heart.
AND ROBOTS. We talk about Mario's wonderful robots.
Find a way to put your passion into your show. Great art comes from the ground up. Style and aestethics. Defining your character. Believing in something greater than yourself. How to stay more at home as kids gets older. There is so much good stuff here. I hope you enjoy it.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Mario and I talk about his upcoming season in Edinburgh, he's ordered 10.000 clown noses. We talk about play and bringing up kids on the road. We talk quite a bit about family. I try to pry secrets from his process of creating emotionally engaging and unusually deep acts by getting him to tell me about his Pixar looking lamp robot act. We talk about teachers, artist like Alexander Caulder, Andy Warhol and others. Art that hits you in the heart like a hammer. About how to speak your heart, the why, we do it, not just how. Which of course is so close to my heart. The whole second season of the Way is about the why I do what I do. We talk alittle bit about AI. and about making sure the audience leaves taking something to heart.
AND ROBOTS. We talk about Mario's wonderful robots.
Find a way to put your passion into your show. Great art comes from the ground up. Style and aestethics. Defining your character. Believing in something greater than yourself. How to stay more at home as kids gets older. There is so much good stuff here. I hope you enjoy it.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13250510 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0200 5103 3 80 full false 79 - Jay Gilligan - Process and not having time for Everything - Stockholm Kitchen Conversation 2of2 79 - Jay Gilligan - Process and not having time for Everything - Stockholm Kitchen Conversation 2of2 Jay Gilligan and I begin our second kitchen conversation talking about the importance of documenting ones work and process and also our ongoing work in how to do this. We talk about the importance of listening back on conversations, youll be surprised at how much you missed.
unpacking details you've read, or that emerge in a conversation, into a whole season of episodes, or a whole book.
First day of juggling class at the circus school and the requirements for learning.
Don't limit yourself too soon. Arrive ready to grow.
The goals of a circus or art education.
There's never enough time for everythin.
How we change over time. The struggle to be a good father/human.
Jay changing as a teacher over the decades. Are his early methods bullshit?
academics and circus.
Ivar Heckshcher: plant the seeds for what you want them to understand so the students will have the tools to grasp it, not necesarrily now, but when THEY are ready.
Jay and I have walked far along the Way of the Showman and we keep meeting people at the beginning of their path.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. I don't think many people do. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Jay Gilligan and I begin our second kitchen conversation talking about the importance of documenting ones work and process and also our ongoing work in how to do this. We talk about the importance of listening back on conversations, youll be surprised at how much you missed.
unpacking details you've read, or that emerge in a conversation, into a whole season of episodes, or a whole book.
First day of juggling class at the circus school and the requirements for learning.
Don't limit yourself too soon. Arrive ready to grow.
The goals of a circus or art education.
There's never enough time for everythin.
How we change over time. The struggle to be a good father/human.
Jay changing as a teacher over the decades. Are his early methods bullshit?
academics and circus.
Ivar Heckshcher: plant the seeds for what you want them to understand so the students will have the tools to grasp it, not necesarrily now, but when THEY are ready.
Jay and I have walked far along the Way of the Showman and we keep meeting people at the beginning of their path.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. I don't think many people do. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13087642 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0200 4507 3 79 full false 78 - Jay Gilligan - Making your show valuable - Stockholm kitchen Conversations 1of2 78 - Jay Gilligan - Making your show valuable - Stockholm kitchen Conversations 1of2 In this episode Jay Gilligan and I converse in his kitchen. We start talking about how juan Tamariz, the massively influential Spanish magician, takes control of his whole environment to create the best possible conditions for creating a magic experience. From that we talk about about how to present your needs for light and sound etc to producers and technicians at gigs. We talk about making demands and whether not having any makes you appear as less in their eyes. We briefly touch on Jay's new show Another Sunset and get an example of the kind of thinking Ivar Heckscher brings to the artistic conversation. 
When we have made an artistic creation and we have found a way to express our inner expereince through an outer expression we don't so much have to "convince" the audience, as in persuade them that it has value, we rather has to point to that thing as a reality and allow them to see it and in seeing it they too can't deny it has value.
How to communicate with muggles and fine artists what you do as a "mere" circus performer. 
At the end of the conversation Jay and I talk about tools and AI things that could help us document our personal process of conversation.

I hope you enjoy it. There were some real gems that emerged in this conversation. SOme of them quite practical. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Jay Gilligan and I converse in his kitchen. We start talking about how juan Tamariz, the massively influential Spanish magician, takes control of his whole environment to create the best possible conditions for creating a magic experience. From that we talk about about how to present your needs for light and sound etc to producers and technicians at gigs. We talk about making demands and whether not having any makes you appear as less in their eyes. We briefly touch on Jay's new show Another Sunset and get an example of the kind of thinking Ivar Heckscher brings to the artistic conversation. 
When we have made an artistic creation and we have found a way to express our inner expereince through an outer expression we don't so much have to "convince" the audience, as in persuade them that it has value, we rather has to point to that thing as a reality and allow them to see it and in seeing it they too can't deny it has value.
How to communicate with muggles and fine artists what you do as a "mere" circus performer. 
At the end of the conversation Jay and I talk about tools and AI things that could help us document our personal process of conversation.

I hope you enjoy it. There were some real gems that emerged in this conversation. SOme of them quite practical. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-13087605 Tue, 27 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0200 4102 3 78 full false 77 - What's the spirit of Circus & much more with Garreth Bjaaland pt 2 of 2 77 - What's the spirit of Circus & much more with Garreth Bjaaland pt 2 of 2 In this second part of the conversation with Gareth Bjaaland we talk about the spirit of circus. He sugests wonderfully that it might be
the show must go on
you can put anything in the ring
and
everyone is welcome.
I loved this!
we then talk about games, finite and infinite, we talk about serious play and serious games. This was a really fun conversation for me. Real deep and real organic and alive.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this second part of the conversation with Gareth Bjaaland we talk about the spirit of circus. He sugests wonderfully that it might be
the show must go on
you can put anything in the ring
and
everyone is welcome.
I loved this!
we then talk about games, finite and infinite, we talk about serious play and serious games. This was a really fun conversation for me. Real deep and real organic and alive.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12713136 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0200 2943 3 77 full false 76 - Laughing in the Face of Death & other matters of importance with Garreth Bjaaland pt 1 of 2 76 - Laughing in the Face of Death & other matters of importance with Garreth Bjaaland pt 1 of 2 This is the first part of a great flowing conversation I had with Garreth Bjaaland, whom regular followers of the Way will remember well from our conversations about the ingredients of comedy. In this conversation we go far and wide and surprisingly deep on matters related to comedy, we look at Gareths revisions and developments on this thinking about the Ingredients of Comedy, but we also ask and play at answering some bigger questions. 
We start from asking what is the core notes, or meaning and intention behind performances. Can we deliver only bleakness or is it really all about love?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This is the first part of a great flowing conversation I had with Garreth Bjaaland, whom regular followers of the Way will remember well from our conversations about the ingredients of comedy. In this conversation we go far and wide and surprisingly deep on matters related to comedy, we look at Gareths revisions and developments on this thinking about the Ingredients of Comedy, but we also ask and play at answering some bigger questions. 
We start from asking what is the core notes, or meaning and intention behind performances. Can we deliver only bleakness or is it really all about love?

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12718511 Tue, 30 May 2023 06:00:00 +0200 3837 3 76 full false 75 - What's your Gift to the Audience - Talking with Tom Greder pt 2 of 2 75 - What's your Gift to the Audience - Talking with Tom Greder pt 2 of 2 In this epidose comes the first part of a wonderful conversation I had with the knowledgable and deep thinker Tom Greder. He is a clown, a teacher and innovative creator.
We talk about how to decide what to put in a Show. What does Audiences take away from your show, beyond whatever tricks or Material you present. About performing a Show and after 24 years of doing it, getting the experience that the Show was perfect. When you laugh - you ARE. How to craft what's in your gift to the Audience. What's the heart of your performance. What's important to you and How to tell the Truth.

You can find lot's of information about Tom Greder here: 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this epidose comes the first part of a wonderful conversation I had with the knowledgable and deep thinker Tom Greder. He is a clown, a teacher and innovative creator.
We talk about how to decide what to put in a Show. What does Audiences take away from your show, beyond whatever tricks or Material you present. About performing a Show and after 24 years of doing it, getting the experience that the Show was perfect. When you laugh - you ARE. How to craft what's in your gift to the Audience. What's the heart of your performance. What's important to you and How to tell the Truth.

You can find lot's of information about Tom Greder here: 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12710424 Tue, 16 May 2023 06:00:00 +0200 3866 3 75 full false 74 - Choices, Road's Taken and Not - Talking with Tom Greder pt 1 of 2 74 - Choices, Road's Taken and Not - Talking with Tom Greder pt 1 of 2 In this epidose comes the first part of a wonderful conversation I had with the knowledgable and deep thinker Tom Greder. He is a clown, a teacher and innovative creator.
We talk about the pandemic and how we dealt with having no Shows. About forests real and metaphorical. We talk about choices. So much about what we do is to choose what to. include. in our show and what to leave out. About circus schools and clown's or lack thereof. About accepting that EVERYTHING that happens during a performance is part of the show. Structure of jokes and pattern recognition in the Audience and how this leads to us being very aware of the choices we take in what to include. Be aware of what you choose to share and how that adds up to what the Audience will take away from the performance.

You can find lot's of information about Tom Greder here: 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this epidose comes the first part of a wonderful conversation I had with the knowledgable and deep thinker Tom Greder. He is a clown, a teacher and innovative creator.
We talk about the pandemic and how we dealt with having no Shows. About forests real and metaphorical. We talk about choices. So much about what we do is to choose what to. include. in our show and what to leave out. About circus schools and clown's or lack thereof. About accepting that EVERYTHING that happens during a performance is part of the show. Structure of jokes and pattern recognition in the Audience and how this leads to us being very aware of the choices we take in what to include. Be aware of what you choose to share and how that adds up to what the Audience will take away from the performance.

You can find lot's of information about Tom Greder here: 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12710393 Tue, 02 May 2023 06:00:00 +0200 3474 3 74 full false 73 - Captain Frodo's Secret Approach to Creation - Helsinki Conversations pt 3 of 3 73 - Captain Frodo's Secret Approach to Creation - Helsinki Conversations pt 3 of 3 In this episode Jay Gilligan and I start talking about authenticity and pretty quick Jay steers the conversation into an area of my artistic process and indeed my approach to life, philosophy and art in general. I share, off the cuff my approach which I call active reading, or trasformative conersation with the environment.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Jay Gilligan and I start talking about authenticity and pretty quick Jay steers the conversation into an area of my artistic process and indeed my approach to life, philosophy and art in general. I share, off the cuff my approach which I call active reading, or trasformative conersation with the environment.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12125194 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0200 3122 3 73 full false 72 - Presentation and Character - Helsinki Conversations w Jay Gilligan part 2 of 3 72 - Presentation and Character - Helsinki Conversations w Jay Gilligan part 2 of 3 In this conversation Jay Gilligan and I dig deeper into how the best presentations of any kind of Material seems to emerge, in a holistic way, from an authentic character. We arrive back at magician Dani DaOrtiz's techniques and how his whole persona, the way he uses language, is completely fused that to use some of his techniques every magician would have to go through a proper translation process to make the techniques her own. 
We talk about translation, we talk about Indiana Jones juggling, we talk about "the Genre of Good," we pick apart the comment "you can't just juggle..." Jay talks about his obsession with Cirque de Soleil, and using "indiana jones" to grab Attention and from this make the Audience be able to connect to and appreciate juggling which they would otherwise not have paid Attention to. To end it all Jay says "how cool it would have been if that guy that said, "you can't just juggle" in stead said "you can't just juggle - you also have to be yourself."

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this conversation Jay Gilligan and I dig deeper into how the best presentations of any kind of Material seems to emerge, in a holistic way, from an authentic character. We arrive back at magician Dani DaOrtiz's techniques and how his whole persona, the way he uses language, is completely fused that to use some of his techniques every magician would have to go through a proper translation process to make the techniques her own. 
We talk about translation, we talk about Indiana Jones juggling, we talk about "the Genre of Good," we pick apart the comment "you can't just juggle..." Jay talks about his obsession with Cirque de Soleil, and using "indiana jones" to grab Attention and from this make the Audience be able to connect to and appreciate juggling which they would otherwise not have paid Attention to. To end it all Jay says "how cool it would have been if that guy that said, "you can't just juggle" in stead said "you can't just juggle - you also have to be yourself."

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12411330 Tue, 04 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0200 4450 3 72 full false 71 - Magic, Character & Dani DaOrtiz - the Helsinki Conversations with Jay Gilligan pt 1 of 3 71 - Magic, Character & Dani DaOrtiz - the Helsinki Conversations with Jay Gilligan pt 1 of 3 In this episode Jay Gilligan and I start the conversation talking about magic and Dani Daortiz. If you haven't seen Dani's act from Penn & Teller's Fool Us then do that first.
This is a link to Dani DaOrtiz's act.

If you want to see Dani's unbelievably awesome, indepth explanation of all the theory which lies behind his seemingly chaotic but masterfully crafted Showmanship then you can find that on Vanishin Inc's website here. It's a three and a half hour masterclass.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode Jay Gilligan and I start the conversation talking about magic and Dani Daortiz. If you haven't seen Dani's act from Penn & Teller's Fool Us then do that first.
This is a link to Dani DaOrtiz's act.

If you want to see Dani's unbelievably awesome, indepth explanation of all the theory which lies behind his seemingly chaotic but masterfully crafted Showmanship then you can find that on Vanishin Inc's website here. It's a three and a half hour masterclass.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12124138 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0100 4932 full false 70 - 3rd annual Birthday Ramble 70 - 3rd annual Birthday Ramble The pandemic and I share a birthday. Sometime in the depths of the pandemic I made a broadcast trying to share some more personal goings on in regards to how I was holding up one year after the events taking place in the very first episode of this podcast The Day Showbiz Died. Then I made another birthday update, more personal and more rambling than the first. So here we go third year in a row. All good things are in threes. Will the third be breaking the mold, be the punchline for the two punch set up? I wont tell. You Be the Judge. Click on into the third annual joing Birthday ramble for me and the Pandemic.
I read a very personal poem in this episode. Just so you're warned. Shit's getting real.

To all you long termers, fellow travellers, thanks for sticking with me in sickness and in health, through the hard times and the pain. Worry is a bully that just wont let me be but sharing the journey with lovely intelligent and beautifully people, such as yourself makes the Way, with all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, the most wonderful, and only way for me.

Lots of Love to you.

Your's truly - Captain Frodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> The pandemic and I share a birthday. Sometime in the depths of the pandemic I made a broadcast trying to share some more personal goings on in regards to how I was holding up one year after the events taking place in the very first episode of this podcast The Day Showbiz Died. Then I made another birthday update, more personal and more rambling than the first. So here we go third year in a row. All good things are in threes. Will the third be breaking the mold, be the punchline for the two punch set up? I wont tell. You Be the Judge. Click on into the third annual joing Birthday ramble for me and the Pandemic.
I read a very personal poem in this episode. Just so you're warned. Shit's getting real.

To all you long termers, fellow travellers, thanks for sticking with me in sickness and in health, through the hard times and the pain. Worry is a bully that just wont let me be but sharing the journey with lovely intelligent and beautifully people, such as yourself makes the Way, with all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, the most wonderful, and only way for me.

Lots of Love to you.

Your's truly - Captain Frodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12122872 Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100 2680 3 70 full false 69 - the Ingredients of Comedy pt 3 the Final Ingredients - a conversation with Gareth Bjaaland 69 - the Ingredients of Comedy pt 3 the Final Ingredients - a conversation with Gareth Bjaaland In this third and final part we look at more of the different types of jokes there is. This is really useful thing. Anyone who is stuck with "writers block" when they are trying to write new funny Material for a show or and act will be able to use these Ingredients as a check list for ways to make their jokes varied and hitting on all kinds of levels.
 
You can contact Gareth or find out more about him here. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this third and final part we look at more of the different types of jokes there is. This is really useful thing. Anyone who is stuck with "writers block" when they are trying to write new funny Material for a show or and act will be able to use these Ingredients as a check list for ways to make their jokes varied and hitting on all kinds of levels.
 
You can contact Gareth or find out more about him here. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12052211 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0100 3459 3 69 full false 68 - the Ingredients of Comedy pt 2 The First Ingredients - with Gareth Bjaaland 68 - the Ingredients of Comedy pt 2 The First Ingredients - with Gareth Bjaaland In this episode we jump into the first of the ingredients, or joke structures and themes from Gareth Bjaaland bold and exciting attempt to reign in comedy's seemingly endless and chaotic scope. I am so into projects like this. It's valuable and useful practically as a tool to improve our craft, like getting more and varied laughs in our shows, but further its a beautiful example of deepenings one's relationship to the Craft of Showmanship. To go through such a detail and indepth process as Gareth has done is a great example that there is depth, structure and gold to be found wherever one looks.

Towards the end of the episode I start talking about taboos and the underlying themes of swearing. In this bit I mention many words that in certain contexts are not considered polite. The conversation is rather academic, but you're now warned that bad words will be mentioned.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode we jump into the first of the ingredients, or joke structures and themes from Gareth Bjaaland bold and exciting attempt to reign in comedy's seemingly endless and chaotic scope. I am so into projects like this. It's valuable and useful practically as a tool to improve our craft, like getting more and varied laughs in our shows, but further its a beautiful example of deepenings one's relationship to the Craft of Showmanship. To go through such a detail and indepth process as Gareth has done is a great example that there is depth, structure and gold to be found wherever one looks.

Towards the end of the episode I start talking about taboos and the underlying themes of swearing. In this bit I mention many words that in certain contexts are not considered polite. The conversation is rather academic, but you're now warned that bad words will be mentioned.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12051985 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0100 3831 3 68 full true 67 - the Ingredients of Comedy pt 1 - a Conversation with Gareth Bjaaland 67 - the Ingredients of Comedy pt 1 - a Conversation with Gareth Bjaaland Finally we are getting a brand new voice on this podcast and what a voice it is. Gareth Bjaaland is a wonderful Showman. An acrobat, icarian games, juggling, all round really funny and generous performer. The reason we got into a conversation was Gareth's project of creating a list of the 12 Ingredients of Comedy. This was such an interesting exploration that the conversation went long, so I have divided it up into three parts. This being the introduction we meet and get to know Gareth, we learn about his genius solution to what  a performer does when they have to tour but also have a family, and we get an introduction of the project of making a map of comedy.

I had such a great time talking to Gareth, or Cecil Pitt as he is also known as the pater fimilas of the wonderful show The Pitt's Family Circus.
Here's a cool little video showing them in action. It is beyond cute.

...

Now you can get t-shirts and hoodies with our wonderful logo. This is the best new way to suport the podcast project. Become a proud parader of your passion for Showmanship and our glorious Craft whilst simultanously helping to gather more followers for the Way.
You'll find the store here: https://thewayoftheshowman.printdrop.com.au

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Finally we are getting a brand new voice on this podcast and what a voice it is. Gareth Bjaaland is a wonderful Showman. An acrobat, icarian games, juggling, all round really funny and generous performer. The reason we got into a conversation was Gareth's project of creating a list of the 12 Ingredients of Comedy. This was such an interesting exploration that the conversation went long, so I have divided it up into three parts. This being the introduction we meet and get to know Gareth, we learn about his genius solution to what  a performer does when they have to tour but also have a family, and we get an introduction of the project of making a map of comedy.

I had such a great time talking to Gareth, or Cecil Pitt as he is also known as the pater fimilas of the wonderful show The Pitt's Family Circus.
Here's a cool little video showing them in action. It is beyond cute.

...

Now you can get t-shirts and hoodies with our wonderful logo. This is the best new way to suport the podcast project. Become a proud parader of your passion for Showmanship and our glorious Craft whilst simultanously helping to gather more followers for the Way.
You'll find the store here: https://thewayoftheshowman.printdrop.com.au

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-12051825 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0100 3266 3 67 full false 66 - Understanding Skill Based Acts - Conversations With Jay Gilligan 66 - Understanding Skill Based Acts - Conversations With Jay Gilligan In this episode I attempt to get a better understanding of what a skill based act is. To do so I engage my good friend and conversational partner Jay Gilligan who is an absolute expert on this topic.
How do skill based acts differ from talking acts, musical acts, or is perhaps the distinctions arbitrary? Wheter they are different in a fundamental or ontological way is perhaps not the most important question rather to try to grasp certain aspects of Material. Clowns, musicians, a strongwoman and a tightwire walker all have different expressions and today we are trying to grasp what skills mean in all of  kinds of Material.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I attempt to get a better understanding of what a skill based act is. To do so I engage my good friend and conversational partner Jay Gilligan who is an absolute expert on this topic.
How do skill based acts differ from talking acts, musical acts, or is perhaps the distinctions arbitrary? Wheter they are different in a fundamental or ontological way is perhaps not the most important question rather to try to grasp certain aspects of Material. Clowns, musicians, a strongwoman and a tightwire walker all have different expressions and today we are trying to grasp what skills mean in all of  kinds of Material.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11113861 Tue, 10 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0100 6856 3 66 full false 65 - Jay Gilligan & Frodo - Reflections on Realising REFLEX 65 - Jay Gilligan & Frodo - Reflections on Realising REFLEX In this episode I get into a conversation with Jay Gilligan about the process of taking a show from idea to reality. It is very different to sit around and talk on facetime or messenger and shape and create a show, its very different when you pack all of your stuff into forteen suitcases and then have to get yourself to the airport and fly from Sweden to America. This and so much more we get into in this conversation abour converting dreams, hopes and imagination into reality.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I get into a conversation with Jay Gilligan about the process of taking a show from idea to reality. It is very different to sit around and talk on facetime or messenger and shape and create a show, its very different when you pack all of your stuff into forteen suitcases and then have to get yourself to the airport and fly from Sweden to America. This and so much more we get into in this conversation abour converting dreams, hopes and imagination into reality.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11557795 Tue, 27 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0100 7699 3 65 full false 64 - Creating New Realities - theWay 35 64 - Creating New Realities - theWay 35 In this episode I have a conversation with myself about shows as authentic dialogic creations. By looking at what a dialogue is and about what happens when we engage in a real conversation I believe we can glean some valuable insights that can be powerful when used in our Shows.

"Only by connecting with another person, face to face, and by wholeheartedly engaging with ideas, by asking the questions that arise in you as the idea develops in concert between the dialoguing parties can living truth be arrived at."

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I have a conversation with myself about shows as authentic dialogic creations. By looking at what a dialogue is and about what happens when we engage in a real conversation I believe we can glean some valuable insights that can be powerful when used in our Shows.

"Only by connecting with another person, face to face, and by wholeheartedly engaging with ideas, by asking the questions that arise in you as the idea develops in concert between the dialoguing parties can living truth be arrived at."

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11858468 Tue, 13 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0100 3153 2 64 full false 63 - Shows Made us Human - theWay 34 63 - Shows Made us Human - theWay 34 This is a rebuttal to all those who think art is something which is not necesarry. That it is something which we can do without. In one sense they migth be right. You can live without art, survivive, but can you thrive? I don't think so. And I don't think we would have gotten to where we are now, meaning I don't think we would have become humans without Shows, without showing, without art.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This is a rebuttal to all those who think art is something which is not necesarry. That it is something which we can do without. In one sense they migth be right. You can live without art, survivive, but can you thrive? I don't think so. And I don't think we would have gotten to where we are now, meaning I don't think we would have become humans without Shows, without showing, without art.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11653240 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0100 2908 2 63 full false 62 - the Showman's Two Homes - theWay33 62 - the Showman's Two Homes - theWay33 In todays episode we get reaquainted with the two homes which any true performer and Showman inhabits. For the Showman lives his life in the Outer Geography but much of what he does there is planning and scheming and preparing the Acts and Material which will allow him to get to his ellusive and hard to get to second home...

links:

here is a very cool show featuring Mortenn - its in Danish, but flip on the subtitles and enjoy his very sweet and particular kind of crazy.

This is a showreel for Nick Difatte who had me laughing so hard I cried! Not only funny but such a great guy to hang out with!

This is a link to a show with Charlie Caper and Malin Nilsson. It's not Minor Miracles, but a streamed 40 min show wich aired during the pandemic. This will at least give you the flavour of their brand of magic.

and here is a link to a cool little short film with Mario the Maker Magician and his robot friend Mr Lamp.
...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In todays episode we get reaquainted with the two homes which any true performer and Showman inhabits. For the Showman lives his life in the Outer Geography but much of what he does there is planning and scheming and preparing the Acts and Material which will allow him to get to his ellusive and hard to get to second home...

links:

here is a very cool show featuring Mortenn - its in Danish, but flip on the subtitles and enjoy his very sweet and particular kind of crazy.

This is a showreel for Nick Difatte who had me laughing so hard I cried! Not only funny but such a great guy to hang out with!

This is a link to a show with Charlie Caper and Malin Nilsson. It's not Minor Miracles, but a streamed 40 min show wich aired during the pandemic. This will at least give you the flavour of their brand of magic.

and here is a link to a cool little short film with Mario the Maker Magician and his robot friend Mr Lamp.
...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11579599 Tue, 15 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0100 1783 2 62 full false 61 - Exclusively Human? - theWay 32 61 - Exclusively Human? - theWay 32 Are Shows exlusively human phenomena? Are the artful creations of other animals the same as what we human's think of as art? and is the artful behaviour of animals related to, as in the actual evolutionary antecedent of human art?

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Are Shows exlusively human phenomena? Are the artful creations of other animals the same as what we human's think of as art? and is the artful behaviour of animals related to, as in the actual evolutionary antecedent of human art?

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11376788 Tue, 01 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0100 3422 2 61 full false 60 - the Show: a Creation Story - theWay 31 60 - the Show: a Creation Story - theWay 31 We are moving into the realm of Shows, the fourth and final element of Showmanship. Shows are what Showfolk does. It is the doing which makes someone a Showman, it is the axel upon which all turns. To show how deep it is and important it is in the "mythology" of Showmanship I take a stanca from the Illuminated Showman's Manifesto about "the Showman on the market square creating a universe," and look at it next to the origin myth of my norwegian viking ancestors.
Depth is interconnection. To experience something as deep is to see in it many connections to many things, the more something is networked into environment, and many thought structures and emotions the deeper we experience something to be. In my life doing shows has been one of the most fundamental and continuing things. The people I'm with, the places I reside, the journeys I make, the things I read, the things that excite me have changed, but along my Way through life, Shows have been a constant. They are deeply interwoven with my experience and idea of myself and my identity. It's this depth of connection to me I want to convery by making the creation of a show paralell with the creationg of the universe. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> We are moving into the realm of Shows, the fourth and final element of Showmanship. Shows are what Showfolk does. It is the doing which makes someone a Showman, it is the axel upon which all turns. To show how deep it is and important it is in the "mythology" of Showmanship I take a stanca from the Illuminated Showman's Manifesto about "the Showman on the market square creating a universe," and look at it next to the origin myth of my norwegian viking ancestors.
Depth is interconnection. To experience something as deep is to see in it many connections to many things, the more something is networked into environment, and many thought structures and emotions the deeper we experience something to be. In my life doing shows has been one of the most fundamental and continuing things. The people I'm with, the places I reside, the journeys I make, the things I read, the things that excite me have changed, but along my Way through life, Shows have been a constant. They are deeply interwoven with my experience and idea of myself and my identity. It's this depth of connection to me I want to convery by making the creation of a show paralell with the creationg of the universe. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11350544 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0200 1860 2 60 full false 59 - Transforming Time into Showtime. - theWay 30 59 - Transforming Time into Showtime. - theWay 30 This episode starts by giving a practical example of how to use the three stages of Attention/Inerest we explored last episode. Its a blow by blow description of my Tennis Racket act to illustrate how the stages of Attention can be found and also how they organically weave in an out.
Then I talk about the emergence of Showtime. We are remined of this use of the word and concept of Showtime from the Illuminated Showman's Manifesto and through that we learn that the ancient Greeks already named the two kinds of time. Chronos and Kairos. This is some real good and useful stuff for understanding how interconncted and meaningful the process of Showmanship is.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode starts by giving a practical example of how to use the three stages of Attention/Inerest we explored last episode. Its a blow by blow description of my Tennis Racket act to illustrate how the stages of Attention can be found and also how they organically weave in an out.
Then I talk about the emergence of Showtime. We are remined of this use of the word and concept of Showtime from the Illuminated Showman's Manifesto and through that we learn that the ancient Greeks already named the two kinds of time. Chronos and Kairos. This is some real good and useful stuff for understanding how interconncted and meaningful the process of Showmanship is.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11302602 Tue, 04 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0200 2807 2 59 full false 58 - Transforming Your Audience's Attention - 29 theWay 58 - Transforming Your Audience's Attention - 29 theWay In this episode we talk about how to make your Audience get more out of your performance. We talk about how important it is to not just to pop balloons and put stuff on fire for your whole show, but to transform the shock of Attention into something the Audience is more involved in. This is the transformation of Attention into interest. I go on to show how this can be used as a real practical tool for improving all aspects of a performance.

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode we talk about how to make your Audience get more out of your performance. We talk about how important it is to not just to pop balloons and put stuff on fire for your whole show, but to transform the shock of Attention into something the Audience is more involved in. This is the transformation of Attention into interest. I go on to show how this can be used as a real practical tool for improving all aspects of a performance.

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11302378 Tue, 20 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0200 2386 2 58 full false 57 - the Murder of Mystery - A Showman's Guild Story 57 - the Murder of Mystery - A Showman's Guild Story This episode ventures into a terrain we've not explored before. I will recount two stories, one is more of a prose poem, and one a more traditional story. Both have been lingering in the Carnival Chronicles of my Craft diaries for the longest time. The Murder of Mystery was written in 2010 and the first piece in the intro, called the Soul of the Carnival was written late 2008.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode ventures into a terrain we've not explored before. I will recount two stories, one is more of a prose poem, and one a more traditional story. Both have been lingering in the Carnival Chronicles of my Craft diaries for the longest time. The Murder of Mystery was written in 2010 and the first piece in the intro, called the Soul of the Carnival was written late 2008.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10829637 Tue, 06 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0200 1127 2 57 full false 56 - Curator of Time and Attention - theWay 28 56 - Curator of Time and Attention - theWay 28 This episode celebrates how great it is to work in a circus with other showfolk. Then I go on to explore what can be said to be the shared activity of all performers, what is it that a poet, a juggler, a dancer, and a teacher all have do? What part of what they do is the bit that unites them all into the sphere of the Showman archetype?

Links:
Maria Popova's brilliantly curated blog Brainpickings.org now called the Marginalian.
Folk og Røvere i Kardemomme by or When the Robbers came to Cardamom Town.
Sirkus Jesper.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode celebrates how great it is to work in a circus with other showfolk. Then I go on to explore what can be said to be the shared activity of all performers, what is it that a poet, a juggler, a dancer, and a teacher all have do? What part of what they do is the bit that unites them all into the sphere of the Showman archetype?

Links:
Maria Popova's brilliantly curated blog Brainpickings.org now called the Marginalian.
Folk og Røvere i Kardemomme by or When the Robbers came to Cardamom Town.
Sirkus Jesper.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-11009538 Tue, 23 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0200 2288 2 56 full false 55 - A One Man Circus, a conversation about creation with Morgan James 55 - A One Man Circus, a conversation about creation with Morgan James In this episode I talk to Morgan James about our collaborative process in creating his, now, multi-award winning show A One Man Circus. I have had the pleasure of hanging virtually with this driven and entrepeneurial showman for the last year and I had a lot of fun exploring and revisiting some of the insights and the ways we arrived at the decisions taken in creating a one hour family show. It's a solo performance as the title points out, yet there is more than one character appearing in the show. If that is surprising to the audinence, they're not nearly as surprised as I, or we, were when another character emerged in the process.

The regular episodes of season 2 are about the philosophy behind a way of looking at performance. In episode 41 where I talked to Jay Gilligan and episode 23 where I talked to myself and now this episode with Morgan I find there are patterns and techniques emerging and becoming visible on how the philosophical ideas and the Way manifests itself in the world.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I talk to Morgan James about our collaborative process in creating his, now, multi-award winning show A One Man Circus. I have had the pleasure of hanging virtually with this driven and entrepeneurial showman for the last year and I had a lot of fun exploring and revisiting some of the insights and the ways we arrived at the decisions taken in creating a one hour family show. It's a solo performance as the title points out, yet there is more than one character appearing in the show. If that is surprising to the audinence, they're not nearly as surprised as I, or we, were when another character emerged in the process.

The regular episodes of season 2 are about the philosophy behind a way of looking at performance. In episode 41 where I talked to Jay Gilligan and episode 23 where I talked to myself and now this episode with Morgan I find there are patterns and techniques emerging and becoming visible on how the philosophical ideas and the Way manifests itself in the world.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10984976 Tue, 09 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0200 8507 2 55 full false 54 - Attention Creates Your Reality - theWay 27 54 - Attention Creates Your Reality - theWay 27 This episode explores the moral implications of Attention on us showfolk, it also delves into how Showmanship is present in monkeys and the great apes, it explains how Attention allows oddballs and how individuals that might appear to be evolutionary dead ends can climb the ladder of social hierarchies.

Most importantly this episode expands the concept of Attention to give a better understanding of how important it is in Showmanship. To the attentive performer Attention is really the cash value of what performance is about. I try to show that by pointing out that it is Attention which infact determines you entire reality and how it is what makes your life and your relationships meaningful.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode explores the moral implications of Attention on us showfolk, it also delves into how Showmanship is present in monkeys and the great apes, it explains how Attention allows oddballs and how individuals that might appear to be evolutionary dead ends can climb the ladder of social hierarchies.

Most importantly this episode expands the concept of Attention to give a better understanding of how important it is in Showmanship. To the attentive performer Attention is really the cash value of what performance is about. I try to show that by pointing out that it is Attention which infact determines you entire reality and how it is what makes your life and your relationships meaningful.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10816922 Tue, 26 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0200 2958 2 54 full false 53 - Understanding Attention - theWay 26 53 - Understanding Attention - theWay 26 This episode explores the supremely important phenomena of Attention. This faculty lies at the core of what a performer does. For at its most fundamental what a performer does is to manipulate time and Attention. We are given some Attention by an Audience and what we do with their attention through the time that it is given to us is all we can do.
First I try to paint a picture of what Attention is then we expand our understanding by looking at Attention like three different kinds of light.

This is all very important for us showfolk, and for those that still remembers, or have taken into their daily work on the Craft of performing, from episode 35 on the Anatomy of Showmanship Attention is one of the four foundational elements that makes up Showmanship.

Links:

James William - expert on attention
not to be confused with William James - which was an american philosopher, historian, and psychologist, and the first exucator to offer a psychology course in the United States. A supremely interesting thinker, but not immidieately relevant to this episode.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode explores the supremely important phenomena of Attention. This faculty lies at the core of what a performer does. For at its most fundamental what a performer does is to manipulate time and Attention. We are given some Attention by an Audience and what we do with their attention through the time that it is given to us is all we can do.
First I try to paint a picture of what Attention is then we expand our understanding by looking at Attention like three different kinds of light.

This is all very important for us showfolk, and for those that still remembers, or have taken into their daily work on the Craft of performing, from episode 35 on the Anatomy of Showmanship Attention is one of the four foundational elements that makes up Showmanship.

Links:

James William - expert on attention
not to be confused with William James - which was an american philosopher, historian, and psychologist, and the first exucator to offer a psychology course in the United States. A supremely interesting thinker, but not immidieately relevant to this episode.

...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10816458 Tue, 12 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0200 2469 2 53 full false 52 - Foreplay at the Theatre - theWay 25 52 - Foreplay at the Theatre - theWay 25 Today we use a section of Goethe's faust as a lens through which to view our noble craft. I believe there is a suprisingly deep mataphorical connection between this monumental book from literature and what we do as performers. Although we start in the highbrow world of literature we end with one of the most practical application of esoteric exploration we have had along the way.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Today we use a section of Goethe's faust as a lens through which to view our noble craft. I believe there is a suprisingly deep mataphorical connection between this monumental book from literature and what we do as performers. Although we start in the highbrow world of literature we end with one of the most practical application of esoteric exploration we have had along the way.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10717692 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0200 3379 2 52 full false 51 - the Art of Entertainment - theWay 24 51 - the Art of Entertainment - theWay 24 I work my way to an expanded idea of what Entertainment is. By further examinations on the idea that entertainment has "enjoyment for the Audience" as a necesity in its definition.  I find this to be a valuable concept to understand what I do personally but also as a fundamental  aspect of what we as artists delivering art on varying parts of the entertainment spectrum.

"Entertainment is anything which allows the audience to effortlessly pay attention.
This all means that whether something can be defined as entertainment is dependent on the Audience’s experience of it. This places no restrictions on what you do, only how it is perceived and experienced by those watching the show. In this sense entertainment is a kind of limitation placed not on the material or content of the performance but on the on the nature of the Audience response. Art on the other hand is not affected by the response it gets from an Audience."

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> I work my way to an expanded idea of what Entertainment is. By further examinations on the idea that entertainment has "enjoyment for the Audience" as a necesity in its definition.  I find this to be a valuable concept to understand what I do personally but also as a fundamental  aspect of what we as artists delivering art on varying parts of the entertainment spectrum.

"Entertainment is anything which allows the audience to effortlessly pay attention.
This all means that whether something can be defined as entertainment is dependent on the Audience’s experience of it. This places no restrictions on what you do, only how it is perceived and experienced by those watching the show. In this sense entertainment is a kind of limitation placed not on the material or content of the performance but on the on the nature of the Audience response. Art on the other hand is not affected by the response it gets from an Audience."

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10638862 Tue, 14 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0200 2217 2 51 full false 50 - Art OR Entertainment? - theWay 23 50 - Art OR Entertainment? - theWay 23 There is a hidden move made in the popular imagination in regards to the relationship between work and what we do in our leisure time. This links up to the value judgment which lies implicit in how the world sees Art and Entertainment.
From there I sketch out a key difference between art and entertainment. To properly understand this helps the Way we look at what we circus performers, sideshow freaks, and performance artists do.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> There is a hidden move made in the popular imagination in regards to the relationship between work and what we do in our leisure time. This links up to the value judgment which lies implicit in how the world sees Art and Entertainment.
From there I sketch out a key difference between art and entertainment. To properly understand this helps the Way we look at what we circus performers, sideshow freaks, and performance artists do.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10638850 Tue, 31 May 2022 06:00:00 +0200 2230 2 50 full false 49 - Reverence and Relationships - theWay 22 49 - Reverence and Relationships - theWay 22 What kind of emotions and attitudes do you nurture for your Audience? How powerful would you say your feelings are? How does this affect your performance?

In this episodee I share some stories of how I arrived at my own personal attitudes. And explore in some detail how and why the personal feelings we have can benefit directly on the decisions we take in creation and the style we have as performers as well as in the way our Audience experience us.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What kind of emotions and attitudes do you nurture for your Audience? How powerful would you say your feelings are? How does this affect your performance?

In this episodee I share some stories of how I arrived at my own personal attitudes. And explore in some detail how and why the personal feelings we have can benefit directly on the decisions we take in creation and the style we have as performers as well as in the way our Audience experience us.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10638828 Wed, 18 May 2022 12:00:00 +0200 2342 2 49 full false 48 - Check Your Attitude - theWay 21 48 - Check Your Attitude - theWay 21 What's your relationship to the Audinence? Have you considered that as a thing in itself? Something that can be worked on and cultivated? Also, have you considered how this relationship goes both ways? That you can create a mirroring in your relationship between the feelings you have for the Audience being mirrored back at you?
These are the topic I raise in this episode through some stories from my career as a Showman.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What's your relationship to the Audinence? Have you considered that as a thing in itself? Something that can be worked on and cultivated? Also, have you considered how this relationship goes both ways? That you can create a mirroring in your relationship between the feelings you have for the Audience being mirrored back at you?
These are the topic I raise in this episode through some stories from my career as a Showman.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10452210 Tue, 03 May 2022 06:00:00 +0200 3588 2 48 full false 47 - Understanding the Audience - theWay 20 47 - Understanding the Audience - theWay 20 Today we move the focus of our explorations to the next pillar of Showmanship, namely the Audience. The last many episodes has been exploring the idea of the Showman, ot the One who Faces the Other Way, but now the lense is pointed squarely at the ones who we stand before.
We talk about the generous position it is to be an audience. We might think that all they do is passively reveice, but that is not the case. To be an audience is to open yourself up to another. We look at some of the implications of this perspective.

Here's a link to the Clown Truth essay from Masters of Magic that I talk about in the introduction.
...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Today we move the focus of our explorations to the next pillar of Showmanship, namely the Audience. The last many episodes has been exploring the idea of the Showman, ot the One who Faces the Other Way, but now the lense is pointed squarely at the ones who we stand before.
We talk about the generous position it is to be an audience. We might think that all they do is passively reveice, but that is not the case. To be an audience is to open yourself up to another. We look at some of the implications of this perspective.

Here's a link to the Clown Truth essay from Masters of Magic that I talk about in the introduction.
...

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10448392 Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0200 3306 2 47 full false 46 - Our Responsibility - theWay 19 46 - Our Responsibility - theWay 19 Do we have a greater responsibility as performers? Once we get the Attention from our Audiences have we got  a role to play in making the world a better place? Because we can. We can make our shows count by following one simple rule. This is the topic of today.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Do we have a greater responsibility as performers? Once we get the Attention from our Audiences have we got  a role to play in making the world a better place? Because we can. We can make our shows count by following one simple rule. This is the topic of today.

...

 If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10359428 Tue, 05 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0200 2232 2 46 full false 45 - Looking with Cooperative Eyes - theWay 18 45 - Looking with Cooperative Eyes - theWay 18 Today we take a look at eyes. Why does our eyes look the way they look? What can this tell us about our ancestors evolutionary past, and thus about human nature?

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can support the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Today we take a look at eyes. Why does our eyes look the way they look? What can this tell us about our ancestors evolutionary past, and thus about human nature?

If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can support the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10120933 Tue, 22 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0100 1685 2 45 full false 44 - the One who Faces the Other Way - the Way 17 44 - the One who Faces the Other Way - the Way 17 This episode gets to the core of who the Showman is. One who Face Others. From this simple starting point in a picture of Many looking at one, and the One looking back we touch on topics such as stage fright, practicing with mirrors and with video, on how something has to be seen or experienced by a human being to be art at all, how a meeting can transcend a Face to Face and become a Heart to Heart dialogue, and how you Face the World literally shapes, and brings forth the world you are facing.
This is a long episode, because its a powerful and deep episode with a lot of good stuff to blow your mind.

If you want to help suport this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on itunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Show links:
The Poet and the Mystic a conversation with Poet David Whyte and Thomas Huebl.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode gets to the core of who the Showman is. One who Face Others. From this simple starting point in a picture of Many looking at one, and the One looking back we touch on topics such as stage fright, practicing with mirrors and with video, on how something has to be seen or experienced by a human being to be art at all, how a meeting can transcend a Face to Face and become a Heart to Heart dialogue, and how you Face the World literally shapes, and brings forth the world you are facing.
This is a long episode, because its a powerful and deep episode with a lot of good stuff to blow your mind.

If you want to help suport this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on itunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Show links:
The Poet and the Mystic a conversation with Poet David Whyte and Thomas Huebl.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10120770 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0100 4202 2 44 full false 43 - Novelty & Cosmic Considerations - theWay 16 43 - Novelty & Cosmic Considerations - theWay 16 This episode starts quite personal and then moving through an examinations of what it means for some Material, or anything else for that matter, to be a Novelty Act, or new or for something to be a genuine creative innovation. To understand this I look at the difference between something being a novel creation by an individual in isolation and what that means in a wider cultural or community context.
Through this I end up bringing in the only phrases which repeats in the Showman's Manifesto which we looked at in episode 25. The Manifesto Poem starts with the epic words "I AM," and with this as a starting point we rocket off on some deep cosmic ponderings. As strange and deeply poetic as those explorations might be it pretty much leaves us right back where we started at the personal conundrum in my life of attempting to do the right thing for my Daughter, my Wife and myself. Three aspects of one whole who, as it turns out might be living a catch 22, dilemma situation based on our itinirant lifestyle catching up with us. A traveller citizen of the world migth eventually find themselves with a problem of geography.

Notes:
Poems:
Billy Collins: On Turning Ten
William Blake: Songs of Innocence and Experience and Augaries of Innosence
Books:
Henri Bortoft: Taking appearances seriously - the Dynamic Way of Seeing in Goethe adn European Thought. (Here's a link to a whole lecture series this man did at Schumacher Colleage in England.
Bjørn Kruse: the Thinking Artist. Here is a link to a lecture he held about his ideas from the book.
Hans Georg Gadamer: Truth and Method, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on Gadamer's Aesthetics
Vincent Van Gogh: Painting of a chair

Theodore Annemann the Jinx magazine

You can contact me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
suport the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode starts quite personal and then moving through an examinations of what it means for some Material, or anything else for that matter, to be a Novelty Act, or new or for something to be a genuine creative innovation. To understand this I look at the difference between something being a novel creation by an individual in isolation and what that means in a wider cultural or community context.
Through this I end up bringing in the only phrases which repeats in the Showman's Manifesto which we looked at in episode 25. The Manifesto Poem starts with the epic words "I AM," and with this as a starting point we rocket off on some deep cosmic ponderings. As strange and deeply poetic as those explorations might be it pretty much leaves us right back where we started at the personal conundrum in my life of attempting to do the right thing for my Daughter, my Wife and myself. Three aspects of one whole who, as it turns out might be living a catch 22, dilemma situation based on our itinirant lifestyle catching up with us. A traveller citizen of the world migth eventually find themselves with a problem of geography.

Notes:
Poems:
Billy Collins: On Turning Ten
William Blake: Songs of Innocence and Experience and Augaries of Innosence
Books:
Henri Bortoft: Taking appearances seriously - the Dynamic Way of Seeing in Goethe adn European Thought. (Here's a link to a whole lecture series this man did at Schumacher Colleage in England.
Bjørn Kruse: the Thinking Artist. Here is a link to a lecture he held about his ideas from the book.
Hans Georg Gadamer: Truth and Method, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on Gadamer's Aesthetics
Vincent Van Gogh: Painting of a chair

Theodore Annemann the Jinx magazine

You can contact me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
suport the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9629166 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0100 3678 2 43 full false 42 - the Way and the Universe - Poetic Mind Expansion 42 - the Way and the Universe - Poetic Mind Expansion To celebrate that we have reched the magical and intensly meaningful number 42 broadcasts here on the carnival underground I have put together a special sonic treat for you all. I have written a poetic exploration encompassing the dawn of time and all the way up until to day seen through the lense of Showmahship. This is a humble, no doubt flawed and incomplete attempt at developing the mythopetic space of Showmanship.
I have written and played all the music and created all the soundscapes used in this episode.

I hope you like it.


If you want to help suport this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on itunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> To celebrate that we have reched the magical and intensly meaningful number 42 broadcasts here on the carnival underground I have put together a special sonic treat for you all. I have written a poetic exploration encompassing the dawn of time and all the way up until to day seen through the lense of Showmahship. This is a humble, no doubt flawed and incomplete attempt at developing the mythopetic space of Showmanship.
I have written and played all the music and created all the soundscapes used in this episode.

I hope you like it.


If you want to help suport this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on itunes or Spotify.
If you want to  contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-10000558 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0100 3192 2 42 full false 41 - A Year of Creation w Jay Gilligan 41 - A Year of Creation w Jay Gilligan On this leg of the journey I am joined by Juggler Extraordinaire Jay Gilligan, a man who needs no further introduction amongst the practicioneers of the art of juggling. Or, perhaps to those of you who listened to episode 37 where I spoke with Jay about our collaboration. In this episode Jay and I go deeper into our process of creation and with all the themes and ideas which surrounds the creation of a show.
I would say that conversations like this one is a big part of what got me through the early dark ages of the pandemic. To have an ongoing always evolving conversation about developing my Craft and refining and coming to understand my process as well as adapting it to suit fellow artists has been a glorious highlight of all the uncertainty, restrictions and lockdowns.
I find conversation to be an amazing tool for myself to learn what I think. The dialectic nature of the back and forth is really fun. I hope to explore this further on this podcast, perhaps again with Jay and also perhaps with others.

Links:
ARE WE LIVE? Here's the Penn & Teller's brilliant Saturday Night Live appearance.
Jay's show REFLEX, which is a co-creation between mysylf and him opens january 28th 2022 in New York City

You can contact me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
suport the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> On this leg of the journey I am joined by Juggler Extraordinaire Jay Gilligan, a man who needs no further introduction amongst the practicioneers of the art of juggling. Or, perhaps to those of you who listened to episode 37 where I spoke with Jay about our collaboration. In this episode Jay and I go deeper into our process of creation and with all the themes and ideas which surrounds the creation of a show.
I would say that conversations like this one is a big part of what got me through the early dark ages of the pandemic. To have an ongoing always evolving conversation about developing my Craft and refining and coming to understand my process as well as adapting it to suit fellow artists has been a glorious highlight of all the uncertainty, restrictions and lockdowns.
I find conversation to be an amazing tool for myself to learn what I think. The dialectic nature of the back and forth is really fun. I hope to explore this further on this podcast, perhaps again with Jay and also perhaps with others.

Links:
ARE WE LIVE? Here's the Penn & Teller's brilliant Saturday Night Live appearance.
Jay's show REFLEX, which is a co-creation between mysylf and him opens january 28th 2022 in New York City

You can contact me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
suport the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9931291 Tue, 25 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0100 7672 2 42 full false 40 - Who is the ShowMan - theWay15 40 - Who is the ShowMan - theWay15 In this episode I propose a new way of looking at the distinction between Audience and Showman. I also use this new inclusive view inform me in my pursuit of meaning in life.

You can contact me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
suport the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I propose a new way of looking at the distinction between Audience and Showman. I also use this new inclusive view inform me in my pursuit of meaning in life.

You can contact me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
suport the podcast:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9612599 Tue, 11 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0100 2677 2 40 full false 39 - Finding Your Calling - theWay14 39 - Finding Your Calling - theWay14 In this episode I take a deep look at what the mechanisms are of finding ones way in life. I do it through a metaphorical exploration. How do we find what we love in life? This is not something that should be taken lightly. I do not give a step by step set of instructions that will allow anyone to find THEIR way, but I do believe that understanding some of the structures involved in this undertaking give anyone a leg up in achieving this important life goal.

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I take a deep look at what the mechanisms are of finding ones way in life. I do it through a metaphorical exploration. How do we find what we love in life? This is not something that should be taken lightly. I do not give a step by step set of instructions that will allow anyone to find THEIR way, but I do believe that understanding some of the structures involved in this undertaking give anyone a leg up in achieving this important life goal.

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9611686 Tue, 28 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0100 3487 2 39 full false 38 - the Eye in the Triangle - the Way:13 38 - the Eye in the Triangle - the Way:13 In this episode I tell the story of how I really discovered that a triangle would be a good symbol for Showmanship. I also reveal how Attention is perfectly represented in the symbol. The Eye. What could be more perfect. My enthusiasm of the esoteric and occult, the philosophical finds a lot to work with in this episode.

links:
Michael Tomassello - Becoming Human: A Theory of Ontogeny
Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I tell the story of how I really discovered that a triangle would be a good symbol for Showmanship. I also reveal how Attention is perfectly represented in the symbol. The Eye. What could be more perfect. My enthusiasm of the esoteric and occult, the philosophical finds a lot to work with in this episode.

links:
Michael Tomassello - Becoming Human: A Theory of Ontogeny
Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9427139 Tue, 14 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0100 3281 2 38 full false 37 - REFLEX: On Creative Process and collaborating with Jay Gilligan 37 - REFLEX: On Creative Process and collaborating with Jay Gilligan This episode will be different. This is the first time you will hear other voices than that of your trusted guide along the Way, Captain Frodo on this podcast. This is because for a year and a half there has been a collaboration cooking. Through the dark of the Scandinavian winter I had the distinct pleasure of going through an incredibly deep and all encompassing creative process with Jay Gilligan on his new and upcoming show REFLEX which opens in January 2022 in New York City.
First you will hear me talk about the creative process and a major mind blower of a creative clincher we experienced in the second day of our three day intesive In Real Life creation in Stockholm Sweden. Then you will hear a collaborative recording made by Josh Aviner and Lydsay Magid Aviner. This power couple are the minds behind the Hidaway Circus Podcast and are also producers of the recent outdoor production Stars Above which toured america last summer and also of Beyond Babel, playing New York City at the time of writing this. It's these two superstars who's producing Reflex. The final voice is of the inimitable Jay Gilligan who is an extraordinarily deep thinker as well as a world class juggler not just of traditional juggling but he also puts ART back into the art of Juggling.
I hope you like this side trek along the Way.

REFLEX plays in New York City from 28th of January till 20th of February 2022 at THEATER MITU580 in Brooklyn NYC.

Links:
This is the website for the show where you can find all the info you need and its also a really cool looking site!
You can buy tickets here. (at least you can until the final date...)

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode will be different. This is the first time you will hear other voices than that of your trusted guide along the Way, Captain Frodo on this podcast. This is because for a year and a half there has been a collaboration cooking. Through the dark of the Scandinavian winter I had the distinct pleasure of going through an incredibly deep and all encompassing creative process with Jay Gilligan on his new and upcoming show REFLEX which opens in January 2022 in New York City.
First you will hear me talk about the creative process and a major mind blower of a creative clincher we experienced in the second day of our three day intesive In Real Life creation in Stockholm Sweden. Then you will hear a collaborative recording made by Josh Aviner and Lydsay Magid Aviner. This power couple are the minds behind the Hidaway Circus Podcast and are also producers of the recent outdoor production Stars Above which toured america last summer and also of Beyond Babel, playing New York City at the time of writing this. It's these two superstars who's producing Reflex. The final voice is of the inimitable Jay Gilligan who is an extraordinarily deep thinker as well as a world class juggler not just of traditional juggling but he also puts ART back into the art of Juggling.
I hope you like this side trek along the Way.

REFLEX plays in New York City from 28th of January till 20th of February 2022 at THEATER MITU580 in Brooklyn NYC.

Links:
This is the website for the show where you can find all the info you need and its also a really cool looking site!
You can buy tickets here. (at least you can until the final date...)

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9582455 Tue, 30 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0100 3470 2 37 full false 36 - the Geometry of Showmanship - theWay:12 36 - the Geometry of Showmanship - theWay:12 Metaphoric thinking is fundamental to our understanding of the world. It is by likening one thing we understand to something else which we might not quite understand that we learn about the world. This makes us active participants in the creation of the world. Along the Way we have called this Map Making. They are never perfect but they do illuminate the world.
The best metaphores, or in fact all metaphores, are dynamic and goes both ways. If we say someone is like a mountain, then it's not only the person which takes on mountain characteristics, the mountain is also coloured by the human. We learn about both by looking at them with the intent of seeing what each has in common with the other, or the ways which they are the same.
When I first started to imagine a way to illustrate the pillars of Showmanship (Showman, Audience, Show and Attention) I landed on a triangle. This has one immidiate shortcomming, as it has three points and the pillars of Showmanship is four. The serendipitous thing about this though was that through exploring the nature of a triangles and what geometry has to tell us about them, I realised that I had landed on a very fruitful metaphore.
In this episode we focus mainly on the triangle as a symbol for the process of Showmanship, and next week we shall look into how I found the fourth pillar could be beautifully illustrated in the triangle.

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Metaphoric thinking is fundamental to our understanding of the world. It is by likening one thing we understand to something else which we might not quite understand that we learn about the world. This makes us active participants in the creation of the world. Along the Way we have called this Map Making. They are never perfect but they do illuminate the world.
The best metaphores, or in fact all metaphores, are dynamic and goes both ways. If we say someone is like a mountain, then it's not only the person which takes on mountain characteristics, the mountain is also coloured by the human. We learn about both by looking at them with the intent of seeing what each has in common with the other, or the ways which they are the same.
When I first started to imagine a way to illustrate the pillars of Showmanship (Showman, Audience, Show and Attention) I landed on a triangle. This has one immidiate shortcomming, as it has three points and the pillars of Showmanship is four. The serendipitous thing about this though was that through exploring the nature of a triangles and what geometry has to tell us about them, I realised that I had landed on a very fruitful metaphore.
In this episode we focus mainly on the triangle as a symbol for the process of Showmanship, and next week we shall look into how I found the fourth pillar could be beautifully illustrated in the triangle.

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9426873 Tue, 16 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0100 3187 2 36 full false 35 - the Anatomy of Showmanship - theWay:11 35 - the Anatomy of Showmanship - theWay:11 In this episode I explore what the essense of Showmanship is. What is the difference between a Show and Showmanship? How are they related? What are the fundamental aspects of performance? These are the questions we explore today, and for me these are what I found on the next level up, after last weeks exploration yielded that Showmanship is a process. This episode I build on that flowing foundation a structure I believe is fundamental not just to Shows and performing but to all aspects of human experience.

Links:
Jack London's story To Build a Fire.
A reading of To Build a Fire from youtube.

Support me:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I explore what the essense of Showmanship is. What is the difference between a Show and Showmanship? How are they related? What are the fundamental aspects of performance? These are the questions we explore today, and for me these are what I found on the next level up, after last weeks exploration yielded that Showmanship is a process. This episode I build on that flowing foundation a structure I believe is fundamental not just to Shows and performing but to all aspects of human experience.

Links:
Jack London's story To Build a Fire.
A reading of To Build a Fire from youtube.

Support me:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9396020 Tue, 02 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0100 2493 2 35 full false 34 - the Flowing Bedrock of Showmanship - theWay:10 34 - the Flowing Bedrock of Showmanship - theWay:10 Now we start looking at the heart of the Way, what is Showmanship. This episode and the next we look into this. The faithful listener might recognise some of this episode from the first season where we discovered that Showmanship is a process and not a thing. This is the flowing bedrock of, not just Showmanship but also, as I see it, the world. From this firm but flowing foundation we shall next week explore the anatomy of Showmanship.

Links:
-the School of Athens, the famous painting by Raphael of the philosophers of Athens
-Henri Bergson on Duration. This is a great introduction to Bergson's concept of duration. (this is a lecture in philosophy by Nathan Hohipuha, who's channel Absurd Being is a gold mine for those interested in existentialist philosophy.)
-an example of how little is captured of the Kamikaze Freakshow at the Institute of Contemporary art in february 1999.
- a little more about the Freakshow captured on my old blog, the Illuminated Showman

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Now we start looking at the heart of the Way, what is Showmanship. This episode and the next we look into this. The faithful listener might recognise some of this episode from the first season where we discovered that Showmanship is a process and not a thing. This is the flowing bedrock of, not just Showmanship but also, as I see it, the world. From this firm but flowing foundation we shall next week explore the anatomy of Showmanship.

Links:
-the School of Athens, the famous painting by Raphael of the philosophers of Athens
-Henri Bergson on Duration. This is a great introduction to Bergson's concept of duration. (this is a lecture in philosophy by Nathan Hohipuha, who's channel Absurd Being is a gold mine for those interested in existentialist philosophy.)
-an example of how little is captured of the Kamikaze Freakshow at the Institute of Contemporary art in february 1999.
- a little more about the Freakshow captured on my old blog, the Illuminated Showman

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9381630 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0200 3036 2 34 full false 33 - The Anatomy of Shows - theWay:9 33 - The Anatomy of Shows - theWay:9 In this episode I share what I see as the essentials of what makes a show. I divide it up into three constituents which helps me to analyse and to understand my own shows and shows that I see. From these constituents I can easily get quite deep quite quickly after even just a first viewing. I immidiately get questions in my mind about where the work is at, what is its focus and where I see room for development. This abstract otological exploration is perhaps THE most practical tool I have revealed, thus far along the Way. This is a core part of what makes up my lens through which I view the world.

links
Joseph Campbell and his Hero with a Thousand Faces
Zirkus Nemo - duck taming, and the world famous Smashing Man
Hermeneutics
Chekov's Gun
Ian McGilchrist The Matter With Things

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode I share what I see as the essentials of what makes a show. I divide it up into three constituents which helps me to analyse and to understand my own shows and shows that I see. From these constituents I can easily get quite deep quite quickly after even just a first viewing. I immidiately get questions in my mind about where the work is at, what is its focus and where I see room for development. This abstract otological exploration is perhaps THE most practical tool I have revealed, thus far along the Way. This is a core part of what makes up my lens through which I view the world.

links
Joseph Campbell and his Hero with a Thousand Faces
Zirkus Nemo - duck taming, and the world famous Smashing Man
Hermeneutics
Chekov's Gun
Ian McGilchrist The Matter With Things

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9292608 Tue, 05 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0200 3501 Circus, Showman, showmanship, philosophy, symbolism, symbols, metaphor, way of life, meaning making, sense making, understanding art, shows 2 33 full false 32 - A Human Map to Guide Creation - theWay:8 32 - A Human Map to Guide Creation - theWay:8 This episode explores what makes us human in a way that will become a practical tool for asking questions about our work and art. The understandings we will journey through is an important key to my personal way of approaching creation. As I have worked more and more as a director and co-creator with others I have come to understand that the things we talk about in todays episode is part of make my point of view and thus approach unique. First we look at perception then we go on to what I think of as three peak human faculties of thinking, feeling and doing.
These things might seem abstract but as we shall see in the next couple of episodes they will in very direct and real, practical ways be tied to what makes up the anatomy of what a Show is.

Links:
Ian McGilchrist is a very interesting man of considerable wisdom and knowledge. This links to a real short animated overview of the central idea in is monumental book The Master and his emisary.
If it sparks interest in you here is a link to more talks by this fine chap.

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This episode explores what makes us human in a way that will become a practical tool for asking questions about our work and art. The understandings we will journey through is an important key to my personal way of approaching creation. As I have worked more and more as a director and co-creator with others I have come to understand that the things we talk about in todays episode is part of make my point of view and thus approach unique. First we look at perception then we go on to what I think of as three peak human faculties of thinking, feeling and doing.
These things might seem abstract but as we shall see in the next couple of episodes they will in very direct and real, practical ways be tied to what makes up the anatomy of what a Show is.

Links:
Ian McGilchrist is a very interesting man of considerable wisdom and knowledge. This links to a real short animated overview of the central idea in is monumental book The Master and his emisary.
If it sparks interest in you here is a link to more talks by this fine chap.

Support:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
Contact me:
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9198753 Tue, 21 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0200 3369 2 32 full false 31 - Inspiration - theWay:7 31 - Inspiration - theWay:7 Today I talk about inner exploration. We look at a few ways of mapping our internal geography and then how to mine it for use in creation. I also talk about developing a sense of ones inclinations and desires to use them like the true north of a compass. True north is not necessarily the same as the course you set for yourself and where you want to go, but by knowing your own natural inclinations you can better take a step back from yourself to assess where you're really heading.

This episode and the next couple is heading about as deep into the foundations as we will get. This is not practical how-to advice, this is working of the human aspect of the performer, the Man part of the ShowMan. By taking some steps to explore ourselves in the deepest ways we can build our creations and ourselves of firmer ground.

 -

You can contact me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
suport the podcast on
Buy Me a Coffee.com /CaptainFrodo

Some links:
The end of Faith by Sam Harris
Jung on Synchronicity
an interesting article on synchronicity

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Today I talk about inner exploration. We look at a few ways of mapping our internal geography and then how to mine it for use in creation. I also talk about developing a sense of ones inclinations and desires to use them like the true north of a compass. True north is not necessarily the same as the course you set for yourself and where you want to go, but by knowing your own natural inclinations you can better take a step back from yourself to assess where you're really heading.

This episode and the next couple is heading about as deep into the foundations as we will get. This is not practical how-to advice, this is working of the human aspect of the performer, the Man part of the ShowMan. By taking some steps to explore ourselves in the deepest ways we can build our creations and ourselves of firmer ground.

 -

You can contact me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
or find out more on the Way of the Showman website.
suport the podcast on
Buy Me a Coffee.com /CaptainFrodo

Some links:
The end of Faith by Sam Harris
Jung on Synchronicity
an interesting article on synchronicity

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-9114894 Tue, 07 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0200 2964 2 31 full false 30 - Inner and Outer Exoloration - theWay:6 30 - Inner and Outer Exoloration - theWay:6 When we take the two geographies of Inner and outer space seriously we immidiately see that their landscapes are quite different and that to journey within them would need different approaches. Much like we need different ways to travel on sea and in mountains, what is appropriate for one is unsuitable for the other. Today we look a little at the different ways we can most fruitfully navigate these to different terrains.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> When we take the two geographies of Inner and outer space seriously we immidiately see that their landscapes are quite different and that to journey within them would need different approaches. Much like we need different ways to travel on sea and in mountains, what is appropriate for one is unsuitable for the other. Today we look a little at the different ways we can most fruitfully navigate these to different terrains.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8861899 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 06:00:00 +0200 2575 2 30 full false 29 - a Life and a Living - theWay:5 29 - a Life and a Living - theWay:5 In this episode we look at how  being an artist and performer affects both our lives and our livings. These to domains  merge for many of us. There is often very little separation between what we do for fun and because we can't stop ourselves from doing it, and what we do for work. I don't think what we do can be adequately described as being a job. What we do is more than a job, it's a Way of life. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode we look at how  being an artist and performer affects both our lives and our livings. These to domains  merge for many of us. There is often very little separation between what we do for fun and because we can't stop ourselves from doing it, and what we do for work. I don't think what we do can be adequately described as being a job. What we do is more than a job, it's a Way of life. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8632490 Tue, 10 Aug 2021 06:00:00 +0200 2397 2 29 full false 28 - the Frontier of Authenticity - theWay:4 28 - the Frontier of Authenticity - theWay:4 I believe we find authenticity at the frontier between our inner and outer geographies. Todays leg along the Way explores what that means, and to understand that we have to look at what authenticity means, at least what it means when I talk about it. We also look back at an essay I published in 2012 where I talked about Originality, and I look at that with the hindsight of this leg along said frontier.

Links:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
http://Captainfrodo.com
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> I believe we find authenticity at the frontier between our inner and outer geographies. Todays leg along the Way explores what that means, and to understand that we have to look at what authenticity means, at least what it means when I talk about it. We also look back at an essay I published in 2012 where I talked about Originality, and I look at that with the hindsight of this leg along said frontier.

Links:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
http://Captainfrodo.com
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8623531 Tue, 27 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0200 3168 2 28 full false 27 - A Campfire by the Wayside - a personal catch-up 27 - A Campfire by the Wayside - a personal catch-up This is an episode that's a little more personal, just a little catch up really. A few people have said they miss the little bits of personal updates about my current situation. I have decided to not include this in the long form project of our bi weekly exploration of what an outline of a map of the Way of the Showman would look like. SO, here it is. A random encouter in a hobo jungle by the wayside, a little catch up and a call to action for you to send me some stories, in writing or as recording and I could interact with them in future encouters by the wayside.

link:
Hideaway Circus Podcast episode 107 where Josh and Lyndsay talk about Lost Futures and their new show Stars Above. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This is an episode that's a little more personal, just a little catch up really. A few people have said they miss the little bits of personal updates about my current situation. I have decided to not include this in the long form project of our bi weekly exploration of what an outline of a map of the Way of the Showman would look like. SO, here it is. A random encouter in a hobo jungle by the wayside, a little catch up and a call to action for you to send me some stories, in writing or as recording and I could interact with them in future encouters by the wayside.

link:
Hideaway Circus Podcast episode 107 where Josh and Lyndsay talk about Lost Futures and their new show Stars Above. 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8889379 Tue, 20 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0200 1882 2 27 full false 26 - the Secrets of ShowMan - theWay:3 26 - the Secrets of ShowMan - theWay:3 Today we set off and our trailhead will be the word ShowMan. As we ask ourselves not just what that word means from an etymological point of view but more importantly as a way pointer towards the two geographies we will be travelling simultaneously as we walk the Way. The word Show-Man becoms like one of those signs with many arrows each pointing towards different aspects of meaning.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Today we set off and our trailhead will be the word ShowMan. As we ask ourselves not just what that word means from an etymological point of view but more importantly as a way pointer towards the two geographies we will be travelling simultaneously as we walk the Way. The word Show-Man becoms like one of those signs with many arrows each pointing towards different aspects of meaning.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8623412 Tue, 13 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0200 3138 2 26 full false 25 - What is the Way? This is the Way - theWay:2 25 - What is the Way? This is the Way - theWay:2 In this second trip down the Way of the Showman we will look at what the Way actually is. Right off the bat we discover that it has a kind of dual nature, which is revealed first around the fact that it is both a way to make a Living and simultaneously a Way to make a life.
We also establish that this Way is an exclusively human way. From that seemingly inane conclusion we get to the heart of what's at the foundation for every Act and every Showing and performance.

Links:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
http://Captainfrodo.com
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this second trip down the Way of the Showman we will look at what the Way actually is. Right off the bat we discover that it has a kind of dual nature, which is revealed first around the fact that it is both a way to make a Living and simultaneously a Way to make a life.
We also establish that this Way is an exclusively human way. From that seemingly inane conclusion we get to the heart of what's at the foundation for every Act and every Showing and performance.

Links:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
http://Captainfrodo.com
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8562561 Tue, 29 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0200 2235 2 25 full false 24 - Introducing the Way - theWay:1 24 - Introducing the Way - theWay:1 In this episode we begin our grand, exploratory journey of the Way of the Showman. In the last season I offered glimpses of what the world looked like through the lens of Showmanship. As this season unfolds I will try to give you a much more comprehensive view of the Way, what it is and the ideas, insights, wordgames, poems, techniques and methods that I have used to shape my own lens. The  distant and nebulous goal of this yourney is first and foremost to entertain you, but also to simultanously showing you that Showmanship and performing circus tricks for amusement and profit can be a profound affair indeed.
This is the introductory episode where I give you an outline and some thoughts on how I discovered and first began mapping the Way of the Showman.

Links:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
http://Captainfrodo.com
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this episode we begin our grand, exploratory journey of the Way of the Showman. In the last season I offered glimpses of what the world looked like through the lens of Showmanship. As this season unfolds I will try to give you a much more comprehensive view of the Way, what it is and the ideas, insights, wordgames, poems, techniques and methods that I have used to shape my own lens. The  distant and nebulous goal of this yourney is first and foremost to entertain you, but also to simultanously showing you that Showmanship and performing circus tricks for amusement and profit can be a profound affair indeed.
This is the introductory episode where I give you an outline and some thoughts on how I discovered and first began mapping the Way of the Showman.

Links:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
http://Captainfrodo.com
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8562454 Tue, 15 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0200 3795 2 24 full false 23 - Riffing on my Artistic Process 23 - Riffing on my Artistic Process Welcome back to season two! This first episode is a response to the short bonus episode on I published on my birthday, which I share with the pandemic. In that episode I asked you listeners if you were interested in having me talk about my artistic process. I did get some resposes to that in the affirmative, so here it is!
This is an unscripted conversational episode that describes some of my thoughts and actions in creating a 1hr20min theater show in december 2020. The pandemic was raging and I was creating it very much in a bubble, a socially distanced and physically distanced state of mind.
As you will hear this podcast, and by extension you, dear listener, was a big part of my inspiration for pushing myself into areas outside of my comfort zone in this show.

Pedro Tochas, this episode is for you.

Links:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
http://Captainfrodo.com
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Welcome back to season two! This first episode is a response to the short bonus episode on I published on my birthday, which I share with the pandemic. In that episode I asked you listeners if you were interested in having me talk about my artistic process. I did get some resposes to that in the affirmative, so here it is!
This is an unscripted conversational episode that describes some of my thoughts and actions in creating a 1hr20min theater show in december 2020. The pandemic was raging and I was creating it very much in a bubble, a socially distanced and physically distanced state of mind.
As you will hear this podcast, and by extension you, dear listener, was a big part of my inspiration for pushing myself into areas outside of my comfort zone in this show.

Pedro Tochas, this episode is for you.

Links:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
http://Captainfrodo.com
Thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8555343 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0200 3193 2 23 full false 22- Pandemic Birthday Ramble 22- Pandemic Birthday Ramble Happy birthday pandemic and happy birthday to me. My birthday and the day Showbiz Died is the same day. I told all about that in episode one. In this episode I reflect on my life in this crazy time. One year has passed. So much has changed, but the one thing that hasn't is my full on and full time dedication to the Craft of Showmanship. I am in the final stages of writing my philosophy on Showmanship. It will be about 400 pages when it finally finds its way onto printed pages. This crazy time has allowed me to delve deeper into the philosophical underpinnings of the Craft of Showmanship, as well as dive deeper into myself. All this will be revealed in the fullness of time.

Warning: ⚠️  This episode is more emotional than intellectual, there is no essay with deep and consice explorations on making meaningful Material, or scripting superb Structures, just me opening my heart a little.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Happy birthday pandemic and happy birthday to me. My birthday and the day Showbiz Died is the same day. I told all about that in episode one. In this episode I reflect on my life in this crazy time. One year has passed. So much has changed, but the one thing that hasn't is my full on and full time dedication to the Craft of Showmanship. I am in the final stages of writing my philosophy on Showmanship. It will be about 400 pages when it finally finds its way onto printed pages. This crazy time has allowed me to delve deeper into the philosophical underpinnings of the Craft of Showmanship, as well as dive deeper into myself. All this will be revealed in the fullness of time.

Warning: ⚠️  This episode is more emotional than intellectual, there is no essay with deep and consice explorations on making meaningful Material, or scripting superb Structures, just me opening my heart a little.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-8122919 Fri, 12 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0100 1975 1 22 bonus true 21 - Captain of the ShowmanShip - Poetic Audio-play S1 Finale 21 - Captain of the ShowmanShip - Poetic Audio-play S1 Finale In this final episode of season one, I attempt to give a few indications of just how grand and sacred our Craft can be seen. I do a deep dive into symbolic and mythological territory unlike anything I have done before in any other episode. I try to spin a new kind of poetic, sometimes rhyming narrative to explore our Craft, our Secret and Sacred Vessel, the ShowmanShip.
This episode also has a soundscape to aid you in you inner recreation of the mythopoetic indications I am laying out.
I play the recording of a song I wrote and recorded in 2013 called the ShowmanShip, and I am amazed at how well it holds up with the themes of my current nautical dreaming during the pandemic.
I also play a recording of a song about myself written by the incomparable singing showman Mikelangelo aka Michael Simic. The song was recorded in a hotelroom we shared in 2008. I love Michaels music and its a supreme pleasure to share this song with you all, even at the risk of aggrandizing myself. But he is a true artist and there is no lie in his fire, and even though I stand very close to the subject matter, I am sure you will share my love of it. The song is called the Ballad of Captain Frodo.

Shownotes:
Sir Ken Robinson on finding your element. A longer talk, for those who want more, and "she's not sick, she's a dancer."
Mikelangelo aka Michael Simic has been a tremendous inspiration for me in my journey as a showman. It was watching him perform that first inspired me to express deeper and more complex throughts with my art. He is a good friend, even if the Way only brings us together on the rarest occasion. His band the Blacksea Gentlemen stands as one of my strongest inspirations from the australian contemporary performing art scene.
Walt Whitman.
Oh Captain, My Captain
Scurvy

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> In this final episode of season one, I attempt to give a few indications of just how grand and sacred our Craft can be seen. I do a deep dive into symbolic and mythological territory unlike anything I have done before in any other episode. I try to spin a new kind of poetic, sometimes rhyming narrative to explore our Craft, our Secret and Sacred Vessel, the ShowmanShip.
This episode also has a soundscape to aid you in you inner recreation of the mythopoetic indications I am laying out.
I play the recording of a song I wrote and recorded in 2013 called the ShowmanShip, and I am amazed at how well it holds up with the themes of my current nautical dreaming during the pandemic.
I also play a recording of a song about myself written by the incomparable singing showman Mikelangelo aka Michael Simic. The song was recorded in a hotelroom we shared in 2008. I love Michaels music and its a supreme pleasure to share this song with you all, even at the risk of aggrandizing myself. But he is a true artist and there is no lie in his fire, and even though I stand very close to the subject matter, I am sure you will share my love of it. The song is called the Ballad of Captain Frodo.

Shownotes:
Sir Ken Robinson on finding your element. A longer talk, for those who want more, and "she's not sick, she's a dancer."
Mikelangelo aka Michael Simic has been a tremendous inspiration for me in my journey as a showman. It was watching him perform that first inspired me to express deeper and more complex throughts with my art. He is a good friend, even if the Way only brings us together on the rarest occasion. His band the Blacksea Gentlemen stands as one of my strongest inspirations from the australian contemporary performing art scene.
Walt Whitman.
Oh Captain, My Captain
Scurvy

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-6065542 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 06:00:00 +0100 4136 1 21 full true 20 - Homesick for Shows (or: how plague made me homeless) 20 - Homesick for Shows (or: how plague made me homeless) I have been feeling lost, like so many of you.
My Show was My home, now its destroyd by plague and I can't get home.
The Showman has his home in the space that arises in the meeting between performer and audience. We are all lost. The virus-plague has attacked our ability to gather in groups which means its infected and isolated me from accessing a place that's been my home away from home for my entire life. I explore the term Solastalgia - the homesickness you have when you are still at home, but that home has been irrevocably been damaged and altered by negative changes to the environment. Originally conceived of to describe the emotional state experienced by people affected by open cut mining in Upper Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia, I look at how our inner, interhuman home of shows have been open cut mined and destroyed by the pandemic. Since our Show-home is an inner experience and the virus is attacking our insides the inner geography thats being open cut mined is our souls. We all hurt and with good reason. I feel your pain fellow showfolk.

Show notes:
Object Episodes - Jay Gilligan and Erik Åbergs podcast exploring what juggling is now and was through the ages and where it can go in the future.
The Happy Sideshow - Experpts from a show we did in Stockholm, Sweden for the Subörb Circus festival in 2003.
Hideaway Circus podcast - Josh and Lindsay interviews who's who of circus.
the age of Solastalgia - article by the coiner of the term
Tedx talk by Glenn Albrecht
Solastalgia and Wildfire - a talk by Glenn Albrecht

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> I have been feeling lost, like so many of you.
My Show was My home, now its destroyd by plague and I can't get home.
The Showman has his home in the space that arises in the meeting between performer and audience. We are all lost. The virus-plague has attacked our ability to gather in groups which means its infected and isolated me from accessing a place that's been my home away from home for my entire life. I explore the term Solastalgia - the homesickness you have when you are still at home, but that home has been irrevocably been damaged and altered by negative changes to the environment. Originally conceived of to describe the emotional state experienced by people affected by open cut mining in Upper Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia, I look at how our inner, interhuman home of shows have been open cut mined and destroyed by the pandemic. Since our Show-home is an inner experience and the virus is attacking our insides the inner geography thats being open cut mined is our souls. We all hurt and with good reason. I feel your pain fellow showfolk.

Show notes:
Object Episodes - Jay Gilligan and Erik Åbergs podcast exploring what juggling is now and was through the ages and where it can go in the future.
The Happy Sideshow - Experpts from a show we did in Stockholm, Sweden for the Subörb Circus festival in 2003.
Hideaway Circus podcast - Josh and Lindsay interviews who's who of circus.
the age of Solastalgia - article by the coiner of the term
Tedx talk by Glenn Albrecht
Solastalgia and Wildfire - a talk by Glenn Albrecht

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5957761 Tue, 20 Oct 2020 06:00:00 +0200 2122 1 20 full true 19 - Seeing Through Illusion (Mystery & Science) 19 - Seeing Through Illusion (Mystery & Science) What will our firewall be between ourselves and the Svengali scamsters of the world? To day we look into science. We check out if there are any lessons to be learnt from looking at the Black Death in the middle ages, we discover a whole new tiny world through a home made microscope in 1683 in the Netherlands. This is the third and final episode in our explorations of how to get Carny Wise.

Show notes

Alexandre Yersin - the discoverer of the cause for the Black Death
On Unweaving the Rainbow - article by Michael Shermer
Lamia - John Keats' full poem where the unweaving the rainbow appears
Stephen Novella quote about science - Science definition
The Surgeon of Crowthorne - book about the murderer and madman who contributed the most word definitions to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Bifrost - rainbow in Norse Mythology
A short article on the Black Death
Anthony Leeuvenhoek - the original microscope master and discoverer of the world of the tiny all around us ( and on us)
Microscopic mites that live on your face
How the Easter Island Statues "walked" from the quarries to their final resting places.
Kitasato Shibasaburōthe - Japanese Co-discoverer of the pest bacteria
Yersinia Pestis - the bacteria which causes the Black Death
The Skeptiks Guide to the Universe book on skeptical thinking
Jim Stienmeyer - author and illusion designer

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> What will our firewall be between ourselves and the Svengali scamsters of the world? To day we look into science. We check out if there are any lessons to be learnt from looking at the Black Death in the middle ages, we discover a whole new tiny world through a home made microscope in 1683 in the Netherlands. This is the third and final episode in our explorations of how to get Carny Wise.

Show notes

Alexandre Yersin - the discoverer of the cause for the Black Death
On Unweaving the Rainbow - article by Michael Shermer
Lamia - John Keats' full poem where the unweaving the rainbow appears
Stephen Novella quote about science - Science definition
The Surgeon of Crowthorne - book about the murderer and madman who contributed the most word definitions to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Bifrost - rainbow in Norse Mythology
A short article on the Black Death
Anthony Leeuvenhoek - the original microscope master and discoverer of the world of the tiny all around us ( and on us)
Microscopic mites that live on your face
How the Easter Island Statues "walked" from the quarries to their final resting places.
Kitasato Shibasaburōthe - Japanese Co-discoverer of the pest bacteria
Yersinia Pestis - the bacteria which causes the Black Death
The Skeptiks Guide to the Universe book on skeptical thinking
Jim Stienmeyer - author and illusion designer

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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5857648 Tue, 13 Oct 2020 06:00:00 +0200 3471 1 19 full true 18 - Suckers Are Born Every Minute 18 - Suckers Are Born Every Minute This week we talk about deception. By learning about the many ways our senses, our thinking, and our limited understanding of logic can be used to deceive us, I am hoping to get us all a little more Carny Wise. We look at how our senses can deceive us. We look at cognitive biases, and logical fallacies. I really think we need to get our ducks in order and use the Way to get Wise to see through illusions. There are deceptions everywhere along the Way, in real life, on social media, and any other media, the only way we can protect ourselves is to change our culture, to get wise to the machination of deception and illusion. This is our project, this is the Way.

Make sure you click the inattentional blindness link! Watch it before you get to it in the episode.

Show notes.
Some cool ways to explore the blind spots in your eyes.
Finland teaching kids about misinformation and fake news in primary school.
One of our senses beyond the five - the vestibular system - our balance organ.
What our eye's blind spots are according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
A chart of some cognitive biases.
An even bigger chart of 188 biases
Generally about cognitive biases.
Why change blindness happens to us.
Intentional blindness article.
List of logical fallacies
Awakening from the meaning crisis - this is a 50 hour course by University of Toronto professor John Vervaeke. It’s epic and I am really enjoying it!

Support the show

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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This week we talk about deception. By learning about the many ways our senses, our thinking, and our limited understanding of logic can be used to deceive us, I am hoping to get us all a little more Carny Wise. We look at how our senses can deceive us. We look at cognitive biases, and logical fallacies. I really think we need to get our ducks in order and use the Way to get Wise to see through illusions. There are deceptions everywhere along the Way, in real life, on social media, and any other media, the only way we can protect ourselves is to change our culture, to get wise to the machination of deception and illusion. This is our project, this is the Way.

Make sure you click the inattentional blindness link! Watch it before you get to it in the episode.

Show notes.
Some cool ways to explore the blind spots in your eyes.
Finland teaching kids about misinformation and fake news in primary school.
One of our senses beyond the five - the vestibular system - our balance organ.
What our eye's blind spots are according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
A chart of some cognitive biases.
An even bigger chart of 188 biases
Generally about cognitive biases.
Why change blindness happens to us.
Intentional blindness article.
List of logical fallacies
Awakening from the meaning crisis - this is a 50 hour course by University of Toronto professor John Vervaeke. It’s epic and I am really enjoying it!

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5706100 Tue, 06 Oct 2020 06:00:00 +0200 3196 1 18 full true 17 - Carny Wise at the Social Media Circus 17 - Carny Wise at the Social Media Circus After our mythic and imaginative explorations I think it would be good to remind ourselves that there is a real world out there. We must not get lost in day dreams and "As If" thinking. Social media is a carnival and we aren't really aware of that when we enter through their digital entrances on our phones. This is a rally call for getting wise to the tactics of carnies along any midway, real or digital.

Show notes:

Seeing Patterns
truth spreading slower than fake news
Anton LaVey's Church of Satan
the Making Sense podcast: Welcome to the Cult Factory
the Social Dilemma Netflix documentary.
Jimi Hendrix in a field rocking out

Support the show

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After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> After our mythic and imaginative explorations I think it would be good to remind ourselves that there is a real world out there. We must not get lost in day dreams and "As If" thinking. Social media is a carnival and we aren't really aware of that when we enter through their digital entrances on our phones. This is a rally call for getting wise to the tactics of carnies along any midway, real or digital.

Show notes:

Seeing Patterns
truth spreading slower than fake news
Anton LaVey's Church of Satan
the Making Sense podcast: Welcome to the Cult Factory
the Social Dilemma Netflix documentary.
Jimi Hendrix in a field rocking out

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5634997 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0200 2669 1 17 full true 16 - As If! We CAN Change the World. 16 - As If! We CAN Change the World. We go on quite a wander this episode. Starting with the satanic principle of the Intellectual Decompression chamber, we then do a little loop around the importance of employing and becoming aware of what you truly want, your true will. After which we look how this links into the familiar concept of suspension of disbelief only to dive head first into a truly remarkable phenomenon. Something which could have belonged perfectly in last weeks Kingdom of Childhood episode, it's the strange but real As If principle.
I leave you with a prod to seriously look into what you really want, and how to use your shows as acts of magick.

Show notes:

Anton LaVey

Aleister Crowley's magick philosophy: Thelema
Richard Wiseman reveals some totally sweet magic!
Richard Wiseman demonstrates attention blindness. Very cool.
Richard Wiseman
Richard Wiseman's As If book

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> We go on quite a wander this episode. Starting with the satanic principle of the Intellectual Decompression chamber, we then do a little loop around the importance of employing and becoming aware of what you truly want, your true will. After which we look how this links into the familiar concept of suspension of disbelief only to dive head first into a truly remarkable phenomenon. Something which could have belonged perfectly in last weeks Kingdom of Childhood episode, it's the strange but real As If principle.
I leave you with a prod to seriously look into what you really want, and how to use your shows as acts of magick.

Show notes:

Anton LaVey

Aleister Crowley's magick philosophy: Thelema
Richard Wiseman reveals some totally sweet magic!
Richard Wiseman demonstrates attention blindness. Very cool.
Richard Wiseman
Richard Wiseman's As If book

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5537095 Tue, 22 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0200 3174 1 16 full true 15 - the Imaginary Circus 15 - the Imaginary Circus After I began releasing the episodes about the Mythopoetic Carnival I discovered a concept within the field of sociology which maps uncannily well onto our own project. I explore these similarities. The concept is the Collective Imaginary or social imaginary as its also called. One of the interesting things we learn from this is that it can change which excites me as I see us Showfolk as potential agents of change.
We then have a look at how circus has changed in the popular imagination in the barely three hundred years it's been around. We take a quick glance as to how this reflects, in a funhouse-mirror kind of way, the Way of the freemasons. 
To wrap up the episode we look at how Sherlock Holmes became realised, made more real, when a bank hired the imaginary detective a secretary to answer his mail for 70 years.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> After I began releasing the episodes about the Mythopoetic Carnival I discovered a concept within the field of sociology which maps uncannily well onto our own project. I explore these similarities. The concept is the Collective Imaginary or social imaginary as its also called. One of the interesting things we learn from this is that it can change which excites me as I see us Showfolk as potential agents of change.
We then have a look at how circus has changed in the popular imagination in the barely three hundred years it's been around. We take a quick glance as to how this reflects, in a funhouse-mirror kind of way, the Way of the freemasons. 
To wrap up the episode we look at how Sherlock Holmes became realised, made more real, when a bank hired the imaginary detective a secretary to answer his mail for 70 years.


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5432200 Tue, 15 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0200 3712 1 15 full false 14 - the Kingdom of Childhood 14 - the Kingdom of Childhood This time we take a short break from the Mythopoetic Explorations and instead take a look into the strange and beautiful Kingdom of Childhood. We try to understand the denizens with their peculiar vocation of play. Kids, as the inhabitants of the Kingdom are called, play for a living. Their weird, but also wonderful. I used to be one you know. I don't know when I left, but I know that I can't return.
We have to sneak a peak over the walls and through the keyhole of the gates since us adults have lost the ability to re-enter. Come join me on this trip to the exotic geography of Childhood.

Show notes:
Mitch Jones' excellent article.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> This time we take a short break from the Mythopoetic Explorations and instead take a look into the strange and beautiful Kingdom of Childhood. We try to understand the denizens with their peculiar vocation of play. Kids, as the inhabitants of the Kingdom are called, play for a living. Their weird, but also wonderful. I used to be one you know. I don't know when I left, but I know that I can't return.
We have to sneak a peak over the walls and through the keyhole of the gates since us adults have lost the ability to re-enter. Come join me on this trip to the exotic geography of Childhood.

Show notes:
Mitch Jones' excellent article.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5331352 Tue, 08 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0200 2677 1 14 full false 13 - Get Into It (Secret Doorway) 13 - Get Into It (Secret Doorway) The concept of the carnival of dreams seems so abstract. This is the opposite of a real world carnival. Today we explore the tarot as a possible tool for creating a mental midway, a carnival that comes to your town as you lay them out on the table, and thus by looking at them we can take a more concrete walk down a manifestation of the Mythopoetic Midway.

I want there to be some more practical aspects to this project. This is one such attempt.


Show notes:
Jung and Tarot
Jung's lecture on tarot
Alejandro Jodorowski on tarot
Jung's collective unconscious
T S Eliot Four quartets 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> The concept of the carnival of dreams seems so abstract. This is the opposite of a real world carnival. Today we explore the tarot as a possible tool for creating a mental midway, a carnival that comes to your town as you lay them out on the table, and thus by looking at them we can take a more concrete walk down a manifestation of the Mythopoetic Midway.

I want there to be some more practical aspects to this project. This is one such attempt.


Show notes:
Jung and Tarot
Jung's lecture on tarot
Alejandro Jodorowski on tarot
Jung's collective unconscious
T S Eliot Four quartets 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Buzzsprout-5197753 Tue, 01 Sep 2020 07:00:00 +0200 3397 1 13 full true 12 - Strange Loops 12 - Strange Loops The path we walk in todays episode goes from the gutters and all the way into sacred, religious territory. We start with the lowbrow, in the trash stratum, we explore the gutter, dreaming of the stars. We then explore dreams and the night, and its transformative powers, before morphing from the dream landscapes into transcendent experiences and how they have the power to change your life and your view of the world.
Before we start our main walk we try to understand what a metaphor is, and what kind of metaphors are the most fertile. We also get another poem by The Australian Master Showman turned poet, Shep Huntly, called the Reprobates Lament.

Show notes:
Scott Nery's blog - A daily source of ideas, and inspiration.
Shep Huntly - poet and Showman. This is his website, but if you want to find his poems look him up on Facebook.
Art inspired by dreams
Freud - the Interpretation of Dreams
Mircea Eliade Interesting dude, philosopher and historian of Religion
a chapter from Eliade's book the Sacred and the Profane, on homogeneity of space and hierophany.
Johns Hopkins study - on trancendental experiences drug induced and non drug induced.
 
 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> The path we walk in todays episode goes from the gutters and all the way into sacred, religious territory. We start with the lowbrow, in the trash stratum, we explore the gutter, dreaming of the stars. We then explore dreams and the night, and its transformative powers, before morphing from the dream landscapes into transcendent experiences and how they have the power to change your life and your view of the world.
Before we start our main walk we try to understand what a metaphor is, and what kind of metaphors are the most fertile. We also get another poem by The Australian Master Showman turned poet, Shep Huntly, called the Reprobates Lament.

Show notes:
Scott Nery's blog - A daily source of ideas, and inspiration.
Shep Huntly - poet and Showman. This is his website, but if you want to find his poems look him up on Facebook.
Art inspired by dreams
Freud - the Interpretation of Dreams
Mircea Eliade Interesting dude, philosopher and historian of Religion
a chapter from Eliade's book the Sacred and the Profane, on homogeneity of space and hierophany.
Johns Hopkins study - on trancendental experiences drug induced and non drug induced.
 
 

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5121988 Tue, 25 Aug 2020 07:00:00 +0200 3015 1 12 full false 11 - Sexual Selection of Carnival Attractions 11 - Sexual Selection of Carnival Attractions Strange days are upon us. Some are calling for the abolishment of 2020, others are asking for their money back and are refusing to add this year to their sequence of birthdays. But I am asking for a radical rethinking of the time given to us by the Pandemic. Get cracking with the creating!
Revolution, evolution, sexual and other selection as how the female of the species shapes the males to their liking.
The Carnival is an organism subjected to the same laws of nature the rest of biology struggles under. Like the constrictions placed on us Showfolk by the current pandemic there are various selection processes working on the carnival, both the Outer and the Inner. We learn one of the great secrets of Illuminated Showmanship, how it came to mirror the human soul.

Show Notes:
Alan Watts - What if money was no object.
Austin Kleon - Steal Like an Artist
Before and after shots of clean air in India.
Tolkien quote "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
Little Egypt article with links to clips.
Little Egypts filmed by Edison
Darwin's letter to Asa Gray where he says: "The sight of a feather in a peacock’s tail, whenever I gaze at it, makes me sick!"
Evolution of Whales - 2nd episode of an excellent PBS documentary.
Pakicetus - Dog-like whale ancestor

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Strange days are upon us. Some are calling for the abolishment of 2020, others are asking for their money back and are refusing to add this year to their sequence of birthdays. But I am asking for a radical rethinking of the time given to us by the Pandemic. Get cracking with the creating!
Revolution, evolution, sexual and other selection as how the female of the species shapes the males to their liking.
The Carnival is an organism subjected to the same laws of nature the rest of biology struggles under. Like the constrictions placed on us Showfolk by the current pandemic there are various selection processes working on the carnival, both the Outer and the Inner. We learn one of the great secrets of Illuminated Showmanship, how it came to mirror the human soul.

Show Notes:
Alan Watts - What if money was no object.
Austin Kleon - Steal Like an Artist
Before and after shots of clean air in India.
Tolkien quote "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
Little Egypt article with links to clips.
Little Egypts filmed by Edison
Darwin's letter to Asa Gray where he says: "The sight of a feather in a peacock’s tail, whenever I gaze at it, makes me sick!"
Evolution of Whales - 2nd episode of an excellent PBS documentary.
Pakicetus - Dog-like whale ancestor

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-5034872 Tue, 18 Aug 2020 06:00:00 +0200 3135 1 11 full false 10 - the Carny & the Circus Princess 10 - the Carny & the Circus Princess We try to understand what this special carnival is, what's its nature? It is not your regular down and out collection of rides and crooked, rigged carnival games. One way of looking at it is by comparing it to Plato's Theory of Ideas. We also take a look at the real world inspiration that lead me towards the idea that the carnival would be a fertile place for our mythopoetic seeds to grow. This place was a homegrown carnival Showgrounds in Adelaide, South Australia called the Garden of Unearthly Delights. So come with me on a journey to better grasp the nature of the Mythopoetic Carnival.

 Show notes:

The Space Cowboy
Plato's Theory of Ideas or Forms
Nancy Rommelmann's article: Lives of the Carnies
Garden of Unearthly Delights - The nature of this garden has changed now from the pioneer days, but its still amazing.
The Happy Sideshow
the Tiny Top
Trent "Birdmann" Baumann
Captain Frodo's Can Balance - Follow Your dreams
Circus Princess - The concept is well known throughout Scandinavia and as this link shows has made it into the danish dictionary.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> We try to understand what this special carnival is, what's its nature? It is not your regular down and out collection of rides and crooked, rigged carnival games. One way of looking at it is by comparing it to Plato's Theory of Ideas. We also take a look at the real world inspiration that lead me towards the idea that the carnival would be a fertile place for our mythopoetic seeds to grow. This place was a homegrown carnival Showgrounds in Adelaide, South Australia called the Garden of Unearthly Delights. So come with me on a journey to better grasp the nature of the Mythopoetic Carnival.

 Show notes:

The Space Cowboy
Plato's Theory of Ideas or Forms
Nancy Rommelmann's article: Lives of the Carnies
Garden of Unearthly Delights - The nature of this garden has changed now from the pioneer days, but its still amazing.
The Happy Sideshow
the Tiny Top
Trent "Birdmann" Baumann
Captain Frodo's Can Balance - Follow Your dreams
Circus Princess - The concept is well known throughout Scandinavia and as this link shows has made it into the danish dictionary.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4936769 Mon, 10 Aug 2020 22:00:00 +0200 2460 1 10 full false 9 - Mythopoetic Carnival 9 - Mythopoetic Carnival Mythopoetic means myth making. A grand voyage is undertaken, a quest is begun, we set sails on the Showmanship and seek a mythic continent, a land of tales, and characters, manifestations of the Showman's Craft. We seek a firm foundation in the lowest of the low. Arguments are made that this low ground is the Carnival. In all unearthing of meaning there is some digging needed, things will get a little dirty, but when the discoveries are resonant and fertile enough to plant a mythopoetic seed then perhaps we can grow an entire mythology of Showmanship. A mythological underground for the Circus and the Carnival.
This theme of myth creation is so expansive it will follow us for the next few episodes.

A few Show notes:

Joseph Campbell - Hero with a thousand Faces. Influence on Star Wars (& others).
Imposter Syndrome.
Owen Barfield - Evolution of Consciousness and words as fossilised reflections of consciousness.
Mythopoeia - J. R. R. Tolkien
The Inklings.
Freemasonry's two histories
Midway
Chicago World Fair
Bikini Kill - Carnival
Ferris wheel 


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Mythopoetic means myth making. A grand voyage is undertaken, a quest is begun, we set sails on the Showmanship and seek a mythic continent, a land of tales, and characters, manifestations of the Showman's Craft. We seek a firm foundation in the lowest of the low. Arguments are made that this low ground is the Carnival. In all unearthing of meaning there is some digging needed, things will get a little dirty, but when the discoveries are resonant and fertile enough to plant a mythopoetic seed then perhaps we can grow an entire mythology of Showmanship. A mythological underground for the Circus and the Carnival.
This theme of myth creation is so expansive it will follow us for the next few episodes.

A few Show notes:

Joseph Campbell - Hero with a thousand Faces. Influence on Star Wars (& others).
Imposter Syndrome.
Owen Barfield - Evolution of Consciousness and words as fossilised reflections of consciousness.
Mythopoeia - J. R. R. Tolkien
The Inklings.
Freemasonry's two histories
Midway
Chicago World Fair
Bikini Kill - Carnival
Ferris wheel 


Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4836578 Mon, 03 Aug 2020 06:00:00 +0200 3383 1 9 full false 8 - Where's My Art? 8 - Where's My Art? A beautiful poem sent in as a response to an earlier episode and then dig into a bit of showbiz history to get a better grasp on how to view the pandemic and apparent death of showbiz. I also go on a bit of a philosophical exploration in a quest to find the elusive thing which is my art. As you shall hear the reason for its elusiveness might be that it isn't a thing at all but a process.

Some show notes:

Shep Huntly Master Showman and for our purposes, poet.
Marx Brothers.
Joe Adamson's book: Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Sometimes Zeppo: A History of the Marx Brothers and a Satire on the Rest of the World
the Spanish Flu, (which did kill 50 million people, I got that right.)
Wolf diorama American Museum of Natural History
Alfred North Whitehead - process philosophy

Circus. Carnival. Showmanship. Art of Entertainment.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> A beautiful poem sent in as a response to an earlier episode and then dig into a bit of showbiz history to get a better grasp on how to view the pandemic and apparent death of showbiz. I also go on a bit of a philosophical exploration in a quest to find the elusive thing which is my art. As you shall hear the reason for its elusiveness might be that it isn't a thing at all but a process.

Some show notes:

Shep Huntly Master Showman and for our purposes, poet.
Marx Brothers.
Joe Adamson's book: Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Sometimes Zeppo: A History of the Marx Brothers and a Satire on the Rest of the World
the Spanish Flu, (which did kill 50 million people, I got that right.)
Wolf diorama American Museum of Natural History
Alfred North Whitehead - process philosophy

Circus. Carnival. Showmanship. Art of Entertainment.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4717412 Tue, 28 Jul 2020 05:00:00 +0200 1842 1 8 full false 7 - the Showbiz Devil 7 - the Showbiz Devil The circus, the cycles of life and of the year all come together in todays episode. The very first of my Carnival Cinema blog posts influenced the very first Way of the Showman podcast, which again is one big swirling mirror of the tumultuous relocations in my own life. The times they are a' changing and we showfolk are still struggling to find our feet in this new liquid reality. This is a show about beginnings and ends and how it is hard to tell them apart sometimes. Is this the end? or is it a glorious new beginning? A great leveller.

show notes: (not so many today)
I talk about
my dear friend Søren Østergaard from Zirkus Nemo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> The circus, the cycles of life and of the year all come together in todays episode. The very first of my Carnival Cinema blog posts influenced the very first Way of the Showman podcast, which again is one big swirling mirror of the tumultuous relocations in my own life. The times they are a' changing and we showfolk are still struggling to find our feet in this new liquid reality. This is a show about beginnings and ends and how it is hard to tell them apart sometimes. Is this the end? or is it a glorious new beginning? A great leveller.

show notes: (not so many today)
I talk about
my dear friend Søren Østergaard from Zirkus Nemo

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4646531 Tue, 21 Jul 2020 10:00:00 +0200 1897 1 7 full false 6 - the Soul Spectacle 6 - the Soul Spectacle Today the lens of Showmanship becomes a microscope that looks deep into the nebulous connections between Showmanship and the mystical art of Alchemy. By looking at the two things side by side we can develop a more majestic and esoteric perspective on the frivolous art of Showmanship. In many ways the whole project of the Way of the Showman is to go beyond the first and simplest level of jokes and tricks. This episode dives deeper. We sail our Showmanship out onto the Sea of Illumination and struggle our way into our brass helmeted diving suit before letting ourselves sink down to the Abyssal Planes to seek for hidden and forgotten treasures.

Some of the things I mention.

The Clown Manifesto by Nalle Laanele
The Lost Knowledge of the Imagination by Gary Lachman
Philosophers Stone
the book of the Law by Aleister Crowley

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Today the lens of Showmanship becomes a microscope that looks deep into the nebulous connections between Showmanship and the mystical art of Alchemy. By looking at the two things side by side we can develop a more majestic and esoteric perspective on the frivolous art of Showmanship. In many ways the whole project of the Way of the Showman is to go beyond the first and simplest level of jokes and tricks. This episode dives deeper. We sail our Showmanship out onto the Sea of Illumination and struggle our way into our brass helmeted diving suit before letting ourselves sink down to the Abyssal Planes to seek for hidden and forgotten treasures.

Some of the things I mention.

The Clown Manifesto by Nalle Laanele
The Lost Knowledge of the Imagination by Gary Lachman
Philosophers Stone
the book of the Law by Aleister Crowley

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4561352 Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:00:00 +0200 1618 1 6 full false 5 - In Defence of Children 5 - In Defence of Children I have a few more things to say about constraints and limitations as catalysts for new work. I also spend some time contemplating other sources for meaning, now that the Pandemic has made Crowds and Shows into entities on the brink of extinction. We Showfolk must explore other avenues for meaning in our lives.
Then I delve into a deep look at children and how their attitude can be most informative and beneficial, not just for clowns, but for all the characters of the Grand Big Top of the World, as a Way to approach our new reality.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> I have a few more things to say about constraints and limitations as catalysts for new work. I also spend some time contemplating other sources for meaning, now that the Pandemic has made Crowds and Shows into entities on the brink of extinction. We Showfolk must explore other avenues for meaning in our lives.
Then I delve into a deep look at children and how their attitude can be most informative and beneficial, not just for clowns, but for all the characters of the Grand Big Top of the World, as a Way to approach our new reality.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4468283 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 05:00:00 +0200 1827 1 5 full false 4 - Clowns & Truth 4 - Clowns & Truth It has been said that the Clown is the Soul of the circus, and this pivotal figure, the fool, the jester, and his strange visions and very intricate dance with truth, is the topic of today. The Clown is at once the most ridiculous of all characters, yet there is another, much deeper and powerful side of the Crazy Wise Holy Fool. How did the fool become the first card in the Tarot, the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end? The truth is that I don't know the full extent of it but 
"We shall not cease from exploration, 
and the end of all our exploring 
will be to arrive where we started 
And know the place for the first time."
So, come with me, I will as always be your Captain, you are most welcome to dine at my table aboard the Showmanship.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> It has been said that the Clown is the Soul of the circus, and this pivotal figure, the fool, the jester, and his strange visions and very intricate dance with truth, is the topic of today. The Clown is at once the most ridiculous of all characters, yet there is another, much deeper and powerful side of the Crazy Wise Holy Fool. How did the fool become the first card in the Tarot, the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end? The truth is that I don't know the full extent of it but 
"We shall not cease from exploration, 
and the end of all our exploring 
will be to arrive where we started 
And know the place for the first time."
So, come with me, I will as always be your Captain, you are most welcome to dine at my table aboard the Showmanship.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4375265 Tue, 30 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0200 1713 1 4 full false 3 - Secret Knowledge 3 - Secret Knowledge I make a case for the constraints of these strange times becoming a catalyst for the future of Showmanship, and I share a personal tale of the two kinds of secrets which permeated my childhood. As Wordsworth reminded us, "the Child is Father of the Man," thus both streams of secrets lingers in me to this day.

You will discover secret knowledge and get a behind the scenes look at some of the techniques of the Magician as well as getting a taste of more occult flavoured secrets.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> I make a case for the constraints of these strange times becoming a catalyst for the future of Showmanship, and I share a personal tale of the two kinds of secrets which permeated my childhood. As Wordsworth reminded us, "the Child is Father of the Man," thus both streams of secrets lingers in me to this day.

You will discover secret knowledge and get a behind the scenes look at some of the techniques of the Magician as well as getting a taste of more occult flavoured secrets.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4278263 Tue, 23 Jun 2020 05:00:00 +0200 1908 1 3 full false 2 - Welcome to the New World 2 - Welcome to the New World There is a new reality dawning for show business. It's still illegal to do shows in Las Vegas. How can a Showman find his Way in this new world? I have been delving into the Lost Knowledge of the Imagination and experienced some consciousness expanding poetry. It's helped me see the stars a little clearer and allowed me to plot the course onwards for my Showmanship. This episode is about transformation.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> There is a new reality dawning for show business. It's still illegal to do shows in Las Vegas. How can a Showman find his Way in this new world? I have been delving into the Lost Knowledge of the Imagination and experienced some consciousness expanding poetry. It's helped me see the stars a little clearer and allowed me to plot the course onwards for my Showmanship. This episode is about transformation.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4193150 Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:00:00 +0200 1743 1 2 full false 1 - the Day Showbiz Died 1 - the Day Showbiz Died A blow by blow telling of the tale of how Showbiz shut down in Sin City, Las Vegas and beyond with a few thoughts on the future for a Showman in a world with no Crowds.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> A blow by blow telling of the tale of how Showbiz shut down in Sin City, Las Vegas and beyond with a few thoughts on the future for a Showman in a world with no Crowds.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Captain Frodo Buzzsprout-4098851 Tue, 09 Jun 2020 07:00:00 +0200 1503 1 1 full false Teaser Teaser A short introduction to give a feeling of the tone and themes and what this podcast is about.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> A short introduction to give a feeling of the tone and themes and what this podcast is about.

Support the show

...

After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.

You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.


If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.

If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.com
You can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.

Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.

If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

]]> Frodo Buzzsprout-4045718 Thu, 04 Jun 2020 21:00:00 +0200 262 1 trailer false