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Description
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
151 Episodes
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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 th...
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 positi...
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 transf...
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, imag...
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 ...
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 f...
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 condit...
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 ...
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...
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 a...
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 flexibili...
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...
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 explor...
“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 3...
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 ...
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 pas...
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 performanc...
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 wor...
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 ...
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 ea...
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