Life is a Gamble

Charles Star is a self-described podcast slut.  He went from lawyer to comedian and is now on a quest to do 53 podcasts in 52 weeks.Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction of Charles Small[00:36]  Podcast appearances bet[03:25]  No Homework and City Saint, Country Saint podcasts[05:57]  Transitioning from law into comedy [14:07]  Leaving standup[15:58]  Podcasting[17:08]  Gambling and sports better stories[20:33]  Legal career after temp jobs[26:07]  Civil asset forfeiture[29:11]  The Moth and strange legal cases[34:16]  OST realistic legal shows and movies[40:22]  Travel stories[46:15]  Favorite Las Vegas restaurant that is not in a casinoLinks:http://nohomework.websitehttp://soundcloud.com/hwpodhttp://davidhill.substack.com/p/introducing-american-gamblerhttp://nakamurayalv.com

Elizabeth Reichelt seems to choose the riskiest professions. I don't mean dangerous, I mean the chance of success is tiny, but the payoff can be huge. She went from dancer, to stand up comic, to television writer.Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction of Elizabeth Reichelt[00:38]  High risk and high reward professions[03:09]  Identity crises[06:10]  Moving to Los Angeles[08:25]  Passion for social work[11:06]  Playwriting[16:53]  Improv, writing sketches, and stand up comedy[21:46]  Assistant writer for Inventing Anna[21:24]  Becoming a writer[26:47]  Research on Bridgerton[27:56]  Cowriting an episode[30:32]  AI effects on writers[31:32]  Writing for networks versus streaming services[34:23]  Working while on hiatus, networking, and agents[39:34]  How can listeners contact Elizabeth?[40:06]  Advice for aspiring writers[40:44]  Favorite restaurant in Las Vegas that is not in a casinoLinks:http://Instagram.com/lizreichelthttp://Mobettahs.comhttp://Doublezeropie.comLife is a Gamble explores those times in life where someone must take a big risk, or when life deals you an unexpected hand. How do we decide how much risk is worth it?

My guest today is Andrew Wimhurst, author of the new book, "Thieving Bastards True Confessions of the World’s Greatest Cheats." Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction of Andrew Wimhurst, author of Thieving Bastards: True Confessions of the World’s Greatest Cheats[00:57]  Thirty years of book planning, interviews, and similar books[07:32]  Transcribing and editing interviews[11:42]  Changes in the cheating landscape[13:33]  Cheating in poker, the NBA poker scandal, and the x-ray table[17:44]  Andrew’s ideas  sequels or future  books about cheating [19:38]  The card mechanic “Bobby Machines”[23:48]  Cheats who get out of the lifestyle [28:46]  Road hustlers from the 1940s to 1970s[33:55]  Running Razzle at a casino in Cuba[38:47]  Financial reporting laws and the digital trail for modern cheats[40:17]  Cheaters problems with discipline and greed[41:42]  Andrew’s background in magic, card mechanics, and dice moves[45:53]  Andrew’s contact infoAndrew's Links;thecolddeckcompany.cominstagram.com/thecolddeckcompanyBooks Referenced;Thieving Bastards: by Andrew Wimhurst - https://amzn.to/4dS2s8xGambling Wizards by Richard Munchkin - https://amzn.to/4tLX7nBRoad Hustler by Robert C. Prus - out of printGambling Scams by Darwin Ortiz - https://amzn.to/4cchtkkHavana Nocturne by T.J. English - https://amzn.to/4cfsy2w

Today I speak with Norm Beck, a professional bridge player, magician, and friend about a bet he won, that turned out to be a big loser.Show Notes[00:00] Introduction of Norm Beck, bridge player and magician[00:37]  Norm’s biggest gamble[06:40]  Clever pre-surgery research strategy[13:07]  Hiring another doctor to translate information to family[14:49]  Getting into the gambling business[20:30]  Booking action on random events[23:28]  A billion dollar bet[31:23]  $500k bet on changing a tire [33:45]  “Win Your Line of Credit” blackjack tournament[41:21]  How to contact the show

Buzz Marconi moved to Las Vegas in the 1960s, and somehow transformed from an Italian kid from the south side of Chicago into Cowboy Buzz. It's a wild story.  Check it out.Show Notes[00:00]  Introduction on of Cowboy Buzz[02:07]  Moving to Las Vegas, working at The Stardust[20:53]  Brilliant mob casino strategies[23;10]  Tony Spilotro and Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal[27:19]  Becoming a shift boss Foxy's Firehouse[29:28]  Did certain dealers cheat players?[31:06]  A wild craps swing on credit and Milton Jaffe[35:20]  Milton Jaffe magic trick[37:06]  Opening a restaurant in Las Vegas[41:09]  Stories about dealers, cheating, and work ethic[46:59]  Cowboy Buzz's juice is revealed[48:51]  Naked women tanning at The Tropicana pool[55:53]  Becoming "Cowboy Buzz"[1:02:07]  Playing rugby age 73[1:04:51]  Meeting Max Rubin[1:09:05]  The first Blackjack Ball[1:10:30]  Being a clown diver at Caesars Palace