Rephonic
Artwork for the Way of the Showman

the Way of the Showman

Captain Frodo
Play
Showmanship
Cirque Du Soleil
Child Development
Philosophy
Creativity
Magic
Juggling
Las Vegas
Performance Art
Performance
Circus
Mystere
Imagination
Audience Engagement
Comedy Magic
Freak Show
Theater
Audience Participation
Art

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... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes178Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArtsPhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for the Way of the Showman

Latest Episodes

A dragon suit doesn’t make you memorable. The work does. I’m sitting down with Piff the Magic Dragon in the Flamingo’s basement studio to get brutally honest about what it actually takes to build a successful comedy magic career and keep a Las Vegas ... more

What happens when you have a clear artistic vision for a new circus school show, but the funding catalog expires, the gatekeepers want something “easy to book,” and the words you use accidentally make it sound like a museum? Captain Frodo sits down w... more

YouTube

Free tickets should fill a theater, right? Then why do so many “sold out” charity nights play to rows of empty seats, and why do artists keep returning to ticket price as a stand-in for value? Jay Gilligan and I pick up our Malmö hotel-room conversat... more

YouTube

You can feel the difference between a performer who “does tricks” and a performer who builds a world. We sit down with Malin Nilsson to get inside that world building process: how stagecraft, mentors, and sharp editing turn variety magic into somethi... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Piff the Magic Dragon
World-renowned magician and entertainer
Las Vegas, Flamingo show; touring shows with Penn Gillette
Episode: 177 - Piff the Magic Dragon on How You Turn 20 Minutes Into 90
Malin Nilsson
Folk circus master and magic creator from Sweden
Independent artist / show creator
Episode: 173 - Malin Nilsson - Why Art Still Matters when the World is on Fire - 1 of 2
Menno van Dyke
Artistic Director of Circusstaad Festival
Circusstaad Festival (Rotterdam)
Episode: 169 - Menno Van Dyke Juggler and artistic director of Circusstaad - Part 1 of 2
David Cuff
Performance artist associated with Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller
Episode: 165 - A Philosophical Map Of Showmanship - A live talk about my upcoming book
Jack Denger
Extraordinary juggler and subject of the episode
Episode: 163 - Redefining Progress with Jack Denger part 1 of 2
Ivar Hackscher
Introduced as a participant in an earlier episode
Not explicitly stated
Episode: 162 - How Artists Edit Reality To Tell Emotional Truths with Ivar Hackscher, Jay Gilligan & Frodo
Jay Gilligan
Primary guest discussing folk circus and related concepts
Episode: 161 - Folk Circus is Real Showmanship with Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo
Paul Dabek
Magician, London Calling creator, experienced producer
London Calling, Make It Rain Vegas (infrastructure collaborator)
Episode: 160 - From Poolside Jam to Cabaret Juggernaut with Paul Dabek & Captain Frodo
Clay Hillman
Guest discussing religion, play, and storytelling in relation to showmanship
Episode: 158 - Jesus, Bananas, And Baby Unicorns Walk Into A Church w Clay Hillman & Captain Frodo

Host

Captain Frodo
Host of the show and a renowned circus performer, director, writer, husband and dad.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 170 ratings
  • TommPercy

    «A must» for every artist!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheaBlossom
    Norway2 months ago
  • Another fascinating episode!

    It’s curious how profound and serious the life of a performer can be and, of course, they are the first to be affected by any changes in our society as demonstrated by our current crisis. Just listened to a brilliant and insightful episode about parenting and our relationships with our children!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Top October
    Australia8 months ago
  • My favorite podcast recommendation.

    When I’m having a conversation with my peers, podcast recommendations often come up. This is my favorite podcast to recommend! It’s not on everyone’s radar, but it will help calibrate everyone’s life radar for the better. Luke Burrage once told me that being called “childish” is a negative, but being called “child-like” was a positive. Relatedly, being called “selfish” is a negative, but the real positive goal for us all is to be called “self-like.” Listening to Captain Frodo on his gift of a po... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gowsley
    United Statesa year ago
  • Looking for Inspiration?

    A podcast well worth listening to if you want to hear great advice and gain some inspiration when creating or enhancing your own performance/show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pet Detective10
    Canadaa year ago
  • Another fascinating episode!

    It’s curious how profound and serious the life of a performer can be and, of course, they are the first to be affected by any changes in our society as demonstrated by our current crisis.

    Just listened to a brilliant and insightful episode about parenting and our relationships with our children!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Top October
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests consistently bring expert perspectives on craft and showmanship.
Listeners praise the host's calm voice and compassionate storytelling.
Deeply reflective and beautifully written; great for designing audience engagement.
Thoughtful, philosophical takes on performance that stay with you after listening.
Highly inspirational for performers navigating the current landscape of live shows.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#216
Australia/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts
#6
Norway/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts
#27
Belgium/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts
#36
Sweden/Arts/Performing Arts
Apple Podcasts
#80
Norway/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#95
Ireland/Arts/Performing Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

164 - Redefining Progress with Jack Denger Part 2 of 2
Q: How do you balance commercial work with creative exploration in juggling?
By planning long-term goals, creating multiple acts that can be scheduled, and using practical venues to test new ideas while maintaining revenue from core performances.
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
Q: How did Jay Gilligan first hear about Mystère?
Jay learned about Mystère through industry connections and was deeply influenced by its unique approach to circus arts.
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
Q: What is Mystère?
Mystère is a Cirque du Soleil show that opened in Las Vegas, known for revolutionizing the circus genre.
130 - Freak Shows: From Sideshow Curiosities to Modern Media Spectacles with Anna Maria Sienicka - Part 4 of 4
Q: Do you think there is something uniquely specific to the art of the freak show?
The freak show is a distinct art form characterized by its unique invitation to experience and confront the abnormal or unconventional.
130 - Freak Shows: From Sideshow Curiosities to Modern Media Spectacles with Anna Maria Sienicka - Part 4 of 4
Q: Is there a risk for the freak to become mainstream and to cease to be a freak?
Mainstream acceptance could dilute the subversive nature of freak performances, potentially robbing them of their edge.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Way of the Showman

What is the Way of the Showman about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful mix of long-form conversations and reflective monologues focused on performance, craft, and the philosophy of showmanship. Topics across recent episodes include aging as a performer, the balance between technique and meaningful audience moments, the ethics of borrowing material, and the evolution of acts within circus and street performance. Notable threads explore collaboration, festival programming, living archives of circus history, and the role of play in creating engaging live experiences. The show often pairs deep theory with practical storytelling, making it a compelling listen for performers, directors, and creatives seeking to deepen their relationship with audiences and their own work.

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Which podcasts are similar to the Way of the Showman?

These podcasts share a similar audience with the Way of the Showman:

1. Penn's Sunday School
2. No Such Thing As A Fish
3. WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
4. The Magic Guys
5. The Insider

How many episodes of the Way of the Showman are there?

the Way of the Showman launched 6 years ago and published 178 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact the Way of the Showman?

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What guests have appeared on the Way of the Showman?

Recent guests on the Way of the Showman include:

1. Piff the Magic Dragon
2. Malin Nilsson
3. Menno van Dyke
4. David Cuff
5. Jack Denger
6. Ivar Hackscher
7. Jay Gilligan
8. Paul Dabek

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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