the Way of the Showman
Captain FrodoPhilosophical 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
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 174 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PhilosophySociety & CulturePerforming ArtsArts | |||
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Latest Episodes
When the world feels like it’s burning, making a show can start to feel absurd and even selfish. We sit with that discomfort and ask the question out loud: what is the purpose of magic, theater, and live performance when war headlines and daily suffe... more
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 unk... more
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 ... more
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: J... more
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- 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 Podcasts5Top October
Australia7 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 Podcasts5gowsley
United States9 months 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 Podcasts5Pet Detective10
Canada10 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 Podcasts5Top OctoberAustralia2 years ago - My only real regret in life
I’m mighty happy about how my life has gone up to this point. My only real regret is that I didn’t know about this podcast from Frodo until over two years after it began. I was hit hard by the shutdown. I know millions of people had it harder than me. (Probably billions of people, actually—the difference between a million and a billion is just one of the sparkling gems of knowledge I’ve acquired listening to this.) But I was so depressed by not being able to do my little magic show I mostly sa... more
Apple Podcasts5Vegas MacUnited States3 years ago
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Apple Podcasts | #74 |  Norway/Arts/Performing Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #95 |  Chile/Arts/Performing Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #102 |  Ukraine/Arts/Performing Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #149 |  New Zealand/Arts/Performing Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #181 |  Sweden/Arts/Performing Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #199 |  Denmark/Arts/Performing Arts |
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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.
Where can I find podcast stats for the Way of the Showman?
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How many listeners does the Way of the Showman get?
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What are the audience demographics for the Way of the Showman?
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How many subscribers and views does the Way of the Showman have?
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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. The Steve Faulkner Podcast
3. Arkiv Samtal
4. No Such Thing As A Fish
5. The Magic Guys
How many episodes of the Way of the Showman are there?
the Way of the Showman launched 6 years ago and published 174 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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Where can I see ratings and reviews for 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. Jay Gilligan
2. Menno Van Dyke
3. David Cuff
4. Jack Denger
5. Ivar Hackscher
6. Paul Dabek
7. Clay Hillman
8. Adam Kugler
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.