Analysis Is Not a Recipe

Penn takes in some movies and continues to ponder life after his back procedure, The Committee, running for judge and other thoughts on the election, a unique way to scout magic tricks for Penn's play, and lots more.

Author Susan Huckle joins the show to discuss her book, The Earth Is Flat?! And Other Things My Mother Taught Me: How a Childhood in the Evangelical Church Became an Adulthood in Conspiracy Theories. Susan's Pentecostal upbringing and journey to Atheism, experiences interacting with Christians, Flat Earthers, and conspiracy theorists while promoting the book, Penn and Susan's similar experiences with evangelicals, and, of course, Billy Joel.

Kari Coleman, co-writer with Penn on his new play and longtime collaborator, joins the show to talk her previous career as a fire eater and fake psychic, current experiences as an actor and improviser, finding two truths, remarkable collaborators in a way that make any other collaborators uncomfortable, the grieving sweater, Matt and Kari's thoughts on improv, and lots more.

Penn's stress test went better than expected so it's on to bad legs, a gift from Piff the Magic Dragon, Matt starts a new magical and musical gig in Las Vegas, the most polite person ever backstage at the big Penn & Teller Show, not everyone gets a trophy but everyone gets a photo, and lots more.

A surprisingly casual and familiar visit to the ER, Penn's average conversations, thoughts on the Billy Joel documentary, Springsteen's easy interviews, the weirdest lyrics ever, and lots more.

A bizarre coincidence on stage at the big Penn & Teller show, Matt performs in Chicago and dives deep into Penn's performing style while developing The Tricksters, tackling classics of both music and literature, Penn's hometown makes the news, and lots more.

Penn is back from touring the UK with Piff & Pop's Magic Shoppe and now in L.A. where he discovered he hates workshops but loves vegan cream cheese. A new failure, airport wheelchairs, how sticky notes work, Matt is writing and preparing to perform with The Tricksters: Inside Penn & Teller's Vault, and lots more.

Inspired by listener suggestions in a previous episode, Penn held a Zoom hangout and loose question and answer session with Patreon Members of the Congregation last month, directly from his back procedure, still high on pain medication. This is the result. Matt is at an airport, Reddi Rich is trying to steer the ship, and Penn is high.

In this bank episode recorded last month, Piff the Magic Dragon joins the show to reflect on the epic pre-tour performances of Piff & Pop's Magic Shoppe at the Magic Castle. What Penn and Piff have learned from performing with each other onstage, running around excitedly with a bottle, the real definition of a punk magic show, unfiltered thoughts on the wrong kind of mentalism, the second greatest magic trick Penn has ever been a part of, a surprise interview with an audience volunteer who experienced said trick onstage, and lots more. Piff & Pop's Magic Shoppe is touring the UK NOW! Tickets and more into at PiffandPop.com!

Penn's spine has inspired his performance, final rehearsals for Piff & Pop's Magic Shoppe inspire a discussion on the pros and cons of theatricality in magic, how Bruce Springsteen inspired Penn & Teller, Penn recalls the most starstruck he's ever been, and lots more.