A text transcription of this episode is available here.

03:44 After interruptions and delays, the first question!
14:10 Regarding clown noses and masks.
16:00 Stanley Allan Sherman (off-site) and the kazumpet trade.
17:50 The nose says, “Hey, I’m ready to play!”
21:10 March 2020…
23:30 Wild Rumpus Circus (off-site) and “The Parade”
26:10 The birth of #CircusInPlace (off-site)
31:00 Making masks and wiping out craft stores…
32:33 Spoilers!
34:18 Life Hack: playing “address book roulette”
35:35 The sticker exchange project.
39:30 “Hammerspace” and the magic of doors.
42:05 “The clown expands to fill the space provided.” - Ben Sota (off-site)
44:40 The trap of ‘unique, universal, and timeless’ material.
46:30 The origin of Avalon’s “stolen” diabolo act.
52:50 The world’s oldest fart joke (off-site).
54:10 Processing the trauma of potty humor.
56:15 “We are born hungry, and we’ll die hungry…” - Avner (off-site)
59:05 Jim Henson and the Conspiracy of Craziness (off-site).

Recorded on 2022-01-17.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

03:35 The first question!
05:05 The Existential Variety Improv Lab, 2014-2018. (off-site)
06:00 “Let’s do the weird stuff…”
08:15 The ‘radioactive clown bite’ story: Russ meets Dick Monday. (off-site)
13:00 “We’re all on the same mountain…” - Jango Edwards (off-site)
15:30 “Same show every night, but always different.” - Aitor Basuri (off-site)
16:55 Commedia del Arte and the Lazzi. (off-sites)
22:05 Avalon reveals that we rehearse this nonsense.
24:00 Avalon’s on-stage catastrophe, tech theater, and victory.
26:25 Performance video: When I’m Gone
32:00 The joy, danger, and responsibility of working with a partner.
33:55 Russ drops the stack of cards after riffling them. Mayhem ensues!
35:00 Sad clowns: The Tramp and Emmett Kelly. (off-sites)
41:00 Grimaldi (off-site)
43:10 The backstory and personal victory of Le Bele et Le Bete.
45:00 Marie’s rendition of Beastly Beauty. (off-site)
51:25 The time when Scrooge sold Candy Cane Jane to a child.
59:25 The “Really’s” of being a clown.
61:20 Vamping, defined by example. (off-site)
62:16 Avalon is two clowns…introducing the personas Jane and Chadwick.
63:15 The etymology of the word ‘person’. (off-site)
65:05 The clown persona: sort of like Barbie, but different.
67:00 Development of the multi-faceted persona(s) of the clown.
71:30 Trance States, mental models, and resistance to the transformative stuff.
73:30 “It sounds like woo-woo, because it’s a little woo-woo.” - Russ Sharek
75:20 The Chadwick video. (off-site)
77:25 Chadwick’s new clothes. On gemini and the web. (off-sites)
79:15 The Fediverse. (off-site)

Recorded on 2022-01-24.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

02:10 Find Russ and Avalon on the Fediverse. (off-sites)
03:10 Avalon gets jealous of Russ’ special friends.
04:30 The Titanic…too soon?
04:55 The first question!
07:40 Inkscape and free software. (off-sites)
08:35 Russ coins the term ‘dematerialismization’.
11:55 “If you don’t love the gross part…get out of it.” - Russ Sharek
14:25 Avalon the triple threat.
17:40 Flow Arts (off-site)
18:50 The Big Comfy Couch (off-site)
19:45 Davenport Junior Theater and Showtime Pal. (off-site)
21:20 The rarity of female-presenting clowns in America.
22:30 Put Me in the Zoo (off-site)
24:45 Jane and Lunette.
26:50 The (inevitable discussion of the) ‘creepy clown’ meme…
28:46 Avalon throws the Ringling Clown College under a metaphoric bus.
40:00 “Scary Clowns” are an American-centric idea.
42:05 Scary is one in a palette of emotions, why are you focusing on it?
46:25 “I want to be loved.” - Russ Sharek
50:25 “I like sharing the wow.” - Avalon Woodard
53:40 Sharing small, important wows.
57:05 “The clown is like a verb that ocassionally stands still.” - Russ Sharek
59:57 Celebrating the first dirty word of the podcast!
61:10 “An entire production studio in one red nose.” - Dick Monday (off-site)
66:15 Objective distance and the director’s eye.
68:15 “I hope someone cracks a joke at my funeral.” - Russ Sharek
68:20 Serious, not Solemn.
69:45 Honk!

Recorded on 2022-01-31.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

00:45 Nailing the brand!
01:15 Contact information.
03:35 The first question!
06:30 The birthday trope: Some poor schmuck in a costume…and it’s sad.
07:30 Payaso Fiesta, Mexico’s party clown and their work as an emcee.
09:48 Pro tip: before busking, check your local laws!
12:55 Busking teaches kids the ritual of directly supporting the arts.
16:10 The best hat line ever.
16:48 “Boobie boobie boobie boobie boobie ha-ha.” - Russ Sharek
17:50 Milton Berle and Fozzie Bear (off-site)
19:00 Backstage desperation, critical filler, and keeping the audience company.
20:10 How our “interstitial comedy” evolved out of tech theater.
22:10 Clown contrast: saving audiences from “Boobie Blindness”.
24:50 Russ survives the ‘running of the humans’ and finishes a marathon.
28:00 Rodeo Clowns are braver than you think. (off-site)
33:50 The philosophy of ‘The Gap’.
37:20 Being the worst kid in the best room…
39:00 Avalon didn’t explain herself to anyone.
43:00 Different schools of clown thought, which speak different languages.
45:00 Avalon, the polyglot, struggles in workshop because of language barriers.
50:30 Sacred Clowns: The Heyoka. (off-site)
52:30 Learning different approaches to the same tools.
54:51 Complicity: Where comfort, communication, and consent intersect.
57:20 “If you are doing, then you are doing.” - Pavel Karima
59:20 David Poznanter (off-site)
59:40 Steve Jarand (off-site)
61:50 The only clown that is difficult to work with.
63:45 Fixing the DFW Megalopolis and the five Quad Cities.
69:30 “New York Mob Voice” warm ups.
73:15 Losing a game of “nose goes” and getting stuck with a circus.

Recorded on 2022-02-14.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

01:04 Fastest first question!
01:48 Introducing Marie…
02:50 Fun Fact: mute means ‘many’ in toki pona.
05:35 Origin Stories: Marie has always been this way…
07:50 The enigmatic Frogus Maximus Rex
12:30 “If this were being run by clowns, we’d be having more fun.” - Marie Martin
22:00 Avner the Eccentric, a clown by any other name (off-site)
23:20 Clown is a four letter word in America.
23:50 Buffoon and Bouffon (off-sites)
27:30 “The clown never knows better.” - Avalon Woodard
31:10 Curiosity, makerspaces, and being a human rubber duck.
38:40 “Helping people like things is even better than letting people like things.” - Marie Martin
41:20 Stilt dancing, comfort, and boundaries.
43:05 The dancing habits of Tree, Foley, and Jane.
45:20 A stiltwalking taxonomy.
52:00 “Confetti Doom” at the Hora Loca. (off-site)
55:30 Sharing, and re-sharing, dances.
58:20 “Classic gags are like jazz standards.” - Marie Martin
59:30 The Whipcracker (video link)
66:15 “You don’t have to make everything new, just make it yours.” - Marie Martin
67:10 Avalon’s hot take: Clown noses do not squeak.
82:25 Dead and Alive, the clown’s “secret” handshake. (off-site)
94:20 “Gnomes and magma don’t mix.” - Marie Martin
98:20 Bonus email jingle!

Recorded on 2022-02-26.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

04:45 First question!
07:20 Giving people a chance to catch their breath.
08:20 “Every time I exhale, I’m capable of inhaling again.” - Russ Sharek
10:20 Avalon reminds audiences that there are good (weird) people out there.
13:35 Into the Woods (off-site)
18:30 Michael Courtemanche, human cartoon. (off-site)
19:50 Wild West Shootout (video link)
23:00 Too many thoughts on writing implements.

…

48:45 A return to the clown-related conversation.
50:55 “Slow the @#$% down.” - Russ Sharek
51:55 So. Many. Beeps.
54:30 Barbara Karger, Mummenschanz (off-sites)
63:00 Throwing pies with Jay Stewart (off-site)
65:45 “Don’t let adrenaline take you ahead of your technique.” - Jay Stewart
67:45 “You don’t need anything. Just Keep Playing” - John Gilkey (off-site)
69:40 “One thing at a time!” - Angela de Castro (off-site)
72:00 “ijo wan lon tempo wan” - #ClownWisdom, in toki pona.
72:45 Three Things! and Three Good Things!

Recorded on 2022-03-07.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

05:30 Content Warning: “Bodies are gross.”
05:50 First question!
07:40 The Acro Base: “The big person that gets between you and the floor.”
09:00 The Fart Flipper.
15:50 Focusing on the important things in the moment.
20:35 Why acrobats and aerialists perform to loud music.
32:20 George Carl (off-site)
33:40 Intentionally not meeting a hero.
36:05 ‘Pedro Pedro’ Campa (off-site, memorial)
38:42 “It’s ok not to know how the magic trick is done.” - Russ Sharek
42:10 J’Accuse! (off-site)
43:05 Almost 5 (off-site)
51:05 Circus Prop Definition: Diabolo (off-site)
51:45 Juggling for the Complete Klutz (off-site)
52:05 Kids Shenanigans (off-site)
56:30 Jane and the best breakfast.
64:00 Russ Sharek: Teacher of Arse du Idiote.
69:45 Improvised: Silly voice roll call.

Recorded on 2022-03-25.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

02:20 Coining the term “Sneatting”
03:50 The first question!
04:30 Circus foods
15:00 “Cotton candy, the fluff dreams are made of.” - Russ Sharek
21:45 The dietary horror that is the funnel cake. (off-site)
26:50 The wisdom of Big Bill
28:30 It all started with a bit of Creative Motion
29:20 Origin Stories: The debut of the Circus Freaks
43:00 Privacy and performance…
44:00 Free Software and seeing the code. (off-site)
44:45 Legal Disclaimer: Two clowns with a mic may not be privacy experts.
45:20 Avalon’s privacy musings. (off-site)
54:00 “Me time” and the space between your ears.
57:00 The Creative Commons (off-site)
59:00 The importance of small theaters.
70:30 The scientifically accurate amount of closet-filling ramen.
72:00 The next question…

Recorded on 2022-03-28.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

03:07 Content Warnings: Very personal stuff, injuries, and covid.
05:25 “We return to things because they are important to us.” - Stanley Allan Sherman
06:35 Our saga Begins.
14:20 Teaching Hands-off handstands during #CircusInPlace.
16:00 Physical training, contact, and consent.
21:00 “The body doesn’t speak English.” - Letitia Bartlett
27:30 Turnip Day! (Established July 20th, 2022.)
36:00 Russ experiences some trauma while talking about pain…
37:10 The difference between sensation and pain.
37:47 Russ has a brain lizard. (off-site)
44:15 “The holding of tension is the enemy of so much useful work.” - Russ Sharek
51:00 Liam gets fired by his (physical) therapist.
52:25 The rough, failure-filled road of returning to acrobatics.
56:00 Liam is braver than Russ.
56:45 The infamous Coffee Handstand Count: 205
62:30 Our saga begins, again!
62:50 The worst birthday present.
65:40 Amazing physical shape…other than the covid.
68:00 Proving the doctor wrong.
68:48 Long covid, the gift that has kept on giving.
71:45 The value of presence.
76:30 Our saga Begins, again…again.
80:20 It’s a boy! (off-site)
85:00 Introducing…Liam!

Recorded on 2022-11-21.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

01:00 A complaint about the lack of witty banter.
01:40 Liam is not on fleek.
02:35 The hat rack on the landing.
03:35 What episode is this? (Episode 10…)
05:40 This first question!
12:40 Otto Griebling’s Boxing Ring (off-site)
22:05 The 7 Blades (off-site)
31:45 Circus Lingo: Wallpaper Juggling, aka being a human lava lamp.
39:50 nimi mute pi jan nasa pona
41:00 Barney the Dinosaur (off-site)
42:00 A Rhino gets their name in a trial by fire.
50:00 The many hats of Jan.
57:00 “We’re not assigning meaning. We’re allowing meaning.” - Russ Sharek
65:45 Scientific support of weird noises during physical exertion. (off-site)

Recorded on 2022-12-05.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

01:10 100% performing hat free.
02:45 Excited to help people get calm.
03:55 “Never underestimate the power of a silly hat.” #ClownWisdom
04:21 First question!
06:48 The mystery of Clown Car One.
14:55 “They don’t let Rhinos into shopping malls!” - Not Rhino
20:43 “It’s important not to know too much.” #ClownWisdom
21:20 Clowns International Egg Registry (off-site)
31:25 Sticking out your tongue on the radio, a guide.
42:40 Circus dinner theater: Salmagundi!, 2015.
51:30 Beeeees! (off-site)

Theme Remix by Wetdryvac (off-site)

Recorded on 2022-12-12.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

01:25 More details of the clown house. We have books!
03:30 An unshaven and irregular moment.
04:15 “but rather have all our our original rather well i”
04:45 The First Question!
08:25 The scent of baby powder and the dangers of cosmetics
11:45 Much love for furries…
17:15 Clowns: what you get if your fursona is a human being.
28:00 Gender, clown, and masks.
37:00 An interview with clown personas gone awry…
50:00 Angela DeCastro (off-site)
53:00 Foley, the blue-haired weirdo.
56:30 When defensiveness starts, the learning stops. - Liz Lerman (off-site)
64:22 Too weird for the circus.
70:30 ‘Chasing the train’ is a distraction from doing the work. - Liam Woodard
76:40 The Salad Clown
79:10 Dunking on the Earl of Sandwich. (off-site)

Theme Remix by Nobody

Recorded on 2022-12-19.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

02:25 The true definition of BS: Banter Sounds!
04:50 The first question…only not!
07:20 Winnie the Pooh wisdom. (off-site)
09:25 We actually get letters, and want postcards.
11:45 Hear This Silence
12:15 Virtual Show
13:25 Listen to the audience. #ClownWisdom
20:05 Jane plays, “Duck, Duck, Duck…”
26:15 The “Cup Song” is not international pop culture. (off-site)
32:40 When I’m Gone
35:30 The pop culture problem, featuring the Hittites. (off-site)
38:15 A brief history of clowns.
41:20 Exploring theatrical status.
46:30 Playing the Open Stage’s Host
50:40 My superpower is the ability to say yes. - Russ Sharek
62:50 Clown Skill Definition: The Bumble
71:20 The saga of “Donut Touch!”
75:52 Pointless Roshambo! (off-site)
97:30 Penguins and their puppy protectors. (off-site)

Theme Remix by Robert Goodrick and his One Bird Orchestra

Recorded on 2022-12-26.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

01:20 First recording in the daylight hours!
03:19 Schwaebisch slang lesson: Mukesekele (off-site)
07:20 The First Question!
07:40 The Baconian theory of Shakespeare authorship (off-site)
08:40 The Reduced Shakespeare Company (off-site)
14:08 The sanity of Hamlet, aka Subtext 101.
14:43 One Ham Manlet (off-site)

17:05 Content Warning

Discussion of Plurality, DID, multiple personalities, and identity.

Helpful Resources

• Plurality (off-site)
• The Plurality Playbook (off-site)
• Tulpa (off-site)

Related Show Notes

21:00 Etymology: Person/Persona (off-site)
24:50 Liam’s pet theory of identity and trauma.
31:40 Changing the lens on your perception of reality.
48:37 Bob Hoskins (off-site)
60:35 Chadwick outsmarts The Provacateur.

Skip ahead to 66:58 for the next question.

68:30 ‘Turnip Day’ qualifications and declarations.
68:44 The Handstand Factory (off-site)
77:50 This Show (at the Margo Jones Theater)
89:15 We did turn the room around! #CircusInPlace

Theme Remix by Malte Hollman (off-site)

Recorded on 2023-01-29.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

04:30 “Banter Topic” cards?
07:10 If you can fake naturalism…
10:32 Clown Yoga
13:13 The First Question! (on the third or fourth try…)
14:30 “On a break” from Friends (off-site)
18:49 Timelords and Almost 5.
26:28 An intentional (and not at all awkward) pause.
34:00 Keith Johnstone and the power of charisma. (off-site)
37:20 The only thing sexier than clowns is consent. - Russ Sharek
40:15 Mime is the Ballet of clown - Ryan Combs
40:22 …and ballet is the mime of dance. - Liam Woodard
46:10 Clowns as polyglots.
50:00 ASL lesson: “Clown” (off-site)
50:10 ASL lesson: “Circus” (off-site)
51:00 More ASL Resources: ASLU (off-site)
60:10 Commedia and Grammelot (off-site)
60:30 Shoe cameo.
73:45 It always comes back to farts.
77:58 The most epic (on-stage) fart joke

Theme Remix by js0000 (off-site)

Recorded on 2023-02-07.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

03:05 It’s official: Season Three!
04:50 A moment of disingenous foley work.
06:35 New Word: “meabanfaffing”
11:52 Chickens love our podcast! (off-site)
13:22 First question!
15:32 “I’d likely be a clown in the shower.” (off-site)
18:04 The Three Beat Gag. (off-site)
19:05 Liam and His Amazing Screaming Leg (off-site)
24:20 Open Stage, filmed in front of a live(ly) studio audience.
29:59 Hugo, Oklahoma’s Elephant Sanctuary (off-site)
33:25 Snake Encounters with Daryl Sprout. (off-site)
34:06 Eve Takes the Fall music video. (off-site)
37:35 Russ meets Capone. (off-site)
38:45 Clown and toki pona.
41:19 Semantic Loading and Semantic Primes. (off-site)
47:20 Useful Mantra: mi lon la, mi pona (If I’m here, I’m good.)
51:51 Clown, aka jan nasa pona.
58:48 Izzy, wile, and passion for the cookie.
63:35 sitelen pona (off-site)
66:25 The origin story of the jan nasa pona glyph.
76:06 Spears Specialty Shoes has retired after 40 years. (off-site)
80:30 Falling in love with a pair of shoes.
86:54 Godzilla: Best kaiju, worst clown.

Theme Remix by s0, Public Domain (CC0)

Recorded on 2023-02-21.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

03:35 Join us in the #CircusInPlace video chat.
04:33 Foley’s clown yoga.
08:10 Give episode six a listen for many words about Liam’s pen.
08:42 Liam, professional Clown Scribe.
10:32 Storytime: Saying goodbye to the Open Stage. (off-site)
12:21 First Question!
14:52 The more personal I am with my mistakes, the more universal I become. - Rene Bazinet
24:29 The Big Comfy Couch (off-site)
28:47 Listen to the “Scary Clowns” discussion in episode three.
30:50 Rocko’s Modern Life and the “Clown Closet”. (off-site)
34:21 A clown is an orangutan who is also a poet. #ClownWisdom
39:24 The Tramp, The Circus, and Modern Times. (off-sites)
41:48 Theatrical Status. Also, read Impro. (off-sites)
45:02 It is with dignity that one can admit to being wrong. - Liam Woodard
62:00 Big wishes for the Circus Freaks’ many hats.

Recorded on 2023-03-04.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

2:06 Some assembly required. (off-site)
6:30 The banter gets heavy for a moment.
7:52 Censoring a brand that could have sponsored our move.
8:46 Urban Dictionary: Vibe (off-site)
28:24 How to pack like a circus gym.
31:00 The life-changing power of As Is.
36:23 Sanatoriums and other mad houses. (off-site)
38:30 Creative Challenge: Episode Art!
46:50 mi lon la, mi pona. #ClownWisdom
56:14 Microblogging: This Old Clown House (off-site)

Episode Art by ilo Mimuki (off-site)

Recorded on 2024-01-11.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

2:30 Liam’s intermittent fasting resources. (off-site)
4:30 Liam “shills” his personal projects (off-site)
9:20 RSS and taking media at your own pace. (off-site)
10:00 “We play more when we slow down.” -R
19:20 First Question of the new building!
20:10 Almost5
42:00 Chaplin’s Modern Times (off-site)
47:15 The origin of Rhino can be heard in episode 10.

Episode Art by unix_surrealism (off-site)

Recorded on 2024-03-01.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

01:08 Happy Pride!
05:17 Wrestling with Wattsworth (off-site)
07:29 Keep up with our work on #ThisOldClownHouse (off-site)
12:35 Let infrastructure fall in around the creativity. -Yam655 (off-site)
14:45 First Question!
18:00 Content Warning

The (now infamous) Rola Bola Story contains a mention of minor injuries to both a performer and a child in the audience. Thankfully, everything turns out OK.

Related Show Notes

• Videos of Alan the Juggler on better days.
• A brief primer on stage directions. (off-site)
• “Under the Bus” (off-site)

Skip Ahead to 30:30 for the next question.

33:20 Playing with Jane
43:15 Virtual Show, 2021.

Episode Art: Tom and Nikki (off-site)

Recorded on 2024-06-30.

A text transcription of this episode is available here.

01:20 Actually in a closet!
07:20 Clowns help the Rescue Trans Rescue fundraiser. (off-site)
21:50 The first question!
26:20 Beating the Stanislavski and Meisner out of students. (off-site)
36:50 The Drop-Stuff Academy video (off-site)
39:20 Tips for common juggling problems:

- Be unafraid to make mistakes. Drop Things!
- Just throw the ball. Try!
- Throw things at your face, and then don't do that.
- Bonus tip: learn by juggling over a bed, with beanbags!

51:20 Pester Liam into making a new video!
56:49 Liam accidentally defines the theatrical fifth wall.
59:50 The Open Stage’s social contract helped people be present.
76:20 The Great Dictator, 1940. (off-site)
82:20 Tony Montanaro making noises. (off-site)
86:20 Liam elegantly calls out transmisia in standup comedy.
98:20 Lenny Bruce (off-site)
111:00 Content Warning: we make silly, high-pitched noises for a bit.

Episode Art by Chris Silverman (off-site)

Recorded on 2024-09-18.