Penn's Sunday School

<p>Author Jane Borden joins Penn, Matt, and Reddi on Zoom to discuss her new book <em>Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America</em>, and explore the role and roots of cults in America, the American monomyth, theories on evil, how all of this factors into today's political thinking, and lots more.</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Falling asleep, Groucho Marx facts, The Pitt, Penn on Literally! With Rob Lowe, the AFAN AIDS Walk Las Vegas, and lots more.</p> <p>Don't forget Penn's new novel, FELONY JUGGLER, out May 6!</p>

<p>A Battle of Dreams goes sideways, Penn revisits a movie he hated and comes away with a different outlook, Penn & Teller ride the Goodyear Blimp, and more.</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Wet shows, Reddi Rich on guitar pedals, auditioning with Robert De Niro, Penn goes to the fair, the musical landscape of Penn & Teller Off-Broadway 40 years ago, and more.</p>

<p>Penn discovers a new app, hangs out with Weird Al, gets interviewed by Jimmy Fallon, says some of the most famous words in sports, and more.</p>

<p>Author Jonathan Rauch is back on the show with his new book, Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy, and a wide-ranging, challenging, and thought-provoking conversation with Penn, Matt, and Reddi about the role of Christianity in America, Christian values from an atheist's viewpoint, and lots more.</p>

<p>The show has a spectacular new website at pennssundayschool.com (complete with new merch!) and the crew has no hope of the show actually living up to it. Matt is back from the Jokers of Magic tour and back out to sea unexpectedly, Penn gets pelted at the movies, The Big Whoop premieres in Los Angeles, and more.</p>

<p>Jandro and Piff are back on Zoom for a few listener questions before turning the show back over to Patreon backers for an in-depth Q&A with Penn. Memorable questions and memorable moments onstage, Penn at the airport, bringing Dylan into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and more.</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Penn celebrated a milestone birthday this week by reflecting on growing older and telling off a child onstage. Guest host Sarah Lowe is there to pick up the pieces. Bygone personal ad slang (permanent damage OK), Leland Sklar, molasses in a cask, adults talking, and more!</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi are joined via Zoom by Jandro and Piff the Magic Dragon for a full behind-the-scenes breakdown of their performance on the season premiere of Penn & Teller: Fool Us.</p>

<p>Penn is back from a five week tour of Australia, Matt is back from a five month contract on a cruise ship, and Reddi Rich is back with a new addition to the studio that Penn can't get enough of. Spanish magicians on the seas and on Fool Us, Matt prepares to hit the road with the Jokers of Magic, Penn wanted big drama and didn't get it, and more.</p>

<p>Penn and Reddi Rich are joined by guest host Sarah Lowe to talk cigarette tanks, Houdini's assistant, the evolutionary purpose of babysitters, Pokeno, an absolutely disgusted bride, and more!</p>

<p>What exactly do people do on a cruise? Matt has wrapped up another stint performing on the high seas, and Penn still has questions. Plus, Penn takes up learning Morse code, thoughts on magic methods being published, Johnny Thompson's international subterfuge,  and more.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi Rich join Patreon backers for part 3 of their Zoom Q&A in preparation for Penn & Teller's current tour of Australia. Penn at his bravest, memories from SNL, reflections on the epidemic of loneliness, and finding strength and hope among the current depths of political despair.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi are joined once again by Michael Goudeau and the unstable internet connection in his laundry room for another Zoom Q&A with Patreon backers! Goudeau's holiday decor challenge, the music in Penn's head, The Residents, Penn's holiday and New Year's traditions, the concept of legacy, and more.</p> <p>Please note: this bank episode was recorded on December 15, 2024.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi Rich are reunited once again with Michael Goudeau as they take listener questions on Zoom prior to Penn & Teller's tour of Australia. Real time reactions from the Royal Variety Performance, what would you do with $2 million?, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, Penn's visual memory, and more.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, Reddi Rich, and Michael Goudeau take questions from Members of the Congregation on Zoom! How the recent election has impacted both performers and audiences in Vegas and beyond, female pioneers in comedy, Dylan & The Dead, Penn's favorite thing about Iceland, and more!</p>

<p>Penn is very excited about a question from congregation mail, Matt recaps his experience onboard the ship for the Conjurer's Cruise, an update from Reddi Rich on job opportunities for the gang in Svalbard, Penn & Teller's 50th Anniversary Tour adds a stop at Radio City Music Hall this summer, and more!</p> <p>Please note: this bank episode was recorded on December 8, 2024.</p>

<p>Penn's thoughts after seeing A Complete Unknown. Plus, the big 2024 entertainment recap - hear what movies, music, TV shows, books, and more Penn enjoyed this year!</p> <p>Penn's suggestions for an introduction to Sun Ra: UFO, Space is the Place, Rocket No. 9, Nuclear War</p> <p>FELONY JUGGLER up for presale now: https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/penn-preorder/<br>Visit patreon.com/penn for an exclusive discount code!</p>

<p>Penn's new book FELONY JUGGLER is available for pre-order! Plus, Penn gets sick, makes an incredible discovery watching sniper movies and embarrasses himself at the doctor, and Matt finally catches his TV doppleganger.</p> <p>Pre-order FELONY JUGGLER now at https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/penn-preorder</p> <p>And check out https://patreon.com/penn for a Patreon-exclusive discount code!</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi Rich are back on Zoom with members of the congregation for another live Q&A. King Charles makes small talk with Penn, Glenn's origin story with Penn & Teller, Reddi's top ten live performances, and musings on Yoko Ono, Lenny Bruce, The Three Stooges, Samuel Beckett, and more.</p>

<p>Reddi Rich discovered a superpower while continuing to follow AURORA on tour, Matt is still sailing the Caribbean performing magic and being surprised by Handsome Jack, and Penn recaps performing for a King and having a series of existential moments on a film set (with a bonus assist from Patreon members of the congregation on Zoom!)</p>

<p>Matt is back performing at sea and saw either the best or worst ending to a magic trick ever, Penn is back from England and got a chance to reminisce about an old friend, and Reddi Rich is following a Norwegian around the country and can't recommend it highly enough.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi Rich are back on Zoom for another exclusive Patreon Q&A! Matt's fellow cruise ship performer and former Fool Us contestant Naathan Phan jumps on to attempt to prove once and for all he is in fact Scottish, two very different questions provoke a deep dive into Penn's feelings on celebrity and the complex nature of relationships, an atheist's take on grief, and more.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi join the congregation once again from various points around the globe for a Patreon exclusive Zoom Q&A! Separating theme from culture, how Fool Us managed to create a sense of community instead of competition, Penn & Teller's appearance on Babylon 5 (written by Neil Gaiman), the one trick Penn wishes someone would steal from him, and more!</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi Rich are back for another Patreon exclusive Zoom hangout with special guest Michael Goudeau! Goudeau updates everyone on his new life in the woods and his new cake-spinning routine, the gang's thoughts on the election, Penn's missing photo mosaic artwork, and more.</p>

<p>Penn went to vote early and Matt voted just in time to return to cruise ship life. Fake(?) Scotsmen, the return of Matt Donnelly's Tricks & Treats for Halloween, when Penn does something it doesn't count, and flooding in Valencia, Spain brings out the best in people. Plus a deep dive into Bruce Springsteen, and a few great music recommendations from Penn.</p>

<p>It's been a cinema-filled week for Penn, as he hosted a screening of Night of the Living Dead and saw Saturday Night, and he shares his in-depth thoughts on both. More of Penn's favorite George A. Romero, a rare time saying the first thing that pops into your head actually worked, Saturday Night Live history, a spectacularly failed TV pilot, and more!</p>

<p>Penn listened to a song before the podcast and he has some thoughts. Matt is back on dry land for a break between cruises. Both have terrible audience volunteer stories to share, surprising piggyback ride knowledge, Penn reveals the city with the best squirrels in America, and more!</p>

<p>Matt Donnelly Zooms in from aboard the Sun Princess and is adjusting to cruise ship life and performing magic on a moving vessel. Penn's cruise ship experiences, an update from our friends at Sideshow Gelato, Penn & Teller prepare for their 50th anniversary tour in the UK and Australia, and more.</p>

<p>Penn is excited to finally be able to talk about a big upcoming movie role, Reddi Rich took the gang to see Emo Phillips, Matt prepares to head out to sea, and more!</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi join Patreon backers for another exclusive Zoom Q&A! Penn reunites with old friends, catches some new performers, and eats some great vegan food in L.A., advice for learning a musical instrument layer in life, symmetry in human sexuality, the evolution of Penn & Teller’s backstage crew, and more.</p>

<p>Penn got a new phone and spent an entire day setting it up, Matt's adventures with the neighborhood kids continue with a trip to the movies, stories from the recording studio with Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa, Penn prepares to see Matt The Mind Noodler live at the Magic Castle, and more.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi record via Zoom from undisclosed locations as Penn recounts a harrowing ear piercing complication and prepares for an electronics shopping spree, Matt recaps his show with Michael Goudeau and Bryan Saint, a special listener update from Jason Garfield, and more!</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi join Patreon backers for another live Zoom Q&A. Penn & Teller's unique history of non-magic TV appearances, performance art and character vs. offstage personality, magic book recommendations for all ages, performing in Spanish, Penn reconsiders his stance on Hawaii, and more!</p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">This week, Penn was surprised by impressions and subjected himself to electrocution in the name of physical fitness, and Matt took the neighborhood kids to an outrageously hot five-hour circus. Plus, a Las Vegas candlepin bowling league and more.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi join Patreon backers on Zoom for another exclusive Q&A! A future classic movie, the closest Penn & Teller ever came to breaking up, Penn's feelings on college now that he's an empty nester, and just how weird Penn's ideas can get now that he's dedicated 50 years to an art form. Plus, Matt discovers yet another way Penn & Teller are better than Houdini.</p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Penn is now an empty nester, as he ponders an unexpected speaking invitation and comes up a new business opportunity. Plus, Matt wonders if Tibetan monks eat pork rinds (or play the lottery?)</p>

<p>The legend of Penn's pants continues at the expense of a legendary rock star. Then, Piff the Magic Dragon joins the gang to tell the entire story of cloning Mr. Piffles, from a Wendy's in California, to South Korea, to Rochester, New York, to his “IT COST $60,000 TO CLONE MY DOG AND NOW I NEED TO MAKE THE MONEY BACK” North American Tour. Plus, Penn & Teller prices, melisma, and sugar cheese.</p>

<p>Filming is wrapped on Season 11 of Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Penn, Matt, and Reddi Rich are back in studio! Food and drink orders as character traits, Olympics updates, TV and book recommendations, and Penn takes his dog for a walk and ends up meeting the neighbors.</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Part 2 of Penn, Matt, and Reddi's hangout and Q&A with Patreon backers on Zoom. Record heat in Vegas, advice on taking up new careers and hobbies later in life, Penn's thoughts on street performing, hitchhiking and the loss of person to person contact, how Matt got hired on Fool Us, and lots more.</p> <p>Please note: this bank episode was recorded on July 14, 2024.</p>

<p>Penn, Matt, and Reddi join members of the congregation on Zoom for another live Q&A! A possible love connection at the Penn & Teller show, ventriloquist conventions, points you agree with by people you don't, combatting procrastination, Matt contemplates taking up singing in Yorkshire, Penn remembers Richard Simmons, and more.</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Jandro is back on the show with bizarre Spanish movie titles and his recent experience as an award-winning film director. Plus, the gang all reminisce about the smallest crowds they’ve ever performed for, Penn looks back at making The Aristocrats, and more memories of Martin Mull.</p>

<p>The upcoming Season 11 of Penn & Teller: Fool Us means Jandro is back on the podcast to talk working on new tricks for the show, the difference between giving something with joy vs. getting ripped off, and cursing in Spanish. Plus, the return of one of Penn & Teller’s most popular bits with a hidden message finally revealed.</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Sarah Lowe is in for Matt Donnelly. Penn remembers Kinky Friedman and Martin Mull this week before recapping his trip to Los Angeles with an unforgettable trip to the Magic Castle and an appearance on Bill Maher's podcast. Plus, Penn's complicated history with his favorite meal of all time.</p>

<p>Penn takes questions from Patreon backers (patreon.com/penn) in a live Zoom hangout! Working with Jandro, bass fingers, the first time Penn performed without realizing he was on painkillers, who he thinks should star in a Penn & Teller biopic, and more.</p>

<p>Penn’s back hurts and it’s all community theater’s fault. Matt combines magic and improv at the Magic Castle, Penn & Teller are hard at work preparing 21 new tricks for the upcoming Season 11 of Fool Us, and congregation mail sparks a deep dive into ukulele tuning.</p>

<p>Sarah Lowe is in for Matt Donnelly, and Penn has questions. Sarah’s journey with Jersey Boys, their very different approaches to success and accomplishments, why Penn doesn’t “do” rehearsals (or rules), and the concept of getting more out of art than the artist put into it.</p>

<p>Penn has a cold and Matt is back from touring in Utah. Reminiscing about a Broadway schedule, the big Penn & Teller show is moving to 8 PM (show up at 7 for the jazz!), and Penn reveals his dream way to celebrate 50 years of Penn & Teller. Plus, it turns out Matt the Mind Noodler and Bob Dylan both take a similar approach to onstage introductions.</p>

<p>It’s been a busy couple weeks for Penn. He’s joined by Matt in his home studio to recap his trips to Atlantic City and Foxwoods, taping After Midnight, and Nathan Fielder at the Penn & Teller show prompts a deep dive into TV and storytelling.</p>