The James Altucher Show

Ep. 130 - Penn Jillette: The Brilliant Idea Can Kill You

Episode Summary

Penn Jillette is a famous magician – he's one half of the duo Penn and Teller. He has made a career out of sleight of hand and tricks. He credits Teller with getting him into magic. Penn's specialties are juggling, writing, and comedy. He...

Episode Notes

Penn Jillette is a famous magician – he's one half of the duo Penn and Teller. He has made a career out of sleight of hand and tricks. He credits Teller with getting him into magic. Penn's specialties are juggling, writing, and comedy. He suggests that when you choose a career you go into a field in which you know you can improve.

He continued his education at "clown college." He was "forced" into comedy, but he wanted to be a brooding French poet. While at clown college, he learned wire walking, juggling, and tumbling. Penn says card tricks are actually a form of juggling.

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Special Note: Both Penn and James will be presenting LIVE at next month's Stansberry Conference in Las Vegas. If you're interested in joining them and more than 30 additional speakers for two full days click here.

This year's conference will take place at one of the newest and most luxurious destinations on Las Vegas Boulevard – the Aria Resort & Casino.

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When he first began with Teller they went to bad magic shows and learned what they didn't want to do. They wanted to get away from illusions and focus more on tricks. All magic is about the perception of truth.

Penn says he didn't have a choice in magic. He was homeless when he started out, but Teller was from a very different background. The pair didn't like each other, but they felt they could do better together.

Other topics Penn discusses in this interview are:

 

 

Resources and Links:

Kinky Freedman

Gary Panter and The ROZZ-TOX Manifesto

Clown College

Penn Jillette's books

The Cups and Ball Trick

Penn's Sunday School

Bob Dylan

Picasso

Miles Davis

 

 

If you want to learn more about Penn Jillette, check him out on Twitter: @pennjillette.