Clown Spirit Podcast

I go back to the source this week to bring you a conversation with Sue Morrison, who first taught me to clown. We reflect on our work together in an often frank exchange. Sue also shares her journey into clowning, discussing the influence of mask work and her mentor, Richard Pachinko. We delve into the philosophy of clowning, including the importance of connecting with the audience, working from t...

In this episode I offer a deeply personal reflection on my journey into the world of clowning, highlighting some pivotal life moments and transformative experiences. Ultimately I aim to demonstrate, through my own story, the symbiotic relationship between personal suffering and artistic process. To do this I discuss some aspects of my childhood, family background, and the unexpected ways personal...

In this episode of the Clown Spirit Podcast, host Barnaby King interviews Manish Jain, a real-life trickster and advocate of unlearning. Jain shares his transformative journey from the American dream to founding alternative education initiatives like Ecoversities and Swaraj University in India. The discussion explores the metaphorical connections between clowning and unlearning, including playful...

From minstrelsy to Aunt Jemima ads, pejorative representations of African Americans in popular culture has created barriers to their participation in clowning, especially for women of color. In this episode I discuss these issues with Michelle Matlock, pioneering Black female clown performer, through the lens of her work and 25 year career in clowning. In this synthesized version of our clownversa...

In Why Clown? Why Now?  host Barnaby King delves into the crucial role of clowning in addressing the current global crises. He discusses the emotional turmoil people face today—overwhelm, guilt, anxiety—and attributes it to disconnection from ourselves, others, and our spiritual roots. He explores three main aspects of clowning: acknowledging truths, breaking rules to inspire new possibilitie...