159 - The Paradoxes of Juggling - Michael Staroseletsky & Niels Duinker Publishing

In this episode I read the first chapter of the Paradoxes of Juggling by Michael Staroseletsky, a book published by NDjuggling.com which of course is run by Niels Duinker who was a guest on the podcast back in episode 135. If you are interested in ways to view the world through a craft this is a book you should check out. If you're interested in advanced practice and the technique of juggling this is a great read. It is also part of the brand new Compendium of Soviet Juggling Wisdom.What if a juggling act is more than patterns in the air—what if it’s a blueprint for freedom, identity, and the courage to keep going when you drop? We dive into a lyrical reading from Michael Staroseletsky’s The Paradoxes of Juggling and unpack why this art form refuses shortcuts and demands honesty. From the first image of balls moving like “living creatures” to the stubborn physics of clubs that won’t always obey, we sit with the tension between intention and reality and show how mastery grows inside that friction.Staroseletsky’s core claim is perhaps that the trick is both the vehicle and the destination. Juggling isn’t just technique polished to shine; it’s an inner practice that widens your tolerance for error and refines your timing until correction feels effortless. We explore the paradox that to juggle more, you must accept more—more variables, more variance, and more responsibility for recovery.We also talk about persona and truth onstage. Circus artists often “play themselves,” so the work only lands when the human behind the pattern is vivid and honest. Props aren’t passive; the moment an object leaves your hand, it asserts its own will, and the act becomes a dialogue you can see—rhythm as visible music, choreography in space, and story told through catches and drops.If Staroseletsky’s vision resonates, you’ll find the book at ndjuggling.com alongside other gems for artists, jugglers, and curious minds. Listen, reflect, and tell us what craft is teaching you about time, space, and self. If this episode sparked something, follow the Way, even better - share it with a friend, and leave a review so more curious listeners can discover it.Support the show...After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.If you want to  contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on [email protected] can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo