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Jason mentioned that when checking out a story on the world’s most dangerous jobs he discovered that topping the list - human cannonball. Peter then informed Jason that one of his very good friends just happened to be Ringling Brothers human cannonball…Really, no really!
Why put your life and limb on the line 12 times a week for your profession? What drives a Ringling clown to defy the clearly defined circus caste system and attempt to join the prestigious, aristocracy acts by being shot out of a cannon, traveling high above an audience and landing hundreds of feet away?
For 25 years Jon Weiss worked with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as a Ringmaster, Clown and "Human Cannonball" – with over 5,000 notches in his cannonball belt. You also might know him as a contestant along with a fellow clown, on CBS’ The Amazing Race 4.
BONUS: Peter surprised Jason with an in-studio appearance of a potentially even more dangerous job – The Human Torch! Ray Wold has been performing in Cirque du Soleil’s “O” show in Las Vegas for more than 24 years, completely engulfing himself in flames as he casually sits on a chair reading a newspaper. Really, no Really!
In this episode:
- The things that motivate people to take dangerous jobs.
- What it takes to become the human cannonball.
- The secret circus caste system, clown college & circus sabotage!
- What it feels like to experience 12G’s and deadly mistakes.
- Jason’s failed attempt at fire eating.
- How the human torch learned to fully engulf himself in fire.
- How the King on Monaco made Ray’s career.
- Dangerous jobs Jason and Peter contemplate taking.
- Holding an allegator’s mouth closed…hard or easy?
- Why woodpeckers peck? The definitive answer.
- More clowns and fire: this is Jason’s favorite Seinfeld bit!
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Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode