Penn's Sunday School
Penn's Sunday School
Join us as Penn Jillette, Matt Donnelly, and YOU discuss the news of the week. We'll examine religious news, talk about monkeys, and anything else that seems funny or makes us mad. We'll also take your suggestions for things you feel like talking about. We run a live video stream from Show Creators Studios for people with the time and inclination to watch people sitting and talking. The live show starts Sundays at noon Vegas time, at www.twitch.tv/reddirich, & is usually available for download from your favorite podcast aggregator by 9 am Monday morning.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 25, 2026 • 1h 7min
Medical Advice at the Oscars
A wild Oscar night recap full of wheelchair logistics, red carpet chaos, and awkward press moments. Tales of touring life and a new Las Vegas residency make for big showbiz energy. Intimate reflections on careers, fame, and strange backstage encounters round out the chat.
Mar 18, 2026 • 60min
Feathers Can Just Be On the Ground
Recovery stories and stage adaptation after a serious injury. Plans and contingencies for attending the Academy Awards. A debate about celebrity backlash and defending bold ambition. Life on the road with a suitcase magic act and tour logistics. Fond remembrances of a legendary magician and a surprising birthday song moment.
Mar 13, 2026 • 1h 17min
Don't Worry
Penn and his wheelchair lost at the SAG Awards but still came back with lots of stories, filming Vegas in Northridge, David Copperfield announces his retirement on Penn's birthday, Matt sees David Blaine and a Congregation favorite bit comes full circle, and lots more.
Mar 4, 2026 • 58min
I Can Stand Up to Pee Now!
They celebrate mobility milestones and laugh about the move from cast to boot and wheelchair plans for award shows. They riff on using ChatGPT for unintentional soul searching and practical help. There are stories about walk-around magic, performing in loud nightclub settings, and teaching improv to carpenters. They also talk tour dates, theater preferences, and starting a magic career later in life.
Feb 26, 2026 • 55min
But I Think It’s Just the Audience Mocking Me
They trade cruise stories about ports, lobster rolls, and doing shows on ships. Daily life with a broken ankle and the quirks of performing from a wheelchair come up. Vegas residencies, late night magic culture, and the business of padding a set are discussed. They also gripe about tourism, parking, resort fees, and gas-station coffee flavors.
Feb 19, 2026 • 1h 12min
I Don’t Know If It’s a Good Idea, But I’m Doing It!
They trade wild stage mishaps and technical improvisations, from wheelchair lift tricks to failed magic routines. They laugh about bizarre vintage cigarette ads and a comic black-eye story. They riff on joke culture, comedy boundaries, and managing live audio. They also touch on crypto thought experiments and one cohost’s struggles learning Spanish.
Feb 12, 2026 • 1h 13min
For Some Reason, Always Around
They swap sports banter and cultural takes on vegan cuisine. Penn recounts performing and traveling while injured and testing wheelchairs and stage adjustments. The crew shares wild edible stories and debates potency. Conversation turns to boredom, dopamine, MasterClass picks, vision and glasses, cruise-performing life, clever medical tools, and cast removal antics.
Feb 4, 2026 • 55min
Euphoria Just Ain’t On the Horizon
They trade tour stories and snowstorm misadventures from life on the road. Recovery and rehab take center stage as a broken ankle changes show prep and staging. They compare dispensary gummies, dosing and product quality while poking fun at hype and fake reviews in live entertainment. Plans for accessible performances, MasterClass picks and a cheeky Super Bowl wager round out the chat.
Jan 28, 2026 • 47min
Nine Screws and a Plate
A candid recovery tale about a broken ankle, surgery, and the literal nine screws and plate involved. Discussion of pain management, opioid side effects, and experimenting with THC edibles. Snowed-in tour chaos, frozen props, and wild audience volunteers from a magic tour. Plus chatter about cataract surgery, politics affecting performers, and recommended MasterClass courses.
Jan 14, 2026 • 1h 5min
See You Next Eye Surgery
A humorous account of cataract surgery and the dizzying visual fireworks that followed. A deep dive into lens choices, recovery timelines, and why both eyes were not done at once. Stories about learning Spanish, performing in another language, and surprising app notifications. Wild local anecdotes from gas-station confrontations to high-speed crashes. A New Year’s Eve challenge featuring the Spanish 12-grape ritual.
