Alex Stone "Doc Hopper Realness" Episode 75

Ahoy! And a robust August to you. This week brings the return of the HOW WAS YOUR WEEK BOOK CLUB! Woo-hoo! YEAH! Books!!!!!!!

The one and only guest on the show is Alex Stone, the author of Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks & the Hidden Powers of the Mind. Strap on your nerd helmet, fasten its padded chin-strap, and get ready to learn...

• Why people STILL play Three Card Monte
• What the term "in-attentional blindness" means and how it applies to getting your watch stolen
• The difference between magic and comedy
• And why there aren't a lot of lady magicians.

Plus, Julie posits a disturbing hypothetical about Mr. Rogers, ponders Stephen King extensively, asks after Billy Joel, discloses an embarrassing decision she made in a movie theater recently, condemns ventriloquist dummies, and recaps Puppetry of the Penis, which may or may not have been a dream we all had.

Also: why it's sometimes tougher to trick children than adults, who Julie has decided the blind Kenny Rogers of magic is, Jack Black's performance in "Robert" Linklater's BERNIE and what a "Hype" is, in the magic lingo world.There's a lot going on in this week's episode.

This is a fascinating show for your face.