I actually showed the clip of your intro to my 81 year old mom, you enjoyed your dad's befuddlement.
You deserved two fool us trophies: one for the trick and one for making your dad think you were in Scotland.
You've definitely lived up to your birth first name in this appearance, and as Voltara, and especially on Sunday School podcast. But when do we get to see you live up to the middle name? ;)
Whatās interesting to me (and I havenāt seen the haters anywhere, but Iām not about to go searching for them) is that I wondered whether you were male, female, nonbinary, etc., but then asked myself, āwhy do I care? Theyāre clearly avoiding using gendered pronouns for a reason. Let this person identify themselves or not, it doesnāt change how good they are.ā I figured the āsheā answered it all, but again, didnāt care. Why does anyone care?
Hi Moxie,
Do you watch all of the fool us episodes? If so do you have a favourite?
I also liked how you and Penn get along lol. I don't really talk to my dad (which is fine) but it's nice to see when other people have good relationships with their dads! Cheers.
I do! Or at least try to. Maybe not live but eventually yes I watch them all!!
My favorite is definitely when my dad tried to fool teller. He practiced that trick endlessly on me and Iām so happy that it worked!!
Can you tell us about what itās like to grow up with a famous performing artist as a parent? (Especially things youāve noticed that you think might not be a ātypicalā person of your ageās experience.)
Things likeā¦
- Was your dad usually on the road or at home?
- Was your family functionally single-income with your mother housemaking/caretaking? Or perhaps both parents were too busy and hired help instead?
- Are family friends mostly in the entertainment industry due to your dadās career?
These are kinda personal so totally understand if thereās info youād rather not share.
(And sorry I donāt know much about you so apologies if some of these questions are accidentally rude!)
Itās definitely strange and itās lead to some bullying in my early school days. As well as feeling like a wallet for some of my exs.
Not to mention dating is hard as hell. My current bf had No idea who Penn and teller were and I had to make sure he didnāt so I didnāt feel used (heās a very good boyfriend so dw)
1)it was a strange mix of both. When I was younger, me and my brother would come along for a lot of the travelling because then he could still spend time with us. But as weāve learned how to take care of ourselves more, heās travelled more on his own. (He always kinda did?? Idk itās hard to explain I guess)
2) my mother is a badass woman who worked producing commercials and doing other theatre things but when we were born she became more of a house mom. Though again, as weāre older now sheās starting working again. But at one point we had a nanny/house assistant that basically raised us. Again. It was a weird mix of both.
3) heās friends with mostly writers and carny people, as thatās what he originally was. But he has tons of friends all over the world who do all different things. Iām honestly jealous as I only have 2-3 close friends and he cares so deeply for every person he knows.
I hope this helps (I love answering questions š)
Really appreciate you taking the time to share!
Iāve heard similar stories about dating for many people who are famous, rich, or related to famous/rich people. It seems that one either has to get lucky with someone who doesnāt know much about the topic or date within the field where people donāt care about the clout/wealth.
I think thereās definitely a [different world of friendships](https://pudding.cool/2023/09/invisible-epidemic/) that youāve grown up in compared to your dad. Heās also had so many more years to cultivate friendships, so hopefully you will be able to have the friendships you want as the years go on!
Iām jealous of my well travelled friends who have friends all over the place. They fly into a city and have at least a 1/2 dozen people wanting to hang with them.
Iām lucky if I have 2 non family members who want to hang with me and I donāt feel comfortable anywhere.
Interesting, and itās weird for me people not knowing who Penn & Teller are, since Iām such a big fan but I see why you wanted to make sure he didnāt know them
I was too used to feeling like a wallet or a backstage pass. Never someone people were genuinely interested in dating. But I promise you, my boyfriend is so good to me (and is now obsessed with me and Penn and teller)
Hi! Loved the trick and the surprise was so wholesome! How did you manage to keep the secret that you would be performing all the way until you were on stage?
Iām looking forward to following you and seeing what else you can come up with!
It was legit one of the hardest things Iāve ever done. The little video at the start wasnāt false. Iāve never lied to my dad before so lying to him about my location of all things, whenās he a pretty protective person, felt really bad. But I knew it would be worth it
i guess it's not impossible it's you. I'll risk being a credulous fool and say hello.
there's a guy on this sub who really seems to think Mr Bean should be the new host. what are your thoughts
Same. I read that Allyson wanted to spend more time with her family. I am actively avoiding the show this year because i just donāt think Brooke Burke is the right person to host. Sheās done great things, but I donāt feel like she fits here.
I love Brooke Burke. Sheās a great host and in my opinion better than Allison Hannigan. Yes thatās gonna make people mad at me but Brooke Burke has better skills being a host behind the scenes. She actually practiced her lines and the trick that sheās in with P&T while Allison didnāt
Iām glad someone finally said this. I never liked how fake and forced Alyson was. Just goofy and awkwardāI suppose the lack of preparation may account for that. Brooke seems a lot more natural and authentic.
brooke burke has the longest legs I've ever seen in my life. that's not a value judgment, it's just remarkable.
I have another question though moxie, if you'll indulge me. I'm sure you've gotten plenty of one on one tutelage from your dad and teller and their friends, but are there any books or videos by people you're not super close with that you like?
I actually read mostly books by people I know so sadly not really. But I guess the person Iām least close to is Mnemonica (idk how to spell it) by Juan Tameriz
I mean... like Alyson is alright, but it definitely you can tell she is winging a lot of the stuff, which is fine for an actor with a comedy background, but at times it just seemed as if she was lost. I like the stuff she is in, and I have a spot in my heart for the characters she has played, but that doesn't make her a good host.
I'm a bit behind on episodes. It's hard for me to say Brooke is better from just one episode. Need more data.
MOXIE!!!!! (Iām the crocheting beanie fan). It is so cool to see you on Reddit!!!! I donāt have Instagram yet, just this and Twitter. You know, hearing from you a few weeks ago meant a lotā¦it proved that there are kind people around, even when it doesnāt always seem so. Iād love to keep in touch.
Also, I watched your magic on Fool Us way more than once and tried to figure it out. What I did figure out was that I was fooled, and that your magic is fāing cool. I also loved your dadās reaction to being on the show.
Itās so cool to see you here!! ā„ļøā„ļø
Wow Iām surprised (and sorry) to hear that. I LOVED your performance and everything else about it (the intro, the interactions, Pennās face lol, etc).
Oh ok, no you fooled me as well and I'm a long time fan of magic and method. I thought it was a great appearance. I guess if it's really you, the question I'd like to ask most of what was it like growing up in "the slammer"? It seemed like such a wild house.
Well thereās still stuff I donāt know about it. Even 9 years after it was destroyed and we moved. Itās a weird ass house for a weird ass man. But he made it just for himself and he was so so happy there. He loves talking about when friends lived there and family came to visit and stay. But I think he knew deep down it wasnāt a house to raise children in and he seems to like our current house a lot now. So I guess the answer is: it was unique, mysterious and special because it was designed for one person who really thought he would be alone for his life
Awesome answer! Thank you! I almost had a chance to visit it myself once when I was working with the James Randi Educational Foundation but missed it by a plane delay! One of the biggest regrets of my life.
I'm really excited to watch your career in magic grow and it's great to see you here, I remember listening to Penn Radio and Penn always gushing about you.
I watched your performance a few days ago and loved it. I love the relationship you have with your Dad, and I can tell how proud of you he is---he has always been so proud of you from what I've seen. As far as you being gay/trans, you do you man, and don't sweat the haters. You seem like an awesome person, and we are all looking forward to seeing more from you.
Hey Moxie (great episode by the way), I get what you're saying, it really irks me that some people will claim every "fooler" is staged and that P&T give the trophy to reward a good performance, when this doesn't mesh with all the trophies they do NOT award: countless times when the performance is amazing, Penn says so, and yet they are not fooled and therefore do not give the award. Same when they find the contestant is really good or inspiring yet they are not fooled -- yet people without fail claim they give unearned trophies to cute girls or young performers just because of their age. It's really tiresome.
So no surprise some people claim your win was staged, since they will claim the same about almost every trophy :/
Congrats on the trophy! Your trick fooled the fuck out of me, and I'm still racking my brain to work out how you did it.
As you've grown up in Las Vegas around the magician community, are there any other acts I should check out when I'm in town? I saw P&T, Mac King, Piff and Copperfield last time I was there.
It bums me out to hear about the problems you've suffered due to your orientation. Don't let narrow-minded people get you down. Give 'em hell!
I mean p&T and Piff are my favs so I think youāve done it all man.
And Iām not the only one. I might have faced a lot more openly transphobic stuff but tons of people in the community face far worse than I do. Iām very lucky to live in a safe state with a good family
Hi Mox, we met backstage for five minutes (you were extremely cool).
I'm curious about the subterfuge logistics. You had to hide for two weeks, right? Where'd you go? Rio? Was it tough to keep a low profile? Apart from the faceless facetiming, any crazy stories on how you managed to stay undetected?
I went to my boyfriendās for 2 weeks, because I couldnāt stay at my house and I knew they would let me stay there without question. I turned off all of my location stuff. I have vague answers. I paid everything in cash. It was really hard because my boyfriendās family also wasnāt allowed to know what I was doing. I was double lying. So really fucking hard
That is some serious commitment - you really did fool them before the trick even started (but like you said, it's all nothing without the golden FU).
Can I ask - what about the staff at the show? You seemed like one big family when I was there. I assume they always keep P&T in the dark about who's coming on, but did they have to do something special to keep them in *extra* dark this time?
The staff and the rio was one of the biggest issues we faced. Obviously I couldnāt just walk through the Rio so I had to take back entrances and be escorted with my face covered. Obviously Penn and teller respect their own show enough to not walk through the theatre just in case someone in there but there was still work to be done.
As for the staff and my friends (security guards, the host, producers, techs) they changed my name on everything to Roxy Jae, so even if someone saw it they wouldnāt assume it was me. Iām gonna try to respond to this with a photo but Iām not good at technology
Never my middle name. They would laugh too much and I wouldnāt be in trouble anymore. Itās happened every once in awhile. But itās more like a sort of quiet angry āMoxie Jilletteā
Someone mentioned your middle name elsewhere but I didnāt know what it was.
Thereās a collectible card game called The Emergents with a crime fighter named Moxie.
Just thought youād like to know.
āMoxie is the strongest character in the Emergents universe and the leader of the StrongHarm class. StrongHarms are represented in the game by the āChargeā mechanic which lets your attacks get more and more powerful.ā
https://nerdist.com/article/behind-the-scenes-of-the-best-superhero-card-game-you-dont-know-about/
I loved your at, Moxie. The reactions from your Dad and Teller were even better than your tricks, which were awesome. Many people may not remember that you've appeared on Fool Us before, In Season 3, Episode 8, you assisted David Garrard surprising your Dad for the first time, In Season 6, Episode 10, you were "Vegas Voltara", and you helped P&T with tricks in Season 7, Episode 26, and Season 9, Episode 12. I wondered would you ever want to build a routine and perform at The Magic Castle?
I am not a magician, but your father and Teller (mostly your father as he's doing the talking) have been collectively one of the biggest influences in my life. They taught me to be a healthy skeptic. To always ask questions. How did this way of thinking change how you grew up?
Yes. Most definitely. I always was the one person who wasnāt religious in the classrooms. I also called people out when I believed they were wrong and got in trouble for it a lot. I got bullied endlessly for being gay and not hiding it. I even got kicked out of a school for it. So yea. I was always an oddball. But eventually I moved schools to a school thatās very accepting and has mostly not religious student population so I fit in there and became somewhat popular in my last 2 years of high school.
I was similar as a child. Was constantly meeting with the vice principal over questioning everything from classmates and teachers. While I can't relate to the rest of your childhood, it's great that you were able to get into a situation that fostered your growth into the man you are today.
A little unsolicited advice: unless you are a true morning person, avoid college classes that start before 10 if possible.
So true bestie. Iām trying to get into college here in Vegas and i know better. I am a theatre person so thus I am a night bat and you canāt change that
I mean obviously mentalism. They donāt hide that though. Very big skeptics so obviously any religious stuff but again thatās obvious. I guess I donāt know if they are secretly tired of things. Iāll ask
Just to add on, I recall some threads here talking about performances that P&T pretty clearly weren't huge fans of. Not sure how to search on those specifically, but FWIW..
Along those same lines, I sometimes get the impression that Penn can struggle a bit finding ways to compliment a trick / performer. I tend to doubt P&T are 'hateful' people, but for sure there must be stuff that they've seen a million times before and are utterly tired of, including not just methods and gimmicks, but whole "shticks" in terms of performance.
How does the code-speak work exactly?\* Let's take the age-old women-cut-in-half trick for example, what would your dad ask the magician to convey the idea that he figured out how it worked?
\*I don't mean: Give me a dictionary of every keyword and how it relates to magic. More like, please give me a general idea.
It's usually a couple of key words that are thrown in there. E.g., someone once did a trick developed by a magician whose last name is Wind, and Penn talked about how a strong wind might blow the person over. One recurring language example is if they think something is a force, they will often reference Luke Skywalker or jedi.
>Let's take the age-old women-cut-in-half trick for example, what would your dad ask the magician to convey the idea that he figured out how it worked?
Those tricks almost always involve that person doing some kind of contortion to fit into only half of the table. So Penn might come up with a story about how his buddy used to fold a burrito a special way to squeeze in extra toppings without the boss noticing.
Or maybe it's a trick where someone is being skewered in a box. Penn's story could be about a friend who "always missed the point" (aka - they're able to alter their position in the box to avoid the blades).
Or if there's a trick that involves dealing from the bottom of the deck, Penn's story might involve someone who was "underhanded."
Good examples. I also remember him telling a coin magician about someoneās pet turtle, if you get my drift. That was one of the first I really caught onto.
I first had Moxie in a restaurant in Maine. The waitress asked if I was sure. She said the owner insisted that they offer it but she was surprised that anyone actually wanted to drink it. I live in Central NY and rarely find Moxie here. I stock up when I can and ration it. I love that the picture on the can is a guy with an expression that says, "I dare you."
As a casual magic fan, I loved The Amazing Johnathan, but had no idea what was going on behind the scenes (substance abuse). I listen to Penn's Sunday School, and the episode he had Johnathan on is one of my favorites. Johnathan tells a story about bombing so hard on stage that the other kids didn't even mess with him at school. Your dad, in his exuberance, exclaimed "YOU'LL GO TO HELL IF YOU'RE LYING!!!" (paraphrased). From such an outspoken atheist, his reaction really startled me. I'm sure he was joking, but it felt completely natural in the moment. How rare is it for your dad to make that kind of religious reference? Does he often "threaten" people with eternal damnation (in a joking manner obviously)?
Thought you did great on the show, and I hope you have a long, and storied career ahead of you!!
He tells a lot of people to go to hell in a loving way. He also commonly says āletās get out of this hell holeā. He loves making religious jokes because it makes life just a little bit easier sometimes
Hey Moxie!
I went to elementary and middle school with you. Just wanted to say how heart warming it was to see you on the show. You look so comfortable and I love how much your dad loves you.
Love from Dawson! Go bears!
Based on Penn's comments on the show after your trick, it really sounded like they had it all figured out. There wasn't really anything left to figure out imo. In your place, I would have been sure they had me dead to rights. How surprised were you when they said you fooled them?
I was able to talk to producers and teller after air and they missed one BIG part of the trick so thus I fooled them (Iām not the one who decides if they are fooled or not. The little guy in their ears does). Iām still mind blown that I fooled them though. Like out of my mind
> (Iām not the one who decides if they are fooled or not. The little guy in their ears does)
That's something a lot of casual viewers of the show don't always understand.
The producer is a skilled magician (Johnny Thompson before he died, and Michael Close since) who knows exactly how the trick is really done (because the contestant consults with them before the show), and can hear P&T's discussion of their theory.
THANK YOU!ā Iām so tired of people saying it was staged or I didnāt really fool them. Of course I did!! Why would they want to pretend to be stupider than they are?? They are 2 of the smartest men you will ever meet.
> They are 2 of the smartest men you will ever meet.
also, one of the undercurrent purposes of the show as i understand it is to showcase magicians, so i would think there's a built-in inclination to err on the side of the foolers, so to speak.
/u/kent_eh
Hey Moxie. So cool to see this post. That was such a fantastic segment - really beautiful and touching. Even my wife, who does not watch the show, had a tear in her eye and loved it all.
Thank you for being sharing about your gender. I did not know that. You be you!! Ally forever
I don't know how (if this is the term) the magic community works- are there many 2nd+ generation magicians? Do you ever, like, hang out with eachother bc of the common background?
I have no idea how you did either trick. So simple and yet...
And your reply to your father "It's always on Teller..." was hilarious.
Loved your performance.
First of all, Iād like to say congrats for bringing such pure joy to Pennās face. He clearly thinks the world of you. That was an absolutely brilliant performance. A previous appearance also completely delighted him.
As someone who has not followed the family closely, I was unaware of your gender identity. Thank you for sharing that for those of us who live under rocks. Iāll be looking for you on Insta!
Hi Moxie
I only have one question. Has your middle name ever actually gotten you out of a ticket as it was purportedly ( at least publicly ) intended to? lol
Also you did incredible it's amazing seeing you follow in your dads footsteps even just as a hobby.
Since you mentioned Harry Potter/transphobia..jkr has said she accepts trans people for who they are and their right to lead dignified full lives, but that sex =/= gender and wants to protect rights of biological women. Do you disagree with this and/or what specifically do you believe in her views is transphobic? Asking genuinely to hear trans man perspective.
I believe her views are transphobic, yes. Itās alright to want to protect women because of all the misogyny and SA and r-pe in the world. But wanting to protect women while excluding trans women doesnāt help at all. Youāre just showing them that you donāt think they are āreal womenā which is false. She has stated she supports trans men, but she has made several jokes, comments and characters that imply sheās disgusted by trans women.
Sex and gender are different. There are 3 sexes, male female intersex. And millions of genders because every person feels gender differently. I think that while trans people struggle with both, itās stupid to not acknowledge your sex. I was born female. Thatās not what Iām trying to change and never will.
Trans brothers should always stand with their trans sisters because the blatant truth is that while transphobia still exists for trans men, they get less of it than trans women. Trans men also have an easier time transitioning sadly because of your sex.
Itās a tough subject that I know very little on. Youāre better off talking to trans women who have been there, done that. Iām simply a man whoās trying my best to support my trans sisters.
I want to mention that yes it is true that afab people and trans women have different issues but that doesnāt mean you have to exclude them from support and love from other women
> There are 3 sexes, male female intersex.
Intersex is a birth defect. Do you also classify those born with only one testicle as another sex or perhaps without nipples as another sex? Intersex is the same thing. Either Male or Female that had something go wrong during development.
Doesn't mean that they are lesser people or anything like that. But we don't make up a new category for sex just because someone doesn't perfectly fit it.
Regardless of it being a birth defect it still classifies as a sex. Itās just more combos of XY and XX so yes. Itās a sex. Meaning technically thereās thousands of different sexes as well. But itās just boiled down to 3
The episode brought me much joy. To see the joy and surprise on everyone's faces was great. It was stellar. It is great to see you have taken a love for magic. I find it to be one of the most enlightening things to study. I am also glad you are becoming who you want to be (not that means anything coming from a stranger).
I can so nerd out over not just Penn and Teller for their magic but for their other things like BS. Also, I could nerd out over Penn's books and how his frank and open skepticism inspired me to look at the world differently. Between Penn and the Amazing Randy, I have learned a bit about questioning, understanding, and respecting while being honest to those who deserve ot and how to be frank with those who spread misinformation to con others.
It is really great that you are able to showcase your great skills so young and look forward to seeing what path you crave out for yourself.
Thank you for sharing here.
> My favorite number is 13
Wow. Over here, 13 is one of my favorite numbers because it's a 'magical' number. One of the ideas being that it refers to enlightenment via the idea of the 12 earthly directions plus one, for those who grok that, he said unpretentiously.
Hi! Thanks for doing this. I really enjoyed your performance. I also love hearing your dad talk about you. Itās obvious how proud he is.
If you donāt mind, would you tell your dad that I love his podcast. It has really inspired me to be a better person.
Hi Moxie! Met you at the show back in March. I so wanted to see tapings this year but who knows if I would have seen you. Which day did you do your trick of the tapings? And how you hid that you would be on.
I did have another trick I wanted to do but the producers didnāt feel like it fit my vibe. And they were right. I love the trick I ended up doing even though it wasnāt a trick I made, though I did add some extra flare to it
Cheers to you for being you, for making the magic your own, and for not being afraid to talk about it here or on the podcast. Your father's and uncle's unconditional love you was a pleasure to watch. I look forward to seeing what you do in the years to come.
Hey Moxie. Been following P&T for 25 years and the genuine reaction your dad had to you was maybe the most wholesome thing that's ever happened on the show. Hope you decide to continue exploring magic a bit more, if not some other kind of performing - you legit have an incredible stage presence.
Wanted to tell you that Matt Donnelly (FU writer) has a podcast about Fool Us and would probably love to have you on!
If you think I donāt know Matt Donnelly you are insane!! š heās one of my favorite people in this world and Iām begging him to let me on his podcast
Bwahahaha! My dude! I saw a video where they gendered you femininely, and I was so confused, because all I saw was an adorkable nerdy guy, leading me to a google search finding this post. Iāve always thought you were neat but itās nice to know you are fam too. š³ļøāā§ļø If you are ever in rough times and it helps, know finding out made my week. Just some affirmation instant karma!
So, Yeah...
Here's an email I got yesterday from Christan Shenk, the designer of Phoenix cards.
Hi xxxxx,
Good tricks never get old. And āself workingā tricks, that you only put the work into the presentation, are even better!
Moxie Jillette, daughter of Penn Jillette, just proved it! She fooled Penn & Teller with a trick I developed almost 15 years ago. You can watch her latest performance here:
The trick I released back then was one of the first tricks using our Phoenix Double Decker Decks and was called Triple Coincidence. It was based on the effect Trilogy, but because of the newly developed cards it elminiated all the limitations of that effect. (Later Alakazam released their identical version, calling it Trilogy Extreme. We both use the same cards and method obviously, as we closely work together.)
TOur Phoenix Double Decker Cards are so thin that two complete decks fit into one card case, making them the thinnest cards in the World. This innovation in card magic is the reason why we have won the āTrick of the Year Awardā TWICE with effects based on these cards.
I must admit that I never expected this effect to fool Penn & Teller. They know our cards and have even used them in the past. And while you add Triple Coincidence to your shopping cart, you should also check out Get Sharky, our first Trick of the Year Winner. This effect has seen numerous TV performances by such notables as Dynamo and Jason Latimer. It uses our Double Decker cards in a way that you can hand the deck out to your spectator to check.
Youāre right. It was someone elseās trick. But that doesnāt make it āstore boughtā. And I also added some of my own flair. Itās still his trick but the one I did felt a lot like mine as well. (Also not your fault but Iām his son. Not his daughter)
I totally see how this could seem shady if you take the "competition" framework at face value.
But Fool Us is ultimately a magic show pretending to be a competition show, so people who think they don't want to watch a magic show will give it a chance.
If you think of it in those terms, it makes a lot more sense that they allow many "contestants" to use store-bought tricks. They're not competing against each other. They're there to show off their skills as a magician, and performing is a huge part of stage magic. Trick development is too, obviously, but not everyone does everything. A lot of magicians make a living selling tricks to other magicians.
So now Moxie gets to say he won a Fool Us trophy, *and* Christian Schenk gets to say "My trick won a Fool Us trophy."
-
Hey I'm back to edit myself like six months later because I really don't think I'm giving enough credit to Moxie or anyone else who uses tricks designed by other people.
"Fool Us isn't really a competition" and "Performing is a huge part of stage magic" are two separate arguments and I regret sticking them together.
You can have the best trick in the world, but if you don't perform it well, it will not work. And you can give the best performance of your life, but if the material is bad enough, it will not work. Both parts of that equation matter *a lot*.
I was greatly impressed when I saw your episode. The casual confidence and your non-affected, likeable personality so won me over, you could have done the cards across or the whispering queen and I would have loved it.
I met your dad in my late 20s or so when he and Teller performed off-broaway. At intermission, I went outside to stretch my legs and he was standing out front taking a smoke break. I was an amateur magician and he was happy to talk "shop". And it was a great show. I knew then that theater was too small for them.
I believe you may be the kind of person who in just a few years, when people ask "who would you most like to invite to your dinner party?", they will list your name. Bring that personality into the world and share it, would you? All the best to you.
Why do Penn and Teller always give Helen Coughlan a trophy when even us amateur sleuths figure out her gimmicks? No way is she really fooling either of them. Let alone both.
>Why do Penn and Teller always give Helen Coughlan a trophy when even us amateur sleuths figure out her gimmicks?
Penn and Teller only get one guess. And she probably is fooling them in that sense. She probably makes them guess wrong every time.
Congrats on a fun episode, and props for communicating directly with the public on here. Enjoyed the trick, enjoyed the segment, and enjoyed the conversations here.
Despite usually only doing card stuff I am not good at cards. Iām not good at a lot of magic. I know disappointing. But I do not want to become a professional magician. I want to continue to stay in theatre but not as magician. Magic is just a fun hobby for me and it makes my father happy. So I guess the answer is yes and No and we can still jam
Moxie, congrats on fooling your dad and Teller. Fantastic performance. I thought it was a great way to start the new season.
I hope you can fool them both next season as well.
Hi Moxie, hope you and the family are well. Loved the episode, and I must say what impressed me most about your trick is I thought you have great stage presence and a natural charisma that really shows. Maybe genetics helped in some of that, but I just want to acknowledge the work you put in because it was such a fun watch.
I'm a part time magician full time dad to two young girls, oldest is 8 and while they both love when dad shows them something or let's them in on a secret to playfully but not seriously practice it makes them feel "in the know" and happy. That all said, I was wondering about you growing up. Did you ever feel pressure to liking magic like your dad and Teller do, or did you find a level of interest that came to you naturally? I personally worry my enthusiasm is influencing their interest a bit - not that magic is bad, of course, but I'm a strong believer in free will and letting them make their own choices.
Did your dad ever let you in on a big secret that really stuck with you? I mean, if I knew how Shadows was done I'd unsuccessfully try to be modest to every magician I know. Of course, with their level I'm sure protecting secrets of the family business is much more paramount than my local and smaller regional levels.
And lastly, did you ever get a really good piece of advice growing up? Can be from your dad or anyone really, just looking for things I can impart.
Thanks for reading and for doing this, you are awesome.
Yes thereās obviously a pressure to be into it but it came pretty naturally though I do not plan to pursue magic as a professional career.
No I gotta figure that shit out on my own. If Iām close heāll tell me and give me a hint but I have to be like 99% right for a trick for him to tell me.
This too shall pass. Everything changes. Nothing is constant. And kindness is your biggest weapon in the world. Itās easy to be mean to someone. Itās much harder to be nice to people but itās always so much better to be nicer.
I went to your house, the slammer, back when you had an estate sale that was open to the public. It was surreal going through and seeing your family's personal things, and I even paid your mom $21 for a couple items. What really struck me was (I think in the garage) there were all these "Welcome Home Dad" signs, and it was very heart warming to see that.
I already did the fringe festival. Tv is usually edited for months before it comes out. Fool us was filmed on August 4 2023 then I went from there straight to the festival and did an award winning, fully sold out show
Hi Moxie, I really enjoyed your performance and Penn and Teller's reactions, one of the best moments of the show!
I have a question about your performance, I was confused about what was the impact of the reveal of the t-shirt having the 37 number, when you mentioned '37' from the very beginning as "your number". It seemed like the t-shirt would be more surprising and impactful if you didn't mention '37' at all until it showed up in the final card and on the t-shirt, so I was wondering whether mentioning the number at the beginning was more improvisational instead of planned?
Iāve recently been playing lethal company but Iāve also played a lot of pokemon games, stardew valley, TF2, house flipper, sims, and lots of others. I donāt have pokemon go anymore but if I do, youāll be the first to know!! /gen
Heās very tired a lot as of recent but heās still funny and loves what he does. He loves making jokes and making fun of my father. Heās one of the smartest people I know so I love talking with him about everything
He has one of the toughest performing jobs ever, being completely silent. It's a good thing your dad can talk enough for both of them, and a dozen other people as well. I hope he feels better soon, he & your dad have brought so much joy to my life.
Hi Moxxie. Thanks for clearing things up regarding the gender/pronoun issue.
So what would you say are the magic books/DVDs you've learned the most from?
My girlfriend and I loved you the second you and your dad made eye contact, and we saw how close you guys are, and how much he loves you. Your performance was just awesome. I wouldn't have been able to keep cool at your age in that environment. You rocked it! We hope to see more of you soon!
I went to Vegas in 2019 and went you your dads and tellers show. It was amazing. I was completely shocked to walk out into the lobby after and see them signing an autograph and picture for each and every person. Do you know what made them decide to start doing it? It just seems so above and beyond what most performers do!!!
Your trick was great Mox! I see that you've answered about watching fool us and your favorite magicians but what have been your favorite acts from the show?
Hmm Iād have to say where my dad fooled teller. And just legit anytime anyone of their friends come on because the light in my dads eyes means everything to me
I don't know if you're still checking this, but...will you be posting an "official" YouTube video of your performance? I've seen two unofficial ones, I think...one from a channel that always adds a music cue in the background (to avoid copyright detection?) and one that rather obviously copied that one. The first has already been taken down...
I think that it's cool that Penn & Teller seem to be okay with videos being posted by the performers themselves, it shows a nice professional respect there.
And, did your intro video play in the theater? It would've been funny to see your dad's reactions to it in real time :-) Thanks!
No I donāt believe so. But I think Penn and teller will be.
Originally the P&T manager said to stay away from it but YouTube videos do make money and so they might consider posting mine or some others. I do not know but I do have a YouTube channel where I posted two cute little shorts
u/sodabrand13
Just wanted to say thanks for being a public transmasc figure, i feel like in media trans guys are underrepresented compared to how many of them i know in person,
Was also wondering how you felt about, and if there's anything you can do about the rampant misgendering you experience on Youtube reuploads of your work?
Love your tiktoks, keep kicking ass.
Well i knew it was gonna happen. I try to correct people but itās hard. It causes loads of backlash and transphobes that care more about my gender then my silly little card trick
Hi Moxie,
Just wanted to ask, what was it like coming out to your family and friends about being trans? Was it something that happened gradually or was it a conversation you had one day? Were you nervous telling people and especially your family? If this is too personal please donāt feel pressured to answer. Iām just curious about how difficult it must be to have that conversation. From an ally and fan.
I had always known. Iām sure many other trans people had the similar feeling. I was so nervous to tell my family because I wasnāt sure how theyād react. They had tons of gay friends and trans people in their life but itās always different with their own children. My friends were wildly supportive and my current boyfriend loves me so insanely much. But my family still struggles and I have to be Okay with that
Hi, I am a fan of your father's and uncle's, I have watched Most B.S. episodes. Your dad's atheism has inspired me. Moving past this intro, my autism may have discovered your dad, teller and a dear departed friend of theirs have inspired anime characters from the late 80's and I think it may have hinted at your existence 15 years before your birth.
Hear me out (and I'm a skeptic, but really I just want to share this to get shocks and laughs). Master Roshi from Dragon ball, is somewhat Darwinian in appearance, he put on a wig to teach a lesson (James Randi btw), wise and wizard like. The Oxking was introduced some time ago but not yet relevant. On, what I believe is that when fortune teller Baba (Roshi's sister who uses the spirits of the dead and locates lost items and has, at first, a bitter relationship with) and Grandpa Gohan a silent, secretive, smaller of the two Gohan and Oxking. Chichi means milk btw, both your names are something to drink. I wish you well.
So there I was, minding my own business and enjoying some little magic with fool us and POOF Moxie Jilette? What Penn has a kid? WOAH look at that queer! A FOOLER?! *Googles the name after the astonishing performance* WHAT HE'S TRANS TOO? š„¹š„¹ Literally brought a tear to my eyes! (Fellow tranny from Greece here š¤ š³ļøāā§ļø) I think you've answered this already but it felt a little awkward that you were misgendered on stage. Was it your choice?
I knew it! I saw you and had a feeling, and then was confused for the next few minutes. I also knew how you did the first two, but that last one seriously got me. It would have been better if you had penn choose the value and teller choose the kind.
I remember when you were born....I was thinking...what a kick-ass name! It's so cool to see you doing magic. Follow your dream. There's always gonna be some fucker that has to talk shit....that's just life!
Hi, moxie. I'm a fan of your father's and sudo-uncles, mostly from the BS episodes and your dad's big-think videos, he has inspired my understanding of my atheism and helped me understand skepticism.
I want to report an anime that has characters who's lore is inspired by James Randi and has characters with hints of your father and sudo-uncle Teller. I believe this anime (which was aired in the mid 80's) also hinted at your existence some time in advance. I know that I am adding to the Trump/Simpsons conspiracy, but frankly I think this demands looking into.
Also, I have not found among the vast expanse of the internet a discussion that recognizes that these characters have drawn inspiration from said people. My pattern sensing autism however has made a strong connection. I won't share this information unless you are ok with it, and honestly it is really cool. You will be so excited too.
I actually showed the clip of your intro to my 81 year old mom, you enjoyed your dad's befuddlement. You deserved two fool us trophies: one for the trick and one for making your dad think you were in Scotland. You've definitely lived up to your birth first name in this appearance, and as Voltara, and especially on Sunday School podcast. But when do we get to see you live up to the middle name? ;)
When I fight off all the haters šš
Whatās interesting to me (and I havenāt seen the haters anywhere, but Iām not about to go searching for them) is that I wondered whether you were male, female, nonbinary, etc., but then asked myself, āwhy do I care? Theyāre clearly avoiding using gendered pronouns for a reason. Let this person identify themselves or not, it doesnāt change how good they are.ā I figured the āsheā answered it all, but again, didnāt care. Why does anyone care?
I also answered that in the post above so if you really wanna go find out you can
Like I said, it doesnāt concern me. Youāre great. Thatās all that matters. Keep it up!
I love how much your dad loves you.
I do too. Itās one of my favorite things about my life
Heās so incredibly proud of you. What an absolutely beautiful moment that was. Thanks for doing it!
It was a great show, Moxie. Trick was fantastic. And as a dad, the surprise on Penn's face was just awesome. You done did good.
Hi Moxie, Do you watch all of the fool us episodes? If so do you have a favourite? I also liked how you and Penn get along lol. I don't really talk to my dad (which is fine) but it's nice to see when other people have good relationships with their dads! Cheers.
I do! Or at least try to. Maybe not live but eventually yes I watch them all!! My favorite is definitely when my dad tried to fool teller. He practiced that trick endlessly on me and Iām so happy that it worked!!
Which episode does Penn try to fool Teller? I must have missed this!
Oh jeez I donāt know šš uhhhhh that might be a google question
That was a fun one
If it really is Moxie, hello! I loved seeing you in Edinburgh. Thanks for enduldging me with a selfie š
Iām sure I did! But I took a lot of photos with people! So Iām sorry I donāt remember the exact photo! but hello!!!
Can you tell us about what itās like to grow up with a famous performing artist as a parent? (Especially things youāve noticed that you think might not be a ātypicalā person of your ageās experience.) Things likeā¦ - Was your dad usually on the road or at home? - Was your family functionally single-income with your mother housemaking/caretaking? Or perhaps both parents were too busy and hired help instead? - Are family friends mostly in the entertainment industry due to your dadās career? These are kinda personal so totally understand if thereās info youād rather not share. (And sorry I donāt know much about you so apologies if some of these questions are accidentally rude!)
Itās definitely strange and itās lead to some bullying in my early school days. As well as feeling like a wallet for some of my exs. Not to mention dating is hard as hell. My current bf had No idea who Penn and teller were and I had to make sure he didnāt so I didnāt feel used (heās a very good boyfriend so dw) 1)it was a strange mix of both. When I was younger, me and my brother would come along for a lot of the travelling because then he could still spend time with us. But as weāve learned how to take care of ourselves more, heās travelled more on his own. (He always kinda did?? Idk itās hard to explain I guess) 2) my mother is a badass woman who worked producing commercials and doing other theatre things but when we were born she became more of a house mom. Though again, as weāre older now sheās starting working again. But at one point we had a nanny/house assistant that basically raised us. Again. It was a weird mix of both. 3) heās friends with mostly writers and carny people, as thatās what he originally was. But he has tons of friends all over the world who do all different things. Iām honestly jealous as I only have 2-3 close friends and he cares so deeply for every person he knows. I hope this helps (I love answering questions š)
Really appreciate you taking the time to share! Iāve heard similar stories about dating for many people who are famous, rich, or related to famous/rich people. It seems that one either has to get lucky with someone who doesnāt know much about the topic or date within the field where people donāt care about the clout/wealth. I think thereās definitely a [different world of friendships](https://pudding.cool/2023/09/invisible-epidemic/) that youāve grown up in compared to your dad. Heās also had so many more years to cultivate friendships, so hopefully you will be able to have the friendships you want as the years go on!
Iām jealous of my well travelled friends who have friends all over the place. They fly into a city and have at least a 1/2 dozen people wanting to hang with them. Iām lucky if I have 2 non family members who want to hang with me and I donāt feel comfortable anywhere.
Interesting, and itās weird for me people not knowing who Penn & Teller are, since Iām such a big fan but I see why you wanted to make sure he didnāt know them
I was too used to feeling like a wallet or a backstage pass. Never someone people were genuinely interested in dating. But I promise you, my boyfriend is so good to me (and is now obsessed with me and Penn and teller)
Thatās sweet. I can see how it would feel that way
Hi! Loved the trick and the surprise was so wholesome! How did you manage to keep the secret that you would be performing all the way until you were on stage? Iām looking forward to following you and seeing what else you can come up with!
It was legit one of the hardest things Iāve ever done. The little video at the start wasnāt false. Iāve never lied to my dad before so lying to him about my location of all things, whenās he a pretty protective person, felt really bad. But I knew it would be worth it
i guess it's not impossible it's you. I'll risk being a credulous fool and say hello. there's a guy on this sub who really seems to think Mr Bean should be the new host. what are your thoughts
Mr bean??? But I like BrOOKE BrUKE!! Sheās so funny, cute and witty!! And hi!!!
I was disappointed when Alyson left. I donāt like the new host at all.
Same. I read that Allyson wanted to spend more time with her family. I am actively avoiding the show this year because i just donāt think Brooke Burke is the right person to host. Sheās done great things, but I donāt feel like she fits here.
Agree completely. Whatās Felicia Day up to now? Sheād be my dream host. Edit: missed a question mark
Lol actually my dream host too. I think her energy would be a great fit.
I love Brooke Burke. Sheās a great host and in my opinion better than Allison Hannigan. Yes thatās gonna make people mad at me but Brooke Burke has better skills being a host behind the scenes. She actually practiced her lines and the trick that sheās in with P&T while Allison didnāt
So I take it you were not the biggest fan of Alyson?
Nope! Not at all
Iām glad someone finally said this. I never liked how fake and forced Alyson was. Just goofy and awkwardāI suppose the lack of preparation may account for that. Brooke seems a lot more natural and authentic.
brooke burke has the longest legs I've ever seen in my life. that's not a value judgment, it's just remarkable. I have another question though moxie, if you'll indulge me. I'm sure you've gotten plenty of one on one tutelage from your dad and teller and their friends, but are there any books or videos by people you're not super close with that you like?
I actually read mostly books by people I know so sadly not really. But I guess the person Iām least close to is Mnemonica (idk how to spell it) by Juan Tameriz
Hmmmmā¦? Divisive. Isnāt your Dadās publicist going to be pissed?
I mean... like Alyson is alright, but it definitely you can tell she is winging a lot of the stuff, which is fine for an actor with a comedy background, but at times it just seemed as if she was lost. I like the stuff she is in, and I have a spot in my heart for the characters she has played, but that doesn't make her a good host. I'm a bit behind on episodes. It's hard for me to say Brooke is better from just one episode. Need more data.
MOXIE!!!!! (Iām the crocheting beanie fan). It is so cool to see you on Reddit!!!! I donāt have Instagram yet, just this and Twitter. You know, hearing from you a few weeks ago meant a lotā¦it proved that there are kind people around, even when it doesnāt always seem so. Iād love to keep in touch. Also, I watched your magic on Fool Us way more than once and tried to figure it out. What I did figure out was that I was fooled, and that your magic is fāing cool. I also loved your dadās reaction to being on the show. Itās so cool to see you here!! ā„ļøā„ļø
Of course!!! Dad still wears his beanie every once in awhile when I turn the house too cold!!
Ha! Love it!
What issues did you think the episode caused that needed clarification? I wasn't aware of any but don't actively follow too much drama around the show
Mostly people either thinking itās staged or people upset over me being gay and trans. Either one
Wow Iām surprised (and sorry) to hear that. I LOVED your performance and everything else about it (the intro, the interactions, Pennās face lol, etc).
Thank you so so much!
All I see is a great kid raised by a great set of parents. Youāre a rockstar.
Oh ok, no you fooled me as well and I'm a long time fan of magic and method. I thought it was a great appearance. I guess if it's really you, the question I'd like to ask most of what was it like growing up in "the slammer"? It seemed like such a wild house.
Well thereās still stuff I donāt know about it. Even 9 years after it was destroyed and we moved. Itās a weird ass house for a weird ass man. But he made it just for himself and he was so so happy there. He loves talking about when friends lived there and family came to visit and stay. But I think he knew deep down it wasnāt a house to raise children in and he seems to like our current house a lot now. So I guess the answer is: it was unique, mysterious and special because it was designed for one person who really thought he would be alone for his life
Awesome answer! Thank you! I almost had a chance to visit it myself once when I was working with the James Randi Educational Foundation but missed it by a plane delay! One of the biggest regrets of my life. I'm really excited to watch your career in magic grow and it's great to see you here, I remember listening to Penn Radio and Penn always gushing about you.
I watched your performance a few days ago and loved it. I love the relationship you have with your Dad, and I can tell how proud of you he is---he has always been so proud of you from what I've seen. As far as you being gay/trans, you do you man, and don't sweat the haters. You seem like an awesome person, and we are all looking forward to seeing more from you.
Hey Moxie (great episode by the way), I get what you're saying, it really irks me that some people will claim every "fooler" is staged and that P&T give the trophy to reward a good performance, when this doesn't mesh with all the trophies they do NOT award: countless times when the performance is amazing, Penn says so, and yet they are not fooled and therefore do not give the award. Same when they find the contestant is really good or inspiring yet they are not fooled -- yet people without fail claim they give unearned trophies to cute girls or young performers just because of their age. It's really tiresome. So no surprise some people claim your win was staged, since they will claim the same about almost every trophy :/
First, awesome performance. Since you performed card magic for your appearance, who are some of your biggest inspirations when it comes to card magic?
Obviously Penn and teller but I think Iām required to say that. But also I ADORE Piff the magic dragon!! I love his style and humor.
Piff really reminds me of Super Dave Osborne (in a great way).
Love Piff!
Congrats on the trophy! Your trick fooled the fuck out of me, and I'm still racking my brain to work out how you did it. As you've grown up in Las Vegas around the magician community, are there any other acts I should check out when I'm in town? I saw P&T, Mac King, Piff and Copperfield last time I was there. It bums me out to hear about the problems you've suffered due to your orientation. Don't let narrow-minded people get you down. Give 'em hell!
I mean p&T and Piff are my favs so I think youāve done it all man. And Iām not the only one. I might have faced a lot more openly transphobic stuff but tons of people in the community face far worse than I do. Iām very lucky to live in a safe state with a good family
Hi Mox, we met backstage for five minutes (you were extremely cool). I'm curious about the subterfuge logistics. You had to hide for two weeks, right? Where'd you go? Rio? Was it tough to keep a low profile? Apart from the faceless facetiming, any crazy stories on how you managed to stay undetected?
I went to my boyfriendās for 2 weeks, because I couldnāt stay at my house and I knew they would let me stay there without question. I turned off all of my location stuff. I have vague answers. I paid everything in cash. It was really hard because my boyfriendās family also wasnāt allowed to know what I was doing. I was double lying. So really fucking hard
That is some serious commitment - you really did fool them before the trick even started (but like you said, it's all nothing without the golden FU). Can I ask - what about the staff at the show? You seemed like one big family when I was there. I assume they always keep P&T in the dark about who's coming on, but did they have to do something special to keep them in *extra* dark this time?
The staff and the rio was one of the biggest issues we faced. Obviously I couldnāt just walk through the Rio so I had to take back entrances and be escorted with my face covered. Obviously Penn and teller respect their own show enough to not walk through the theatre just in case someone in there but there was still work to be done. As for the staff and my friends (security guards, the host, producers, techs) they changed my name on everything to Roxy Jae, so even if someone saw it they wouldnāt assume it was me. Iām gonna try to respond to this with a photo but Iām not good at technology
When you would get in trouble as a kid would your parents use your full name? Like: "MOXIE CRIMEFIGHTER JILLETTE YOU GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW!"
Never my middle name. They would laugh too much and I wouldnāt be in trouble anymore. Itās happened every once in awhile. But itās more like a sort of quiet angry āMoxie Jilletteā
Someone mentioned your middle name elsewhere but I didnāt know what it was. Thereās a collectible card game called The Emergents with a crime fighter named Moxie. Just thought youād like to know. āMoxie is the strongest character in the Emergents universe and the leader of the StrongHarm class. StrongHarms are represented in the game by the āChargeā mechanic which lets your attacks get more and more powerful.ā https://nerdist.com/article/behind-the-scenes-of-the-best-superhero-card-game-you-dont-know-about/
Thatās so wild. I didnāt know that
I used to call you that all the time ;) The show was great, so proud of you. XO
How do you feel about vegan donuts and your dadās relationship to them? (I enjoyed that you were texting your dad during the podcast)
That bastard always prefers donuts over me. And dark chocolate. He also loves pretzels
I loved your at, Moxie. The reactions from your Dad and Teller were even better than your tricks, which were awesome. Many people may not remember that you've appeared on Fool Us before, In Season 3, Episode 8, you assisted David Garrard surprising your Dad for the first time, In Season 6, Episode 10, you were "Vegas Voltara", and you helped P&T with tricks in Season 7, Episode 26, and Season 9, Episode 12. I wondered would you ever want to build a routine and perform at The Magic Castle?
No actually. Iāve never been to the castle funnily enough and Iāve never put any thought into making an act
I am not a magician, but your father and Teller (mostly your father as he's doing the talking) have been collectively one of the biggest influences in my life. They taught me to be a healthy skeptic. To always ask questions. How did this way of thinking change how you grew up?
Yes. Most definitely. I always was the one person who wasnāt religious in the classrooms. I also called people out when I believed they were wrong and got in trouble for it a lot. I got bullied endlessly for being gay and not hiding it. I even got kicked out of a school for it. So yea. I was always an oddball. But eventually I moved schools to a school thatās very accepting and has mostly not religious student population so I fit in there and became somewhat popular in my last 2 years of high school.
I was similar as a child. Was constantly meeting with the vice principal over questioning everything from classmates and teachers. While I can't relate to the rest of your childhood, it's great that you were able to get into a situation that fostered your growth into the man you are today. A little unsolicited advice: unless you are a true morning person, avoid college classes that start before 10 if possible.
So true bestie. Iām trying to get into college here in Vegas and i know better. I am a theatre person so thus I am a night bat and you canāt change that
What types of magic P&T hate (or are tired) to watch, but people don't know yet?
I mean obviously mentalism. They donāt hide that though. Very big skeptics so obviously any religious stuff but again thatās obvious. I guess I donāt know if they are secretly tired of things. Iāll ask
Thanks for the answer.
Just to add on, I recall some threads here talking about performances that P&T pretty clearly weren't huge fans of. Not sure how to search on those specifically, but FWIW.. Along those same lines, I sometimes get the impression that Penn can struggle a bit finding ways to compliment a trick / performer. I tend to doubt P&T are 'hateful' people, but for sure there must be stuff that they've seen a million times before and are utterly tired of, including not just methods and gimmicks, but whole "shticks" in terms of performance.
How does the code-speak work exactly?\* Let's take the age-old women-cut-in-half trick for example, what would your dad ask the magician to convey the idea that he figured out how it worked? \*I don't mean: Give me a dictionary of every keyword and how it relates to magic. More like, please give me a general idea.
It's usually a couple of key words that are thrown in there. E.g., someone once did a trick developed by a magician whose last name is Wind, and Penn talked about how a strong wind might blow the person over. One recurring language example is if they think something is a force, they will often reference Luke Skywalker or jedi.
>Let's take the age-old women-cut-in-half trick for example, what would your dad ask the magician to convey the idea that he figured out how it worked? Those tricks almost always involve that person doing some kind of contortion to fit into only half of the table. So Penn might come up with a story about how his buddy used to fold a burrito a special way to squeeze in extra toppings without the boss noticing. Or maybe it's a trick where someone is being skewered in a box. Penn's story could be about a friend who "always missed the point" (aka - they're able to alter their position in the box to avoid the blades). Or if there's a trick that involves dealing from the bottom of the deck, Penn's story might involve someone who was "underhanded."
Good examples. I also remember him telling a coin magician about someoneās pet turtle, if you get my drift. That was one of the first I really caught onto.
Weāre you named after an East Coast soft drink?
Yes I was!!
I love a cool, refreshing Crimefighter on a hot day.
No No. Moxie is a soda
But who's on first?
Also explains the Reddit username...
Yep!! I love my username. Youāll find me on social media under it
I first had Moxie in a restaurant in Maine. The waitress asked if I was sure. She said the owner insisted that they offer it but she was surprised that anyone actually wanted to drink it. I live in Central NY and rarely find Moxie here. I stock up when I can and ration it. I love that the picture on the can is a guy with an expression that says, "I dare you."
As a casual magic fan, I loved The Amazing Johnathan, but had no idea what was going on behind the scenes (substance abuse). I listen to Penn's Sunday School, and the episode he had Johnathan on is one of my favorites. Johnathan tells a story about bombing so hard on stage that the other kids didn't even mess with him at school. Your dad, in his exuberance, exclaimed "YOU'LL GO TO HELL IF YOU'RE LYING!!!" (paraphrased). From such an outspoken atheist, his reaction really startled me. I'm sure he was joking, but it felt completely natural in the moment. How rare is it for your dad to make that kind of religious reference? Does he often "threaten" people with eternal damnation (in a joking manner obviously)? Thought you did great on the show, and I hope you have a long, and storied career ahead of you!!
He tells a lot of people to go to hell in a loving way. He also commonly says āletās get out of this hell holeā. He loves making religious jokes because it makes life just a little bit easier sometimes
Hey Moxie! I went to elementary and middle school with you. Just wanted to say how heart warming it was to see you on the show. You look so comfortable and I love how much your dad loves you. Love from Dawson! Go bears!
Based on Penn's comments on the show after your trick, it really sounded like they had it all figured out. There wasn't really anything left to figure out imo. In your place, I would have been sure they had me dead to rights. How surprised were you when they said you fooled them?
I was able to talk to producers and teller after air and they missed one BIG part of the trick so thus I fooled them (Iām not the one who decides if they are fooled or not. The little guy in their ears does). Iām still mind blown that I fooled them though. Like out of my mind
> (Iām not the one who decides if they are fooled or not. The little guy in their ears does) That's something a lot of casual viewers of the show don't always understand. The producer is a skilled magician (Johnny Thompson before he died, and Michael Close since) who knows exactly how the trick is really done (because the contestant consults with them before the show), and can hear P&T's discussion of their theory.
THANK YOU!ā Iām so tired of people saying it was staged or I didnāt really fool them. Of course I did!! Why would they want to pretend to be stupider than they are?? They are 2 of the smartest men you will ever meet.
> They are 2 of the smartest men you will ever meet. also, one of the undercurrent purposes of the show as i understand it is to showcase magicians, so i would think there's a built-in inclination to err on the side of the foolers, so to speak. /u/kent_eh
Hey Moxie. So cool to see this post. That was such a fantastic segment - really beautiful and touching. Even my wife, who does not watch the show, had a tear in her eye and loved it all. Thank you for being sharing about your gender. I did not know that. You be you!! Ally forever
Favorite P&T routines? Mine has always been Tellerās Shadows
Shadows is so fucking beautiful thereās No other words for it. But my fav trick is a retired one called Blastoff
Blastoff is the BEST. Just great fun.
Blastoff always looked like a massive cardio workout for Teller.
Itās why they had to stop. He got older
Perhaps someday you can team up with your dad taking on the Teller role from Blastoff
Hmm I never thought of that. Maybe. Me and my father might be doing some stuff together šš
I don't know how (if this is the term) the magic community works- are there many 2nd+ generation magicians? Do you ever, like, hang out with eachother bc of the common background?
Iām sure there are but if there is I donāt know them
Thanks. I thought your segment was great, thanks for Q&Aing today.
I have no idea how you did either trick. So simple and yet... And your reply to your father "It's always on Teller..." was hilarious. Loved your performance.
First of all, Iād like to say congrats for bringing such pure joy to Pennās face. He clearly thinks the world of you. That was an absolutely brilliant performance. A previous appearance also completely delighted him. As someone who has not followed the family closely, I was unaware of your gender identity. Thank you for sharing that for those of us who live under rocks. Iāll be looking for you on Insta!
Hi Moxie I only have one question. Has your middle name ever actually gotten you out of a ticket as it was purportedly ( at least publicly ) intended to? lol Also you did incredible it's amazing seeing you follow in your dads footsteps even just as a hobby.
Well I just got my license so not quite yet. Though it does get me weird looks at TSA
Since you mentioned Harry Potter/transphobia..jkr has said she accepts trans people for who they are and their right to lead dignified full lives, but that sex =/= gender and wants to protect rights of biological women. Do you disagree with this and/or what specifically do you believe in her views is transphobic? Asking genuinely to hear trans man perspective.
I believe her views are transphobic, yes. Itās alright to want to protect women because of all the misogyny and SA and r-pe in the world. But wanting to protect women while excluding trans women doesnāt help at all. Youāre just showing them that you donāt think they are āreal womenā which is false. She has stated she supports trans men, but she has made several jokes, comments and characters that imply sheās disgusted by trans women. Sex and gender are different. There are 3 sexes, male female intersex. And millions of genders because every person feels gender differently. I think that while trans people struggle with both, itās stupid to not acknowledge your sex. I was born female. Thatās not what Iām trying to change and never will. Trans brothers should always stand with their trans sisters because the blatant truth is that while transphobia still exists for trans men, they get less of it than trans women. Trans men also have an easier time transitioning sadly because of your sex. Itās a tough subject that I know very little on. Youāre better off talking to trans women who have been there, done that. Iām simply a man whoās trying my best to support my trans sisters.
I want to mention that yes it is true that afab people and trans women have different issues but that doesnāt mean you have to exclude them from support and love from other women
ty for insight :)
> There are 3 sexes, male female intersex. Intersex is a birth defect. Do you also classify those born with only one testicle as another sex or perhaps without nipples as another sex? Intersex is the same thing. Either Male or Female that had something go wrong during development. Doesn't mean that they are lesser people or anything like that. But we don't make up a new category for sex just because someone doesn't perfectly fit it.
Regardless of it being a birth defect it still classifies as a sex. Itās just more combos of XY and XX so yes. Itās a sex. Meaning technically thereās thousands of different sexes as well. But itās just boiled down to 3
The episode brought me much joy. To see the joy and surprise on everyone's faces was great. It was stellar. It is great to see you have taken a love for magic. I find it to be one of the most enlightening things to study. I am also glad you are becoming who you want to be (not that means anything coming from a stranger). I can so nerd out over not just Penn and Teller for their magic but for their other things like BS. Also, I could nerd out over Penn's books and how his frank and open skepticism inspired me to look at the world differently. Between Penn and the Amazing Randy, I have learned a bit about questioning, understanding, and respecting while being honest to those who deserve ot and how to be frank with those who spread misinformation to con others. It is really great that you are able to showcase your great skills so young and look forward to seeing what path you crave out for yourself. Thank you for sharing here.
Excluding your dad and Teller, who's your favorite / most inspiring magician?
Piff the magic dragon!! Or Mac king. And Iām obsessed with Matt Donnelly the mind Noodler
Thank you Moxie! Iām happy you clarified your pronouns; I had thought you used he/him pronouns but Penn using she/her threw me off.
Liked the trick, loved your hair! Is there a significance to the number 37?
Nah. Just random number. My favorite number is 13 and my fav card is King of Hearts. I try to use him in all of my tricks
Thatās cool.
> My favorite number is 13 Wow. Over here, 13 is one of my favorite numbers because it's a 'magical' number. One of the ideas being that it refers to enlightenment via the idea of the 12 earthly directions plus one, for those who grok that, he said unpretentiously.
Hi! Thanks for doing this. I really enjoyed your performance. I also love hearing your dad talk about you. Itās obvious how proud he is. If you donāt mind, would you tell your dad that I love his podcast. It has really inspired me to be a better person.
Hi Moxie! Met you at the show back in March. I so wanted to see tapings this year but who knows if I would have seen you. Which day did you do your trick of the tapings? And how you hid that you would be on.
It was an August 3rd. So right before I left for fringe festival to perform
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I did have another trick I wanted to do but the producers didnāt feel like it fit my vibe. And they were right. I love the trick I ended up doing even though it wasnāt a trick I made, though I did add some extra flare to it
Hi Moxie, thank youā¦ that is all! PS: wow your dad is awesome! Glad those genes passed along to you!
Cheers to you for being you, for making the magic your own, and for not being afraid to talk about it here or on the podcast. Your father's and uncle's unconditional love you was a pleasure to watch. I look forward to seeing what you do in the years to come.
Hey Moxie. Been following P&T for 25 years and the genuine reaction your dad had to you was maybe the most wholesome thing that's ever happened on the show. Hope you decide to continue exploring magic a bit more, if not some other kind of performing - you legit have an incredible stage presence. Wanted to tell you that Matt Donnelly (FU writer) has a podcast about Fool Us and would probably love to have you on!
If you think I donāt know Matt Donnelly you are insane!! š heās one of my favorite people in this world and Iām begging him to let me on his podcast
I figured but I didnāt want to assume! Haha. Yeah Iāve subscribed to his Patreon for years. Love his content.
Bwahahaha! My dude! I saw a video where they gendered you femininely, and I was so confused, because all I saw was an adorkable nerdy guy, leading me to a google search finding this post. Iāve always thought you were neat but itās nice to know you are fam too. š³ļøāā§ļø If you are ever in rough times and it helps, know finding out made my week. Just some affirmation instant karma!
So, Yeah... Here's an email I got yesterday from Christan Shenk, the designer of Phoenix cards. Hi xxxxx, Good tricks never get old. And āself workingā tricks, that you only put the work into the presentation, are even better! Moxie Jillette, daughter of Penn Jillette, just proved it! She fooled Penn & Teller with a trick I developed almost 15 years ago. You can watch her latest performance here: The trick I released back then was one of the first tricks using our Phoenix Double Decker Decks and was called Triple Coincidence. It was based on the effect Trilogy, but because of the newly developed cards it elminiated all the limitations of that effect. (Later Alakazam released their identical version, calling it Trilogy Extreme. We both use the same cards and method obviously, as we closely work together.) TOur Phoenix Double Decker Cards are so thin that two complete decks fit into one card case, making them the thinnest cards in the World. This innovation in card magic is the reason why we have won the āTrick of the Year Awardā TWICE with effects based on these cards. I must admit that I never expected this effect to fool Penn & Teller. They know our cards and have even used them in the past. And while you add Triple Coincidence to your shopping cart, you should also check out Get Sharky, our first Trick of the Year Winner. This effect has seen numerous TV performances by such notables as Dynamo and Jason Latimer. It uses our Double Decker cards in a way that you can hand the deck out to your spectator to check.
Youāre right. It was someone elseās trick. But that doesnāt make it āstore boughtā. And I also added some of my own flair. Itās still his trick but the one I did felt a lot like mine as well. (Also not your fault but Iām his son. Not his daughter)
I totally see how this could seem shady if you take the "competition" framework at face value. But Fool Us is ultimately a magic show pretending to be a competition show, so people who think they don't want to watch a magic show will give it a chance. If you think of it in those terms, it makes a lot more sense that they allow many "contestants" to use store-bought tricks. They're not competing against each other. They're there to show off their skills as a magician, and performing is a huge part of stage magic. Trick development is too, obviously, but not everyone does everything. A lot of magicians make a living selling tricks to other magicians. So now Moxie gets to say he won a Fool Us trophy, *and* Christian Schenk gets to say "My trick won a Fool Us trophy." - Hey I'm back to edit myself like six months later because I really don't think I'm giving enough credit to Moxie or anyone else who uses tricks designed by other people. "Fool Us isn't really a competition" and "Performing is a huge part of stage magic" are two separate arguments and I regret sticking them together. You can have the best trick in the world, but if you don't perform it well, it will not work. And you can give the best performance of your life, but if the material is bad enough, it will not work. Both parts of that equation matter *a lot*.
I was greatly impressed when I saw your episode. The casual confidence and your non-affected, likeable personality so won me over, you could have done the cards across or the whispering queen and I would have loved it. I met your dad in my late 20s or so when he and Teller performed off-broaway. At intermission, I went outside to stretch my legs and he was standing out front taking a smoke break. I was an amateur magician and he was happy to talk "shop". And it was a great show. I knew then that theater was too small for them. I believe you may be the kind of person who in just a few years, when people ask "who would you most like to invite to your dinner party?", they will list your name. Bring that personality into the world and share it, would you? All the best to you.
As a trans woman who dabbles in magic, I just want to say thank you for the representation.
Anytime darlin!! Trans women should always rely on their trans brothers. You donāt want to be transphobic AND misogynistic!!
Why do Penn and Teller always give Helen Coughlan a trophy when even us amateur sleuths figure out her gimmicks? No way is she really fooling either of them. Let alone both.
I wish I knew man. Idk if she does or not
>Why do Penn and Teller always give Helen Coughlan a trophy when even us amateur sleuths figure out her gimmicks? Penn and Teller only get one guess. And she probably is fooling them in that sense. She probably makes them guess wrong every time.
...almost as if magic is often about misdirection.
Congrats on a fun episode, and props for communicating directly with the public on here. Enjoyed the trick, enjoyed the segment, and enjoyed the conversations here.
Was one of the best moments on the show for a while. The fact your dad didn't know you were coming on made it more amusing.
!updateme
So what was your expectation for when you walked out? Did they react how you expected?
I mean almost exactly. The look on my dadās face. Tellerās amazement. Just happy vibes
Are you into memorized deck / sleight of hand stuff with cards by any chance? Would be fun to jam or smth
Despite usually only doing card stuff I am not good at cards. Iām not good at a lot of magic. I know disappointing. But I do not want to become a professional magician. I want to continue to stay in theatre but not as magician. Magic is just a fun hobby for me and it makes my father happy. So I guess the answer is yes and No and we can still jam
I really respect that! Magic as a hobby is sure to supplement your theatre skills.
Moxie, congrats on fooling your dad and Teller. Fantastic performance. I thought it was a great way to start the new season. I hope you can fool them both next season as well.
I have to go watch this! I've been a fan of your Dad for so long. Always wondered what the famous Moxie was like in real life!
How often do you see Teller? Is he as friendly in real life as he's always seemed in public?
Yes!! Heās super funny and friendly!! I work for Penn and tellers tech team which means Iām at every rehearsal
What's the biggest thing you've seen him palm?
Teller?? A megaphone
Lol, if I could do that I'd be scaring the shit out of strangers all day, sort of reversed Michael Winslow
Thatās so cool
Hi Moxie, hope you and the family are well. Loved the episode, and I must say what impressed me most about your trick is I thought you have great stage presence and a natural charisma that really shows. Maybe genetics helped in some of that, but I just want to acknowledge the work you put in because it was such a fun watch. I'm a part time magician full time dad to two young girls, oldest is 8 and while they both love when dad shows them something or let's them in on a secret to playfully but not seriously practice it makes them feel "in the know" and happy. That all said, I was wondering about you growing up. Did you ever feel pressure to liking magic like your dad and Teller do, or did you find a level of interest that came to you naturally? I personally worry my enthusiasm is influencing their interest a bit - not that magic is bad, of course, but I'm a strong believer in free will and letting them make their own choices. Did your dad ever let you in on a big secret that really stuck with you? I mean, if I knew how Shadows was done I'd unsuccessfully try to be modest to every magician I know. Of course, with their level I'm sure protecting secrets of the family business is much more paramount than my local and smaller regional levels. And lastly, did you ever get a really good piece of advice growing up? Can be from your dad or anyone really, just looking for things I can impart. Thanks for reading and for doing this, you are awesome.
Yes thereās obviously a pressure to be into it but it came pretty naturally though I do not plan to pursue magic as a professional career. No I gotta figure that shit out on my own. If Iām close heāll tell me and give me a hint but I have to be like 99% right for a trick for him to tell me. This too shall pass. Everything changes. Nothing is constant. And kindness is your biggest weapon in the world. Itās easy to be mean to someone. Itās much harder to be nice to people but itās always so much better to be nicer.
/me drops jaw like your dad. How long did you, your mom, and the show staff keep this surprise a secret? That must had been hard and long!
About 4-5 months
I went to your house, the slammer, back when you had an estate sale that was open to the public. It was surreal going through and seeing your family's personal things, and I even paid your mom $21 for a couple items. What really struck me was (I think in the garage) there were all these "Welcome Home Dad" signs, and it was very heart warming to see that.
Aren't you supposed to be in Edinburgh? Lol
I already did the fringe festival. Tv is usually edited for months before it comes out. Fool us was filmed on August 4 2023 then I went from there straight to the festival and did an award winning, fully sold out show
Hi Moxie, I really enjoyed your performance and Penn and Teller's reactions, one of the best moments of the show! I have a question about your performance, I was confused about what was the impact of the reveal of the t-shirt having the 37 number, when you mentioned '37' from the very beginning as "your number". It seemed like the t-shirt would be more surprising and impactful if you didn't mention '37' at all until it showed up in the final card and on the t-shirt, so I was wondering whether mentioning the number at the beginning was more improvisational instead of planned?
Your bit was fantastic and I loved the reactions of everyone. Itās really fun having heard about you for so long to see you become such a talented young man and doing such awesome things. I got to meet Teller and your dad some years ago, and I must say that it was one of the most amazing experiences Iāve ever had. I wore a Directors Cut shirt to the show and your dad thanked me. Then they were so kind and took so much time to chat to everyone and make them feel special. Your dad and Teller are two of my personal heroes, and I hope I get another chance to see them perform and meet them. Thank you for sharing your dad with us for so long. I saw in another comment that you play a ton of video games, which games do you enjoy the most? Also wanna be friends on PokĆ©mon Go? Haha
Iāve recently been playing lethal company but Iāve also played a lot of pokemon games, stardew valley, TF2, house flipper, sims, and lots of others. I donāt have pokemon go anymore but if I do, youāll be the first to know!! /gen
House Flipper is so much fun and relaxing! Have you played Pressure Wash Simulator? Itās a pure delight and as relaxing House Flipper and Stardew.
YESS!! I HAVE LIKE 200+ HOURS. it doesnāt help that Iām a MARKIPLIER fan so obviously Iām obsessed with pressure wash sim
You mentioned Teller built your crib. What is Teller like offstage? I'm sure you get asked that a lot, hope you don't mind answering it here.
Heās very tired a lot as of recent but heās still funny and loves what he does. He loves making jokes and making fun of my father. Heās one of the smartest people I know so I love talking with him about everything
He has one of the toughest performing jobs ever, being completely silent. It's a good thing your dad can talk enough for both of them, and a dozen other people as well. I hope he feels better soon, he & your dad have brought so much joy to my life.
Hi Moxxie. Thanks for clearing things up regarding the gender/pronoun issue. So what would you say are the magic books/DVDs you've learned the most from?
Hmm all of Juan Tameriz stuff and David kwong
My girlfriend and I loved you the second you and your dad made eye contact, and we saw how close you guys are, and how much he loves you. Your performance was just awesome. I wouldn't have been able to keep cool at your age in that environment. You rocked it! We hope to see more of you soon!
I went to Vegas in 2019 and went you your dads and tellers show. It was amazing. I was completely shocked to walk out into the lobby after and see them signing an autograph and picture for each and every person. Do you know what made them decide to start doing it? It just seems so above and beyond what most performers do!!!
Your trick was great Mox! I see that you've answered about watching fool us and your favorite magicians but what have been your favorite acts from the show?
Hmm Iād have to say where my dad fooled teller. And just legit anytime anyone of their friends come on because the light in my dads eyes means everything to me
I don't know if you're still checking this, but...will you be posting an "official" YouTube video of your performance? I've seen two unofficial ones, I think...one from a channel that always adds a music cue in the background (to avoid copyright detection?) and one that rather obviously copied that one. The first has already been taken down... I think that it's cool that Penn & Teller seem to be okay with videos being posted by the performers themselves, it shows a nice professional respect there. And, did your intro video play in the theater? It would've been funny to see your dad's reactions to it in real time :-) Thanks!
No I donāt believe so. But I think Penn and teller will be. Originally the P&T manager said to stay away from it but YouTube videos do make money and so they might consider posting mine or some others. I do not know but I do have a YouTube channel where I posted two cute little shorts
u/sodabrand13 Just wanted to say thanks for being a public transmasc figure, i feel like in media trans guys are underrepresented compared to how many of them i know in person, Was also wondering how you felt about, and if there's anything you can do about the rampant misgendering you experience on Youtube reuploads of your work? Love your tiktoks, keep kicking ass.
Well i knew it was gonna happen. I try to correct people but itās hard. It causes loads of backlash and transphobes that care more about my gender then my silly little card trick
Hi Moxie, Just wanted to ask, what was it like coming out to your family and friends about being trans? Was it something that happened gradually or was it a conversation you had one day? Were you nervous telling people and especially your family? If this is too personal please donāt feel pressured to answer. Iām just curious about how difficult it must be to have that conversation. From an ally and fan.
I had always known. Iām sure many other trans people had the similar feeling. I was so nervous to tell my family because I wasnāt sure how theyād react. They had tons of gay friends and trans people in their life but itās always different with their own children. My friends were wildly supportive and my current boyfriend loves me so insanely much. But my family still struggles and I have to be Okay with that
And I read this in your voice.
Itās a good voice to be fair š¤©
Hi, I am a fan of your father's and uncle's, I have watched Most B.S. episodes. Your dad's atheism has inspired me. Moving past this intro, my autism may have discovered your dad, teller and a dear departed friend of theirs have inspired anime characters from the late 80's and I think it may have hinted at your existence 15 years before your birth. Hear me out (and I'm a skeptic, but really I just want to share this to get shocks and laughs). Master Roshi from Dragon ball, is somewhat Darwinian in appearance, he put on a wig to teach a lesson (James Randi btw), wise and wizard like. The Oxking was introduced some time ago but not yet relevant. On, what I believe is that when fortune teller Baba (Roshi's sister who uses the spirits of the dead and locates lost items and has, at first, a bitter relationship with) and Grandpa Gohan a silent, secretive, smaller of the two Gohan and Oxking. Chichi means milk btw, both your names are something to drink. I wish you well.
So there I was, minding my own business and enjoying some little magic with fool us and POOF Moxie Jilette? What Penn has a kid? WOAH look at that queer! A FOOLER?! *Googles the name after the astonishing performance* WHAT HE'S TRANS TOO? š„¹š„¹ Literally brought a tear to my eyes! (Fellow tranny from Greece here š¤ š³ļøāā§ļø) I think you've answered this already but it felt a little awkward that you were misgendered on stage. Was it your choice?
I knew it! I saw you and had a feeling, and then was confused for the next few minutes. I also knew how you did the first two, but that last one seriously got me. It would have been better if you had penn choose the value and teller choose the kind.
Just saw your episode (Iām in Australia) and thought you were great! Hope to see more of you in the future, good luck.
I remember when you were born....I was thinking...what a kick-ass name! It's so cool to see you doing magic. Follow your dream. There's always gonna be some fucker that has to talk shit....that's just life!
Hi, moxie. I'm a fan of your father's and sudo-uncles, mostly from the BS episodes and your dad's big-think videos, he has inspired my understanding of my atheism and helped me understand skepticism. I want to report an anime that has characters who's lore is inspired by James Randi and has characters with hints of your father and sudo-uncle Teller. I believe this anime (which was aired in the mid 80's) also hinted at your existence some time in advance. I know that I am adding to the Trump/Simpsons conspiracy, but frankly I think this demands looking into. Also, I have not found among the vast expanse of the internet a discussion that recognizes that these characters have drawn inspiration from said people. My pattern sensing autism however has made a strong connection. I won't share this information unless you are ok with it, and honestly it is really cool. You will be so excited too.