How Ventriloquism Works

# Stuff You Should Know: Ventriloquism

Josh and Chuck dive deep into the fascinating world of ventriloquism, from its origins as a spiritual practice in ancient Greece and Egypt to its evolution into modern entertainment—and they're surprisingly candid about how Chuck tried it as a kid with limited success. The episode covers everything from the clever misdirection that makes ventriloquism work (spoiler: you can't actually throw your voice, but your brain thinks you can) to the quirky culture surrounding it, including a ventriloquist convention featured in the documentary Dumbstruck and a museum in Kentucky housing over a thousand retired dummies that future ventriloquists can will their puppets to. You'll learn about legendary performers like Edgar Bergen, who somehow made ventriloquism a hit on radio, and modern superstars like Terry Fader, who signed a hundred-million-dollar deal at the Las Vegas Mirage—all while Chuck maintains his skepticism about whether the jokes are actually funny.