Penn & Teller and My Monkey Chaos

In 2015, Sean-Paul and I brought Frankie, our capuchin, to Penn & Teller: Fool Us, where chaos met magic. The producers tipped us off: Penn loves monkeys and the infinite monkey theorem - the notion that a monkey could, given Eons, type Shakespeare. So, we built our act around Frankie at a typewriter, his untamed paws tapping out a magical reveal. Performing was like juggling fire—blindfolded—given Frankie’s wild will, especially offstage. Penn got it, saying, “We appreciate you sharing your monkey because we know he’s a monster in your house!”

Those words hit home. The Vegas stage dazzled with laughs and magic, but I was wrestling with the turmoil of loving a creature who tested my sanity. Penn’s insight was liberating, seeing my struggle beneath the spotlight.

At home in the Ozarks, I’m crafting a memoir to unravel my life with a monkey - how chaos taught grace.

This blog shares my journey: updates, excerpts, and reflections on Frankie’s lessons. That typewriter symbolizes the unpredictable truths I’m chasing. Subscribe for more, and tell me: what’s the wildest choice you’ve ever made?

(Next up: a draft excerpt from the book!)

Sean-Paul, Juliana Fay, and Frankie the Monkey on Penn & Teller’s Fool Us!