About this episode

Billy Dees interviews April Brucker about the history and cultural impact of ventriloquism in America.

Discover the surprising story behind one of America's oldest—and most misunderstood—forms of entertainment. Billy Dees welcomes author, comedian, actress, and professional ventriloquist April Brucker to discuss her new book, 250 Years of American Ventriloquism: How Ventriloquism Influenced American Culture. Together they explore how ventriloquism shaped radio, television, comedy, politics, and pop culture while uncovering fascinating stories about legendary performers and forgotten pioneers. The conversation also dives into the future of the art form, examining artificial intelligence, digital avatars, and why live performance continues to resonate with audiences. Plus, April's hilarious puppet Mae Wilson joins the fun, proving that a wisecracking dummy can still steal the show. Whether you're interested in entertainment history, comedy, or the evolution of media, this episode delivers plenty of laughs and surprising insights. April Brucker official website http://aprilbrucker.tv/ Follow Billy Dees on X https://x.com/BillyDees

People in this episode

Host: Billy Dees

Guest: April Brucker

Topics covered

• ventriloquism
• entertainment history
• comedy
• media evolution
• American culture

Keywords

• ventriloquism
• April Brucker
• entertainment
• comedy
• media
• artificial intelligence
• live performance

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: 250 Years of American Ventriloquism: How Ventriloquism Influenced American Culture

More episodes of Billy Dees Podcast

• The Art of Historical Fiction with Author Angela Page · July 17, 2026 · 31 min
• Overcoming Trauma and Rebuilding Your Life - Antoinette Berrafato on Resilience, PTSD Recovery & Functional Health · July 11, 2026 · 50 min
• Grassroots Politics, Property Taxes, AI, and the Future of Kansas - Billy Dees Talks with Gubernatorial Candidate Stacy Rogers · July 5, 2026 · 50 min
• History, Engineering, and Alternative Historical Fiction - Talking World War II with Author Jeff Kildow · June 28, 2026 · 39 min
• The Evolution of Podcasting, Media Trust, and Modern Political Discourse · June 26, 2026 · 56 min
• Church, State, and the Forgotten Founder of Religious Freedom · June 18, 2026 · 38 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Billy Dees Podcast podcast page.