Of Sleights and Men

Introducing Zenia, India's leading female magician, and a true global sensation!  She's a world-renowned celebrity magician, winner of several national and & international awards. She has enchanted audiences in more than 10 countries, Zenia's awe-inspiring performances have earned her the prestigious Merlin Award, often hailed as the "Oscars of Magic." Her spellbinding shows have captivated elite corporate giants like BMW, BPCL, and HUL, as well as some of Bollywood's biggest stars, including the Ambanis, Alia Bhatt, Shahid Kapoor, Aamir Khan, and legends like Hema Malini and Dharmendra.

In this podcast, we go over our top 5 favorite book tests and describe our experiences performing our completely original method for a book test on the streets in Manchester!  

In our podcast we talked about:  What it takes to perform street magic day in day out? What actually happened with the ‘back to black' controversy?  What are your favorite projects you've released at your time at Ellusionist?  Where do you see the magic industry going in the next 5 years?  Who are the creators you're most excited about right now?  What makes truly great magic that sells?  Much more!   

We asked the collective genius of our list for potential methods to achieve the following trick: You can have any card freely chosen, lost in the deck, and then… Drop the deck and let gravity cut to their card. Don't even touch the deck, simply place it on the table and blow to their card. Pretend you're Tiger Woods and with one clean stroke putt to their card. With a run up that makes you look like Ronaldo cleanly kick to their card.  Place the deck in front of your spectator and after a simple instruction they flick to their card.  In a completely impossibility the spectator picks up as many cards as they like and it's revealed they've cut to their card. (oh and it needs to be done impromptu with a borrowed deck and without using any crimps, bends, or breathers!) We asked you all for answers and here's us reacting to them!

In this podcast we discuss... Our favorite plots and our audience's favorite plots—are they the same? Our top 5 plots in card magic  The most underrated plot in magic The magic we actually enjoy after 10+ years in the industry MUCH MORE!

Jeff Kowalk is many things - from the stage presence ‘Psychic CPA' who puts on incredible shows for corporate events, to the CFO of Vanishing Inc. to a beloved magic YouTuber ‘Erudite Magic' there's not much about magic from business to performing Jeff doesn't have a hand in. In this podcast, he talks us through everything from why he quit his job to pursue a career in magic to the top 3 magic books he'd take to a desert island.  Get more from him here: https://www.youtube.com/@EruditeMagic

We believe Rory Adams is one of the most insightful people in the magic industry. In this podcast, we wanted to give you the experience of talking to a lifelong magic consultant and entrepreneur.  We asked him quickfire questions such as: Where do you see the future of magic going?  What magic company are you keeping tabs on?  What's the craziest/best story you've ever researched? If you want to hear more from Rory - go here: https://www.oneahead.com/  

In the podcast, we discussed: - Joel's creative process that lets him put out hit after hit (honestly, this answer was NOT what we expected) - Joel's transition from performer to creator (and why he's making the switch) - The crazy world of magic piracy and Joel's efforts to combat it - A story about pottery that reveals the best way to create great magic - The ‘red flags' that tell you a trick isn't going to work in the real world - The ethics of marketing in magic and whether some companies take it ‘too far'  - And more

In this episode, we share anecdotes and takeaways from our recent trip performing magic on the busy streets of London while filming with the incredible team over at Ellusionist. Check out Ellusionist latest releases here: https://ellusionist.com/ Sign up for our email list here: www.thedailymagician.com/books

Valentin Danneville is an incredible French magician who STOLE the show at Blackpool with his incredible sound manipulation feats.  His magic truly has to be seen to be believed and we're delighted to welcome him onto the podcast.  You can check out his Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/valentin_dann/?hl=en-gb

In this episode, we discuss our top 5 favorite sleights!  We discussed 'The Silk Switch' in this episode which you can pick up here: https://thedailymagician.com/the-silk-switch 

Our recap of Blackpool Magic Convention 2024! This podcast features everything from the biggest foolers to professional tips for dealers.  Check out our latest release we announced in this podcast here:  https://thedailymagician.thrivecart.com/the-kaleidoscope-project/  

Tobias Dostal is one of the world's most unique magicians.  He combines modern art and magic in a way we've never seen done anywhere else.  In this podcast, we quiz him on everything from his 'special bag' to where he believes art and magic meet.

Some key parts of this podcast include... Markobi's story of preparing for and winning FISM The magicians who have most inspired Markobi How to practice ‘boring' moves in a very fun way 

In this podcast, you'll learn... Skills Scott learned in the high-stakes world of negotiating and advertising that have helped his magic career How he's built out one of the biggest podcasts in magic and lessons he's learned along the way Some of Scott's most memorable discussions and guests Check out his podcast here: https://www.themagicwordpodcast.com/

Katrina Kroetch has professionally performed her unique blend of playful and whimsical magic worldwide in over 18 different countries such as France, Germany, Africa, India, Mexico, and even America (wow).  She has been a cast member of the international touring show Champions of Magic and a performer on numerous network television shows including Masters of Illusion and Penn and Teller: Fool Us. She's volunteered and been an advocate for Magicians Without Borders and the nonprofit Emergency Circus. Magical Katrina is a leading mind in magic and has lectured for the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the Society of American Magicians, and the world's largest online magic retailer: Penguin Magic. She's also performed magic for the magicians of the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, California, and their corporate clients. 

Meet Bao Hoang, the magician who's been amazing audiences for over 16 years! With his fast-growing community on social media, Bao has become a content creation sensation, with over 21k followers on Instagram, 170k on TikTok, and 150k on YouTube. Brands like Subaru, McDonald's, and Gillette have even noticed and teamed up with him for exciting projects. And YouTube Canada even named him a "Creator on the Rise"!

Luke's fast-paced thinking and unique approach to magic have landed him jobs writing for top magicians around the globe such as Dynamo, Julius Dein, and Joel M.  His creations and magic have been viewed almost 1 billion times, cross-platform. Now, Luke performs his mix of magic and comedy on stage, in cabaret, at comedy clubs, and in nightclubs.

In this episode, we explore a variety of topics, including... Why most card magicians fall into the trap of ignoring ‘real motivation'  How his coin moves inspired much of his original takes on card magic!  How asking the question ‘how would a spectator do this' is the key to performing and creating incredibly powerful card magic.  Check out the Carousel Pass here:  https://www.dannygoldsmithmagic.com/carousel-dm To check out Danny's work, go here: https://www.dannygoldsmithmagic.com/downloads

In this podcast… Why posting on Instagram every day is one of the modern day miracle paths to true sleight of hand mastery! The crazy literal ‘rock and roll' story behind the creation of the famous Karnival decks. Why self working card tricks aren't as ‘lame' as most magicians think they are (and don't always have to involve math) Biz's crazy story about how he ended up working full time for his favorite magic shop!  Check out BBM here: https://bigblindmedia.com/

In this podcast, we went over everything we love about this routine, along with a lot more, including… Why we decided to learn every ‘which hand' routine we could find in 7 days The greatest ‘which hand' performances we've witnessed (ft. Derren Brown) Why the which hand routine is ‘disproportionately powerful' (we go deep into magic theory and Jacob gets flustered) How to create magic content like Mr. Beast (minus the island) A simple rule for busy magicians that can 10x how often you perform A controversial definition of ‘magic' and our reaction to it Why being a magician IS cool (and how to own it better) The best 'which hand' routines (and why presentation beats the lot)

The Card Mechanic is a YouTuber, Cardist, and Card Creator. He has hundreds of thousands of followers on all social media platforms and regularly creates incredibly high-quality content!  In this podcast, we talk about a varied range of topics from the influence of coding on magic, to what it really takes to produce cards, or the true grind behind trying to grow in social media.  Check out his cards Canis Lupus here: https://cardmechanic.shop/playingcards/p/canis-lupus-alpha-edition Check out his channel here:  https://www.youtube.com/@CardMechanic/videos

Dustin Marks is, without question, one of the most successful blackjack cheaters in history.   Possessing an uncanny ability to remain calm under pressure and the talent to perform undetectable sleight of hand under fire, he was employed as a blackjack dealer by several well-known casinos in Las Vegas during the 1980s.   While under the watchful eye of casino surveillance systems and pit bosses, he beat the casinos and WAS NEVER CAUGHT!   Check out his site here: https://www.dustinmarks.com/

Ever wondered what it takes to grow an audience on YouTube or TikTok?  Well, this guy did it in just a few years just to prove to his son he could get the 100k subscriber plaque.  Dan is a fantastic teacher, inspirational father, and really knows what it takes to grow a following from nothing. Listen now!  Check out his website here: https://mindblownmagic.com/

In this podcast, we all brought either a routine, move, or effect to the table and dissected them in front of one another.  We got deep into the method behind each of them and jammed back on forth on possible uses and how they can be improved.  If you enjoyed it, you'll love our membership where you can watch the video version:  https://thedailymagician.thrivecart.com/magic-mastery-w/

Zee J. Yan has been a friend for years - he's an incredible underground magician and courageous magic entrepreneur!  To get free magic from him, and check out his website go here:  https://www.zeejyan.com/free-magic

In this episode, Danny Goldsmith explores all of the projects that he's created up until this point.  He explains the process behind them, why they were so successful, and how to tap into your own creativity.  To get free magic from Danny go here: https://www.dannygoldsmithmagic.com/freebies

In this episode, we sat down with Steven Faulkner to discuss a wide range of topics.  From business coaching to how to keep working out at the gym.  Steven has a HUGE amount of experience in magic and is constantly surrounded by the best products and people in the industry.  Check out his stuff here: https://www.youtube.com/c/RealMagicReview https://www.onlinemagic.co/

In this unique episode of the podcast, we dive into the question "Is Magic Fun or Art" with Danny Goldsmith.  We also discussed many other topics, ranging from the rise of independent producers to overcoming trauma attached to magic.  We hope you enjoy!  Visit Danny's site here: https://www.dannygoldsmithmagic.com/

Jeki Yoo is really someone who can do anything and everything.  From breaking the world record for the number of quick changes performed in 30 seconds, to performing stunning close-up coin magic - this man can really do it all!  Check out his Kickstarter project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jekiyoo/oh-my-jeki-yoo-playing-cards

Today I was joined by none other than Rick Holcombe - we discussed a variety of things, from Rick's most recent project to the invaluable lessons Rick has learned as a stay-at-home father.  Rick is a prolific creator and hugely revered in the coin magic world.  (he also has a really cool voice...)  Check out more of his work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0szk53WtMtw&ab_channel=RickHolcombe%7CCoinMagic

Rory Adams was one of the funniest guests we've ever had on the podcast!  He's intelligent, innovative, and working on some of the most interesting projects in the magic world (and out of it.)  If you want to see more from him, head here: https://www.oneahead.club/

In this episode, we interview Chris Wojtowich/WOJ Magic about how he blew up on TikTok with his revolutionary Laserdisc magic.  This was a really fun podcast, and an incredible insight into the digital world of magic we often overlook!  If you'd like to get your hands on more from Chris, you can head over to this link:  https://thedailymagician.com/woj-magic    

If you've been around in magic as long as we have, you've probably heard of PigCake at some point.  He's infamous for his satirical take on magic, and provocative videos that have often had the magic community 'up in arms.'  Personally, we find him to be a MASSIVE breath of fresh air when you've got a little too deep into magic and massively loved having him on our podcast.  We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it, check out PigCake's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/PigCakee

Dan Ulin is one of our favorite magicians... ...as you might know, everything we do at The Daily Magician is about helping magicians think differently, and when it comes to said task, there's no one who does it better than Dan. Dan Ulin has decades of experience in magic and is connected to some of the greatest magicians on earth.  We loved this podcast, and hope you will too! 

If you haven't heard about him, here are a few things you should know:  Ryan Plunkett is a Chicago-based magician who has been performing for the past two decades.  Ryan is a founding ensemble member as well as a regular performer of the Chicago Magic Lounge. Ryan has published three books on the art of magic and is a regular performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. Pretty much, 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, Ryan Plunkett performs professional magic.  If you've ever wondered what it's REALLY like to be a professional performer, listen below!  Check out his website here: https://ryanplunkett.com/

John Gaspard is the author of the Eli Marks mystery series which features a magician as the protagonist.  While John is by no means a professional magician, I think it's safe to safe he's OBSESSED with magic by way of an occupational hazard.  This was an amazing podcast, as we love both magic and literature--and John combines the two perfectly. Check out his books and podcast here: https://www.elimarksmysteries.com/  

Ken Dyne is a British mentalist who's been performing for over 17 years. And just ONE of his claims to fame is he has one of the most bought Penguin Magic lectures—ever. Ken also has a client list that includes people like Yahoo, Proctor, and Gamble, and his book Bairn was named Best Mentalism Product of 2014. To learn more about him go here: https://shop.mentalunderground.com/

Matt Baker is a Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean at Georgia Tech College of Sciences. He has won awards for his use of magic in the classroom and was voted greater Atlanta area magician of the year. He's very inventive and his ideas have been published in many major publications such as Genii. He is also the author of the incredibly successful magic book: The Buena Vista Shuffle Club.  You can check out his website here: https://www.mattbakermagic.com/  

Andrew Frost (@sleightlyobsessed) is a card magician who specializes in sleight of hand. We've known him for a while and become good friends and were beyond excited to welcome him onto our podcast.  He has experience creating original products, consulting for some of the biggest names in magic AND knows what it takes to run a quality membership.  To support him directly, head here to his Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/sleightlyobsessed

Christian Grace is a London-based magician who made a quick rise to magic fame for his two best-selling effects 'Pluck' and 'Level One.'  But that's not all he's done, and like everything almost else, his story is far more deep and interesting than the overnight success it might appear to be on the offset.  We loved talking to Christian! The man is a creator, visionary, and on top of all that - A Perfect Gent.  To check out his membership, go here: https://gumroad.com/a/531698803/EgKyq   

Jeff Copeland was on a mission to find the perfect copper coin to match the size and feel of a US Morgan silver dollar. When he couldn't find it, he made it. And that was the beginning of Copeland Coins. In this episode of the podcast, we talk to the founder of the stunning coin company - Copeland Coins.  Jeff Copeland is a friend, creator, and knows what it takes to be a professional magician.  In this episode we had a fantastic discussion, touching on topics as niche as christian magic and as basic as good practice techniques.  If you want to learn more about Copeland Coins, go here: https://www.copelandcoins.com/

Jonathan Levit is an incredible American magician, actor, television host, and theatrical producer, and also the creator of the amazing magic app: The Stranger.  He also took time out of the very morning he was moving house to speak with us, which we appreciate greatly.  To check out more of his products/learn more about the man himself you can head here: http://www.jonathanlevit.com/ or here https://thestrangerapp.com/ 

From Buffalo, New York, Nicholas has been obsessed with magic for his entire life. He specializes in creating visual card, coin & organic close-up magic and has published his amazing magic with pretty much every magic company in the business.  He lives to inspire performers around the world, to try new things, and add hyper-visual moments to their repertoires *DISCLAIMER* The audio was a bit messy on this one, we did our best with the edit but you'll still notice it in parts. 

Joel Dickinson is an award-winning magician with 20+ years of professional performing experience. In this podcast, he shares his wealth of experience and lets us in on the journey of his latest endeavor the magic store - 'Real Workers.' To check it out go here: https://www.realworkers.co.uk/

Jamy has performed worldwide — from Caesar's Palace on the Las Vegas Strip to Hollywood's Magic Castle to the Ginza District of downtown Tokyo. He’s made numerous television appearances including CBS 48 Hours, PBS Nova, CNN, and repeat appearances on The Today Show and The Late, Late Show.  The author of five books and contributor to countless others, he also writes and produces for television, including for Penn & Teller, and the Neil Gaiman series, American Gods.  Check out his site here: https://jamyianswiss.com/

Jason Ladanye is a professional, award-winning sleight-of-hand entertainer who has performed card magic all around the world for the last twenty years. Jason exposes the underground world of cheating at cards and how to beat Las Vegas if you have the skills. He has spent a lifetime mastering this skill set and is considered by many to be the best sleight of hand magician in the world.  To check out more of his work, head here: https://cardmagicbyjason.com/

Singapore's Harapan Ong has caused an online sensation with his technical abilities. Videos began to circulate some years ago from a pair of hands doing extraordinary things. His style is natural, unassuming, and soft. But Aces appear, selections transpose, and magical things just seem to happen in Harapan's hands. Recently we had the pleasure of talking to him on our podcast, he was open, kind, and impressively candid.  If you enjoyed listening to him and want more head over here: https://www.harapanmagic.com/shop

Pit Hartling is one of Germany’s most requested magic entertainers.  His appearances have brought him to more than fifty countries on five continents… ...and he’s also the author of the incredible book ‘In Order To Amaze.’ (one of the best magic books ever written)  Check out his books here: https://pithartling.com/shop/

Denis is an expert sleight-of-hand artist, memorized deck master, and hilarious performer.  He’s also the creator and curator of the ‘conjuring archive’ website—THE largest research project in magic.  On this website, you’ll find indexes, references, and contents of over 2000 magic books.   This website was started in 2004, and Denis has been diligently reading and making notes on all kinds of obscure magic books ever since.  That’s nearly 20 YEARS of hard work.  Denis doesn’t get paid to do this—he does it out of his love for the art—but there IS a page on his website where you can support Denis by ’buying him a beer’ via a PayPal donation. To donate, click the link below:  https://www.conjuringarchive.com/faqs

Jonah Babins is the host of the podcast ‘Discourse in Magic’, co-founder of the Toronto Magic Company, and professional magician. Over the last 4 years, he’s interviewed some of the world’s best magicians—from Juan Tamariz to Derren Brown. In this episode…We talk about the real ‘secret’ behind getting in touch with the world’s best magicians, the best way to increase your chances of success as a magician, and Jonah’s upcoming virtual magic convention. If you’re interested in Unconventional Fun, go here to get your tickets:https://unconventional.fun/