Podcasts about google home

There seems to be an explosion of magic theatres, one-man shows, magic bars, and magic variety venues popping up across the country and indeed, around the world. I need to use two hands to count the number that have popped up since the first of the year! This week we chat with two magicians who have ventured into the high stakes world of filling seats in New York City where there is already a LOT of magic shows. Carl Mercurio and Jim Vines together have started “The Broadway Magic Hour” (really, off-Broadway to be precise) where they present weekly, family friendly magic shows. Their journey may not be unique, but it serves as an inspiration to others who might be considering finding their own venue (and perhaps partner) where you can entertain the masses with your magical skills. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Both based in New York City, Carl and Jim have similar yet dissimilar backgrounds. One is a multiple award winning magician, the other is not. One was a restaurant and bar magician, the other one was not. But their styles, personalities, and characters meld perfectly on stage. This week they talk about the “mojo” that put and keeps them together. Moreover, they talk about how they found the venue and how they market themselves in this very competitive environment. There is a lot to learn from the pro tips that they offer. But even if you don't plan to ever pursue having your own theatre or your own show, I think you will enjoy our chat as we hear some of the trials and tribulations of a couple guys trying to make it in the Big Apple. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Eric Leclerc (pronounced le clair) is a very funny guy. To me, his style is much like that of Las Vegas magician, Mike Hammer, with a quick wit and clever retorts while maintaining mystery at the core of each trick. He has appeared or starred in over a half dozen television shows such as Brain Games, Tricked!, Big Trick Energy, among others. He has also appeared on Penn & Teller Fool Us where he took home the Fooler trophy. Earlier this year, Eric hosted the Saturday evening galas at the Blackpool magic convention and received mixed reviews. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Eric Leclerc has been “on the road” with his school shows across Canada presenting his magic in French to French speaking schools. He joins us this week between shows as he chats about booking the tour, his philosophy on magic competitions, and of course, his thoughts on his recent performance as the compere (emcee) of the Saturday evening galas at Blackpool 2025. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Aparna Chennapragada is the chief product officer of experiences and devices at Microsoft, where she oversees AI product strategy for their productivity tools and work on agents. Previously, she was the CPO at Robinhood, spent 12 years at Google, and is also on the board of eBay and Capital One.What you'll learn:1. How “prompt sets are the new PRDs” and why prototyping with AI is now essential for effective product development2. The three key characteristics of AI agents: autonomy (delegation of tasks), complexity (handling multi-step challenges), and natural interaction (conversing beyond simple chat)3. Why NLX (natural language experience) is the new UX, requiring deliberate design principles for conversational interfaces4. Why the PM role isn't dying in the AI era—it's evolving to emphasize tastemaking and editing5. How living “one year in the future” can be operationalized with programs like Microsoft's Frontier6. How even traditional enterprises can balance cutting-edge AI adoption with appropriate governance through dual-track approaches7. Insights on leadership differences between Microsoft's Satya Nadella (known for multi-level thinking and early trendspotting) and Google's Sundar Pichai (mastery of complex ecosystems)8. The vision for human and AI collaboration in the workplace, where people and agents achieve outcomes greater than either could alone9. A practical framework for evaluating zero-to-one product opportunities—Brought to you by:Eppo—Run reliable, impactful experimentsPragmatic Institute—Industry‑recognized product, marketing, and AI training and certificationsCoda—The all-in-one collaborative workspace—Where to find Aparna Chennapragada:• X: https://x.com/aparnacd• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnacd/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Aparna Chennapragada(04:28) Aparna's stand-up comedy journey(07:29) Transition to Microsoft and enterprise insights(10:00) The Frontier program and AI integration(13:28) Understanding AI agents(17:59) NLX is the new UX(22:28) The future of product development(31:16) Building a custom Chrome extension(35:45) Leadership styles of Satya and Sundar(37:47) Counterintuitive lessons in product building(41:20) Inflection points for successful products(45:16) GitHub Copilot and code generation(48:34) Excel's enduring success(50:27) Pivotal career moments(54:55) The future of human-agent collaboration(56:25) Lightning round and final thoughts—Referenced:• Google Lens: https://lens.google/• Saturday Night Live: https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live• Reid Hoffman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidhoffman/• Robinhood: https://robinhood.com/• eBay: https://www.ebay.com/• Capital One: https://www.capitalone.com/• Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/• Aparna's LinkedIn post about enterprise vs. consumer: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aparnacd_every-enterprise-user-feature-has-a-shadow-activity-7321176091610542080-8X-E/• The Epic Split: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Epic_Split• AI Frontiers: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/lab/ai-frontiers/• OpenAI's CPO on how AI changes must-have skills, moats, coding, startup playbooks, more | Kevin Weil (CPO at OpenAI, ex-Instagram, Twitter): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/kevin-weil-open-ai• Deepseek: https://www.deepseek.com/• Satya Nadella on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/satyanadella/• Tobi Lütke's leadership playbook: Playing infinite games, operating from first principles, and maximizing human potential (founder and CEO of Shopify): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/tobi-lutkes-leadership-playbook• Tobi Lütke's post on X about reflexive AI: https://x.com/tobi/status/1909251946235437514• GitHub Copilot: https://github.com/features/copilot• Sundar Pichai on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sundarpichai/• South Park “Underwear Gnomes” episode: https://southpark.cc.com/episodes/13y790/south-park-gnomes-season-2-ep-17• Google Home: https://home.google.com/welcome/• Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/• v0: https://v0.dev/• Bolt: https://bolt.net/• Lovable: https://lovable.dev/• Replit: https://replit.com/• Inside Bolt: From near-death to ~$40m ARR in 5 months—one of the fastest-growing products in history | Eric Simons (founder and CEO of StackBlitz): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/inside-bolt-eric-simons• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder and CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Behind the product: Replit | Amjad Masad (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/behind-the-product-replit-amjad-masad• Microsoft Excel World Championship: https://fmworldcup.com/microsoft-excel-world-championship/• Google Now: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Now• Hacks on Max: https://www.max.com/shows/hacks/67e940b7-aab2-46ce-a62b-c7308cde9de7• Granola: https://www.granola.ai/• Alan Kay quote: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/alan_kay_100831• Sindhu Vee's website: https://sindhuvee.com/• Nate Bargatze's website: https://natebargatze.com/—Recommended book:• A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains: https://www.amazon.com/Brief-History-Intelligence-Evolution-Breakthroughs/dp/0063286351—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe

Saturday May 17, 20259:00 AM magiK-MART Opens with FREE DONUTS with the dealers! (Bring your own drink) magiK-MART Dealers Room 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Lecture #5 - ALLAN ACKERMAN10:30 AM – 11:00 AM Break 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM The WORLD FAMOUS F.O.V. SILENT MAGIC AUCTION – raising funds for the Young Magician's Fund. SIDE LOBBY 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM The Kernels Showcase Show BALLROOM WEST 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM FREE PIZZA & POP LUNCH ON ABRACORNDABRA! (Kernels & Parents Pizza & Pop Lunch critique in private dining room) Enjoy an AbraCORNdabra FREE PIZZA & POP LUNCH!1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Show & Lecture #6 - JEKI YOO3:00 PM – 3:15 PM Break LAST CHANCE TO BID ON SILENT AUCTION ITEMS! (Silent auction closes at 3:15 PM) HEARTS, DIAMONDS, CLUBS, SPADES, JOKERS, GAFFS3:30 PM – 5:00 PM THE MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIP OF CLOSE-UP MAGIC Downstairs TWELVE PerformersSIX rooms TWO AwardsONE CHAMPION!“Who will it be? Will it be YOU?”5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Pay & Pick up Auction Winnings 6:00 PM magiK-MART Closes (dealers) 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM Dinner on your own 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM OscEARs Awards PartyDoors open – mingle with magical friends – cash barCome dressed in your best Gangster's outfit or Flapper attire! You may take your own photos in front of the “Police Line-up Wall”, find the Maitra D' who will show you the “back alley entrance.” Figure out the password to gain entrance into the SPEAKEASY where surprises await you! - Hotel Lobby 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM Old Maid's Staff Show 9:00 PM -9:30 PM Awards Presentations with surprise guest9:30 PM – 10:00 PM The OscEARs Wrap Party MYSTERY MAGICIAN & GUESTS SHOW!THIS WILL BE THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS OSCEARS PARTY EVER!(What happens at THIS YEAR'S OsEAR's Awards Party will be talked about for years to come!)10:00 PM – 11:00 PM Meet & Great with the Magical Stars – Souvenir Poster Signing View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Sunday May 18, 20259:00 AM magiK-MART Opens with FREE DONUTS with the dealers! (Bring your own drink) magiK-MART Dealers Room 10:00-1030 AM Intense Lecture #6 - DAN FLESHMAN10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Interview #8 - MYSTERY MAGICIAN LECTURE1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EXTRA CHARGE MASTER CLASS with ALLAN ACKERMAN! - LIMITED SEATING FOR THIS MASTER CLASS!11:30 AM AbraCORNdabra 2025 closes! THANK YOU FOR COMING! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR AbraCORNdabra's 16th year! View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Friday May 16, 202511:00 AM CHECK-IN TO PICK UP REGISTRATION PACKETSRegistration Opens11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Flea Market 12:45 PM Grand Opening / Welcome Greeting/ FREE MAGICAL GIFT1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Show & Lecture #1 - PETER SAMELSON2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Break 2:30 PM – 7:30 PM magiK-MART Opens (dealers)3:00 PM – 4:30 PM 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Dinner on your own 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM LECTURE (Lecture #2) - ERIC TAIT7:30 PM – 8:00 PM Break 8:00 PM magiK-MART closes (dealers) 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM Show & Lecture #3 - THE COSMIC ROMANTICS9:30 PM – ???? JOLLY TIME JAM – NEW FOR 2025Super Special Late Night Jam Session featuring some very popular “name” magicians!If you are a “nite-owl” – you will enjoy “hanging out” with fellow magi trading magical secrets & such. This special room for late-night jamming of magic is set up JUST for you & your magical friends!Enjoy free flavored popcorns and soda sponsored by JOLLY TIME POPCORN! View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

After a short hiatus, Daniel and Adam return to the podcast with a hilariously chaotic catch-up session. They open with some behind-the-scenes fumbling, recapping missed recording attempts and technical hiccups. Daniel shares updates on his running schedule, including an upcoming 10K and half-marathon training plans, while also revealing his highly specific obsession with watermelon-lime White Claw. Meanwhile, Adam recounts his recent trip to a podcasting convention in Las Vegas, highlighting the organizational messes and awkward social encounters—including one memorable ticketing blunder and a tearful podcaster meet-and-greet.The pair transition into a tech-flavored discussion, diving into frustrations with Google Home's latest Gemini integration and power consumption myths surrounding AI. Lamont's question sparks a Technology segment, where Daniel offers a mix of insight and exasperation about smart home ecosystems, while Adam laments the uneven Echo upgrade rollout. This leads into a classic "Contact" segment, featuring voicemails from fans weighing in on the death of Pope Francis (spoiler alert: not actually dead), celebrity death guesses, and a question about whether Adam feeds his movers.They close with Dennis's charming inquiry about how the two met, which prompts a retrospective on their early podcasting days and the birth of Pride 48. With laughs, listener love, and a sprinkle of AI soapboxing, the episode is a perfect example of The Gay Mix's irreverent charm and warm rapport.Email: Contact@MixMinusPodcast.comVoice or SMS: 707-613-3284

Wednesday May 7, 20259:30 am to 11:00 am Dealer Room Opens11:00 am to 12:30 pm Session #412:30 pm to 2:30 pm Dealers Open2:30 pm to 4:00 pm Session #56:30 pm- 10:00 Fabulous Las Vegas Dinner & Show View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: 00:00:19 - This is the first Collector Expo for Jania Taylor. She is the Chairman of the Board for the American Museum of Magic and is enjoying this convention.00:13:40 - John Carney will be one of the performers who will be on the bill for our evening's dinner. He chats about his experiences in attending many of these events going back to the 1980's.00:20:41 - Charles Greene III is working on yet another biography of a noted person, but this one is not necessarily a magician. His book on Ionia has been a best seller for him.00:31:09 - We thank David Copperfield for opening his museum to the attendees and I give him some critical suggestion about the Women in Magic section of his collection.00:36:00 - Stan Allen has been attending many of these history conferences since they used to be in Los Angeles. He talks about the rich history of this convention, plus he talks about MAGIC Live!00:50:14 - David Sandy and Lance Rich are two of the forces behind the success of the Magic Collector Expo. In lieu of having Bill Smith chat with us, these two gentlemen give us a wrap of the day's activities. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Tuesday May 6, 20259:00 am Tour #1 Leaves for DC Museum Tour11:15 am to 4:00 pm Dealer Room Opens & Vintage Vegas Video3:35 pm Last DC Tour Returns7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Session #38:30 pm to 11:30 pm Dealer Room Open View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Monday May 5, 202510:00 am Registration Opens1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Dealers Open4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Session #1 “Welcome To Las Vegas7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Session #28:30 pm to 11:30 pm Dealer Room Open View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

With this episode we celebrate the 900th episode of The Magic Word Podcast. Every 50 episodes we like to present a special guest who is well known throughout our worldwide magic community. And who better for this episode than Dan Sperry. He was a regular member of The Illusionists who toured the major stages of the world from Sydney, Australia, to Broadway in New York City. He has headlined in nightclubs, Las Vegas casinos, and performing arts theaters. For many years he has appeared on Masters of Illusion television show as well as many other TV shows. Now residing in Florida, he continues to travel the globe, but when at home, he enjoys (believe it or not) performing for children's birthday parties. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In this week's episode, Dan shares his story of how he developed his act and his character. He tells us about his early journey as he worked with doves and learned from some of the true masters like Joseph Gabriel that developed into a residency at a casino in Las Vegas. He toured Canada with Murray Hatfield as he honed his dove act and began to settle into his Shock Illusionist persona. He also talks about developing his talking act that led to work with the Illusionists and television appearances. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Saturday April 2610:00am: 2026 Registration & 4F Shop Open10:00am: Dealers' Room Opens (closed during events)10:30am: One Man Show1:30pm: 6th Show: Mini World3:30pm: ED Talk #25:30pm: Banquet (ticket required)7:30pm: GoH Tribute: Eric DeCamps8:00pm: 7th Show: Closing Gala10:30pm: Hospitality Suite Opens12:00am: Dealers' Room Closes View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Friday April 2510:00am: Dealers' Room Opens (closed during events)10:00am: 4F Shop Open (closed during events)10:30am: Pat Page Workshop: Tricks With Boxes1:30pm: 4th Show: Friday's Frolics3:30pm: Lecture #48:00pm: 5th Show: Great Britain Gala10:00pm: Hospitality Suite Opens12:00am: Dealers' Room Closes View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

Wednesday April 231:00pm: Registration1:00pm: 4F Shop Open5:00pm: Dealers' Room Opens (closed during events)7:30pm: 1st Show: Opening Gala (MC - Jay Scott Berry)11:00pm: Hospitality Suite Opens12:00am: Dealers' Room Closes Thursday April 2410:00am: Registration Open (closed during events)10:00am: Dealers' Room & 4F Shop Open (closed during events)10:30am: Lecture #1 - Horrett Wu1:30pm: 2nd Show: Magical Moments (MC - Will Fern)3:30pm: ED Talks #1 (MC's - Christian and Katalina)7:30pm: 3rd Show: Friends Old & New (MC - Michael Dardant)9:30pm: Lecture #2 - Eric DeCamps11:00pm: Hospitality Suite Opens12:00am: Dealers' Room Closes View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time Stamps: These will be posted after I have gotten some sleep. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here Happy birthday for our Friend of the Magic Word, “Fancy” Nancy Anderson. Originally from Lima, Peru, she now resides in the Chicago area where she lives and performs. She is a self-proclaimed BIG fan of magic and is often seen enjoying live shows at the Chicago Magic Lounge and the Rhapsody Theatre. Her actual birthday was this past week, April 21st. So, mark your calendar for next year so you don't forget to wish her a happy birthday.

In this throwback keynote from Elevate 2017 in Copenhagen — the first 40 minutes of it — I lay out the real game of business in today's world:

Keith Fields and his wife, The Lady Sarah, are award-winning performers, each in their own right. They co-chair the Contest Committee for the I.B. M. and also host their own weekly productions of “The Magic Soiree” that features not only their magic, but that of local magicians as well. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize As we enter the season of magic conventions, it is not too late to consider preparing an act for competition. This week Keith Fields and Lady Sarah offer great ideas, tips, advice, and perspectives on getting your act together for a contest. Keith also shares ideas from his own award-winning act on the reasons that you should consider competing. Keith and Sarah also perform their own weekly show, “The Magic Soiree” near Detroit, Michigan, and share ideas on how you can find venues to present your act on a regular basis in your own town. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

On this week's show look at five trends that are shaping home theaters in 2025 and we look at what will drive home automation into the next decade. Pulse we read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Kaleidescape Introduces the New Strato M Movie Player Police shut down Minecraft movie screening after audience trashes theater SVS 5000 R|Evolution Series Subwoofer Other: When Google Assistant is phased out, what happens to our smart speakers? Here are Five Trends Shaping Home Theater Experiences in 2025: 1. Immersive Audio Systems: Dolby Atmos and DTS:X continue to dominate, with more homes adopting multi-dimensional sound setups. Ceiling speakers and soundbars with upward-firing drivers are increasingly popular, creating a cinema-like audio bubble. 2. 8K Resolution Adoption: While 4K remains standard, 8K TVs and projectors are gaining traction as prices drop and content becomes more available. Upscaling tech also enhances older media, making the jump to 8K more appealing. 3. Smart Integration: Home theaters are syncing up with smart home ecosystems—think voice-controlled lighting, motorized screens, and AI-driven content recommendations. Systems like Google Home or Alexa are seamlessly tied to AV receivers and streaming devices. 4. Modular and Compact Designs: Space-saving solutions are on the rise. All-in-one projectors with built-in streaming, or modular furniture with hidden speakers, cater to smaller living spaces without sacrificing quality.   5. Gaming-Centric Features: With next-gen consoles and PCs pushing boundaries, low-latency displays (120Hz+ refresh rates) and variable refresh rate (VRR) support are must-haves. Home theaters are doubling as gaming hubs, blending entertainment modes. Will AI Drive Home Automation into the Next Decade? One of the biggest advancements in home automation technology in recent years is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into smart home systems. This has taken home automation beyond simple remote control and scheduling to a level where devices can learn from user habits, adapt to preferences, and make intelligent decisions autonomously. Those who are fans of AI point to smart thermostats like the Nest or Ecobee and claim that these devices don't just follow a preset schedule anymore—they analyze your temperature preferences, daily routines, and even local weather patterns to optimize heating and cooling. Over time, they adjust themselves to save energy while keeping you comfortable, often without any manual input.  But this isn't really asking Ai to do much. Once you set a thermostat with your preferences it just needs to determine whether you are home or away and go into the appropriate mode. There is nothing revolutionary or even AI about it.  However, AI-powered hubs like Amazon's Alexa, Google Home, or Apple's HomeKit have gotten smarter with natural language processing and interoperability. They c an now coordinate multiple devices—lights, locks, cameras, appliances—through a single voice command or trigger complex routines based on contextual cues like, “I'm home” could unlock the door, turn on lights, and start the coffee maker. The latest advancements also include predictive behavior, where systems anticipate needs—like dimming lights when it's movie time or locking doors when you leave—based on historical data. What's making this possible is the combination of faster processors, cheaper sensors, and cloud computing, alongside AI models that can crunch data in real time. Add in 5G and Matter (the new universal smart home standard), and you've got faster, more reliable communication between devices, even across different brands.  But a real game-changer is edge AI—processing data locally on devices rather than in the cloud. This boosts speed, privacy, and reliability, even if your internet drops. Picture a security camera that instantly recognizes a package delivery and unlocks the door for the courier, all without checking with the cloud first. So what do you think will drive home automation in the future? 

Completing our last of three conversations recorded at the recent 50th and final Winter Carnival of Magic in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, we sat down with “Thrillusionist” David DaVinci. He closed the last night gala show with his breathtaking illusion and bird act. David traveled with the Ringling Bros. Circus and participated in the Zing Zang Zoom show plus he has worked cruise ships and casinos across the globe. His schedule is much reduced today as he concentrates on his passions of training birds, skydiving, and enjoying the great outdoors of Idaho. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In our chat today, David talks about working with big animals from tigers to elephants while employed by the Ringling Bros. Circus. He also tells us about “wing suits” he often wears while skydiving. I guess he just likes to get as close to birds as possible without actually being one! But life on the road as an illusionist is hard, and David tells us why as he uses his current situation to explain. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

One of the advantages of attending magic conventions in the U.S. is that often times the organizers book magicians who reside outside the U.S. thus bringing them closer to our doors, and in this case, our microphone. R. Paul Wilson currently resides in Glasgow, Scotland, and has the same name as another Uncanny Scot who wrote the book under the same title; however, Paul prefers to go by the initial of R. rather than as Ron or Ronald, in part so as to avoid confusion. But Paul has certainly made his own way in our community and being known not only for his card prowess, but also for his cinematic abilities behind the camera. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In this week's episode, Paul talks at length about his passion for film plus the current project featuring the life of the legendary Juan Tamariz. He has spent innumerable hours with the master studying and filming him over they years. But there are many life lessons that R. Paul has learned along the way during his 50+ years on this planet, many of which he shares in this extended episode. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Learn all about the new Caseta SmartShades from Lutron! In this episode, Marc talks with Adam Mack, Senior Product Manager at Lutron, about their DIY-friendly SmartShades. From whisper-quiet motors to seamless integration with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, these shades are built to enhance comfort, privacy, and energy efficiency. They also make smart home automation more accessible than ever before. Plus, we dive into installation tips, pricing, and how Caseta shades differ from Lutron's Serena line. Chapters 00:17 – Intro to Adam Mack and Caseta SmartShades 01:14 – What is Caseta and how it fits into Lutron's ecosystem 02:39 – Caseta SmartShades announced at CES 2025 03:11 – Differences between Serena and Caseta shades 04:47 – DIY installation and design focus 06:08 – Smart assistant compatibility and Pico remotes 08:19 – Creative automations and accessibility benefits 10:49 – How quiet are the motors? 11:46 – Designing for DIYers 12:52 – Why only 2 colors and 2 styles (for now) 14:35 – Transparent, fixed pricing explained 15:29 – Hub requirements and how to get started 16:30 – Future updates and app experience 17:02 – Where to buy Caseta SmartShades Quotes “If you can hang a picture, you can hang one of our shades.” – Adam Mack “Being able to control what used to be very analog devices in a natural and easy way is almost liberating.” – Marc Aflalo “You truly can set it and forget it.” – Adam Mack Links

While recently attending the 50th and final Winter Carnival of Magic in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, we chatted with Tiffany Sauvage (née Allen) who is 1) performing as Princess Tiffany at princess parties for children, 2) married to Boris Wild, 3) the first woman to join “Sleight Club” in North Carolina, 4) has a passion for seances, bizarre magic and horror films, and 5) performs as and lectures on the Georgia Magnet/Wonder. And she is only 34 years old! What a career so far and what potential she has for a great future. She is keeping magic history alive as she passes on the wonders that were the Georgia Wonder. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize During this one hour conversation, we covered so much ground and thoroughly covered many areas that will be of interest to listeners. Some might be interested in knowing more about Princess Parties and how to develop the character, trick selection, and more. Others might be interested in learning more about the Georgia Magnet/Wonder and even interested in developing your own similar act. And still others might be interested in seances and the “spooky” side of magic. All of that is in this week's episode and should stimulate interest and perhaps discussion in the magic community. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here. Please vote for The Magic Word in both categories, Best Magic Podcaster and Best Magic Newsletter. You can cast your votes by Clicking Here.

We finish talking with a trio of officers from The Magic Circle (TMC) this week as we sit for a chat with the current President of TMC, Marvin Berglas. Not defined by being the son of the legendary “International Man of Mystery,” David Berglas, Marvin decided early to go his own way. Nealy four decades ago Marvin founded “Marvin's Magic” which created magic kits that swept the globe The results are that he received the Gold Medal as winner of Toy of the Year in the electronic games category of the Independent Toy Awards and was awarded the coveted Outstanding Contribution Award in the British Toy and Hobby Industry in 2015/16. And as far as magic goes, he received the Outstanding Contribution to Magic award from the British Magical Society in 2014/15. And n 2016 Marvin was awarded The Maskelyne Award from The Magic Circle for services to magic. During 2017, 2018 and 2019 Marvin was the Vice-President of The Magic Circle and in 2023 was elected President of The Magic Circle. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This week Marvin tells us about his magic kit empire and how the business grew to international proportions. And although he came from a home where magic was talked about all the time, he tells us that he did not care to pursue a career like his father until later in life as Marvin's Magic developed. He then got involved with The Magic Circle (TMC) and became one of the very few father/son Presidents of TMC. Find out in this episode who the others were. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here. To visit the website and get more information, please Click Here. Please vote for The Magic Word in both categories, Best Magic Podcaster and Best Magic Newsletter. You can cast your votes by Clicking Here.

The Magic Circle Past-Vice President and current Examiner, Katherine Rhodes is a powerhouse of a stage performer. She specializes in mentalism and has a unique take on how she creates and performs her show. Katherine also has her light aircraft pilots license (though we never got around to talking about that) and she frequently travels outside the U.K. to present her unique brand of mentalism. She has had long term residencies at venues where she has honed her craft over the years, and the proof is in the results. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This week Katherine Rhodes tells us about her unique perspective performing magic from the distaff side. There are not a lot of female mentalists in the world, but Katherine is one that reigns high among her peers whether male or female. In this episode she also talks about the Magic Circle and the examination process one must go through to belong to this prestigious organization. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here. Click on the graphic above to visit the website for more information.

Saturday, March 8th9:30 AM Registration Opens (Closing at 12:30 PM)9:30 AM Dealers Open (Closing at 3:00 PM)10:00 AM Lecture: Jon Allen1:00 PM Jaw-Dropping Close-Up Magic Show Erik TAIT – Jon ALLEN – Steve BEAM – R. Paul WILSON – Geoff WILLIAMS – Giovanni LIVERA3:00 PM Lecture: R. Paul Wilson7:30 PM Contest Awards and Final Announcements8:00 PM Magic All-Stars Show Scott WELLS – Chris CAPEHART – John ARCHER – David DAVINCI10:00 PM Pizza Party for Registrants (at the Ramada) View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time stamps for this episode: this will be updated after I've gotten some sleep00:00:17 – Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Friday, March 7th9:30 AM Registration Opens (Closing at 5:00 PM)10:30 AM Lecture: Chris Capehart10:30 AM Dealers Open (closing at 6:00 PM)12:30 PM The Grand Finale Parlor Contest3:00 PM Lecture: John Archer4:45 PM Special Terry Evanswood Show at Evanswood Theater – Separate Pay Event – limited to 80 seats7:30 PM Superstars of Magic Show Ken SCOTT – Geoff WILLIAMS – Jon ALLEN – Don BURSELL – Michael TRIXX View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time stamps for this episode: this will be updated after I've gotten some sleep00:00:17 – Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Thursday, March 6th11:30 AM Registration Opens (Closing at 5:00 PM)12:00 PM Dealers Open (closing at 6:00 PM)1:30 PM Lecture: Tiffany Sauvage – “The New Georgia Wonder”3:30 PM Lecture: Geoff Williams7:30 PM Pure Gold Anniversary Show Matt STANLEY – Jeff HOBSON – Dan SPERRY – Stephen BARGATZE9:15-ish Star-Studded “Teach-a-Trick” Session with Stephen Bargatze & Friends View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time stamps for this episode: this will be updated after I've gotten some sleep00:00:17 – Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

In this episode of Shark Theory, host Baylor Barbee delves into the concept of designing one's environment to achieve success, drawing parallels between setting the right scene with smart home devices and setting the scene for personal and professional achievements. Baylor discusses the importance of creating definitive goals and visions for success, similar to setting specific lighting scenes with Alexa or Google Home to create the perfect ambiance for different activities. Baylor shares insights into understanding what success truly means on an individual level. With SEO keywords like "personal success," "goal setting," and "self-improvement," he emphasizes the need to define success clearly to align actions toward achieving it. By reflecting on his recent talk at the University of North Texas, Baylor highlights the critical need for individuals and companies to define their goals explicitly to avoid living a life that feels unfinished or unfulfilled. Throughout the episode, Baylor underscores that many capable individuals fail to reach their potential because their actions are misaligned with their goals. Using relatable examples such as wanting to lose weight but indulging in behaviors that contradict that goal, he stresses the importance of setting a conducive scene for success. Listeners are encouraged to eliminate distractions, surround themselves with supportive individuals, and make necessary sacrifices to build a life aligned with their true objectives. Key Takeaways: Define your personal understanding of what success means to avoid feeling unfulfilled or off-course. Align your actions consistently with your defined goals to set the scene for success. Surround yourself with individuals and environments that support and push you toward your goals. Be willing to make sacrifices, such as cutting off distractions, to progress towards achieving your desired results. Use self-awareness and conscious planning to ensure your daily actions reflect your overarching aspirations. Notable Quotes: "We have to start giving finite, definitive pictures to ourselves of whatever it is that we're actually trying to accomplish." – Baylor Barbee "Your mind needs to know what it is that you're chasing. It needs to be real in your mind before it can become real in your reality." – Baylor Barbee "It's not that we're not capable. Most people I meet are capable of reaching the goals that they're after." – Baylor Barbee "If you're not getting the results you want, you have to ask yourself, is it that I'm not capable? That's not it. Or am I just setting the wrong scene for myself?" – Baylor Barbee "There's some happy hours you're going to have to miss. It's going to take a couple of perceived sacrifices, but they're not really sacrifices if ultimately they help you get to your destination." – Baylor Barbee

Laura London exemplifies class, intelligence, and respect. She is the Deputy Librarian for The Magic Circle (TMC) the Counsel Chairperson under President Marvyn Berglas. She has had her own one person show “Laura London: Cheat” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is now working on a new show. She has appeared on several BBC radio and television shows including Penn & Teller Fool Us. She is often seen in the U.S. at MAGIC Live! where she has twice lectured. She is interested in the history of our art, particularly some of the women in our magical heritage and she is a frequent performer at high end functions throughout the U.K. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In this episode, Laura tells us about her love for books and research as it has led her to a better understanding of where we as magicians, and in particular, women magicians have come from so she can better plot her own future and help write her next one-person show. She has had great help from her friends and mentors such as R. Paul Wilson, Paul Kieve, and Fay Presto. She also gives some great advice on how to be comfortable in performing and in approaching disparate groups while performing strolling magic. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here. This week's episode is sponsored by the 50th (and maybe final) Winter Carnival of Magic. It begins next week, so please consider attending because it will be epic. Trust me!

In today's Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece are joined by co-host of RNIB Tech Talk on RNIB Connect Radio, Callum Stoneman, to explore the world of Google smart homes and whether Google Assistant is better than Lady A (Amazon Alexa) at smart home tasks. Callum shares his unconventional smart home setup, featuring Google Nest devices without Google speakers, running everything through Sonos instead.We dive into the Nest vs. Ring debate, discussing why more users are moving away from Amazon's Ring ecosystem and into Google's Nest cameras and doorbells. Plus, we explore the Google Home app's accessibility, the challenges of smart home integration, and why Sonos' accessibility debacle left many blind users frustrated.

View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time stamps for this episode: this will be updated after I've gotten some sleep00:00:17 – Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time stamps for this episode: this will be updated after I've gotten some sleep00:00:17 – Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Time stamps for this episode: this will be updated after I've gotten some sleep00:00:17 – We arrive in Heathrow Airport in London while awaiting other friends to arrive.00:05:53 - Paul Stone was our host in LIverpool and rides with us on the train to Blackpool. He will be a presenter at the convention as he talks about Siegfried and Roy.00:13:07 - Mumfo Marzouki is a listener to the podcast and resides in Saudi Arabia. He tells us what he is anxious to see here and why he came all this way just for the convention.00:16:14 - Harry Merlin Piper, the 14 year old who won the Magic Circle Young Magician of the Year, and his father, Rodney James reside in Spain where he operates the House of Illusion. He offers a special deal to listeners of this podcast, so be sure to listen to this episode. 00:22:25 - Dave Magee, from Cancun, complains about the long line in the cold while waiting to get his registration packet.00:Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Jeff Burns and Ivor Smith together are known as the Fifth Dimension who specialize in giving “magically enhanced presentations” to corporations around the world. In particular, they use magic for safety training sessions. There are many people who are in the business of motivational speaking and training, but few who focus on one area of training by using magic to help employees to remember key safety precepts. They travel the world to train employees with their unique style and method, always networking and making new contacts for the next opportunity. If you are more of a visual person, then you might enjoy watching our conversation that was recorded over Zoom. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In this episode, Jeff and Ivor don't hold back on giving the secrets of their success with tips on how others can replicate their business model. There is enough business in the world to go around to the magic community. They suggest that you don't have to focus on safety, but there are training seminars that every large corporation puts on for their employees that needs facilitators. So why not use a magician to make those sessions both educational and fun while being memorable, too! One of the takeaways in this podcast is the quote from Jeff who reminds us that when companies cut back on their entertainment budgets, they don't cut their training budgets. So, there are always opportunities for magicians to get “a piece of the corporate pie” by using magic to train their employees. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Welcome to the inaugural broadcast of the all new Treasure Coast Mid Morning Show with your hosts, Evan, Ray & JJ. On todays show, Superintendent Michael Maine is here from the Martin County School system with an update, Roxy from Care Bag is here, plus a whole lot of fun for your mid morning.  We will cover the local news, sports, traffic, and weather for your mid morning. We also covered the Viral Videos of the day on todays show.  Tune in each weekday Monday thru Friday from 9am-12noon for the best radio entertainment on the planet. Call in and participate each weekday at 772-220-9788 You can LISTEN LIVE on The Tune-In App, Alexa, or Google Home or you can visit us on he web at www.wstu1450.com or www.wpsl.com 

Winner of the Most Valuable Performer at the 2023 TRICS convention, John Graham is more than just a triple threat. He is a creator, author, performer, and lecturer who has worked with Asi Wind on their book “Between Friends” which was a sellout at the 2023 Magifest. John is also the author of the best selling magic book, “Stage by Stage” that is heralded by many professional like Mac King, David Blaine, Jim Steinmeyer, and others. John is a frequent performer at high end resorts and has tapped into a market where many magicians have yet to tread. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize In this episode, John gives us some advice on how to go about finding and working in fashionable resorts. There is also an interesting perspective on moving from close-up to parlor/stage. He also gives us some great tips gleaned from his lecture that will definitely help your marketing efforts. John is a creative magician who is unafraid of sharing his “pet effects.” So many great and practical ideas are shared in his book, “Stage by Stage” that it is no wonder that Vanishing, Inc. can't keep them in stock. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

In the latest episode of the Dads with Daughters podcast, we had a heartfelt and enlightening discussion with Kevin Lavelle, co-founder and CEO of Harbor. Kevin shared his experiences and reflections on raising two healthy children—an 8-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter—while managing the demands of a thriving career. Kevin emphasized the importance of being present for his children despite the time constraints of being an entrepreneur. He has found fulfillment in volunteering as a soccer coach for his son and accompanying his daughter to gymnastics. His philosophy of being "appropriately selfish" underscored the necessity of self-care to be effective in caring for one's family. The Fleeting Nature of Childhood Both Kevin and our host, Dr. Christopher Lewis, resonate on how quickly time passes with young children. Recounting poignant moments like the birth of his son and profound moments in his entrepreneurial journey, Kevin appreciated the urgency of cherishing every moment with family. He shared a personal anecdote about working on a term sheet in the delivery room, highlighting the blend of work and personal life that many modern parents experience. This understanding deepened after a personal loss—his wife's mother—which reinforced the irreplaceable value of family time. Dr. Lewis echoed this sentiment, encouraging fathers to prioritize building strong relationships with their children over work commitments. Challenges of Modern Parenting Kevin tackled the complex challenge of raising respectful and capable children in today's world. He discussed the necessity of discipline, the influence of external factors such as peers and media, and the struggle of maintaining different parenting standards than others. Kevin and his wife take pride in their children's respectful behavior in public, yet they find themselves constantly correcting behaviors influenced by their environments. Dr. Lewis and Kevin also explored the concept of “deprogramming,” or correcting behaviors developed when children are outside the home. This underscores the dynamic landscape parents must navigate to maintain their values. Promoting Healthier Families Through Better Sleep A significant portion of the podcast focused on Kevin's venture, Harbor, which aims to improve parental well-being through better sleep. Inspired by his own experience with sleep deprivation, Kevin developed a product integrating professional guidance and innovative technology. The system offers a reliable baby monitoring solution, avoiding common issues with existing products, and introduces a concept of a remote night nanny service. This service is designed to be affordable and leverages professionally trained nurses to help parents manage nighttime challenges, ensuring better sleep for all family members. Fatherhood's Essential Bonds Kevin concluded by sharing his views on fatherhood—emphasizing a connection, love, and support as the bedrock of raising well-rounded children. He credited his own parents, his wife, and his children as his inspiration, and he offered advice to fellow fathers: Enjoy spending time with your children and cherish the fleeting nature of childhood. Parents today face numerous challenges, but as Kevin's journey illustrates, with mindfulness, appropriate self-care, and innovative solutions, the joys of parenting can indeed be balanced with professional success. For those seeking additional support, the podcast encourages engagement with resources like the Fatherhood Insider and the Dads with Daughters community. For Fathers, By Fathers: A Beacon of Support Dads with Daughters remains committed to helping fathers navigate the beautiful complexities of raising daughters to be strong, independent women. Tune in for more inspiring stories and practical advice from fathers like Kevin Lavelle.   TRANSCRIPT Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:05]: Welcome to dads with daughters. In this show, we spotlight dads, resources, and more to help you be the best dad you can be. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:00:15]: Welcome back to the Dads with Daughters podcast where we bring you guests to be active participants in your daughters' lives, raising them to be strong, independent women. Really excited to have you back again this week. As always, every week, I love being on this journey with you. You and I are walking on this path to help our daughters to be those amazing women that we want them to be as they get into their adult years, and it's a process. It's definitely a process that we walk through to be able to be that dad that we wanna be and to be engaged and to be present and to be there for our daughters as they get older. And you don't have to walk that alone. That's why this podcast exists. It's here to help you to walk alongside other fathers that are either going through the process right now, have gone through the process, or other individuals that have resources that can help you again to be that dad that you wanna be. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:12]: Every week, I love being able to bring you different guests, different people with different experiences that are fathering in different ways. And today, we got another great guest. Kevin Lovell is with us today, and Kevin is the cofounder and CEO of Harbour. It is a company that we're gonna learn more about today. But I love their tagline, we create happier parents and healthier families one restful night at a time. And how many of you remember, especially those young first few years when you felt like a zombie? I'm just going to put it plainly, and you felt like you were not getting any sleep, and probably you weren't getting a lot of sleep. But we're going to talk about this venture that he has been on for the last few years and what he's doing. But first 1st and foremost, we're gonna learn about him as a dad. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:01:58]: So I'm really excited to have him here. Kevin, thanks so much for being here. Kevin Lavelle [00:02:01]: Thank you. A great opportunity. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:02:02]: Well, Kevin, it's my pleasure having you here today. And one of the things that I love doing first and foremost is turning the clock back in time. And I know you've got 2 kids. We're gonna focus on your daughter today, but I know you've got a son as well. You got an 8 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. So you had your son first. Now I wanna go back to that first moment that you found out that you were going to be a father to a daughter. What was going through your head? Kevin Lavelle [00:02:26]: Really fun memory. My my wife and I, our son was a little over I don't know. He was maybe 16 months old when we found out we were going to have another child, and we both did that thing. And and I think we meant it. Then we said, you know, whether it's a boy or a girl, it doesn't matter. We're just gonna be so happy that, you know, have another. And to each their own, I wasn't into a big gender reveal party, but I did think it would be fun to learn together. And so we had her doctor email the results to someone on my team at Mizzen and Maine, and I asked him to go get flowers, you know, pink for a girl, blue for a boy, and put them in our garage so that when I came home, I was traveling, I could bring the flowers covered in a trash bag into the house and we could look at them together because my wife loves flowers. Kevin Lavelle [00:03:14]: That was the way that we were gonna learn together. And right as I was about to pull into the garage, I just had this overwhelming thought, god, I hope it's a girl. And, you know, I didn't I hadn't said anything. And right as I went to pick the flowers up in our garage, they basically kind of fell open, and I saw it was pink. And I was just overcome with joy, and I had to pretend that I didn't know. But I walked in and I opened it up, and my my wife was, absolutely overjoyed as well. And at the time, my my first company was an apparel company, so my my colleague had also put a pink shirt in there, one of our pink shirts as a company. So that was a fun way to tie that together. Kevin Lavelle [00:03:54]: And shortly after she learned it was a girl, she said, I really wanted it to be a girl. And I was like, I did too. And by the way, I found out in the garage. And so, a very fond memory, not just learning that it was going to be a girl and and, you know, knowing that we now had a son and a daughter, but, a very memorable time in our lives. And it was a very rough pregnancy for my wife. And I don't know how true this is or an old wives tale that, you know, when it's a girl, they they suck all the pretty and all the life out of you because they're they're bringing it into themselves. And we were joking because it was a much rougher pregnancy with my daughter than my son. So we we we kind of felt it might have been a girl. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:04:30]: Now I talk to a lot of dads, and a lot of the fathers talk about the fact that they are that there is fear going into being a father to a daughter. Whether found or unfound, it's there. So as you think about the years that you've had with your daughter thus far and you think about your own experiences, what's been your biggest fear in raising a daughter? Kevin Lavelle [00:04:53]: The most direct fear as she gets older, women are more vulnerable in society and all of history than men. That's just the nature of humanity and the nature of life. And so, higher fear that she could have something terrible happen to her than to my son. Although, as parents in an ever crazier and changing world, certainly, the fear exists, for both of them. But my focus, and my wife and I have the same belief, is help our kids there's a phrase, prepare the child for the road and not the road for the child. And I see it so often, especially in some of the schools that we have been in. Whether it's parents or teachers or both, they want to make sure that everything is perfect for their child rather than, how do I make my child resilient and capable of addressing whatever it is that life will bring to them. And so, everything that we can do to make them more resilient and just prepared and understand the risks that exist in the world while not being afraid of the world. Kevin Lavelle [00:05:52]: You could hide out real easily and miss out on a lot of the wonderful things that life has to offer. And and we want them to face the world with head held high and and know what they're capable of. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:06:02]: Now you're a busy guy. You're a CEO, entrepreneur. You have been involved with a couple of ventures and a couple of companies in your time as a father. And it not only takes time, effort, but it takes balance. So talk to me about what you've had to do to be able to balance all that you're doing in starting and creating a new company, but also in trying to be that engaged father that you wanna be. Kevin Lavelle [00:06:30]: There are lots of people much more smarter and accomplished than me than that probably have lots of specific tips and tricks. But I'll say the thing that has resonated or or stuck with me the most is accepting that I will never get it all done. And I could work round the clock and miss out on life in front of me. We lost my wife's mother now about a decade ago. And that was very young to lose her. And just understanding that life is very short and very precious. And so don't miss out on don't miss out on what's in front of you. And the age old adage, the nights are long, especially when it comes to sleeplessness in those early years, but the years are short. Kevin Lavelle [00:07:10]: And I had quite a few people say that to me when my kids were, you know, 6, 9 months old. And you're not sleeping. And it is a level of exhaustion. Even if your kids are doing well sleeping through the night, it's just so all consuming and difficult and everything is new and stressful. Sometimes, when people tell that to you in that time of life, you're like, thanks. That's super helpful. I'm barely making it in a given day. But just continuing to come back to how fortunate we are. Kevin Lavelle [00:07:35]: We have 2 healthy kids. That is in and of itself a miracle. And then, prioritizing as much as I can. I've been volunteer soccer coach for my son, taking my daughter to her gymnastics classes, and just trying to soak up the time with them because it's moving very quickly. And there's never going to be enough hours in the day to do all the things that I want to do. But making sure that when I'm with them, try to be as as present as possible. I could talk about this for hours, but those would be the biggest things that that really stand out to me. And then, I think I'd also just add, with that said, I heard a Naval Ravikant years ago podcast with somebody was saying that he does a good job of, I think in his own words, he said being appropriately selfish. Kevin Lavelle [00:08:18]: And it comes down to this analogy of put your own oxygen mask on first. If you're not sleeping and eating and taking care of your body and your mind, then you can't take care of your family. You can't be there for them. You can't be a leader. And so, I think some people end up losing sight of that and forget that they still need to have some fun. They still need to take care of themselves. They need to get sleep. Then they need to be able to sit down and read a book or chat with friends. Kevin Lavelle [00:08:44]: And and you it is very easy to lose sight of that, especially in the days of of of young kids. And ultimately, looking at some of my friends whose kids are a bit older, and they're starting to adjust to the fact that they don't spend much time with their kids anymore even though they still live at home. And so that window of time is is very short. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:09:02]: It is very short. And as your kids get older, you look back and say, dang it. Because, hopefully, you have taken the time to be able to build those really strong relationships, spent the time, and not focus on work or not focus on the things that you think are important at the time to be able to provide for your family, but what you come to find. And I see that even though I've been a very engaged father throughout my entire kids' lives. But as you get into the teenage years and they start pulling away, and you're not able to have as many opportunities to be able to connect and engage on a regular basis, you treasure the moments that you do have to be able to create those opportunities and have those opportunities. And they look and feel a little bit different, But you definitely want to grab them, hold them, and keep doing those things with them when they give you that opening to do it. Now I asked you about if there were any things that you were afraid of and fear in that regard. But being a parent is not always easy. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:10:07]: We just talked about and we'll talk more about the fact of sleep and the importance of sleep. But it's not always easy to be a father to a son, a father to a daughter. What would you say has been the hardest part for you in being a father to a daughter? Kevin Lavelle [00:10:21]: If I had to sum it up, I think overall, I would pick up 2 different angles to this. And I can hone in on it being daughter specific and also being a father specific. It's not specifically daughter related, but it is very much a central struggle to being a parent. And it's something that I see, I don't say this on a high horse, but it's something I see a lot of other parents neglect. And I can see it coming back to bite them, which is raising good, capable kids who are respectful and that you want to spend time with is there's a pretty significant amount of time that is frustrating and you have to be, you have to be the parent. You have to be the adult. You have to be the rule enforcer. You have to constantly give feedback and it's frustrating and it's challenging. Kevin Lavelle [00:11:03]: But when you don't do that, each passing day, week, month, and year, it's harder to raise good, respectful kids that are capable and, you know, you want to spend time with. Jordan Peterson, I think it was in his 12 Rules For Life, talked about you don't let your kids do things that make you like them less because you love them more than anyone else in the world. And if you let their bad behavior go, their obnoxious behavior, even annoying tendencies, if you don't help them correct those, well, guess what the rest of the world's gonna do? They're not really gonna like them either. They're not gonna want to engage with them. They're not gonna want to be friends with them. They're not gonna wanna help them, mentor them, etcetera. And so I think about this a lot, especially when I have those frustrating conversations or interactions that I have to work very hard to help them grow and flourish. And that means I'm bearing a lot of the brunt of that so that they, in the rest of the world, have people like them and want to be around them. Kevin Lavelle [00:12:01]: And one of the things that my wife and I are most proud of on an ongoing basis is when people are around our kids, they are genuinely surprised at how wonderful they are to be around. They're very respectful. We can go to very nice restaurants with them without an iPad. And they do great. And that I don't know how many times we went to a restaurant where it wasn't awesome before it started to be good. And now, it's great. And so, you know, I think with that, that is not necessarily daughter specific. I'll go with now daughter specific. Kevin Lavelle [00:12:33]: And the other key piece here is you don't raise your kids in a vacuum. And our kids go to school with other kids whose parents are fine with different approaches to language and respect and electronics and vanity and spending. And there's a when our kids spend time with certain kids, they come home with very annoying or inappropriate kind of phrases or responses. And it's getting a little bit better because they know what, they tend to understand more of what's right and wrong and what is and isn't acceptable. But when they are in school all day or they spend time with certain kids, they come home with things that we have to then work to correct. And it's not a huge problem. But, you know, when you send your kids out into the world, you have to remember they're out in the world without you. And that's why it's so important to build those innate characteristics. Kevin Lavelle [00:13:25]: And especially on the little girl front, some parents have no problem with makeup and music and things that are just not appropriate for my daughter's age. And then she's struggling with this back and forth of, well, I see my friends do it and their parents are okay with it. And you have to say, while being respectful, you can't really say, well, those are not good parents in our view. Because there's a way to say that that inspires better decision making. And there's a way to say that that could make them look down upon or feel differently about folks. That's that's not not helpful. People can parent hard, but they want to parent. My job is to take care of my kids. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:14:03]: Well, and the other thing that I think that all of us have to understand is that each of us come into parenting without a rule book, without a guide book. And depending on the model that you saw in your own experience as a child yourself, the other parents that you surround yourself with, you start to identify and create ways in which you parent based on those. And sometimes parents don't realize what they're doing or are not doing, and unless someone points it out to them as well. But I completely understand what you're saying because sometimes you do have to do that deprogramming with your kids when they get back into your home or if they've spent time even when they go to grandparents and they come home, and the rules are different there. And then they come back and are like, well, grandma and grandpa said it was okay, so why not here? And you have to deal with that as well. So I completely understand what you're saying in that regard. Now we've been talking and kinda hinting about the importance of sleep. And as I mentioned at the beginning, you are the CEO and cofounder of Harbor. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:15:11]: It is a organization company that is working to create happier parents and healthier families, as I said, one restful night at a time. And I remember those days with both my kids feeling like a zombie when you're trying to go to work, and you're coming home, and, you know, you're getting a few hours of sleep. And, you know, those things are very challenging, and those those days and nights can be long. And that being said, I wanted to ask you about Harbor because, like you said, you spent quite a few years at Mizzen and Main, which is a clothing company. And you pivoted after this to open your own organization and create your own company in that regard and beyond what you did at Mizzen and Main to something completely different. So talk to me about that origin story of Arbor. And what made you decide to move away from clothing and move toward something that we're talking about in regards to helping parents to get better sleep, to be able to stay connected with their children, and be able to create this new product? Kevin Lavelle [00:16:17]: So when my son was born, it was a very memorable time in my life. Also, similar to that very visceral memory of finding out my second was gonna be a girl. We were in the throes of fundraising for Mizzen and Maine. We were assigned the term sheet with our private equity firm in the delivery room for my son. And I remember pieces of that very vividly. And one of them was, I'm not the person who's going to decide the car seat or the stroller. I was helpful with my wife there where she wanted me to. But I'm more of the tech person, and I did a lot of research. Kevin Lavelle [00:16:49]: And there was a company called Nanit that had a lot of recognition and press about their very innovative baby monitor. It's a Wi Fi camera with an app on your phone. And I thought, oh, that's really neat. I like apps on my phone. That's convenient. But while someone was a couple, I don't know, weeks or months old, I can't remember the exact date that it happened. And he was in his own room. And I woke up one morning and the app on my phone, because you have to sleep next to your phone, which I don't like doing to begin with, but you have to sleep next to your phone so the app audio runs in the background. Kevin Lavelle [00:17:18]: The app had just crashed. And look, apps crash. They're not a 100% reliable. And I panicked and ran across the house. And, of course, he was fine. Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for. But it was a very alarming realization that this thing that I'm supposed to be able to rely on, you I can't. And so we went out that day and bought an old school Motorola camera and an old school Motorola monitor that was direct local only communication. Kevin Lavelle [00:17:46]: It does not use the Internet in any way, shape, or form. But we kept a Wi Fi camera. I got rid of the Nanit and ended up just using a Google Home device, a Nest camera, because my wife and I worked together at Mizzen and Maine. And when she came back to work, we wanted to be able to check-in on the nanny with a babysitter. You just you wanna be able to know. And not that I wanna be monitoring 20 fourseven, but technology is supposed to make our lives better. And there have been a lot of promises that have largely failed to deliver for parents. So this idea of why do I have 2 separate systems to be able to just know that I'm monitoring my kid and record and rewind and check out from outside the house? I talked to a lot of parents over the last 8 years and just sort of getting feedback and wondering what they were using. Kevin Lavelle [00:18:32]: And I found out that 20 to 30 plus percent of my friends did the same thing that I did, was have multiple systems. And in an industry and in a time of life when parents want the best for their kids, baby registries are between $3 and probably $15,000 worth of products as a first time parent. Cribs and strollers and car seats and multiple strollers and formula and and pumps and on and on and on and on. The best that parents have to offer or the best that parents have accessible to them is hacking together multiple systems that don't communicate with each other and blah blah blah. So I wanted to solve this problem since my son was born. And so what we've built is a camera and a 10 inch monitor that connect directly to each other without Internet. And both devices also connect to the Internet. So you get the best of both worlds. Kevin Lavelle [00:19:29]: It's a dedicated device that alerts you if you lose connection. And everything connects to the Internet when it's available. So we have an app. You can record. You can rewind. You get all of those benefits and features as well. I've got one right over here. I should have had it right next to me. Kevin Lavelle [00:19:44]: But it is a 10 inch monitor. So you can actually watch up to 4 different streams on one screen. You can control the zoom and the volume of each independently. There's nothing like that that exists today. And I can tell you, however bad the experience was with a Wi Fi camera with 1 child with 2, it's it's almost impossible on a tiny little iPhone screen. And we can watch up to 4. And then we put privacy first. So our camera and our tablet are both built outside of China. Kevin Lavelle [00:20:10]: They're both built with non Chinese silicon. The chips inside the device is basically the thing that powers it from a processor perspective. And then the chip in the camera is able to do all of the advanced analytics and kind of signal to noise sorting that makes our product really unique on the device locally. Meaning, it does not go through our cloud to process your information. And the the best way to think about that is like on a self driving car on a Tesla, they have cameras that process everything locally. Because if you had to send to the Internet, is that a red light or a green light? Obviously, that's not very safe from a decision making time frame. And then we also put a memory chip in the camera. So all of your memories are stored locally on the device itself. Kevin Lavelle [00:20:52]: If you wanna use our app, obviously, if you're outside the house, you will access it, and that will be remote. We're not storing it. We're not processing it. Unlike every other Wi Fi camera that exists, you are paying them to store your footage on their cloud. And in many cases, third party clouds that may not have the same level of security that you would expect. So very unique device, very unique monitor. We've really positioned ourselves as something that does not exist today for parents and started shipping mass production units to customers in September of 2024. And it's going great so far. Kevin Lavelle [00:21:24]: We've shipped thousands of devices in just a few months. And then the other thing I'll touch on very briefly for framing is that's exciting and and we think a game changer for parents. And it's been very well received. But we are using it as the foundation for what we have called a remote night nanny. So if you can afford it, an in home night nanny or night nurse is one of life's greatest blessings. It's also unaffordable for almost everybody. And a lot of people who can afford it don't want someone else in their house, or they heard a horror story and they don't feel comfortable with it. Or even if they can afford it, they can't really find someone that they would trust to come in and help take care of their child. Kevin Lavelle [00:21:57]: And the main purpose of an in home night nanny is they will listen to your baby monitor in another room, and they will go in when it is necessary and appropriate to go in. So if your child starts to fuss or cry a little bit, they'll look at the monitor. Okay. Nothing's wrong. And they basically start a timer and they wait 5, 10, 15 minutes depending on age and stage. Because if you hear a child cry and immediately run-in, you delay their ability to learn how to sleep because sleep is a skill. Just like talking and walking, you have to kind of fumble through it and you and you find your way and you develop the skill of sleeping. There's a lot of really bad information out there on the Internet about sleep. Kevin Lavelle [00:22:36]: And sleep experts, legitimate ones, know you have to help the child learn how to sleep. And so, the challenges in home night nannies, if you can find 1, are $300 to $700 a night depending on where you live in the country. And it's very hard to find them as well. So, what we're doing is because we have built the hardware, after you onboard into our system, you can hire our professionally trained night nurses remotely. You press a button on the monitor, sort of like arming an alarm system, and that turns over the controls of your monitor to our professionally trained night nurses. We turn the volume on your monitor down to 0 all night long and only wake you up when a professionally trained night nurse says it's time to go in. So if something is wrong, like something falls in the crib or the baby's arm gets out of the swaddle and gets stuck in the crib slot, we're gonna wake you up immediately. Otherwise, we're gonna start the timer and we're going to wait until it is time for you to go in. Kevin Lavelle [00:23:33]: And what we have found is the 1st night, parents are adjusting to, okay, this is a little different and a little a little new. But the 2nd night, parents are telling us they've things like, I haven't slept this well since my 1st trimester. And that's because it's not just that I'm not hearing something. Because you may not go in all night long, but your child is going to make noises all night long. Kids make a lot of noise. And if you don't remember it, good for you. That's fortunate. But kids can fuss and cry off and on for hours. Kevin Lavelle [00:24:03]: Now, they're still getting sleep in between, but you're not as a parent. But what we're finding is parents are telling us, especially moms, to have a professional be the one that is helping me know when to go in rather than that anxiety and that guilt and that shame that comes with being a parent and not knowing what to do, It allowed me to really actually get deep, restful sleep for the first time in a long time. And because we have built the hardware, we have a lot of fail safes built in, the system just turns itself back on if it loses connection, And we're hiring professionally trained nurses so that we can have 1 nurse work with multiple families at the same time and bring the cost down to about 5% of the cost of an in home night nanny. So that's Harbor. A lot more to talk about there, but that's a good good roundup of what we've built here. No. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:24:51]: It sounds like an amazing product, and I have not used it, and I don't need it now. And my kids would be really weirded out if I was using it at this point in their lives. But that being said, when they were very young, this sounds like a game changer. Now one question that I had when you were talking about the technology and, you know, how you had your app and that you were trying to keep it on a phone and and that it was running and then lose power and you you know, all of that story that you told. With your system, are you running off of your Wi Fi in your home, or are you running off of the Wi Fi off your phones? Because if the power goes out, then, you know, how does that all work? Kevin Lavelle [00:25:31]: Yeah. So a couple of points on the technical side. The camera and the monitor or multiple cameras are going to run off your home Wi Fi when it is strong and available. If you don't have Wi Fi, so as a point of comparison, if you have one of these Wi Fi baby monitor systems and you travel to a hotel, you can't use it because hotels will not let you tap your devices onto their Wi Fi. You can put your phone on it, but you can't run your devices on their networks from a security perspective. So the message boards online are full of parents who said, you know, just got to our hotel and realized I can't use my Nanette. I can't use my Owlette. And I had to run to Walmart to get a baby monitor because, you know, get adjoining rooms. Kevin Lavelle [00:26:11]: You gotta be able to look in. And so the camera and the monitor, one camera and one monitor, creates its own Wi Fi signal to communicate directly with each other while not requiring a separate Wi Fi network. So it has direct local communication that doesn't require the Internet. But when you're at home and your your routers are appropriately configured and and everything is running, it will just run through your home home Wi Fi. And one of the benefits there is home Wi Fi tends to be stronger. You've got it across the entire house. And our that feed does not leave your home. So if it's running on your home WiFi, it does not leave your home. Kevin Lavelle [00:26:50]: Again, we are not swearing or processing anything. If your router goes down, if your Internet goes down, then your camera will fail over to direct local communication. So when it's running through your home WiFi, it's saying, okay. I'm running through home WiFi. I've got good signal strength. All of that's measured. When it can't find that home WiFi or it's not working, then it says connect directly to the monitor. Now with a power outage, at that point in time, if you were running an app on your phone, the camera is going to fail because no baby monitor cameras come with batteries. Kevin Lavelle [00:27:23]: I'll say none. Virtually none do because batteries are a severe fire risk, especially if it's running 247. And that's why, generally, you will not see batteries in cameras in homes. And so if there's a power outage, you wouldn't necessarily be notified if you're just using a WiFi camera. But our monitor would know, hey, I've lost connection with that camera because the cameras no longer has power. I'm going to alert the parents that there's no longer a connection. Now, that doesn't mean you can do anything about it because you don't have power in your house. But now you know, and you can choose to maybe open the doors so that you can still hear, maybe bring the crib into your room. Kevin Lavelle [00:28:02]: That's then a parental decision on what happens next. But the important thing is we empower parents to know what's actually happening. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:28:09]: And about the night nurses, tell me about how do you identify these individuals? What type of background do they have? How are they trained to be able to provide that kind of service for families? Kevin Lavelle [00:28:18]: So we're recruiting actual nurses who have worked in pediatrics, whether in offices or hospitals. And then in some cases, they have in home night nursing experience where they have worked with families and homes. And in other cases, they just have pediatrics medical experience. And then we are training them from our professionally trained night nursing staff. So, our director of nursing has worked for years in hospitals. She was a pediatric oncology nurse. She worked as an in home care manager and as an in home night nurse. She's a Hmong herself. Kevin Lavelle [00:28:49]: And so she is working with one of our advisors and our team on training those nurses that we're bringing in. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:28:56]: And as you said, those in home nannies or nurses that you might have inside your home can be very expensive. What's the price point on not only your system, but having this type of monitoring with night nurses to be able to assist parents? Kevin Lavelle [00:29:09]: To buy our camera and our monitor and all of our features, we do not require subscriptions or additional payments. You buy a camera and a monitor, you get everything forever. It's $599, which puts us as roughly price comparable to all the other leading systems on the market today because they require annual subscriptions. And then the remote night nanny experience, right now, is about $30 a night. You have to buy kind of packages of nights, and it works out to about $30 a night. And our long term vision is to get the cost down to $20 a night. Once we have enough people in the system and we can hire the staff and have the systems capable of working with many more families at the same time, we will continue to pass those cost savings on to our customers. And it's kind of cool. Kevin Lavelle [00:29:51]: At $20 a night, you could do 3 months of the remote night nanny for the same cost of about 1 week of an in home night nanny. And so we like to say 95% of the benefit and 5% of the cost of an in home night nanny. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:30:06]: Well, it's a great value for families and definitely gives families peace of mind in regard to being able to be if you are sleeping and you get that good sleep, you're going to be able to be more present and be able to be much more attuned to what your child needs versus trying to struggle through with the lack of sleep that many parents get, especially for the 1st 6 months, 8 months, year, or more, depending on your child, that sometimes you run into. Kevin Lavelle [00:30:37]: Yeah. I mean, there's a lot of different studies and research, but very significant percentage of couples who get divorced say sleeplessness in the early years of childhood was a major contributing factor. The reality is a lack of sleep contributes to or exacerbates postpartum depression. It has very significant immune system impacts, durability, even to be a safe driver. When you are sleep deprived, whether you have a child or not, sleep deprived drivers can be even more dangerous than drunk drivers. And so, there's a lot from the adult side. And then on the child side, we make a big difference for parents. But on the other side, our monitor system is the kind of help parents and kids get more sleep. Kevin Lavelle [00:31:14]: That's the fundamental nature of our system relative to everything else. The single best thing that you can do for your child is obviously make sure they have appropriate nutrition in those early years, in early months weeks years. The second best thing that you can do for them is make sure that they are getting the appropriate amount of sleep on a consistent basis. And that is really hard to do for most parents for a whole host of very obvious reasons. And so, when you think about a well rested child, certainly, we can imagine they are more pleasant to be around. But from a mental development perspective, from a dysregulation perspective, from an immune system perspective, from a physical health development perspective, all of those, you have to have the right nutrition and you have to have the right sleep. And if you are not supporting your child's ability to sleep through the night, you are very much hampering their health and well-being and development. And I'll say one final note on sleep. Kevin Lavelle [00:32:11]: There are some very bad influencers and sleep gurus that will tell you the minute your child is crying, you need to be in there holding their hands and they will feel abandoned. Science has disproven this again and again and again. And similar to this idea of put your own oxygen mask on first, when moms don't get sleep, the propensity for postpartum depression absolutely skyrockets for all the obvious reasons. And when a mom has postpartum depression, it has a very significant impact on her ability to feed her child, nurture her child, love her child. It's a very difficult thing to go through. Obviously, there's no way that I could go through it, but it is a very understandable position that moms find themselves in. And so, these influencers and sleep gurus who, you know, propagate very bad sleep ideas, they're really harming parents' ability to get the right information and support their their families. And so, our focus is how do we help parents who want help? I'm never going to tell a parent, you're doing it wrong. Kevin Lavelle [00:33:15]: Every parent is responsible for raising their own child and we all have our own way. However, most parents are struggling and need some help. And we are here to provide very clear, unambiguous, science backed information. And we do that for free. At our website, harbor.co, we have a ton of free resources. And our mission is happier parents and healthier families. And so, we have a lot of free resources on our website. If you don't want to buy our baby monitor for any number of reasons, that's fine. Kevin Lavelle [00:33:41]: There's still a lot of great resources that you can find. And we have opportunities for parents to sign up for text based sleep coaching. If they just want to text a nurse and get some help, it's a very affordable $30 a month. You don't have to sign up for big hour long sessions or sign up for our full system, although we offer those as well. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:33:58]: Well, Kevin, I wanna say thank you for sharing all of that. If people wanna find out more about your system, the night nanny services, or anything else, where should they go? Kevin Lavelle [00:34:10]: Harbor.co. And you can find us on on the socials at harbor sleep. And we have so many great resources there. We have very robust sleep guides for infants and also toddlers. We have also formed a harbor council of pediatric sleep doctors, postpartum counselors, pediatricians, OB GYNs that have written many articles for us. And our goal is if you have a question as a parent, we don't have all the answers yet, but we have pushed a lot of great content for free online to be a great resource for parents as they need it. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:34:45]: Now we always finish our interviews with what I like to call our fatherhood 5, where I ask you 5 more questions to delve deeper into you as a dad. Are you ready? Yes. In one word, what is fatherhood? Kevin Lavelle [00:34:55]: Joy. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:34:55]: When was the time that you finally felt like you succeeded at being a father to a daughter? Kevin Lavelle [00:35:01]: I don't think I could point to, like, we were at a theme park or we were at a restaurant. To me, it's those moments where my daughter would look at me, come home from work, come home from traveling, I'm tucking her in at night. And I just see that look in her eye that says, you are my safety, you are my home. The level of connection and love there, that success is a dad. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:35:24]: Now if I was to talk to your kids, how would they describe you as a dad? Kevin Lavelle [00:35:28]: I believe they would say fun, strong, great. And those are the things that that I hope that they would say at their ages with their vocabulary. Some of the kind of underlying things would be that I'm supportive, that we have a lot of fun together. We laugh, chase them around the house, and that they still really want to spend time with me. They've got friends, but generally, they'd rather spend time with my wife and I than anyone else. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:35:54]: Now let's go 10 years down the road. What do you want them to say then? Kevin Lavelle [00:35:57]: As I think about this phase of life, we no longer have little kids. They're not toddlers, and they go to school full time. And my wife and I have talked about, like, we did it. We got out of the the infant and toddler and very young kid phase as best as we possibly could have. We have wonderful kids. They're respectful. They're resilient. They like to learn. Kevin Lavelle [00:36:22]: They like to have fun. They're great kids. Now, we need to prepare them to be teenagers. And so, what would I hope to feel like at that point in time? That whatever it is that our kids want to do, whether they want to go to college, whether they want to pursue a sport, whatever it is. That they are ready to go face the world and they are as prepared as they possibly could be. As I said, prepare the child for the road. And that they truly understand, as best as a, you know, 18 year old can, what it means to be happy. That they will not chase the superficial. Kevin Lavelle [00:36:54]: That they will chase the core, the meaningful, the spiritual in whatever way that is for them. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:37:00]: Now, who inspires you to be a better dad? Kevin Lavelle [00:37:03]: Certainly, I feel like I won the parent lottery. My parents raised me right. And I felt my whole life the appropriate balance of support and safety, but also go forth and conquer. My wife, she is an absolutely incredible mother, and I think a better mother than I am father. And, you know, as cliche as it is, my kids. When they show me that they want to spend time with me and that they want more of me and that they're truly grateful for the life that we have as best as young kids can, that, okay, keep going. I want to do more of it. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:37:34]: Now, you've given a lot of piece of advice today, things that people can think about and look at ways in which they can incorporate some of those pieces into their own experience as a father. If you are talking to a father, what's one piece of advice you'd want to give to every father out there? Kevin Lavelle [00:37:50]: So for the dads that have kids older than me, I'm not sure how much advice I could give. But for those coming up behind me with with younger kids, I think it's a big part of what we talked about. Raise kids that you want to be around and that they love you. Like, that they are the kids that other people want to spend time with and that they want to spend time with you. That that kind of full circle. And if you do those two things, then you're doing all the other things right. And that's a good kind of metric or or baseline to seek. And as cliche as it is, it goes by really fast. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:38:27]: It definitely does. Well, Kevin, I just wanna say thank you. Thank you for sharing your journey today. And as Kevin said, if you wanna find out more about him or about his company, go to harbor.co to find out more information about this amazing new technology and resource for you as you are working to be the best dad that you wanna be. Kevin, thanks so much for being here today. Kevin Lavelle [00:38:51]: Thanks for the opportunity and and for the inspiring work you do for dads. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:38:55]: If you've enjoyed today's episode of the Dads with Daughters podcast, we invite you to check out the fatherhood insider. The fatherhood insider is the essential resource for any dad that wants to be the best dad that he can be. We know that no child comes with an instruction manual and most dads are figuring it out as they go along, and the fatherhood insider is full of resources and information that will up your game on fatherhood. Through our extensive course library, interactive forum, step by step roadmaps, and more, you will engage and learn with experts, but more importantly, dads like you. So check it out at fathering together dot org. If you are a father of a daughter and have not yet joined the dads with daughters Facebook community, there's a link in the notes today. Dads with daughters is a program of fathering together. We look forward to having you back for another great guest next week all geared to helping you raise strong and powered daughters and be the best dad that you can be. Dr. Christopher Lewis [00:39:54]: We're all in the same boat, and it's full of tiny screaming passengers. We spend the time, we give the lessons, we make the meals, We buy them presents and bring your AK. Because those kids are growing fast. The time goes by just like a dynamite blast. Be the best dad you can be. You're the best dad you can be.

For such a limited number of years (he's only 27 years old), Mortenn Christiansen has accomplished what some take a lifetime to achieve. For as long as he can remember, he has worked in a magic shop in Denmark. He has “cut his teeth” on stage at comedy clubs as he refined a unique style in his country. In 2022 he won the coveted Comedy Award at FISM in Quebec, Canada. Since then, he has been “hot as a skyrocket” having performed on Penn & Teller Fool Us, and he has lectured and performed at the 2023 Magicfest and later that year at MAGIC Live! If you are more of a visual person, then you might enjoy watching a video of this week's episode on YouTube. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize One of the things that Mortenn talks about in his lecture is his stage fright. In this week's episode, he goes into much detail about that issue and how he deals with it by incorporating it into his act. He also gives us some “behind the scenes” looks at what it was like to come to Las Vegas and appear on Penn & Teller Fool Us. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Mark Pocan represents the second congressional district in Wisconsin, near Madison. He is also a long-time magician, but had a passion since his youth for both magic and politics. He is now serving his seventh term in office and for a few years was offering a YouTube channel filled with explanations of how politics works using magic in what he called “Magic Mondays.” Although he ceased production of those videos a few years ago, he plans to get them up and running again in 2025. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Mark came from a family of politicians and, as he says, began door-to-door campaigning for his father at the tender age of six. He pursued politics through college while using magic to defray some of his costs of schooling. He still performs magic at fund raising functions and other charitable events. He is often seen attending magic conventions and has twice attended Vanishing Inc.'s magic retreats including one in Washington, D.C. where he was able to use his influence to allow attendees access to some backstage places in Congress. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah Sargent tackles a unique smart home dilemma from a viewer named John, who runs his home automation through Android while his wife uses Apple devices. John wants to know if he can use an old iPad as a home hub to give his wife easier access to their home's smart features, like thermostats, greenhouse controls, and outlets, without having to go through his phone. Android-first setup is actually advantageous, as it means devices are already configured independently rather than being locked into Apple's HomeKit ecosystem For HomeKit-compatible devices, adding them to the wife's iPhone/iPad is as simple as scanning the HomeKit codes in Apple's Home app Some suggested approaches for the iPad hub: Use as a portable control panel that can move between rooms Mount it permanently as a dedicated control center using a device such as elago's Home Hub Mount, which allows for clean cable management. Mikah recommends using Home Assistant (home-assistant.io) as a powerful third-party solution that works with more devices than just HomeKit or Google Home, has robust automation capabilities, and has apps for multiple platforms, making it accessible to both users. Mikah also emphasizes the importance of "smart," which means proactive automation, giving examples like automatic fan control based on humidity sensor readings, proximity-based lighting control, and custom scenes triggered by pressure sensors. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah Sargent tackles a unique smart home dilemma from a viewer named John, who runs his home automation through Android while his wife uses Apple devices. John wants to know if he can use an old iPad as a home hub to give his wife easier access to their home's smart features, like thermostats, greenhouse controls, and outlets, without having to go through his phone. Android-first setup is actually advantageous, as it means devices are already configured independently rather than being locked into Apple's HomeKit ecosystem For HomeKit-compatible devices, adding them to the wife's iPhone/iPad is as simple as scanning the HomeKit codes in Apple's Home app Some suggested approaches for the iPad hub: Use as a portable control panel that can move between rooms Mount it permanently as a dedicated control center using a device such as elago's Home Hub Mount, which allows for clean cable management. Mikah recommends using Home Assistant (home-assistant.io) as a powerful third-party solution that works with more devices than just HomeKit or Google Home, has robust automation capabilities, and has apps for multiple platforms, making it accessible to both users. Mikah also emphasizes the importance of "smart," which means proactive automation, giving examples like automatic fan control based on humidity sensor readings, proximity-based lighting control, and custom scenes triggered by pressure sensors. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah Sargent tackles a unique smart home dilemma from a viewer named John, who runs his home automation through Android while his wife uses Apple devices. John wants to know if he can use an old iPad as a home hub to give his wife easier access to their home's smart features, like thermostats, greenhouse controls, and outlets, without having to go through his phone. Android-first setup is actually advantageous, as it means devices are already configured independently rather than being locked into Apple's HomeKit ecosystem For HomeKit-compatible devices, adding them to the wife's iPhone/iPad is as simple as scanning the HomeKit codes in Apple's Home app Some suggested approaches for the iPad hub: Use as a portable control panel that can move between rooms Mount it permanently as a dedicated control center using a device such as elago's Home Hub Mount, which allows for clean cable management. Mikah recommends using Home Assistant (home-assistant.io) as a powerful third-party solution that works with more devices than just HomeKit or Google Home, has robust automation capabilities, and has apps for multiple platforms, making it accessible to both users. Mikah also emphasizes the importance of "smart," which means proactive automation, giving examples like automatic fan control based on humidity sensor readings, proximity-based lighting control, and custom scenes triggered by pressure sensors. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah Sargent tackles a unique smart home dilemma from a viewer named John, who runs his home automation through Android while his wife uses Apple devices. John wants to know if he can use an old iPad as a home hub to give his wife easier access to their home's smart features, like thermostats, greenhouse controls, and outlets, without having to go through his phone. Android-first setup is actually advantageous, as it means devices are already configured independently rather than being locked into Apple's HomeKit ecosystem For HomeKit-compatible devices, adding them to the wife's iPhone/iPad is as simple as scanning the HomeKit codes in Apple's Home app Some suggested approaches for the iPad hub: Use as a portable control panel that can move between rooms Mount it permanently as a dedicated control center using a device such as elago's Home Hub Mount, which allows for clean cable management. Mikah recommends using Home Assistant (home-assistant.io) as a powerful third-party solution that works with more devices than just HomeKit or Google Home, has robust automation capabilities, and has apps for multiple platforms, making it accessible to both users. Mikah also emphasizes the importance of "smart," which means proactive automation, giving examples like automatic fan control based on humidity sensor readings, proximity-based lighting control, and custom scenes triggered by pressure sensors. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah Sargent tackles a unique smart home dilemma from a viewer named John, who runs his home automation through Android while his wife uses Apple devices. John wants to know if he can use an old iPad as a home hub to give his wife easier access to their home's smart features, like thermostats, greenhouse controls, and outlets, without having to go through his phone. Android-first setup is actually advantageous, as it means devices are already configured independently rather than being locked into Apple's HomeKit ecosystem For HomeKit-compatible devices, adding them to the wife's iPhone/iPad is as simple as scanning the HomeKit codes in Apple's Home app Some suggested approaches for the iPad hub: Use as a portable control panel that can move between rooms Mount it permanently as a dedicated control center using a device such as elago's Home Hub Mount, which allows for clean cable management. Mikah recommends using Home Assistant (home-assistant.io) as a powerful third-party solution that works with more devices than just HomeKit or Google Home, has robust automation capabilities, and has apps for multiple platforms, making it accessible to both users. Mikah also emphasizes the importance of "smart," which means proactive automation, giving examples like automatic fan control based on humidity sensor readings, proximity-based lighting control, and custom scenes triggered by pressure sensors. Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-tech Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

On this week's show we cover the Home Theater announcements that we found interesting. It's not an exhaustive list of what was shown but things we wanted to share with you. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Disney to Merge Hulu + Live TV With Fubo, Taking on YouTube TV and Ending Venu Lawsuit RadioShack Returns To U.S. As Product Brand Roku tallies 90 million streaming households at start of 2025 Other: Samsung and Google's Eclipsa Audio is here to take on Dolby Atmos CES 2025 Up until now, CES has primarily showcased laptops, gaming, TVs, and smart home technology, excelling in these traditional areas. However, this year's event has shifted its focus to include some emerging, trendier categories. We are seeing AI announcements across the board and numerous innovative concepts aimed at making augmented reality more accessible. On this week's show we cover the Home Theater announcements that we found interesting. It's not an exhaustive list of what was shown but things we wanted to share with you. Next week, since we record before CES closes, we'll look at products that won awards as well as any announcements you may have found interesting as shared with us. RCA introduces two new NEXTGEN TV models in 55" and 65" sizes -  The 65” RCA NEXTGEN TV up to 1500 nits of peak brightness, 664-zone Mini-LED QLED, suggested retail price of $949.99.  The 55” RCA NEXTGEN TV up to 1500 nits of peak brightness, 240-zone Mini-LED QLED suggested retail price of $699.99.  New for 2025 is the attractive RCA ANTD8E, an amplified, multi-directional indoor antenna covered in a high-tech fabric with a diamond shape design. Equipped with SMARTBOOST advanced technology and dual-stage amplification and built-in 4G/LTE/5G filter to improve reception, the ANTD8E can be positioned on its included stand or mounted on a wall and includes nine feet of coaxial cable to connect to the TV at a suggested retail price of $59.99. A full line-up of RCA Outdoor Televisions is also planned in a range of screen sizes and price points, with a “spirit of wilderness” and Mossy Oak camouflage design. Built with a sleek, modern design in a weatherproof and durable dust-free case, RCA Outdoor TVs are designed to work in extreme temperatures – from minus 22 degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Our Outdoor RCA line includes an exceptionally bright 2000 nit display for crystal-clear viewing even in bright sunlight. Full Press Release RCA Outdoor TV  43-inch ($3,999, suggested retail price), 55-inch ($4,999, suggested retail price)  65-inch ($5,999, suggested retail price) 75-inch ($7,999, suggested retail price). Google Home hubs now work locally with Matter This week, Google announced the integration of Home Runtime into its Google Home hubs, allowing for full local control of Matter devices. With this update, Google Nest hubs, speakers, Chromecasts, Google TV devices running Android 14, and certain LG TVs can now connect to and manage Matter devices locally. This change enhances reliability, privacy, and reduces latency for users controlling their devices at home. Notably, even without internet access, Google Assistant will still be able to operate functions like turning on lights, marking a significant shift from the platform's previous reliance on cloud connectivity. Google Blog Post TCL's 2025 mini-LED TVs for 2025 The Super High Energy mini-LED chip may increase brightness by 53% TCL has made enhancements to its mini-LED backlight design that will result in less blooming or “halo” artifacts where light areas seep into dark areas – a 67% reduction, according to the company. 50- to 98-inch screen sizes, coming to the US in early 2025 Pricing for TCL's QM6K Series is as follows: 50-inch: $749.99  55-inch: $799.99  65-inch $999.99 75-inch: $1,299.99  85-inch: $1,999.99 98-inch: $3,499.99 The 65, 75 and 85-inch QM6K models are available now for preorder at TCL's website. More information from TCL LG G5, C5 and M5 OLED TV LG also announced AI-based features that seek to improve picture, audio and the overall user experience. LG is officially unveiling the LG G5 OLED, the C5 OLED and M5 OLED along with lots of AI upgrades, Here's what we know so far. The G5 will be available in the following sizes: 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 and 97 inches. The M5 is essentially a G5 with wireless connectivity. All of the TV's inputs are located on a separate box (dubbed the Zero Connect Box on the LG M4) which then wirelessly transmits audio and video to the M5's OLED display. The C4 will be available in 42-, 48-, 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inch models. Full Press Release HDMI 2.2 Announced HDMI 2.2 has been announced at CES 2025. The new specification comes with 96Gbps bandwidth — double what you get with HDMI 2.1. It will be available in a new Ultra96 HDMI Cable. It features next-gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link tech to provide “optimal audio and video.” More impressively, it enables 4K resolution with up to 480 frames per second (fps), and up to 12K at 120 fps. Full Press Release HISENSE MARKS NEW ERA OF DISPLAY INNOVATION WITH ITS FIRST CONSUMER MICROLED AT CES 2025 Hisense unveiled the 136MX MicroLED, the brand's first consumer-ready MicroLED display. This launch marks a pivotal milestone in making cutting-edge display technology more accessible to households, catering to the growing demand for larger, more immersive screens without compromising durability or long-term performance. By eliminating traditional backlight limitations, 136MX delivers precise contrast, lifelike colors, and a viewing experience that sets a new standard for the industry. By combining MicroLED display technology with its R&D expertise, Hisense is once again redefining the possibilities of home entertainment. Powered by Hisense's flagship Hi-View AI Engine X chipset, the 136MX optimizes every frame with its AI-based algorithms, enabling precise color conversion, dynamic 3D color management, and rich display details. Black nanocrystals further enhance performance by reducing reflectivity to ensure exceptional clarity even in well-lit spaces. With brightness levels reaching up to 10,000 nits and a color gamut covering 95% of the BT.2020 color space, Hisense's 136MX delivers vivid, true-to-life colors, setting a new benchmark for home entertainment displays. Full Press Release Technics launched the EAH-AZ100 Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds Reference Class True Wireless Earbuds with Dolby Atmos and noise cancelling, The AZ100 earbuds feature, reference-quality high-resolution audio; advanced, industry-leading noise cancellation; and improved JustMyVoice™ technology to keep calls clear. Connects to 3 devices simultaneously. Launching in sleek Silver and Black with its signature stylish ergonomic design, Technics EAH-AZ100 Earbuds will be available for purchase online at Technics.com and at trusted retailers starting today, January 7, with a suggested retail price of $299.99. More info TiVo OS Will Be Launching in the U.S. Market With Sharp TiVo announced that it will be entering the U.S. television market with Sharp Home Electronics Company of America. The Sharp Smart TV Powered by TiVo will be the first television in the series to be made available to American consumers, as soon as February 2025. Boasting a beautiful Ultra High Definition and High Dynamic Range 55” QLED screen, plus Dolby Atmos®, and 3 HDMI ports, it will be a smart TV that reinforces Sharp's reputation for quality. In Europe, TiVo last year launched a range of Sharp models in the UK starting at the equivalent of $372 USD. Sharp's consumer website currently lists four TiVo-powered TV models/screen sizes (43 inches, 50 inches, 55 inches and 70 inches). Sharp also offers TVs powered by other platforms, including operating systems from Roku and Google. Nothing Earth Shattering in the way of Hardware from Sony Sony's press conference did not showcase exciting new hardware announcements. Instead, the emphasis was primarily on the entertainment aspect of their business. Valerion Unveils VisionMaster Max Valerion debuted their VisionMaster MAX, a cinematic-grade home theater projector. Its Kickstarter project raised over $10.7 million and became the highest-funded projector in crowdfunding history.  Featuring the OpticFlex Lens System for customizable viewing. The specifications include: 3000 ISO lumens, a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, and a 110% Rec. 2020 color gamut. The VisionMaster MAX promises stunning image quality and a theater-like experience, projecting up to 300 inches. Enhanced with Dolby Vision, IMAX Enhanced, and other advanced features, this flagship model sets a new standard for home entertainment technology. Additionally, its innovative external lens offers increased versatility, further enhancing the viewing experience. The VisionMaster Series is now available for global pre-order on Valerion's website, with deliveries starting February 2025. VisionMaster Max $3,999 USD, VisionMaster Pro2 & Pro $2,499 USD, and VisionMaster Plus2 & Plus $1,499 USD Samsung Brings Samsung Vision AI to Its Widest Lineup Yet Samsung is ushering in a new era of AI-driven screen technology, with Samsung Vision AI features now integrated across its most comprehensive lineup ever — including Neo QLED, OLED and QLED, and The Frame models. This expansion underscores Samsung's commitment to bringing intelligent, adaptive screens to more users, redefining what's possible in home entertainment and smart living. At the forefront of this innovation is the Neo QLED 8K QN990F, Samsung's most advanced TV to date, designed to deliver unparalleled performance, sleek design and smarter AI-driven experiences. Powered by the latest NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor, the TV leverages a suite of on-device AI features to enhance picture quality, sound clarity and overall viewing experience: 8K AI Upscaling Pro: Elevates lower-resolution content up to stunning 8K quality, ensuring incredible detail and clarity in every frame. Auto HDR Remastering Pro: Analyzes content frame by frame, applying scene-adaptive color expansion for lifelike visuals and vibrant colors, even in dark scenes. Adaptive Sound Pro: Uses AI to separate and optimize sound components like speech, music and sound effects, delivering clear, balanced audio. Color Booster Pro: Enriches color expression with AI-driven scene analysis and enhanced  image processing for each frame. AI Mode: Adaptively optimizes picture and sound leveraging AI-based content recognition  and TV area analysis for an optimal viewing experience in any setting. Samsung also unveiled The Premiere 5, the industry's first interactive triple-laser ultra-short-throw (UST) projector. Designed to redefine home entertainment, The Premiere 5 introduces an interactive touch feature, allowing users to engage directly with the screen. This innovation seamlessly combines high-quality projection with versatile functionality, featuring Samsung LightWARP technology to project images onto everyday objects for creative and immersive experiences. No Specs are available as this may be one of those items that never sees the light of day. Full Press Release  Displace TV: The World's First Truly Wireless 4K TVs with All-in-One Entertainment and Productivity Hubs Displace is bringing all-in-one entertainment and productivity hubs that go beyond the traditional TV experience. Both models offer a sleek, cable-free design, and revolutionary new features powered by Displace OS, an all-new AI Agent-driven operating system that will redefine how Displace users interact with their TVs and perform tasks easier than ever before. These next-generation 4K TVs are powered by two long-lasting, rechargeable Li-ion batteries, ensuring a truly wireless experience that eliminates the clutter of cords and cables. Consumers can either mount the TV on a wall in just 10 seconds without tools or drilling or place it on a table using the all-new concealed push-to-pop legs. All the Displace TV screens are OLED. Displace Pro and Basic are both offered in 55-inch and 27-inch models. Exclusively during CES, all Displace models will be available for pre-order for $1,000 off the original price. During CES, Pro models can be ordered in 55-inch for $4,999 or 27-inch for $2,999, while the Basic models will be available in 55-inch for $2,499 or 27-inch for $1,499. All models are available for pre-order with shipping expected to begin March 28, 2025. Full Press Release 

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Ed Ellis is not a name that is on the tip of the tongues of most magicians. I wouldn't call him an “underground” magician because I think of “those guys” as being the ones who magicians go to when they want to learn some secret move. But Ed has quietly been making a living for many decades having worked at many prestigious resorts and country clubs and of late, has been returning to the magic convention scene. So, if you have not seen him or are not familiar with his work, you can watch his video lecture on Penguin or catch him at one of many convention appearances he plans to make this year. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Ed talks about his journey through life as he maneuvered jobs on film, nightclubs, and resorts. He gives some valuable advice on calling on past customers and maintaining personal friendships to ensure future opportunities. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Leah Orleans is the progeny of Jan Rose and Danny Orleans, Chicago based magicians. It only seemed natural that her path would be in the entertainment arts, but instead of traditional magic, Leah pursued the circus arts. She is a contortionist, fire eater, juggler, and even bends over backwards to shoot an arrow from a bow held by her feet! Her profession takes her around the world to Renaissance Festivals, cruise ship destinations, and more. If you are more of a visual person, then you might like to watch our Zoom video chat on YouTube. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This week, Leah talks about growing up in a magical household with both parents working in the magic business. She also discusses how she went into the circus arts and the classes she took and the places it has taken her. Leah also talks about Mystify Magic Festival and what will make this convention stand out from all the others. She has some great words of advice to convention organizers in general, too. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here. Hail and Farewell to those in our magic community who left us this past year. In 2024 we suffered the loss of many friends who have passed away, but whom are not forgotten. Although the list below is not exhaustive, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses, assistants and magic aficionados who passed on in 2024. This year's list is much less than the number reported last year (17 this year, 29 in 2023.) Some may not be as well-known to you, but they were my personal friends (hey, it is my blog!). If you are unfamiliar with any of these names, then it would behoove you to do a little online search of what these people have contributed to our craft. If you have someone you think was overlooked, then please post the name in the comments below on this blog.Those whose names are highlighted with a “hot link” were featured or interviewed here on The Magic Word Podcast. It was not my original intent when I began this journey to chronicle the voices before they left us, but I am so thankful that I did sit down with many of these friends for lively, and sometimes intimate, conversations. You can click on their name to revisit and listen to their voices again. Dick BlowersDavid OliverWilliam “Bill” RauscherChuck GollaEd HurtubisDaniel SclareRon JerniganDoc SheilsGlen Ghirardi, Sr.John AppersonAndrew GallowayBob SandersEmory Williams Harriet JacobsonJon RacherbaumerGeorge Joseph “The Amazing Kreskin” Kresge, Jr.Leonardo Trébole

Chris Blackmore was a regular performer in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, at Warren & Annabelle's. That is, up until the devastating fire in August 2023. The fire destroyed homes and businesses and was responsible for the deaths of over 100 people. Lives were forever changed in an instant. Warren & Annabelle's was a premier destination dinner theater that featured magic and was one of the highest rated, most visited sites in Hawaii View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This week, Chris talk about his experience in Lahaina as the fires started, grew, and eventually overtook the city. His perspective as “boots on the ground” are chilling yet insightful. His recollections of the halcyon day of Warren & Annabelle's are recounted here, too. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Charles Peachock is a polymath. I have spoken with several over the years and always enjoy and learn from them. Charles is an entertainer, entrepreneur, marketer, creator, health nut, and more. He was on America's Got Talent (sic) (AGT) in the early days and advanced further than any of the previous jugglers as he went to the finals. More than just juggling, he was the one who pioneered the lighted costume on AGT, too. He is in great demand by the Disney Cruise lines who keep him quite busy. But he also created, markets, and uses Audio Ape which is method for controlling your music and lighting for your show. View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize This week, Charles talks about his experience of performing/competing on AGT. He also chats about his background of why he moved from magic to juggling. As the creator of Audio Ape, he discusses why magicians need a show remote and the importance of having music to make your show better. It is rare when we get to chat with a unique talent so I know you will enjoy this episode. Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.