The Magicians' Podcast

Ep 100 - David Copperfield

The 100th episode and season finale features an epic 2 hour interview with the greatest magician of all time David Copperfield in an interview unlike any you will have ever heard before. He discusses his childhood before magic, his early influences, the man who discovered him and his TV specials including The Statue of Liberty vanish. David also talks about his tours of the UK and how hard the British press were on him personally, the development of The Death Saw illusion, his strongest memories of the thousands of shows he has performed and also talks in detail about the incredible new magic in his current show which plays twice nightly at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This is the podcast of all podcasts!

Ep 99 - Chris Kenner

The second in our trio of interviews is with David Copperfield's Executive Producer Chris Kenner. In this interview Chris discusses his thoughts on creativity in magic and the overuse of that particular word. He also talks about his generosity towards young magicians and why he doesn't give them advice. Chris also shares the story of his first meeting with David Copperfield and how he made his way up the ranks to his current position. He talks about why the Tornado of Fire TV special was David's last and also shares an anecdote about a disagreement with the boss in a high pressure environment. 

Ep 98 - Homer Liwag

The first of our trio of interviews looking at the David Copperfield brand sees Richard sitting down with Homer Liwag, David's Co-Director. Homer has worked for David for nearly 25 years and he designs many of the stage props, lighting and video in the show. He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and is the son of an artist. Homer has an incredibly artistic eye which shines through in his magic and cinematography. In this interview Homer shares the story of how he went from a working close-up magician working in a themed magic restaurant to sitting on the stage in Las Vegas surrounded by all of David Copperfield's props in a matter of hours. Homer also gives us an amazing insight into one of the teams real secrets, their attention to detail.

Ep 97 - Teller

One of the worlds greatest living magicians takes to the podcast hot seat to discuss his incredible life. Teller discusses in detail some of the duo's most famous pieces and also talks about how important chat shows were to their rise to fame. He also speaks candidly about their special relationship with the UK, how he feels about modern day Las Vegas and he also shares his thoughts on exposure and The Magic Circle. Also he faces the difficult talks of choosing some of his favourite acts who have appeared on Fool Us.

Ep 96 - Mac King

Mac King's contract at Harrah's on The Strip in Las Vegas began in January 2000, his show is the longest running magic show in a single venue in Las Vegas history. In this episode Mac tells us why he thinks he has had such a long uninterrupted run, he shares the techniques he uses to stay in the moment in every show despite the relentless repetition. He also talks about his friendship with Lance Burton and how two Las Vegas headliners came out of the same magic club in Louisville, Kentucky. Mac also talks about his deal with Harrahs and how his show survived the recession in 2008. 

Ep 95 - Nathan Burton

Las Vegas Headliner Nathan Burton takes to the hot seat for an insight into his longevity on The Strip with his comedy magic show. Nathan's show is rare for something so large in Las Vegas in that it is still to this day a family run business. He gives us an insight into the creation of two of his most famous illusions the toilet illusion and the microwave of death and also discusses his experience as a contestant on season one of America's Got Talent. He also discusses his first trip to Vegas, how the tiniest details can make the biggest difference to your show and how after many years of working non stop he is now finally finding the perfect balance of work, family and good health.

Ep 94 - Wayne Dobson

Wayne Dobson takes to the podcast hot seat to discuss his incredible rise to fame, his encounter with Tommy Cooper, the Royal Variety performance and his three TV series for ITV called A Kind of Magic. Wayne also talks candidly about the bitter blow his career took when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the peak of his run and why he decided to hide the diagnosis for as long as possible. He also gives us a sneak peak into his autobiography which is nearing completion and also shares one of his legendary practical joke stories.

Ep 93 - Kevin Quantum

Kevin Quantum is a Scottish magician from Edinburgh who was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary called Faking It. He was studying for a PHD in Physics when he was set the task of faking it as a magician in front of a panel of professionals. Kevin succeeded and was bitten by the magic bug deciding shortly after to put his PHD on hold and try a career as a professional magician. Initially he took the logical route into professional magic of performing close-up magic at corporate events and weddings however having the Edinburgh Fringe on his doorstep took him to the stage soon after. In this interview Kevin discusses why he thinks performing close-up magic was bad for his mental health, how he took his stage shows from Edinburgh to the Adelaide and Perth festivals in Australia and also discusses his passion project The Edinburgh International Magic Festival. 

Ep 92 - Keelan Leyser

The BBC discovered Keelan Leyser’s talents at a young age, he was the subject of a documentary aged just 14 and was hotly tipped to win The Young Magician of the Year. In fact he didn’t make the final and in this interview he discusses how the hype around his talent at such a young age was a detriment to his progress. He went on to forge a career as a quick-change artist with his girlfriend Charlotte and in this interview gives an amazing insight into this corner of our industry that so few perform. He also discusses the difficulties of working with your partner and what he did when the bubble burst and the act stopped being booked. He also talks in detail about his new foray into technology and iPad magic and his recent move across the Atlantic to Las Vegas.

Donate to the Anthony Owen Family Fund:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/anthony-owen-family-fund

Ep 91 - The Twins

Gary and Paul (AKA The Twins) began their professional careers working as illusionists and spent many years working on cruise ships. They were once tipped to win BGT by Amanda Holden and in this episode explain why their involvement in the show fell through. After this they diversified their careers into supplying special effects to theatrical shows and pantomimes and have built up an incredible portfolio of enormous special effects that wow over 35 panto's each Christmas in the UK at the largest theatres including The London Palladium. Most interestingly they have also developed a practical and safe way of flying celebrities, double decker buses and a horse and carriage over the heads of the audience in the stalls, in this interview they provide a sneak peak into the development of this spectacular illusion.

Also this week Richard talks to The 2019 Young Magician of the Year Adam Black minutes after he is awarded the title at The Magic Circle headquarters.

Ep 90 - Tom Crosbie

Tom Crosbie cut his teeth working for Rodney James Piper and Matt Wright at their venues on the continent. He is one of the lucky few young professional magicians who has very early in his career identified the perfect form of magic to suit his personality and appearance. In this episode Tom talks about his obsession with Rubik’s Cube magic, his recent foray into Cruise Ship gigs, his 3 years at Free Fringe in Edinburgh and why in August 2019 he will do his first paid show there.

Ep 89 - The Ehrlich Brothers

Chris & Andreas Ehrlich take to the podcast hot seat eight days before their debut show in the UK at Wembley Arena in London. The Ehrlich Brothers are a sensation in Germany regularly selling out 10000 seat arenas twice a day with their incredible illusion show, in this interview they tell us what the audience can expect at Wembley. They also talk us through how they went from corporate event magicians to household names in their native land and how along that path they nearly sold one of their creations to David Copperfield. Also they provide us with an insight into the development of their incredible motorbike from iPad illusion, the appearing monster truck, bending railway tracks and perhaps their most innovative creation to date The Live Teleportation as well as the reason for their recent expansion into Europe. They also provide us with a sneak peak as to what audiences can expect from their new show coming in 2020 called Dream & Fly.

Ep 88 - Troy

This week I speak to Troy, perhaps the coolest magician in the UK who has enjoyed success with two TV series on E4 and a Channel 4 television special. From the outside it all looks like a dream career, however Troy talks openly and honestly in this interview about the relentless comparison he gets with Dynamo and how he felt when the Channel 4 television special he put his heart and soul into ran into all sorts of problems beyond his control and was poorly received.  

Ep 87 - Paul Kieve

Paul Kieve takes to the podcast hot seat to share his incredible journey from performing conjuror to Broadway magic consultant. In this episode Paul explains how that transition took place and talks us through the amazing shows he has worked on including The Invisible Man, Matilda, Ghost The Musical and the ill fated Groundhog Day. Paul also discusses his friendship with David Copperfield and gives us an insight into what makes the great man tick.

Ep 86 - Dominic Wood

Half of the famous double act Dick & Dom and the 1995 Young Magician of the Year takes to the podcast hot seat to share his journey through our weird and wonderful industry. Dominic discusses his obsessive dedication to winning competitions as a youngster, his dove act and his break onto television and how that led to his expulsion from The Magic Circle. Dominic also discusses why he fell out of love with magic and removed every trace of it from his life. He also discusses the double act that made him a house hold name with Dick and their huge hit show In Da Bungalow.

Ep 85 - Andy Nyman

Andy Nyman returns to the hot seat to discuss his incredible career that continues to skyrocket since his first interview on The Magicians' Podcast back in 2015 (Ep 34). Andy discusses the last new Derren Brown Live show Miracle and also how surprisingly hard he, Derren and Andrew O' Connor found it to create a 'best of' show to take to New York for their US debut. Andy also discusses the journey of his play Ghost Stories from stage to the silver screen and his current role as the lead in Fiddler On The Roof which is about to transfer to the West End. He also discusses why he doesn't like tech magic tricks, the enormous egos of mentalists and also has quite the surprise planned for Richard.

Ep 84 - Nigel Mead

With nearly 30 years of performing experience in the UK Close-Up Magic industry, Nigel Mead has had an amazing journey from performing at tables in TGI Friday's at gone midnight to onscreen TV magician and behind the scenes consultant on dozens of magic TV shows. In this episode he discusses the understated way in which he chooses to perform close-up magic, the TV shows Faking It and Tricked and the new wave of magicians trying to host corporate events.

Also Alan Hudson gives a full and thorough review of the 2019 Blackpool Magic Convention.

Ep 83 - Hans Klok

Richard travels to Amsterdam to interview magic superstar Hans Klok to discuss his incredible life and career. Hans talks openly about his fathers early influences and why he fell in love with stage illusions as opposed to the other forms of magic. He also talks about his on stage assistants the incredible 'Divas of Magic' and how he really feels about them leaving his act to become magicians in their own right. Hans also talks about how he gained permission to perform the Blackstone floating lightbulb, his incredible West End show a few years ago and also what went wrong with his 2007 Las Vegas show with Pamela Anderson ahead of his return to the strip in the summer of 2019 with a brand new show.

Ep 82 - Greg Frewin

This weeks guest is an international award winning magician, Greg Frewin sits down with Richard to discuss his amazing nightly magic show near Niagara Falls which features the largest illusions, spectacular dancers and also incredible tigers. He tells us what it's like to have the pressure of 70 employees to pay and 700 seats to fill every night. He also talks about competing at FISM and how he prepared for it, performing on The Paul Daniels TV series Secrets, NBC's The World's Greatest Magic and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Greg also talks frankly about the way the world is changing and how having tigers in the show is becoming harder for the public to accept and how he is dealing with that change.

Ep 81 - Richard McDougall

An incredibly thought provoking episode this week with Richard McDougall who from a young age was mentored by the legendary Alan Alan. Richard discusses how his mime and physical comedy training helped mould the way he communicates with his magic. Also he discusses taking his act to FISM, analyses what it is that makes David Williamson perhaps the greatest magician in the world, his work on the first Derren Brown TV shows, why he loves Michael Carbonaro and also why to him the plot is far more interesting than the trick.

Richard also discusses his work with the amazing Breathe Magic a programme that helps children with brain injuries learn magic to improve their mental and physical health.

Help/Donate: http://breatheahr.org/breathe-magic/

Ep 80 - Rodney James Piper

Rodney James Piper is the owner of The House of Illusion venue in Salou, Spain. Over the last 20 years dozens of well known magicians got their start by completing a season working for him. In this podcast Rodney discusses the venue and the magicians who have helped create this must see night out in the town. He also shares with us how and why he ended up there, how to do a great audition, stage hypnosis, grand illusions and most importantly admits to being the owner of some 'hooky' props.

 

Ep 79 - Tim Clothier

Tim Clothier is the CEO of Illusion Projects INC a Las Vegas company who specialise in the design and construction of theatrical stage illusions, the company builds props for the best and most famous magicians in the world including David Copperfield and Criss Angel. Tim's journey in magic actually began in the UK, he is in fact from the west country and in this interview he shares the story of his incredible journey from a competing young magician in the UK to setting up shop a stones throw from the Las Vegas strip.

Also in this episode Richard talks to Andreas Sucker who takes care of the PR for the German magic superstars The Ehrlich Brothers and gets a sneak peak of what the audience can expect at their first UK supershow at Wembley Arena on April 6th 2019.

 

Ep 78 - Richard Cadell

For the first time ever a previous guest returns to The Magicians' Podcast hot seat for a catch up. Richard Cadell was the guest on Episode 31 back in 2015 and shared his amazing journey from fairground ride operator to stage illusionist through to the owner of Sooty & Co. In this episode he updates us with what he's been up to since that interview and discusses the exciting potential Sooty movie, How and why he decided to get back into performing illusions and subsequently closing the Blackpool Magicians Convention Gala show with them in 2018, his time as IBM President and also gives us an exciting insight into what audiences can expect from the 2019 UK tour called Sooty's Magic Show. 

Ep 77 - Kayla Drescher

In this episode I chat to Los Angeles based performer Kayla Drescher who provides a fascinating insight into life as a gigging Close-Up Magician in the USA. Kayla won a competition a few years ago where David Copperfield searched for the next great magician on a TV show and choose Kayla as the overall winner and took her on a tour of his incredible warehouse and museum in Las Vegas, she shares the story of that incredible experience here. Kayla is also one of the cast members of Champions of Magic and discusses her time with the show.

Also in this episode Alan Hudson returns to discuss 'whats going on' and a competition is launched in association with Giggio to win a Gold Pass for this years Blackpool Magic Convention.

Kayla Drescher is the co-host of her own podcast called Shezam which you can listen to here: http://www.shezampod.com/

Ep 76 - Matt Edmondson

Matt Edmondson is known to the public as a Radio and Television presenter however he spent his teenage years as a member of The Young Magicians Club. How does a driven and ambitious teenager go from selling Svengali Decks in Greenwich Market to being chosen by Simon Cowell to present one of the biggest Saturday night TV shows? The answers are within this podcast. Matt also discusses how he sees magic on TV being showcased over the next few years.

Ep 75 - Josephine Lee

How does a performer go from ballet dancer to one of the worlds most in demand stage illusionists? Via Hans Klok of course!

Josephine Lee's rise to Britain's Got Talent Semi Finalist and a star in The Illusionists is fascinating, in this interview she walks us through her journey and talks about the incredible work ethic instilled in her by Hans that continues with her own work to this day.

Ep 74 - Paul Zerdin

The new series begins with the winner of season 10 of America's Got Talent. Paul Zerdin began his professional life as a magician and shares the reason he moved away from magic and into the world of ventriloquism after a conversation with an agent. Paul talks us through his incredible journey and also discusses some of the more controversial aspects of being a vent including threat of material.

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 2018 SPECIAL

A special episode recorded during the 2018 Edinburgh Festival, Richard revisits six previous guests who are all performing at the festival with their own shows for a catch up. Featuring Piff The Magic Dragon, Ben Hart, Ben Hanlin, Harry De Cruz, John Lenahan and Pete Firman.

TIME STAMPS:

PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON (17:21)

BEN HART (45.42)

BEN HANLIN (1:05.11)

HARRY DE CRUZ (1:27.40)

JOHN LENAHAN (1:53.06)

PETE FIRMAN (2:17.30)

 

Ep 72 - Derren Brown

One of the world's greatest living magicians takes to my hot seat for the series finale. Derren Brown has changed mentalism in our industry forever and become a household name in the process. He has produced more television content over the last 15 years than any other British magician and also produced seven full evening stage shows full of original presentations, methods and thinking. An unexpected part of Derren's incredible success has been the spawning of an entire generation of magicians who rip off his psychological presentations and material, what does the man himself really think of the Derren clones? His answer may surprise you.

Ep 71 - Stuart MacLeod (Barry & Stuart)

Stuart MacLeod is one half of the double act Barry & Stuart. I would recommend you listen to Barry's episode first (episode 70) before you listen to this one as it follows on perfectly. In this interview Stuart discusses their influences, why commercial success was never their plan, why they decided to expose all of the secrets to the tricks in one of their Edinburgh shows, his solo projects including the soon to open Band of Magicians show on the Las Vegas strip. Stuart also explains how they are able to continue as a double act today despite the fact that they live on different continents. 

Ep 70 - Barry Jones (Barry & Stuart)

Barry Jones is half of the double act Barry & Stuart, they are without question two of the most creative and innovative magicians in the world today and over the last 15 years they have produced an incredible body of original work. In this interview Barry discusses their journey from rural Scotland to the bright lights of London where they made their own TV series for Channel 4 in their early twenties called Magick, he also talks about their time as featured performers on the BBC1 show 'The Magicians' including the night The Slicer illusion they were performing went wrong on Live TV. I also ask Barry about their Live shows, their upcoming appearance on ITV1's 'The Next Great Magician' featuring the incredible 'Barry's Belly' trick and how he and Stuart have kept their double act going strong despite Stuart moving to America.

Ep 69 - Harry De Cruz

It is always great to hear an enthusiastic young magician talk about the magic world and how they view its past, present and future. This week Harry De Cruz takes to my hot seat, he is the youngest magician to ever do so. Harry is only 22 however for the last 4 years he has worked in the very heart of team DYNAMO and has been at Steven Frayne's side throughout the TV shows, national arena tours and publicity stunts, Harry has also recently been working alongside Paul Kieve and has some big plans for his own performing future. This episode also features the first ever pair of magicians to gate crash a podcast recording, Alan Hudson and Tom Elderfield add in their 2 cents. https://www.harrydecruz.co.uk

Ep 68 - Debbie McGee

The lovely Debbie McGee takes to my hot seat this week to discuss her incredible life and career as both a ballet dancer and also as one half of the most famous magic double act in the UK over the last 30 years. Debbie talks about her marriage to Paul Daniels, the TV shows, the West End run, the live shows, the Louis Theroux and 'Wife Swap' documentaries, as well as sitting on Mrs Merton's sofa when she asked that very famous question. Debbie also talks about her future plans and your host points out an amazing potential new avenue that Debbie could go down in the world of magic at the end of the interview.

Ep 67 - Ben Earl

This is possibly the most thought provoking episode I have released in a long time. I have tried to convince Ben to be a guest on the podcast since the very beginning and today is the day he finally sits and talks to me about his incredible approach to magic. Ben doesn't do interviews for magicians, so I am honoured that he choose to speak to you via this podcast. We go right back to the start of his professional career to discuss his DVD Past Midnight, we talk about why he decided to try and fool Penn & Teller rather than the how he fooled them. Ben also talks candidly about his Channel 4 series Trick Artist. Did he really ask security to eject the magicians he spotted in the studio audience? He answers that question in this podcast with 100% honesty. Ben is just beginning the start of a new journey for him and his magic, a project he calls Neo-Movement which is an approach to magic which makes sleights invisible and magic look purer than ever before.

Ep 66 - Richard Wiseman

Professor Richard Wiseman takes to my hot seat this week to discuss his incredible (and often magical) viral videos, he shares an amazing insight into the success of his YouTube channel Quirkology. He also talks about the framing of magic, being a guest at EMC, the new Quirkology Marvin's Magic set and his fantastic books. This is also the very first episode ever to feature an unexpected (and unwelcome) co-host.

Ep 65 - David Berglas

On the eve of his 90th birthday the living legend and International Man of Mystery David Berglas takes to The Magicians' Podcast hot seat to discuss his incredible life and career. He shares the story of how he secured his own television series on the BBC in the most unusual way, the cabaret scene in the 50's and 60's an amazing effect which he created where a real pear appears inside a milk bottle (he shares the secret too). David also discusses The Berglas Effect, his time as President of The Magic Circle and his thoughts on his son Marvin running for President.

Ep 64 - Katherine Mills

Katherine Mills is the first female magician in the UK to secure her own TV Series, the show called 'Mind Games' was commissioned and broadcast on the same channel Dynamo found fame on and in this interview she shares the 'ups' of securing the series and the 'downs' of its demise after one series. We also discuss Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic both the TV version and Live show and also her very brief time in the West End show Impossible. Katherine also shares some great tips and advice from many years working as a gigging female magician that any budding female performer should hear.

Ep 63 - Max Somerset

Epistemic paradigms? Peddling epistemological agendas? I don't know what they mean either, but Max Somerset does, a man who a decade ago was doing more magic on television than anyone else. He was Max in Max Magic on Sky, The Sorcerer on The Sorcerer's Apprentice on BBC1 and then he was mugged and left in a bad way in a brutal unprovoked attack in the street in which he lives. He tells the story of that attack and how it made him re-evaluate his outlook on life in this weeks podcast. Max also talks in detail about his chance encounter with the 1992 Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell who he has helped to recover from a major accident in a racing car by helping him learn magic.

Ep 62 - Billy Kidd

Canadian born Billy Kidd started life as a child actor and didn't find magic until her twenties. She now lives in Bath and has done it all including street performing, close-up, stage and a ton of television, later this year you will see her on ITV1 attempting to become 'The Next Great Magician' too. In this interview Billy gives us an incredible insight in to what it's like to be a female in our male dominated industry. 

Ep 61 - Guy Hollingworth

Guy Hollingworth is a Barrister and one of the most influential card magicians of the last twenty years. This week he takes to my hot seat to discuss his book, the torn and restored card effect, his new stage act and also provides the greatest ever answer during the word association part of the show.

Ep 60 - Bruce Smith

Bruce Smith has worked for Marvin's Magic since day one at ground zero on the shop floor in Hamleys of Regent's Street. In this interview he talks about the art of the magic demonstration, shares his stories of performing for Michael Jackson after closing time and also discusses the amazing list of magicians who have worked for the company over the past 30 years and shares some anecdotes of some of the big names including Stephen Mulhern, Marc Paul and Andy Nyman.

Ep 59 - Sharkey & Long

Derren Brown's BAFTA and Olivier award winning co-writers join me to discuss the incredible projects they have worked on and provide an incredible insight into the man himself. They also provide a fascinating insight in to the writing process they go through together. 

Ep 58 - Scott Penrose

A former investment analyst who went on to become The President of The Magic Circle, Scott Penrose takes to my hot seat to discuss his love of illusions, what he hates about bird acts, his consultancy work, and the club which he now represents as President.

Ep 57 - Geoffrey Durham

How hard can it really be to get a famous magician to say his catchphrase? You are about to find out! Geoffrey needs no introduction, he is a legend in our industry and during his career he performed on television over 700 times. In this interview he discusses why he quit performing, his thoughts on the magic world today and why you absolutely should have a trick with liquid in your show.

Ep 56 - Piff The Magic Dragon

This is the first podcast ever recorded outside of the UK and comes to you from the bright lights of Las Vegas! A few years ago John Van Der Put was a jobbing Close-Up Magician in London, he now has his own show at The Flamingo on The Strip in Las Vegas alongside Mr Piffles as Piff The Magic Dragon. This interview covers his extraordinary journey.

Ep 55 - Mike Caveney

Mike Caveney was passing through the UK for just over a week to perform in The Magic Circle Christmas Show. He managed to find some time to have a fantastic chat with me about his amazing act, his books, the history of magic, his incredible historical magic collection, the conference on magic history which he organises and also the future of the history of magic. 

Ep 54 - Derek Lever

Derek Lever is the organiser of the world's largest magic convention in Blackpool, in this episode he gives us the story of how he came to be involved in the convention, why he often bans people from the event and also what it's like to book acts from all over the world. Derek also shares with us what he would still dearly love to see happen on the Opera House stage, a hand shake between two living magical legends.

Ep 53 - Noel Qualter

Noel Qualter has won the prize for originality for the last 3 years in a row at The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of the Year Competition. He is a working professional, consultant and has also had a close call with some big time television success. This is perhaps the most gut wrenching story on the podcast to date, as Noel explains how he was cut from a major prime time TV magic show not once, but twice.

Ep 52 - Kevin James

This week I speak to one of the most creative magicians on the planet about his incredible body of work, Kevin James. He talks about his experience on America's Got Talent and being in the world's largest touring magic show The Illusionists. Kevin also talks openly about the creation of his incredible Sawing in Half Illusion: The Operation.

Ep 51 - Simon Painter

Simon Painter is the producer of the biggest touring magic show on the planet The Illusionists. In this episode he discusses how the show came to be, why he books the acts he does, the death of one of the cast members and the incredible West End and Broadway runs that happened simultaneously in December 2015. 

If you dream of one day being in this show, this episode is a blueprint to The Illusionists stage.