Weaponize Your Show
August 17th, 2025
In this episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins dives into a powerful concept from his mastermind sessions: Weaponizing Your Show. The idea is simple—make your show book you more shows. Beyond just delivering a strong performance, Jonah shares five practical tactics to turn every gig into a...
The Art and Hustle of Modern Magic with Xavier Mortimer
July 7th, 2025
Viral magician Xavier Mortimer shares his unlikely journey—from learning back‑and‑front palming out of a gas‑station booklet to topping “Best Family‑Friendly Show” lists on the Las Vegas Strip and amassing billions of social‑video...
Rider or Die
November 14th, 2024
https://traffic.libsyn.com/discourseinmagic/FINAL_DM_Rider_or_Die_mixdown.mp3Podcast: DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More In this episode of Discourse in Magic, I explore the art of crafting the perfect artist rider for your magic performances. I break down the essentials of what a...
3 P’s of Magic Sales
September 26th, 2024
Join me in this holiday-themed episode of Discourse in Magic, where I guide you through maximizing your sales as a magician during this bustling season. I break down the three essential pillars that contribute to successful sales: pricing, promotional material, and the sales process. Learn how to...
Reimagining Magic with Gaetan Bloom
June 30th, 2024
Legendary magician Gaetan Bloom joins us to share his journey from a curious child to becoming an iconic figure in the world of magic. Throughout our conversation, Gaetan opens up about the pivotal mentors who shaped his path and how these relationships inspired his most famous tricks. He...
The Math Of $100k
June 20th, 2024
What if charging $250 per show is the very thing holding you back from building a $100,000 magic business? This episode of Discourse in Magic, hosted by Jonah Babins, dives into the powerful strategy of reverse engineering your way to a six-figure income in the magic...
Jeki Yoo: The Art of Pop-Up Magic
June 13th, 2024
Jeki Yoo joins host Jonah Babins to discuss his magic journey, experiences in competitions, and his unique approach to crafting magic for television and social media. They explore the magic scene in South Korea and delve into Jeki's process of creating engaging pop-up magic videos, which can take...
Franz Harary: Redefining Magic for the Modern Era
May 30th, 2024
In this episode of "Discourse in Magic," host Jonah Babins interviews Franz Harary, a renowned magician and illusion designer. Franz shares his magical journey, starting with a childhood magic set that sparked his interest in fooling adults and led to his passion for creating original...
Magic Without Props with Juan Esteban Varela
July 13th, 2023
Jonah is joined by Juan Esteban Varela, a master at performing without props. Juan is the mind behind Magic in the Dark and in this conversation he talks all about it, about magic without props, and shares his personal story through magic and how wonderful it...
The Secrets of Rubber Band Magic with Joe Rindfleisch
August 19th, 2021
This week Jonah sits down with Joe Rindfleisch to talk all about rubber band magic and hoe Joe is at the forefront of developing the language used to teach this style of magic and the classic magic he taps into to influence the new tricks he's...
Developing Magic Through Technology with Trigg Watson
May 6th, 2021
Jonah connects with Trigg Watson where they break down how he quit his corporate job to perform in magic full time, how he developed his reputation as the "tech magician", and his advice for you when developing magic for a video camera...
Toronto Magic Company: Is Virtual Magic Ending?
April 29th, 2021
Ben Train returns to join Jonah in another check in with the Toronto Magic Company where they discuss the changing dynamics of the magic industry during the pandemic, the launch of their YouTube programming, and their fears about the future of virtual...
A New Mission For The Toronto Magic Company
February 4th, 2021
Jonah is joined by Ben Train, his Toronto Magic Company business partner, to offer up a glimpse of what life is like at the Toronto Magic Company, how it’s adapted to the world of virtual magic, upcoming events they’re hosting, and the lessons that he and Ben have learned after almost a full...
Finding Your Path To Magic with Moritz Mueller
January 14th, 2021
Jonah is joined by Moritz Mueller where they discuss how to reach out to some of the biggest names in the magic world, different theories of magic and how it can practically apply your work, and how Moritz prepares and learns his own...
Top 10 Episodes of the Podcast
December 20th, 2020
Welcome to The Discourse in Magic Podcast We’ve been at this now for over four years with over two hundred episodes and interviews with the best magicians on the planet. That’s a lot! Don’t forget to subscribe to Discourse in Magic wherever you get your podcasts so you can start hearing the...
Acting, Magic, and the Importance of Performance with Steve Valentine
August 6th, 2020
Jonah is joined by Steve Valentine this week to discuss acting while being a magician - and the dangers of not being taken seriously, uncovering the lost history of magic, and the importance of a presentation that transcends the trick being...
Virtual Restaurant Magic with Graeme Reed
July 30th, 2020
This week, Jonah joins Graeme “Graemazing” Reed on an episode of his podcast, Magicians Talking Magic. The two discuss pivoting to performing virtually, and how to build relationships during these uncertain times. Graeme is an Ontario based magician with a background in media and...
Improvisation without Improvisation with Dani DaOrtiz
July 23rd, 2020
Jonah is joined by Dani DaOrtiz this week to discuss the power of muscle memory, the right way to utilize chaos, and communicating through magic. Dani is a Spanish magician known for his chaotic magic style, psychological card work, and is 1/3 of the Fat Brothers....
Becoming a Content Creator with Alex Boyer
July 16th, 2020
To get us back into the swings of things, Alex Boyer joins Jonah to discuss visual magic, following your interests and becoming a successful content creator. Alex Boyer is an Ottawa based magician with 26.6k subscribers and 635k+ views on...
Magician Appetizer #15: Four Types of Luck
July 9th, 2020
Feeling lucky? This week Jonah sits down to talk about the four types of luck, and how you can leverage luck to work in your favour. We'll be back to the regular interview episodes in two weeks! The Discourse in Magic Team has been working on some exciting projects during this break that we can't...
Magician Appetizer #14: Improving Virtual Production Value
July 2nd, 2020
Just started performing virtual shows? Have a few under your belt? Looking to improve your setup? This week, Jonah sits down to give you some simple tips on how to improve your virtual and physical performing setup.
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A Message From the Team: Black Voices Matter
June 11th, 2020
Discourse in Magic is pausing this week to give way for the voices that need to be heard. Jonah would like to help amplify these voices by handing over the mic to black magicians who have a message for magicians. We want to help educate. To help grow. To help make magic a more inclusive...
Knowing Your Show with Tim Hannig
May 28th, 2020
Tim Hannig sits down with Jonah this week to talk about performing for kids, upping your production value, and the power of knowing every step of your show. Tim is a magician, author, and motivational speaker who tours schools in the States with his children and family...
Discovering, Scripting & Rehearsing Material with Nathan Coe Marsh
April 30th, 2020
Jonah is joined by Nathan Coe Marsh this week to talk about finding inspiration, guiding your audience, and balancing your approach to business. Nathan is a magician from Orlando who splits his time between magic venues and the corporate performing...
Writing Comedy Magic with Nick Diffatte
April 16th, 2020
Jonah is joined by Nick Diffatte this week to discuss comedy, finding a style, and embracing your ideas no matter how stupid they might be. Nick Diffatte might be young, but his strong magic and comedy chops have allowed him to not only perform internationally but headline residences on the Las...
Defining a Character with Morgan & West
April 9th, 2020
Jonah is joined by both Morgan & West this week to talk about scripting, creating an atmosphere, and understanding how character should influence your choices. Morgan & West are magicians, time-travellers & all round spiffing chaps who spend their time touring their shows around the...
Aesthetics in Magic with David Ben
April 2nd, 2020
David Ben joins Jonah this episode to discuss if magic is an art form, producing shows, and developing a curatorial eye to improve your magic. From being a performer to a producer to the founder of Magicana, David has spent the last 40 years shaping magic as an art in the public...
Refining Your Magic with Michael Ammar
March 26th, 2020
Michael Ammar joins Jonah this week to talk about signature tricks, mentors, and leaving room for your audience's imagination. From teaching to creating to performing, Michael Ammar has done it all, building his name in the magic community.
Want to join in on the discourse? Join the Discourse in...
We’re In This Together.
March 19th, 2020
Right now, we're living through some scary, uncertain times. But, with everyone self-isolating, we're flattening the curve and giving our healthcare system a fighting chance to get us back to some semblance of normal as quickly as possible. With all this time now, we should be focused on improving...
Releasing Magic with Luke Dancy
March 12th, 2020
Jonah joins Luke Dancy this week to discuss exposure online, consulting for Criss Angel, and the magic marketplace. Alongside being a magic consultant, Luke works with Murphy’s Magic Supplies and hosts a weekly livestream where he talks with magic creators about their recent product...
Follow Your Bliss with Mike Pisciotta
March 5th, 2020
Mike Pisciotta joins Jonah this week to discuss transitioning from close-up to stage, originality, and expressing your you through magic. Mike is an established bar magician at the Magic Castle, having won Close-Up Magician of the Year twice and Parlour Magician of the Year. ...
Stronger Magic with Tyler Erickson
February 27th, 2020
Tyler Erickson joins Jonah this week to talk about working with a mentor, finding the positive, and what to consider when scripting. Alongside being an extremely skilled sleight of hand artist, Tyler is a magic coach who works to improve the approach magician's take to assessing their own...
Balancing Business and Art with Kostya Kimlat
February 20th, 2020
Discourse is back from our break and, to kick things off, Kostya Kimlat joins Jonah to discuss balancing your business and art, considering various audiences, and the importance of building a community. Alongside being a skilled sleight-of-hand magician, Kostya is also a business consultant and...
Magician Appetizer #7: A Short Break
January 23rd, 2020
Is this the end of Discourse in Magic?
Of course not! But, Jonah is taking a break from interviews for the next few weeks to work on some projects for you, the listeners. However, he'll keep serving up some bite-sized episodes to keep your appetites...
2020 Visions with Ben Train, Chris Mayhew, and Jacque Swan
January 6th, 2020
Ben Train, Chris Mayhew and Jacque Swan join Jonah once again this year to reflect on 2019 and look ahead to 2020. From winning awards, to getting into performing, to disillusionment, a lot has happened since last year's episode. The four also discuss coin magic, soup, and Ben creates a drinking...
Composing Magic with Woody Aragon
January 2nd, 2020
To kick off the new magic year, Jonah sits down with Woody Aragon to discuss developing taste, resonating with an audience, and expressing a message through your magic. Woody is viewed as one of the most important modern card magicians, known for his contribution to stack...
Finding the Right Approach with Paul Gertner
December 30th, 2019
Surprise! It's a bonus episode to end your year with a little more magic.
Jonah sits down with Paul Gertner to talk about performing on TV, putting a spin on your magic, and developing a kicker. Paul is a closeup magician with an on running show in Boston; he’s also the only magician who has...
The Magic Coach with Fernando Figueras
November 28th, 2019
While in Spain, Jonah sat down with Fernando Figueras to discuss presentation, honesty in magic, and being a magic coach. Alongside being known for his rich and emotional presentation style, Fernando is also a magic coach who focuses on developing magicians’ practical performance skills....
Loving Magic with Juan Rubiales
November 21st, 2019
Jonah has returned from Spain and, as souvenirs for his listeners, has brought back a number of episodes with some amazing Spanish magicians. First up is Juan Rubiales, who sat down to discuss mentors, bringing emotion into your magic, and loving yourself. Alongside being a skilled magician, Juan...
Stolen Episode: How to Start a Show Hosted by Ben Train
November 14th, 2019
While Jonah’s away in Spain, Ben Train has infiltrated Jonah’s computer (he really needs a less obvious password). Instead of his original list “10 Weird Facts About Jonah,” Ben has decided to give you some tips on how to start your own...
Vanessa Vakharia on The Math Guru
November 7th, 2019
It's a minisode this week! Jonah recently sat down with math tutor Vanessa Vakharia on her podcast, Math Therapy, to work through his math-related traumas. If you hate math, this is the perfect podcast for you!
The following clip was pulled from Episode 3: A Mathemagical Crisis....
Halloween Episode
October 31st, 2019
Boo!
To celebrate Halloween, Jonah dug through the annals of magic history to find you a frightening magic story. His research led to the following clip of Eugene Burger recounting the tale of one woman and her haunted dollhouse. So lock your doors, shut off your lights, and prepare to be...
Personality, Television, and Magic Competitions with Ryan Hayashi
October 24th, 2019
Jonah sits down with Ryan Hayashi this week to talk about finding a personality, magic competitions, and the ins & outs of television magic. Ryan is a hobbyist sleight-of-hand magician with a number of competition wins and television performances under his...
The Magic of Collaboration with Brian Brushwood
October 10th, 2019
Brian Brushwood joins Jonah this week to talk creating content, finding a niche, and failing until you succeed. If you've searched for magic on YouTube, there's a good chance you've come across Brian's channel Scam Nation. Alongside being a YouTuber, Brian is a magician, a podcaster, a comedian,...
Finding a Moment with Curtis Kam
September 26th, 2019
Curtis Kam joins Jonah this week to discuss coin magic, thinking about your audience, and finding interesting plots. Although known for his coin work, Curtis is a well-rounded magician and writer who takes a unique approach to his presentations. He also once opened for a...
Biohacking Magic with Anastasia Synn
September 19th, 2019
Jonah is joined by Anastasia Synn this week to discuss biohacking, the future, and the shocking side of magic. Anastasia is a biohacker, magician and stunt performer with 26 implants in her body that she uses in her performances and day to day...
Bringing Closeup Card Magic to the Stage with Jimmy Ichihana
August 29th, 2019
Jonah sits down with Jimmy Ichihana this week to discuss community, embracing your interests, and bringing card magic to the stage. Jimmy is a sleight of hand performer from Florida who has performed at the Magic Castle and has appeared twice on Fool...
Esther’s Follies’ Inner Secrets with Ray Anderson
August 22nd, 2019
This week, Jonah sits down with Ray Anderson to discuss putting on a show, developing a character, and keeping your material fresh. Ray has been a featured performer with the long-running variety show, Esther's Follies, for 20+ years. By mixing parody with grand stage illusions in an intimate...
Never Stop Exploring with Mario the Maker Magician
August 8th, 2019
Jonah is joined by Mario the Maker Magician this week to discuss bringing value to your show, learning to be a flexible performer, and instilling passion into your magic. Mario is a children's show performer who uses D.I.Y robots, handmade props and a slapstick performance style to show that magic...
Reinventing Your Magic with Stuart MacDonald
August 1st, 2019
This week, Jonah sits down with Stuart MacDonald to discuss storytelling, effective methods for practicing, and what to consider when changing your act. In 2017, Stuart made history at the IBM-SAM Combined Convention where he claimed all 5 top awards with his unique...
Magician Appetizer #3: Sitting Down to Write
July 11th, 2019
Does the blank page scare you? Do you constantly find yourself deleting and retyping the same thing, only to repeat the process? Do you wish the computer could just read your mind and write the script you want for you?
In this bite-sized episode, Jonah addresses writer's block and offers an...
F**k Fear with Adam Rubin
July 4th, 2019
Jonah sits down with Adam Rubin this week to discuss creativity, writing, and applying magic to other aspects of your life. Alongside being a magician, Adam is the Director of Puzzles for Art of Play, a #1 New York Times best selling picture book author, and an ex-creative director in...
Disillusionment and Exploring Intent with Nate Staniforth
June 6th, 2019
This week Jonah sits down with Nate Staniforth to discuss disillusionment, determining your intent, and creating visceral effects. Alongside touring the college circuit, Nate is the author of Here is Real Magic and Clouds and...
The Heart and Soul of Magic with Ran’D Shine
May 30th, 2019
This episode Jonah sits down with Ran'D Shine to discuss performing on the college circuit, creating inclusive environments and the rich history of African Americans in magic. Alongside being a highly sought after, award winning magician on the college circuit, Ran'D is also a magic historian and...
Tips for Touring Tricks with Ryan Joyce
May 23rd, 2019
This week, Jonah sits down with Ryan Joyce to discuss the realities of touring, marketing a show, and working towards a solid show. Ryan is a Canadian magician who spent thirteen years touring the country with a stage illusion show. Ryan has also been seen on Penn & Teller's Fool Us, Canada's Got...
Magician Appetizer #1: The Audience’s Perspective
May 9th, 2019
This week, Jonah is trying out a different kind of solo episode. Short but packed with information, the Magician Appetizer episodes are meant to whet your appetite for the larger topics often discussed on the podcast. To start the new format off, Jonah explores the idea of putting on the shoes of...
Searching for Real Magic with Gordon Precious
May 2nd, 2019
On episode 161, Jonah sits down with Gordon Precious to discuss exploring life and searching for real magic. Besides being an incredible magician, Gordon has travelled to over 100 countries, owns an extensive magical apparatus collection, and holds the world record for being the oldest heli skier...
Finding Joy in Magic with Michel Clavello
April 25th, 2019
On episode 160, Jonah sits down with Michel Clavello to discuss finding the magic that’s right for you, how to share joy through your magic and producing magic products. Co-owner of Vernet Magic, Michel is a magician and mentalist from Argentina who has won several awards at major conferences for...
Wagers, Bets, and Gambles with Norman Beck
April 18th, 2019
Gambling expert, Norman Beck, sits down with Jonah for episode 159 to discuss taking a logical approach, public speaking and when to take a bet. Alongside being a magician and public speaker, Norman has been the VP of Claims and Secuirty for SCA for the past 24 years, spending his time working out...
Making Better Magic with Brent Braun
March 28th, 2019
For episode 156, Brent Braun sits down with Jonah to discuss what you need to do to improve your magic. Co-founder of the Magic Firm, Brent is regarded as one of the top behind-the-scenes magic consultants, helping magicians move beyond simply thinking about tricks and...
Palm the Damn Coins with Kainoa Harbottle
March 21st, 2019
On episode 155, Kainoa Harbottle sits down with Jonah to discuss coin magic, educating your audience on magic, and magic in the 19th century. Kainoa is known for his extensive work on coins and his ability to bring theatrical techniques into his performances to elevate magic for his...
Bringing Card Magic to the Stage with Alan Marchese
March 14th, 2019
Alan Alfredo Marchese joins Jonah for episode 154 to discuss choosing effects, creating emotion, and the Spanish School of Magic. Attributed to his deep understanding of magic, Alan is known for performing memorable and impactful effects....
Brian Miller on One New Person
March 7th, 2019
This episode the interviewer becomes the interviewee. Jonah sits down with Brian Miller on his podcast, One New Person, to discuss his identity as a magician, copywriting and a chance encounter with one person that had a ripple effect on his life. Brian is a magician turned speaker with the goal of...
Teamwork, Fallon, and the Audience with Dan White
February 28th, 2019
For episode 162, Jonah sits down with Dan White to discuss working with a team, creating a show, and performing on television. Dan has appeared on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ten times, has an on running show at the Nomad, and has consulted for people like David Blaine, David Copperfield...
Being Conscious About Your Magic with Manuel Llaser
February 21st, 2019
Jonah is joined by Manuel Llaser for episode 151 to discuss emotion in magic, learning from teachers, and analyzing your approach to magic. Manuel is an Argentinian magician who developed his deep appreciation for magic under the guidance of Juan Tamariz....
Growth in Magic
February 14th, 2019
For episode 150, Jonah would like to thank the listeners for accompanying him on this journey. To do so, he has sat down to reflect on a trick he has been performing for a while now to see how it has changed with him. Alongside the audio, there is a video component to accompany Jonah’s...
Make No Small Plans with Steve Cohen
February 1st, 2019
The "Millionaire's Magician" Steve Cohen joins Jonah on Episode 138 to discuss branding, developing a show, and how to shape a career. Steve is best known for his long-running weekly show, Chamber Magic, but has also appeared on numerous television shows, produced a sold-out show at Carnegie Hall,...
YouTube, Exposure and Making Magic with Jay Sankey
January 24th, 2019
Jay Sankey sits down with Jonah for episode 147 to discuss magic online, creating and persuasive communication. Not only does Jay hold the world record for creating the most original illusions, but he runs a successful YouTube channel, is an international public speaker, comedian, performer, and...
The Truth About Mentalism with Banachek
January 10th, 2019
To start off 2019, Jonah sits down with Steve Shaw, better known as Banachek, to discuss mentalism, the ethics behind deception, and parapsychology. Banachek is one of the world’s leading mindreaders who has helped debunk psychic claims, created effects for leading performers and is sought after...
Exposure and Behind the Scenes
December 20th, 2018
Episode 142 is a new take on the catch-up episodes. In the first half, Jonah is addressing a topic in the magic community which has been a part of many recent discussions: Magic exposure online. In the second half, he sits down with his writer and editor, Jacque Swan, to discuss magic in Toronto...
Rituals, Experiences and Engaging Mentalism with Joe Diamond
December 13th, 2018
After several recommendations, Joe Diamond finally sits down with Jonah for episode 141 to discuss ritualistic magic, believability, and engaging your audiences. Joe is a mentalist based in Illinois who delves into the weird side of life through his magic. He has headlined at the Chicago Magic...
Marketing Secrets for Entrepreneurial Magicians with Zivi Kivi
December 6th, 2018
Jonah sits down with Zivi Kivi for episode 140 to talk the business of performing. Zivi is not only a children’s entertainer, but he operates several podcasts like the Balloon Artist Podcast, Generous Podcast, and the Magician Business Podcast while also instructing with the Kids Entertainer...
Creating Magic and Fooling Magicians with Ondřej Pšenička
November 29th, 2018
This week, Jonah sits down with Ondřej Pšenička to discuss creating magic, Fool Us, and the importance of community. Ondřej is an award-winning magician who has performed at the Magic Castle, on Penn & Teller, and is the creator of the Butterfly...
Secrets to Developing Your Act with Carisa Hendrix
November 15th, 2018
Magic podcast hosts collide this episode as Carisa Hendrix, co-host of Shezam, sits down with Jonah to discuss performance, women in magic, cultural theory, and It Factor. Carisa is known for creating characters that draw on her visual arts and sideshow...
Music, Magic and Using Your Other Passions with Jonathan Friedman
November 8th, 2018
Musician-turned-magician Jonathan Friedman joins Jonah this week to discuss combining outside passions with your magic and how magic has changed over the years. Jonathan is the best selling author of The 80’s Called...They Want Their Magic Book Back Vol. One and The Magic of Jonathan Friedman:...
Vanishing Inc, Going Pro and Publishing your Magic with Andi Gladwin
November 1st, 2018
This week, Jonah finally sits down with Andi Gladwin—co-founder of Vanishing Inc.—to discuss the business of magic, creating magic, and how to manage your time. Andi has also appeared on Fool Us and The Next Great Magician where he performed his Man in a Balloon...
Why Tyler is Leaving the Podcast
October 19th, 2018
With his passion shifting away from magic, Tyler says goodbye to the magic community and to Discourse in Magic in episode 133. Over the course of two hours, Tyler and Jonah discuss why he has decided to leave while reminiscing about their time working on the...
Bridging the Old and the New with Harapan Ong
October 4th, 2018
Harapan Ong joins Tyler and Jonah this week to discuss Instagram magic, developing your art, and the public’s exposure to magic. While Harapan is not a full-time magician, you can find him performing from and reviewing magic books on his Instagram show, Fully Booked....
Innovation and Being Unsatisfied with Existing Methods with Axel Hecklau
September 20th, 2018
We are very excited to have Axel Hecklau join us. He is an award-winning magician, taking second place for parlour magic at the 2018 FISM World Championship, who brings his unique insight to improving existing methods this...
Magic Goals and Winning the Crowd with Karl Hein
August 30th, 2018
Episode 126 is with Slight of Hand magician Karl Hein who is known for WOWing audiences with amazing and original magic and routines. Jonah has seen him perform both at the Magic Castle, and at a Toronto Magic Company show he produced in...
Quarterly Q & A
August 24th, 2018
Today’s monthly episode is a 1 am Q&A Episode, with Discourse in Magic: Nights. There was a lot of questions this time, mostly from the mailing list, sorry if they didn't get to your question. Get on the Newsletter to be in contact with Jonah and get your questions answered next...
Internet Exposure, AGT, and Other Magic Updates
August 2nd, 2018
http://traffic.libsyn.com/discourseinmagic/Episode_122.mp3Podcast: DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | MoreIt’s time for the Discourse in Magic boys to have their monthly get together episode, but this time they’re separated as Jonah has been touring Ontario and Quebec. Tyler, meanwhile,...
Hypnosis, and the Business of Show Business with Dave Curran
July 26th, 2018
Dave Curran is a Ontario based Hypnotist known for his Las Vegas-like shows. He’s a friend of Jonah’s (who’s seen his shows over 200 times). Dave was horrible with magic at first, but after buying and practising magic-shop tricks at the age of 11, he begun doing close-up and walk-around...
How to Perform Card Magic with Jason Ladanye
July 19th, 2018
Jason Ladanye is a world-class sleight of hand magician and card cheating expert, known for his latest book “Confident Deceptions”, his studies with Darwin Ortiz and knowledge in the major topics of theory, practise, scripting and tension made him a great addition to the...
Make Your Own Magic and Start to Get Bookings
July 12th, 2018
In this minisode (mini-episode) Jonah records a short episode with his advice to the responses he received to his regular email asking the Discourse in Magic audience one special question. He asked our 1000 person email newsletter: "What do you want to learn", and he received dozens of answers that...
Is There a ‘Correct’ Type of Magic?
July 7th, 2018
It’s time for your regular catch-up episode with Jonah and Tyler. The episode starts with a quick recap of the last month, where Jonah talks about the Art of Magic, his trip to Chicago and Minneapolis, and much more, and Tyler tells us about a corporate gala gig he got to...
Gambling, Cheating, and The Expert at the Card Table with Jason England
June 28th, 2018
For Episode 117, the Discourse in Magic boys got a chance to sit down with Jason England. If you didn't know, Jason England is the leading expert on Erdnase, Casino gambling and cheating. His interest in cards
started after learning how to play blackjack with his Grandma, and watching the Carson...
Surrealist Performance Art
June 7th, 2018
It’s time for episode 114 and our monthly catch-up for Jonah and Tyler. The pair like to get together every four weeks or so to talk about their magic careers and to answer you questions. Tyler has been slow on the performing side but has been creating at steady clip. He’s had to prioritize...
Character, Acting, and Honing Your Act with Rob Zabrecky
May 31st, 2018
Rob Zabresky is an actor, a songwriter and, most importantly for our purposes, a magician. Rob was a musician in the band Possum Dixon in the mid 1990's when he strolled into a magic shop in Baltimore to escape the summer heat. The owner of the store showed him a simple handkerchief disappearing...
A New Angle on The Chicago Magic Lounge with Ryan Plunkett
May 24th, 2018
Ryan Plunkett is well known as the author of A New Angle and from his work at The Chicago Magic Lounge. We’ve been eager to get him on the podcast for some time now. Ryan worked for a while at a magic store. It ended up teaching him about the things that he hated about magic. So much of the...
Teaching, Lecturing, and Making a Show with Joshua Jay
May 10th, 2018
We're really excited to have the co-founder of Vanishing Ink Magic Joshua Jay on the podcast. Josh and Andi Gladwin founded the company on the belief that there was a real dearth of high-quality magic on the market.
Josh was criticized when he first began selling difficult, high-quality...
What do you love about Discourse in Magic?
May 3rd, 2018
It's time for another catch-up interview with Jonah and Tyler. The episode starts with a quick recap of the last month. Tyler has made a terrible mistake and gotten a Muggle job. He works at at vape store, which is apropos since he uses an e-cig himself. He got the job by doing some magic for the...
Show Business and Magic Consulting with Johnny Thompson
April 26th, 2018
We've invited magic legend Johnny Thompson otherwise known as The Great Tomsoni onto the show today. Together with his wife Pamela Hayes Johnny has been performing for packed houses in Las Vegas for decades.
Johnny saw a movie about a Mississippi river boat gambler when he was a kid and he...
How to Love Magic with Denis Behr
April 19th, 2018
We're excited to have Denis Behr on the show this week. Denis has consistently released some of the most innovative magic in the world. His dedication to the craft shines through in everything he does, especially in his new DVD titled Magic on Tap. Denis first started with magic as a kid...
Money Magic with Josh Janousky
April 12th, 2018
You know him from his incredible Instagram presence – we're super excited to have @JustJoshInMagic on the show this week. Josh became obsessed with magic as a teenager. It was an interest that started as a diversion from his rigorous training as a musician. But soon enough he had traded the...
T-shirts and Talismans
April 5th, 2018
It's episode 105 and time for another solo chat between Jonah and Tyler. It's been a month since our heroes sat down for one of these. Jonah had a ton of show throughout March with the Toronto Magic Company. Newest Trick in the Book is now a weekly show every Tuesday which is something that Jonah...
Fool Us and Beyond with Teller
April 1st, 2018
It's taken more than two years and over 100 episodes but we've finally done it. We managed to convince one the biggest names in magic to join us for a feature length interview. Teller tells us about his early years performing magic with Penn Jillette and how, together, the built one of the most...
Magic, Math and Pro Wrestling with Caleb Wiles
March 29th, 2018
He's an incredible magician, a close friend but most importantly he's a listener to the podcast. Caleb Wiles is well known for his amazing stage performances and his appearance on Penn and Teller's Fool Us. As he started diving deeper into card magic he became totally obsessed. As his journey...
Religion, Psychedelics, and Other Types of Magic with Paul Vigil
March 22nd, 2018
Paul Vigil has burst out of his native Salt Lake City taking his magic to TV and the Las Vegas Stage. He has appeared on Penn and Teller's Fool Us twice. He trained with Johnny Thompson and worked as a street performer for years – slowly honing his skills. In his early 20's he was only interested...
Behind the Scenes at Ellusionist with Adam Wilber
March 15th, 2018
We're have a really special guest this week. He runs Ellusionist and made waves with his viral performance on Fool Us. Adam Wilber also produced the best selling trick pyro and we're really excited to have him in the show. Wilber was six years old when he stole a prop from a friend for a trick. He...
Real Magic with Jared Kopf
March 8th, 2018
Our guest this week is a brilliant mind in the community. He's a magician, a priest and a raconteur – we're really excited to have Jared Kopf. Every child is born with a sense of wonder that gradually dwindles. For Jared it never dwindled. He doesn't remember a specific moment when he fell in...
Is Discourse in Magic Ending?
March 1st, 2018
We made it! 100 episodes is a milestone we never expected to reach. Well, Jonah did. It's why he started the numbering with 001. Even still, we're super excited to have gotten this far. In this episode we reflect on how important the podcast has been on their own magic...
Get on Penn and Teller Fool Us with Michael Close
February 22nd, 2018
You know him from his Workers project, his book Paradigm Shift and his work as a consulting producer on Fool Us. In this episode you're going to learn all about how to have a good presentation, how to have an act worthy of television, and how to make your magic...
Using Your Face with Mario Lopez
February 15th, 2018
Mario Lopez was just a kid when a friend put a lit cigarette into his fist and made it disappear. He learned how it was done and from that moment on he was in love with magic. He moved to Granada in his native Spain when he was 18 where he trained with one of the countries top magicians. He was...
Visual Magic and Ellusionist Secrets with Lloyd Barnes
February 8th, 2018
Lloyd Barnes grandfather became a travelling magician shortly after the war. He developed many tricks over the years and passed those onto Lloyd. His focus was much more on sport as a teenager – especially boxing and gymnastics. His university career was less than successful – he was thrown out...
Look How Far We’ve Come
February 1st, 2018
It's episode 96 and time for another solo episode with Jonah and Tyler. We start the episode talking about what we should do to celebrate our upcoming 100th episode. We have had some pretty dumb ideas in the past like listening to all 100 episodes in a row. We need your ideas on this one. Hit...
Making Magic and the Playing Card Revolution with Alex Pandrea
January 25th, 2018
He is Blue Crown Magic, he is Alex Pandrea. He first got into magic when he was five years old. A clown came to his birthday party and did tricks like disappearing silk or sponge balls. But his interest continued into young adulthood. He grew up in New York City and it was through the local...
Becoming an Entertainer with David Williamson
January 18th, 2018
David Williamson is an incredible comedy magician and sleight-of-hand master. He feels that he was bitten by the bug early and he had no other choice but to follow his passion. He was totally obsessed with it from a very early age. David was painfully shy. But he forced himself to get up on...
Cardistry, Magic, and Getting Noticed with John Stessel
January 11th, 2018
Our guest this week came across our Instagram feed a few months ago and we knew we had to have him on the podcast. His work as a cardist is truly awe-inspiring. John first got into magic after his family got him a magic kit when he was 8 years old. He learned the boomerang card throw at age...
New Year, New Magic
January 4th, 2018
Welcome everyone to Episode 92 – our first episode of 2018! We both had a good New Year's Eve. We relaxed with friends, some hors d'oeuvres and champagne. Last New Year's we challenged ourselves to come up with some magical resolutions. Jonah resolved to work more on scripting his magic...
Inner Secrets of Instagram Magic with Felix Bodden
December 28th, 2017
Felix Bodden has appeared on Fool Us and has created a really popular Instagram feed. He first became interested when he was eight years old in 2001 – the same year that the first Harry Potter movie came out. But Felix became frustrated when he realized there was no such thing as real...
Making Good Magic Great with Tony Chang
December 21st, 2017
We’ve been trying to get Tony Chang on the podcast for a long time and it’s finally happened! Jonah and Tony spent some time together and NYC recently. But this is the first time we have had the chance to talk to him about his history. Tony first fell in love with magic when he saw a...
What Makes a Great Magic Product with Geraint Clarke
December 14th, 2017
Geraint’s advice for a magician who wants to begin to sell illusions depends on what you want to accomplish. Some people just want to make as much as possible. But others want to be known and respected for creating quality magic. Networking with the magic community to create something of...
Instagram and the Cardistry Subculture with Sean O
November 30th, 2017
Sean O is a master of cardistry and has achieved a lot at a very young age. Sean is only twenty years old but has been honing his skill since he was in grade school. He did his first paying gig was when he was nine. He performed at a five year olds birthday party. He first saw card magic when...
Modern Magic and Why it Lives Online with Xavior Spade
November 23rd, 2017
Xavior Spade is making waves as one of the highest profile YouTube magicians. He is using live streaming to connect with an every-growing audience. Xavior found magic as a young person while growing up in Jamaica, Queens in New York City. But it was magic that helped him to escape the...
Understanding Magic with Garrett Thomas
November 16th, 2017
Garrett Thomas is an incredible magician, an opinion that was confirmed recently when Jonah saw him perform at the Buffalo 52 magic convention. Garrett first fell in love with magic because of his father. His dad was a huge fan of magic and was friends with the bar magician Eddie Fechter. Who...
Presentation, Effect Selection, and How to Practice with Allan Hagen
November 9th, 2017
Allan thinks that young magicians should start out by learning from the masters. It would be foolish to ignore the classics. Work your way through Card College. There is enough knowledge there to last a lifetime. Eventually you will discover two or three pieces that resonate with you. ...
Busking for Magicians & Earning Your Chops with Billy Kidd
October 19th, 2017
Billy has taken her background as a busker worldwide, regularly performing in Europe and on television. She trained as an actor in Edmonton and was almost totally disinterested in street performing and magic. That is until she saw Nick Nickolas performing at the Edmonton Street Performers...
No Hands, No Feet, No Excuses and No Limits with Mahdi Gilbert
October 12th, 2017
On today's episode, Mahdi Gilbert joins us to talk about the state of magic. He first got into magic as a little kid despite not having much exposure to it. He didn’t have a TV or internet but he had heard about magicians from other kids at school. His childhood logic was that if he could...
How to Create Magic Out of Tricks with Lawrence Hass
September 28th, 2017
Lawrence Hass is the Associate Dean of the Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas. We wanted to invite him on to talk about the theory of magic at its deepest level. Lawrence has a Ph.D. in philosophy and taught the subject for many years. As he was finishing his Ph.D. he happened upon a David...
How to Grow Your Instagram Following for Magicians with Jeremy Griffith
September 21st, 2017
You know him from his incredibly popular videos The BC Shuffle and The Instagram Sessions. Jeremy Griffith has popularized social media magic in a way no one else has. He's developed a new way of performing magic...
How to Start Booking Gigs with No Website, Photos, Videos, or Testimonials
September 18th, 2017
It feels like nobody will hire you since you don't have great photos, videos, or a website. But you don’t have great photos, videos or website because nobody will hire you! It's easy to get booked with years of performing expirience, but then how does someone without performance expirience...
Everything You Need to Know about Gaffing Cards with @Gaffguy52
September 14th, 2017
Jeremy Hanrahan is renowned in the magic community for his secret identity as @GaffGuy52. He started early and became completely obsessed. At first, he was a sleight of hand expert before he moved into gaffing. He started his career selling his gaff decks to Morrisey Magic in...
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants with Steve Reynolds
August 31st, 2017
Steve Reynolds is a renowned New Orlean’s card magician who is obsessed with keeping the history of magic alive. But Steve doesn’t have a step-by-step advice about how to become a magician. He just did it. He was full of passion and obsessed with learning. Steve remembers how difficult...
A Masterclass in Comedy Magic with Harrison Greenbaum
August 17th, 2017
Harrison Greenbaum is the hardest working man in comedy and magic. His unique act has landed him slots on Last Comic Standing and America’s Got Talent. His career started early first as a stand-up comic who occasionally used magic in his sets when the jokes weren’t...
Crafting Incredible Visuals with Glenn West
August 10th, 2017
Our guest this week is Glenn West. Glenn is a fantastic magician who started his love affair with magic after being introduced to the craft by his father. Magic is constant presence in his life though he is not a working magician. Instead, he works as an animator in film and television....
How to Benefit From Magic When it’s Not Your Career with Jason Dean
July 20th, 2017
Jason is a rockstar magician. He is a rockstar - The drummer for Sidewise; a crazy metal band, as well as an accomplished and creative magician. Jason dives in with us to ways that you can benefit as a magician even if it isn't your...
How to be Meticulous in Your Craft with Ryan Edwards
June 29th, 2017
Ryan does it all! He's written and performed two of his own magic shows. He's advised and built props for top magicians around the world, and he most importantly he handcrafts tools (wallets, card clips, close up pads) for magicians looking to up their magic style at...
Success by Word of Mouth, and Behind the Scenes TV Magic with Mark Calabrese
June 15th, 2017
In episode 63 of the podcast we sit down wit Mark Calabrese to talk about what it takes to make it in magic. Mark is an incredible accomplished performer. With multiple effects released on the magic market, as well as appearances on Wizard Wars and Penn and Teller Fool...
The Magic of Apps with Marc Kerstein
May 11th, 2017
In this episode we sit down with Marc Kerstein. If you haven't used, or been fooled by one of Marcs magic apps, you've missed out.
Marc is THE iphone magic app guy, and has been brought on to consult on multiple TV series including David Blaine's most recent...
Helping Your Clients and Hearing Your Audience with Suzanne
April 27th, 2017
In this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing our friend Suzanne. We met Suzanne at Sorcerers Safari (RIP) last summer! Suzanne is an expert restaurant magician. To be a great restaurant magician you have to be good at more than just...
Tools and Tips to Make Your Comedy Magic FIRE with John Archer
March 23rd, 2017
If you're talking about comedy magic, there are just a few names that automatically come to mind. John Archer is one of them. Not only is his magic baffling, but he's also absolutely hilarious. He’s known for whipping up his audience, and getting incredible moments out of the magic and the...
How to Become an Unstoppable Old School Entertainer with Gazzo
March 16th, 2017
There is absolutely no question in my mind that you've heard of Gazzo. Maybe you've seen his Fool Us performance. It's possible you've seen another clip from Youtube. Or equally likely, you could have seen him busking in your...
How to Get Noticed as a Performer with The Sentimentalists (Mysterion & Steffi Kay)
March 9th, 2017
If you saw them walking down the block you would stop dead in your tracks. A haunted couple just walked out of a catalogue from the 1930s. Mysterion, a fast talking Dracula looking gentleman with a white...
Episode 45 – Scripting and Working with a Director with Nick Wallace
February 9th, 2017
Nick Wallace spills the beans on exactly how scripting a show creates an incredibly powerful experience for your audience! In this episode he breaks down exactly how he works with a director and why he would never create a show without...
Using Magic to Spread an Important Message with Chad Juros
January 26th, 2017
In episode 43 we sit with Chad Juros to tell us his story of magic. I'll save most of the details for the episode itself, but I can provide you with a short version of Chads incredible story.
Chad was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia as a child. During many of his years and months at...
Live in Toronto – Views, Comments, and Awesome Magic Content with Chris Ramsay, Eric Leclerc, and Wes Barker
January 19th, 2017
Welcome to our first ever live show!
We invited Wes Barker, Eric Leclerc and Chris Ramsay to Toronto to record an episode but we said HEY, why don't we invite the local magicians too. SO WE DID!
And it was a...
Secrets to Outreach and Building Relationships with Caroline Ravn
January 12th, 2017
In this episode Tyler and I sit down with Caroline to chat about everything it takes to build a community and following. Caroline Ravn is the queens of outreach. In the episode she gives us tips about how to get published in an...
Why Being Sincere Means Connecting with Your Audience with Asi Wind
December 29th, 2016
If you don't know who Asi Wind is, I recommend stopping the podcast episode and checking him out. Not only has he released incredible effects that have ROCKED the magic community (links below), but he is also a leading magical thinker....
The Value of a Great Introduction and How to Tweak Your Show with James Alan
December 8th, 2016
We sit down with Toronto's own James Alan to discuss some of the finer details of crafting a show. This episode was particularly exciting because James has been a fan of the show. Not only did he come prepared, but he was also able to blast misconceptions that we had spoken about in previous...
Magic Consulting and Making Your Own Inspiration with Daniel Garcia
November 17th, 2016
In this perfectly timed episodes days after David Blaine's special we have the very bright Daniel Garcia telling us about the ups and downs for consulting. Garcia consults for many of the major TV magicians including Cyril, Dynamo and of course David...
Expert Online Marketing Tools and Tips for Magicians with Julian Mather
October 27th, 2016
Julian has basically done everything under the sun in terms of magic. He's performed, taught, created 2 podcasts, and created tons of products that are meant to help magicians with the commercial side of magic (often the most difficult...
Getting Booked with Branding, Taglines and Straight Up Tenacity with Wes Barker
October 20th, 2016
The one and only Wes Barker brings the heat on episode 29 by chatting all about how to get booked. Since he's made big waves in a short time, he's tells us exactly what to look for in branding and why cold calling colleges is so fun and...
How to Make a Beautiful Magician Website Easily
October 19th, 2016
Getting a website is a notoriously difficult, expensive and time consuming thing, but it doesn’t have to be! By the end of this blog post my goal is to teach you exactly how to make your own website by yourself, in about one week, the most effective way possible, reasonably priced, without hiring...
Social Media Guide For Magicians
October 9th, 2016
Social media isn’t going anywhere.
As a matter of fact it’s only growing. We’re at the tip of the iceberg of the age of social media and so far it’s been amazing!
The benefits of engaging online are here to stay, so it’s time to start sharing and learning some good practices and...
Creativity Through Self Expression Instead of Endless Resources with Mathieu Bich
September 22nd, 2016
If you are into creative methods for magic, than I recommend listening to this episode. Mathieu Bich turns the standard notions of creativity on their head by chatting about the process h goes through to create magic, More importantly he chat's about the purpose of his magic creation:...
Why Magic is Flirtatious, and How to Treat it That Way with Daniel Fernandez
September 15th, 2016
In this episode we sit down with the amazing Youtube star Daniel Fernandez. When I say amazing youtube star, I'm both referring to his 720,000+ subscribers, and his amazing videos that have me smiling, and watching to the...
The Definitive Guide to All Magic Podcasts
September 13th, 2016
As a consumer of magic podcasts, the only way that I found them, was by stumbling upon them. Every time I searched the web for Magic podcasts, I got 3 things. Magic the gathering podcasts, THIS magic cafe article about podcasts, and this short article from bicycle.com...
Disclaimers
August 30th, 2016
To disclaim or not to disclaim. For any magician/mentalist who is serious about their craft, the idea that we may be messing with the belief system of an audience is a topic that will eventually come up. My opinion on this matter is constantly in flux, but can presently be summed up as...
Why Mentalism is More Relatable for Audiences Than Magic with Bobby Motta
August 18th, 2016
In this episode we packed up our bags and travelled to Toronto (hehe) to our good friend Bobby Motta's house. If you know anything about Bobby, you know that he is one of Toronto's Top Mentalist and is a very very bright...
Why Risk Your Life on a Stunt and How To Try It At Home with Scott Hammell
August 11th, 2016
In this Episode we sit down with our good friend Scott Hammel to talk about stunts. Scotty is a motivational speaker who uses magic and stunts as a tool to help deliver his message. We wanted to chat with him about a lot of the "Why and How's" of stunt work, to better understand the niche that he's...
A Journey From Technique to Theory Through Friends and Mentors with Simon Black
June 23rd, 2016
After meeting Simon Black at a Motor City magic convention in Michigan and watching and learning his mechanics I was knocked off my socks. But since then, he has really dove into the world of magic theory and specifically Spanish theory in his...
Now You See Me 2 (Now You Don’t?)
June 19th, 2016
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The reason why this movie sucks in my eyes, before I even stepped foot in the movie theatre
If the first movie was called Now You See Me, there are only 2 reasons why they didn’t call the second one Now You...
Playing Card Innovation and Economy in the Era of Crowdfunding with Lee Asher
June 9th, 2016
We hung out with our great friend Lee Asher got a chance to see his collection, and speak about the innovation in playing cards happening right now. Innovation in design, feel, build, look, weight, and other specifics that are getting heard by the...
Performing Tips for the Working Magician, From Restaurants to Big Illusions with Chris Westfall
May 26th, 2016
In this episode we got to speak with a local Toronto magician and friend about his story through magic. He moved from the restaurant world to the birthday party world, followed by comedy magic and now an illusion...
Ethics and Morals for the Modern Magician with Ben Train
May 19th, 2016
In episode 7, we finally get an opportunity to sit down with Ben to chat about the finer details of ethics in magic. This is a topic that we know is not usually spoken about, but as we touched on it in the last episode, we think it's...
Designing magic for the screen and the stage with Patrick Kun
May 5th, 2016
In this episode we had a blast chatting with Patrick Kun about his experiences with David Copperfield and Calen Morelli and his stance on magic online. We spoke in great detail about something that he has put his heart into (pun intended) his valentines day series! They're awesome videos, that I...
