Ep 48: Oz Pearlman (Emmy Award-Winning Mentalist & America's Got Talent Finalist)

Oz Pearlman is an Emmy award-winning mentalist & magician who recently emerged as the runner up & finalist in America’s Got Talent Season 10 in 2015. In this STIMY, Oz shares what he was like as a child, discovering magic on a cruise ship to Bermuda and how that transformed his life as he obsessed over mastering magic. Oz got so good, he paid his own way through college and even continued it as a side hustle while working at Merrill Lynch before deciding to take the leap & become a full-time mentalist. He hasn’t looked back since. Oz Pearlman has performed for an impressive list of A-list celebrities, Fortune 500 companies, politicians and professional athletes, and also appeared on numerous networks including NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The TODAY Show & ABC World News. He is also an avid marathon & ultra-marathon runner, having competed in events like the Badwater 135 Miler, Hawaii Ironman World Championships, Western States 100 and Spartathlon.Highlights:3:47: Being a child math prodigy (scored a perfect 800 for his SATs at age 12)4:36: Discovering a love of magic6:19: Meeting Ryan Hertz & Bruce Kessler9:41: Getting his first magic gig at age 1412:13: Knowing how to break the ice with strangers16:34: Deciding to stay behind in USA & pay for himself through college19:00: Finding his own magic community20:49: The balance between sharing magic tricks & keeping your secrets to yourself26:54: Simple magic tricks for anyone to learn31:30: The Off Broadway Show, Watch Magic, that attracted Ethan Hawke & the New York Times35:44: “Making it” as a full-time, freelance magician37:46: Why Oz thinks he didn’t make it the first time he applied for America’s Got Talent in 201238:46: Coming up with new magic tricks on AGT within days39:56: Competing on America’s Got Talent while training for 3 marathons!43:17: Impact of COVID-19 on Oz’s business📍Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/48

What this episode covers

Oz Pearlman is an Emmy award-winning mentalist & magician who recently emerged as the runner up & finalist in America’s Got Talent Season 10 in 2015. In this STIMY, Oz shares what he was like as a child, discovering magic on a cruise ship to Bermuda and how that transformed his life as he obsessed over mastering magic. He got so good, he paid his own way through college and even continued it as a side hustle while working at Merrill Lynch before deciding to take the leap & become a full-time mentalist. He hasn’t looked back since. Oz Pearlman has performed for an impressive list of A-list celebrities, Fortune 500 companies, politicians and professional athletes, and also appeared on numerous networks including NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The TODAY Show & ABC World News. He is also an avid marathon & ultra-marathon runner, having competed in events like the Badwater 135 Miler, Hawaii Ironman World Championships, Western States 100 and Spartathlon. Highlights: 3:47: Being a child math prodigy (scored a perfect 800 for his SATs at age 12) 4:36: Discovering a love of magic 6:19: Meeting Ryan Hertz & Bruce Kessler 9:41: Getting his first magic gig at age 14 12:13: Knowing how to break the ice with strangers 16:34: Deciding to stay behind in USA & pay for himself through college 19:00: Finding his own magic community 20:49: The balance between sharing magic tricks & keeping your secrets to yourself 26:54: Simple magic tricks for anyone to learn 31:30: The Off Broadway Show, Watch Magic, that attracted Ethan Hawke & the New York Times 35:44: “Making it” as a full-time, freelance magician 37:46: Why Oz thinks he didn’t make it the first time he applied for America’s Got Talent in 2012 38:46: Coming up with new magic tricks on AGT within days 39:56: Competing on America’s Got Talent while training for 3 marathons! 43:17: Impact of COVID-19 on Oz’s business 📍Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/48

NOW PLAYING

0:00 52:49

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

I'm ok

Mar 26, 2026 ·1m

Food Saved My Life

Mar 19, 2026 ·34m

Eat More Vegetables: The 4 Foods That Beat Ozempic (Naturally)

Feb 18, 2026 ·11m

How to End Heart Disease with Dr. Fuhrman

Feb 11, 2026 ·45m

Revolutionizing Breast Health: QT Imaging, Overdiagnosis, and What to Do Instead

Jan 27, 2026 ·35m

REMIX: Why we over-shop and compulsively acquire, and how to stop, with Dr Jan Eppingstall

Jan 9, 2026 ·61m

Similar Podcasts

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. Breaking News Show | eTurboNews Juergen Thomas Steinmetz News is relevant to the global travel and tourism industry, human rights and global issues.Breaking news when it happens and only from the source. Eat to Live Jenna Fuhrman, Dr. Fuhrman Our health is our most precious gift and smart nutrition can change your life. Each month, join Dr. Fuhrman and his daughter, Jenna Fuhrman as they discuss important topics in the world of nutrition. Eat to Live will change the way you eat and think about food. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of So This Is My Why?

This episode is 52 minutes long.

When was this So This Is My Why episode published?

This episode was published on May 16, 2021.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this So This Is My Why episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!