Kieron Johnson episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 21, 2026 · 1H 33M

Kieron Johnson

from Desert Island Tricks · host Alakazam Magic

The easiest way to spot a real magician isn’t the trick, it’s what happens when something goes wrong. Kieron Johnson joins us to talk about the skills you can’t fake: audience management, timing, trust and the grind of making strong material work night after night. Kieron has been at the top of modern close-up creation for years and he’s also performing in the West End production “Come Alive, The Greatest Showman,” where he runs multiple sets across parlour, stage, close-up and an eye-melting bubble show.We get into the thinking behind his signature “impossible object” magic, including fire-to-ice production (To The Max / Reborn), signed card to ice (Re-Maxed Isolation) and why he believes Too Hot To Handle becomes vastly stronger when the can is genuinely hot. Along the way, Kieron breaks down how he prototypes effects like an engineer, how he chooses material based on the audience in front of him and why souvenirs and nostalgia props can turn a trick into a lifelong memory.Then we hit the hot debate: phone magic and electronic magic. Kieron argues that technology can weaken fundamentals and that “convenient” methods often come with a hidden cost when they fail. Whether you agree or disagree, you’ll leave with a sharper sense of what makes close-up magic feel real, what defines professional performance and how to build a set that can survive any room. Kieron’s Desert Island Tricks: Welcome package. Estimation Aces To the Max / Re-bornRe-maxed Isolation Too Hot to Handle Isolated Cell Linking Polos / Lifesavers Linking Rings Card to chocolate bar Banishment. Phone / Electronic Magic Book. Simply Harkey Item. Bubbles Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 21, 2026

Embed this episode

The easiest way to spot a real magician isn’t the trick, it’s what happens when something goes wrong. Kieron Johnson joins us to talk about the skills you can’t fake: audience management, timing, trust and the grind of making strong material work night after night. Kieron has been at the top of modern close-up creation for years and he’s also performing in the West End production “Come Alive, The Greatest Showman,” where he runs multiple sets across parlour, stage, close-up and an eye-melting...

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

Kieron Johnson

0:00 1:33:45

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.

No similar episodes found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Desert Island Tricks?

This episode is 1 hour and 33 minutes long.

When was this Desert Island Tricks episode published?

This episode was published on August 21, 2026.

Can I download this Desert Island Tricks episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!