The Insider

Gaia started performing magic at the age of thirteen — and won the Italian Magic Championship that same year. She went on to become the only woman in history to hold that title, and has since competed as a finalist at the World Magic Championships.But what makes her truly unusual is what she does off the stage. She holds a degree in psychology, is training as a clinical psychologist, and has taken magic into prisons as a tool for reform. She's spoken at TEDx Milano Women, written for magic publications, and built a practice that treats illusion as a branch of human science.She performs and speaks in Italian, English, and French, and she grew up watching her parents rehearse magic in their living room — which, honestly, explains a lot.

It's Ben Seidman! Talking about magic. And stuff.

Phill Smith and Damian have a battle of the beards. Damian loses. Badly. They also chat about marked decks, performance philosophy, mentalism, and much more. Let's go.

Discover how intentional refinements and understanding when to stop can elevate your magic routines from good to great. In this episode, John Guastaferro shares insights on balancing cleverness with elegance, the importance of audience experience, and his approach to developing routines that feel natural and authentic.

Most magicians rely on deception — but Todd Robbins specializes in deception-free amazement that leaves audiences genuinely in awe. He’s eaten over 5,000 light bulbs, performed with legends like Steve Martin and Woody Allen, and inherited a dead man’s ashes to honor a sideshow legend. Now, he reveals how his unique blend of theater, psychology, and pure craftsmanship transforms live magic into an unforgettable experience that moves people, not just mystifies them.This episode dives into the heart of what audiences truly crave from performance — the thrill of genuine wonder. Todd shares stories from his decades of experience, including behind-the-scenes lessons from legendary sideshow performers like Melvin Burkhardt, and unpacks the subtle art of mixing humor, storytelling, and technical mastery to create moments that transcend mere tricks. You'll discover how his background in acting and theater informs every stunt, making each performance not just impressive, but emotionally resonant.We break down:The difference between deception and authentic amazement, and why it mattersHow to craft routines that evoke real emotion and lasting impactThe importance of audience psychology — starting with simple questions to heighten wonderThe sacred role of storytelling in elevating magic from puzzles to profound experiencesWhy modern magicians must go beyond technique and bring their true selves to stageTodd argues that magic is at a crossroads: with the internet and increasing skill, we've achieved astonishing technical proficiency. The missing link? Deepening the emotional connection and pushing the art into new realms of storytelling and theatricality. If you're a performer or a fan fed up with superficial tricks, this episode is an essential listen. Todd’s insights will inspire you to redefine what magic can be and how it can truly move your audience.Perfect for performers seeking authenticity, enthusiasts craving deeper engagement, and anyone curious about the underbelly of performance art. Step into the arena with a master who genuinely believes in making wonder real — because the greatest magic is the one that touches the heart.

In this episode of The Insider, Felice Ling shares her journey as a magician and street performer, discussing her early inspirations, the evolution of her craft, and the importance of community and representation in magic. She delves into her academic background in anthropology and how it intersects with her performance art, exploring the social impact of street magic in urban settings. Felice also highlights the significance of inclusivity in the magic community, sharing her experiences founding the Boston Magic Lab and her insights from competing at FISM. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the need for diverse voices in magic and offers advice for young performers looking to carve their own paths in the industry.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this chatty chat with Damian, Andi, and Josh.

After seven years of chasing the man, I finally get him on!The incredible Eric Mead chats with me about all things Conover, The Aristocrats, and much more. This is an enlightening and funny chat you're going to love.

In a world where magic is often shrouded in tradition, Leah Orleans stands out as a trailblazer. Growing up in a family of magicians, Leah chose to carve her own path through the realms of circus arts, contortion, and acrobatics. Now, she’s shaking up the magic community with her innovative approach, blending comedy and physicality while advocating for representation and diversity.

After a few years, the ever-delightful Pete McCabe comes back on the show for me to brief him on what to expect at The Session as he is coming over!We also talk a BIT about scripting. And magic.

Join us, and Franco-Irish powerhouse, Yvan Garmy to talk about his releases, his approach to creating magic, and of course his latest release "Don't Blink" which is dropping today at www.vanishingincmagic.com

EDIT: Reupload for corrected audio...In this episode, Lloyd Barnes shares his unique journey in the world of magic, from his early influences and the challenges he faced in the industry to his creative philosophy and experiences at Ellusionist and Murphy's Magic. He discusses the importance of personal creativity, the impact of public feuds, and the current state of magic, emphasizing the golden era it is experiencing. Lloyd also provides valuable advice for aspiring magicians and highlights the significance of The Session Convention as a pivotal event for serious magicians.

In this episode of The Insider, host Damian interviews Taylor Hughes, who shares his unique journey from being a youth minister to a full-time magician. They discuss the importance of storytelling in magic, the role of family in navigating career changes, and the impact of improv training on performance. Taylor emphasizes the significance of authenticity and relatability in magic, as well as the importance of building relationships within the magic community. He also offers advice for young magicians and entertainers, highlighting the need to embrace new technology while maintaining live audience engagement.And then of course, there's chat about Taylor coming to both The Session and Magifest!

In this episode, magician Alexander Hermann shares his journey into magic, discussing his early inspirations, the balance between technical skill and performance, and the importance of collaboration in the magic community. He emphasizes the significance of building tension and surprise in performances, as well as the impact magic can have on audiences. Alex also talks about his upcoming tricks and collections, his experiences at magic conventions, and his aspirations for the future.Chapters00:00 The Magic Origin Story02:58 The Balance of Technique and Performance05:59 Overcoming Fear of Failure08:54 The Importance of Collaboration11:52 Building Tension and Surprise in Magic14:54 New Tricks and Collections17:43 The Session Experience20:44 Future Aspirations in Magic23:48 The Impact of Magic on Audiences26:53 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Our cofounder and Marlo scholar, Andi Gladwin joins me this week to talk all things Marlo as a celebration of our most ambitious project ever. Marlo's Magazines is a huge, six-volume box set of the legendary books. There are only 100 of the deluxe edition printed, and they'll never be reprinted. Each one is numbered. We're opening up the sales of the deluxe 15 minutes before the mail email goes out, to get a chance of getting your hands on a deluxe, sign up here.

In 2024, I was lucky enough to be able to interview Wayne Dobson live on stage at The Session. We were not going to release it, as his speech is very difficult to understand at times. However, with his passing, it seems this is probably the last interview he ever gave, so I thought we owed it to Wayne, and the community, to release it. Thanks also to Bob Gill and Mike Sullivan for helping him.

What an honor this was! Nick Mohammad! Proper famous actor!Now, this recording was from last year, but it got corrupt, but I just found a back up! So here it is...--SummaryIn this engaging conversation, Nick Mohammed shares his journey from a young magician to a successful actor and comedian, discussing how he integrates magic into his comedy, the evolution of his character Mr. Swallow, and the impact of his role in Ted Lasso on his performances. He reflects on the challenges of choosing magic material, collaborating with other magicians, and the upcoming tour titled 'Showpony', which promises to blend humor with commentary on the entertainment industry.TakeawaysNick's journey into magic began with a Paul Daniels magic set.He integrated magic into his comedy to enhance performances.Mr. Swallow is based on a school teacher who inspired him.Nick enjoys performing magic with his child.He prefers simple magic routines that allow for comedic timing.Collaboration with theater directors helps shape his performances.The success of Ted Lasso has brought new audiences to Mr. Swallow.Nick aims to challenge industry norms through his comedy.He believes live comedy is more challenging than magic.Nick's upcoming tour 'Showpony' will explore identity in entertainment.

In this episode, Matt Szat hosts Walter Rolfo, the president and artistic director of FISM 2025. They discuss the importance of FISM as the premier magic competition, innovations for the upcoming event, and the role of online magic in expanding the art form. Walter shares insights on judging criteria, the experience of attending FISM, and what makes Torino special.

SummaryIn this episode, Damian interviews magician Ben Seidman, discussing his journey in magic, the creative process behind consulting for films, and the emotional impact of his routines. They explore the cultural adaptations required for performances in different regions, the decision to share magic secrets, and the importance of accessibility in magic. Ben also shares insights from his experiences performing for Penn and Teller and his excitement for creating new theatrical shows. In this engaging conversation, Ben Seidman discusses his collaborative journey in creating a new magic show, the challenges and frustrations he faces in modern magic, and the philosophy behind his performances. He shares insights into his upcoming shows, the importance of quality over quantity in magic, and the innovative techniques he employs, including dual reality. Seidman also introduces his new book, which focuses on a single trick, emphasizing the simplicity and impact of his approach to magic. Throughout the discussion, he highlights the importance of audience engagement and the joy of sharing magic with others.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Ben Seidman03:03 The Creative Process in Magic Consulting05:56 Cultural Adaptation in Performance08:58 The Emotional Impact of the Oracle System12:09 The Decision to Share Magic Secrets14:47 Creating Accessible Magic for All18:00 Performing for Penn and Teller21:06 Excitement and Frustration in Modern Magic24:51 The Collaborative Journey of Magic Creation26:02 Upcoming Shows and Ambitious Plans27:41 Frustrations in Modern Magic29:44 The Art of a Single Trick31:10 Creating a High-Impact Routine33:52 Understanding Dual Reality in Magic39:38 Target Audience and Skill Level for Performers41:40 Philosophical Insights on Magic Performance

In this episode, Damian interviews Rick Holcombe, one of the leading authorities in contemporary coin magic. Rick shares his journey into magic, emphasizing the importance of simplicity and portability in coin routines. He discusses his everyday carry of coins, the process of refreshing classic tricks, and the creative inspiration behind his routines. Rick also highlights the practical techniques for close-up magic, the differences between writing and video tutorials, and his proudest creations. His new book, Calico, is available here; (https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/money-magic/calico/).

In this episode, Aaron Fisher, a renowned card magic innovator, shares his journey into the world of magic, discussing his early influences, the challenges of learning and performing magic, and the importance of community and teaching in the magic world. He emphasizes the need for integration between technique and performance, and how understanding audience engagement can enhance the magic experience. In this conversation, Aaron discusses the evolution of magic performance techniques, the importance of kindness in teaching, and the balance between exploring and mastering skills in magic. He reflects on his experiences with influential figures in the magic community and shares insights from his latest masterclass and the reprint of his book, 'The Paper Engine.'Chapters00:00 Introduction to Aaron Fisher and His Journey05:58 The Challenges of Learning Magic11:56 The Importance of Teaching and Learning17:49 The Connection Between Technique and Audience Engagement24:03 The Gravity Half Pass: A Deep Dive36:14 Lessons from Masters: Shaping Teaching Ethos

Derren Brown joins us to talk about, well, everything! His latest book Notes From A Fellow Traveller is available now, right here: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-books/notes-from-a-fellow-traveller-derren-brown/

The awfully lovely Andrew Frost joins us to chat about his new Edinburgh show (which just finished a sold out run), his new gig working at an immersive magic show in London, and his new download collection "Stay Frosty" available today at, well, you guessed it, www.vanishingincmagic.com

The utterly delightful Christian Grace comes back on the show after a few years. Christian found time in his busy schedule supporting Take That on tour (no, really) to talk about magic, mentalism, and his incredible app, "Enigma" which launches on VI today!

Back in the Eighties, Dustin Marks was a Crossroader—someone who cheats the legal casinos. Join is in this episode, as we go back to that time, and find out all the details about how that underworld operated. Dustin Marks' Masterclass starts this Sunday (June 2nd), and you can also get access to over 250 hours of exclusive lectures from the best magicians in the world when you subscribe. Sign up here: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/masterclass

Sorry about that. On Friday I uploaded the wrong audio file and 2/3 of the questions were missing! Thanks for those of you who let us know. This is now fixed, so you can finally enjoy listening to the delightful John G.

While overcoming a few technical issues, Rune Klan kindly sat down to chat with me about his life, magic, fatherhood, comedy, creativity and more. Rune's VI Masterclass starts this Sunday (7th April 2024) and you can take out a trial subscription and access everything for just a buck! https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/masterclass/rune-klan-masterclass/ This Masterclass also includes professionally filmed videos of his last two stage shows!

Andi Gladwin, you know him, runs Vanishing Inc. with his chum Joshua Jay? Anyway, him. He's currently in Chicago performing his new show, Shuffled at the Rhapsody Theater. I thought it'd be a great time to interview him about putting on your own show. How you find the material, how you write, how to get a venue, collaboration, all that good stuff. So I did. And now you're listening to it. Hope you enjoy! If there are any tickets left, you can grab them here: https://rhapsodytheater.com/season2magic/shuffled/

None other than Dan Harlan joins us for the first episode of this show for quite some time! Sorry for the radio silence, but we're back now. Dan's Masterclass starts this Sunday, March 3rd. Take the $1 trial at https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/stage-and-parlor-magic/dan-harlan-masterclass/

To end the current season of the show, here's a very special round table discussion with Joshua Jay and the team that made Six Impossible Things, well, possible.  Starring: Joshua Jay, Matt Szat, Jason Silberman, Kevin Kapinos and Cassandra Nemzer

FISM-winner Mortenn Christiansen joins us today to talk about, well, winning FISM, call backs, Danish things, and his upcoming appearance at The Session convention in London.  At the time of writing this, there are less than 50 tickets left. If you want to come and see Mortenn's act, don't delay! https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-conventions/the-session/

Craig and I continue our chat. We discuss his tricks, travelling back in time to meet Dai Vernon, and much more. 

In an incredibly open and honest discussion, Craig talks about the mistakes he has made - and what he has learned from them. 

Math genius Art Benjamin chats to us about magic squares, James Randi, what he'll be performing at The Session and even does a live trick on your host!

On this horribly sad day, we thought re-uploading this 2019 interview with Max would be a fitting thing to do.  Let's remember what he gave us, not what we have lost. 

Homer is back for part two. Come for the magic, but stay for the amazing iPhone photography tips, how to stand out, Homer’s admiration of David Williamson, him tipping his restaurant act. What JJ Abrams said when he saw the show, what challenges him today, what he’s teaching in his Masterclass and how he’ll explain how to improve your lighting with no budget! And his favorite movie.

We're honored that Homer Liwag is giving his first ever lecture on Vanishing Inc. Masterclass in November. Homer was also kind enough to record this interview where we talk about pushing yourself, taking risks, lighting, David Copperfield and the CGI nature of his coin magic. As explained in the intro, you can buy Homer's Vanishing Inc. Masterclass for $75 here: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/masterclass/homer-liwag-masterclass/ Or, if you want to save yourself $25, subscribe to VI Monthly and get all of Homer's lectures, plus access to VI Studio (our curated streaming library), plus free shipping with no minimum spend: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/vanishing-inc-monthly/

Welcome back to part two of this fascinating chat with Pete McCabe. We talk in detail about character, comedy and more. 

Pete McCabe, author of Scripting Magic 1&2 sits down to discuss, amongst other things, scripting magic! IKR! He also tackles head on people's biggest misconception about scripts in magic that will change the way you think about scripting forever. 

Harry De Cruz has a fascinating story to tell already, and he is only about 14, or something annoying. Listen to tales of Dynamo, Edinburgh and his own journey to be a performer in his own right. 

John and I chat about self-working tricks, his book recommendations and what is wrong and right with the state of magic today. 

To celebrate the launch of 52 Explorations, Andi Gladwin remembers his friend, Jack Parker. 

A fascinating chat with the incredible Richard Turner. Find out about how he got started, how he met The Professor, sessioning with Jennings, Cervon, Charlie Miller and more. We discuss practising, performing and of course, playing cards. 

Kyle Purnell joins us to chat about creativity, his process for working, his new release, and we test how quickly the mythical George responds to email. 

Welcome to part two of our amazing podcast with Marc Paul. We chat about the impact Covid had on his work and how he used it to his advantage creating brand new acts, that famous Parkinson appearance, mentalism things he would banish to Room 101 and more. 

We chat about how Marc got started, the London scene in the 90s, his friendship with Andy Nyman, a very honest story about pretending to be a "real" psychic and what books he'd recommend. 

Part Two of the amazing Andy Nyman. As with part one, there are swears, so parental guidance if listening around small children!

To start Rune Klan week, here's a revisit of the amazing live interview he kindly gave at The Session 2020. In it, he talks about creativity, tricks, and his show Barnløs, which we have just realised as a digital download: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/stage-and-parlor-magic/barnlos/ We'll be doing The Insider live at The Session 2022. Who will be the guest? Come and be part of the live audience this July: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-conventions/the-session/

It's Andy Nyman! What else do you need to know?  This is part one of two, and this is marked as explicit because there are plenty of swears in it. Do not listen if small kids are around!

Stephen and I discuss: Pitching Sven decks at Thorpe Park, how he met and started working with Derren Brown, their writing process, the history of Hector Chadwick book, Equivoque, what’s the most useful piece of advice in the book, what from mentalism he’d put into Room 101, the three things he’s most proud of and more.  https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/mentalism/the-definitive-mental-mysteries-of-hector-chadwick/