Penguin Magic Podcast

Ben Seidman comes on the show to discuss his work on YouTube with Vanity Fair, consulting on the latest Now You See Me film, and his new ticketed show Con Man. Ben is one of the most in demand working performers today, and in this wide ranging interview he discusses his current projects like Ring Watch Wonder, and shares some of his thoughts and approaches to magic.

We are back with more listener questions. Get Erik's views on the state of restaurant magic, how to eliminate nerves, and his thoughts on Oz Pearlman performing at the White House Correspondents' Dinner!

The long-awaited opening of Chicago's newest magic venue, The Hand & The Eye, is finally here. Nick Locapo finally lifts the veil and tells us all about what's going on inside this incredible new venue. He tells us about their amazing showrooms, the talent working there, and what's next for this incredible venue.

Bob Sheets is not just a legend, he's a legend who has created legends. From learning bar magic from Heba Haba Al, to creating the Jolly Jester and perfecting the Malini Card Stab, Bob has been there and done that. In this exclusive interview, Bob shares a lifetime of stories and insights into his magic and life.

R Paul Wilson is tantalizingly close to releasing his film about Juan Tamariz. The long-awaited film is a portrait of The Maestro, Juan Tamariz. The film is a look at magic through the lens of one of the most influential magicians alive today. R Paul gives us a once-in-a-lifetime look behind the scenes of the development of the film, working with Juan, and gives us a glimpse into this incredible w...

Rob Balchunas is an award winning balloon sculptor and magician who travels the United States creating wild creations out of nothing more than balloons, and twisting magic and inflatables into a fabulous show. This week he stops by the show to discuss how he got started, tips on creating your own sculptures, and the chaos in the balloon world following the collapse of Qualtex.

Kent Axell Jr joins the show to celebrate his third year in residence at The Mandalay Bay Casino with his show Ghost Stories. He shares with our listeners how to add immersive theater qualities to your show, how to find meaning, and how  to get your own residency. Kent’s Score Card and Magic Performance Lab https://lp.uniqo.de/cCbBUN

Alex Kirk is a familiar face from YouTube and the magic industry. He was with Prop Dog and one of the faces of their live streaming show for quite some time. A few years ago, he opened his own shop. In this episode, he discusses running his shop, helping customers find magic perfect for them, and his wild YouTube interviews he does in his dressing gown from a couch he carries around conventions wi...

Cate Osborn, known to her legions of fans as Catieosaurus, comes on the show to discuss her new book The ADHD Field Guide for Adults, and her new tour Wildly Unprepared. The tour takes a deep dive into the history of magic, and Cate pulls a rabbit out of a hat, as well as discusses the journey to the rabbit she uses in her show.

Bill Wood is not just an accomplished magician and comedy actor, he is also a working therapist. Bill and Erik discuss how sketch comedy and Improv as well as becoming a practicing therapist have made his magic connect with his audiences on a deeper level, and given him the ability to tackle tough subjects on stage.

Erik Tait recounts his, and the Penguin Team's, adventures in Blackpool 2026. Erik shows more of the new products that were Blackpool exclusives. Then he shares his favorite effects from the dealers room, and showcases the toys and tricks he bought! This episode closes out with Erik's guide for American's in Blackpool.

Erik talks about what he is bringing to Blackpool 2026, the Penguin Magic Awards, and answers to listener questions from the UK. Live from Blackpool!

Marc DeSouza is not just an incredible magician, but one of the foremost magic collectors on the East Coast. In this exclusive podcast he takes us on a tour of the brand new venue House of Magic in Philadelphia, and shares with us an exclusive tour of his collection on display. Heads up, this is a great one to watch on YouTube because of how visual this episode is.

Filmmaker, writer, creator, and mentalist Chris Philpott joins the show to discuss the origin of 100th Monkey, his new release Odyssey 2, and how you can add a filmmaker's creativity to your magic.

Drew Backenstoss wrote an amazing book called Architect of the Mind.  It's back in print for the first time ever.  This secretive mentalist discusses the book, and shares his amazing approach to creativity. You will come away from this podcast with actionable things to make you more creative than ever before.

Unfortunately, due to a series of crazy technical difficulties, we won't have an episode this week! We will be  at Magifest, and back next week with  guest  Lloyd Barnes! Sorry for the delay.

Every week we post the podcast to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, and Google, but did you know there is a video version of the Podcast on YouTube? This week, Erik takes questions and comments from the viewers on YouTube and gives his thoughts and answers.

Comedy magician Farrell Dillon and producer Damian Costa join the show to talk about the newest magic venue on the Las Vegas Strip. The Magician's Room is the newest venue dedicated to magic in the United States. The theater currently hosts Farrell Dillon, David Golddrake, and Late Night Magic featuring Bizzaro, The Shocker, Lefty and Hollie England. They discuss the development of the space,...

Nick Locapo and Erik Tait wrap up 2025. They discuss some of their favorite tricks, favorite downloads, and favorite moments at Penguin in 2025. Nick also shares some updates on the new venue, The Hand and the Eye, opening in 2026 in Chicago.

One more retrospective for the holiday season. Erik Tait gathers the very first Top Five Under Five segments ,including appearances by Nathan Coe Marsh, Michael Kent, and more! Stay tuned to the end of the show if your name is Ben for a special holiday message.

This week we take a look back at the first dozen Desert Island Magic Book recordings, featuring Cate Osborn, Mat Franco, Ben Earl, and many more. We also take some time to keep our thoughts with Eric Jones, and consider donating to his GoFundMe. Eric Jones Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-eric-jones

Carisa Hendrix joins the show live from Las Vegas. She discusses the explosive rise to prominence of Lucy Darling on Instagram and TikTok. She dishes on Canada's Got Talent, building her incredible community, and how the transition from magic famous to actually famous has changed her show.

Bill Cook has appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Masters of Illusion, an award-winning documentary, and is currently headlining cruise ships around the world. He started as a young teen magician in Chicago, working in nursing homes, and went to school to be a Foley Artist. Now he's on top of the world.

Jason Bird has headlined on the Las Vegas Strip, appeared on Masters of Illusion, and now has written a book, Strolling for Dollars. He details his decades of experience as a strolling magician, making a successful living, so that you can learn how to translate his experience into your success. Plus, he shares some incredible tips that you can start using right away.

Erik and Nick wake up at the crack of dawn and give a totally unauthorized preview of all the new tricks dropping during Penguin Magic's 2025 Black Friday. They hold nothing back and talk about eleven new tricks dropping for the holiday season!