The Magic Book Podcast

Massachusetts magician and historian Scott Martell discusses "Mr. Fingers: The Magic of Irv Weiner," his 338-page biography of the performing legend of the college circuit, 25 years in the making. Scott traces Irv's journey from a Boston boyhood as the son of deaf parents to the Chavez Studio of Magic and the invention of the Red Tape Thumb Tie. He also reveals the losses that made the project fee...

Las Vegas magician Jason Bird discusses "Strolling for Dollars," his 580-page field guide to making a living doing walkaround magic, with a foreword by Jeff McBride. From a childhood library book to the Vegas Strip, Jason traces his path through Caesar's Magical Empire, the influence of Eugene Burger, and why he chose print over a video course. He talks candidly about pricing, the twelve working m...

Charles Greene III returns to The Magic Book Podcast to discuss his new book, "Exposing Houdini: 52 Lost Glass Plate Images." The book features a previously unknown cache of Houdini negatives Charles traced from an abandoned safe deposit box in Ohio to the mentalist Joseph Dunninger. Hear stories about the first photographs ever taken of the Milk Can Escape, why a single tugboat moved one image fr...

Anthony Heads, Sweden's leading paranormal illusionist and mentalist, traces his unconventional path from telling childhood ghost stories in the UK to founding the Stockholm Ghost Walk and building a singular career in paranormal performance. Discover why he resists the label of magician, how a 1600s cellar restaurant launched his 'real experiences,' what 'the bubble' really means, and how his boo...

Swedish professional magician and entrepreneur Caroline Ravn discusses her unique journey from theology student to international performer. During the interview, Caroline dives into the practical, non-magical lessons from her book, "The Business Side of Show Business," including defining a unique selling point, leveraging LinkedIn for corporate bookings, and the importance of having a "lost luggag...

Lawrence Hass, a philosopher, performer, publisher, and Dean of Jeff McBride's Magic and Mystery School traces his unlikely path from academia to full-time magic and publisher with Theory and Art of Magic Press. Discover how a David Copperfield special woke up a philosophy professor, what Eugene Burger's "Intimate Power" unlocked, and how a glass of wine at the Mystery School planted the seeds of...

Ruth Knafo Setton, author of award-winning thriller " Zigzag Girl, " shares her journey from a childhood steeped in Moroccan wonder to studying performance magic with legends including Eugene Burger, Teller, and Max Maven. Discover why she calls herself a storyteller who uses her pen as a wand, how a nameless character in an unfinished novel pulled her into the magic world, and why the seedy, resi...

Justin Higham, British close-up magician and underground card magic legend who fooled both Dai Vernon and Ed Marlo, discusses his new book, " The Intuitive Magician ." Justin shares why improvisation, not repetition, is the key to mastering performance. In a broad-ranging conversation, Justin explains his A, B, and C List methodology, the concept of apposite magic, why magicians in 1970s TV detect...

Connie Boyd, award-winning magician and author of "The Power of Magical Women," shares her journey from ballet to circus aerialist, Las Vegas headliner to cruise ship producer, and five career reinventions. Discover how the pandemic inspired her Magical Women project documenting female magicians, why Paul Romhany said "you've got enough here for a book," and the discovery aboit a 1903 book that ro...

Master magician and historian Ben Robinson reflects on his fifty-year journey from watching Fred Kaps on television to uncovering John Mulholland's secret CIA work. Discover what drove his three-decade obsession with researching one mysterious file, why the bullet catch became legendary, and his philosophy: magic's greatest power lies not in tricks but in the artfulness of performance. Learn how l...

Hong Kong-based psychic entertainer Stuart Palm shares his journey from bartending in post-9/11 New York to becoming one of Asia's premier performers. Discover how a brain condition requiring surgery became his mentalist origin story, and why he believes psychic entertainment is "mentalism with more soul." Stuart discusses his comprehensive new book " Psychic Entertainment ," the mentors who shape...

Fourth-generation magician Alex Arnold Lee shares how a cringeworthy moment in 2003 involving a broom suspension, dated music, and a baby doll costume, transformed her career. Discover how she created the beloved comedy character Dazzle and turned that stage persona into the children's book " Dazzle: The World's Worst Magic Assistant ," launched at MAGIC Live 2025. A story about embracing mistakes...

Jim Hagy began publishing magic history at age 11 and never stopped. Now a distinguished historian and author, he discusses his unique approach to magic's past - focusing on social history and audience relationships rather than methods. From his childhood correspondence with Milbourne Christopher to his latest books about animals in 19th-century magic, Jim reveals how conjuring reflects broader cu...

Dr. Matt Tompkins, experimental psychologist and magician, explores the intersection of magic and cognitive science. From mastering coin tricks as a child to designing "fake mind control machines" at Lund University, Matt reveals how magicians understood principles like change blindness decades before scientists. He discusses his book "The Spectacle of Illusion," founding the Science of Magic Asso...

Professional magician Jim Kleefeld reflects on six decades of performing magic, revealing his strategic journey from children's performer to mentalism authority. Jim discusses writing "Locked" to establish credibility before tackling "The Book Test Book" - a comprehensive encyclopedia covering 600+ book tests from 1584-2020. He shares his meticulous research process, his wife's suggestion for the...

Professional magician and historian Mike Rose discusses documenting magic's forgotten innovators, from Joe Karson, creator of the Zombie floating ball, to Phil Thomas, Baltimore's "Ambassador of Magic." Mike reveals how Joe's early Zombies were made from glass, how Phil survived a devastating shop fire, and the influence of an "Unholy Trio" of magicians. Mike shares insights on the evolution of re...

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Josephy discusses her book " Magic, Magicians, and Detective Fiction ." As editor of a unique collection of essays, she explains the surprising extent of overlap between performance magic and mystery writing, from magician-detectives to magical criminals. Dr. Josephy reveals how author Maurice Leblanc drew from the French magic scene to create the character of Arsène L...

Neil Tobin discusses his approach to performing magic and mentalism with site-specific experiences, including the acclaimed "Supernatural Chicago." We also discuss Neil's recent academic research and essays on magicians who wrote detective fiction and learn how Walter B. Gibson and others connected magic and mystery writing communities, using detective stories to elevate the public's perception of...

In this episode of The Magic Book Podcast, professional magician, historian, and author Charles Greene III discusses his journey from corporate magic to becoming an authority on vintage magic posters and Friedländer lithography. He shares insights from his decade-long research into the subject of his book, " Ionia: Magician Princess Secrets Unlocked ." Charles also discusses two upcoming biographi...

In this episode of The Magic Book Podcast, United States district judge and accomplished magician Gary Brown discusses his journey from "accidental biographer" to respected magic historian. He shares insights on writing " The Coney Island Fakir, " researching Henry Slade, and authoring innovative books " Wandcraft " and " The Inventive Magician's Handbook ." Gary offers perspective on the challeng...

Magic historian and bookseller Philip David Treece discusses founding CollectingMagicBooks.com , publishing works on iconic London magic shop Ellisdons, and preserving magic's printed heritage. He shares insights from his conservation background, approach to curating rare books, and publishing projects including "The Collected Writings of John Nevill Maskelyne." Philip offers valuable advice for m...

Historian Margaret B. Steele discusses her groundbreaking book " The Great Boomsky " on The Magic Book Podcast, uncovering previously untold stories of African American performers in Alexander and Adelaide Herrmann's magic shows during the segregation era. Margaret shares insights from her research, the transformation she experienced as a writer, and the discovery of Isaac Willis's legacy in Nova...

Lance Rich, a magician, writer, and historian, shares his journey in the world of magic, focusing on his acclaimed book, "Neon Dreams: The Story of Las Vegas Magic." He discusses how he chronicled the rich history of magic in Las Vegas, highlighting notable figures including Gloria Dea, the first magician to perform on the Las Vegas Strip. Lance reflects on the impact of nostalgia as a gateway to...

In this episode of The Magic Book Podcast, stand-up comedian and magician Harrison Greenbaum discusses his career from Tannen's Magic Camp to headlining Mad Apple in Las Vegas and starring in his off-Broadway show, What Just Happened? He shares insights on writing You Are All Terrible , emphasizing originality, and reflects on his own creative process, blending comedy and magic. Harrison reveals h...

In the fifth episode of The Magic Book Podcast, Adrian Tennant interviews Craig Beytien, a seasoned magician, craftsman, and author. Craig discusses what led him to write the upcoming book Petite Magia: Crafty Plans for the Tabletop Wizard , which features 29 magic effects. Reflecting on his innovative approach to miniaturizing classic illusions, Craig discusses how Eric C. Lewis and Paul Osborne...