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.

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.

Chapters

00:00 The Magic Origin Story

02:58 The Balance of Technique and Performance

05:59 Overcoming Fear of Failure

08:54 The Importance of Collaboration

11:52 Building Tension and Surprise in Magic

14:54 New Tricks and Collections

17:43 The Session Experience

20:44 Future Aspirations in Magic

23:48 The Impact of Magic on Audiences

26:53 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...

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Summary

In 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.

Takeaways

Nick'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.