The Insider
Vanishing Inc. presents The Insider, a magic podcast featuring interviews with the world's finest magicians. Each episode delves into the secrets and stories behind the art of magic, offering insights from top performers. The show is a must-listen for magic enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Episodes
Stealing Magic
In this episode, Damian interviews Director Matthew Testa and our own Andi Gladwin about their documentary on magic piracy, the investigation into Erdnase, and the broader implications for the magic community and creative industries.A smash hit at Tribeca, Stealing Magic is going to be required viewing for all of us.
Gaia Elisa Rossi
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
Ben Seidman #3
It's Ben Seidman! Talking about magic. And stuff.
Phill Smith
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.
John G #3
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.
Todd Robbins
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
Felice Ling
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 als
Andi & Josh Holiday Special
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this chatty chat with Damian, Andi, and Josh.
Eric Mead
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.
Leah Orleans
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.
Pete McCabe 2
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.
Yvan Garmy
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
Lloyd Barnes (corrected)
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 gold
Taylor Hughes
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 i
Alexander Herrmann
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
Andi Gladwin - Marlo Special
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 e
Wayne Dobson RIP
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.
Nick Mohammad
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 im
Walter Rolfo
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.
Ben Seidman #2
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 experien
Rick Holcombe
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
Aaron Fisher
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 experie
Derren Brown
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/
Andrew Frost #2
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
Christian Grace (Two)
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!
Dustin Marks
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. Sig
John Guastaferro Two (Audio Fixed)
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.
Rune Klan 2
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 professio
Andi Gladwin - Shuffled Special
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
Dan Harlan
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/
Six Impossible Things Round Table Special
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
Mortenn Christiansen
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 Petty Part Two
Craig and I continue our chat. We discuss his tricks, travelling back in time to meet Dai Vernon, and much more.
Craig Petty Part One
In an incredibly open and honest discussion, Craig talks about the mistakes he has made - and what he has learned from them.
Dr Arthur Benjamin
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!
Max Maven R.I.P.
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 Liwag Part Two
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.
Homer Liwag Part One
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/m
Pete McCabe Part Two
Welcome back to part two of this fascinating chat with Pete McCabe. We talk in detail about character, comedy and more.
Pete McCabe Part One
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
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 Bannon
John and I chat about self-working tricks, his book recommendations and what is wrong and right with the state of magic today.
Jack Parker Special with Andi Gladwin
To celebrate the launch of 52 Explorations, Andi Gladwin remembers his friend, Jack Parker.
Richard Turner
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
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.
Marc Paul Part Two
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.
Marc Paul Part One
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.
Andy Nyman Part Two
Part Two of the amazing Andy Nyman. As with part one, there are swears, so parental guidance if listening around small children!
Rune Klan Live At The Session
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 audien
Andy Nyman Part One
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 Long
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-myster
Yigal Mesika
Yigal very rarely does interviews, and we're honored he agreed to do our podcast.
Come for the tips on thread work, stay for the insights into Spider Pen X, his beginnings and the real history of Loops.
https://yigalmesika.com
Roberto Giobbi
Roberto Giobbi stops by to talk about Card College, note-keeping and so much more.
Justin Willman
Justin Willman stops by to chat about Magic For Humans, people guessing methods on the internet, his mysterious twin brother and more.
Lincoln Hiatt & Andrew Golder
What a treat! The producers of Fool Us drop by to talk about how the show started, what they are looking for in acts, how to apply and some incredible, specific advice on increasing your chances of selection.
And here's how to apply:
Final Call for season 9. Casting deadline Feb 28.
Send submissions to fooluscasting@gmail.com
Also some announcements and a little bit of behind the
Andi Gladwin | Fool Us Special
Vanishing Inc. Cofounder, Andi Gladwin was just on Fool Us. Join us for a special edition before the next season starts to go Inside Baseball for Andi’s recent appearance on Penn and Teller’s Fool Us.
We chat about getting to America during a pandemic, mysterious George, practise, method, history and much more.
Happy Holidays!
We're going to take a short break for a few weeks and come back in 2022 for Season Eight. You look after yourselves out there. And Happy Holidays.
John Graham
John Graham joins me to discuss moving your show from close-up to stage or parlour in this fascinating chat.
Tobias Dostal
Ahead of his upcoming appearance at The Session in a few weeks, I grab some Tobias Time to talk light, shadows, creativity, art and more.
And as promised, here's the link to Josh's podcast: https://www.audioup.com/shows/howmagiciansthink
Jeki Yoo
Oh my!
Jeki and I talk about creativity in captivity, crafting, gimmicks, being married to a magician and more.
Jon Allen
Jon Allen and I chat about his book, [Experience: The Magic Of Jon Allen](https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/stage-and-parlor-magic/experience-softback/), about creating magic, about solving problems and about how Jason Alexander was surprised he was good.
Jon will be appearing at The Session 2022.
Book your ticket here.
Dr Matt Pritchard
Dr Matt Pritchard is a scientist and a magician. In this very interesting chat, we discuss how to make magic more surprising, inclusion, delaying the how and prolonging the wow and of course, his amazing small scale illusions on social media.
Matt wants more Instagram followers, so be sure to check him out at www.instagram.com/sciencemagician
Special Episode: David Copperfield's History Of Magic with David Copperfield and Richard Wiseman
David Copperfield has a new book out, written with Richard Wiseman and David Britland. And it is excellent. In this special, extended episode, David and Richard join me to chat about piracy, Houdin and technology, women in magic, Malini and methods to improve every aspect of your own magic.
Order your copy of the book here: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-books/david-copperfields-his
Mat Franco
Mat and I chat about how to make intimate magic play on a big stage, creativity, luck, the college circuit and the story behind who really came up with the idea of Mel B's phone being in a seat cover!
Mac King Part Two
Guinea pigs, the origin of The Cloak Of Invisibilty, and so much more.
As promised, here's Mac King Part Two. Guinea pigs, the origin of The Cloak Of Invisibilty, how to move from a middle act to a headline slot, what Mac finds exciting about magic today and so much more.
And here's the link for Josh's new podcast: How Magicians Think
Shh, Don't Tell Damian
I was never here... OK?
Mac King Part One
In part one of this interview, Mac discusses his early days at Mr Caufield’s store and magic club, his new theater, who has been in the bear suit, making bits play for adults and kids, how to keep your show fresh, and changing up methods.
Jason Ladanye
Ahead of his Masterclass: Live in October, Jason joins us to chat about prop bets, why winning all the time is OK, and more.
Join us for his Masterclass: Live: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/masterclass/
Or, for the same price, join VI+ and get his Masterclass, access to the new streaming library and free shipping with no minimum spend: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/vanishing-inc-plus/
Joshua Jay
Josh is back on the show to chat about Magifest and his new book, How Magicians Think.
If you pre-order the book from us, you get an exclusive free deck of cards and a signed bookplate. At the time of writing this (9.13.21) there are just 50 of those decks left (out of 2,000). So act quickly!
Pre-order here https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-books/how-magicians-think/
Christian Grace
Christian joins us on episode two to talk about Switch One, Level One, jazz, prototyping and fooling the pants off Andy Nyman.
Christian runs a fantastic monthly membership program where you pay a very small amount and get a WHOLE LOAD of amazing magic. You can find out more about that here: https://christiangracemagic.gumroad.com/membership
Dani DaOrtiz
A fascinating start to season six. We discuss Dani's seemingly informal approach to performance, The Spanish School, a lesson from Juan, how to improve your force, the importance of copying your heroes, and what to expect from his upcoming Masterclass: Live which starts this Sunday. (September 5th, 2021).
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/masterclass/dani-daortiz-masterclass-live/
Jason England Part Two
Welcome to part two of the interview with Jason England. We discuss Vernon’s Fingerprint Trick, an amazing lesson for us all from Steve Forte, how to practise, how to improve your second deal and what he’ll be covering during his month’s residency for Masterclass: Live.
Jason England Part One
Jason England joins us to talk Erdnase, Ricky Jay, his amazing collection of gambling devices and the importance of lists. Part two next Monday.
Jason's Masterclass: Live starts this Sunday, August 1st. If you want to learn from a master on how to do seconds, bottoms, crimps and shuffles and how to apply them to magic, you need to be part of this! You can just buy this month, but for the best pric
Steve Cohen Two
Steve Cohen joins us for a second go on the podcast.
Join us for a fascinating chat about starting up his show again, practise, Max Malini, why he doesn’t do “big prop” tricks, and his rare, upcoming appearance at Magifest.
And as promised, the link to the violin player he recommended is: https://www.anne-sophie-mutter.de
Tony Chang Part Two
In the second part of this interview, we discuss hiding the moves you spend so long working on, how to make your magic better, stories about Gabi and tips from The Jerx.
Chris Kenner [Bonus Episode]
I know, it's not a Monday, but this is a special treat! Here's an hour of Chris Kenner!
Ahead of the start of his Masterclass: Live on Sunday July 4th, here's a special, hour-long episode of The Insider where I talk with Chris about why he doesn't do anything flashy anymore, why he thinks helping the youth is so important, how magicians dress, how movies influence his magic and what part he thinks
Tony Chang Part One
It's #TonyChangWeek
Double VI Points on the downloads we'll be featuring on our socials on #MoveMonday, #TrickyTuesday and #FullPerformanceFriday.
In this first part of the interview, we discuss why on earth he works so hard on perfection, the NYC magic scene and angles.
Derek Hughes Part Two
Derek and I continue our discussion about AGT, we discuss how to be funny and how to add humour to your magic and his pivot into virtual magic.
Derek will be performing his virtual show for us on July 7th. Get your ticket here: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/showtime/derek-hughes-vanishing-inc-showtime/
Derek Hughes Part One
Derek Hughes and I have a great chat about acting and the hugely important lesson the learned from some young teenagers at a restaurant gig, connecting with an audience, scripting and how to make it feel like your show isn’t really that scripted, advice from Eugene and AGT. This is part one of a two part interview. Tune in next Monday for more.
Derek will be performing his virtual show as part of
John Carney Part Two
We talk about his new book, his philosphies about magic, continual refinement and improvement, what excites and concerns him about magic today, exploring potential, magicians he wished he’d had the chance to see.
John's book is available exclusively from carneymagic.com
