Podcast Episodes
Show Ten – 23rd June 2009
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE TEN
After a break of a week due to maintenance work at Resonance FM, John Van Der Put joins us for the final episode in this series of the Smoke & Mirrors Magicast as we talk dragons, magical food and the future of prestidigitation!
We discuss how John became top chef Heston Blumethal’s very own magical consultant and where his wonderful character Piff The Magic Dragon came from.
For info on John, check out VanDerPut.com, StandNotAmazed.com and PiffTheMagicDragon.com.
Our very own Wicked Witch of the West Julia Barnett reads the magic news.
Show Nine – 9th June 2009
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE NINE
We take a different viewpoint on magic this week as talk about women in magic with top close-up magician Fay Presto.
Fay and I question why there are relatively few women in magic and why this is. We also look back at some of the female magicians throughout history and the inimitable Fay also regales us with some wonderful stories from her own working life, performing magic around the world to stunned audiences.
Have a look at FayPresto.com for more info.
Show Eight – 2nd June 2009
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE EIGHT
We talk to the lovely magician and novelist John Lenahan this week in a bumper version of the magicast as we discuss the secrets of magic, exposure and the very nature of belief in magic.
We also look at some of the scams and cons that John researched and performed as part of his ITV show Hoaxbusters (to see some of the footage from the show, click here) as well as discussing John’s new incarnation as a novelist with the release of his new book Shadowmagic.
For more info on John, check out JohnLenahan.com or ShadowMagic.co.uk.
Once again, Julia M Barnett joins us in the studio for the magic news.
Show Seven – 26th May 2009
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE SEVEN
A very showbiz show for you this week, not only due to the fact that we talk to escapologist extraordinaire Jonathan Goodwin but also due to Jonathan being in Los Angeles, California when we interview him. How glamourous has this show got?!
Jonathan was a complete pleasure to talk to as we explored the strange art of escaping, including discussions on Houdini and even some of the bizarre escapes that Jonathan himself performs on his hit Discovery Channel show ‘One Way Out’.
To find out more about Jonathan, check out the brilliant JonathanEscapes.com.
As always, Julia is here with The Magic News (which you can re-read by clicking on Magic News), including follow-ups on several of our previous stories.
Show Six – 19th May 2009
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE SIX
Since I started this show, I’ve wanted to talk to someone who understands magic from the point of view of an academic, ideally from the point of view of a psychologist. If that psychologist had a background in magic and was the author of several books on psychology and quirky science, that would be perfect.
There’s literally only one person in the country who fits the bill and he joins us on the phone this week: Professor Richard Wiseman.
Richard is a former professional magician turned psychologist and his contribution to the series is brilliant as a result. We discuss the way magic affects the mind, how magic can help scientists determine how the brain works and of course some of the ’secrets’ to how audiences throughout the ages have been stunned by magic.
Julia’s here with The Magic News, including several great shows where you can see magic live in London and across the country.
Show Five – 12th May 2009
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE FIVE
I’m so pleased to announce that we will be joined in the studio by the legendary Paul Daniels! Paul took the country by storm throughout the 1980’s and 90’s via his West End theatre show and the subsequent Paul Daniels Magic Show that ran successfully for many years, first on ITV then on BBC One. His list of achievements and accolades within magic are far too numerous to mention here, but we will discuss many of them on the show with Paul including his headlining shows in Las Vegas and London.
Julia will join us with the magic news and as always, we’ll tell you where you can see magic in the capital this week.
Tune in to 104.4FM here in London and online across the world at http://resonancefm.com/listen on 12th May 2009 at 6pm.
For more details on Paul, check out www.pauldaniels.co.uk or follow Paul on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ThePaulDaniels
Show Four – 5th May 2009
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For this episode I’m delighted to be joined in the studio by one of my magic heroes, performer Marc Paul. An amazing psychological entertainer, Marc and I will be discussing the art of mindreading, finding out where it came from and learn how Marc went from being a regular close-up magician to being the ‘World’s Greatest Mindreader’. We’ll look at performers like the Fox sisters and their spirit medium act and find out why Houdini dedicated so much of his time debunking spiritualists like them.
Julia will join us with the magic news and as always, we’ll tell you where you can see magic in the capital this week.
Tune in to 104.4FM here in London and online across the world at http://resonancefm.com/listen on 5th May 2009 at 6pm and again on 8th May 2009 at 10pm for the repeat.
Show Three – 28th April 2009
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This week, I’ll be joined in the studio by wizard of the stage and screen, Paul Kieve. Although you may not recognise his name, you will almost certainly have seen his magic. For example, Paul taught magic to Daniel Radcliffe and the cast of Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban as well as being magic consultant to director Alfonso Cuaron in order to produce some ‘real’ magic in the finished movie. We’ll be looking back through the ages at this side of magic and discussing some of Paul’s heroes, as well as his own illustrious career.
Julia will join us with the magic news and as always, we’ll tell you where you can see magic in the capital this week.
Tune in to 104.4FM here in London and online across the world at http://resonancefm.com/listen on 28th April 2009 at 6pm and again on 1st May 2009 at 10pm for the repeat.
Show Two – 21st April 2009
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE TWO
I’ll be joined in the studio by author, broadcaster and Member of The Magic Circle Brian Sibley. We’ll be picking up where we left off with Peter Lane last week, talking about the more recent history of magic. We’ll look at some of the characters that have shaped modern magic including Chung Ling Soo and Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin, the father of modern magic. We’ll look at why London was one of the centre’s of magic in the world throughout the 20th Century and Brian will be talking about his collaborations with the magicians of cinema like Peter Jackson.
As always, the lovely Julia will be here with the magic news and we’ll be telling you where you can see magic in the capital this week.
Tune in to 104.4FM here in London and online across the world at http://resonancefm.com/listen on 21st April 2009 at 6pm and again on 24th April 2009 at 10pm for the repeat.
Show One – 14th April 2009
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE ONE
In this first episode in the series, we’ll be finding out where it all began. I’ll be joined in the studio by The Magic Circle’s Executive Librarian to talk early magic history. We’ll find out who the first magicians were, how ancient tribesmen and priests used magic to simulate the presence of gods and how it developed into an entertainment. We’ll also look at why magicians used to be persecuted, why they were later considered the scientists of their day and just exactly why they started pulling rabbits out of hats!
We’ll also have the magic news bulletin as well as more information on how you can follow the show and see the magic live in London.
Tune in to hear the first episode on 14th April 2009 at 6pm online at www.ResonanceFM.com and on 104.4FM.
