Magic Cafe founder Steve Books joins me on this episode of the Spirit of Magic podcast. We discuss his early days in magic, the founding of the Magic Cafe website in the very early days of the internet and the many challenges and issues that he's had to deal with as they site has evolved over the years. In addition, we also discuss the launch of the new Tenyo Elite series of magic tricks and how that project came about.

Chase Goforth, Scott Wells, Cameron Ramsay and I are joined on this episode of This Week in Magic podcast by magic creator, author and all around nice guy Jim Steinmeyer.  Jim helps us to explore the creative process of illusion design and also discusses a few of the many consulting projects that he has been involved in for companies like Walt Disney and the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. He also shares a few stories on how some of his creations have been abused and overused.  Join us now for a fantastic conversation with Jim Steinmeyer!

NOTE: This is a recently recovered podcast originall published on Jan 5, 2010

As America's Premier Corporate Presentainer Paul Gertner has performed for more than 500 corporations in more than 20 different countries, has lectured at MIT and has been featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal... twice. A frequent guest on the Tonight Show Paul has also appeared on NBC's World's Greatest Magic, HBO, That's Incredible! In 1998 he wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed one-man theatrical production... "Paul Gertner-Ten Fingers." Now he's reached the pinnacle of his career by being a guest on the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast.

(NOTE: This a recently recovered podcast which was originally posted on 2/4/10)

Joanie Spina is our special guest on this episode of the podcast. If you're not yet familiar with Joanie, she acts as a performance coach to magicians, jugglers, dancers, singers, clowns, mimes, and actors. She offers a variety of services including theatrical direction, staging and/or choreography, individual performance coaching and promotional tape design and is best known to many as the co-director and choreographer for world renowned magician David Copperfield. If your demo tape does more traveling than you do, then sit back and enjoy the expert opinions of a master magic coach on This Week in Magic!

Premier night has come and gone, the first episode has aired,  and we say goodbye to Carnie Wilson and her Magic Coach Simon Lovell. Former con man turned magician, Simon Lovell, is the star of the longest running one man show off Broadway "Strange and Unusual Unusual Hobbies" at the Soho Playhouse. He is the author of numerous instructional works and DVD's on magic as well as his book for lay audiences, "How to Cheat At Anything." We were very please to present an interview with Simon in which he discusses his time on VH1's latest show, "Celebracadabra." 

Previous Magic Newswire guest, magician and expert on the art of the con Simon Lovell pays a visit to the Magic Newswire for a special edition of the Magic Newscast. During this chat, Simon takes a moment to help us remember Earl "Presto" Johnson as a part of our ongoing memorial to this influential underground magician. Simon shares his memories, impressions and opinions on the magician that he had to meet simply because he was mentioned in the biography of infamous comedian Lenny Bruce. Simon will also be a guest on the first ever iTricks"Live Clinic" tonight at 9 PM EDT.

With only hours to go before David Blaine's "Dive of Death" is set to air on ABC, David took time to speak with us by phone. David talked about the medical breaks that many have referred to by some as cheating, his medical condition, his readiness for the final stunt and what moment is his favorite in the broadcast. Because of the live speech by the President at 9PM, the special will air in its' entirety on ABC from 9:15 - 11:15.

As I begin the next season of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast, it is a pleasure to introduce you to the Master in Residence of the Conjuring Arts Research Center, the amazing David Roth.  In this first in an ongoing series of conversations, David will discuss a wide array of topics including the relevance of magic with coins at a time where the quarter is the largest coin that most Americans will be familiar with. Dai Vernon's circumcission, the Spaghetti Sessions, the El Cerrito Seven and so much more. 

Paul Vigil has often been referred to as "the best close-up magician in Las Vegas". He's a free thinker and an explorer of the mind of both the performer and the spectator.  Above all else he's a man who loves the art of magic. With an intensity that engages the most cynical of audiences, Paul has become a "Must see!" in a city known for it's ruthlessness towards performers. "I'm here to be the best--not only at what I do, but at what can be done--period. I want my audience to experience something they've never experienced ever before. I want them to feel something they've never felt before. I want my audiences to believe something they've never believed before; until they walk away from my show."  I our interview we explore why magic is so important to him and what secret project he's working on in Las Vegas.

Fresh from his appearance on the cover of the November 2008 Issue of Magic Magazine, Joshua Jay is our guest on this edition of the Magic Newswire "Spirit of Magic" podcast.  Joshua talks about the differences between publishing his first book at the age of seventeen and the release of his new book "Magic : The Complete Course." In addition, Jay discusses his ideas with regard to the creation of original magic and the ways in which a magician can impact the way the spectator views the performance.