The Society of American Magicians annual convention for 2010 has just wrapped up in Atlanta, Georgia. I was very fortunate to have a chance to chat with several magicians in attendance including Kozmo, Levent, Merrit Abrose, Eric Jones, Michael Close, Celeste Evans, Axel Hechlau, Merrit Ambrose, Losander, Bev Bergeron, Eric Decamps, Banachek, Johnny Thompson, Debbie Leifer, Richar "The Cheat" Turner, Sandy Marshall, John Harrison, Arthur Trace, Debbie Leifer, Aldo Columbini, Bill Andrews, Bob Little, The Reed Sisters, and of course the outgoing SAM President Mike Miller and the newly inducted President Mark Weidhaas.  Atlanta was great fun for everyone and thanks to those that I managed to catch in the hallway for a chat! 

Direct download: themagicnewswire-238630-07-04-2010_pshow_364716.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 2:11pm EDT

Magic Magazine Editor & Publisher Stan Allen Joins us again for one of our regular chats to discuss the current issues of Magic Magazine. We've changed our schedule such that we will talk to Stan one month and Richard Kaufman of Genii Magazine the next. On this episode, Stan discusses the June issue of Magic which featured Kalin & Jinger on the cover and the July issue which is just now hitting mailboxes around the world and profiles Chuck Jones. In addition, Stan discusses his decision to take his publication digital and what that means for the traditional print edition.

Direct download: themagicnewswire-237464-06-25-2010_pshow_358123.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 6:19pm EDT

Long before being recognized as an outstanding interviewer and talk show host, Dick Cavett started his career as a performer by doing magic.  On this episode of The Spirit of Magic podcast, Mr. Cavett talks about his lifelong passion for magic, his appreciation for the work of Slydini, his friendship with fellow magician Johnny Carson and which of  the celebrities that he's known had an secret passion for our art form.

Direct download: themagicnewswire-236967-06-22-2010_pshow_357638.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 12:27pm EDT

Ed Alonzo has worked magic for Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Craig Ferguson, Usher and many more.  What was Michael Jackson's best disguise for public outings and what was it like working for him just before his death?  What happened backstage on Britney's Circus tour and what does a 260E Balloon have to do with her?  What is the truth behind the failed chair levitation that has gotten so much traffic on YouTube? All this and more on this episode of This Week in Magic! 

Direct download: themagicnewswire-236584-06-19-2010_pshow_357234.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 12:58pm EDT

Who are the architects of magic's future?  What is it that they bring to the table that makes them shape the future of the art?  When we look back to our recent past, we often point to people like Dai Vernon Ted Annemann and others as those that blazed the trail for us. In this episode of "This Week in Magic," David Kaye, Scott Wells, Rudy Coby, Chase Goforth and I are joined by Andrew Mayne and try identify some of the greats that walk among us today.  In addition, we discuss why so many family magicians get a bad rap and take several of the usual tangents that happen whenever we get together. 

Direct download: themagicnewswire-235954-06-14-2010_pshow_356414.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 12:54am EDT

Over the next several weeks both the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Society of American Magicians will hold their national conventions. On this episode of "This Week in Magic," we are joined by the International President of IBM Jack White, the President of SAM Mike Miller, SAM VP Vinnie Grosso and the magically renewed Rudy Coby who joins us as guest co-host.  As always, I am joined by  our regular panelists David Kaye, Scott Wells, Cameron ARamsay & Chase Goforth.

Direct download: themagicnewswire-234984-06-08-2010_pshow_355508.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 11:23am EDT

The magic community was rocked by the unexpected news of the arrest of Jonathan Pendragon in July of 2009. Needless to say, "the incident" left everyone wondering what would become of one of the most amazing magic acts that we had ever seen. The idea that we would see no more of "The Pendragons" and their amazing brand of physical magic was hard to imagine.  In this, his first public interview since the "incident," Jonathan talks about what happened, what he feels contributed to it and where he goes from here.  Because of ongoing legal issues, not every question that you may want to have answered is addressed.  In spite of that, I am hopeful that this conversation will answer the questions that many of you may still havd as to what happened to one one of the most highly regarded performing couples in the history of magic.

Direct download: themagicnewswire-234066-05-31-2010_pshow_354631.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 12:27am EDT

Famous for unique magic creations and his incredible versatility, Dan Harlan has developed and performed cutting-edge miracles with everythinbg from a deck of cards to a bag of rubberbands. He was instrumental in popularizing magic with rubber bands and you've seen several of the effects that he helped to bring back performed by the likes of David Copperfield & Luis DeMatos. Dan is also the creator of one of the most charming effects to be released in the last twenty years, CardToon. Dan joins me on the Spirit of Magic podcast to discuss the influence that magic has had in his life and what took him away from the community in which he was so intimately involved for so long.

Direct download: themagicnewswire-233559-05-28-2010_pshow_354288.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 12:16pm EDT

Is there a better way to wrap up the "Late Night with David Letterman"  Close-up Magic Week than by talking with some of the people that were there.   Our special guest on this episode of This Week in Magic is the Millionaire's Magician, Mr. Steve Cohen.   To help Steve discuss the Letterman experience, we've also invited Theory 11's Jonathan Bayme and our own David Kaye to join us, both of which helped performers involved in this week of magic including Steve and Michael Ammar.  We are also joined at the end of our chat by a surprise guest who also performed on Letterman this week. What would you do if you were invited to perform on Letterman?  Find out what our guests recommend on this episode of the podcast!

Direct download: themagicnewswire-232941-05-24-2010_pshow_353935.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 11:56pm EDT

This has been a busy week for magic on network television. The CBS Late Show host David Letterman has been featuring close-up magic by some of the top performers in the field. On Moday he featured the seventh appearance by Jason Randal. On Tuesday, John Carney brought his unique performance style to the show. On Wednesday, the amazing Johnny Ace Palmer worked with everything from yellow yarm to baby chicks. Tonight we will see what the Millonaire's Magician Steve Cohgen brings to the table. Steve will be our fetured guest on the next episode of This Week in Magic and will be joined by Dan White and Jonathan Bayme to discuss magic as presented in this format! 

Direct download: themagicnewswire-232342-05-20-2010_pshow_353585.mp3
Category: Podcast -- posted at: 10:03pm EDT