Brian Brushwood has been on my radar for the podcast almost since i first began 15 years ago. Since he lives in the Austin area, I always felt I would have time to chat and feature him on an episode. As we approach 1,000 episodes, I'm beginning to shift some guests from the back burner to the front. My son Nick, interned with Brian when he was in the thick of the college circuit in the early 2000’s. That was the genesis of many of the future endeavors taken on by Brian like Scam School, Modern Rogue, and even the World’s Greatest Con which define Brian’s current trajectory.

Brian has been and continues to be a trailblazer in our magic community having begun his his own magic career in 1993. He has since garnered the support and admiration of some of magic’s biggest names including Jeff McBride, and Teller, one half of the Penn and Teller duo, and even David Copperfield.

Since beginning his career in magic, Brushwood has authored six books, including Cheats, Cons, Swindles & Tricks: 57 Ways to Scam a Free Drink; Pack the House: The Ultimate, Ever-Growing Guide to Increasing Attendance to YOUR Campus Events(co-authored with C.J. Johnson); and the Professionals Guide to Fire Eating.

Brushwood has made several TV and radio appearances, including appearances on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Roseanne Show, E! Entertainment Television’s Talk Soup, the WB’s Steve Harveys Big Time, Tech TVs Unscrewed with Martin Sargent, CMTs Most Wanted Live, BBCs The Paul Coyte Show, Westwood One’s “Don and Mike Show,” ABC-TV’s “The Debra Duncan Show, “The Shannon Burke Show” on KJFK-FM, Dudley and Bob” on KLBJ-FM, “The Morning Zoo” on KASE-FM, as well as news affiliates for ABC, FOX, CBS and Time-Warner.

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Brian Brushwood is a magician, podcaster, author, lecturer and comedian. Brushwood is known for the series Scam School, a show where he teaches the audience entertaining tricks at bars so they can "scam" a free drink from their friends. In addition to Scam School, Brushwood hosts Hacking the System on National Geographic Channel and also hosts the podcasts Weird Things, Cordkillers, and Night Attack. Brushwood has been a regular guest on This Week in Tech and previously hosted Game On! with Veronica Belmont on TWiT.

Among the many suggestions and links for you to follow, I heartily suggest you follow The World’s Greatest Con by Clicking Here.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Joel Bauer stands tall in the legendary hall of trade show performers and motivational speakers. More than an entertainer, Joel provides information to potential clients through his unique and boisterous approach of commanding attention at trade shows making him a fusion of both entertainment and information making him that ultimate “infotainer.”

Love him or hate him, there is no denying his financial success that he has derived from the industry and from teaching others how to find success, too. He spoke at MAGIC Live among so many other places and he offers these gifts to you!

Video Sampling From Dozens Of My Television Appearances: https://vimeo.com/infotainer/review/27267707/c9ca88fa42

Watch Five Minute Of Proof From My Past On Trade Show Floors: https://vimeo.com/infotainer/review/126403524/1378c5a9db

You may truly enjoy this NEVER released footage of me lecturing on my Trade Show process and success for over two decades at a MagicLive Magic Convention: https://vimeo.com/infotainer/review/136051637/7e3669c48f

If you want to cut to the most significant 100 minutes revealing precisely how I CREATED the CROWDS, CONVEYED COMPANIES CUSTOM MESSAGES, AND COLLECTED RECORD LEAD GENERATION – Watch This Edited Section: https://vimeo.com/infotainer/review/142451020/4f20e464b8

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Here is one of his books for free download that will teach you both magic and business at the same time! My best selling book: https://we.tl/5t3SF9SVfE

His Best Selling Book On The Business Of Magic (Electronic Download): Hustle, Hustle – The Business Of Magic https://we.tl/DAg3jcHEtI

Click Here to a link to “It Takes Guts Dammit” by Paul Diamond. It is a short booklet, but full of real gold, including audio.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

There are those few in our craft of magic that are well-known, but few who are as universally respected as Jeff McBride. Founder of the Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas, Jeff has transcended to the pinnacle of our industry. Having been awarded nearly every conceivable trophy and accolade in the magic community, Jeff continues to build and personally contribute to the coterie. Jeff continues to perform and teach around the world and he has embraced technology to supplement his methods of sharing magic, too.

Jeff’s magic pedagogy reflects modern methods of sharing with our community in recognition that we all learn at different levels and speeds. This week he talks about how he doesn’t create new acts or routines for his students, but rather shapes and directs the students’ existing skills that leads to an improved show that is uniquely their own. Jeff also discusses the creation of his “Wonderground” performance venue in Las Vegas that encourages magicians to flex their creative muscles.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Jeff McBride talked extensively about the importance of storytelling. So, it is appropriate that we recognize the recent passing of a master story teller who has shared more with the magic community than most know, including Tannen’s Magic Camp, where young magicians learned the importance of a good story in strengthening their magic. Hiawatha Johnson was a magician, writer, editor, musician, singer, dancer, choreographer, actor, director, composer, teacher, professor, historian, designer and playwright. He will be sorely missed by the community. Aloha, my friend.

“If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere,” sang Frank Sinatra in “New York, New York.” Rachel Wax traveled from Chicago to follow her dream of making it in the fashion industry. Though she did well and enjoyed her work, her true passion was with magic. She was influenced by “The Magnets” who encouraged her to pursue her magic dream. Soon thereafter Rachel began working at “SpeakEasy Magik” and the “Slipper Room” and other venues around the city as well as for corporate and private affairs.

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We begin our conversation with the beginning of what brought Rachel to New York City: fashion. Please stick with us, even though the first portion of this week’s podcast isn’t about magic, but rather the garment district and fashion in NYC. We then ease into our chat about Rachel and her magic that was influenced by her father (a professional magician in Chicago) plus her performance on Penn & Teller Fool Us and the many other venues where she makes a mark with her brand of magic.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

While at the 2025 Abbott’s Get Together, we chatted with several magicians. A while back we chatted with Craig Diamond and last week we released the one with Antony Gerard and this week we talk with Derek Hughes. That is a subtle hint for just another reason why you should attend magic conventions…all the great talent that comes and shares their time and talents.

Derek has performed his magic on MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, the CW’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and the Ellen Degeneres Show. He’s a consulting producer on TRUtv’s hit magic series, The Carbonaro Effect and was a finalist on season 10 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent [sic]. His back story was much about his health as a child and the importance of his children to his life. He regularly performs in nightclubs across the U.S. and has been nominated for several categories at the Magic Castle over the years. He is also a published author of a children’s book!

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A look at Derek’s first tattoo

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This week, Derek talks about his experience with AGT and the invaluable advice he received from Jim Steinmeyer. We also discuss the difference between a magician who does comedy versus a comedian who does magic. Derek tells us about the children’s book he wrote (available through Amazon on the link below) before he even had children.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Humpty Dumpty Lived Near a Wall

By Hughes, Derek

Buy on Amazon

Hail and Farewell to those in our magic community who left us this past year.

In 2025 we suffered the loss of many friends who have passed away, but whom are not forgotten. Although the list below is not exhaustive, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses, assistants and magic aficionados who passed on in 2025. This year’s list is much less than the number reported last year (12 this year v.s. 17 in 2024.) Some may not be as well-known to you, but they were my personal friends (hey, it is my blog!). If you are unfamiliar with any of these names, then it would behoove you to do a little online search of what these people have contributed to our craft. If you have someone you think was overlooked, then please post the name in the comments below on this blog.

Those whose names are highlighted with a “hot link” were featured or interviewed here on The Magic Word Podcast. It was not my original intent when I began this journey to chronicle the voices before they left us, but I am so thankful that I did sit down with many of these friends for lively, and sometimes intimate, conversations. You can click on their name to revisit and listen to their voices again.

Ian Adair

Roger Nicot

Jack Greenburg

Gordon Miller

Mercer Helms

David Solomon

Ginny Aronson

Dirk “Mr. D” Spence

Micky Blashfield

Connie “Paprika” Leaverton

Curtis Kam

Peter Studebaker

Over the years, many of you have become acquainted with Antony “Tony” Gerard, and some of us have been lucky enough to call him a friend. He is a fascinating gentleman who defies labels because of he is a polymath who enjoys many disciplines outside of magic, such as archeology, martial arts, creating remote control things for Hollywood, and more. He has written over a dozen books and lectured all over the world, runs his own magic shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is often seen as a magic dealer at conventions where he sells his own creations.

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This week’s conversation could have gone in so many directions, each of which would have been an interesting trail filled with stories and wisdom. But we tried to encompass as many of Tony’s interests into about a one hour conversation, which (for those of you who know Tony is hard to do) and focus on the variety of his interests and his background from The Netherlands.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

While at this year’s Magic At The Beach convention in Myrtle Beach, SC, one of the magicians who performed was my friend Trigg Watson. Trigg has performed on America’s Got Talent [sic], Penn & Teller Fool Us, Masters of Illusion, just to mention a few of the television shows where he has appeared. He prefers performing in theaters where he has access to a large stage, a stage crew, and a strong Wi-Fi. He is best known for his avant garde performances employing high tech that is on the leading edge. He finds ways to present new technology in an entertaining way that looks like real magic. Throughout the ages, magicians have been in the forefront of using “modern” technology in their magic acts, but it is getting increasingly more difficult in today’s world with our rapid communication. Everyone is getting “up to speed” much faster than in earlier times.

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This week Trigg Watson shares his philosophy behind his act and how he keeps up with modern trends. He also discusses social trends and how media and magic has (and will) change. He always seems to keep his magic “fresh” meaning that he has to keep on the leading edge of technology before the rest of his audience has gotten there.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Everyone who listens to this podcast no doubt has some degree of love and respect for the art of magic. Starting from that common point, we all go off in our divergent ways and follow the paths that give us joy and often success along the way. This week we chat with three disparate magicians who share that passion for magic but have, indeed, found totally different ways of getting to their “end game.”

Bizzaro is a creative magician who performs mostly in Las Vegas but also builds unusual props for other magicians and consults on Escape Rooms across the country. Cody Fisher is a corporate magician who performs as an after dinner speaker and does strolling magic as well as his share of trade shows and he even gets out on cruise ships to perform. And Joan DuKore is getting started with her career performing for corporate banquets and aboard cruise ships, too.

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While attending this year’s Magic at the Beach convention, my intent was to have three separate episodes, each featuring one of these dynamic performers because of their differences from one another. But as it happened and came together, their time and mine grew “tight” and they preferred to be in the room together to record this episode. That is, except for Joan DuKore. I intended to get her aside later in the convention to record a separate podcast, but as the three of the rest of us were recording, she passed by the room where we were sitting and came in to join us. It was quite fortuitous and serendipitous that made for a delightful, fun and funny conversation, each talking about their unique areas of expertise in magic.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Saturday

Event                                         Time           

Chad Long                            11:00 – 12: 00

Shimpei                                 12:30 – 1:30

Lunch                                      1:30 – 3:00
Gabriel Gascon                      3:00 – 4:00
Dani DaOrtiz                           5:00 – 6:00
Dinner                                     6:00 – 8:15
Saturday Show                       8:15 – 10:15

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I will post time stamps after I’ve gotten some sleep. Come back later…much later.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Thursday

Event                               Time                

Joseph Daniels        6:00 pm – 7:00pm
Newcomer                8:00pm – 8:45pm
Robin Deville            9:30pm – 10:30pm

 

Friday

Event                               Time             

Boris Wild                    11:00 – 12:00
Eric Chien                     1:00 – 2:00

Lunch                            2:00 – 3:30

Javi Benitez                   3:30 – 4:30
Insights                          5:15 – 6:45
Dinner                            6:45 – 8:15
Friday Night Show        8:15 – 9:45
Pizza Party                     10:00 Until

Dani Workshop             10:00ish

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I will post time stamps after I’ve gotten some sleep. Come back later…much later.

Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.