The Magic Book Podcast

09/15/2026

To coincide with the publication of his new book, "Houdini's Library" today, my guest is Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center.

Harry Houdini was one of the greatest collectors of his era: every corner of his Harlem townhouse held books, playbills, prints, and ephemera. Within months of his death in 1926, the collection was split, sold, and scattered. Eric spent a decade piecing the story back together.

On the pod, he discusses his new book and the exhibition of the same name, the librarian Houdini kept in his attic, a bargain bought in wartime, and how Texas ended up with the collection.

Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Podcast with guest conversations about classic and contemporary books that teach, illuminate, and celebrate the art of magic and mentalism

08/31/2026

For more than six decades, Woodstock's resident magician Alan Eisenson, known professionally as Just Alan, has made magic from his own life. In a new episode of The Magic Book Podcast, we discuss "Just Alan - Not Just Magic," a limited edition book about Alan, written and illustrated by Jay Fortune. Alan explains what it means to transcend technique, describes how he decides where a true story ends and invention begins, recounts the making of The Sands of India, and reflects on a one-man show that never reached the stage. Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.

08/07/2026

It's always a pleasure to meet podcast guests IRL. Earlier this week I got to enjoy the Curiosities exhibits at MAGIC Live with Harrison Greenbaum.

08/02/2026

On the latest episode of The Magic Book Podcast, mentalist Christopher Carter discusses "In the Spotlight," named Penguin Magic's Book of the Year, which collects 28 routines and essays from a 35-year career across college campuses, corporate stages, and cruise ship theaters.

Chris explains why the Q&A act is so effective in mentalism, describes the Mental Interview at the heart of his approach, and explores the handling of stage danger in Staple Gun Roulette, choosing a risk that is real without being mortal.

Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

07/18/2026

My thanks to John Gaspard for having me on Behind The Page: The Eli Marks Podcast. I'm usually the one asking questions, so being the guest was a different kind of experience. We discuss my lifelong passion for magic, career, moving to the US, and the parallels between effective advertising and the principles of illusion.

Each episode offers the next chapter in an Eli Marks mystery, along with information and interviews about topics within the stories. Find all the Eli Marks mysteries HERE.

07/04/2026

Irv Weiner was a magician known to college audiences across America as "Mr. Fingers." But where did the name come from?

Irv grew up in Boston as the son of deaf parents, signing before he ever performed, and that early fluency with his hands became the foundation of everything he did on stage.

Scott Martell tells his fascinating story in a biography that was a quarter of a century in the making.

Listen to the story of "Mr. Fingers: The Magic of Irv Weiner" on The Magic Book Podcast website or wherever you listen to podcasts.

https://themagicbookpodcast.com/episode/scott-martell-on-mr-fingers-the-magic-of-irv-weiner

06/19/2026

Las Vegas magician Jason Bird discusses "Strolling for Dollars," his 580-page field guide to making a living doing walkaround magic, with a foreword by Jeff McBride. From a childhood library book to the Vegas Strip, Jason traces his path through Caesar's Magical Empire, the influence of Eugene Burger, and why he chose print over a video course. He talks candidly about pricing, the twelve working magicians he interviewed, and the philosophy at the book's heart: good magic leads to more magic.
https://themagicbookpodcast.com/episode/jason-bird-strolling-for-dollars

05/29/2026

Charles Greene III returns to The Magic Book Podcast discuss his new book, "Exposing Houdini: 52 Lost Glass Plate Images," which features a previously unknown cache of Houdini negatives he traced from an abandoned safe deposit box in Ohio to the mentalist Joseph Dunninger. Discover the first photographs ever taken of the Milk Can Escape, why a single tugboat moved one image from Australia to Philadelphia, the rest moment hidden inside the Water Torture Cell, and the one photograph no expert has been able to identify.

https://themagicbookpodcast.com/episode/charles-greene-iii-exposing-houdini

Podcast with guest conversations about classic and contemporary books that teach, illuminate, and celebrate the art of magic and mentalism

05/07/2026

On the most recent episode of the podcast, Anthony Heads, Sweden's leading paranormal illusionist and mentalist, traces his unconventional path from telling childhood ghost stories in the UK to founding the Stockholm Ghost Walk and building a singular career in paranormal performance. Discover why he resists the label of magician, how a 1600s cellar restaurant launched his 'real experiences,' what 'the bubble' really means, and how his books, "Practical Paranormal Performance" and "Live Storytelling for Magicians," codify his craft.

https://themagicbookpodcast.com/episode/anthony-heads-the-power-of-storytelling

Podcast with guest conversations about classic and contemporary books that teach, illuminate, and celebrate the art of magic and mentalism

04/21/2026

Swedish professional magician and entrepreneur Caroline Ravn discusses her unique journey from theology student to international performer. Caroline dives into the practical, non-magical lessons from her book, "The Business Side of Show Business," including defining a unique selling point, leveraging LinkedIn for corporate bookings, and the importance of having a "lost luggage" contingency plan. Learn how to thrive in the entertainment industry with Caroline's insights.

Swedish professional magician and entrepreneur Caroline Ravn discusses her unique journey from theology student to international performer. During the...