Desert Island Tricks

A lot of magicians are taught to copy the script, dress the part, and never take off their shoe. Ben Williams did the opposite and that’s where the magic got good. We sit down with Ben to map the journey from shop counter to full-time pro, and how ditching ego, reading people, and letting effects breathe turned solid tricks into lasting moments. We walk through the eight workers he’d take to a desert island and the choices behind them: why Ring Flight Revolution becomes a miracle when you slow it down, how Card to Shoe transformed from “never do that” to a signature closer, and the way “Anything” makes prediction feel honest without fussy process. Ben breaks down a Coins Across that escalates cleanly and ends with a personalised photo souvenir, his pragmatic love for Digital Force Bag and how to apply it to the right audience, and a disarming Card in Condom routine built on kindness and careful framing. We revisit his evolution from OCL to Rings for linking cards, same impossible souvenir, smarter method and the un-gimmicked Photo Frame change that fuels upsells, referrals, and framed memories that live on long after the gig. Threaded through every piece is a clear philosophy: fewer phases, stronger beats, context over dogma, and spectators treated as people first. Ben names ego as the thing he’d banish, then points to tools that actually help, Fitzkee’s The Trick Brain as a creativity blueprint and humble elastic as a versatile engine for movement, vanishes, and clever mechanics. If you want a set that travels from weddings to corporate floors with equal power, and a voice that’s yours, not a borrowed script, this conversation maps the path. If this episode sparked ideas, share it with a friend, hit follow and leave a quick review! Ben Williams’ Desert Island Tricks:  1. Ring Flight Revolution  2. Card to Shoe 3. Anything  4. Coins Across  5. Digital Force Bag  6. Card in Condom  7. Rings  8. Photo Phrame  Banishment. Ego Book. The Trick Brain Item. Elastic Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

The work is the point. That’s the pulse of this candid, wide-ranging session with R. Paul Wilson, creator, consultant, and the mind behind The Real Hustle, where we dig into what actually makes magic land: clear effects, honest timing, and an audience that edits your choices in real time. We open with a hard truth: there are no shortcuts. From Vernon’s Triumph to cups and balls, Paul shows how iteration, not novelty for novelty’s sake, transforms a trick from “doable” to “devastating.” We trace his path through cornerstone pieces, Coins Across, Cylinder and Coins grounded in Ramsey’s discipline, and the folded card as a perfect state-change convincer. Each routine becomes a lab for tightening language, shifting moments, and cutting clutter so spectators feel the miracle before they hear it. Paul’s story about reconstructing and refining a rare take on René Lavand’s Breadcrumbs reveals what deep study looks like: research, respect, and a poetic frame that makes people care. Then we zoom out. A guitar shows up, not as a prop, but as cross-training. Learning music sharpened his teaching, exposed the myth of “easy,” and mapped directly onto sleight-of-hand: structure practice, embrace the slog, and aim for competent, confident, and comfortable. We also step into memorised deck thinking, why Simon Aronson’s “Everybody’s Lazy” still feels impossible, and how Tamariz’s mindset unlocks new doors in any stack. Paul rounds it out with cups and balls as an act-in-a-pack and a lifelong workshop, from Elmsley and Williamson to Tommy Wonder. Along the way, he buries one thing: resentment. We talk about healthier ways to handle influence, invention, and disagreement in a small, connected art form, private conversations over public pile-ons, and effect-first decisions over hype. If you care about building stronger routines, cleaner methods, and a better culture, you’ll feel at home here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves real craft, and leave a review telling us which routine or insight you’re taking back to your practice. R Paul Wilson’s Desert Island Tricks:  1. Dai Vernon’s Triumph  2. Coins Across 3. Cylinder and Coins  4. Folded Card 5. Breadcrumbs  6. Musical Instrument  7. Memorised Deck  8. Cups and Balls  Banishment. Resentment  Book. The New Greater Magic Item. A very good knife Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

A live show opens with robots, kids, and pure energy, then the control room realises ten full minutes aired with no sound. What happens next says everything about a presenter who helps to keep everything flowing and use his incredibly personable persona to make a disaster feel like it barely even happened. That’s our entry point into a fast, generous conversation with Northern Irish magician and Blue Peter presenter Joel M about building routines that survive chaos, delight kids and adults, and still feel fresh after thousands of views. We trace Joel’s path from early stage shows to viral short‑form clips where his brother’s reactions became a storytelling engine. He breaks down why packaging matters as much as method when you’re competing with global feeds, and how he curates classics and modern visual pieces for attention, pacing, and punch. Then we dive into his “desert island” list, eight workers across cards, mentalism, and simply put, pure joy. Expect a “special” deck paired with Mnemonica for quick, impossible hits; a Clarity Box used as a late‑show kicker rather than a card location; iCurveball for durable, app‑free phone mind reading; an add‑a‑number pad that routes memories and PINs cleanly; billets with Acidus Novus, the move that built a career; Tenyo’s Crystal Cleaver for unapologetic wonder; Liam Montier’s Timeless, framed as pseudo‑hypnosis; and Blockhead, reimagined through a candid story about psychosomatic pain and the brain’s strange wiring. Along the way, Joel shares pragmatic rules for stronger shows: design for robustness, not fragility; avoid repeating the same revelation three ways; cut hack lines that punch down; and let meaning carry the shock. His book choice, Derren Brown’s Notes from a Fellow Traveller, speaks to building theatre that lasts. His non‑magic tool, a Blue Peter badge, proves that props with story palm better in the audience’s mind. If you love real talk about creating modern magic that works on stage, on camera, and with families, this one’s a keeper.  Joel’s Desert Island Tricks:  1. Deck of Playing Cards  2. Clarity Box  3. iCurvball  4. Kozar Prediction Pad 5. Billets / Acidus Novus 6. Crystal Cleaver  7. Timeless  8. Blockhead  Banishment. “Hold out your hand.. no, the clean one. Oh, that was the clean one” Book. Notes from a Fellow Traveller  Item. Blue Peter Badge  Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

What happens when the universe sends you a sign? For Christopher Taylor, it came in the form of a prisoner's profound question and a late-night phone call from David Copperfield on the very same day his wife encouraged him to pursue magic full-time. In this captivating episode, Christopher shares his remarkable journey from prison guard to classroom teacher to pioneering creator of electronic mentalism. As one of the first innovators in this field, his products like Equinox, Real Ghost, and Death Toll have revolutionised how performers approach classic effects by creating versions that look "as if they could be done for real." Christopher's approach to magic transcends mere methodology. A skilled storyteller, he explains how narrative transforms tricks into meaningful experiences, emphasising that a well-told story must stand on its own merits before magic is introduced. His philosophy that "the story is what makes the audience hungry" offers a masterclass in creating context that elevates magical moments. Perhaps most thought-provoking is Christopher's perspective on magic itself. He challenges the notion that "there's no such thing as magic," arguing instead that magic is as real as comedy or tragedy, it simply requires a particular viewpoint. The synchronicities in his own life, like David Copperfield calling at the perfect moment, reveal the magical structures that exist if we're willing to see them. Whether you're a creator, performer, or simply fascinated by the psychology behind powerful experiences, Christopher's insights into electronic mentalism, storytelling technique, and the philosophy of impossible moments will transform how you think about the art of astonishment. Christopher’s Desert Island Tricks:  1. Equinox  2. PK Touch / Real Ghost 3. Taylor Index Decoding System 4. The Prisoner  5. Overkill  6. Card Under Table 7. Trilogy  8. Scrying Out Loud Banishment. The idea that there is no such thing as magic Book. Storytelling: Process and Practice Item. Keys  Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

Card magic legend John Carey takes us on a fascinating journey through the eight tricks that defined his remarkable career, from the streets of London to teaching in 26 countries worldwide.     John's selections reveal the essence of powerful, practical magic. The Biddle Trick, with its multiple magical moments in a single effect. Triumph, where chaos transforms into perfect order except for the spectator's selection. Cards Across, which proves equally effective in close-up or stage settings. ACCAN (Any Card At Any Number), the plot magicians have pursued for generations. The Ambitious Card, with John's advice to limit phases and build to an impossible climax. Think-a-Card, perhaps the purest demonstration of apparent mind-reading possible with playing cards. His One Coin Routine, the visual magic that saved him in challenging performance environments. And finally, Card to Impossible Location, creating unforgettable magical moments when signed cards appear where they simply cannot be.    Throughout our conversation, John shares performance wisdom gained over decades: "Less is more." "The effect should build, never plateau." But his most powerful insight comes from legendary performer Fay Presto: "The magic must always be strong, but YOU are the effing magic." John's personality shines through each routine, reminding us that technical perfection means nothing without the human connection that transforms tricks into magic.    John's Desert Island Tricks offers a masterclass in selecting effects that stand the test of time while allowing your personality to make them uniquely yours. John’s Desert Island Tricks: 1. Biddle Trick 2. Triumph  3. Cards across 4. ACAAN 5. Ambitious card 6. Think a card 7. One coin routine 8. Card to impossible location Banishment. Chinese Sticks  Book. Royal Road to Card Magic  Item. Personality  Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk