Magic Tricks that shouldn't work.. but do! #292

Today we debate eight core rules of magic - from repeating effects and revealing secrets to character, storytelling, originality and whether fooling the audience is most important. The conversation mixes history, practical advice and strong opinions as the panel decides which rules to keep, bend or break, sharing examples, anecdotes and tips for magicians at every level. Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. 

Nick Kay sits down with touring magician and mentalist Joel Meyers to explore his rise from childhood magic to international stages and TV appearances, including AGT, Wizard Wars and Masters of Illusion. They discuss his new book Disillusion, storytelling through magic, faith, family, identity, and unforgettable backstage and onstage moments that shaped his career. Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. 

Hosts Josh and Nick trade stories from the road: themed gigs that demand wigs, glued eyebrows and shaved beards, LED suits and the grind of last‑minute tech rehearsals. They talk Tesla tangents, audience reactions, and the upsides of dressing up for paid events. The episode also dives into magic itself — simple methods that create huge reactions (invisible decks, thumb tips, sponge balls, crisscross forces), bold sleights, confidence onstage, and new custom iPad/LED screen routines. Tune in for behind‑the‑scenes confessions and practical performance talk. Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. 

This week, we welcome Las Vegas magician Dustin Marks, who spent years secretly cheating casinos while working as a blackjack dealer in the 1980s, without getting caught! We dive into his incredible story, the techniques he used, the risks involved, and how he managed to stay undetected. Learn More About Dustin https://www.dustinmarks.com/ Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. 

Nick Kay hosts Kyle Purnell in a wide-ranging episode about creativity, performing, and the making of modern magic. Kyle discusses his journey from using magic to manage a lifelong stutter, his creative process ("magic goggles" and analyzing object attributes), career highlights like Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and signature creations such as Lightyear and Crossfade. Listeners also hear candid gig stories, Kyle’s approach to problem-solving, and a personal account of donating a kidney. The episode offers practical creative exercises, insights on originality and voice, and inspiration for performers and creators. Follow Kyle! Socials - @Kyle_purnell_magic Website - https://kylepurnellmagic.com/ Kyle Purnell on Penguin Magic 🪄 Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.  Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.  Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. 

Episode 289 features Eric Yuhasz discussing his new book "Cultivating Creativity" and how magicians build bold ideas. The hosts explore giving yourself permission to fail, finding your creative voice, documenting and shelving ideas, and setting parameters to sharpen creativity. They share stories from zoom quick-change tricks to elevator pop-up magic and performing for children in hospitals, and offer practical tips for generating ideas, handling criticism, and turning creativity into meaningful, lasting impact. Get Eric's Book Cultivating Creativity! Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.  Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.  Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. 

Episode 288 of The Magic Guys brings the hosts together after big guest episodes to swap gig stories, listen to SpeakPipe submissions (including a memorable battery-to-lollipop moment), and talk shop about creating and staging magic shows. They discuss practical advice for writing a show, lighting and tech workflows, the vibrant Vegas magic scene and venues like The Magician’s Room, and Doug’s plans to develop a personal Vegas show and related vlogs. The episode closes with merch news, booking options, and more listener engagement. Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.  Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.  Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it. 

World Champion Magician Helder Guimarães joins The Magic Guys to discuss his extraordinary career and acclaimed one-man show, The Hope Theory. Helder shares how storytelling, sleight of hand and his journey from Portugal to America shaped his magic, plus his collaboration with legendary filmmaker Frank Marshall and the show’s Off-Broadway debut See The Show! https://www.nycitycenter.org/events/2026-2027-the-hope-theory Follow the Show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thehopetheorynyc/ Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.     

Stuart MacDonald joins The Magic Guys! A Penn & Teller: Fool Us winner, international magic champion and TEDx speaker, Stuart combines world-class magic with a fascinating approach to creativity and problem-solving. We dive into his award-winning performances, unique characters, creative process, and the thinking behind making truly unforgettable magic. https://stuartmacdonaldmagic.com/ https://a.co/d/0b2h88rn (Stuart’s book!) https://www.youtube.com/@StuartMacDonaldMagician https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartmacdonaldmagic/ Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.     

The Magic Guys catch up as Doug returns, shares his recent dental surgery and decision to leave Trick Supply, and explains his plans to reboot his magic career in Las Vegas. They discuss vlogging gear (DJI Osmo Pocket 3), 3D-printed props, small theater shows, gigs and community events, plus the podcast book club, membership support, and gratitude to listeners. Support the show and grab some Merch! Leave a voicemail for The Magic Guys Join The Magic Guys Discord!!! Email Us - [email protected] The Podcast where Professional Magicians, Josh Norbido, Doug Conn & Nick Kay take on the important questions of life (Mainly from our youtube subscribers) and deliver answers from a Magicians point of view. Come hang out with us while we chat about our lives as Magicians and the ups and downs that go with it.