657: Mike Powers - Interdimensional Thinking

Mike Powers is more than a thinking man’s magician. He is a retired science teacher, an author, an inventor, a mathematician, a creator, and even a sky-diver. He attends few magic conventions except for those focusing on close-up magic. He is the author of the new book, “Tesseract” and he discusses the use of this title in this week’s podcast.

Mike covers a lot of territory in this week’s episode and we go rather deep into a scientific discussion of what t Tesseract is. He also explains how to perform his “Science Friction” trick with a plastic straw. A lot of territory is covered this week including magic that you are sure to enjoy.

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Hail and Farewell

to those in our Magic Community who left us this past year.

Although the list below is not exhaustive, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses and assistants who passed on in 2021. 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 were featured or interviewed here on The Magic Word Podcast. You can click on their name to revisit and listen to their voices again.

Mark Wilson

George Goebel

Carole Greenberg

Steve Shain

Dr. Richard Mossey

Siegfried Fischbacher

Harold Twaddle

David Roth

Alouise Bergeron

Joe Porper

Jeff Marcus

Paul Emmick

Ray Henslee Thompson

Yuji Yasuda (An Song U)

Frances Robert “Robbie” Willmarth

Brian John Miller

Ronald James “Obie” O’Brien

Mike Shelly

John McClenahan

Edward “Ed” A. Morris

Patricia A. Mossey

Jack Kent Tillar

Melvin “Mel” B. Siegel

Aubrey Ronald “Ron” Cartlidge

Frank Seltzer

656: Megan Swann - Madam President...Finally

Megan Knowles-Bacon, best known by her stage name Megan Swann, is the first female president of The Magic Circle in their 116 year history. She was 28 when she gained the position in 2021. Until 1991 the Magic Circle did not admit women at all. Megan has been performing magic since she was five years old. Her career began via the Young Magician's Club, a youth initiative of The Magic Circle. She became a member of The Magic Circle at 18. In 2014, she became the first woman to be elected as an officer of the society and was elected as Vice-President in 2019.

Swann is passionate about nature, so she uses her magic performance skills to promote environmental issues. She performs and tours the UK with her ‘Green Magic Show’ for children. In this episode, she also talks about her interest in ballet and the stage magic show she designed around her dance. She has a degree in Wildlife Conservation from University of Kent in Canterbury and performs 'environmental magic' which she describes as 'a powerful tool for sharing important messages in a fun and engaging way'.

655: Mia Krejcik - The Great Escape

In the 1980’s and 90’, the magic duo, Petrick and Mia, were everywhere. They were international stars appearing on television, casino showrooms, nightclubs, conventions and more. They also toured with Petrick’s lecture that included many original effects many of which that have been released on video. But in 2000 that all came to an end as the couple began moving apart both creatively and physically and their act was shelved.

Since that time, Mia Krejcik became a real estate agent in Las Vegas and was far outside of the magic community. Now that she is older, Mia is renewing many of the international friendships in magic she began many years ago.

In this week’s episode, Mia talks about first meeting Petrick and how they became a couple on stage and deciding to escape the country. She also .talks extensively about their harrowing escape from Communist Czechoslovakia to the free world and eventually settling in the United States.