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The Magic Word The Magic Word

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910: Brian Curry - Entering The Funny Zone

Brian Curry is a corporate magician from the Washington, D.C. area who often performs comedy magic for executives and politicians inside the beltway. He also performs school shows while balancing a home life with a wife and family. For a long time, he and Mark Phillips shared the stage in a “dueling magicians” type performance that played to great reviews. Known as “D.C.’s most honest con man,” Brian has a regular show entitled “The Good Liar” that plays at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.

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Brian has several stories about performing for politicians that he can’t publicly share, but the interesting ones he can share, he does in this week’s episode. He also gives some advice and tips along the way while sharing some comical stories.

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Tagged with Brian Curry, Washington D.C., Bob Sheets, Mark Phillips, Mario the Magician, Mario the Maker.

June 19, 2025 by Scott Wells.
  • June 19, 2025
  • Scott Wells
  • Brian Curry
  • Washington D.C.
  • Bob Sheets
  • Mark Phillips
  • Mario the Magician
  • Mario the Maker
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879: Mark Pocan - "Pocan" the Political Bear

Mark Pocan represents the second congressional district in Wisconsin, near Madison. He is also a long-time magician, but had a passion since his youth for both magic and politics. He is now serving his seventh term in office and for a few years was offering a YouTube channel filled with explanations of how politics works using magic in what he called “Magic Mondays.” Although he ceased production of those videos a few years ago, he plans to get them up and running again in 2025.

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Mark came from a family of politicians and, as he says, began door-to-door campaigning for his father at the tender age of six. He pursued politics through college while using magic to defray some of his costs of schooling. He still performs magic at fund raising functions and other charitable events. He is often seen attending magic conventions and has twice attended Vanishing Inc.’s magic retreats including one in Washington, D.C. where he was able to use his influence to allow attendees access to some backstage places in Congress.

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.

Tagged with Mark Pocan, Washington D.C., Norm Neilsen, Rick Wilcox, Joshua Jay, Bernardo Sedlacek, David Copperfield.

January 16, 2025 by Scott Wells.
  • January 16, 2025
  • Scott Wells
  • Mark Pocan
  • Washington D.C.
  • Norm Neilsen
  • Rick Wilcox
  • Joshua Jay
  • Bernardo Sedlacek
  • David Copperfield
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261: Project Alpha with Mike Edwards

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After viewing the highly acclaimed documentary, "An Honest Liar" about the career of James "The Amazing" Randi, I wanted to talk with Mike Edwards, the "psychic" who was "tested" along with Steve Shaw (Banachek) over a three year period in the late 70;s to the early 80;s. I have discussed Project Alpha with Banachek many times privately, on the podcast and on an L&L Video (Psi Series Volume 4 - Psychokenisis) but I had never met or spoken with, Mike Edwards, his partner on the project.

The stars aligned with my travel plans to Phoenix, Arizona and Mike's availability so we were able to find a relatively quiet corner in an otherwise busy restaurant and record this chat. It is a completely different perspective from the one I have heard from Banachek and the revelation during the last few minutes of our conversation figuratively "bowled me over". I was not expecting that news. You might be surprised and excited once you hear it, too.

Recorded: 5/27/2010 Original Alpha Kid, Michael Edwards pays a visit to the foundation and recalls some of the behind the scenes tricks that he and Steve Shaw (Banachek) did during the MacLab test. From Wikipedia: Project Alpha was an elaborate hoax orchestrated by the stage magician and skeptic James Randi.

Recorded: 5/27/2010 Original Alpha Kid, Michael Edwards pays a visit to the foundation and recalls some of the behind the scenes tricks that he and Steve Shaw (Banachek) did during the MacLab test. From Wikipedia: Project Alpha was an elaborate hoax orchestrated by the stage magician and skeptic James Randi.

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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 Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.

Click on the banner to visit the page where you can buy "all things by Banachek".

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Order the DVD from Amazon and help support The Magic Word.

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Tagged with Mike Edwards, Michael Edwards, Alpha Project, Banachek, Steve Shaw, James Randi, The Amazing Randi, An Honiest Liar.

October 29, 2015 by Scott Wells.
  • October 29, 2015
  • Scott Wells
  • Mike Edwards
  • Michael Edwards
  • Alpha Project
  • Banachek
  • Steve Shaw
  • James Randi
  • The Amazing Randi
  • An Honiest Liar
  • 1 Comment
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The Magic Word The Magic Word

A Podcast for Magicians, About Magicians, Hosted by a Full Time Professional Magician, Scott Wells

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Thanks to all of you listeners, The Magic Word Podcast and our newsletter (or “podletter” as I call it) has been recognized by FISM and received nominations in two categories. Please click on one of the graphics above and cast your vote to help push us on to victory in Turin, Italy, this summer! Thank you!

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FISM 2025 Daily Reports Begin Soon - We are in Italy and anxiously awaiting commencement of FISM 2025. There will be no podcast released today, but daily reports will begin next Monday. So, come back each day next week for regular updates from Turin,
We departed for Turin and arrived in time for FISM registration, street magic, and dinner. #turino #FISM2025
Our most amazing day yet! So full of surprises, good food, great wine, and amazing magic artifacts. #cherascoitaly #museodellamagia #cherasco
A most delightful tour of the most amazing magic museum in the world. #MagicMuseum #DonSilvio #cherasco
From Milan to a hazelnut farm then to the Piedmont region for drinks and BBQ as the sun set. Beautiful! #hazelnut #italy
So much history, so much beauty, so much good food, so much fashion, and so little time. #milanitaly #milano
So much history, so much beauty, so much fashion, and too little time to take it all in.
FISM 2025 Daily Reports Begin Soon - We are in Italy and anxiously awaiting commencement of FISM 2025. There will be no podcast released today, but daily reports will begin next Monday. So, come back each day next week for regular updates from Turin,
Leaving Venice, passing through a winery in the Valpolicella region, ending up in Milan.

The Magic Word Has been recognized by FeedSpot as the # 1 magician podcast in the world. Thank you all for your support and for listening throughout the years.

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