948: Derek Hughes - Family Guy

While at the 2025 Abbott’s Get Together, we chatted with several magicians. A while back we chatted with Craig Diamond and last week we released the one with Antony Gerard and this week we talk with Derek Hughes. That is a subtle hint for just another reason why you should attend magic conventions…all the great talent that comes and shares their time and talents.

Derek has performed his magic on MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, the CW’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and the Ellen Degeneres Show. He’s a consulting producer on TRUtv’s hit magic series, The Carbonaro Effect and was a finalist on season 10 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent [sic]. His back story was much about his health as a child and the importance of his children to his life. He regularly performs in nightclubs across the U.S. and has been nominated for several categories at the Magic Castle over the years. He is also a published author of a children’s book!

This week, Derek talks about his experience with AGT and the invaluable advice he received from Jim Steinmeyer. We also discuss the difference between a magician who does comedy versus a comedian who does magic. Derek tells us about the children’s book he wrote (available through Amazon on the link below) before he even had children.

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Humpty Dumpty Lived Near a Wall

By Hughes, Derek

Buy on Amazon

**Hail and Farewell to those in our magic community who left us this past year.**

In 2025 we suffered the loss of many friends who have passed away, but whom are not forgotten. Although the list below is not exhaustive, it does reflect the names of many well-known (and some lesser known) magicians, spouses, assistants and magic aficionados who passed on in 2025. This year’s list is much less than the number reported last year (12 this year v.s. 17 in 2024.) 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 with a “hot link” were featured or interviewed here on The Magic Word Podcast. It was not my original intent when I began this journey to chronicle the voices before they left us, but I am so thankful that I did sit down with many of these friends for lively, and sometimes intimate, conversations. You can click on their name to revisit and listen to their voices again.

Ian Adair

Roger Nicot

Jack Greenburg

Gordon Miller

Mercer Helms

David Solomon

Ginny Aronson

Dirk “Mr. D” Spence

Micky Blashfield

Connie “Paprika” Leaverton

Curtis Kam

Peter Studebaker

676: Ed Alonzo - In The Library

While I was in Los Angeles to work on “Masters of Illusion” TV series, Ed Alonzo found time to sit in the library of the Magic Castle to chat about his career. As a former member of the Long Beach Mystics and the Magic Castle Junior group, Ed launched successful careers as both a magician and an actor having major roles in many television series including “Saved By The Bell.” He also went on to work with Britney Spears on her worldwide concert tour where he interacted with her on stage in his character as a magician.

In this week’s episode, Ed covers a lot of territory in a short hour podcast. He talks extensively about the Magic Castle and his love and dedication to the clubhouse. He also talks about his time as a youth as he was trying to “find his character” when he was a member of the Long Beach Mystics and the Magic Castle Juniors. He tells how he transitioned into acting but never lost his love for performing magic, which he still does to this day having just completed the taping of Season Nine of “Masters of Illusion.” By the way, he talked about running for office on the Academy of Magical Arts: he won the election and is now on the Board of Directors. Congratulations, Ed.

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 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

Towards the end of the episode, Ed talks about being on “The American Life” podcast with Ira Glass and David Kestenbaum as they talked about “The Lady Vanishes” or, David Copperfield’s vanish of the Statue of Liberty. Ed was part of the team that worked with David on this illusion and this episode goes into detail about the effect. The podcast website for this episode is HERE. “The Lady Vanishes” is the second part of this episode entitled “The Magic Show” and Ed Alonzo’s part comes very near the end at around time stamp 00:53:00.

671: Erick Olson - Always Prepared

As the Roman philosopher, Seneca, said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” This week’s guest is always prepared, even in the worst of times. From Disney World to restaurants and resorts to bar bets, theatre management and trade shows, Erick Olson has accomplished a lot and finally reached a level of professionalism and prestige in our industry that has rightfully earned him a “spot at the table” among the “big dogs.”

An example of a way to make a theatrical presentation for a mathematical magic trick

Erick Olson talks this week about his secret to success in the trade show business. If you listen and apply his ideas (based upon his years of experience), then perhaps you, too, can lead a “charmed life.” For more information on his Bar Bets and Tricks, please CLICK HERE or follow this link: https://www.barbetsandtricks.com/

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 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