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The Magic Word The Magic Word

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803: John McLaughlin -The Intersection Between Spy Craft and the Craft of Magic

It was a hot and muggy night in Warsaw, unusual for this time of the year. Sitting at the bar was a man nursing a beer. No one noticed his unkempt appearance or the bulge in his jacket pocket. As the bartender rang up another transaction, a young man wearing a ball cap swung open the door. A quick sideways glance was given to the stranger who strode over to take a seat at the bar. The young man ordered a beer then turned and quietly said, “Erdnase.” After a few uneasy moments that seemed like an eternity, the man reached into his pocket. He pulled out a deck of cards and suddenly…it was magic time.

That could have gone in a completely different direction and oftentimes it does in the world of spy craft. This week we chat with the former Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A.), John McLaughlin. There is an overlap and kinship in the keeping of secrets both as spies and as magicians, though one doesn’t control the balance of life and death in their hands. John is an American Intelligence Officer who served as Deputy Director of the C.I.A. under President Bill Clinton and then briefly as the Acting Director of the C.I.A. under President G.W. Bush then retired in 2004. McLaughlin currently serves as a Senior Fellow and Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C

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While attending the 2023 S.A.M. convention in New Orleans, John and I had a chance to have a long conversation about some of the declassified operations in the C.I.A., “Project Mincemeat”, the “War Magician” (Jasper Maskelyne), the similarities between spies and magicians, and the local magic scene in Washington, D.C.

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

Click on this link to see information and prices for other ways of reading/hearing "The War Magician", i.e. digital, audible, paperback and hardback.

Tagged with John McLaughlin, C.I.A., The War Magician.

November 30, 2023 by Scott Wells.
  • November 30, 2023
  • Scott Wells
  • John McLaughlin
  • C.I.A.
  • The War Magician
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472: 2019 Magi-Fest Day Three Update

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Day Three Schedule - January 19, 2019

12:15 - 1:00 a.m. Surprise Event

10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Saturday Session

10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Dealers Open (Closed for lunch 12:30 - 1:30)

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Yann Frisch Lecture

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Juan Tamariz Lecture

4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Danny Garcia Lecture

6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Young Magicians’ Hangout

8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Gala Show

Late Night at 2019 Magi-Fest with Rick Wilcox

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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 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

Posted in Convention Report and tagged with Magi-Fest, Columbus Ohio, Yann Frisch, Juan Tamariz, Daniel Garcia, Steve Chezaday, Shawn Popp, Jeff Alan, Phillip Boruchowitz, John McLaughlin, Chris Korn, Rob Peffer, Tim Hannig, Brad Henderson.

January 19, 2019 by Scott Wells.
  • January 19, 2019
  • Scott Wells
  • Magi-Fest
  • Columbus Ohio
  • Yann Frisch
  • Juan Tamariz
  • Daniel Garcia
  • Steve Chezaday
  • Shawn Popp
  • Jeff Alan
  • Phillip Boruchowitz
  • John McLaughlin
  • Chris Korn
  • Rob Peffer
  • Tim Hannig
  • Brad Henderson
  • Convention Report
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391: The Evasons - Two Minds, One Thought

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Jeff and Tessa Evason are of one mind.when it comes to...well, about everything. We sat down at the 2017 MAGIC Live! convention in Las Vegas for a wonderful chat about their experiences as a two-person mind reading duo. Since 1983, Jeff and Tessa have performed in over 35 countries across the globe and made numerous TV appearances on major networks like NBC, FOX, and Discovery Channel.  The international Psychic Entertainers Association (P.E.A) gave them their most prestigious honor for distinguished professionalism.  They were also the first recipients of "The Mentalism Award" from the Milbourne Christopher Foundation and the only mentalists ever to receive the "SARMOTI Award" which legendary magicians Siegfried and Roy present to their favorite act in Las Vegas.

Heartfelt endorsement from Penn & Teller for The World's Foremost Mentalist Duo and Telepathists - THE EVASONS. More at http://www.evason.com

See why FOX Television called The Evasons "The most amazing mind reading act you will ever see!"
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Time Stamps for this podcast:

00:06:08- Jeff and Tessa talk about their former work aboard cruise ships performing magic and how they began, little at a time, to add mind reading to their show. Tess is a former fashion model (which should come as no surprise) and also has a background in fortune telling. Tessa also talk about being a female artist in a predominantly male industry. We also chat about the emotional presentation given by Abbey Goldrake given at the 2017 MAGIC Live!

01:07:38 - Product Review: "ESP By The Numbers" by John Bannon which includes the necessary ESP symbol cards and online instructions as to how to perform this effect. Also teaches you a card trick using the same "force" but applied to playing cards. Recommended.

01:14:40 - Product Review: "Liquid Killer" by Morgan Strebler explains how to twist forks (tines, neck and shaft) so it looks like it bends like liquid at your fingertips. I found this a little difficult for my hands to accomplish this little "miracle", but I'm certain that "younger fingers" could do it. Worth your consideration.

01:19:05 - Product Review: "Unlock" by Morgan Strebler gives you three different ideas on how to unlock a mobile phone. The DVD explains how to unlock iPhones but not with Android, though they should be similar. Recommended.

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

Tagged with The Evasons, Jeff Evason, Tessa Evason, mentalism, mindreading, two person telepathy act, Siegfried, Psychic Entertainers Association, P.E.A., Cruise ships, two person mind reading duo.

November 2, 2017 by Scott Wells.
  • November 2, 2017
  • Scott Wells
  • The Evasons
  • Jeff Evason
  • Tessa Evason
  • mentalism
  • mindreading
  • two person telepathy act
  • Siegfried
  • Psychic Entertainers Association
  • P.E.A.
  • Cruise ships
  • two person mind reading duo
  • Post a 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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In May 2024, Scott Wells had the distinguished honor of receiving a “Special Fellowship” from the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) for the Magic Word Podcast which promotes “not only personal stories of fascinating individuals, but also fellowship amongst our extended family of artists and entertainers everywhere.”

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Travel Breather in the Eye of the Storm - We are between two (actually three) major events: FISM, Abbott's Get Together and MAGIC Live! Last week was a full week of FISM reports. Next week we travel to Colon, Michigan for Abbott's Get Together then i
Rome may not have been built in a day, but we tried to see as much of it as we could in an afternoon.
Another beautiful day in Umbria visiting #Assissi and #Perugia #Italy
More time near the Tuscan sun. But this time we traveled south to Umbria where we visited #Bevagna #Montefalco and #Spello
More time under the beautiful Tuscan sun with a visit to Montalcino and Montepulciano for wine tasting and exploring. Now staying in a monestary. #italy
Travel Breather in the Eye of the Storm - We are between two (actually three) major events: FISM, Abbott's Get Together and MAGIC Live! Last week was a full week of FISM reports. Next week we travel to Colon, Michigan for Abbott's Get Together then i
Another delightful day under the Tuscan sun in Siena and other cities I can't spell, but enjoying the sun, the food, the wine, and the culture. And the Gelato is amazing. #gelato #siena #italy
A tour of the Chianti Classico region. Two wineries and a sunset Tuscan dinner followed by, of course, gellato. #chianti
From Turin to Parma where we tried the music,  cheese, prosciutto,  wine, and Gelato. #parma

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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