Explore every episode of the podcast Behind the Secrets by VANISH
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome to Behind the Secrets by VANISH | 19 Jul 2025 | 00:00:52 | |
Welcome to Behind the Secrets - the official podcast from VANISH Magic Magazine. Each week, we sit down with world-class magicians, mentalists, creators, producers, and rising stars who’ve turned the impossible… into reality. We dive into the untold stories behind the sleight of hand and the spectacle... From the first trick that sparked their obsession… to the bold risks, backstage lessons, spectacular flops, and unforgettable moments that shaped their path - we explore the artistry, psychology, performance, and legacy of magic in all its forms. Behind every great illusion is a person who dared to believe… and a real human story; one of courage, creativity, obsession, and pure wonder. We are launching with our amazing guests very soon! | |||
| The Art That Saved Me: Shin Lim on Creativity, Setbacks and Finding Purpose through Magic | 28 Jul 2025 | 01:00:10 | |
He’s won America’s Got Talent. Twice. He’s conquered FISM - the Olympics of Magic. He headlines his own Vegas residency night after night. But behind the smoke, mirrors, and cards, Shin Lim is an artist who almost walked away from it all. In this captivating and unfiltered conversation, I sit down with Shin Lim to explore the journey behind the magic - the heartbreaks, the hair (yes, we talk about his hair), the failures, the flow, and the fire that fuels his artistic obsession. Shin opens up about the moment carpal tunnel ended his dream of being a concert pianist, and how a YouTube video - and his brother’s slip force trick - changed his life forever. We dive deep into how music became the backbone of his storytelling, why he performs entire routines without speaking, and what it really means to make an audience believe. He shares the gritty details of almost quitting magic after a disappointing performance at FISM, the surprise phone call that pulled him out of that spiral, and how he built a visual style that now defines an entire genre of close-up magic. This episode is part masterclass in discipline, part behind-the-scenes of a Vegas headliner, and part soulful exploration of creativity, love, and what is hands-down a legacy-in-the-making. We cover:
Whether you’re an artist, performer, creative, or simply someone curious about what it takes to master a craft and live your dream - this episode will leave you inspired, entertained, and reminded that anything is possible when you stop chasing approval and start chasing wonder. Watch the full episode at YouTube: Connect with Shin Lim: Connect with VANISH: Connect with Jordana, Podcast Director Email: jordana@jordanab.me | |||
| What Magicians Get Wrong About Magic with Erik Tait from Penguin Magic | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:56:05 | |
In this deeply funny, insightful, and delightfully nerdy episode of Behind the Secrets, Penguin Magic’s Erik Tate takes us on a deep dive into the surprising, hilarious, and thought-provoking world of a modern working magician, teacher, product developer… and accidental niche celebrity. From prison-tattooed ducks to mind-blowing revelations about how audiences actually see magic, we talk about career pivots, creative pressure, the power of great teaching, why magic still matters in a world that’s addicted to shortcuts, and the surprising mechanics of what makes a magic product a hit. With equal parts heart and razor-sharp insight, Erik opens up about navigating criticism online, the future of exposure and ethics in the digital era, and why curiosity is the true superpower behind every great teacher. Whether you're a working magician, an enthusiastic amateur, or someone who loves pulling back the curtain, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and pure magic. In this episode, we cover:
Connect with Erik Tait Connect with Penguin Magic Connect with VANISH Connect with Jordana, Podcast Director Email: jordana@jordanab.me | |||
| Die on Stage Until You Don’t Care Anymore - John Archer on Fear, Failure & Comedy Magic | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:58:19 | |
He’s been called one of the UK’s best comedy magicians, and for good reason. In this episode of Behind the Secrets, we sit down with the legendary John Archer, whose career spans decades of laughter, astonishment, and unforgettable moments on stage. From becoming the first ever Fooler on Penn & Teller: Fool Us to taking on the high-pressure spotlight of Britain’s Got Talent, John shares the highs, the lows, and the glorious disasters that every performer secretly fears (including the infamous Cuba nightclub gig and the night he somehow became a babysitter mid-show). Along the way, he unpacks how comedy and magic really fit together, why the “die on stage” reps matter, and the mindset shifts that keep you both brave and kind with audiences. We dive into:
CONNECT WITH JOHN at this website, on YouTube and on Instagram Connect with VANISH Connect with Jordana, Podcast Director Email: jordana@jordanab.me | |||
| The Only Failure Is Giving Up - with Magician, Cardist and YouTube Pioneer Ekaterina | 25 Aug 2025 | 01:27:25 | |
Ekaterina is a magician, cardist, YouTube pioneer, marketing executive, content creator, poker player, and Mom – proving that resilience and curiosity can take you anywhere in life. In this conversation, we trace her journey from uploading YouTube videos as a teenager to building a massive global audience with her Let’s Learn series. She shares lessons on patience, pushing through frustration, creating content that lasts, handling negativity, and why she lives by the mantra “I can’t imagine not trying.” We dive into the side of Ekaterina few people see – the introvert who found therapy in cardistry, the Mom balancing family with an intense marketing career, and the woman who quit alcohol to stay sharp, only to find a surprising new passion: poker. From losing $10,000 to winning $24,000 in a single day, she reveals how poker has taught her resilience, emotional control, and the art of bluffing through life’s toughest tables. Ekaterina opens up about the highs and lows of being a woman in magic, the backlash over teaching tricks on social media, and how she built a bridge between magicians and the wider world. She explains why algorithms can be “trained,” how she hacked TikTok and YouTube for explosive growth, and why her cat Tiger became such a beloved part of her brand that even Google demanded he appear in her sponsored videos. This episode is funny, vulnerable, and packed with wisdom. From learning push-ups after painful setbacks to recovering from on-stage flops with a smile, Ekaterina shows us the real magic of persistence – and reminds us that the only true failure is giving up too soon. In this episode we cover:
CONNECT WITH EKATERINA at her website, on YouTube, and on Instagram. Connect with VANISH Connect with Jordana, Podcast Director Email: jordana@jordanab.me | |||
| The Magic of Intuition, Silence and True Human Connections with Renaissance Man Andrew Gerard | 18 Aug 2025 | 01:26:41 | |
What makes magic feel real? Is it the trick, the technique, or something far more human? In this powerful and surprising conversation, we sit down with Andrew Gerard - magician, consultant, and creative mind behind TV’s biggest magicians including David Blaine, Criss Angel, Keith Barry, Bryan Miles and more. But Andrew’s story goes far beyond the stage. At its core, his work is about connection; the subtle art of listening, the courage to let go of scripts, and the magic that happens when you step into the present moment. Andrew takes us behind the curtain of his career: from learning the craft of performance, to writing and consulting for global icons, to discovering that true magic comes from silence, intuition, and presence. Andrew shares unforgettable lessons on storytelling, leadership, and how to create moments that people don’t just watch… but they feel. This episode is as much about life as it is about magic. You’ll hear Andrew’s insights on confidence, creativity, and what it really means to be authentic. And yes, you’ll also discover his most unexpected side gig: perfume making. In this episode, we cover:
CONNECT WITH ANDREW at his website, on Instagram and on YouTube. Connect with VANISH Connect with Jordana, Podcast Director Email: jordana@jordanab.me | |||
| Inside the Mind of the World’s Leading Female Illusionist with Josephine Lee | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:57:08 | |
In this captivating episode of Behind the Secrets, we are joined by Josephine Lee - the world’s leading female illusionist, for an honest, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about life behind the smoke and mirrors. From the grand scale glamour of cruise ship theatres to the painful reality of snapping her ACL mid-show (and finishing the performance with gaffer tape - yikes!) Josephine opens up about the grit, resilience, and creativity it takes to survive and thrive in one of entertainment’s most logistically challenging art forms. You’ll hear about her creative process, her obsession with modernising magic, the lessons she’s learned from both triumphs and flops, and how she uses visual storytelling, music, and audience connection to make illusions way more than “just tricks”. This is an episode packed with laughter, surprising truths, and practical wisdom for performers, creatives, and anyone chasing big dreams… even when the path ahead is far from easy. In this episode, we cover:
CONNECT WITH JOSEPHINE at her website, on Instagram and on YouTube. Connect with VANISH Connect with Jordana, Podcast Director Email: jordana@jordanab.me | |||