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Desert Island Tricks

Alakazam Magic
Magic
Mentalism
Magic Tricks
Alakazam Unlimited
Card Magic
Derren Brown
Magic Circle
Alakazam Magic
Performance Art
Magic Community
Comedy
Bizarre Magic
Hypnosis
Bill Abbott
Alakazam
Children's Entertainment
Blackpool Magic Convention
Illusions
Social Media
Sponge Balls

Each week, host Jamie Daws invites one of the biggest guests in the world of magic to maroon themselves on the Alakazam Magic desert island. They are allowed to take with them 8 tricks, 1 book, 1 banishment and 1 non magic item that they use for magic! They even get a welcome package with a deck of card inside! We discuss their 'can't live without' lists and why those items were chosen. Episodes a... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes167Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for Desert Island Tricks

Latest Episodes

A beginner magician walks into a magic shop and gets overwhelmed fast. Now imagine he works there. Emilio joins us from the Alakazam team to build his Desert Island list: eight tricks he’d keep forever, one thing he’d banish from magic culture, plus ... more

A lot of people think magic is something you either start as a kid or you miss your shot. Doug Gorman blows that idea up. He started at 45 after a Las Vegas moment hooked him for good, spent years performing classic close-up, then made a sharp turn i... more

A Covent Garden magic stall in winter, a boat that hosts magic sessions and a career that somehow threads through it all to The Magic Circle. We sit down with Lee Hathaway and get the kind of candid, craft-obsessed conversation that only happens betw... more

A coin vanishes three times, ends up trapped inside a phone and then bends after the spectator has been holding it. That’s how Stephen Maule chooses to open his desert island set and it instantly tells you what kind of thinker he is: practical, modul... more

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Recent Guests

Lee Hathaway
Magician and former Covent Garden stall owner
Magic Circle / The Circle (London)
Episode: Lee Hathaway
Stephen Maule
Magician and educator with focus on psychology, influence, and business lecturing
Episode: Stranded with a Stranger: Stephen Maule
Oliver Meach
Magician and author of Effervescent books; featured guest on the desert island list
Effervescent / Alakazam Studio Live
Episode: SOS: Oliver Meech
Michael J. Fitch
Magician and Magic Circle Vice President
Magic Circle
Episode: Michael J Fitch
Chris Funk
Professional magician, creator of Redefining Wonder show
Independent magician
Episode: Chris Funk
Luke Murray
Magician and guest on the show
Episode: Stranded with a Stranger: Luke Murray
Kieron Johnson
Magician known for regurgitation, bubbles, and bubble-based effects; performer in Come Alive, The Greatest Showman West End show
Come Alive, The Greatest Showman
Episode: Kieron Johnson
Wayne Goodman
Magician and guest on Desert Island Tricks
Independent magician
Episode: SOS: Wayne Goodman
John Bulleid
Internationally acclaimed magician and illusion designer
Theatre/theatre productions (notably Potter and The Magician's Elephant)
Episode: John Bulleid

Host

Jamie Daws
Host guiding conversations with guests, focused on Desert Island Tricks format and performance insights.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Fascinating Insight

    This is one of my favourite magic podcasts.

    It's a fascinating insight to how each performer thinks about their set and what inspires them.

    Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TigerTimmy
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Always inspiring, inclusive and unpretentious

    The one magic podcast I never fail to miss these days as it’s always got a friendly tone, never excludes any type of magic or magical viewpoints and it’s always there without fail every week.

    There are some amazing well known magician guests on here and the shows are superb but I also equally and maybe even more love the ones where I don’t know the guest as well, or at all, or it’s the stranded with a stranger. Because there is nothing better than the excitement of hearing from someone new and... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cmjharding
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • Seriously, how good is this!

    Brilliant concept for a magic podcast! Jamie does an amazing job at bringing these conversations to life. It’s an amazing format that opens your eyes to how vast and varied our community is. I’ve taken something from every episode, whether it’s an effect I hadn’t given thought to before, or a tid bit of performance advice. Keep them coming!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chardini
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • What a learning experience!

    I am enjoying this podcast so much. I am just a hobbyist and am learning so much about effects and how to routine them. I have added several to my wishlist and a couple of good books, too. Keep it coming! Thanks, Jamie and Alakazam.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TNCerny42
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Magic Podcast!

    This is a really fantastic magic /mentalism podcast. The premise is fun and each guest brings a different perspective and vibe to the questions and format. I am really enjoying hearing about all the guests’ Desert Island Tricks. Their book selections are great, too!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    John Moran
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the friendly, unpretentious vibe and strong host control of conversations.
The format showcasing guests' Desert Island Tricks is seen as a fresh, inspiring angle.
Many appreciate practical tips and real-world performance insights that listeners can apply themselves.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Oscar Leonard
Q: How do you balance mind-reading material with other types of effects to keep a show cohesive on ships?
He talks about rotating routines, avoiding clashes, and using feedback from peers to select the strongest, most engaging pieces that fit a thematic arc and stage constraints.
Oscar Leonard
Q: What makes your Fourth Dimensional Telepathy your go-to opening in a long-term cruise-ship show?
He emphasizes its simplicity, customization, and audience engagement; it's easy to follow, adaptable to different stories, and allows him to craft unique, live-audience-driven experiences.
Oscar Leonard
Q: Can you tell us about your early days and how you ended up on Virgin Voyages?
Oscar describes starting magic early, training as an actor, and getting a shot with Virgin Voyages through an audition that led to a seven-month contract and the role of The Charmer, which evolved with experience.
Steve Faulkner
Q: What book would you take to your island?
He would take Talk About Tricks by Joshua J., paired with the Talk About Tricks book set, to have a comprehensive, practical library of techniques and ideas available.
Steve Faulkner
Q: What would you banish on your desert island?
He would banish dogma in magic, arguing for personal freedom to explore and present magic in entertaining, beautiful ways without dogmatic restrictions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Desert Island Tricks

What is Desert Island Tricks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A witty, insight-forward conversation series where top magicians reveal their Desert Island Tricks—eight favorite effects, one book, one banishment, and one non-magic item they'd take if marooned. Across episodes, guests unpack why certain tricks endure, how they adapt them for live performance, and the storytelling choices that elevate routine—from classic card work to mentalism and stagecraft. The host keeps a careful balance between method, presentation, and audience engagement, often weaving in career anecdotes, showmanship tips, and practical packing notes for touring pros. A standout angle is the emphasis on accessibility and audience connection, plus a recurring focus on how traditional effects can feel contemporary through narrative... more

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How many listeners does Desert Island Tricks get?

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How many subscribers and views does Desert Island Tricks have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Desert Island Tricks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Desert Island Tricks:

1. The Steve Faulkner Podcast
2. The Magic Podcast
3. Penguin Magic Podcast
4. The Magic Guys
5. The Sleightly Twisted Podcast

How many episodes of Desert Island Tricks are there?

Desert Island Tricks launched 3 years ago and published 167 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Desert Island Tricks?

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What guests have appeared on Desert Island Tricks?

Recent guests on Desert Island Tricks include:

1. Lee Hathaway
2. Stephen Maule
3. Oliver Meach
4. Michael J. Fitch
5. Chris Funk
6. Luke Murray
7. Kieron Johnson
8. Wayne Goodman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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