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Artwork for What's The Trick?

What's The Trick?

Ben Hanlin
Tiktok
Creative Process
Comedy
Content Creation
The Guest
Creativity
Entrepreneurship
Romanticy
Youtube
Humor
Dom Jolly
Bb-8
Matt Richardson
Jack Savoretti
Social Chain
The Hoosiers
Catch Flights, Not Feelings
Comedians
Authors
Content Creators

How do you take a spark of an idea and turn it into something original, finished, and unforgettable?

In this conversation, we sit down with some of The World’s most creative people and get geeky about their creative process. The breakthroughs, the failures, the step-by-step hard work that audiences never see.

Join Ben Hanlin as he interviews Comedians, Musicians, Writers, Content Creators and asks... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes30Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBusiness

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Artwork for What's The Trick?

Latest Episodes

Brian Conley reveals how he went from performing in clubs and warming up television audiences to becoming one of Britain’s biggest Saturday night entertainers, regularly reaching 15 million viewers.

He shares the lessons behind his longevity, inclu... more

YouTube

Emmy Award-winning writer Brent Forrester reveals what really happened inside the writers’ rooms of The Simpsons and The Office, from the pressure of pitching jokes to the techniques used to generate unforgettable stories.

He also explains how to cr... more

YouTube

Henry Lewis reveals how a late-night production performed to tiny audiences grew into The Play That Goes Wrong, a West End phenomenon that has now reached more than 50 countries. He shares the persistence, testing, creative collaboration and business... more

YouTube

Paul Zerdin shares the truth about winning America's Got Talent, revealing how 25 years of preparation, relentless refinement and calculated risks led to one of the biggest moments of his career. Sharing the reality of Las Vegas and burnout to buildi... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Brent Forrester
Emmy Award-winning US TV writer
TV writer/producer
Episode: Brent F: How 'The Simpsons' and 'The Office US' Were Really Written
Henry Lewis
Co-founder of Mischief; creator of The Play That Goes Wrong
Mischief, The Play That Goes Wrong
Episode: Henry Lewis: How 'The Play That Goes Wrong' Became a Global Comedy Empire
Paul Zerdin
World-class ventriloquist and winner of America's Got Talent (US)
Ventri-sphere/Professional ventriloquism career
Episode: Paul Zerdin: What happens after you win Amercia’s Got Talent
Nadia Casey
Comedy coach focused on helping everyday people be funnier
No More Funny Business
Episode: Nadia Casey: How we can all be funnier in real life…
Dominic McGregor
Co-founder of Social Chain
Social Chain
Episode: Dominic McGregor: How we built Social Chain into a £200m company
Derren Litten
Writer and creator of Benidorm
Benidorm (ITV)
Episode: Derren Litten: How One Sketch Became Benidorm
Matt Richardson
Comedian and presenter, friend and guest on the show
Self-employed / comedian
Episode: Matt Richardson: Why Most Comedians Never Make It
Simon Squibb
Entrepreneur known for going up to people to ask about their dreams
Entrepreneur (TikTok/Instagram outreach)
Episode: Easter Special: What 10 Creative Guests Taught Me About Making Things That Work
Nile Gray
TikTok creator known for catch flights not feelings and nostalgia content
TikTok content creator
Episode: Easter Special: What 10 Creative Guests Taught Me About Making Things That Work

Host

Ben Hanlin
Host of the show, conducts interviews with creatives, focusing on process and practical tips.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings
  • Absolutely superb - once you start you’ll be hooked

    Recently discovered this podcast and absolutely love it. Every single guest has such insight and the nature of how Ben conducts the conversation brings out real nuggets in every single episode.

    A natural interviewer that never speaks over the guests, Ben clearly is interested in everyone he has on and that makes for fascinating two way conversation as opposed to just a standard Q&A.

    Highly recommend this and even if you don’t think you’re creatively inclined, start with the Derren Litten epi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cmjharding
    United Kingdom20 days ago
  • Excellent

    Really easy to listen to, insightful, great variety of guests. Ben is an excellent and flowing interviewer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ghfksggydbbakdh
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Refreshing and authentic

    It’s great to hear some real conversations prompted by brilliant questions. Getting a bit bored by the plethora of ego driven, highly edited podcasts out there that seem so false and contrived. What’s The Trick is so much more down to earth and authentic, and actually contains a lot of useful insights - unlike some podcasts which just plug whatever thing it is the guest wants you to buy. The guests on this show seem to be parting with genuine words of wisdom. And Ben’s mission and goals around t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yogamadcat
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • I love it.

    So good, it’s really refreshing to hear honest interviews and insights with leading figures in the arts. All without the classic DOAC sales which everyone seems to be jumping on. Ben is a great interviewer and I look forward to the rest of the series.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BookdCRM
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Fascinating creative podcasts

    Ben has a really easy and likeable tone and asks interesting and relatable questions. The guests seem to have had a great time chatting with him so all in all it works a treat. Look forward to finding out who he gets next!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andyscott69
    United Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise approachable, insightful questions and a natural interview flow.
The show is described as authentic and down-to-earth, avoiding overly salesy content.
Guests highlight practical takeaways and creative discipline.
Some listeners note the breadth of guests as a strength and inspiration for their own work.
Fans value energy and enthusiasm in hosts and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#186
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Paul Zerdin: What happens after you win Amercia’s Got Talent
Q: What happens after you win in terms of promotions and touring?
Paul describes a whirlwind of satellite media tours, interviews, and PR appearances, followed by a Vegas headline show and negotiations about long-term commitments and contracts.
Paul Zerdin: What happens after you win Amercia’s Got Talent
Q: How many of the AGT rounds were planned ahead and how much did you improvise on stage?
He explains that the rounds were pre-planned and that he relied on a solid, rehearsed core act, tweaking endings and details to fit the show and the judge's interactions.
Henry Lewis: How 'The Play That Goes Wrong' Became a Global Comedy Empire
Q: How does the global expansion process work for Mischief Worldwide?
Global growth started with licensing through Mischief Worldwide, using both non-replica and replica productions, supported by licensed teams who adapt and stage shows in local markets. An international agent network and targeted investments allowed script licensing, localization, and coordination of regional productions while maintaining brand cohesion and centralized marketing.
Henry Lewis: How 'The Play That Goes Wrong' Became a Global Comedy Empire
Q: What were your key learnings in taking a show from a pub to the West End and beyond?
Key learnings include balancing artistic craft with audience accessibility, testing ideas quickly through workshops, and recognizing the value of a clear, descriptive title to signal the show's genre. The team also emphasized persistence, collaborative writing, and ongoing refinement based on audience feedback to scale productions responsibly.
Henry Lewis: How 'The Play That Goes Wrong' Became a Global Comedy Empire
Q: From 2012, where did the idea for The Play That Goes Wrong come from, and how did you get from concept to stage?
The idea grew from blending improv with scripted material, inspired by course-acting and a long process of writing late at night with friends. They tested and refined the concept through small performances, workshop rehearsals, and iterative script development, gradually expanding from a 60-seat venue to larger stages while maintaining a live, dangerous-improv feel.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About What's The Trick?

What is What's The Trick? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively interview show focused on creativity across arts, comedy, music, writing, and content creation. Guests range from stand-up comedians and magicians to TV writers and musicians, with conversations centering on how ideas are born, tested, and refined into lasting work. The host leans into practical techniques, relatable storytelling, and personal journeys, offering actionable takeaways for creators and aspiring guests alike. A notable trait is the mix of hands-on craft tips with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, making it valuable for listeners seeking inspiration, realistic career paths, and tangible strategies for ideation and execution.

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How many listeners does What's The Trick? get?

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Which podcasts are similar to What's The Trick??

These podcasts share a similar audience with What's The Trick?:

1. The Wittering Whitehalls
2. THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
3. Why Are You More Successful Than Me? with Richard Bacon
4. The Louis Theroux Podcast
5. The Romesh Ranganathan Show

How many episodes of What's The Trick? are there?

What's The Trick? launched 8 months ago and published 30 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 What's The Trick??

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on What's The Trick??

Recent guests on What's The Trick? include:

1. Brent Forrester
2. Henry Lewis
3. Paul Zerdin
4. Nadia Casey
5. Dominic McGregor
6. Derren Litten
7. Matt Richardson
8. Simon Squibb

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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