This one’s a big one! Legendary comedian, actor, and teacher Karen Maruyama joins Kayla to talk about playing characters, being funny, and why watching magicians often is…gross. Karen, a teacher at The Groundlings and AFI, has taught specialty workshops for Disney Orlando, Disney Animation, Paramount Parks, and Universal (to name a few). She’s the director… Continue reading 068-Karen Maruyama on Character, Comedy, and Disingenuous Magicians
Suzanne and Kayla talk restaurant magic during COVID and post-COVID times, training horses, audience management, creating unique magic, and fooling Penn & Teller (which only Suzanne did…Kayla did not fool them…DUH!). Audiences all over the country have been falling in love with Suzanne since 1985. She resides in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and can be see… Continue reading 067-Suzanne the Magician
Okay, maybe it’s not as big as we think. But, this episode is too fun to miss! The Setup (John Accardo and Chris Grace) is a podcast discussing magic and comedy and why each other’s industries are way cooler than their own. Kayla, John, and Chris chat about being funny, why certain props/mindsets in magic… Continue reading 066-The Crossover Event of the Century
From the early days of dance and circus to her debut and magic shows in Las Vegas, from touring internationally with award winning magic to producing magic production shows, from mentoring to providing contracts for emerging talent, nothing has been impossible on Connie’s journey. Very early on in Connie’s magic career she began working with… Continue reading 065-Connie Boyd on her Career and Magical Women
First up-a quick update on the Jibrizy special episode. Then, listen to how Ryan Kane rewrote all the stock material in his show to end with something unique and specific to him. Ryan Kane is a magician, comedian, and author thriving in the San Francisco Bay Area. His clients include Fortune 500 companies and savvy event… Continue reading 064-Ryan Kane on Rewriting Stock Material
Trigger Warning: sexual assault, anti-LGBTQ+ slurs With the purpose of having a face-to-face conversation, Kayla chats with Jibrizy about the effect, “Cake”, comments made online, and more. An important note: with the exception of taking out some talk at the start and a few “um”s, “uh”s, and pauses in the first half of the episode,… Continue reading Special Episode: Jibrizy
In this episode, Lyn Dillies discusses her career, her new project “Your Vote is Magic”, and being a woman in the illusions world. Kayla also shares some thoughts on the new effect “Cake” by Jibrizy, released by Abstract Effects. Lyn Dillies has earned a place in magic history for her unique illusions with elephants. She… Continue reading 063-Lyn Dillies on Your Vote is Magic
Season 3 has begun! There’s no better way to kick things off than with Sherard Robbins! In this episode, Sherard Robbins, creator of Visceral Change, talks with Kayla about the core components to social justice and what we can all do to help our communities and our society to be a more diverse and accepting… Continue reading 062-Sherard Robbins on the Core Components to Social Justice
So much has changed since Season 2 that we’re telling you about them in this mini-episode announcement. Season 3 begins OCTOBER 5th!! Show Links Become a Patron Shezam Swag Shezam Pins Kevin Kareckas New Song, “Good Times Go” Jonah’s Twisters State of the podcast 0:00:00 Changes in Season 3 0:01:56 Ads, sponsored segments, SAM and… Continue reading Season 3 ANNOUNCEMENT!
As a PS to closing out Season 2, here’s the audio from the Shezam Pod Live Lecture with the IBM back in March. Carisa and Kayla have a fun chat, play some games, and take some questions. Warning: information may be out of date, but this was too fun not to share. See you in… Continue reading 061-You Thought We Were Done!
Jen Adams is BACK (because she never left!) to close out her conversation with Kayla about why she quit magic and the amazing things she’s doing now in Boise. Jen Adams’s Website Lounge at the End of the Universe Intro / Shezam theme 0:00:00 Leaving magic 0:00:16 Moving to Boise 0:04:40 Country music DJ 0:11:07… Continue reading 060-Jen Adams, Part 2: Quitting Magic and the Lounge at the End of the Universe
Trigger Warning-sexual assault, rape, body image. Jen Adams joins Kayla for a discussion about her vast career, from being the child of a magician, to working with the beginning of The Mystery School, to working on (and being let go from) Celebracadabra. Jen Adams’s Website Lounge at the End of the Universe Intro / Shezam… Continue reading 059-Jen Adams on Celebracadabra
Born in Spain, based in London, Sonia talks with Kayla about her background as a dancer and how incorporating it has affected her magic and attracted the interest of advertisers. Sonia’s Instagram: @soniabenitoSonia recommends: www.nowness.com Here are a few links of Sonia’s work, her video for Nike, and an amazing video dedicated to women in… Continue reading 058 – Sonia Benito on movement in magic
We are taking this week off from Shezam to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests. Donate NAACP Legal Defense Fund Home A multi-recipient donation page: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ab_mn Books Consider buying from one of these black owned bookstores https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.php Black Feminst Thought-Patricia Hill Collins Me and White Supremacy- Layla F Saad A Diamond is a… Continue reading Black Lives Matter
Carisa & Kayla talk about what they are doing with their quarantine and recommend some great things for you. Intro / Shezam theme 0:00:00 Catching up 0:00:36 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 0:04:51 Physiological needs: food 0:07:15 Physiological needs: water 0:15:21 Physiological needs: rest 0:22:39 Safety needs 0:28:34 Exercise 0:34:36 Belongness and love needs 0:37:17 Games… Continue reading 057 – Hierarchy of Needs
The unbelievable Juliana Chen tells Kayla and Carisa what’s what about basically everything. Intro / Shezam theme 0:00:00 Catching Up 0:00:27 Goal: recover lost Las Vegas history of women 0:02:32 Juliana’s history 0:02:59 Career highlights 0:06:06 Always looking to help younger generations 0:09:45 Do you feel that it made a difference? 0:14:13 How Kayla met… Continue reading 056 – Juliana Chen!!
Intro / Shezam theme 0:00:00 Following Adelaide Hermann’s tracks 0:00:58 Tour of Adelaide artifacts 0:02:24 Herrmann scrapbook 0:09:43 Adelaide’s family 0:20:37 Meet Margaret Steele 0:28:05 How Margaret found Adelaide 0:38:56 SAM 100th Salute to Magic 0:49:16 TAOM Convention 0:51:15 Adelaide’s memoirs 1:16:13 Online research 1:21:35 Shezam theme / SAM Funding 1:23:41
Carisa sits down with Catie Osborn, a talented magician with two masters degrees in Shakespeare to discus what good old Billy can teach us about the world of magic. As an entertainment directer Catie also has some great insight on making yourself appealing to bookers. Intro / Shezam theme 0:00:00 Meet Catie Osborn 0:00:19 Accessibility… Continue reading 054 – Catie Osborn on Shakespeare and tips from an entertainment director
If you are doing livestreams because you are stuck at home, you need this. We also want to take a moment to thank amazing photographer Dana Pleasant for the incredible images we continue to use. Intro / Shezam theme 0:00:00 Catching up 0:00:30 Quarantine self-care 0:02:10 10 best practices for mental health 0:08:25 1) Social… Continue reading 053 – Livestreams: You’re doing it wrong!
Kayla sits down with Marc to get some great insight on conventions and lecturing. Shezam theme / Meeting Marc 0:00:00 MAES Convention 0:09:39 Marc’s memory 0:16:06 Representing women in talent booking 0:18:35 How to create a lecture 0:29:29 What makes a good lecture 0:31:53 Mentorship 0:37:33 Lightning Round 0:42:30 Shezam theme / SAM funding 0:51:48
