Leah Orleans is a contortionist, entertainer and fitness instructor currently based out of St. Petersburg Florida after the Covid-19 pandemic grounded her tour. She is one half of the comedy acrobatic duo, Acrobatrix! that tours cruise ships, renaissance festivals, and universities. Growing up in the theater scene of Chicago, raised in a family of magicians,… Continue reading 074-Leah Orleans on How Circus and Magic Compare
WE GOT Josephine Lee! Josephines fresh, modern spin on magic took the magic world by storm after her appearance on BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT. This magic act hit millions of views overnight, making Josephine the most talked about woman in the magic industry. She has since made TV appearances all over the world, her UK Television… Continue reading 073-Josephine Lee!!
What does it take to be a solid illusion assistant? How can magicians still use a female assistant and not come across as sexist or just plain gross? What should we look for when hiring someone to go in the boxes? After dancing practically all her life in Kansas City, Marissa moved to Los Angeles… Continue reading 072-Marissa Maiorana on Being in the Box (and in the air)
Makeup-it’s a mystery to many of us (especially Kayla). And makeup for your promo photos and videos require a professional touch. Enter: Cassandra Paige. Her Instagram says it all: she’s a skilled and artful makeup artist. On top of her vast skill and packed resume, she’s also an absolutely hilarious and bubbly human being. Enjoy… Continue reading 071-Cassandra Paige on Looking Good for Promo Photos/Videos
Laura Okmin is a special kind of magician. Not the kind that we’re used to hearing-card and coin tricks and such. Laura, instead, is the third longest tenured sideline reporter in NFL history. And even though she often heard that her career will go downhill after turning 40, Laura loves to say (or shout!) that… Continue reading 070-NFL Reporter Laura Okmin
Ever wanted to try street performing? Although Kayla is clearly an expert after her one street show (sarcasm), Felice Ling and Cate Flaherty are regular performers at Boston’s Faneuil Hall. You may know Quincy Market for the shopping and food. It’s also a hot spot for the best of the best street performers; it’s no… Continue reading 069-Street Performing Experts Felice Ling and Cate Flaherty
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
