What makes a magic trick truly unforgettable? For Noel Qualter, it's creating moments that make spectators exclaim, "That's the weirdest, craziest thing I'll remember for a long time!" This philosophy has guided his remarkable career from three-time originality award winner to fooling Penn & Teller.

In this captivating conversation, Noel opens up about co-founding Trick Trick Boom with Roddy McGhie, a company dedicated to producing magic that breaks free from convention. Their first release, Mini Book Pro, exemplifies this approach – a miniature laptop impossibly transforming into a signed card – and has rapidly become a modern classic that professional magicians worldwide have embraced.

Noel's desert island selections reveal the mind of an innovator who values theatrical presentation as much as methodology. From Jon Allen's Destination Box (a twenty-year workhorse in his repertoire) to his newest creation Bandit (which solves the age-old problem of vanishing folded objects in an interesting and fooling way), each choice demonstrates his commitment to practical, memorable magic.

The conversation takes unexpected turns as Noel shares his creative process, including his technique of pausing magic product trailers before the full premise is revealed to spark original ideas. He delivers strong opinions about mentalism (spoiler: he's not a fan) while championing "mental magic" with clear, visual impact. His journey from being cut from Fool Us to eventually fooling Penn & Teller years later offers an inspiring glimpse into persistence and creative evolution.

Whether you're a professional performer looking for fresh material, a magic enthusiast curious about innovative approaches, or simply fascinated by creative thinking, Noel's insights will transform how you view the art of impossible. Check out tricktrickboom.com to discover the offbeat, unforgettable magic this unique creator continues to develop.

Noel’s Desert Island Tricks:

1. Minibook Pro
2. Destination Box
3. Band-It!
4. Benson Burner
5. Glyphs
6. Card Tricks are Extinct
7. Cylinder and Coins
8. WZRD

Banishment. Mentalism

Book. Daemon Magic Catalogue

Item. iPad

Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

What happens when a career-threatening injury forces a flying trapeze artist to reinvent herself? For Kay Dyson, it meant becoming "Miss Magic”, a transformation that has led to performances for celebrities like Victoria Beckham and The Rolling Stones, and appearances on shows from GMTV to Wizard Wars.

Kay's journey began in Gerry Cottle's Circus as part of the groundbreaking all-female Flying Bell Stars. After a harrowing accident that came within millimetres of breaking her neck, she found herself drawn to magic through a chance encounter with a close-up magician. Within six weeks, she was performing professionally, a meteoric rise powered by her natural performance skills honed in the circus.

Throughout her 20-year career performing at Manchester United and countless high-profile events, Kay has developed a distinctive approach to magic that plays to her strengths as a female performer. "A lot of tricks don’t work for a female... you've got to put your own spin on it," she explains, describing how she transforms traditional effects to suit her perspective and persona. Her vent mask routine, where she transforms male volunteers into "Chantel" before performing French Kiss, exemplifies this creative adaptation.

Kay's performances are carefully designed to create emotional variety, rom the belly laughs of her sponge ball routines (which once literally saved her life during an encounter with a tribe in Africa) to the tears induced by her yet-to-be-released sentimental closing effect. She likens her show to a roller coaster, taking audiences through surprise, wonder, tension, and release.

Whether she's developing new original effects like "Losing Your Marbles" or planning her next theatrical production, Kay continues to push boundaries and create magical memories that last, sometimes even being mentioned in funeral eulogies, as happened with her performance for a vicar's wife. Her story reminds us that magic isn't just about tricks, it’s about creating moments that connect us and sometimes outlive us.

Kay’s Desert Island Tricks:

1. Extractor (E2)

2. Vent Mask (French Kiss)

3. Hook

4. Last Rolo / Losing Your Marbles

5. Sponge Balls / Ding Dong

6. Cards Across

7. Psychic Touch / 7b. Magic Kettle

8. Yet to be released Rising Revelation

Banishment. Scruffiness

Book. The War Magician: The True Story

Item. Diary

Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk

Ever wondered what it's like to perform magic for the Queen? Or how about orchestrating a death-defying stunt where a car explosion nearly takes down a helicopter with a celebrity inside? Jonathan Goodwin, the legendary escape artist and stunt performer, pulls back the curtain on these incredible moments and more in this captivating conversation.

Goodwin's approach to performance art stands apart from traditional magicians - he created experiences where genuine danger and clever theatrical thinking collide to create moments of wonder. From his nerve-wracking experience performing "Brainwave" for Queen Elizabeth II at her 80th birthday (where time seemed to slow down as he frantically searched for her chosen card in dim lighting), to the hilarious mishaps behind "The Fish Slap Prediction" (featuring a live trout escaping down a London high street), his stories give us a peek behind the curtain where otherwise, we would never likely see.

What makes this conversation particularly fascinating is Goodwin's insights into the psychology of creating memorable magical moments. He articulates why endings matter more than beginnings, how the question of "why" should drive creation rather than technical prowess, and why magic works best when it feels implausible rather than impossible. His methodology for designing routines reveals the mind of an artist who understands that genuine connection with an audience transcends mere technical skill.

Whether describing his crossbow routine with its hidden assistant reveal, his admiration for Blackstone's floating light bulb, or the terrifying behind-the-scenes reality of television stunts gone nearly wrong, Goodwin's passion for pushing boundaries while honouring the traditions of magic shines through. His recent creation "No Bull" continues to baffle even the most knowledgeable magicians and was a huge hit at the Blackpool Magic Convention 2025, proving his creative genius remains undiminished.

This episode will forever change how you view the intersection of danger, deception, and wonder.

Jonathan’s Desert Island Tricks:

1. Brainwave Deck
2. Fish Slap Prediction
3. Crossbow Routine
4. Blackstone Floating Lightbulb
5. Moretti Cardboard Box
6. No Bull
7. Car Off Cliff
8. Burned at the Stake

Banishment. Silent Manipulation Routines

Book. The Method to my Madness

Item. His Wife

Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk