Working: How a Magician Designs Original, Mind-Blowing Tricks

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Music, Tv & Film, Arts

4.2 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 31 March 2024

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, guest-host Kristen Meinzer talks to Joshua Jay, a world-class magician, storyteller, and author of multiple books about the history and craft of magic. In the interview, Joshua explains how he’s able to conceive of, design, and execute original tricks. He also talks about the role of storytelling in his work, and he explains how certain narrative structures can make for better performances. After the interview, Kristen and co-host June Thomas talk about Joshua’s high standards for his work and why they’re sometimes reluctant to “kill their darlings.” In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Joshua describes different varieties of magic. He also talks about the cliche ways magicians are often portrayed in movies. Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	When I design a magic presentation I try to start in the action or very close to it.
0:15.2	101 advice for writing stories, right? You don't start with background on all the
0:20.4	characters and then only when you're all caught up to you start your story.
0:24.0	You start with Indiana Jones being run down by a boulder.
0:30.0	Welcome back to Working. I'm your host, June Thomas.
0:33.4	And I'm your other host, Kristen, Kristen, it is such a blast to be talking with you today.
0:40.0	You're one of my favorite podcast hosts.
0:42.1	You just always are so much fun to chat with. But say, whose voice did we hear at the top of the show?
0:48.0	That is Joshua Jay. He is a magician. He is fantastic, but he's not just a magician. He's also a writer, a speaker, and just an all-around
0:58.8	creative guy.
0:59.8	And why did you want to speak with Joshua?
1:01.8	Well, I have to give credit where credit is due.
1:05.0	Our former working guest Margalite Fox,
1:08.0	she's the obituary writer from the New York Times.
1:11.0	She and I've stayed in touch since we had her on the show and she
1:14.4	said to me your next guess has got to be Joshua Jay. He is just
1:20.0	fantastic. He's going to be the best interview you ever had and I said I don't think that's true
1:24.4	you're the best interview we ever had and she said no it is going to be Joshua J and I said
1:30.0	Margalit coming from you that's high praise so yes let's try to get him on the show and
1:35.2	surprise he said yes. Well that is definitely a tip to follow I
1:40.2	always did the right thing I'm very excited to hear this interview but something tells me you have an extra
1:46.0	segment exclusively for Slate Plus members what will they hear?
	...

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