Numerous studies have shown that smell is the strongest of our five senses, and that scents are strongly tied to the recollection of memory, but when was the last time you saw a magician waft the smell of a slice of pizza in the audience’s direction in conjunction with a card trick? 

That’s what Jeanette Andrews does with her magic (though she tends to trade junk food for the smell of freshly-cut flowers), and that’s what she talks about in the most recent episode of the Magical Thinking podcast. Recently off a stretch at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Andrews talks about the inspiration behind her “interactive sensory illusions”, and why she enjoys the unique empathetic connection she shares with the audiences of her performances. 

Listen to the episode in the Soundcloud player above, or check out the podcast page over at Art of Magic. And if you want to see some examples of the work she’s created, watch the teaser video below, which shows off an art exhibit with a field of grass inside an elevator, a cocktail “garden” simulated entirely with sounds, smells, and humidity, and a magic trick involving seed packets and a literal ton of soil.

Scope out more of her fascinating work on her YouTube channel and by visiting her website. 

Chicago’s Jim Krenz sits down with Elliott Terral to talk for three full hours on the Art of Magic podcast, Magical Thinking. The conversation covers a broad range of topics, including advice for young magicians (“Resist the urge to put some search term into YouTube.”), not revealing secrets to laypeople, and how to handle burnout. 

Of particular interest to would-be creators is the discussion about how to be creative.  Even if you don’t think you’re overly creative or original, there are things you can do to help let your mind wander down paths that might lead to something truly innovative. You don’t even need to start from scratch, necessarily; start with a trick you really enjoy, then ponder how you might change it, tweak it, improve it. And don’t try to cram your musings into your daily commute. Give yourself the time and space you need to really focus on nothing but letting your brain do some work. 

It’s a great listen, especially if you’re just getting started in magic. You can find all of Magical Thinking on Art of Magic’s site or over on iTunes.