Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

028 | David Minkin (Magicians: Life In The Impossible)

Posted on May 17, 2016October 20, 2024 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 028 | David Minkin (Magicians: Life In The Impossible)

My Summer Lair Chapter #28: How Is That Possible?

That question is one of magic’s best responses. When you witness a spectacle…that defies convention; magic rattles your assumptions and defeats your logic. You can’t help but wonder what is possible?

It was a supreme pleasure to not only meet David Minkin but to see him perform live and up close. Check this out: after this interview he asked one of the Pacific Junction Hotel bartenders for her Ontario driver’s license. Which he held in his palm and it…levitated and flew in smooth circles around him!! How Is That Possible?

The staff are still talking about it: magic! He talks about it during our conversation over adult beverages; referencing a Credit Card.

David practices what he terms Authentic Magic. It’s a by-product born from his desire to practice magic not in Vegas (cue the ruffled blouse) rather on tv. That medium dictates his tricks “demonstrate fairness.” It’s hard to describe but he eloquently breakdowns the challenges of performing magic on tv.

For example on Room 401 a hidden camera/reality MTV show (executive produced by Ashton Kutcher) David helped to magically engineer a soul departing from a dead body prank. What!

And here is a what, yo! scene from his television show Magic Outlaws:

David is one of 4 magicians in Magicians: Life in the Impossible. Having just wrapped a Hot Docs 2016 screening I’m elated the directors visited My Summer Lair to converse about magic, magicians, skepticism and…plastic hands.

Magicians: Life in the Impossible follows 4 magicians in various stages of their career:
Brian Gillis…Johnny Carson’s favourite close-up magician and a regular on The Tonight Show

David Minkin…can levitate almost anything with his mind (wait until you see the opening shot of this doc!!)

Jon Armstrong…might be the best card trickster in the world {Jon’s My Summer Lair visit}

Jan Rouven…a German Las Vegas magician managed by his partner Frank Alfter: yup…Vegas…the chocolate to magic’s peanut butter.

1 High Five For:
for my cheeky question…wait for it.

David Minkin @ W • T • F

Host Sammy Younan

Recorded: Tuesday May 3, 2016 at 1:00 pm (at Girth Radio)

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some magic…(but no wine! I tell the truth if I drink red…)

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:David Minkin, Documentaries, Magic, Magicians, Magicians: Life in the Impossible, Movies

Post navigation

Previous Post: 027 | Jon Armstrong (Magicians: Life In The Impossible)
Next Post: 029 | Dave Merheje (Standup Comedy)

More Related Articles

Blood Child (Blood In The Snow Film Festival) 065 | Blood Child (Blood In The Snow Film Festival) My Summer Lair
227 | Mo Zeighami (Tehranto) My Summer Lair
312 | Caroline Marsden (Vietnam: The War That Changed America) My Summer Lair
Stuart Jones (By The Slice) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 166 | Stuart Jones (By The Slice) My Summer Lair
Pete Croatto (From Hang Time to Prime Time: The Birth of the Modern-Day NBA) 182 | Pete Croatto (From Hang Time to Prime Time: The Birth of the Modern-Day NBA) My Summer Lair
Pantsworthy: Hot Docs – April 30, 2016 My Summer Lair

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #SetTheVCR: September 29 – October 05, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Like a man in the basement I got TV recommendations that are a Chef's Kiss. On The Lost Bus, this is your stop: It's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: September 22-28, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    I got the Lowdown on this week's TV Recommendations so you don't hafta Go Into The Void all Wayward and lost. Just as The Simpsons keep going, so too does #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 15-21, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's TV Recommendations are not a Stop Gap Measure. Rather it's a Lilith Fair celebration of charming TV presented as #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 08-14, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Lots of TV Recommendations for you to Sheen this week. Like your Cable Guy, I got you hooked up with #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: September 01-07, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    Have I Got News for You: I got TV Recommendations for you Winter Spring Summer or Fall. From the Highest 2 Lowest this is #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 25-31, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is dedicated to my Stans.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 18-24, 2024
    by Sammy Younan
    Night Always Comes and like a TV Gambler you seek bold TV Recommendations without going Eenie Meanie. Once again #SetTheVCR is here to help, always cooler than Devo.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 11-17, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    This week’s TV recommendations are all locations from The Kingdom to Magic City to Alien: Earth. When it comes to Sammy Suggestions for #MustSeeTV I’m a #SetTheVCR Rainmaker.
  • #SetTheVCR: August 04-10, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    If your Hobby is to Pickup dope TV Recommendations like an American Prince this week's #SetTheVCR is funner than a Clown in a Cornfield.
  • #SetTheVCR: July 28 – August 03, 2025
    by Sammy Younan
    From a Red Eye to Area 51 this week’s TV Recommendations will make you put up your Twisted Metal. I dunno what that means, either, though I do know it’s #SetTheVCR time.
  • Morning Tea: Happy UFO Day 2025!July 2, 2025
    What's popping in popular culture? My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan steeps some seriously serious tea which prompts reflections.
  • Trial By Trailer: The Running Man (A Remake…)July 1, 2025
    Trail By Trailer is judging a book by its cover or in this case...a movie by its trailer. Are you 100% IN or is it a Hard Pass?
  • #CouchWorthy: Barbara Walters: Tell Me EverythingJune 22, 2025
    Exploring the pioneering career of Barbara Walters. Delving into her influential role in broadcast journalism and the challenges women face in achieving success.
  • #CouchWorthy: Bono: Stories of SurrenderMay 29, 2025
    Bono: Stories of Surrender is a vivid reimagining of his one-man stage show Stories of Surrender now streaming on Apple TV.
  • #CouchWorthy: Super Team CanadaMay 16, 2025
    Super Team Canada follows six lesser known and underrated Canadian superheroes, tasked with saving the world.
  • #CouchWorthy: Murderbot: Season 1 May 15, 2025
    Murderbot a private security cyborg hides its acquired autonomy, while completing dangerous assignments is simultaneously drawn to humans.

  • Batman: Detective Comics Vol. 1: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    Under-Review: Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: Overture
    by Sammy Younan
    My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan reviews Batman - Detective Comics: Gotham Nocturne: OvertureL Volume 1,
  • New Book Alert: California Bear
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Music Was Just Getting Good
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: The Ascent
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?
  • New Book Alert: Fantastic Four by Ryan North Volume 2
    by Sammy Younan
    New Book Alert is just that: A useful Yo for a fresh book. from your pal Sammy. What Are You Reading?

Copyright © 2025 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme