Live Webinar, New Interviews & Podcasts!
This week’s update with brand new upcoming live webinars, recorded interviews & podcasts!
Coming up this Sunday I’ll be participating in a live online seminar, produced by the Science of Magic Association (SoMA), about “Magic, Charlatanry & Skepticism,” along with parapsychologist Caroline Watt (Scottish psychologist and parapsychologist) and Chris French (head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London). We’ll be discussing a range of issues including:
Can magic be used as a tool to encourage critical thinking? How?
Can an understanding of tricks and fakery help us to make better decisions?
Is it problematic to use illusions and trickery to promote the truth?
This is part of SoMA’s 2021 webinar series: Conversations on Science, Magic and Society. Attendance at the webinar is free with a simple signup registration, which you can find at the Science of Magic Association.
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David Preston came across my new book, Conjuror’s Conundrum, by way of a tweet from author Neil Gaiman. David is an educator and consultant with an interesting and diverse background, who focuses much of his current efforts on the notion of open-source learning. You can find out more about all that at his website, davidpreston.net, but today’s news is that David reached out to me and arranged for us to have a live online discussion, the recorded and annotated version of which is now available: David Preston - Jamy Ian Swiss on critical thinking, scientific skepticism, and the magic of learning. When I say “annotated,” I mean it! David has provided a remarkable array of links and source materials connected with many of the subjects touched upon in our wide-ranging and eclectic conversation. I think you might enjoy the annotations as much or more than the conversation itself—but I hope you’ll check out both and have a listen. Here’s David’s description:
It’s one thing to spend time in the company of an artist, a master craftsman, and an uncompromising intellectual; in this conversation, Jamy takes things to a whole ‘nother level. The man is a mensch. Thanks once again to Jamy, acclaimed magician and author of The Conjurer’s Conundrum, for taking time to share his perspectives on critical thinking, scientific skepticism, and the magic of learning/ learning of magic. We were joined by learners who work with me, Jamy’s publishers, attendees from Japan, Canada, New York, Ireland, and – in a historic first – my son’s room down the hall.
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I recently had the pleasure of appearing on the podcast, “Banachek’s Brain,” with the legendary mentalist, my old friend and longtime skeptic colleague, Banachek. Here’s the blurb:
In this episode, we chat with Jamy Ian Swiss about his passions for various art forms and the impact they had on his life. We talk about magic, skepticism, and his new book “The Conjuror’s Conundrum”.
The interview is up in two parts: Banachek's Brain #138: Jamy Ian Swiss, Part One and Banachek's Brain #139: Jamy Ian Swiss, Part Two
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In case you missed these other recent appearances, you can find my in-depth interview primarily about magic on The Daily Magician podcast. I enjoyed this interview and hope you do, too.
And my return to Vanishing Inc.’s “The Insider” podcast focuses on skepticism and my new book. Host Damian Jennings had some excellent questions and the interview is up in two parts:
The Insider | Jamy Ian Swiss (Part 1)
The Insider | Jamy Ian Swiss (Part 2)
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But wait — there’s more! I’m featured on the cover of the May issue of Michael Close’s excellent magic e-zine, in which Mike offers a review of Conjuror’s Conundrum, and also an interview/conversation we had about magic and about the book. The e-zine is free with a simple signup to the website, which includes Mike’s extensive catalog of superb writings and sleight-of-hand instructional materials. Sign up and download the zine now at www.michaelclose.com!
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And speaking of reviews, here are some recent comments from two respected colleagues:
"The Conjurer’s Conundrum is an entertaining explanation of the skeptical mindset, with a world populated by a colorful array of good guys and bad guys. I enjoyed it very much, and I think you will, too." — Michael Close
“The enthusiasm of Jamy Ian Swiss comes through in this thought-provoking book that’s consistently enriched with a flow of facts and reflections about his life as a magician spreading suspension of disbelief while simultaneously being a skeptic promoting rational scientific belief. I very much enjoyed reading Conjurer’s Conundrum, you will too.” — Steve Spill
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I’m still working on some new essays for the blog, but they’ve been paused a bit due to all these webinars and interviews. Don’t forget to catch the live SoAM webinar on Sunday, free via the registration link above. Thanks for reading, and watching, and especially, listening!
