A couple years ago, my algorithm started feeding me clips of a smart ass doing inexplicable things with a deck of cards. I’m not talking about card tricks – I’ve seen lots of impressive card tricks over the years. But Jason Ladayne is not a magician who does tricks. He’s a card mechanic who makes you question the nature of space and time by doing things with cards that simply defy the laws of physics, as well as the bounds of imagination. And, as I mentioned, he’s also a smart ass.
In a typical Ladayne video – and there are many out there – Jason will accept an online challenge from some skeptical viewer, and then, humiliate the skeptic by demonstrating a level of card mastery that’s difficult to describe, usually while insinuating an inappropriate relationship with the skeptic’s mother. Here is on Instagram doing that very thing, blowing the Internet’s collective mind, along with my own. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DJ60VUqtYEg/
I finally caught Jason live last week, at a little club up in Oxnard. He was every bit as fantastic and rude as he is online, and thoroughly entertaining. The next day, he joined me on the podcast for one of my favorite conversations, ever. It’s not just a chat about the business of fooling millions of people every single day or entertaining a live audience several times a week. It’s about the challenge of mastering a skill that few possess, and then, figuring out a way to make a living in these challenging times. I know the secret to Jason’s success – hard work, determination, and decades of practice. As for the card stuff, I have absolutely no idea.
I’m happy to report that in real life, Jason is not a smart ass. He’s a very generous and accommodating guy, who has mastered his craft. Our whole conversation is here, along with a few demonstrations that will break your brain. I guarantee it. https://bit.ly/TWIHIEp486JasonLadanye