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The History PodcastHow Houdini Made MagicEpisodes

  1. Next Monday13:45
    BBC Radio 4

    1. Find your motivation

    1/11Houdini’s arrival in America as a poverty-stricken immigrant lights a fire beneath him.

  2. Next Tuesday13:45
    BBC Radio 4

    2. Find your voice

    2/11Houdini struggles through a variety of acts to cut through the 19th-century magic scene.

  3. Wed 21 Oct 202613:45
    BBC Radio 4

    3. Know your audience

    3/11Houdini gets his break and hones his craft by tapping into the sentiment of his audiences

  4. Thu 22 Oct 202613:45
    BBC Radio 4

    4. Advertise

    4/11Derren Brown explores how Houdini became a master self-marketer to stand out

  5. Fri 23 Oct 202613:45
    BBC Radio 4

    5. Protect your brand

    5/11Houdini tours Europe where he is threatened by copycats and doubters

  6. Mon 26 Oct 202613:45
    BBC Radio 4

    6. Make influential friends

    6/11Derren Brown explores the ultimate mystery: Was Houdini an international spy?

  7. Tue 27 Oct 202613:45
    BBC Radio 4

    7. Master the media

    7/11Houdini learns to use newspapers as a tool to self-mythologise and build up his legend

  8. Wed 28 Oct 202612:04
    BBC Radio 4

    8. Keep ahead of the times

    8/11Derren Brown explores how Houdini mastered film, radio, and early social networking

  9. Thu 29 Oct 202613:45
    BBC Radio 4

    9. Stay relevant

    9/11Houdini becomes a crusader against a new religion, keeping his name on the front pages

  10. Fri 30 Oct 202613:45
    BBC Radio 4

    10. Cement your legacy

    10/11Houdini’s untimely death sends shockwaves around the world and helps eternalise his fame