“Magic lies in challenging what seems impossible.”
– Carol Moseley Braun
I love Falkor, the luck dragon from The NeverEnding Story, because he embodies qualities that resonate deeply with me—hope, perseverance, wisdom, optimism, and a touch of playful trickery.
Falkor’s unwavering optimism, friendship, and determination—along with his magical flight home—symbolize faith in the journey, even when the destination is uncertain. And, of course, his mischievous side—like when he joyfully soars after the bullies at the end—reflects the clever, lighthearted spirit of storytelling that I revel in.
I’m incredibly fortunate to perform in so many magical spaces like the ones I believe you will be excited to read about below. But lately, I’ve been invited to even more conferences, sales meetings, and C-suite events as a speaker, sharing the lessons I’ve learned along the way. We are in a time when people need optimism, wisdom, and a little hope.
If you happen to know someone looking for an engaging keynote speaker,
Send them HERE to learn more about what your friend Paul is up to.
“Having a luck dragon with you is the only way to go on a quest.”
– Falkor
The Magic Castle
I’m back Performing in Hollywood
at the World-Famous
May 19-25, 2025
in the jewell-box-style Close-Up Gallery.
Only 26 seats per show,
4 shows per night!
Enjoy the video below from my last appearance in this historic room!
Fun Mind-Reading on TV
And the Largest Variety Festival in the U.S.A
Sometimes audience members say things you don’t expect: “Big D Energy”
Alan Plotkin filmed this at the Moisture Festival last year.
Magic on Good Things Utah
I had the pleasure of appearing on Good Things Utah on ABC with hosts Deena Marie Manzanares and Valerie Cameron!
We had an absolute blast with fast-paced mind-reading, diving into their minds to discover:
- The classic fairytales that inspired Disney’s biggest movies
- Oscar-winning films and legendary actors
- And a fun conversation about the 100-year anniversary of the NFL “the National Forensics League” (now the National Speech & Debate Association), which is honoring me on their site!
A huge thank you to Good Things Utah for having me—it’s always a joy to share wonder and conversation with such fantastic hosts!
“What’s Her Name” Podcast
There is a wonderful podcast series called “What’s Her Name” I have appeared twice, once to talk about magician Adelaide Hermann and once to talk about Bess Houdini and the Houdini Seances.
Links to the podcasts HERE:
They are having an in-person celebration with many of the guest speakers in April at the Clubhouse on South Temple (in 1913 it was the Ladies’ Literary Club)
Unlock the Anthropological Secrets of Mystery & Magic!!
Unlock the Anthropological Secrets of Mystery & Magic!!
Join Paul Draper, renowned anthropologist, mentalist, and this year’s keynote speaker for the 42nd Annual Conference of the Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness—a section of the American Anthropological Association.
Discover how magic, consciousness, and culture intersect in this transformative event!
Sundance Finds a New Home and Imagineers are Crafting Tomorrow’s Dreams
I am sorry to hear that Park City, Utah lost the Sundance Film Festival after 40 years. It was an iconic festival for the state and brought so many opportunities to the area and so much annual revenue.
It is a huge loss. I hope this inspires the local community and state to invest more in art, culture, and performance spaces like the beautiful Egyption Theater, Park City photographed above.
May this be a wake up call to make Utah more welcoming to the world, to innovation, and to continuous growth.
Spending time this afternoon in the Walt Disney Imagineering building in Glendale California.
Hope to see some Disney friends tomorrow night in California Adventure.
Then I am off to share a stage with Paige O’Hara, the original voice of Beauty from Beauty and the Beast at the Indiana Comic Convention.
You make it all possible!
Thank you for reading my newsletter and connecting with me as I travel around the world.
My life is made better in every way because I have known you!
Let me know how I can help you on your journey!
